The Book Things Fall Apart Essay - 986 Words

The book ‘Things Fall Apart† highlights many different aspects of African culture and shows us how incredibly bright, beautiful, harsh, violent and mystical the lives of Nigerians were. In this text several concepts will be questioned and analyzed, such as the importance of the character’s daily life and rituals, the language used throughout the writing, comparing how they deal with problems and solving them, determining whether or not the text contains a local or grand narrative, and if there are any references or correlations to essentialism, euro-centrism, the white man’s burden and the silent native? ‘Things Fall Apart† starts with a poem that describes what will eventually occur, a precursor of what is to come and befall the villagers of Nigeria. â€Å"Turning and Turning in the widening gyre, The Falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things Fall Apart; the center cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world† –W.B. Yeats, â€Å"The Second Coming† (Achebe, 2). The way the text is written one can compare it to how things are turning and falling apart, the story being told is not linear. It jumps from one moment to another in time while still moving forward. In a sense, it feels like the story is moving in a circular motion. Some important aspects of Nigerian life in â€Å"Things Fall Apart† appear to be based upon one’s ability to provide, to be fearless, strong and to hold customs and rituals above everything else. The book states that Okonkwo father â€Å"had taken noShow MoreRelatedEssay on Investigating Why the Book is Entitled Things Fall Apart1149 Words   |  5 PagesTitle Analysis of Chinua Achebes Things Fall Apart I believe that the title Things Fall Apart refers to the fact that without proper balance, things do fall apart. The notion of balance in the novel is an important theme throughout the book. Beginning with the excerpt from Yeats poem, The Second Coming, the concept of balance is stressed as important; for without balance, order is lost. In the novel, there is a system of balance, which the Ibo culture seems to dependRead MoreThe Book Things Fall Apart Is One Of Africa’S Most Significant1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe book Things Fall Apart is one of Africa’s most significant works of literature. Because of its unique spin on European colonialism from an African tribesman’s perspective and its eloquent use of Igbo vocabulary, the volume continually draws in readers from various backgrounds and locations. Attention to detail and foreshadowing are common throughout the book; zeroing in on certain motifs and themes relating to African culture. One motif examined throughout the novel is chi. Author Chinua AchebeRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1415 Words   |  6 PagesEducation is supposed to inspire young kids and teens to think independently, and allow them to give their personal opinion on a subject, controversial topic, and/or idea. Books, especially the controversial ones, are floodgates for new information and ideas that can be introduced into a young person’s mind. These new ideas and information shows the world for what it is†¦ an unfair, prejudiced, and downright ugly place to live. Reading about the challenges and struggles of others forms questions intoRead MoreFahrenheit 451 Comparison Essay1698 Words   |  7 PagesThis fight can be seen throughout history books and literary classics such as Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. In Fahrenheit 451, the main character, Guy Montag is fighting against the technological revolution taking place in the 23rd century. He battles with a society full of censorship, where everyone is too caught up with their new gadgets to have meaningful conversations. Okwonko, the main character of Things Fall Apart, is also fighting a battle, a battle againstRead MoreEssay about A Man of the People: Political Analyzation538 Words   |  3 Pages The book A Man of the People is a postcolonial view on politics that is written by the author Chinua Achebe. There is a set stage of corruption, embezzlement, adulatory and bribes which all tie to the political arena that is described in the book. The political office won is has been merely a tool for the politician to secure wealth and control over a society being robbed for the self interest one mans greed. There are modern aspects of political campaigning. This postcolonial palace as some ofRead MoreThe Heart Of Darkness And Things Fall Apart1585 Words   |  7 PagesKirkus review speak about Things Fall Apart, â€Å"This book sings with the terrible silence of dead civilizations in which once there was valor.† This novel is the incredibly powerful story of an Ibo Brave Man, Okonkwo, and his tribe’s fall fromgrace. It is impossible to read this novel without feeling the powerful passion, tragedy, and courage involved in the story. The Guardian says of Heart of Darkness, â€Å"Despite his protestations, this is undeniably an invaluable historical document offering a glimpseRead MoreThings Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe1414 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 10 Accelerated December 4, 2015 Things Fall Apart Test 1. What are the similarities of â€Å"The Second Coming† by W.B Yeats and Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe? In Things Fall Apart, it appears like things happen to fall apart at whatever point Okonkwo builds trust. On the other side, the substance of â€Å"The Second Coming† recounted a chaotic world and a base that couldn t hold as its very own inner conflicts. In addition to the synonymous feeling both the book and poem give, they both uncover aRead MoreThings Fall Apart913 Words   |  4 PagesThings Fall Apart The theme of the book Things Fall Apart, which focuses on the breakdown of a society as well as the main character’s personal breakdown, stems from many conflicts of interests and misunderstandings throughout the book. There is not one single moment in the book where everything falls apart, but many times throughout. In the beginning a lot of problems arise from Okonkwo’s anger problems, and his inability to see other’s views. His ignorance is what ultimately leads to his exileRead MoreThings Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe Essay1017 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Tragedy arouses not only pity but also fear†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Things Fall Apart doesn’t tell you what â€Å"has† happened it shows you what is going to happen. In Things Fall Apart Chinua Achebe is dramatizing what may happen and what was happening. The District commissioner suggested a book title at the end of the book. I think the book title’s main purpose was to suggest what may happen.à ¢â‚¬ Ã¢â‚¬ ¦The Pacification of the Lower Niger Tribes.† A tragedy has a protagonist, the protagonist is someone who is renowned or prosperousRead MoreThings Fall Apart Colonialism Essay1267 Words   |  6 PagesColonialism is the policy or practice of taking over a country and changing it economically. This relates to the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, because the book itself is based off of colonialism and different types of cultures and people. I agree that colonialism strips the person of their cultures and soul. â€Å"By the late nineteenth century, Europe was engaged in â€Å"the scramble for Africa,† a competitive effort to colonize the continent and gain control of its natural resources. In 1884

Environmental And Social Influences Of A Person s...

Environmental and Social Influences Studies have shown the impact a person’s environment can have on their upbringing, their attitude, their personality, and how they adapt or handle tough situations. No truer words are apparent with adolescents and how their environments can lead to substance abuse. For many adolescents, risk factors, such as family problems and community violence frequently lead to substance abuse (McWhirter et al., 2013). Society is very good at encouraging people just to do about anything. Though they may not go right out and say, â€Å"Go do this, or do that†, they sugarcoat it through subliminal messages, also known as commercials, television programs, movies, and advertisements. During a stage where adolescents are vulnerable and easily influenced, it is not too farfetched to think they will practice what they see. Companies that advertise alcoholic products make them seem glamorous and make the experience seem exciting. It is simpler to say that each person makes their own decisi ons, which affirms the first amendment of â€Å"freedom of choice†; however, it is necessary to recognize that at some point it becomes difficult to avoid all these possible addictions when they are plastered at every corner. Violence in the household or in the community are common predictors for substance and alcohol users. Recent research studies have shown that, â€Å"†¦heavy episodic drinking and marijuana use were risk factors for the perpetration of dating violence; †¦ alcohol use wasShow MoreRelatedUnderstanding Personality1579 Words   |  7 Pagessituation and interactional theories in particular. Every individual has a unique personality, which is known as their psychological makeup. This is known as the relatively stable, psychological structures that shape a person’s actions in a specific environment. (Gill, 1986) This essay will look at the established theoretical psychological understand of personalities. Where did sports psychology begin? Sport psychology began in the 1890s thanks to the psychologist Norman Triplett, who was a keen cyclistRead MoreIndividual Diffferences - How environmental factors affect Personality Intelligence1525 Words   |  7 Pagesevaluate the ways in which environmental factors can impact on the development of an individual’s personality and intelligence. The discussion in this essay entails the extent to which environmental factors impact an individual’s development of personality and intelligence. Development can be defined as ‘improvement in function’ which would imply that it occurs with the progression of age. Personality has been found to have a substantial genetic influence however economic and social factors have been foundRead MoreCompare And Contrast When I Heard At The Close Of The Day By Walt Whitman1002 Words   |  5 PagesHappiness is sought by many, but what one person defines as happy may differ from what another person defines as happy, and people find this feeling in many different places and ways. In his poems â€Å"When I Heard at the Close of the Day† and â€Å"The Sleepers†, Walt Whitman relates one’s happiness and general well-being to one’s environmental and societal circumstances using literary devices, demonstrating how people’s surroundings can positiv ely or negatively influence their mood. In both â€Å" When I Heard atRead MoreEnvironmental Psychology1009 Words   |  5 PagesEnvironmental Psychology Paper Robyn A. Cole August 13, 2012 PSY 460 Edward A. Muhammad, M.S. Environmental Psychology For more than the past ten years, the field of psychology has covered drawn out analysis and delved into the correlation among human beings and the environment. Clayton and Myers state that, â€Å"Recent quantitative assessments of the human impact on nature give a sobering picture: the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment found that about 60% of the earth’s ecosystem Read MoreLiving A Sustainable And Eco Friendly Lifestyle1169 Words   |  5 Pagesimpact that these events have on the planet is changing the way humans interact with the environment. Music festivals produce large amounts of waste and have a direct effect on the carbon emissions into the atmosphere. The articles that will be explored were published between the years of 2009 to 2013 by credible sources. The authors all work and have studied in the area of event planning, hospitality, and environmental science. The articles presented in this paper are as followed: â€Å"How Green was my Festival:Read MoreThe Theory Of Human Development1060 Words   |  5 Pagesforces, memories, and conflicts that are usually unconsciousness† ().Following, the behavior perspective emphasizing on the observable behaviors and â€Å"outside stimuli from the environment†. () This approach believed that the à ¢â‚¬Å"full understanding of development is by carefully studying the stimuli that composed the environment†. (pg15). ______The cognitive approach examines the root of understanding and it â€Å"focuses on the process that allow people to know, understand, and think about the world. (p17)†Read MoreThe Major Components, Strengths, and Limitations of Urie Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Model623 Words   |  3 PagesSystems model in the 1970’s. Bronfenbrenner argued that to understand human development, the environment in which the person belongs must be understood (Bronfenbrenner, U.1979). The Ecological Systems model concentrically depicts how a person’s development is influenced by their wider environment. In the original model there were four ecological levels in the system, however in 1979 Bronfenbrenner added an additional fifth level (Bronfenbrenner, U. 1994). With the developing person in the centre, the fiveRead Morepsych 6451544 Words   |  7 Pagesindividuals. One s personality can help guide an individual throughout one s life, in addition to having powe r over the situation or task. Many, if not all of these factors of personality, traits, and genetics, make up who an individual is. One s may believe an individual s personality, differences, and individualities is the core of who an individual truly is. Genetics and Research Genetics illustrate the variations within one s personality and measures are accounted by an individual s geneticRead MoreA Research Study On Social Exchange Theory1439 Words   |  6 Pagesgroup members. Group members Marlene, Nalayini, Amir, and Citiara has selected topics from week 7 9 and have individual views on their topic. The following topics and argument was presented by each group members. Marlene: Social Exchange Theory Argument: Each person in a group perception is different and what we put in a group or relationship is what we get out of it. However all relationship have give and take and how we feel about the group and the role we play does not often seem fair toRead MoreGreen Marketing in China1731 Words   |  7 Pagesdefinition to the green marketing. But about its essence, green marketing is a social responsible marketing activity. Compared with the traditional marketing, it has the following two characteristics: (1) Green marketing is the higher phase of marketing and the inevitable development tendency. It takes the sustainable development as the core, emphasizes the environmental protection, pursues economic efficiency, the social efficiency and the ecology benefit;(2) It will take a long time to carry out

