Should Animals Be Used In Medical Research Essay

Should Animals Be Used In Medical Research - Essay Example According to the paper ‘morality’, ‘rights’ and ‘ethics’ are part of philosophy and not of ‘survival instinct’. Millions of people would have either died or would have lived ill lives if the progress in the medical field was not made. Hence, even though use of animals in medical research is violation of animal rights, it is nothing but a different form of ‘fight or flight’ instinct used by human beings to survive the threat to their lives through diseases and health problems. Hence, human beings have every right to use animals in medical research as they are genetically programmed to ‘survive’ any threat and through any means, as they are the part of the natural system where ‘survival of the fittest’ is an accepted law of nature. This paper gives a strong opinion that a healthy body, mind and a soul are foundation of healthy and happy life of human beings. With advent of machines and computers, the physical exertion of human beings have reduced to a great extend. People have become lethargic, physically inactive and dependent on machines to do most of their work. It concluded that humans would have replaced the animals in laboratories for medical research and would have died unnecessarily. The number of the inventions and the discoveries that were made in the medical world with the help of animals shows how important the use of animals is in the medical research. Sadly, most of the discoveries and inventions were possible only because animals were used in the laboratories and researches. Improvement In Quality And Quantity Of Human Life The development of different methods to cure and prevent diseases in humans and animals, in last 100 years, has been possible because of animal experiments in medical research (Giridharan, Kumar & Muthuswamy, 2000, p.1). In last four centuries, major advances in basic research and medical treatments have been achieved only because of the experiments on animals (Giridharan,

Growing telecommunication in society Essay Example for Free

Growing telecommunication in society Essay It is clear that growing telecommunication will help increase the effectiveness of business. Some consulting companies can do not need to hire office, to buy expensive equipment. People can stay at home to do your business. they dont need to strictly come to the office. This is much more convenient than ever before. However life is harder. People both yough and old seem to stick to their computer all the time for their work or and for their entertainment. It is true that there are so many things in a computer. People can explore a lot of things. They can easily contact with a friend far away by email, they can know what is happening and even they can go to the market though Internet and there are many other services in the Internet that I cannot count. But the problem is that some people are now addicted to computers and they lose other habits in life. People become stricter because face to face communication is increasingly dwindling. They spend less time to enjoy the beauty of the nature which is very beautiful with alive scenes with sunshine, with fresh air and a variety of things. As a result, human emotion is also reducing. People are not developed fully in mental and physical strength. In addition, as shown recently by research of scientists , sitting in front of computers for long time will affect people health. The eye is seriously affected. The number of myopic people is increasing. Sitting in a place also makes people feel tired and stressed. Beside, the whole society seem to be running in a strict mechanism which is facilitated by the computer system. If there appear a problem, this system will collapse rapidly. It can be easily seen many cases of computer hacking which cause great damage to the society and business, for example the virus love , originated in the Philippines caused great damage on the global scale in the United States and in south east Asia. The power of the damage is very strong.

The Effects Of Television On Society Essay -- Media Violence TV Societ

The Effects Of Television On Society There is probably no greater influence on society than the television. It has become arguably the greatest invention of the past century. With it, we have witnessed countless historical events: Inaugurations of presidents; man’s first steps on the moon; the assignation of John F. Kennedy; even disasters as they happen. Americans watch TV in the morning to receive the daily news. They eat watching it. They watch it before they go to bed. But as television has saturated our lives, has it always resulted toward our betterment or has it possibly led to the deprivation of American society? Although there are many benefits of television, American society has most assuredly been adversely affected by it. Since the birth of television, crime has skyrocketed. Many years ago, problems in school were chewing gum and running in the halls. Now, students fear for their lives as our schools have turned into war zones, with school shootings becoming a national problem. Many attribute this problem to the violence children watch on television. Children have become desensitized concerning the value of human life by the many murders and violence viewed on the screen. Television has led to the moral decline in our nation like no other device in history. With the coming of cable and satellite television, Americans now have scores of channels to watch with very little educational value. Many children sit for hours in front of the television, and could ...

Cognitive Science and Its Link to Artificial Intelligence Essay

Cognitive Science and Its Link to Artificial Intelligence In recent years, researchers in the field of psychology have turned their collective attention to the developing field of cognition. The term comes from the Latin word cognoscere, meaning â€Å"to come to know†, and today is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as â€Å"the act or process of knowing, including both awareness and judgment†. Cognitive psychology seeks to identify and examine the elements composing human intelligence. This includes the study of human learning or intellectual development, problem solving, memory, the human language, and the processing and comprehension of information. These functions are often taken for granted as part of human existence. Yet, when thoroughly investigated, these inner-workings of the human brain reveal patterns, methods, and, in general, a science behind the rather ethereal term â€Å"intelligence†. For this reason, cognitive psychology is of great interest to researchers in the field of artificial intelli gence. If intelligence can be identified in human cognition, then there is a valid chance that that same intelligence can be transferred and re-created in a programmed computer. The development of cognitive psychology has lead to related fields of cognitive neurology, or cognitive neuro-psychology, wherein neurologists study the brain biology behind these cognitive human functions. This paper, however, will not discuss that element of cognition because of its complexity and breadth. Instead, language and problem solving will be highlighted and discussed as two important cognitive functions of humans, and will conclude by discussing the connection between the human mind and artificial intelligence. Language... ...re of Cognition. Cambridge, Massachusetts; The MIT Press, 1999. [1] Barsalou, Lawrence W. Cognitive Psychology: An Overview for Cognitive Scientists. New Jersey: London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 1992. [2] Reisberg, Daniel. Cognition: Exploring the Science of the Mind. New York: London: W. W. Norton & Company, 1997. [3] Barsalou, Lawrence W. Cognitive Psychology: An Overview for Cognitive Scientists. New Jersey: London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 1992. [4] Eysenck, Michael W. A Handbook of Cognitive Psychology. New Jersey: London; Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 1984. [5] Johnson-Laird, P.N. The Computer and The Mind. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1988. [6] Sternberg, Robert J., Editor. The Nature of Cognition. Cambridge, Massachusetts; The MIT Press, 1999.

Ethics and The Truman Show Essay

In Psychological research, the importance of the building of trust and protection of individuals’ rights relies on the Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics, compiled by The Australian Psychological Society (APS) provides guidelines that must be followed when working with people and animals in research situations and all other areas of professional practice (Grivas & Carter, 2005). The importance of maintaining several ethical standards is highlighted in the present discussion, with reference to the film The Truman Show (2008). The ethical standards include Confidentiality, Informed Consent, The Right to Withdraw and No Harm to Participants. Confidentiality and Informed Consent are all important ethical principles that are related to the film The Truman Show. Confidentiality is that participants have a right to privacy. This is important so participants’ private information is not shared with the whole world. An example of this being breached is when Truman is born in front of a world audience, on a TV show that millions of people are watching 24/7. Informed Consent is that wherever possible, the participants must be appropriately informed of what the study is about and the reasons it’s being conducted (Grivas & Carter, 2005). This ethical principle is important so that the participant knows what is going on. An example of this being violated in the film is that Truman does not know his life is a TV show, so he must not have been told the necessary details and reasons why the experiment is being conducted. Both of these main ethical standards, Confidentiality and Informed Consent are breached in the film Th e Truman Show. The Right to Withdraw and No Harm to Participants are both important ethical standards that are related to the film The Truman Show. The Right to Withdraw ensures that the participant knows that they are free to withdraw from the study at any time. This is important so that the participant doesn’t feel pressured to stay in the experiment if they change their mind and decide they do not want to participate any more. An example of this being violated in the film is when Truman wants to go to Fiji to escape his strange reality, and there are no plane flights until a few months away, so he cannot leave. No Harm To Participants is that participants must not be harmed in any way (Grivas & Carter, 2005). This is important so that  participants do not get mentally or physically harmed in the experiment. An example of this being breached in the film, is that Truman is mentally unwell because he was so unsure of what was going on around him. He began to feel a false sense of security, especially when he realised that the same things were happening each day, and the same people were popping in and out of his life everyday. Both of these main ethical principles are violated in the film The Truman Show. Ethics are important in psychological research because they ensure privacy and safety for the participants. The APS has compiled their own set of guidelines, known as the Code of Ethics. This set of standards includes a number of principles which must be followed in psychological studies. Some of these principles include Confidentiality, Informed Consent, The Right to Withdraw and No Harm to Participants. These standards are all related to the film The Truman Show, in which they are all violated. References Carter, L. & Grivas, J. (2005) Psychology for the VCE Student. Units 1and 2 (5th Ed.) Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd. p. 81-88.

