Operating System Essay

1. What is the application Zenmap GUI typically used for? Describe a scenario in which you would use this type of application. Zenmap is an application that is used to scan ports for networks. A scenario where it can be used is to scan the ports of a network to know exactly which ports are opened or closed thus allowing a network administrator to reduce the vulnerability of its network. 2. Which application is used for Step 2 in the hacking process to perform a vulnerability assessment scan? Nessus. 3. What must you obtain before you begin the ethical hacking process or penetration test on a live production network, even before performing the reconnaissance step? One must obtain a signed authorization form showing exactly what kind of test you are authorized to perform. 4. What is a CVE listing? Who hosts and who sponsors the CVE database listing website? CVE listing is a dictionary of publicly known information security vulnerabilities and exposures. IT is hosted by the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 5. Can Zenmap GUI detect which operating systems are present on IP servers and workstations? Which option includes that scan? Yes, the OS detection using TCP/IP stack fingerprinting option includes that scan. 6. If you have scanned a live host and detected that it is running Windows XP workstation OS, how would you use this information for performing a Nessus vulnerability assessment scan? One can use this information to create a policy of vulnerabilities that you want Nessus to scan for on that specific host. 7. Once a vulnerability is identified by Nessus, where can you check for more information regarding the identified vulnerability, exploits, and the risk mitigation solution? You can check the report generated by Nessus, specifically in the hostname plugin ID which will give you a detailed description of the vulnerability found along with possible mitigation solutions. 8. What is the major difference between Zenmap GUI and Nessus? The major difference between Zenmap GUI and Nessus is that Zenmap only a scanner that maps a network and gives you information about open ports but Nessus is a vulnerability scanner than scans a network and gives a report on how vulnerable that specific port is. The main difference is one gives a report on how to fix a vulnerability in a port while the other doesn’t. 9. Why do you need to run both Zenmap GUI and Nessus to perform the first three steps of the hacking process? You need both Zenmap GUI and Nessus to perform the first 3 steps of the hacking process because Zenmap GUI and Nessus are used to perform different tasks and steps in the hacking process therefore you would not be able to perform the first 3 steps effectively using only one software. Both are needed.

The Love of My Life

In the short story â€Å"The Love of My Life,† two teenagers make one bad decision and their lives are changed forever. The author, T. Coraghessan Boyle, wrote the story based on an actual news story that had occurred a few years back. The author does a great job of making the relationship between Jeremy and China seem so wonderful and almost innocent, that it is hard to be angry with them. The two characters in the story, Jeremy and China, are young and are head over heels for each other.The very first line of the story is all it takes to make the reader realize that these two youngsters share the true meaning of love, â€Å"they wore each other like a pair of socks. † All of that changes when the two find out that China is pregnant. Instead of properly handling their situation, they have the baby and dispose of it in a dumpster at a motel. Although the story has a very upsetting plot, you can't help but feel some sympathy toward the characters. The beginning of the st ory starts out describing the great, young love that Jeremy and China had.They did everything with each other, spent almost every waking moment together, and rarely ever fought. Both teenagers were on a great track in life; graduating at the top of their high school class, both going to top colleges and well-liked by most. They would tell each other â€Å"I love you† more times in a day than they could keep track of. Every time they walked into a room they would kiss. They seemed to have the perfect relationship. Then, the summer before college would commence, they went on a week-long camping trip alone.Of course, being alone, they had the opportunity to have sex and enjoy their time together. Obviously caught in the heat of the moment, knowing they were out of condoms, they had sex anyway. One irrational decision led to their lives changing forever. Before going to school in the fall, China learned that she was pregnant. Out of immaturity, and fear, she decides to do nothing about it and hide it, hoping it would perhaps just go away. Jeremy is just as clueless and scared as she is, and goes along with her decision.When the night comes that China is to have her baby, she calls up Jeremy and they meet at the motel they had met at many times before. When she arrives there, Jeremy is waiting at the door. When she walks by him, â€Å"they didn't kiss- they didn't even touch- and then she was on the bed. † By this time, they have almost completely lost all of the love in their relationship and all their fighting has just pulled them apart more and more. Hours passed, and she finally had the baby. After the trauma of giving birth, all she could say to Jeremy was, â€Å"get rid of it. Jeremy, not knowing what else to do, listened to her order. After driving China back to school, he returned to the motel, wrapped the baby in a plastic bag, and disposed of it in a dumpster. Like most