Ecology of Sand Dunes Free Essays

There are six main physical types of dunes which rely on the position of the system in relation to the direction of the shoreline. Three of these being spits, offshore islands and nesses project towards the sea and are generally extending seawards. They are characterstic where the prevailing wind is offshore so in England would be the East Coast. We will write a custom essay sample on Ecology of Sand Dunes or any similar topic only for you Order Now The other three types which are bay dunes, hind shore dunes and machair are found found where the prevailing wind is onshore so a constantly being driven back on to the land behind the shore by the wind and are found on the west coast. Dunes are known as sub-maritime coastal habitats as they are not plagued by occasional flooding and are not very salty. Dunes can very in size greatly with the height increasing over 25 meters on some coasts and can vary greatly in width and length. Dune vegetation Dune vegetation varies according to stability, moisture content and calcium carbonate content of the sand the dune is made up of. In order for vegetation on the dunes to grow plant succession has to occur. Marram grass colonises the dune (fore dunes) and spreads its tuberous roots just under the surface of the sand, and forms an underground web that helps hold the sand in place. Though marram grass stabilizes the soil for its own survival, an inadvertent side effect is that it makes it possible for other kinds of vegetation to begin to take hold. Other plants take advantage of the increased stability of the soil surface and start to colonize areas the marram grass helped make safe Embryo dune formation Sand is blown onshore from exposed beaches at low tide. As the wind slows due to obstacles on the land being met the sand is deposited. Large amount of sand are deposited just beyond the highest water mark. This is due to the friction occurring where drift line vegetation is growing and by the accumulating sand deposits present. Eventually low sand hills build up on the shoreline and slowly move inaland. These embryo dunes become colonized by Agropyron Junceforme which can tolerate saline apray, posses’ a large root system allowing more binding of the sand and rapid growth to avoid burial by the sand. The embryo dune vegetation increases sand deposition and they hills increase in size and advance further inland and develop into first fore and then yellow dunes. Fore Dunes and yellow dunes Above the driftline and embryo dunes there is often a seaward strip of low dunes with an open growth of plants still tolerant of short immersion during especially higgh tides. These fore dunes grade into main dunes further inland where Marram grass is the main colonist encouraging the growth of the dunes upwards. This grass is and efficient dune builder but does not form a layer of litter or bind the sand surface so later erosion occurs. As the colonists have made the sand more stable forther vegetation now grows such as Calystegia soldanella. This grows in the sand between the marram tussocks. Many species of plans which find a coastal niche also appear as open sand colonists. Some of these grow on mainly calcerous dunes, but the effect of varying lime content of the sand becomes more obvious as a closed vegetation develops and stabilization is accompanied by leaching. Fixed or Grey Dunes A vegetation of low growing grasses, lichens and mosses are present at this stage. Where contains less lime the characterstic species which occurs amongst the marram are red and sheeps fescue. Lichens such as Cladonia impexa also may become abundant Dune Heath and Dune Pasture The oldest and most stable parts of the non-calcerous dunes are eventually invaded by dwarf shrubs. This forms a heath which approaches which approaches that of many inland lowland areas with sandy soil. Lichen heaths also develop with species such as cladonia impexa growing in great abundance in dwarf shrubs, it is also possible for bracken to become abundant in this area and large areas of it may develop. During the early stages of closed sward formation marram may remain very abundant, but with further development of the succession it gradually thins out and eventually disappears. The development of the dwarf shrub heath is also marked by the sand surface becoming acidic and the formation of an acidic humus layer. Further development involves a thickening of the grassy swardm extension of these herbs into the moss and lichens, and the dissapearance of species such as marram grass.. Rabbits can be numerous on these undes and their grazing can produce a close cropped species rich area hardly distinguishable from that on many inland grasslands. The lime content and pH of calcerous sand dunes decrease with age, and organic How to cite Ecology of Sand Dunes, Papers

Poems from other cultures and Traditions Blessing by Imtiaz Dharker Essay Example For Students

Poems from other cultures and Traditions: Blessing by Imtiaz Dharker Essay Imtiaz Dharker who now lives in India, Bombay, wrote Blessing. The poet describes the land cracking open because it is so dry because of temperature. The poet makes us imagine the echo of dripping water into a tin mug. Then the poet goes on to describe a scene in a village or in a street where there is a small community where water is scares. A water pipe bursts and suddenly there is water rushing out of the pipe. All of a sudden there is a mass of people collecting water in all types of containers big and small. Water is precious and cannot be allowed to just run away. The children run around in the water playing and very joyful of this silver liquid. Blessing is a metaphor for water. She believes that water is a gift from God and with out this element life is not possible. She describes the water dripping into a tin mug and she believes that a friendly God gave the water to them. In verse three there is an emphasis on the idea of water belong treasured, such as fortune, silver and the fact that everyone ruches to collect it and that it cant be allowed to escape. In the poem the people rushes to collect the water a congregation. This is associated with people in a church, attending a religious service. This continues the idea of religious imagery of water is a gift from God, and that it it something holy. In the poem light is used at the end of the poem. It is used to portray happiness of the moment and the wet children playing in the sun just having a good time. Also it continues the religious idea when angels bring good news they are accompanied by bright lights. The light also contrasts the hard dryness of the beginning. The skin cracks like a pod The poet is describing the earth cracking like a pod cracks open. The poet describes the water as silver. This gives a visual image of water shining in the sun and sge describes as treasure. The sound of a roar fo tongues, pictures the noise of the water a sit is comes out. The poet describes the liquid sun, she is describing the liquid sun is the idea of the sun reflected off the flowing water. The children are wet and shine as if polished. The poet includes three alliterations the first is small splash, these are two short words with the liquid s sound and it suggests the little sound of water dripping. The second is the sudden rush, again the liquid s-longer words or groups of sound this time, and it suggests the torrent of water. The third is the flow has found 0 again suggests the movement of water- smooth F sound. Another alliteration is the hard P sound, polished to perfection this suggests brightness. This  is one of the most enjoyable poems I have read because of the imagery and the sounds of imagery that are portrayed in the poem.

Innovations in Education free essay sample

Examines three books on inspirational methods techniques, parent-student relationship, teaching skills, obstacles challenges and flexibility. Surpassing the Status Quo: Uncovering Challenges in the Classroom In Horaces Compromise, Theodor Sizer presents a comparative study of high schools across America in the 1980s. In Tales Out of School, Patrick Welsh renders an insiders view of daily activities at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. In Among Schoolchildren, Tracy Kidder records his meticulous year-long observation of Chris Zajacs fifth-grade class at the Kelly School in Holyoke, Massachusetts. These three accounts offer inspirational yet balanced appraisals of how diverse selves can be seen struggling daily to excel as contemporary American schoolteachers. Read collectively, these works offer a how-to manual for superior teaching, suggesting which educational..

Self Disclosure in a Happy Marriage Essay Example

Self Disclosure in a Happy Marriage Essay Example Self Disclosure in a Happy Marriage Essay Self Disclosure in a Happy Marriage Essay Happy Marriage In order for a marriage to be a happy marriage, communication is important. There is different ways a couple can communicate. A couple can make a happy marriage last for years by self-disclosure. I feel I can relate to this article on self-disclosure in relationships. My husband and I have always tried to communicate our thoughts and feelings with one another. It has been challenging at times, especially after having children. We mainly find our â€Å"10 minutes† around bed time. Ten minutes is not that long, when you think about it†¦it just means paying attention to your partner and asking one question (and responding when) they ask one question (Schoenberg, 2011). A recent example, after my husband and I were settled down for the day, we were watching the news. The news has plenty of topics for communication. The topic came up about winning the lottery. My husband and I had a really good conversation of what we would do with the money if we had won it. It was very pleasing to know that we were fairly on the same page. I do agree that self-disclosure is important and directly related to satisfaction in relationships. By being open and honest with each other on topics, it brings you a since of togetherness. It also opens up one’s soul. â€Å"The process of developing and deepening a relationship requires reciprocal and appropriate self-disclosure and the development of mutual trust (Sole, 2011)†. I believe there are gender differences; however, I think when it comes to affection and sense of belonging, both genders need it. With my husband and I, we both need to have the reassurance of our love. We both have requested each other to do little things such as telling each other how much the other one means to us, writing a little love note, or simply sending a simple text to say, â€Å"have a good day†. I do feel like I fit into the gender generalizations. I can compare myself in a lot of the results from studies. Even though some aspects of me may be different, I do mainly seem to fit in. Communication is important in a happy marriage. By being open and honest with each other of one’s thoughts and feelings, you are showing self-disclosure. With all the ways a couple can communicate, self-disclosure has been linked to having a long, happy marriage.