How to Create Your Elevator Pitch and Get Hired

How to Create Your Elevator Pitch and Get Hired Okay, hotshot. You’ve got 30 seconds to make the impression that’s going to get you the job. And†¦go! What, you stopped to think about it? Bzzzzzt. The moment is gone, and you can sense your opportunity window closing while the interviewer awkwardly shifts and looks at the clock. If only you’d had an elevator pitch ready to go.What is an Elevator Pitch?The â€Å"elevator pitch† is just a buzzword-y way of saying â€Å"snapshot of important points, stated briefly and to the point.† An elevator ride is typically short, so that’s why it makes a good namesake. In a career context, it means a quick overview your best points and your goals. But in general, it can really be about anything you’re trying to sell to the listener. For example, here are elevator pitches you could use to convince someone to watch a TV show:Game of Thrones is a fantasy-sci-fi drama that follows several different political factions jockeying for power in the kin gdom of Westeros. In addition to the political machinations, there are ice zombies threatening from the North. Oh, and there are dragons! It has something for everybody.Basically, the elevator pitch is a brief, snappy couple of sentences that tell the listener what they need to know- or, more specifically, what you want them to know. The goal isn’t to be a dry source of facts, but rather offer a few curated points that show the highlights.When Will You Need an Elevator Pitch?Although the elevator pitch is a perfect fit for our 140-characters-or-fewer society, you may not be asked to give your spiel in every job interview. However, it’s a great resource to have when you’re unexpectedly on the spot- like at a job fair, a networking event, or a social event where you just happen to be making small talk with a hiring manager at a company where you’d love to get your foot in the door. Though if you are at a social event, pick your timing wisely. Your new acqua intance may just want to talk about last night’s game or that hilarious viral video making the rounds, instead of talking shop.The elevator pitch is also an excellent answer to have on hand for the dreaded â€Å"tell me a little about yourself† question in an interview. Because you’ll already have some of your brightest talking points ready to go (more on that in a bit), you won’t have to spend precious interview time thinking about how to distill your professional self down to the essence. That question often comes at the beginning of the interview, so having your elevator pitch at the ready can help set a smooth, prepared, and confident tone for the rest of the interview.10 Tips for Your Elevator PitchIf you don’t know where to start, we have you covered- use the following 10 tips as a guide on crafting an ideal pitch that gets results.1. Keep it short.Remember, the elevator pitch is so named because it’s meant to last about as long as an elevator ride- about 30 seconds, and definitely less than 60 seconds. (We’re not talking about the Empire State Building elevator here.) That means you should have a few go-to sentences you can use. And while you’re writing, time yourself. If you find yourself creeping up on the minute mark, it’s time to revise and simplify.2. Be persuasive.That means being direct about your accomplishments and qualities, and leaving out qualifiers like â€Å"I guess,† â€Å"I think.† No time for modesty- make bold, declarative statements.3. Be concise.There are times when you will have a chance to expound on your resume, your experience, or your point of view. When asked for an elevator pitch, make sure you’re including only a few main points, and keep the sentences short and straightforward.4. Know your audience.It really depends on who you’re talking to, and what the context is. If you’re at a professional mixer with people who know your ind ustry inside and out, feel free to use a little jargon. If you’re talking to a recruiter or someone who may not know your professional world as well, keep your wording more general.5. Keep the tone professional.An elevator pitch is a confidence thing- you’re making a straightforward statement about yourself. However, it’s important not to be overconfident or too braggy. You want your accomplishments and goals to speak for themselves. You don’t want to turn off your listener just as you’re getting started. Similarly, using wit and humor is fine too- but always keep jokes fairly mild and professional.6. Mention your top skills.Your resume is where you can really break down your skill set, but in your elevator pitch, that is the time to mention that you’re a great communicator, or that you’ve got amazing organizational skills. Focus on the kinds of skills that add value to an organization, like leadership, teamwork, or attention to detai l. Here’s your chance to brag a little about your top skills, but again, be careful of using a boastful tone.7. Include (some of) your goals.This doesn’t need to be a detailed life plan, or your five-year professional plan. Remember, this is a highlight reel, so you’ll want to focus on your main professional goal, or what you’re seeking in this interview/conversation/etc. If you’re talking to an interviewer or recruiter, you don’t need to say something like â€Å"seeking a job as an accountant†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦they already know that. Instead, go with something like, â€Å"looking to take my financial skills and experience to the next level.†8. Answer big questions.When writing your elevator pitch, think about some overarching questions like:What’s the most important aspect of my background?What accomplishments do I have?What are my best skills?What do I want to get out of this pitch?What’s my biggest strength?What drives me the most?What would I like to achieve?Why did I choose my career?What do I like best about my job/career?What do I value the most?You don’t need to cram all of those Big Ideas into your elevator pitch, but you can mix and match them depending on the setting, and to whom you’re speaking.9. Be ready to follow up.If you’re giving your pitch to someone you’ve never met before and may not be talking to five minutes from now, have a business card on hand that you can pass along. If you’re in an interview, be ready to answer follow-up questions about anything you just said- examples that show your skills, or anecdotes about why you love your career.10. Practice like crazy.Do this in front of the mirror, your cat, or a trusted loved one. In the moment, you don’t want to appear stumbling or unprepared, but you also don’t want it to come off like a bored, rehearsed monologue. You want your elevator pitch to sound smooth and confident. This can help you modify things like speed (many of us talk too fast, especially when we’re trying to get through a set of lines), eye contact, and timing.Example Elevator PitchesLet’s look at some samples you can use while thinking about your own elevator pitch.I’m a graduate student in Communications, with a passion for working with special needs students. After completing my thesis in advanced language strategies for children with cognitive impairments, my goal is to work for an agency that specializes in implementing everyday educational programs that help students improve their reading and writing outcomes.After five years of working in corporate marketing and social media, I’ve decided to embrace my inner entrepreneur and start my own company. My company’s mission is providing no-nonsense, data-driven metrics that our clients can take and use right away in their day-to-day business. I want to provide big company expertise for small business owners. M y passion is â€Å"design with a conscience.† I design products that have a minimal impact on the environment, while maximizing sustainability. My background is in both design and environmental science, and I believe that we can make consumer products that combine convenience and responsibility.I’m the data guy. I look at complex metrics, and turn them into a big picture plan. And I love working as part of a team, where diverse ideas and perspectives can lead to better ways of doing things. I firmly believe that the status quo can always be improved.I’m a nurse-practitioner with more than 15 years of experience in patient care. With the challenges of working in healthcare, I know that patients often feel ignored or hustled through, so I’ve made it a priority in my career to make sure that every patient is heard, and gets the highest standards of care. I’m a recent grad, and although I don’t yet have years of experience in the field, I do hav e the organizational and people skills to take my career to the next level. I was just named the Volunteer of the Year, and I bring a high level of care and focus to everything I do.So what do you think? Are you ready to go forth and make a bold statement about who you are, in 30 seconds or less?