secrets, this one didn't last very long. Both teenagers were soon arres ted. On the day of their court appearance, China writes Jeremy a note saying, â€Å"I love you, will always love you no matter what. It is apparent that she still loves him so much, but it is hard to tell whether Jeremy still feels the same at this point in the story. All he can say to her before they part is, â€Å"you told me to get rid of it. A part in the story that seems to be very ironic is that China always would joke with Jeremy that she would â€Å"never be like those breeders that bring their puffed-up squalling little red-faced babies to class. † Sadly, the thing that they had once laughed at others for happened to them. It can also become so intense and cause people to do crazy things, just like the characters in â€Å"The Love of My Life. † They may not have killed one another, but they did murder their baby. They were blinded by their love and still so immature that they did not know how to deal with such a serious situation like that. The Love of My Life Love conquers all. That’s what we hear over and over again growing up. Everyone longs for that one amazing person to waltz into our lives and steal our hearts for the rest of eternity, but is it possible that love will be strong enough to face any problem that gets in our way? T. Coraghessan Boyle once said â€Å"As strong as love might be, there is always something stronger that could come along and shatter it† (After). T. Coraghessan Boyle was born in 1948 as Thomas John Boyle in Peekskill, New York. When Boyle went to college he never dreamed that one day he would have a major in Literature.He originally went to major in music as an aspiring saxophone player at SUNY Potsdam (â€Å"Auteur†). â€Å"That did not work out because I did not have near the talent of my colleagues† he said â€Å"I became a singer in a rock band† (â€Å"Auteur†). After he lost interest in music he moved on to history. From history, he changed his major to English a nd history. When Boyle finally found were he belonged he channeled his creativity into writing fiction, where he is now know as a literary legend, or as Boyle likes to say a rock star of literature. Mark Twain once said â€Å"Boyle‘s writing is deliciously infectious† (â€Å"Auteur†).Twain also includes that â€Å"Boyle’s masterful use of wit and dark satire pepper the pages with a focus on social exploration in contemporary times† (â€Å"Auteur†). With that kind of response from the great Mark Twain I can understand how Boyle has twenty-three novels and sixty-four short stories. In the short story â€Å"The Love of My Life† Boyle describes an extremely powerful love between two young teenagers named China and Jeremy. These two were inseparable, completely taken by love since the end of their junior year when they started dating, and they were not afraid to show it. They kissed whenever they met, no matter where or when, even if one of them had just stepped out of the room, because that was love, that was the way love was,† and they believed that nothing could end this incredible feeling (Boyle 382). Until the end of August, when China found out she was pregnant, that was when their problems began. China did not tell anyone about the baby except Jeremy. They went to two different colleges and that they would deal with the baby when it was time for China to give birth. When China’s water broke she called Jeremy and they went to a motel.Jeremy delivered the baby girl and China told him to â€Å"get rid of it† so he threw the baby in the dumpster outside (Boyle 387). They left the motel and went back to the college as if nothing ever happened. The police came the next morning and arrested both China and Jeremy. China and her parents decided to place the blame on Jeremy by allowing everyone to think that China had believed she had miscarried, and Jeremy acted alone on dumping the breathing child i nto the dumpster. This enormous problem eventually led to the downfall of China and Jeremy’s relationship.Boyle gets his ideas for his stories in many different ways, some can be from him just walking down the street and an idea pops into his head, others ideas come when he is watching television or reading a book. Boyle got the idea to write â€Å"The Love of My Life† from a case he read in the newspaper (After). The case was about a murder investigation involving Amy S. Grossberg and Brian C. Peterson for the murder of their new born baby boy. Grossberg delivered the baby at a Comfort Inn in Newark, Delaware, in November 1996 (â€Å"Amy†). Grossberg was assisted by her boyfriend Brian Peterson. Peterson threw the baby in the dumpster.In March1998, Peterson pled guilty to man slaughter and served a two-year sentence. On April 22, 1998, Grossberg agreed to plea bargain, and was sentenced to two-and -half years in prison on July 9, 1998. Later, Peterson got marri ed and now lives in Florida. Grossberg has now started a high end greeting card business with her parents (â€Å"Amy†). The only differences between the Peterson and Grossberg case and â€Å"The Love of My Life† is Boyle changed Peterson and Grossberg’s names and the sex of the baby, other than that the two stories are very similar. Love is a theme that is expressed frequently in this story, making some wonder, what is love?China and Jeremy believe love should be expressed physically, rather than physically and emotionally. China says love should be â€Å"the way it was in the movies, where the stars ambushed each other on beds the size of small planets and did it again and again until they lay nestled in a heap of pillows and blankets† (Boyle 381). Jeremy says explains that â€Å"there was no feeling like this, no