Marketing Plan- Victoria House Hotel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Marketing Plan- Victoria House Hotel - Essay Example Moreover, since the area is an attractive tourist spot, it has become a center of attention for many high end tourists and corporate clients who frequently travel to this area, giving the whole industry an advantage of increased customer traffic owing to the efficiently operating tourist industry as well as airline industry giving benefits of travel and tourism to customers. An overall change in the travel and dining out habits of consumers and potential clients has given the industry an extra advantage in terms of people dining out more frequently than ever before. Despite the benefits this industry enjoys, it is unfortunately also facing increased legislation and restrictions from administration and government which are creating new barriers such as licensing laws and ban on smoking in public areas. Taking a look at the firm itself and the internal factors affecting the health of it, we see that the Hotel is in an overall advantageous state in terms of profits and growth. It has be en consistently expanding successfully, improving areas such as accommodation and entertainment. It is located at a strategically profitable location where tourists find it convenient to travel the nearest tourist spots and come back to the Victoria House Hotel later. The Hotel has been experiencing raising profits and has a dedicated team well trained in customer care in order to make the clients feel at home. One drawback that the Hotel has been facing is a reduction in corporate clients which needs to be addressed and solved as soon as possible (Thomas, 1998; Eldring, 2009). Target Audience Victoria House Hotel has seen a trend of declining corporate audience and tourists over the past year which is a sign of losing future profits because this portion of the industry is a thriving opportunity to be captured. The industry has faced a 20% rise in corporate events and hence a rise in corporate customers traffic. This means that in future, it is expected that corporate customers†™ traffic along with tourists will increase, due to tourism and airline industries attempts to attract tourists and those clients who travel for business and trade reasons. The aim of Victoria House Hotel should hence be to attract this specific niche which has a lot of scope and new opportunities to be availed for future profitability. Provision of exclusive packages and luxury accommodation and travel to specific clients will help the company make higher profits as well as the advantage of having no direct competition when considering this specific niche in the industry (Luther, 2011; Westwood, 2012). Marketing Objectives For the company to ensure effective operations and improvement, it needs to define its objectives clearly that are to be different from other competitors. If the company keeps operating in this cut throat competition targeting the mass market, it will soon have to give up its profits and reduce operating margins or hope that competitors don’t come up wit h better strategies. 1) Target a specific audience and provide them benefits accordingly. It is not possible to satisfy everyone, hence only a certain segment of the target market will be chosen in this case, the corporate

Case study on Wilson Construction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study on Wilson Construction - Essay Example The best option for the company is trying to increase its revenue base in order to improve the situation. Just having two or three projects supporting such a large purchase is not feasible and hence the company should market more often to attract more customers. In case these are two exhaustive options, the company should clearly select the option b because it is yielding a lower negative number and hence if the company wants to save its position it should try to adopt the option b. Money rates of returns do not reflect the time value of money. All economies face the phenomenon that the purchasing power of money constantly falls with the passage of time. Hence, inflation is needed to be taken into account in order to arrive at the real rate of return or rate of returns that are adjusted against inflation. The discounting factor of 23 percent has been adjust by multiplying it by 104 in order to arrive at the inflation adjusted discount rate to give better idea regarding the position o f the company and how much it should earn in order to safeguard its position against falling value of a dollar due to inflation and alternative projects that are available to a company. This way the money return has been adjusted to real return and provides a better picture of how much return the company needs to earn on its projects to safeguard the value of its wealth in real terms and to make sure that it is not losing money. If a company does not pay heed to the time value of money it cannot tell whether it has made or lost money and hence it is considered one of the fundamental concepts of finance and needs to be taken into account every time the company needs to make an important decision. This will make sure that the company’s resources are being used for earning proper returns and not just money returns that are not adjusted against inflation. Given the scenario it can be said that there are several factors that should affect the viability of ALII. These include how m uch saving using a faster crane would be made. All the company’s processes would become more efficient and it would save some money, but the question does not speak about it and if all of this is taken into account, the project’s NPV would very well be positive. Other than that, there will be other factors like financing options, providing the financer with a collateral, impact of this purchase on the taxes for example, the company can use diminishing balance method and charge high depreciation rates to its balance sheet in order to get a saving in taxes. All of this should be taken into account and the company should also hire some good finance managers and should not rely on amateur finance people who do not know about the jack of the problem and their discussion is nothing but layman’s observation of the issue. Hence, the best thing for the company is to hire some specialist finance people who have better information than the current participants of the meeti ng who do not

The Advertisement to Warn of the Adverse Effects of Cigarette Smoking Essay

The Advertisement to Warn of the Adverse Effects of Cigarette Smoking - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that images provide useful mental information with hidden meaning that requires analysis to get the intended message. Advertisements use images and drawings to give cautionary measures and a summary of what could have taken considerable space when presented in text format. Advertisements contain arguments targeted at persuading the consumers of an individual product to increase the rates of purchase. Advertisements include sequentially arranged information that a market specialist and a psychologist designed to persuade a particular target group. Some people draw for leisure while others, like cartoonists, draw for pay. The main feature is that any visual document has a message to pass to the viewers. The paper analyzes an advertisement banner by the Health Canada. The visual text analyzed has a size of 500mm by 267mm. The left-hand side of the banner pictures a teenage girl holding a lighted cigarette. The image appears on an orange backgr ound. The author drafted the word warning using white fonts on a black background on the right of the picture. Below the warning sign, words indicating the repercussions and the negative results of smoking appear. In addition, the texts indicate the addictive and harmful nature of smoking to scare and warn the innocent from engaging in the practice. The health organization has also provided their mobile contact and a link to their website page. The lady in the picture has a wrinkled forehead, defective left eye, brown stained teeth, stained nails, and reddened eyeball. She also has red gum and lips. She looks horrible from the first sight. Her hair seems unhealthy and dull. The visual art targets youths who smoke and prospective youth smokers as well. The visual art does this by clearly presenting the negative effects of cigarette smoking visible to the public and the people around us. The visual text clearly conveys the message that cigarette smoking is harmful to human health. The setting environment is dull by the choice of color. A faint, orange-yellow color in many instances usually indicates sickness, decay, and caution. The picture portrays the young lady as young and attractive. Youth life is an attractive era according to art. She is sick because of smoking.

Study Effectiveness Of Nebulization Improving Childrens Respiratory Status Nursing Essay