Explanation of chemical feeling of love Essays

Explanation of chemical feeling of love Essays Explanation of chemical feeling of love Essay Explanation of chemical feeling of love Essay Essay Topic: Love Medicine The Explanation of Love and Monogamy Among Men Marcel Dante Gearing Ivy Tech Community College On the day of November twenty-seventh, Time Magazine released an article proclaiming to have found the source of human monogamy and love. With a concentration on men, Mall Salivate, the author, proposed that the chemical extinction Is responsible for modern day love. extinction a chemical that Is Influential In the maternal connection created between mother and child, therefore bonding the two emotionally. Time magazine also states that extinction can also make romantic ratters look more attractive than strangers to men, even if both are objectively equally good looking. According to Time Magazines Maim Salivate, monogamy has been a biological mystery for years. Including statistics that project the belief that only 3 percent of mammals are monogamous, and this percentage is weighted by the understanding that simply, males can produce much more offspring by mating with more than one female. To reiterate and clarify the newfound discovery of extinctions abilities, Once men receive extinction, the attractiveness of the partner increases compared to the attractiveness value recorded for other females, says Herculean. Time magazine then states, And the men were not aware that they behaved differently on extinction; in fact, they could not reliably distinguish between it and placebo. They didnt feel high or any craving ? at least as measured by their ratings of their feelings in both conditions. In conclusion of Time Magazines article, Maim Salivate writes that extinction can create unconscious biases towards a personal partner, which in turn would support monogamy and influence more intimate emotional connections. Not only Is extinction lived to develop rose colored glasses, but It also may unconsciously deterring Interest In other potential mates. In the recent article written by Mall Salivate from Time Magazine, proper scientific terminology was applied frequently and eff ectively. Mamas objective seemed to be the assessment of why men committed to monogamy and what could be the source of faithfulness. An article written by Rene Herculean titled, The Promises and Perils of Extinction supports and ferrules these claims with actual research and live testing. The title of the article Itself was not misleading, but It does seem to be order In a particularly noticeable fashion. Rather than strictly stating the topic of the article through the title, it portrayed a more subjective, almost defensive feel. In inquisitive and exciting idea would set the tone for the facts. If the article was designed appeal to the emotional turmoil of those who have suffered from failed monogamy attempts it would cause the readers to become more invested. While becoming anxious for an answer to male faithfulness, readers would then be presented with the scientific results and facts. Using this style of writing, creates motional uproar, but then soothes and calms readers with an answer to their problems. Personally, my believe is that the author of this article presented and informed us readers clearly and intentionally. In regards to the title of the piece, it created some pessimistic assumptions prior to reading this article. Overall, Maim Salivate performed well and informed me of something that I had yet to come across in the world in neuroscience and biology. In conclusion, my approach to writing this article would have been more emotionally involved than what Maim had initiated. My reasoning behind this is my understanding that emotional reading revoke feelings from the past, which in turn gives my article a reservation in the minds of my readers. Also with my version, the title would fit smoothly into the representation of the info I displayed. Within Mamas article, the fact that kissing, and moments of intimacy created extinction inside the brain of males was presented. With this information people that have read this will be more physically involved with their male partner in order to further ensure monogamy. In the future, those that are wholeheartedly convinced by Time Magazines article, How Extinction Makes Men (Almost) Monogamous, will indeed increasingly enforce intimacy within their relationships. I expect people to use the lack of extinction and intimacy to rid themselves of a partner they no longer wish to be involved with. Decreasing the amount of kissing, physical arousal, and intimacy will cause the male partner to receive less extinction, therefore creating an opening for polygamy. RESOURCES Lay Article: How Extinction Makes Men (Almost) Monogamous, Maim Salivate, Time Magazine Article, Novo. 27, 2013 Peer-Reviewed Article: The Promise and Perils of Extinction, Rene Herculean, Article, September, 2012 Lay Article What happens when a man finds the one? His brain gets washed in extinction. The hormone and brain chemical best known for its role in love ? its also responsible for helping infants bond to their mothers ? can also make romantic partners look more attractive than strangers to men, even if both are objectively equally good looking. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study included 40 young men, all of whom had been in a relationship for at least six months and reported being passionately in love with their partners. While in a brain scanner, they either inhaled extinction or placebo via nasal spray while they viewed pictures of either their partners, women they knew but were not dating or women they had never met. The pictures were matched so that comparison women had been rated by independent observers as being equally attractive as the partners. In the men who were given extinction, the pleasure and desire regions of their brains lit up when they saw pictures of the women they loved ? but not when they looked at men knew, but not as strongly as by the pictures of their loved ones, suggesting that it made their partners more desirable. Its really intriguing, says Larry Young, professor of psychiatry at Emory University, in Atlanta, who was not associated with the research. The study is one of the first to show a role for the hormone in human monogamy (prior research revealed similar effects in other mammals). How monogamy works has long been a biological mystery. Sexual monogamy in humans is potentially costly for males, says lead author Dry. Rene Herculean, professor of psychiatry at the University of Bonn in Germany, explaining that he and his team wanted to understand some of the chemical contributors to the practice. Only 3% of mammals are monogamous, and that small proportion likely reflects the fact that from a simple b iological perspective, it makes little sense for males who could produce far more offspring by mating with multiple females. Once men receive extinction, the attractiveness of the partner increases compared to the attractiveness value recorded for other females, says Herculean. And the men were not aware that they behaved differently on extinction; in fact, they could not reliably distinguish between it and placebo. They didnt feel high or any craving ? at least as measured by their ratings of their feelings in both conditions. It really is very subtle, says Young, noting that the size of the difference between extinction and placebo was small. Whether this is because intranasal extinction doesnt have a powerful effect on the brain or because extinction typically changes behavior without our conscious awareness is not known. What is clear, however, is that extinction can create unconscious biases in favor of a partner, possibly providing part of the biological mechanism behind monogamy. A prior study by the same researchers, in fact, found that men in monogamous relationships who were given extinction actually kept a rater physical distance from an attractive research associate, compared with single men. Young suggests that extinction may actually have a dual effect ? by not only making partners more attractive but also actively deterring interest in other potential mates. He notes that in the monogamous prairie voles he studies, males that have a pair bond can actually be hostile to other females. They develop a very strong preference for the partner and slight aggression towards those who are not their partners, he says. The fact that these biases are only seen in men when under the influence of extinction ? not placebo ? may even hold lessons for those who want to stay faithful. Think about when extinction is released, says Herculean, noting that this occurs during kissing, hugging, orgasm and other intimate moments. The more such moments you have, the more extinction is released in the body. And, says Young, if you combine this with other rewarding experiences that also get the reward system going ? such as doing new and challenging things together ? you can strengthen your connection to each other. Seems like extinction might be the perfect ingredient for a fragrance called Faithful. Peer Review Article NEUROSCIENCE The Promise and Perils of Extinction Is extinction the next revolution in psychiatric medicine?or an overjoyed hormone desperation of patients and families living with disruptive disorders day in, day out. From bonding to bedside The hypothalamus, an evolutionarily ancient part of the mammalian brain, makes Kyoto- chin. Released into the bloodstream by the nearby pituitary gland, it signals the uterus to contract during childbirth and stimulates the release of milk for nursing. The hormone was the first peptide to be synthesized in the laboratory, a feat that earned American biochemist Vincent du Vignette the 1955 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Given the hormones known roles, researchers soon wondered whether it also played a role in reproductive behavior. In the late sass and early sass, work with rats and sheep found that extinction enhances mother-infant bonding. In the ass, Carter and others established its role in fostering pair bonding in prairie voles. Unlike most rodents, these furry inhabitants of the North American plains form lifelong bonds and share the work of raising offspring (although trysts are not uncommon). In 2000, Larry Young and colleagues at Emory University in Atlanta reported that genetically engine- neared mice lacking extinction are unable to recognize other individuals, pointing to an even broader role for the hormone in Monroe- productive social behavior. Although much of this work has been written into textbooks, the more recent ox- tocsin research in humans has frequently found its way into tabloids. In one of the first eye-catching studies, neurotransmitters Ernst Fear of the University of Zurich in Sit- garland and colleagues gave extinction nasal spray or a saline spray placebo to university students before a game in which they had to decide how much money to entrust to a stranger. (The more money a player entrusts, the larger the potential gains and potential losses. ) Those who got extinction were more trusting, the researchers reported in Nature in 2005. A torrent of studies followed, sue- getting that extinction not only increases trust and cooperation, but also boosts social per- captivities, such as face recognition and the ability to read whats on someones mind from the look in their eyes. Few substances produced by the human body have inspired as much hoopla as extinction. Recent newspaper articles have credited this hormone with promoting the kind of team- work that wins World Cup soccer champion- ships and suggested that supplements of the peptide could have prevented the dalliances and subsequent downfall of a certain high- ranking U. S intelligence official. Although the breathless media coverage often goes too far, it reflects a genuine and infectious excitement among many scientists about the hormones role in social behavior. First stud- led by biologists for its role in childbirth and lactation, extinction has more recently cap- titivated neuroscience and psychologists who have found that it can promote trust and cooperation and make people more attuned to social cues. Now psychiatrists have caught Kyoto- chin fever. Dozens of clinical trials are under way, or will be soon, to investigate the horn- ones potential benefits for a wide range of psychiatric disorders. The interest isnt hard to understand. Many psychiatric con- editions have social symptoms, such as the characteristic lack of empathy in autism, the attachment anxiety of borderline personality disorder, and the paranoia of schizophrenia. Yet no drugs currently approved for psychiatry- rice use directly target social behavior. For autism in particular, hopes for Kyoto- chin run high. A large trial of the hormone on 300 affected parents of autistic children have persuaded physicians to prescribe Kyoto- chin nasal spray, which can be obtained from compounding pharmacies. At first glance, extinction might seem like just what the doctor should be ordering. But as researchers have continued to explore the hormones effect on human behavior, a darker side has emerged. Extinction seems to promote aggression or other antisocial behavior in some circumstances. Its effects also appear to vary depending on a persons genetic makeup and psychological status. And no one knows what long-term Kyoto- chin treatment does to the developing human brain. Disconcertingly, one recent study found that male voles treated for several weeks with extinction nasal spray around the time of adolescence later exhibited impaired social bonding with females. The more we know, the more complicated its getting, says Sue Carter, a behavioral neuroscience- monologist and a pioneer of research on ox- tocsins role in social behavior now based at ART International in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. What worries me, and should worry others, is that so much of the basic background is missing ?SUE CARTER, ART INTERNATIONAL Carter is particularly worried about giving extinction to children before more is known about the hormones developmental effects. l think there probably is a place for Kyoto- chin in several aspects of medicine, she says. But what worries me, and should worry tooth- errs, is that so much of the basic background is missing. At the same time, those leading the trio- alas say that the scientific rationale for using extinction is already strong enough, especially given the lack of better options. This could be the first drug to address the core sump- toms of autism, says Geraldine Dawson, a opalescent and child clinical psychology- gist and chief science officer of Autism Speaks, which has funded some of the early pilot studies. These findings quickly led to speculation about clinical applications. The f iris pub- listed study in which extinction was given to autistic children appeared online in Biology- cal Psychiatry in late 2009. In an experiment conducted by Adam Estella, a clinical psychologist at the University of Sydney in Australia, and colleagues, 16 autistic boys between 12 and 19 years old received a sin- glee dose of extinction nasal spray or a placebo in one session, and the alternative in another. Neither the boys nor the researchers evaluate- inning them knew which time they gotten the hormone. ) On extinction, the boys performed better on a common test of social cognition that involves looking at photographs of faces cropped to show Just the eyes and report- inning what emotion the person is most likely experiencing. The improvement was modest: from about 45% to 49% correct on average. People without autism typically get more than 70% correct. Studies in adults with autism have also demonstrated improvements on standard lab tests of social cognition. But the vast majority of published work on extinction to date as looked at the effects of a single dose over the course of an hour or so in the lab. The real question is whether the hormone can restore normal behavior in real life. To find out, Estella and others are conducting trials in which people with autism take daily sniffs of extinction for seven- real weeks or months. These pilot studies are in various stages and several researchers told Science that its too soon to talk about the findings in detail. Interesting things are coming out of these studies, Estella says makes us think this is a cure for autism. get under way this spring should help clarify things. It will be led y psychiatrist Linear Sickish at the University of North Car- Olin (UNC), Chapel Hill, who A far larger trial scheduled to received a $12. 6 million Autism Centers of Excellence grant from the National Institutes of Health in September for this trial. Her team plans to enroll 300 autistic children between the ages of 3 and 17, half of whom will receive extinction nasal spray twice daily for 6 months in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, and all of whom will receive the hormone for 6 months in a subsequent open-label extent- Soon of the trial. Researchers will look for any adverse side effects and monitor the kids with arioso checklist measures of social behavior filled out by a clinician or parent. Autism is hardly the only disease being investigated. Out of 44 neuropsychiatry trio- alas of extinction listed on ecclesiastical. Ova, roughly three-quarters are for other disorders. Pilot studies in people with schizophrenia, who often suffer from paranoia and difficulty reading social cues, suggest that extinction can reduce psychotic symptoms and improve social cognition. The benefits are modest, but encouraging, says Court Petersen, a psychic- trust and behavioral neurologists at UNC Chapel Hill. Ephedrines work in the sass established the role of extinction in mother-infant bond- inning, but more recently his interest has turned to the hormones clinical potential. One of the real deficits in psychiatry research is a complete lack of appreciation of evolution, Petersen says. The human brain evolved to evaluate and maneuver in very complex social environments. Petersen argues that the role of the brains social circuitry in sys- psychopathology is too often ignored. And thats what makes extinction so exciting in his view. One of the really cool things about extinction is that it probably plays a central role in the social brain, he says. Lee published study on the long- term behave- oral effects of multiple doses of extinction in developing animals. It seemed to me that we were really skipping a step. From work she did as a postdoctoral feel- low with Carter, Bales knew that even a sin- glee dose of extinction can have long-lasting effects. In a series of studies published in the sass, they found that p rairie vole pups treated with extinction on the day of birth exhibited abnormal pair bonding and parental behavior as adults. The effects were messy? treated animals grew up to be more social or less social than normal, depending on their sex and the dose they received. The clearest message was that any exposure to extinction can cause long-term behavioral and neuron- endocrine effects, Bales says. In one study, Bales found that males given a single dose of extinction at birth had reproductive difficulties as adults: They deposited sperm in the female reproductive tract in only 50% of mating attempts, for example. More recently, Bales and colleagues tried to better mimic the type of extinction treat- meet now in clinical trials for autism, giving young prairie voles daily squirts of extinction in the nose for 3 weeks. In developmental terms, Bales says that the voles were roughly equivalent to 12- to 7-year-old children, the target group for several trials. In the short term, extinction made the voles more social, as expected: After a dose, they spent more time in close cognitions with their partners, the research- errs reported online on 15 October 2012 in Biological Psychiatry. The standard test of pair bonding in voles, Bales explains, is to put a male in an empty chamber connected to two other chambers: one containing his mate, and another con- tanning an unfamiliar female. A normal male prairie vole will run around and check every- thing out and then go hang out with his part- near, Bales says. But males that had gotten a daily dose of extinction comparable to that being given to autistic children?or an even lower dose?were more likely to spurn their partner in favor of the stranger. To Bales, the findings raise the troubling possibility that repeated use of extinction nasal spray may cause long-term changes in the brain that negate or even reverse the hormones been- fits, perhaps by tricking the brain into making less extinction of its own. Other signs that theres more to extinction than cuddles and hugs have emerged from human experiments. In 2010, psychologist Scarcest De Drew and colleagues at the Nun- varsity of Amsterdam gave extinction nasal Caring family. Prairie vole parents share the work of raising offspring, but a recent study suggests long-term extinction treatment can disrupt bonding between partners. Cause for concern The explosion of clinical trials with Kyoto- chin, particularly those in children, troubles Karen Bales, a behavioral neuroscience at the University of California, Davis. Theres been this quick leap from looking at a sin- glee dose of extinction in healthy adults to try- inning to give it to children with autism whose brains are still developing, she says. Bales says that she looked and couldnt find a sin- 268 18 JANUARY 2013 VOLE 339 SCIENCE www. Sustenance. Org published by AAAS CREDIT: KAREN BALES/UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS Downloaded from wry. Science. Org on January 18, 2013 spray to men before they played a computer game in which small teams competed for money. Compared with men who got a saline spray, those who sniffed extinction behaved more altruistically to members of their own team?but at the same time, they were more likely to preemptively punish competitors, the team reported in Science. In a 2011 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, De Dress team found that ox- tocsin increased favoritism toward subjects own ethnic roof (native Dutch men) on a series of tasks and thought experiments done on a computer, and in some situations the treated men exhibited more prejudice against other groups (Germans and Middle Eastern- errs, in this case). To some researchers, this suggests that extinction is a double-edged sword: pro- noting bonds with familiar individuals, but promoting unfriendly behavior toward strangers. In the beginning, everyone thought it would have very robust pros- Cal effects, but it seems to depend on how you interpret the term proboscis, says Rene © Herculean, a psychiatrist at the University of Bonn in Germany. In a study published on 14 November 2012 in The Journal of Neuroscience, his team reported that when men who reported being in a stable hetero- sexual relationship took extinction, they put a bit more distance between thems elves and an attractive female experimenter who entered the room. To Herculean, these find- inns, like De Dress, suggest that extinction promotes bonding within an established pair (or group) at the expense of outsiders. That makes sense from an evolutionary Perspex- dive, he says, but may not with psychiatric disk- orders, Herculean cautions that it might not have the same benefits for all patients. An illustration of Just that comes from work by Jennifer Bart, a social psychology- gist at McGill University in Montreal, Can- dad. Encouraged by the reports that extinction increases trust, Bart thought it might help people with borderline personality disorder (BAD), who are plagued by fears of ban- oddment and separation, and have profound difficulties with relationships as a result. But when she and colleagues gave a single dose of extinction nasal spray to people with BAD, they became less trusting and less likely to cooperate with a partner in a social dilemma game, the researchers reported in 2011 in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience. This effect was strongest in those with BAD who scored highest on self-report measures of relationship anxiety and fear of rejection. Social studies. New clinical trials seek to determine if extinction can boost social behavior in children with autism. One possibility, Bart says, is that ox- tocsin increases the desire to connect and heightens attention to social cues. That may backfire in people with BAD, who are already hypertensive and anxious in social situations. The picture thats now emerging is that its not this global social panacea, Bart says. In many cases it upends on the situation in which its given or the person to whom its given. A risk worth taking? Going forward, the success or failure of extinction as a psychiatric drug may hinge on figuring out which disorders and which people respond positively to the hormone? theres evidence that people with variants of the extinction receptor gene respond differ- entry?and in what context. In my view, the best bene fit from stimulating the ox- tocsin system is going to be to combine it with a controlled behavioral therapy, Memo- rays Young says. He believes that extinctions main effect is to make people more insensitive to social cues. In a therapists office, chill- drew could be assured of receiving positive, reinforcing social cues while under the horn- ones sway. Not so if they simply take the hormone and went about their day. Say you give it to a kid and then he goes to school and gets bullied. Thats not going to have a positive impact, and it may even make things worse, Young says. A better handle on the basic biology of intranasal extinction, such as how it enters the brain and which receptors it hits, might enable researchers to develop more effect- dive drugs, Young adds. If we want to eve beyond this initial investigatory era and get more sophisticated and potent effects, we need to understand the mechanisms. Despite the unknowns, Sickish and others insist that the clinical trials are Justified. A lot of people in this country, probably a few thousand, are going to compounding par- masses and having them put together prep- rations of extinction, Sickish says. We feel like its really important, for something thats being used in this unregulated way, to get some data on how safe it is and figure out does it work or does it not work. For Dawson, the lack of better options is a powerful motivator. Only two drugs are cur- rental approved for autism, she notes: Both are an tispasmodic medications prescribed to cut down on tantrums, aggression, and self- injury. These drugs dont directly address the social deficits at the core of the discord- deer, and they have potentially dangerous side effects, not to mention unknown effects on brain development. Behavioral interventions such as the Early Start Denver Model, which Dawson co-developed, have proven success- intensive one-on-one therapy and can cost $25,000 to $50,000 a year. In contrast, a years supply of extinction, which is currently only available in a proprietary synthetic erosion, costs roughly $5000. And it could get much cheaper if a generic version becomes available. Among parents of autistic kids, theres long been a willingness to try experimental treatments, even before theyre fully vetted by researchers, Estella says. A driving factor, he says, is frustration that science has let them down by moving too slowly. At the same time, researchers such as Carter and Bales hope that science wont let these families down again by rushing too quickly into clinical trials with a hormone whose effects arent adequately understood.