triumph, no high – it was like being unconquerable, like floating,† (Boyle 381) and for their spring break trip, Jeremy â€Å"d idn’t even bring his fishing rod, and that was love† (Boyle 383). Their idea of love is questioned when China is pregnant.Jeremy begins to think of China as â€Å"pig-headed, stubborn, and irrational† (Boyle 385). Yet he does what she asks, like when she tells him to â€Å"get rid of it†, it meaning the baby, he does not ask questions he simply wraps the baby in plastic and leaves the room (Boyle 387). China’s love is also questioned when she chooses to testify against Jeremy, blaming him for the death of their child, claiming to have believed she had a miscarriage. Yet she claims to still love him. In this short story, Boyle uses water to symbolize the state of their relationship (Robertson). Boyle mentions it raining or not raining fourteen times.When the water is calm and peaceful then their relationship is going well and blooming (Robertson). However, when the water turns rapid, so does the relationship. For instance, when Jeremy and China go on their five day backpacking trip near the lake, Boyle makes use note that â€Å"not a drop† of rain is suppose to fall (Boyle 383). With no rain in sight Jeremy and China are going to have very peaceful trip. Another example of â€Å"not a drop† of rain falling is the night before Jeremy is arrested and he is dreaming of fishing in the river, that is also a peaceful moment for him.On the other hand, the day China’s water breaks we are told that â€Å"it is raining, raining hard† which is a sign that their relationship is struggling (Boyle 386). Later that evening â€Å"the rain had turned to ice† this could be a sign of how cold they are toward each other (Boyle 386). After hours of labor and hours of rain the baby is born. The very next day when the police come to arrest Jeremy it is raining again. Boyle draws parallels between China’s dorm life and her time at Sarah Barnes Cooper Women’s Correctional Institute (Kettering).The food à ¢â‚¬Å"was exactly what they served at the dining hall in college,† and the room was â€Å"just like a dorm room, except that they locked the doors at night† (Boyle 388). The image of the moon is used to unify the story (Kettering). China quotes a John Donne poem to Jeremy, saying she loves him â€Å"More than Moon† (Boyle 384). As she grows with her pregnancy, he begins to call her â€Å"More than Moon† since her stomach is so round and white (Boyle 384). The note that she sends to him during the trial references the poem again, saying that she loves him â€Å"More than Moon† (Boyle 389).Boyle uses nature to symbolize the emotions that Jeremy and China feel. For example, spring and winter are used to show the highs and lows that China and Jeremy go through during these times of the year. When Jeremy and China are so in love with one another, Boyle uses imagery associated with spring to indicate that their love is fertile and growing (â€Å"Termâ₠¬ ). I feel that Boyle uses this story as an attempt to inform us that no matter how in love we think we are, something can always go wrong, and that you may never get that love back.He allows us to see and feel what Jeremy and China feel through what they say to each other and the words he uses to describe their love. As the story continues we gain more understanding of their relationship, and this is why the story is so heart breaking when China turns her back on Jeremy at the end to save her own future. This whole story triggers our emotions, it allows us to feel the love they have for each other and then feel the betrayal. Which makes Boyle’s point very clear, love does not conquer all. The Love of My Life In the short story â€Å"The Love of My Life,† two teenagers make one bad decision and their lives are changed forever. The author, T. Coraghessan Boyle, wrote the story based on an actual news story that had occurred a few years back. The author does a great job of making the relationship between Jeremy and China seem so wonderful and almost innocent, that it is hard to be angry with them. The two characters in the story, Jeremy and China, are young and are head over heels for each other.The very first line of the story is all it takes to make the reader realize that these two youngsters share the true meaning of love, â€Å"they wore each other like a pair of socks. † All of that changes when the two find out that China is pregnant. Instead of properly handling their situation, they have the baby and dispose of it in a dumpster at a motel. Although the story has a very upsetting plot, you can't help but feel some sympathy toward the characters. The beginning of the st ory starts out describing the great, young love that Jeremy and China had.They did everything with each other, spent almost every waking moment together, and rarely ever fought. Both teenagers were on a great track in life; graduating at the top of their high school class, both going to top colleges and well-liked by most. They would tell each other â€Å"I love you† more times in a day than they could keep track of. Every time they walked into a room they would kiss. They seemed to have the perfect relationship. Then, the summer before college would commence, they went on a week-long camping trip alone.Of course, being alone, they had the opportunity to have sex and enjoy their time together. Obviously caught in the heat of the moment, knowing they were out of condoms, they had sex anyway. One irrational decision led to their lives changing forever. Before going to school in the fall, China learned that she was pregnant. Out of immaturity, and fear, she decides to do nothing about it and hide it, hoping it would