Study Effectiveness Of Nebulization Improving Childrens Respiratory Status Nursing Essay Data analysis is the systematic organization and synthesis of research data and testing of research hypothesis using those data. Interpretation is the process of making sense of the result and examining their implication (Polit, 2004). Analysis is the method of rendering qualitative data meaningful and providing intelligible information, so that the research problem can be studied and tested, including the relationship between the variables. The study was conducted among children with wheezing to compare the effectiveness of nebulization with oxygen and without oxygen in improving their respiratory status. The data was collected, assembled, analyzed and tested and the findings based on the analysis are presented in this chapter. 4.1 Demographic Variables of Children with Wheezing: The age of the children with wheezing ranged between one month to five years. Out of this, 8 (16%) children were between the age group of one month to one year, 17 (34%) were between 1-3 years and 25 (50%) were between the age group of 3-5 years. Majority of the children were males (62%) and female children were 38%. 34 (68%) children belonged to nuclear family whereas 16 (32%) children belonged to joint family. LPG was used as the cooking fuel in all (100%) the houses (Table 4.1). 4.2 Family History of Smoking Habits: In nebulization with oxygen group, 5(20%) children had the family history of smoking habit. For majority (4) of children, grandfather was the person who smokes and for one child father was the smoking person. In nebulization without oxygen group, fathers of 3(12%) children smoke in the family (Table 4.2). 4.3 Family History of Respiratory Diseases: 5 (20%) children in the nebulization with oxygen group had a family history of asthma, out of which one person is on regular treatment. In nebulization without oxygen group, 5(20%) children had a family history of asthma and 3(12%) had a family history of COPD, out of which one person is on regular treatment (Table4.3). 4.4 History of Respiratory Diseases in Children: With regard to previous history of respiratory diseases, majority (64%) of children had wheeze associated lower respiratory infection (WALRI) in nebulization with oxygen group whereas in nebulization without oxygen group, 15 (60%) children had WALRI, .6 (24%) children had hyper reactive airway disease (HRAD) and 3 (12%) children had asthma in nebulization with oxygen group , whereas in nebulization without oxygen group,7 (28%) children had asthma and 3 (12%) had HRAD (Table.4.4). About the onset of respiratory diseases, 14 (56%) children developed respiratory diseases before 1year of age and 5 (20%) children developed between the age group of 1-2 years in nebulization with oxygen group whereas in nebulization without oxygen group, 10 (40%) children developed before 1year of age and 7 (28%) children developed between 1-2 years of age (Table.4.4). Regarding the duration of the disease, 14 (56%) children had the duration of disease less than a year and 6 (24%) had the duration between1-2 years in nebulization with oxygen group whereas in nebulization without oxygen group, 11 (44%) children had duration of less than 1 year and 8 (32%) had the duration between 1-2 years (Table.4.4). With regard to the regularity of the treatment, 3(12%) children in the nebulization with oxygen group and 6 (24%) children in the nebulization without oxygen group were on regular treatment. All these children were using inhalers. Majority of the children (66.66%) were using a combination of salbutamol -fluticosone inhaler in both groups and the rest (33.33%) were using asthalin alone (Table.4.4). 4.5 Immunization History: All the children (100%) in both groups were completely immunized. 4.6 Pre assessment of Respiratory Parameters in Nebulization with Oxygen Group: The initial assessment of respiratory rate of children in nebulization with oxygen group showed that 6 (24%) children were in mild distress, 6 (24%) children were in moderate distress and 13 (52%) children were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 20 (80%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 5 (20%) children had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air).In the initial assessment of wheezing, 12 (48%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration and 13 (52%) children were having wheezing on entire expiration.The assessment of retraction showed that 16 (64%) children were normal, 8(32%) children had intercostal retractions and 1 (4%) child had intercostal and substernal retractions..In the initial dyspnoea assessment, 5 (20%) children were having mild dyspnoea and 20 (80%) children were normal (Table 4.5). 4.7 Pre assessment of Respiratory Parameters in Nebulization without Oxygen Group: The initial respiratory rate assessment of children in nebulization without oxygen group showed that 10 (40%) children were in mild distress, 8 (32%) children were in moderate distress and 7 (28%) children were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 22 (88%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 3 (12%) children had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air). In the initial assessment of wheezing, 17 (68%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration and 8 (32%) children were having wheezing on entire expiration. Initial retraction assessment showed that 18 (72%) children had intercostal retractions and 7 (28%) children had intercostal and substernal retractions. In the assessment of dyspnoea, 5 (20%) children were having mild dyspnoea and 20 (80%) children were normal (Table 4.6). 4.8 Implementation of Therapies among Children with Wheezing: 4.8.1 Administration of nebulization with oxygen: Nebulization with oxygen was provided to 25 children with wheezing who were prescribed for Combimist nebulization in the OPD. Nebulization was provided by the staff nurse for a period of 15-20 minutes. Children who were on treatment prior to the nebulization were not included in the study. Assessment was done before and after nebulization with oxygen. 4.8.2 Administration of nebulization without oxygen: Nebulization without oxygen was provided by the staff nurse to 25 children with wheezing who were prescribed with Combimist (Salbutamol+ Ipravent) nebulization in the OPD. Nebulization was provided for a period of 15-20 minutes. Children who were on treatment prior to the nebulization were not included in the study. Assessment was done before and after nebulization with oxygen. 4.9: Post assessment of Respiratory Parameters in Nebulization with Oxygen Group: 4.9.1 Post Assessment at 5 Minutes: In the post 5 minutes assessment of respiratory rate of children in nebulization with oxygen group,1 (4%) child reached normal ,7 (28%) children were in mild distress,5 (20%) children were in moderate distress and 12 (48%) were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 4 (16%) children reached normal saturation, 17 (68%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 4 (16%) children had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air). Wheeze assessment showed that 1 (4%) child became normal, 13 (52%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration and 11 (44%) children were having wheezing on entire expiration. In the assessment of retraction, 16 (64%) children were normal, 8 (32%) children had intercostal retractions and 1 (4%) child had intercostal and substernal retractions.In the dyspnoea assessment, 5 (20%) children were having mild dyspnoea and 20 (80%) children were normal (Table 4.5). 4.9.2 Post Assessment at 10 Minutes: In the post 10 minutes assessment of respiratory rate of children,1 (4%) child reached normal ,8 (32%) children were in mild distress,7 (28%) children were in moderate distress and 9 (36%) were in severe distress. Assessment of oxygen saturation revealed that 13 (52%) children were having normal saturation, 11 (44%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 1 (4%) child had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air). In the assessment of wheezing, 10 (40%) children were relieved from wheezing, 11 (44%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration and 4 (16%) children were having wheezing on entire expiration. Assessment of retractions showed that 21 (84%) children became normal, 4 (16%) children had intercostal retractions.In the dyspnoea assessment, 22 (88%) children were having no dyspnoea and 3 (12%) children were having mild dyspnoea (Table 4.5). 4.9.3 Post Assessment at 15 Minutes: Post 15 minutes assessment of respiratory rate showed that 5 (20%) child reached normal ,5 (20%) children were in mild distress,9 (36%) children were in moderate distress and 6 (24%) were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 17 (68%) children reached normal saturation, 8 (32%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air). In the assessment of wheezing, 12 (48%) children were relieved from wheezing, 12 (48%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration and 1(4%) child was having wheezing on entire expiration. The assessment of retractions revealed that 23 (92%) children became normal, 2 (8%) children had intercostal retractions.Dyspnoea assessment showed that 23 (92%) children became normal and 2 (8%) children were having mild dyspnoea (Table 4.5). 4.9.4 Post Assessment at 30 Minutes: Post 30 assessment of respiratory rate showed that 11 (44%) child reached normal, 7 (28%) children were in mild distress, and 4 (16%) children were in moderate distress and 3 (12%) were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 19 (76%) children reached normal saturation, 5 (20%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 1 (4%) child had moderate desaturation. In the assessment of wheezing, 14 (56%) children were relieved from wheezing, 11 (44%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration. The assessment of retractions showed that 24 (96%) children became normal, 1 (4%) children had intercostal retractions. Dyspnoea assessment revealed that 23 (92%) children reached normal and 2 (8%) children were having mild dyspnoea (Table 4.5). 4.10 Post assessment of Respiratory Parameters in Nebulization without Oxygen Group: 4.10.1 Post Assessment at 5 Minutes: Post assessment of respiratory rate showed that 11 (44%) children were in mild distress, 8 (32%) children were in moderate distress and 6 (24%) were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 1 (4%) child reached normal, 21 (84%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 3 (12%) children had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air).Assessment of wheezing showed that 2 (8%) children became normal, 15 (60%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration and 8 (32%) children were having wheezing on entire expiration. In the assessment of retraction, 19 (76%) children had intercostal retractions and 6 (24%) children had intercostal and substernal retractions. Dyspnoea assessment showed that 5 (20%) children were having mild dyspnoea and 20 (80%) children were normal (Table 4.6). 4.10.2 Post Assessment at 10 Minutes: Post 10 minutes assessment of respiratory rate revealed that 4 (16%) children reached normal rate, 10 (40%) children were in mild distress,7 (28%) children were in moderate distress and 4 (16%) were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 7 (28%) children reached normal, 15 (60%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 3 (12%) children had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air). Assessment of wheezing showed that 16 (64%) children became normal, 4 (16%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration and 5 (20%) children were having wheezing on entire expiration. In the assessment of retraction, 22 (88%) children became normal and 3 (12%) children had intercostal retractions. Dyspnoea assessment revealed that, 3 (12%) children were having mild dyspnoea and 22 (88%) children became normal (Table 4.6). 4.10.3 Post Assessment at 15 Minutes: In the post assessment of respiratory rate,9 (36%) children reached to normal rate, 7 (28%) children were in mild distress, 5 (20%) children were in moderate distress and 4 (16%) were in severe distress. The post assessment of oxygen saturation showed that 10 (40%) children reached normal, 13 (52%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 2 (8%) children had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air). Wheeze assessment at 15 minutes showed that 19 (76%) children became normal, 6 (24%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration. In the assessment of retraction, 24 (96%) children became normal, 1 (4%) children had intercostal retractions. Evaluation of dyspnoea revealed that 2 (8%) children were having mild dyspnoea and 23 (92%) children were normal (Table 4.6). 4.10.4 Post Assessment at 30 Minutes: Post assessment of respiratory rate showed that 13 (52%) children reached normal rate, 7 (28%) children were in mild distress, 2 (8%) children were in moderate distress and 3 (12%) were in severe distress. In the assessment of oxygen saturation, 10 (40%) child reached normal, 13 (52%) children had mild desaturation (95-97% in room air) and 2 (8%) children had moderate desaturation (90-94%in room air). In the assessment of wheezing, 19 (76%) children became normal, 6 (24%) children were having wheezing on terminal expiration. Assessment of retraction revealed that 24 (96%) children had no retractions, 1 (4%) children had intercostal retractions.Dyspnoea assessment showed that1 (4%) child was having mild dyspnoea and 24 (96%) children became normal (Table 4.6). 4.11 Comparison of Mean Difference of Pre and Post Assessment of Respiratory Parameters in Nebulization with Oxygen Group and Nebulization without Oxygen Group: 4.11.1 Mean Difference of Respiratory Rate in Nebulization with Oxygen Group and Nebulization without Oxygen Group: In nebulization with oxygen group, the pre mean values of respiratory rate was 41.68 and post mean value at 5 minutes was 40.4.Post mean values at 10 minutes was 37.76, at 15 minutes was 35.6 and at 30 minutes was 32.8. The mean difference between pre and post respiratory rate at 30 minutes was 8.88. This shows a significant reduction in respiratory rate after nebulization with oxygen. The pre mean value of respiratory rate in nebulization without oxygen group was 36.64 .The post mean value of respiratory rate at 5 minute was 36, at 10 minutes was 34.32, at 15 minutes was 32.48 and at 30 minutes was 30.96. The mean difference between pre and post respiratory rate at 30 minutes was 5.68. This shows a reduction in respiratory rate after nebulization without oxygen. Therefore, it can be inferred that the mean difference was high in nebulization with oxygen group comparing to nebulization without oxygen group. This showed that nebulization with oxygen is effective in reducing tachypnea among children with wheezing (Table 4.7). 4.11.2 Mean Difference of Oxygen Saturation in Nebulization with Oxygen Group and Nebulization without Oxygen Group: Oxygen saturation above 98% in room air is considered as the normal saturation level. The pre mean value of oxygen saturation in nebulization with oxygen group was 95.24. The post mean value of oxygen saturation at 5 minute was 96, at 10 minutes was 97.24, at 15 minutes was 98.08 and at 30 minutes was 98.32. The mean difference between pre and post oxygen saturation at 30 minutes was 3.08. This shows an improvement in oxygen saturation after nebulization with oxygen. The pre mean value of oxygen saturation in nebulization without oxygen group was 95.72 .The post mean value of oxygen saturation at 5 minute was 95.88, at 10 minutes was 96.68 at, 15 minutes was 97.36 and at 30 minutes was 97.08. The mean difference between pre and post respiratory rate at 30 minutes was 1.36. Therefore, it can be inferred that the mean difference was high in nebulization with oxygen group comparing to nebulization without oxygen group. This showed that nebulization with oxygen is effective in improving the oxygen saturation among children with wheezing (Table 4.7). 4.11.3 Mean Difference of Wheeze Score in Nebulization with Oxygen Group and Nebulization without Oxygen Group: Auscultation of normal vesicular breath sounds is considered as normal. The pre mean value of wheeze score in nebulization with oxygen group was 1.52. The post mean value of wheeze score at 5 minute was 1.4, at 10 minutes was 0.72, at 15 minutes was 0.56 and at 30 minutes was 0.44. The mean difference between pre and post wheeze score at 30 minutes was1.08. This showed an improvement in wheeze score after nebulization with oxygen. The pre mean value of wheeze score in nebulization without oxygen group was 1.32. The post mean value of wheeze score at 5 minute was 1.12, at 10 minutes was 0.56, at 15 minutes was 0.24 and at 30 minutes was 0.24. The mean difference between pre and post wheeze score at 30 minutes was 1.08. This showed that there was no mean difference in wheeze score in nebulization with oxygen group and nebulization without oxygen group. Hence, nebulization with oxygen and nebulization without oxygen has similar effect in reducing wheeze score among children with wheezing (Table 4.7). 4.11.4 Mean Difference of Retraction Score in Nebulization with Oxygen Group and Nebulization without Oxygen Group: Observation of normal chest movements is considered as normal. In nebulization with oxygen group, the pre mean value of retraction score was 0.4. The post mean value of retraction score at 5 minute were 0.4, at 10 minutes was 0.16, at 15 minutes was 0.08 and at 30 minutes was 0.04. The mean difference between pre and post wheeze score at 30 minutes was 0.36. This showed an improvement retraction score in nebulization with oxygen group. The pre mean value of retraction score in nebulization without oxygen group was 0.28. The post mean value of retraction score at 5 minute was 024, at 10 minutes was 0.12, at 15 minutes was 0.04 and at 30 minutes was 0.04. The mean difference between pre and post retraction score at 30 minutes was 0.24. This showed that there was no mean difference in retraction score in nebulization with oxygen group and nebulization without oxygen group. Hence, nebulization with oxygen and nebulization without oxygen has similar effect in reducing retraction score among children with wheezing (Table 4.7). 4.11.5 Mean Difference of Dyspnoea Grade in Nebulization with Oxygen Group and Nebulization without Oxygen Group: Grade 0 is regarded as absence of dyspnoea. In nebulization with oxygen group, the pre mean value of dyspnoea grade was 0.2. The post mean values of dyspnoea grade at 5 minute were 0.2, at 10 minutes was 0.12, at 15 minutes was 0.08 and at 30 minutes was 0.08. The mean difference between pre and post dyspnoea grade at 30 minutes was 0.12. This showed an improvement in dyspnoea grade in nebulization with oxygen group. The pre mean value of dyspnoea grade in nebulization without oxygen group was 0.2. The post mean values of dyspnoea grade at 5 minute was 0.2, at 10 minutes was 0.12 ,at 15 minutes was 0..08 and at 30 minutes was 0..04. The mean difference between pre and post dyspnoea grade at 30 minutes was 0.16. Hence the result highlighted that the mean difference was slightly higher in nebulization without oxygen comparing to nebulization with oxygen. This showed that nebulization with oxygen had similar effect in reducing dyspnoea grade among children with wheezing (Table 4.7). 4.12. Effectiveness of Nebulization with Oxygen in Improving the Respiratory Parameters among Children with Wheezing through Pairedt test Analysis: Paired t test was used to assess the differences in pre and post assessments of respiratory parameters among nebulization with oxygen group. (Table 4.8). 4.12.1 Comparison of Pre and Post 5 Minutes, 10 Minutes, 15 Minutes and 30 Minutes Assessment of Respiratory Rate in Nebulization with Oxygen Group: Hypothesis: There will be a significant difference in pre and post assessment of respiratory rate in nebulization with oxygen group. t = t5min = =2.67 t10min = =5 t15min = =7.89 t30min= =12.94 The calculated values of t at 5,10,15 and 30 minutes are 2.67, 5, 7.89 and 12.94 respectively which are greater than the tabulated value at p