Definition and Examples of Colligative Properties

Definition and Examples of Colligative Properties Colligative Properties Definition Colligative properties are properties of solutions that depend on the number of particles in a volume of solvent  (the concentration) and not on the mass  or identity of the solute particles. Colligative properties are also affected by temperature. Calculation of the properties only works perfectly for ideal solutions. In practice, this means the equations for colligative properties should only be applied to dilute real solutions when a nonvolatile solute is dissolved in a volatile liquid solvent. For any given solute to solvent mass ratio, any colligative property is inversely proportional to the molar mass of the solute. The word colligative comes from the Latin word colligatus, which means bound together, referring to how the properties of a solvent are bound to the concentration of solute in a solution. How Colligative Properties Work When a solute is added to a solvent to make a solution, the dissolved particles displace some of the solvent in the liquid phase. This reduces the concentration of the solvent per unit of volume. In a dilute solution, it doesnt matter what the particles are, just how many of them are present. So, for example, dissolving CaCl2 completely would yield three particles (one calcium ion and two chloride ions), while dissolving NaCl would only produce two particles (a sodium ion and a chloride ion). The calcium chloride would have a greater effect on colligative properties than the table salt. This is why calcium chloride is a more effective de-icing agent at lower temperatures than ordinary salt. What Are the Colligative Properties? Examples of colligative properties include  vapor pressure  lowering, freezing point depression, osmotic pressure, and boiling point elevation. For example, adding a pinch of salt to a cup of water makes the water freeze at a lower temperature than it normally would, boil at a higher temperature, have a lower vapor pressure, and changes its osmotic pressure. While colligative properties are generally considered for nonvolatile solutes, the effect also applies to volatile solutes (although it may be harder to calculate). For example, adding alcohol (a volatile liquid) to water lowers the freezing point below that ordinarily seen for either pure alcohol or pure water. This is why alcoholic beverages tend not to freeze in a home freezer. Freezing Point Depression and Boiling Point Elevation Equations Freezing point depression may be calculated from the equation: ΔT iKfmwhereΔT Change in temperature in  °Ci van t Hoff factorKf   molal freezing point depression  constant or cryoscopic constant in  °C kg/molm molality of the solute in mol solute/kg solvent Boiling point elevation may be calculated from the equation: ΔT Kbm whereKb   ebullioscopic constant (0.52 °C kg/mol for water)m molality of the solute in mol solute/kg solvent Ostwalds Three Categories of Solute Properties Wilhelm Ostwald introduced the concept of colligative properties in 1891. He actually proposed three categories of solute properties: Colligative properties depend only on solute concentration and temperature, not on the nature of the solute particles.Constitutional properties depend on the molecular structure of the solute particles in a solution.Additive properties are the sum of all the properties of the particles. Additive properties are dependent on the molecular formula of the solute. An example of an additive property is mass.

Online classes and attend traditional classes Essay

Online classes and attend traditional classes - Essay Example Online classes however have their disadvantages over traditional classes that limit effectiveness of leaning and both advantages and disadvantages of the types of classes need to be explored before a learner selects a type of class. I, in this paper argue that traditional classes are better than online classes. Conducting a comparative analysis of traditional classes and online classes requires an understanding of fundamental factors to learning processes and effectiveness of the fundamentals to achieving learning objectives. Applied approach to delivery of learning materials and learning concepts, student’s active role in the learning process, and quality of involved activities and processes in learning are some of the determinant of effective learning. Administration of learning processes and support to learners are other fundamentals of effective learning and forms bases for understanding relative effectiveness of traditional classes and online classes. The fundamentals als o explain strengths and weaknesses of the two modes of learning (Kats 290). Two perspectives support application of traditional class system over the online class system. ... The well-defined environment also dictates direct interaction between learners and educators and encourages learners’ participation through questions to educators and responses to prompts from educators. The structured scope also aids administration of learning processes and therefore facilitates achievement of learning objectives because the learning process, learners, and educators all exist in the same physical environment. Traditional class also offers a â€Å"more personal relationship† between learners and their instructors. Physical presence and the role of face-to-face communication such as developed confidence and trust develop a link between the parties and this facilitates interaction and freedom towards better understanding of concepts. This is partly because students are free to ask questions and have confidence to respond to questions when they are in a favorable environment. Traditional classes, unlike online classes, allow for instant responses to questi ons by learners and educators and this facilitates effective learning. It is contrary to the experience in online classes in which an educator may forget to respond to a question, a phenomenon that may discourage a learner and limit the learner’s confidence in asking questions. Learners in a traditional class set up also have the opportunity to interact with one another, develop social ties, and form study groups, and these occurrences expands sources of knowledge to facilitate learning (Sharpe 240). Numerous disadvantages of online classes that traditional classes manage also offer rationale into the preference of traditional classes. Unlike in traditional classes in which educators are able to identify each learner’s need and motivate the learners, the distance in an online class

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

LEGITIMACY THEORY - Essay Example Conflation of these concepts can be a very difficult proposition though such organizational contingencies existing within its operational environment could act as a compulsion to achieve such fusion so that legitimacy becomes an institutionalized organizational goal. Financial reporting mechanisms and the connected objectivity perspectives have been questioned by researchers and analysts on the ground that organizations present such annual financial reports with a view to legitimizing their activities in the eyes of the society. This social obligation arguably reinvigorates the existing debate on the dichotomy between the legitimacy theory and reliable financial reporting as an organizational requirement. While theoretical underpinnings of accounting and financial reporting are concerned with professional impartiality and numerical accuracy as explicitly required under IAS, legitimacy of organizational behaviour in the food sector is determined by a series of endogenous and exogenous variables ranging from industry-centric environmental factors to national and supranational regulatory compulsions. Food industry-centric environment has been subject to a revolutionary paradigm shift in quality and safety. This evolving scenario of extreme choices has invariably predicated upon the stricter legitimacy-prone standards that are being witnessed in it today. A variety of theoretical approaches have been developed over the years to build a comprehensive framework of analysis to study an otherwise complex concept in organizational beahviour. Legitimacy theory is just one such theoretical postulate that has evolved into what’s now known as the yardstick of organizational behaviour concerning that particular aspect of its ethical responsibility to the very society in which it operates as a corporate entity. Thus the very logic of organizational behaviour hinges on the fundamental premise that organizations are bound by a universal requirement to justify and

Final Paper- Research Proposal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Final Paper- Research Proposal - Essay Example In the country, water scarcity is believed to be part of the reasons for civil conflict as accompanied by instances of high poverty rates, high population density and income inequalities. In the urban migrant settings, religious, ethnic and class differences are believed to exacerbate the community-wide patterns of adapting to environmental scarcities due to water conflicts. Therefore, the understanding of the nature of conflicts in these region requires not only the spatial investigation as shall be conducted by this study, but also in-depth socio-economic study of the factors that might result in the situation (Hay 145-148). This research proposal shall be guided by these perspectives in assessing the spatial impacts of water scarcity in Villa Israel, Bolivia, an area in which water scarcity conflicts have been part of normal life for an extensive duration. This is because, with each seasonal water shortage, the residents of the area are often forced to make hard decisions on their usage of available social and economic resources. As a result, the current result will add to the informational bank on the matter by bridging the information gap that has existed in relation to the reciprocity and sociability aspects of the subject matter. The general objective of this study shall be to assess the severity of water scarcity in the region by determining its spatial impacts on the reciprocal and social relationship exchanges in the marginal setting. This shall be studied alongside minor objectives such as: a. To document the water scarcity incidence in the research community through development and testing of scales for water consumptions and interviews on the water use by households based on proximity to the water sources. The general methodology that shall be applied in this study shall be a descriptive research design that focus on the ethnographic perspectives of the study to yield data for analysis. The target population for the study shall be the

Analyse the financial performance & position of Intercontinental Hotel Essay

Analyse the financial performance & position of Intercontinental Hotel Group plc and explain and evaluate the treatment intangib - Essay Example Background Information Intercontinental Hotel Group Plc. owns one of the leading brand and chain of hotels and resorts across continents. The group’s registered corporate office is located in Denham, United Kingdom and the group has a history of almost 60 years of delivering the highest level of quality of customer service which has permitted the group to achieve phenomenal growth over the last few decades. The group operates not only by owing hotels and resorts completely and also by entering into franchise agreements with other companies to operate hotels and resources The group has more than 4,500 hotels which are operating in different countries. The group operates hotels brands including Crown Plaza Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and others. These brands are arranged in a way that they reflect both luxury and budget hoteling facilities for guests. The group offers a hotel loyalty program through which it has achieved 63 million members wh o received updates and discounts on bookings and other privileges (Yahoo Finance, 2012). Financial Ratios Analysis For the purpose of analyzing Group’s financial performance in the last two years, following ratios have been determined and a discussion for them is presented while considering additional supporting information available in the Group’s annual report. It is pertinent to mention here that there are material exceptional items in the financial statements of IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group, 2011). These exceptional items are not considered for the purpose of calculating ratios. However, the impact of these exceptional items has been evaluated at the end of financial analysis. Profitability of IHG Keeping in view the profitability ratios as calculated below for the Group, it is noted that the Group has improved its performance in terms of returns. Apart from the continuing effects of recent global financial distress, the Group has managed to report growth in its profits. As evidenced by the gross and operating margins presented below, the Group has been able to report considerable growth in its gross and operating profits. One of the main reasons for this growth has been increase in total revenues of the Group. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning here that IHG’s cost of sales declined in 2011 whereas revenues climbed up, thus signifying the level of operational efficiency reached by the Group. Following this improvement in cost of sales figure in 2011 and gross profits, the trend translated into operating profits also, due to which the Group has been able to report higher operating margin for the year ended 2011 (Peterson & Fabozzi, 2012; Warren et al., 2011; InterContinental Hotels Group, 2011). Profitability Ratios Ratio 2011 2010 Return on Capital Employed 17.35 % 12.29 % Return on Equity 67.93 % 97.59 % Operating Profit Margin 21.32 % 17.44 % Gross Profit Margin 56.39 % 53.75 % Source: (InterContinental Hotels Group, 20 11) In addition to this, the returns on capital employed and on total equity of the Group have also shown favorable changes. With the increase in profits attributable to shareholders of the Group, the return on equity and capital employed also increased, and this increase in net profits for the Group has been such that it overcame the impact of increase in capital employed

Criminal Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Criminal Justice - Essay Example Disparity and Discrimination Disparity and discrimination are two of the most commonly used terms in the criminal justice system. Both terms are often mixed together when they are used in the context of criminal justice system. However, disparity does not always involve the factor of discrimination when it comes to the decisions made by a court. Some people believe that the factor if discrimination does not exist in the criminal justice system. One must understand the difference between disparity and discrimination in order to know whether discrimination actually exists in the criminal justice system or not. The concept of disparity is based on some legal or lawful factors, such as, crime history and mental health of a criminal, whereas, discrimination is based on sex, race, social status, and religion of a criminal. By definition discrimination is an act of favoritism or unfairness based on the race or nationality of the criminals. There are three main forms of discrimination in the criminal justice system, which include institutionalized discrimination, systematic discrimination, and contextual discrimination.

Analyse the financial performance & position of Intercontinental Hotel Essay

Analyse the financial performance & position of Intercontinental Hotel Group plc and explain and evaluate the treatment intangib - Essay Example Background Information Intercontinental Hotel Group Plc. owns one of the leading brand and chain of hotels and resorts across continents. The group’s registered corporate office is located in Denham, United Kingdom and the group has a history of almost 60 years of delivering the highest level of quality of customer service which has permitted the group to achieve phenomenal growth over the last few decades. The group operates not only by owing hotels and resorts completely and also by entering into franchise agreements with other companies to operate hotels and resources The group has more than 4,500 hotels which are operating in different countries. The group operates hotels brands including Crown Plaza Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites and others. These brands are arranged in a way that they reflect both luxury and budget hoteling facilities for guests. The group offers a hotel loyalty program through which it has achieved 63 million members wh o received updates and discounts on bookings and other privileges (Yahoo Finance, 2012). Financial Ratios Analysis For the purpose of analyzing Group’s financial performance in the last two years, following ratios have been determined and a discussion for them is presented while considering additional supporting information available in the Group’s annual report. It is pertinent to mention here that there are material exceptional items in the financial statements of IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group, 2011). These exceptional items are not considered for the purpose of calculating ratios. However, the impact of these exceptional items has been evaluated at the end of financial analysis. Profitability of IHG Keeping in view the profitability ratios as calculated below for the Group, it is noted that the Group has improved its performance in terms of returns. Apart from the continuing effects of recent global financial distress, the Group has managed to report growth in its profits. As evidenced by the gross and operating margins presented below, the Group has been able to report considerable growth in its gross and operating profits. One of the main reasons for this growth has been increase in total revenues of the Group. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning here that IHG’s cost of sales declined in 2011 whereas revenues climbed up, thus signifying the level of operational efficiency reached by the Group. Following this improvement in cost of sales figure in 2011 and gross profits, the trend translated into operating profits also, due to which the Group has been able to report higher operating margin for the year ended 2011 (Peterson & Fabozzi, 2012; Warren et al., 2011; InterContinental Hotels Group, 2011). Profitability Ratios Ratio 2011 2010 Return on Capital Employed 17.35 % 12.29 % Return on Equity 67.93 % 97.59 % Operating Profit Margin 21.32 % 17.44 % Gross Profit Margin 56.39 % 53.75 % Source: (InterContinental Hotels Group, 20 11) In addition to this, the returns on capital employed and on total equity of the Group have also shown favorable changes. With the increase in profits attributable to shareholders of the Group, the return on equity and capital employed also increased, and this increase in net profits for the Group has been such that it overcame the impact of increase in capital employed