Addiction and the Reward Circuit Essay -- Biology Essays Research Pape

Addiction and the Reward Circuit Most people are affected directly or indirectly by drug addiction. Many stereotypes including race and socio-economic class are associated with drug addiction. Despite longstanding stereotypes there is more and more evidence being discovered pointing to an explanation from within the brain of the addict. Free will is generally associated with drug addicts as is their choice to use drugs, but free will may not be a factor in addiction. The key to addiction lies solely in the brain, without influence form the "I-function", or free will. The affect of all drugs of abuse, which are characterized by heroine, cocaine, LSD, opiates, and others, is on what is known as the reward circuit of the brain (1). The circuit includes the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is connected to the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex in the pathway where they communicate through neurons (4). Other areas of the brain may be involved depending on the drug (2). The VTA and nucleus accumbens are involved in the reward circuit of all drugs (3). The natural function of the reward circuit is to provide a reward and associated pleasurable feelings in response to life sustaining functions, such as eating, to encourage repetition of that function. The reward circuit functions through the use of neurotransmitters, mainly dopamine. When activated, the circuit triggers the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that induces a pleasurable feeling, from the neurons in the VTA. Drugs of abuse stimulate this same response, in many cases to a greater degree than the natural response causing a spike in dopamine levels. Certain drugs, especially cocaine, can block dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. After being ... ...tion towards addiction to drugs of abuse. The brain may be solely responsible for the addiction but if this is true, how do people overcome their own brains to recover from addiction. Could it be that the brain changes back to its normal state in turn allowing the addict to recover or could it be the addict forcing his brain to change back to its normal state, causing recovery. References 1)This paper reflects the research and thoughts of a student at the time the paper was written for a course at Bryn Mawr College. Like other materials on Serendip, it is not intended to be "authoritative" but rather to help others further develop their own explorations. Web links were active as of the time the paper was posted but are not updated. Contribute Thoughts | Search Serendip for Other Papers | Serendip Home Page http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/serendip/a2z.html