Bloodstream Infections Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Bloodstream Infections - Research Paper Example In USA, it has been reported that increased risk of developing blood stream infections (BSI) is associated with the increased use of central venous catheters (CVSs) in ICU patients especially when the skin catheter site is colonized by bacteria and fungi. This is a major risk factor for CVC infection. Other predisposing factors to infection includes; exposure to mechanical ventilations (Jerome, 2000). Patients receiving TPN are also at risk as they are associated with growth of other microorganisms such as Candida spp and coagulase negative Staphylococcus. ... an be compromised, there is more exposure to different infectious agents, the hospital is forced to put more stuff for surveillance, prevention and control and this means extra cost. The nurses will also have a lot of work loads if there is under stuffing and more injuries such as needle stick (Stone, 2004). Nursing interventions that impact percentages of blood stream infection. Line management It may consist of daily inspection of catheters insertion sites, taking care of the site by changing the dressing if wet or soiled, time to time documentation of ongoing catheter, ensuring of proper application of CHG impregnated sponge on the insertion site, hand hygiene, using chlordexine during dressing of the site, appropriate flushing procedures, tubing replacement and increasing time allocated for CVC management. Other intervention that impact on the percentages of blood stream infections includes, educating of the stuff so as to make the nurses aware of evidence based infection control guidelines for inserting and also for maintaining of CVCs. This will help in prevention of nosocomial infections and empower them to stop catheter insertion if guidelines have not been followed. Putting in place a checklist will be important in ensuring that the nurses adhere to evidence based guidelines of preventing infections. Creation of a catheter insertion carts will be critical in ensuring that nurses obtain all the materials needed to follow the CDC guidelines for sterile CVV insertions (Guerin, 2010). Aseptic techniques. Aseptic techniques should be used during insertion and caring of intravascular catheters. Clean gloves are recommended for peripheral catheters while sterile gloves are good for arterial and central catheters. Aseptic techniques includes the use of mask, sterile

My life In Hong Kong Essay Example for Free

My life In Hong Kong Essay Dr. Jose P. Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, had said, â€Å"Ang taong hindi marunong tumingin sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makakarating sa patutunguhan.†[1]   One must always know how to go back to one’s roots.   The essence of one’s life is greatly reflected by the ability to remember the path taken to get to where one is headed.   One’s achievements are also highlighted by the reflections brought about by the environment that shaped one’s own vision and mission in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   At this point in my life, where career opportunities are being shot at me from every direction, indecisiveness slowly creeps in to the corners of my mind:   what do I really want to do?   And one answer always keeps coming up:   I want to change the world.   Clichà ©, yes.   Probably impossible as well.   However, all grand actions in this world began with baby steps.   As for me, this research paper is my very own baby step.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Despite still being undecided as to what the conclusion to my studies would be, as to what career path I would take, as to which country I would serve, this research paper will aid me in whatever ministry I decide to do. This research paper will lay down the path of understanding diverse professional and career opportunities.   If I decide to enter the corporate world and work under its marketing, sales or any other economics-related division, this research paper will bring about a deeper understanding of the economic policies of Hong Kong – why Chinese products and services are more acceptable to Hong Kong companies, rather than those offered by other countries, especially the United States and Great Britain.   If I do decide to enter a career in the academe, this research will pave the way for a deeper understanding of colonization, state freedom, and shifts in political, economic, social and cultural environments. On a personal level, this paper will help me understand immigrants in a deeper sense.   Just like Hong Kong nationals, immigrants experience a change in environment, and the struggle to balance embracing a brand new culture and holding on to age-old traditions passed from generation to generation. Either way, this research paper will not go to waste as it brought me back to the place that gave birth to my being. It’s been a long time since I’ve lived in Hong Kong.   Many times, I forget what it means to be Chinese – choosing a burger over dumplings and noodles, partying in Times Square on the eve of the new year and yet sleeping through the eve of Chinese New Year, not calling my family during holidays or even just to tell them how I am doing.   Living in a foreign country brings about either one of two things: craving to go back home or completely forgetting what home is like.   This research paper made me go through a journey that I was trying to evade – to remember where I came from. It is not easy to do a paper on a place that had been a part of my life.   And yet the perspective brought into the paper is the perspective of a third person – one who is not a Hong Kong local, Chinese national or British citizen.   This research paper on Hong Kong is done by someone from Hong Kong and yet all information and data are taken in a very objective view in order to report an unbiased analysis.   The need to present all sides of the issue is necessary for a better understanding of the conflict being presented in the paper. And this is what distinguishes this research paper from other research papers. [1] â€Å"A person who does not know how to remember where he came from will never get to where he wants to go.†