Problems and Aspirations of Youth Essay

Abstract Violent crimes such as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and terrorism are the most inhumane crimes that continue to plague Nigeria. Lately, kidnappings for ransom and terrorism have taken the centre stage leading to bloodshed and economic set -backs. The causes are not farfetched as studies have associated rising youth unemployment to the increase in violent crimes. By using the deprivation theory proposed by Ted Gurr, this study has explored the proximate and ultimate causes involving the youths in violent crimes. If factors that create the feeling of deprivation and frustration created by unemployment are addressed, Nigeria‟s youths will not engage in violent crimes. Keywords: Youth; unemployment; poverty; violence; crime Introduction Creativity and high energy are the characteristics of young people in any nation and if the energy is channelled positively, it will greatly benefit not only the economic prosperity of nations but also enhance the moral values of the youth. When the same energy is used negatively, it will lead to social unrest and economic instability. Labour force of a country is used to measure unemployment and Feyisetan (1991) defines as a set of people or citizens of a country who are willing and are able to make available at any given point in time their efforts for gainful employment. Therefore unemployment is a situation where people are willing to work but could not find employment. According to the International Labour Organization people who are without work but available for and seekin g work; including those who have lost jobs and those who have voluntarily left jobs (World Bank, 1998). On the other hand, violent crime is defined as a crime in which the offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon the victim. This entails violence including robbery with and without arms (Wikipedia, 2010). Global unemployment remained stable at 8% between 2010 and 2011, according to Gallup surveys of 148 countries. Unemployment was highest in the Middle East and North Africa (22%) and sub-Saharan Africa 17% (Marlar, 2012). However, Nigeria‟s unemployment rate is above the sub-region‟s average that increased to 23.9% in 2011 compared with 21.1% in 2010 and 19.7% in 2009 (National Bureau of Statistics, 2012); and is projected to hit 25% by the end of 2012 (USA Embassy in Nigeria, 2012). According to the National Bureau of Statistics (2009:238; 2010:2; 2012), the national unemployment rates for Nigeria between 2000 and 2011 showed that the number of unemployed persons constituted 31.1% in 2000 and it reduced to 11.9% in 2005 but again increased to 23.9% in 2011. Nigeria has a youth population of 80 million, representing 60% of the total population with a growth rate of 2.6% per year and the national demography suggests that the youth population remains vibrant with an average annual entrant to the labour force is 1.8m between 2006 and 2011. Yet, majority of the youth has been either unemployed or under -employed between 2006 and 2011. The overall unemployment rose from 12.3% of Labour force to 23.9% (Awogbenle and Iwuamadi, 2010). A surge in unemployment was witnessed in 2009 due to global/local economic meltdown. The World Bank estimates that 74 million people between the ages of 15 and 24 are unemployed, which accounts for 41% of all unemployed person s (UNHabitat, 2008). From 1990-2000 youth unemployment data showed that the largest group of the unemployed were secondary school graduates. Also, 40% of unemployment rate were among urban youths aged 20 – 24 and 31% of the rate were among those aged 15-19. Two-thirds of the urban unemployed ranged from 15-24 years old. Moreover, the educated unemployed tended to be young males with few dependents (Okafor, 2011). In 2011, the situation became even more critical with 37.7% of Nigerians aged 15-24 and 22.4% of those between ages 25-44 were willing to work but did not get jobs. On average, youth unemployment rate in Nigeria is 46.5% in 2011 (BLG, 2012). As of 2009 when National Bureau of Statistics published unemployment rate at 19.7%, Issa Aremu the Deputy President of the National Labour Congress said, â€Å"Find out about the number of people who applied for the last recruitment by the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Customs Service. When more than a hundred thousand people apply for just about 3000 vacancies, then you should know whether the figures are true† (Ekott, 2010). Unemployment appears to be the root cause o f violence in Nigeria. Research suggests that unemployed youths are disproportionately more likely to be perpetrators, as well as victims of crime and violence (Okafor, 2011). The growing gap between the rich and poor affects the society through increased violence. The self employed are in quandary as scant infrastructure makes it impossible for them to ply their trade (Okafor, 2011). This is exac erbated by political corruption, poverty, poor governance, increasing population, and lack of policy initiatives and implementation to some extent encouraged criminal groups to thrive across Nigeria. This paper examines how youth unemployment contributes to violent crimes across Nigeria. Deprivation Theory of Ted Gurr This classical theory explains why people engage in violence (riots, rebellion, coups, criminal activities etc.). It examines the psychological causes involving frustration and aggression as the primary source of human capacity for violence. Frustration is neither necessary nor sufficient ly leads to violence but greed may drive to violence. Frustration is a much stronger motivating force and prolonged frustration may cause greater probability for aggression. Relative deprivation is the discrepancy between what people think they deserve and what they actually think they can get (Gurr, 1970). It is noteworthy that Gurr does not look to a more absolute or objective indicator of deprivation as the source of violence. People can get used to a bad state of affairs, even one that offers so little access to life-sustaining resources that members of the group are starving or dying of remediable diseases or exposure. However, if there is a significant d iscrepancy between what they think they deserve and what they think they will get, there is a likelihood of rebellion. Gurr posits this to be the case because there is a feeling that their expectation cannot be met if the current statuesque is maintained. The first situation may be a desperate one, but it is the se cond that will be frustrating. So frustration produces aggression at individual, group and societal levels. This theory could be used to link rising number of unemployed youths and violent crimes in Nigeria. A country that produce thousands of university graduate every year without commensurate employment opportunities may be creating a fertile ground for a feeling of frustration among these unemployed graduates. Naturally, there is a feeling of joy and great expectations when a student graduates from a university- these expectations gradually fades away and is replaced by feeling of frustration after some years of joblessness caused by little opportunity the society offers the young graduate. As frustration prolongs and the feeling of deprivation of what that is expected increases, there is a greater probability that the individual or people can resort to illegitimate activities in order to actualise their expectations in the society. The rise in violent crimes (robbery, kidnapping, thuggery, terrorism) committed by youths is a sign of „gap‟ in the society. The society already has expectations for individuals and established means of achieving them. When the means are limited as the youth unemployme nt is 46.5% in 2011, people are forced to achieve the goals through illegal means to fulfil societal expectations. Kidnappings are on the increase across Nigeria and the unemployed youths view the business lucrative. They are available for recruitment by p oliticians. In the Northern part, they are recruited both by politicians and religious groups to be used in political, religious and terrorism acts. In the SW Nigeria, they find easy employment in petty criminal activities. The culture must at least accept , if not approve, violent action as a means to an end. This could be the reason why suicide bombing is exclusive to the Northern part of the country as violence is encouraged by some Islamic sects. Political violence is also likely if the current leadershi p and or the socio-economic and political system are seen as illegitimate. Causes of Youth Unemployment in Nigeria The level of unemployment is highly dependent on the overall status of the economy (Awogbenle and Iwuamadi, 2010). Despite its riches from o il economy, employment in Nigeria is actually falling. The years of corruption, civil war, military rule, and mismanagement have hindered economic growth. Nigeria is endowed with diverse and infinite resources, both human and material but years of neglige nce and adverse policies have led to the under-utilization of these resources. These resources have not been effectively utilized in order to yield maximum economic benefits. These are primary causes of unemployment; however s cholars have identified other causes of unemployment as well ( Adebayo, 1999; Alanana, 2003; Echebiri, 2005; Ayinde, 2008; Morphy, 2008; Awogbenle and Iwuamadi, 2010; and Anyadike et al, 2012) . The first is population growth (140,431,790 as per 2006 census) and is projected to be over 1 80 million by 2020 if the annual growth rate of 3.2% continues (National Population Commission and ICF Macro, 2009). While the population increases, the number of industries growth is dwindling and if nothing serious is done, both population and unemployme nt will continue to rise. The second is outdated school curricula and lack of employable skills: Some scholars have argued that as far as the formal sector is concerned, the average Nigerian graduate is not employable therefore, does not possess the skill s needed by the employers (Anyadike et al, 2012). This is due to the curricula of most Nigerian schools that do not include entrepreneur skill acquisition to benefit job seekers. The third is adoption of untimely economic policy measures that contributed to the demise of small scale and cottage industries operated in both formal and informal sectors. Following the introduction of Structural Adjustment Program in September 1986 that ushered in liberalization, deregulation and devaluation program of the domes tic currency, many of the teething domestic firms collapsed that resulted in serious job losses (Bello, 2003). The fourth is over emphasis on university certificates and neglect of skill acquisition trainings that contributes to youth unemployment. According to Manning and Junankar (1998), the total number of graduates produced in Nigeria was 73,339 in 1986/1987 that rose to 131,016 in 1996/1997. Over 97 universities occur in Nigeria with a demand for higher education while there is problem of unemployment. The reality is that the economy does not have the capacity to absorb all unemployed graduates because over 800 industries and 37 factories were closed down in 2009 alone (Anyadike et al, 2012). Nigeria’s Unemployment and Crimes Security is a contextual issue which no state in the international system consigns to the periphery; it is a core-value that makes the state relevant in the international system (Ndifon, et al. 2012). Death rate attributable to violence in Africa is estimated at 60.9 per 100,000 p eople more than twice the global rate (WHO 2004a). Crime and violence have been increasing in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa among unemployed young people. The causes are not farfetched as studies have associated rising youth unemployment to increase of violent crime in Nigeria. The accelerating level of prostitution, armed robbery, rape, terrorism and all facets of violence can be largely attributed to the incidence of unemployment. Growth has not been in line with the aspirations of the people and has not been driven by higher productivity. The public perception is that there has been little job creation. Many young people who fail to gain employment have become a burden to the employed that bear the re sponsibility of meeting the needs of millions of educated but increasing frustrated group, a wasting generation. The problem of violent crimes in Nigeria has been exacerbated by the high rate of unemployment and economic hardship which has pushed many jobless youths some of whom are graduates into various deadly crimes (Edward, 2011). A 2009 World Bank report on ‘Employment and Growth’, warned that, â€Å"The share of young people between the ages of 15 and 24 outside the labour force is growing, despite the country’s strong growth performance over the years†. Mass sacking in the Central Bank of Nigeria affected 7,500 banking jobs (Allafrica, 2010). The UN-Habitat study on crimes and violence stressed that socio -economic inequality and the lack of opportunities for social advancement and employment are some of th e root causes of crime and violence. Children and youth from disadvantaged families are vulnerable to fall prey to criminal networks. Of the estimated 1 billion people living in slums, over half are under the age of 25, and 40% are estimated to be under the age of 19. They are the primary victims of social exclusion through unemployment, lack of access to health and education (UN -Habitat, 2008). Furthermore, an empirical survey of Children and Youth in Organized Armed Violence in Nigeria, reported that disenchantment and frustration of young people due to mass poverty and unemployment, has increased the number of aggrieved youths and resulted in the emergence of „area boys‟ and Almajiris who target the very society that alienated them (Ibrahim, 2006). The survey concluded that armed militant groups in Nigeria namely Bakassi Boys, O‟ odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Egbesu Boys were made up of youths within 16 – 17 years (40%), 18 – 19 years (10%), 20 – 21 years (20%), and 20 – 23 years (20%). Approximately 60% of them were unemployed (Awogbenle and Iwuamadi, 2010). Bennel (2000) argued that urban society is becoming increasingly criminalized, especially with the proliferation of youth gangs. Neither homes, nor markets are safe in Nigeria because of frequent o ccurrence of armed robbery incidents. Unemployment problem, which now seems beyond remedy, has produced army of idle hands and some of them have decided to punish the society that fails to provide them with means of livelihood and dignity by robbing its members of their property at gunpoint (Ideyi, 2005). The police cannot perform effectively because they are overstretched by the amount of cases that awaits them daily, and is worsened by outdated instruments they use that are no match to the modern sophisticated weapons used by the criminals. The Research Director of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr Sope Wiliams Elegbe revealed that: â€Å"The increasing poverty in Nigeria is accompanied by increasing unemployment. Unemployment is higher in the nort h than in the south. Mix this situation with radical Islam, which promises a better life for martyrs, and you can understand the growing violence in the north. Government statistics show that the northern states have the highest proportion of uneducated persons. If you link a lack of education and attendant lack of opportunities to a high male youth population, you can imagine that some areas are actually a breeding ground for terrorism† (Oxford Research Group, 2012). The Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar, has called on the three tiers of government to tackle unemployment in order to reduce crime rate in the country. He expressed concern at the rate youths were resorting to crime as an alternative means of survival due to unemployment: â€Å"We have a lot of graduates and even those who have not attended any school who have nothing to do. It becomes worrisome, when you go round this country and you see the faces of unemployed persons. You begin to wonder that we just have to do what we have to do at the level of federal, state and local governments to begin to plan and put policies in place for the employment of these persons†. (Cruise news, 2012) Conclusion No nation can achieve growth in an atmosphere of violent crimes. The role of Nigeria‟s government must include the formulation of policies and laws that could help improve the economic and social wellbeing of its citizens and deter criminality. There is a need to increase jobs through small enterprises and poverty alleviation schemes. Economic gr owth in Nigeria is not the only solution to curb unemployment as the official statistics illustrate that previous unemployment did not decline economic growth. Other solutions such as the provision of right skills to youth should be given an importance. The study concludes that feeling of deprivation produce frustration and could be expressed through aggression. Therefore if factors that are responsible for youth unemployment in Nigeria are addressed, violent crimes will be reduced. References Adebayo A (1999). Youth Unemployment and National Directorate of Employment Self Employment Programmes. Niger. J. Econ. And Soc. Stud. 41(1): 81-102. Alanana OO (2003). Youth Unemployment in Nigeria: Some Implications for the Third Millennium. Global J. Soc. Sci. 2(1):21-26. Anyadike Nkechi, Emeh Ikechukwu EJ and Ukah Finian Okechukwu (2012). Entrepreneurship development and employment generation in Nigeria: Problems and prospects. Journal of Education and General Studies Vol. 1(4) pp. 088-102. Awogbenle, A.C. & Iwuamadi, K.C. (2010). Youth Unemployment: Entrepreneurship Development Programme as an Intervention Mechanism. African Journal of Business Management, 4(6), 831-835. Ayinde OE(2008). Empirical Analysis of Agricultural Growth and Unemployment in Nigeria. Afr. J. Agric. Res. 3(7):465-468. Cruise news, (2012). To fight crime in Nigeria, we must first fight Unemployment. Available on http://www.cruisenigeria.com Bello, T. (2003). Attacking Unemployment Hurdles in the Fragile Economies of the Sub – Saharan Africa: The Experience of Nigeria. A Paper Presented at the – Economics for the Future – Conference; On the Occasion of the Celebration of 100 Years of Cambridge Economics; Cambridge, United Kingdom Bennel, P, (2000). Improving Youth Livelihood in SS.A Report to the International Development Center. BGL, (2012). Economic Note: The Nigeria’s Paradox of Growth amidst High Poverty Incidence. Retrieved from www.bglgroupng.com Echebiri, R.N. (2005). Characteristics and Determinants of Urban Youth Unemployment in Umuahia, Nigeria: Implications for Rural Development and Alternative Labor Market Variables. A Paper presented at the ISSER/Cornell/World Bank conference on â€Å"Shared Growth in Africa† held in Accra, Ghana, July 21-22. Edward Uzoma Ezedike, (2011). Violent Crimes, Economic Development and the Morality of Capital Punishment in Nigeria: A Retentionist Perspective. Retrieved from www.transcampus.org/journals Ekott, I. (2010). Statistics Bureau puts Nigeria unemployment rate at 19.7 percent . Next News. Retrieved from http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/index.csp Feyisetan BJ (1991). Population growth and the labour force, a study of relationships. Paper presented at a seminar on population and development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Nigeria June 25-28. Ideyi, N. (2005). The Root Cause of Violence in Nigeria: The Niger Delta Crisis, a Reference Point Manning, C. & Junankar, P.N. (1998). Choosy Youth or Unwanted Youth: A Survey of Unemployment. Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 34(1), 55-93. Marlar Jenny, (2012). Global Unemployment at 8% in 2011. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/gwt/x?hl=en&u=http://www.gallup.com/poll/153884/globalune mployment2011.aspx&client=msucweb&q=Unemployment+rate+in+Africa+and+sub+S aharan+Africa&sa=X&ei=GHEOUPHUDmw2wW_j4HYCA&ved=0CCQQFjAJ Morphy R. (2008). Nigeria: Youth Unemployment, Poverty – a Time Bomb for Country. Leadership, Wednesday, 27 August National Bureau of Statistics. (2009). Social Statistics in Nigeria. Abuja: The NBS Publication. Retrieved from www.nigerianstat.gov.ng National Bureau of Statistics. (2010). Statistical News: Labor Force Statistics No. 476. Abuja: The NBS Publication. Retrieved from www.nigerianstat.gov.ng National Bureau of Statistics, (2012). Labour Force Statistics. Retrieved from www.nigerianstat.gov.ng National Population Commission and ICF Macro. (2009). Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2008. Abuja, Nigeria: National Ndifon, C.O, Apori, K.A and Ndifon, R.A. (2012). Human Traffickin g in Nigeria: A Metaphor for Human Rights, Crime and Security Violations. American Journal of Social Issues & Humanities (ISSN: 2276 – 6928) Vol.2(3) pp. 84-99. Available on http://www.ajsih.org Okafor, E.E. (2011). Youth Unemployment and Implications for Stability of Democracy In Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa. Vol. 13, No.1, 2011 ISSN: 15205509 320 | A j a e g b u  ©AJSIH Vol.2 No.5. (September 2012) 315-321 American Journal of Social Issues & Humanities Vol.2 No.5. (September 2012) Oxford Research Group, (2012). Nigeria: The Generic Context of the Boko Haram Violence. Monthly Global Security Briefing. Retrieved from www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/sites/default/files/AprEn12.pdf Population Commission and ICF Macro, (2010). Nigeria: Unemployment – Paradox of Growth. Retrieved from http://allafrica.com/nigeria/ Ted Gurr . Why Men Rebel. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 1970. UN-Habitat, (2008). Crime and violence versus employment opportunities in cities and towns. 2nd African Minister ial Conference on Housing and Urban Development. Abuja, Nigeria. Retrieved from www.unhabitat.org United States Embassy in Nigeria, (2012). Nigerian Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://nigeria.usembassy.gov WHO (World Health Organization), 2004a. African Leaders Call for Increased Efforts to Prevent Violence. Press release, July 26. Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville. Retrieved from www.afro.who.int/note_press/2003/pr20030726.html Wikipedia,