Development of Peer-to-Peer Network System

Development of Peer-to-Peer Network System Procedures which we are followed to success this project. Task 01 Familiarizing with the equipments preparing an action plan. Task 02 Prepare the work area. Task 03 Fixed the hardware equipments and assemble three PCs. Task 04 Install NICs for each and every PC. Task 05 Cabling three computers and configure the peer to peer network with using hub or switch. Task 06 Install Windows operating system to each and every PC. Task 07 Install and configure the printer on one of the PCs. Task 08 Share printer with other PCs in the LAN. Task 09 Establish one shared folder Task 10 Create a test document on one of the PCs and copy the files to each of the other PCs in network. Task 11 Test the printer by getting the test document from each of the networked PCs. Time allocation for the tasks. Task No. Time allocation Task 01 1 hour Task 02 30 minutes Task 03 1  ½ hour Task 04 1  ½ hour Task 05 1  ½ hour Task 06 3 hour Task 07 15 minutes Task 08 15 minutes Task 09 15 minutes Task 10 10 minutes Task 11 05 minutes Total time allocation 10 hours Physical structure of proposed Peer to Peer network system. In peer to peer network there are no dedicated servers or hierarchy among the computers. The user must take the decisions about who access this network. Processors In 1945, the idea of the first computer with a processing unit capable of performing different tasks was published by John von Neumann. The computer was called the EDVAC and was finished in 1949. These first primitive computer processors, such as the EDVAC and the Harvard Mark I, were incredibly bulky and large. Hundreds of CPUs were built into the machine to perform the computers tasks. Starting in the 1950s, the transistor was introduced for the CPU. This was a vital improvement because they helped remove much of the bulky material and wiring and allowed for more intricate and reliable CPUs. The 1960s and 1970s brought about the advent of microprocessors. These were very small, as the length would usually be recorded in nanometers, and were much more powerful. Microprocessors helped this technology become much more available to the public due to their size and affordability. Eventually, companies like Intel and IBM helped alter microprocessor technology into what we see today. The computer processor has evolved from a big bulky contraption to a minuscule chip. Computer processors are responsible for four basic operations. Their first job is to fetch the information from a memory source. Subsequently, the CPU is to decode the information to make it usable for the device in question. The third step is the execution of the information, which is when the CPU acts upon the information it has received. The fourth and final step is the write back. In this step, the CPU makes a report of the activity and stores it in a log. Two companies are responsible for a vast majority of CPUs sold all around the world. Intel Corporation is the largest CPU manufacturer in the world and is the maker of a majority of the CPUs found in personal computers. Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., known as AMD, has in recent years been the main competitor for Intel in the CPU industry. The CPU has greatly helped the world progress into the digital age. It has allowed a number of computers and other machines to be produced that are very important and essential to our global society. For example, many of the medical advances made today are a direct result of the ability of computer processors. As CPUs improve, the devices they are used in will also improve and their significance will become even greater. VGA The term Video Graphics Array (VGA) refers specifically to the display hardware first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987,[1] but through its widespread adoption has also come to mean either an analogue computer display standard, the 15-pin D-sub miniature VGA connector or the 640Ãâ€"480 resolution itself. While this resolution has been superseded in the personal computer market, it is becoming a popular resolution on mobile devices. Video Graphics Array (VGA) was the last graphical standard introduced by IBM that the majority of PC clone manufacturers conformed to, making it today (as of 2009) the lowest common denominator that all PC graphics hardware supports, before a device-specific driver is loaded into the computer. For example, the MS-Windows splash screen appears while the machine is still operating in VGA mode, which is the reason that this screen always appears in reduced resolution and colour depth. VGA was officially superseded by IBMs XGA standard, but in reality it was superseded by numerous slightly different extensions to VGA made by clone manufacturers that came to be known collectively as Super VGA. VGA is referred to as an array instead of an adapter because it was implemented from the start as a single chip (an ASIC), replacing the Motorola 6845 and dozens of discrete logic chips that covered the full-length ISA boards of the MDA, CGA, and EGA. Its single-chip implementation also allowed the VGA to be placed directly on a PCs motherboard with a minimum of difficulty (it only required video memory, timing crystals and an external RAMDAC), and the first IBM PS/2 models were equipped with VGA on the motherboard. RAM Random-access memory (usually known by its acronym, RAM) is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated circuits that allow stored data to be accessed in any order (i.e., at random). The word random thus refers to the fact that any piece of data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its physical location and whether or not it is related to the previous piece of data. By contrast, storage devices such as tapes, magnetic discs and optical discs rely on the physical movement of the recording medium or a reading head. In these devices, the movement takes longer than data transfer, and the retrieval time varies based on the physical location of the next item. The word RAM is often associated with volatile types of memory (such as DRAM memory modules), where the information is lost after the power is switched off. Many other types of memory are RAM, too, including most types of ROM and flash memory called NOR-Flash. An early type of widespread writable random-access memory was the magnetic core memory, developed from 1949 to 1952, and subsequently used in most computers up until the development of the static and dynamic integrated RAM circuits in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Before this, computers used relays, delay line memory, or various kinds of vacuum tube arrangements to implement main memory functions (i.e., hundreds or thousands of bits); some of which were random access, some not. Latches built out of vacuum tube triodes, and later, out of discrete transistors, were used for smaller and faster memories such as registers and random-access register banks. Modern types of writable RAM generally store a bit of data in either the state of a flip-flop, as in SRAM (static RAM), or as a charge in a capacitor (or transistor gate), as in DRAM (dynamic RAM), EPROM, EEPROM and Flash. Some types have circuitry to detect and/or correct random faults called memory errors in the stored data, using pa rity bits or error correction codes. RAM of the read-only type, ROM, instead uses a metal mask to permanently enable/disable selected transistors, instead of storing a charge in them. As both SRAM and DRAM are volatile, other forms of computer storage, such as disks and magnetic tapes, have been used as persistent storage in traditional computers. Many newer products instead rely on flash memory to maintain data when not in use, such as PDAs or small music players. Certain personal computers, such as many rugged computers and net books, have also replaced magnetic disks with flash drives. With flash memory, only the NOR type is capable of true random access, allowing direct code execution, and is therefore often used instead of ROM; the lower cost NAND type is commonly used for bulk storage in memory cards and solid-state drives. Similar to a microprocessor, a memory chip is an integrated circuit (IC) made of millions of transistors and capacitors. In the most common form of computer memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), a transistor and a capacitor are paired to create a memory cell, which represents a single bit of data. The transistor acts as a switch that lets the control circuitry on the memory chip read the capacitor or change its state. Types of RAM Top L-R, DDR2 with heat-spreader, DDR2 without heat-spreader, Laptop DDR2, DDR, Laptop DDR 1 Megabit chip one of the last models developed by VEB Carl Zeiss Jena in 1989 Many computer systems have a memory hierarchy consisting of CPU registers, on-die SRAM caches, external caches, DRAM, paging systems, and virtual memory or swap space on a hard drive. This entire pool of memory may be referred to as RAM by many developers, even though the various subsystems can have very different access times, violating the original concept behind the random access term in RAM. Even within a hierarchy level such as DRAM, the specific row, column, bank, rank, channel, or interleave organization of the components make the access time variable, although not to the extent that rotating storage media or a tape is variable. The overall goal of using a memory hierarchy is to obtain the higher possible average access performance while minimizing the total cost of entire memory system. (Generally, the memory hierarchy follows the access time with the fast CPU registers at the top and the slow hard drive at the bottom.) In many modern personal computers, the RAM comes in an easily upgraded form of modules called memory modules or DRAM modules about the size of a few sticks of chewing gum. These can quickly be replaced should they become damaged or too small for current purposes. As suggested above, smaller amounts of RAM (mostly SRAM) are also integrated in the CPU and other ICs on the motherboard, as well as in hard-drives, CD-ROMs, and several other parts of the computer system. Hard Disk A hard disk drive (often shortened as hard disk, hard drive, or HDD) is a non-volatile storage device that stores digitally encoded data on rapidly rotating platters with magnetic surfaces. Strictly speaking, drive refers to the motorized mechanical aspect that is distinct from its medium, such as a tape drive and its tape, or a floppy disk drive and its floppy disk. Early HDDs had removable media; however, an HDD today is typically a sealed unit (except for a filtered vent hole to equalize air pressure) with fixed media. HDDs (introduced in 1956 as data storage for an IBM accounting computer) were originally developed for use with general purpose computers. During the 1990s, the need for large-scale, reliable storage, independent of a particular device, led to the introduction of embedded systems such as RAIDs, network attached storage (NAS) systems, and storage area network (SAN) systems that provide efficient and reliable access to large volumes of data. In the 21st century, HDD usage expanded into consumer applications such as camcorders, cell phones (e.g. the Nokia N91), digital audio players, digital video players, digital video recorders, personal digital assistants and video game consoles. HDDs record data by magnetizing ferromagnetic material directionally, to represent either a 0 or a 1 binary digit. They read the data back by detecting the magnetization of the material. A typical HDD design consists of a spindle that holds one or more flat circular disks called platters, onto which the data are recorded. The platters are made from a non-magnetic material, usually aluminium alloy or glass, and are coated with a thin layer of magnetic material, typically 10-20 nm in thickness with an outer layer of carbon for protection. Older disks used iron (III) oxide as the magnetic material, but current disks use a cobalt-based alloy. The platters are spun at very high speeds. Information is written to a platter as it rotates past devices called read-and-write heads that operate very close (tens of nanometres in new drives) over the magnetic surface. The read-and-write head is used to detect and modify the magnetization of the material immediately under it. There is one head for each magnetic platter surface on the spindle, mounted on a common arm. An actuator arm (or access arm) moves the heads on an arc (roughly radially) across the platters as they spin, allowing each head to access almost the entire surface of the platter as it spins. The arm is moved using a voice coil actuator or in some older designs a stepper motor. The magnetic surface of each platter is conceptually divided into many small sub-micrometre-sized magnetic regions, each of which is used to encode a single binary unit of information. Initially the regions were oriented horizontally, but beginning about 2005, the orientation was changed to perpendicular. Due to the polycrystalline nature of the magnetic material each of these magnetic regions is composed of a few hundred magnetic grains. Magnetic grains are typically 10 nm in size and each form a single magnetic domain. Each magnetic region in total forms a magnetic dipole which generates a highly localized magnetic field nearby. A write head magnetizes a region by generating a strong local magnetic field. Early HDDs used an electromagnet both to magnetize the region and to then read its magnetic field by using electromagnetic induction. Later versions of inductive heads included metal in Gap (MIG) heads and thin film heads. As data density increased, read heads using magnetoresista nce (MR) came into use; the electrical resistance of the head changed according to the strength of the magnetism from the platter. Later development made use of spintronics; in these heads, the magnetoresistive effect was much greater than in earlier types, and was dubbed giant magnetoresistance (GMR). In todays heads, the read and write elements are separate, but in close proximity, on the head portion of an actuator arm. The read element is typically magneto-resistive while the write element is typically thin-film inductive.[8] HD heads are kept from contacting the platter surface by the air that is extremely close to the platter; that air moves at, or close to, the platter speed. The record and playback head are mounted on a block called a slider, and the surface next to the platter is shaped to keep it just barely out of contact. Its a type of air bearing. In modern drives, the small size of the magnetic regions creates the danger that their magnetic state might be lost because of thermal effects. To counter this, the platters are coated with two parallel magnetic layers, separated by a 3-atom-thick layer of the non-magnetic element ruthenium, and the two layers are magnetized in opposite orientation, thus reinforcing each other.[9] Another technology used to overcome thermal effects to allow greater recording densities is perpendicular recording, first shipped in 2005,[10] as of 2007 the technology was used in many HDDs. The grain boundaries turn out to be very important in HDD design. The reason is that, the grains are very small and close to each other, so the coupling between adjacent grains is very strong. When one grain is magnetized, the adjacent grains tend to be aligned parallel to it or demagnetized. Then both the stability of the data and signal-to-noise ratio will be sabotaged. A clear grain perpendicular boundary can weaken the coupling of the grains and subsequently increase the signal-to-noise ratio. In longitudinal recording, the single-domain grains have uniaxial anisotropy with easy axes lying in the film plane. The consequence of this arrangement is that adjacent magnets repel each other. Therefore the magnetostatic energy is so large that it is difficult to increase areal density. Perpendicular recording media, on the other hand, has the easy axis of the grains oriented to the disk plane. Adjacent magnets attract to each other and magnetostatic energy are much lower. So, much highe r areal density can be achieved in perpendicular recording. Another unique feature in perpendicular recording is that a soft magnetic underlayer are incorporated into the recording disk.This underlayer is used to conduct writing magnetic flux so that the writing is more efficient. This will be discussed in writing process. Therefore, a higher anisotropy medium film, such as L10-FePt and rare-earth magnets, can be used. Opened hard drive with top magnet removed, showing copper head actuator coil (top right). A hard disk drive with the platters and motor hub removed showing the copper colored stator coils surrounding a bearing at the center of the spindle motor. The orange stripe along the side of the arm is a thin printed-circuit cable. The spindle bearing is in the center. A typical hard drive has two electric motors, one to spin the disks and one to position the read/write head assembly. The disk motor has an external rotor attached to the platters; the stator windings are fixed in place. The actuator has a read-write head under the tip of its very end (near center); a thin printed-circuit cable connects the read-write head to the hub of the actuator. A flexible, somewhat U-shaped, ribbon cable, seen edge-on below and to the left of the actuator arm in the first image and more clearly in the second, continues the connection from the head to the controller board on the opposite side. The head support arm is very light, but also rigid; in modern drives, acceleration at the head reaches 250 Gs. The silver-colored structure at the upper left of the first image is the top plate of the permanent-magnet and moving coil motor that swings the heads to the desired position (it is shown removed in the second image). The plate supports a thin neodymium-iron-boron (NIB) high-flux magnet. Beneath this plate is the moving coil, often referred to as the voice coil by analogy to the coil in loudspeakers, which is attached to the actuator hub, and beneath that is a second NIB magnet, mounted on the bottom plate of the motor (some drives only have one magnet). The voice coil, itself, is shaped rather like an arrowhead, and made of doubly-coated copper magnet wire. The inner layer is insulation, and the outer is thermoplastic, which bonds the coil together after its wound on a form, making it self-supporting. The portions of the coil along the two sides of the arrowhead (which point to the actuator bearing center) interact with the magnetic field, developing a tangential force that rotates the actuator. Current flowing racially outward along one side of the arrowhead and racially inward on the other produces the tangential force. (See magnetic field Force on a charged particle.) If the magnetic field were uniform, each side would generate opposing forces that would cancel each other out. Therefore the surface of the magnet is half N pole, half S pole, with the radial dividing line in the middle, causing the two sides of the coil to see opposite magnetic fields and produce forces that add instead of canceling. Currents along the top and bott om of the coil produce radial forces that do not rotate the head. Floppy disk A floppy disk is a data storage medium that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible (floppy) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive or FDD, the initials of which should not be confused with fixed disk drive, which is another term for a (non removable) type of hard disk drive. Invented by IBM, floppy disks in 8-inch (200mm), 5 ¼-inch (133.35mm), and 3 ½-inch (90mm) formats enjoyed many years as a popular and ubiquitous form of data storage and exchange, from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s. While floppy disk drives still have some limited uses, especially with legacy industrial computer equipment,[2] they have now been largely superseded by USB flash drives, external hard drives, CDs, DVDs, and memory cards (such as Secure Digital). 5 ¼-inch disk had a large circular hole in the center for the spindle of the drive and a small oval aperture in both sides of the plastic to allow the heads of the drive to read and write the data. The magnetic medium could be spun by rotating it from the middle hole. A small notch on the right hand side of the disk would identify whether the disk was read-only or writable, detected by a mechanical switch or photo transistor above it. Another LED/phototransistor pair located near the center of the disk could detect a small hole once per rotation, called the index hole, in the magnetic disk. It was used to detect the start of each track, and whether or not the disk rotated at the correct speed; some operating systems, such as Apple DOS, did not use index sync, and often the drives designed for such systems lacked the index hole sensor. Disks of this type were said to be soft sector disks. Very early 8-inch and 5 ¼-inch disks also had physical holes for each sector, and were termed hard sector disks. Inside the disk were two layers of fabric designed to reduce friction between the medium and the outer casing, with the medium sandwiched in the middle. The outer casing was usually a one-part sheet, folded double with flaps glued or spot-welded together. A catch was lowered into position in front of the drive to prevent the disk from emerging, as well as to raise or lower the spindle (and, in two-sided drives, the upper read/write head). The 8-inch disk was very similar in structure to the 5 ¼-inch disk, with the exception that the read-only logic was in reverse: the slot on the side had to be taped over to allow writing. The 3 ½-inch disk is made of two pieces of rigid plastic, with the fabric-medium-fabric sandwich in the middle to remove dust and dirt. The front has only a label and a small aperture for reading and writing data, protected by a spring-loaded metal or plastic cover, which is pushed back on entry into the drive. Newer 5 ¼-inch drives and all 3 ½-inch drives automatically engages when the user inserts a disk, and disengages and ejects with the press of the eject button. On Apple Macintosh computers with built-in floppy drives, the disk is ejected by a motor (similar to a VCR) instead of manually; there is no eject button. The disks desktop icon is dragged onto the Trash icon to eject a disk. The reverse has a similar covered aperture, as well as a hole to allow the spindle to connect into a metal plate glued to the medium. Two holes bottom left and right, indicate the write-protect status and high-density disk correspondingly, a hole meaning protected or high density, and a covered gap meaning write-enabled or low density. A notch top right ensures that the disk is inserted correctly, and an arrow top left indicates the direction of insertion. The drive usually has a button that, when pressed, will spring the disk out at varying degrees of force. Some would barely make it out of the disk drive; others would shoot out at a fairly high speed. In a majority of drives, the ejection force is provided by the spring that holds the cover shut, and therefore the ejection speed is dependent on this spring. In PC-type machines, a floppy disk can be inserted or ejected manually at any time (evoking an error message or even lost data in some cases), as the drive is not continuously m onitored for status and so programs can make assumptions that do not match actual status. With Apple Macintosh computers, disk drives are continuously monitored by the OS; a disk inserted is automatically searched for content, and one is ejected only when the software agrees the disk should be ejected. This kind of disk drive (starting with the slim Twiggy drives of the late Apple Lisa) does not have an eject button, but uses a motorized mechanism to eject disks; this action is triggered by the OS software (e.g., the user dragged the drive icon to the trash can icon). Should this not work (as in the case of a power failure or drive malfunction), one can insert a straightened paper clip into a small hole at the drives front, there by forcing the disk to eject (similar to that found on CD/DVD drives). Some other computer designs (such as the Commodore Amiga) monitor for a new disk continuously but still have push-button eject mechanisms. The 3-inch disk, widely used on Amstrad CPC machines, bears much similarity to the 3 ½-inch type, with some unique and somewhat curious features. One example is the rectangular-shaped plastic casing, almost taller than a 3 ½-inch disk, but narrower, and more than twice as thick, almost the size of a standard compact audio cassette. This made the disk look more like a greatly oversized present day memory card or a standard PC card notebook expansion card rather than a floppy disk. Despite the size, the actual 3-inch magnetic-coated disk occupied less than 50% of the space inside the casing, the rest being used by the complex protection and sealing mechanisms implemented on the disks. Such mechanisms were largely responsible for the thickness, length and high costs of the 3-inch disks. On the Amstrad machines the disks were typically flipped over to use both sides, as opposed to being truly double-sided. Double-sided mechanisms were available but rare. USB Ports Universal Serial Bus connectors on the back. These USB connectors let you attach everything from mice to printers to your computer quickly and easily. The operating system supports USB as well, so the installation of the device drivers is quick and easy, too. Compared to other ways of connecting devices to your computer, USB devices are incredibly simple we will look at USB ports from both a user and a technical standpoint. You will learn why the USB system is so flexible and how it is able to support so many devices so easily Anyone who has been around computers for more than two or three years know the problem that the Universal Serial Bus is trying to solve in the past, connecting devices to computers has been a real headache! Printers connected to parallel printer ports, and most computers only came with one. Things like Zip drives, which need a high-speed connection into the computer, would use the parallel port as well, often with limited success and not much speed. Modems used the serial port, but so did some printers and a variety of odd things like Palm Pilots and digital cameras. Most computers have at most two serial ports, and they are very slow in most cases. Devices that needed faster connections came with their own cards, which had to fit in a card slot inside the computers case. Unfortunately, the number of card slots is limited and you needed a Ph.D. to install the software for some of the cards. The goal of USB is to end all of these headaches. The Universal Serial Bus gives you a single, standardized, easy-to-use way to connect up to 127 devices to a computer. Just about every peripheral made now comes in a USB version. A sample list of USB devices that you can buy today includes: Printers Scanners Mice Joysticks Flight yokes Digital cameras Webcams Scientific data acquisition devices Modems Speakers Telephones Video phones Storage devices such as Zip drives Network connections In the next section, well look at the USB cables and connectors that allow your computer to communicate with these devices. Parallel port A parallel port is a type of interface found on computers (personal and otherwise) for connecting various peripherals. It is also known as a printer port or Centronics port. The IEEE 1284 standard defines the bi-directional version of the port. Before the advent of USB, the parallel interface was adapted to access a number of peripheral devices other than printers. Probably one of the earliest devices to use parallel were dongles used as a hardware key form of software copy protection. Zip drives and scanners were early implementations followed by external modems, sound cards, webcams, gamepads, joysticks and external hard disk drives and CD-ROM drives. Adapters were available to run SCSI devices via parallel. Other devices such as EPROM programmers and hardware controllers could be connected parallel. At the consumer level, the USB interface—and in some cases Ethernet—has effectively replaced the parallel printer port. Many manufacturers of personal computers and laptops consider parallel to be a legacy port and no longer include the parallel interface. USB to parallel adapters are available to use parallel-only printers with USB-only systems. However, due to the simplicity of its implementation, it is often used for interfacing with custom-made peripherals. In versions of Windows that did not use the Windows NT kernel (as well as DOS and some other operating systems) Keyboard Keyboard, in computer science, a keypad device with buttons or keys that a user presses to enter data characters and commands into a computer. They are one of the fundamental pieces of personal computer (PC) hardware, along with the central processing unit (CPU), the monitor or screen, and the mouse or other cursor device. The most common English-language key pattern for typewriters and keyboards is called QWERTY, after the layout of the first six letters in the top row of its keys (from left to right). In the late 1860s, American inventor and printer Christopher Shoals invented the modern form of the typewriter. Shoals created the QWERTY keyboard layout by separating commonly used letters so that typists would type slower and not jam their mechanical typewriters. Subsequent generations of typists have learned to type using QWERTY keyboards, prompting manufacturers to maintain this key orientation on typewriters. Computer keyboards copied the QWERTY key layout and have followed the precedent set by typewriter manufacturers of keeping this convention. Modern keyboards connect with the computer CPU by cable or by infrared transmitter. When a key on the keyboard is pressed, a numeric code is sent to the keyboards driver software and to the computers operating system software. The driver translates this data into a specialized command that the computers CPU and application programs understand. In this way, users may enter text, commands, numbers, or other data. The term character is generally reserved for letters, numbers, and punctuation, but may also include control codes, graphical symbols, mathematical symbols, and graphic images. Almost all standard English-language keyboards have keys for each character of the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) character set, as well as various function keys. Most computers and applications today use seven or eight data bits for each character. For example, ASCII code 65 is equal to the letter A. The function keys generate short, fixed sequences of character codes that instruct application programs running on the computer to perform certain actions. Often, keyboards also have directional buttons for moving the screen cursor, separate numeric pads for entering numeric and arithmetic data, and a switch for turning the computer on and off. Some keyboards, including most for laptop computers, also incorporate a trackball, mouse pad, or other cursor-directing device. No standard exists for positioning the function, numeric, and other buttons on a keyboard relative to the QWERTY and other typewriting keys. Thus layouts vary on keyboards. In the 1930s, American educators August Dvorak and William Dearly designed this key set so that the letters th