Commercial Law Practitioner Essays - Insolvency, Bankruptcy

Commercial Law Practitioner Essays - Insolvency, Bankruptcy Commercial Law Practitioner Commercial Law Practitioner 2014 *47 Time Limits and the Appointment of ReceiversAn Analysis of Recent Authorities Mark Heslin* Time limits arise in many contexts in legal practice. A statute may allow a specific period for something to be done. A contract may require a particular act by a given time. Practitioners unilaterally set deadlines for a response, in default of which there will be specific consequences. For instance, a demand may seek payment immediately or by close of business, but what do those phrases mean? Can one validly demand immediate payment outside normal banking hours, and when do these start and end? This article proposes to examine the attitude of the courts to compliance with certain important time limits, and how disputes and ambiguities in relation to such phrases have been dealt with, particularly in the context of the appointment of a The Belohn Ltd (Belohn) owned and operated bars and a restaurant on the corner of Merrion Street and Merrion Row, Dublin, under the name Foley's. The company ran into financial difficulties and on October 10, 2012, its bank appointed a receiver and manager over Belohn's assets. On December 18, 2012, a challenge to the receiver's appointment was brought by Belohn's holding company, The Merrow Ltd (Merrow). Judgment was given in the High Court on the morning of March 22, 20131 appointment was void, a finding based primarily on a requirement in one of the relevant debentures that the bank appoint by writing under its seal a Receiver of the mortgaged property. The receiver's appointment had not been made under seal. by Mr Justice Gilligan. The court held that the receiver's Following the delivery of Gilligan J.'s judgment, the bank's solicitors made a demand on Belohn, later the same day, for the repayment of in excess of 4 million. At the same time, a demand was made on Merrow for in excess of 1 million then due. The demands, which were handed to the relevant director at 16.15 on March 22, required payment by 17.00. In the absence of payment being made, the bank, at 17.10, appointed the same receiver over all of Merrow's property and assets. The only assets of Merrow were its subsidiary, Belohn. The appointment at 17.10 on March 22 was not communicated to Merrow until approximately 16.30 on Sunday, March 24. Petition to Appoint Examiner Upon learning of the receiver's appointment, Merrow presented a petition in its name and that of Belohn seeking to appoint examiners to each company. The application was heard, ex parte, at about 21.00 at the home of Mr Justice Hogan on the evening of Sunday, March 24, 2013.2 petitioner impressed upon Hogan J. the importance of the petition being presented before midnight. Under s.2 of the Companies (Amendment) Act 1990 (the 1990 Act), the court may appoint an examiner upon a petition being presented. Section 3(6) of the 1990 Act specifies an important time limit, providing that the court shall not hear any petition if a receiver stands appointed to the company and has been so for a continuous period of at least 3 days prior to the Of particular interest is the analysis by Hogan J. of the three-day time limit by which a petition must be presented for the appointment of an examiner, following the appointment of a receiver, and the court's comments on any effort to frustrate the bringing of such petitions. The court heard that financial institutions often appoint receivers late on a Friday, because an application for the appointment of an examiner will depend, first, on the company learning that a receiver has been appointed, and, secondly, locating a duty judge over the weekend. The court found that if a receiver is appointed on a Friday, an application on the following Monday would be too late, having regard to s.18(h) of the Interpretation Act 2005. This provides: Where a period of time is expressed to begin on or be reckoned from a particular date, that day shall be deemed to be included in the period and, where a period of time is expressed to end on or be reckoned to a particular date, that day shall be deemed to be included in the Therefore, even if a receiver is not appointed until late on a Friday evening, that day will be included in the computation of the relevant three-day period, which will expire at midnight on Sunday. Financial institutions hoping that a petitioner seeking to appoint an examiner will not become aware of such an appointment in

B Cells

B Cells B cells are white blood cells that protect the body against pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Pathogens and foreign matter have associated  molecular signals that identify them as antigens. B cells recognize these  molecular signals and produce antibodies that are specific to the specific antigen. There are billions of B cells in the body. Unactivated B cells circulate in the blood until they come in contact with an antigen and become activated. Once activated, B cells produce the antibodies needed to fight against infection. B cells are necessary for adaptive or specific immunity, which focuses on the destruction of foreign invaders that have gotten past the bodies initial defenses. Adaptive immune responses are highly specific and provide long-lasting protection against the pathogens that elicit the response. B Cells and Antibodies B cells are a specific type of white blood cell called a lymphocyte. Other types of lymphocytes include T cells and natural killer cells. B cells develop from stem cells in bone marrow. They remain in the bone marrow until they become mature. Once they are fully developed, B cells are released into the blood where they travel to lymphatic organs. Mature B cells are capable of becoming activated and producing antibodies. Antibodies are specialized proteins  that travel through the bloodstream and are found in bodily fluids. Antibodies recognize specific antigens by identifying certain areas on the surface of the antigen known as antigenic determinants. Once the specific antigenic determinant is recognized, the antibody will bind to the determinant. This binding of the antibody to the antigen identifies the antigen as a target to be destroyed by other immune cells, such as cytotoxic T cells. B Cell Activation On the surface of a B cell is a B cell receptor (BCR) protein. The BCR enables B cells to capture and bind to an antigen. Once bound, the antigen is internalized and digested by the B cell and certain molecules from the antigen are attached to another protein called a class II MHC protein. This antigen-class II MHC protein complex is then presented on the surface of the B cell. Most B cells are activated with the help of other immune cells. When cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells engulf and digest pathogens, they capture and present antigenic information to T cells. The T cells multiply and some differentiate into helper T cells. When a helper T cell comes in contact with the antigen-class II MHC protein complex on the B cells surface, the helper T cell sends signals that activate the B cell. Activated B cells proliferate and can either develop into cells called plasma cells or into other cells called memory cells. Plasma B Cells ​ These cells create antibodies that are specific to a specific antigen. The antibodies circulate in bodily fluids and blood serum until they bind to an antigen. Antibodies debilitate antigens until other immune cells can destroy them. It can take up to two weeks before plasma cells can generate enough antibodies to counteract a specific antigen. Once the infection is under control, antibody production decreases. Some activated B cells form memory cells. Memory B Cells ​ This specified form of B cell enables the immune system to recognize antigens that the body has previously encountered. If the same type of antigen enters the body again, memory B cells direct a secondary immune response in which antibodies are produced more quickly and for a longer period of time. Memory cells are stored in the lymph nodes and spleen and can remain in the body for the life of an individual. If enough memory cells are produced while encountering an infection, these cells can provide life-long immunity against certain diseases. Sources Immune Cells and Their Products. NIAID National Institutes of Health. Updated 2008 October 02.Alberts B, Johnson A, Lewis J, et al. Molecular Biology of the Cell. 4th edition. New York: Garland Science; 2002. Helper T Cells and Lymphocyte Activation.

Social Discount Rates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Social Discount Rates - Essay Example The discount rate which is used in financial calculations is usually chosen to be equal to the cost of capital. Some adjustment may be made to the discount rate to take account of risks associated with uncertain cashflows, with other developments. Evaluating an investment project can require the use of approaches designed to integrate the consideration of the flexibility and uncertainties associated with the investment opportunity under study (Robert Wilson, 1982). Regardless of the approach adopted, a project evaluation, based on deterministic hypotheses, is nonetheless inevitable at some given moment. The problem that arises is the choice of the 'conventional' method which helps to determine the project value with due integration of the financing related aspects. As Brealey and Myers (Robert Wilson, 1982) show it, various methods can be used, including standard WACC, Arditti-Levy, equity residual and adjusted present value. Historically, with certain assumptions, the consistency of these methods has been demonstrated by comparing them in pairs by Robert Wilson, 1982. However, this consistency could also suggest the existence of a single approach underlying these different methods, and from which they could all derive. The NPV is greatly affected by the discount rate, so selecting the proper rate - sometimes called the hurdle rate - is critical to making the right decision. The hurdle rate is the minimum acceptable return on an investment. It should reflect the riskiness of the investment, typically measured by the volatility of cash flows, and must take into account the financing mix (Ross,1976). Managers may use models such as the CAPM or the APT to estimate a discount rate appropriate for each particular project, and use the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) to reflect the financing mix selected. A common practice in choosing a discount rate for a project is to apply a WACC that applies to the entire firm. Some believe that a higher discount rate is more appropriate when a project's risk is different from the risk of the firm as a whole(Ross,1976). In capital budgeting the correct risk adjusted discount rate for future cash flows is independent of whether the flow is a cost or a revenue. Contrary to a widely disseminated view in some popular textbooks and elsewhere, costs are not especially safe (nor risky), and accordingly costs should not be discounted at especially low risk adjusted discount rates (Robert, 1998). Three Methods for Determining Discount Rates 1. The historical approach: One approach to find discount rates is to assume that the average rate which has been observed in the past will continue into the future. Typically, those who use this approach rely on the real interest rates which have been reported over a decade. What analysis of these rates indicates is that real rates were fairly stable over the period 1950-1970, at approximately 3 percent. During the oil crisis, of the early 1970s, real interest rat

Human resource management Management of physical resources Marketing Essay

Human resource management Management of physical resources Marketing Information systems - Essay Example They not only advice the managers on issues related to employees but also help the organization in achieving its objectives and aims. The International Business Machines have always emphasized on the paramount importance the employees hold in the organization. The founder of IBM had stated that they say a man is known for the company he keeps. We say in our business that a company is known by the man it keeps. At IBM, the overall human resource strategy focuses on four specific areas. These areas are business value, innovation, on demand infrastructure and global integration. IBMs HR strategy aims at identifying the characteristics of the company that energizes as well as motivates its employees. This is mainly because behind the overall strategy are the employees who work hard to make it all work. IBM has always been committed to a diversified workforce and always strives to attain candidates who are qualified and reflect the markets served by the organization. The IBM recruiting is strategically designed to reach the brightest professional talent. The organization works hard to motivate its employees through leadership, flexibility, a value based climate, performance based opportunities and by hiring diverse and talented people. At IBM, the Human resource is expected to achieve certain objectives. These include mainly to grow IBM, also the HR is to anticipate and build skills and lastly to lead transformation. The contribution of human resource development techniques at IBM ensures employee engagement. The employees are provided access to On Demand Workplace through which they access to a variety of tools and websites in order to build expertise and manage career. This includes E-learning; which is IBM’s central warehouse of all online courses that are offered by the IBM professionals, Career sites and tools; these enable the employees to not only identify opportunities but also to mark their progress as they proceed along their career path and to

PORTFOLIO THEORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

PORTFOLIO THEORY - Essay Example One of the important implications of the efficient market hypothesis is that portfolio selection does not make for superior investment results; rather, the achievement of high returns is more properly related to the additional risk than to superior stock-selection ability. Although many fundamental and technical analysts would want to take issue with this claim, still many theoreticians believe that this is correct and would be able to cite empirical research findings to support their views. When considering risk, one would want to consider different scenarios about the future and assign probabilities to each one. Normally, companies would thrive when the economy is booming. But there are exceptions. For example, some investments would fare badly during during recessions , and others would thrive under such conditions (such as gold production). It is a good idea, therefore to give weights to alternative possible scenarios and to arrive at a single figure called the Expected Value. Risk for any stock or security is measured by the standard deviation around a given expected value. Where there is wide dispersion of possible outcomes, the standard deviation would be larger, implying more risks. It is common knowledge that the greater the variability of returns, the less certain the actual outcomes would be; so one would prefer less dispersion and variability in the returns for a particular stock. The single figure called the standard deviation provides a clue as to the risk of a particular stock, and stocks could therefore be compared on the basis of its size. For two-asset portfolio of a stock (or projects, as deal with in the attached case), one tries to obtain, firstly the weighted average of the expected returns, and, secondly, the portfolio standard deviation. The two stocks that are combined will interact in such a way that the risk of the two-asset

The Importance of Being on Time Essay Example for Free

The Importance of Being on Time Essay Time is a reality of life that is utterly inescapable. Like God, it is omnipresent as no matter what a person does; time will always run out for things to be done and tasks to be finished. The factory worker in a tire factory will always have to make sure that he reaches the production quota set by management, lest he be fired from the company. The lawyer will have to ensure that he finishes the entire research of the pleading in a civil rights case, lest he be scolded by the judge and compromise the case of his client. The student will have to wake up early, lest he be late for school and earn the ire of the school administrators for tardiness. The investment banker of Morgan Stanley will lose his clients to other investment banks if he misses the train for canoodling with his wife before leaving home. In all of these examples, a major contributing factor for all of their actions is being on time. However, like God, time is also one of the most underestimated things in life, taken for granted as though it is never important. This paper aims to justify the importance of being on time as part of the daily life of persons and even society. There are three reasons why being on time is important – efficiency and productivity, (missed) opportunities, and cordial respect to peers and superiors. Efficiency and Productivity   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Being on time is actually an economic decision which is based on the concept of maximization of scarce resources in the least possible amount of time. In a given time frame for production, an hour for example, being late for a few minutes is already tantamount to a lessening of the production output for an entire hour because those few minutes of lateness were spent on idle work unrelated to the production at hand, such as being in transit. For example, if a female textile worker in China arrived five minutes late as production of Ralph Lauren shirts starts factory-wide, her lateness may delay the entire assembly line of production, especially when the female worker occupies a specialized and indispensable function in the assembly line, such a quality control officer that inspects each and every shirt that is produced by the factory. As a result of the delay in the operations due to a single person’s lateness, the profits and production for the day of the company might decrease in comparison to days when the factory worker arrives on time or prior to the start of production. In this example, the simple lateness of a person compromised the operations of the entire company, resulting to less efficiency and productivity leading to fewer profits. Another example of such lack of efficiency and productivity is in the classroom setting, especially in the universities when professors can invoke academic freedom on the way they choose to teach, to the extent that such freedom is used as the paramount excuse for their lateness or even absence in lectures. If the lecture on constitutional law, for instance, aims to cover the entire concept and jurisprudence of the due process clause for the day, the lateness of the professor of around fifteen minutes for a two-hour class already short-changes the students of his class because instead of covering the entire planned lecture, the professor might either reschedule the latter part on another day, or lecture so fast to finish everything to the prejudice of the full comprehension of students of the lecture. More so, such lateness also takes its toll on the resources of the university as a good fifteen minutes is devoted not for academic learning but idly waiting for the professor to arrive. Multiply this to the number of professors who are frequently late and the number of times that these professors are actually late, it could stretch on for hours on end that the school’s resources are wasted. In both cases, lateness instead of being on time lessens efficiency and productivity not only of the single late person but the other interacting parties as well. (Missed) Opportunities   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On a lighter note, being on time can determine the making or unmaking of a person, a group and even a people. The best example for this would be meeting deadlines for term papers and thesis in all academic levels. Many brilliant men and women have failed to graduate with honors or even failed to graduate at all for the simple reason that they failed to submit their papers on time. This does not speak simply of the final deadline but includes the submission of piece-meal parts of researches for the assessment of the professors and teachers as a delay even of the first part of a research or its draft can lead to cumulative consequences in the end, to the extent that many students would resort to procrastination through plagiarism, among many other things. On the other hand, being on time does not simply including arriving at the expected time but also pertains to being at the exact historical moment when destiny knocks on one’s door, as lateness and even early birds can jeopardize the seizing of opportunities for a person, a group or a people. Had the American liberation forces been late or too early when they set foot on Normandy, the history of the world might have been entirely different. Crudely too, if the geeky boy-next-door in a physics class delayed for another day the admission of love to his pretty classmate, the girl of his dreams might have soon gone steady with the high school jock. The point of this part is very fundamental – being on time, in the ways enumerated above, presents people with opportunities which they might soon miss or lose if they came even just a bit late or came a little too early. Cordial Respect to Peers and Superiors   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Finally, being on time gives the impression of cordial respect to peers and superiors to the extent that their time spent with the person on time is laden with trust, confidence and respect. It includes not only personal relationships but professional relationships as well, especially in sealing contracts and negotiating better terms for the company one represents. For example, the other party to a multi-billion dollar contract would more likely have better rapport and confidence to a person who comes flawlessly on time with all the documents prepared rather than a person late for the same corporate meeting because a person on time tacitly accords good faith and cordial relations to the other party by simply being on time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In all of these, the three reasons above suffice to convincingly prove the importance of being on time, not only in simple social-anecdotal terms but also insofar as presenting the economic side of being on time. In the ultimate analysis, there actually no need to problematize and even embark on such a discourse on the importance of being on time. Such a trait should already be inherent in men and women who value people other than themselves. While lateness per se is really hard to eradicate especially when excuses are valid, lateness should be more of a very strict exception rather than a general rule, especially among young people who usually do otherwise. Be on time, and things will definitely get better in the long run, in all aspect of a person’s life.