perhaps just go away. Jeremy is just as clueless and scared as she is, and goes along with her decision.When the night comes that China is to have her baby, she calls up Jeremy and they meet at the motel they had met at many times before. When she arrives there, Jeremy is waiting at the door. When she walks by him, â€Å"they didn't kiss- they didn't even touch- and then she was on the bed. † By this time, they have almost completely lost all of the love in their relationship and all their fighting has just pulled them apart more and more. Hours passed, and she finally had the baby. After the trauma of giving birth, all she could say to Jeremy was, â€Å"get rid of it. Jeremy, not knowing what else to do, listened to her order. After driving China back to school, he returned to the motel, wrapped the baby in a plastic bag, and disposed of it in a dumpster. Like most secrets, this one didn't last very long. Both teenagers were soon arres ted. On the day of their court appearance, China writes Jeremy a note saying, â€Å"I love you, will always love you no matter what. It is apparent that she still loves him so much, but it is hard to tell whether Jeremy still feels the same at this point in the story. All he can say to her before they part is, â€Å"you told me to get rid of it. A part in the story that seems to be very ironic is that China always would joke with Jeremy that she would â€Å"never be like those breeders that bring their puffed-up squalling little red-faced babies to class. † Sadly, the thing that they had once laughed at others for happened to them. It can also become so intense and cause people to do crazy things, just like the characters in â€Å"The Love of My Life. † They may not have killed one another, but they did murder their baby. They were blinded by their love and still so immature that they did not know how to deal with such a serious situation like that.

Application Of Driver State Monitoring Systems (Dms)

Application Of Driver State Monitoring Systems (Dms) The term ‘driver state’ has no specific universal definition and is loosely used in the fields of Psychology and Engineering. In general, driver state refers to a set of conditions that affect the driver in a specific instance. Drivers in an optimal state do not suffer from any condition. Vehicle control transition is very important for the success of Highly Automated Driving (HAD). In an ideal scenario, human driver will be attentive to the Driving scene during Take Over Request (TOR). Recent advancements, along with higher levels of automation has made it possible for the driver to be in distracted, inattentive, or even fatigued state. Under similar driving scenario and automation behavior, a driver with some sort of impairment will have poorer performance tackling the situation than when in ideal state. Researches showed that distracted drivers had higher difficulty to adjust speed to a critical event than attentive drivers. Driver State Monitoring Systems (DMS) monitors and collects observable information on the driver, which can be used to determine his/her driving state. It is used, among other things, for active safety, adaptive Human Machine Interface (HMI), and annoyance reduction for false positive notifications in HAD. Electrodermal Activity Electrodermal activity (EDA) is the autonomous changes in electrical properties of the skin, of which, skin conductance is the most widely used property. To measure skin conductance, an electrical potential is applied between two points on the skin, and the resulting current flow between them is measured. This includes both background tonic (Skin Conductance Level or SCL) and rapid phasic components (Skin Conductance Responses or SCRs) that result from sympathetic neuronal activity. It is useful in measuring sympathetic arousal that are tractable to emotional and cognitive states. It is associated with autonomic emotional and cognitive processing. Autonomous nervous system (ANS) generally controls the body’s unconscious actions. Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) prepares body for intense physical activity and is responsible for fight or flight responses whereas parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is generally associated with homeostasis and when the body is at rest, while being responsible for rest and digest functions. Some emotional responses may occur without conscious awareness or cognitive intend. EDA can be used to examine such responses (i.e., threat, anticipation, salience, novelty). Recent research has shown that EDA is also a useful indicator of attentional processing per-se, where salient stimuli and resource demanding tasks evoke increased EDA responses. There are two main components to EDA. The slower acting components the overall level, slow climbing, slow declinations over time) are known as general tonic EDA. Skin Conductance Level (SCL) is the most common measure for this and changes in the SCL are thought to reflect general changes in autonomic arousal. The faster changing elements of the signal correspond to the Phasic component, also known as Skin Conductance Response (SCR). SCRs are generally associated with startle reflex or startle response. Recent evidence suggests that both components are important and may rely on different neural mechanisms. Empatica E4 wrist band is the common device used in ITS Leeds for psychophysiological data collection, giving EDA.csv files with Unix timestamp and sampling frequency of 4 Hz. Post processing of the same is done using MATLAB R2016a and Ledalab v3.4.9. For the first study, no pre-filtering was implemented. Although it can be done to smoothen the raw signal, using EDA explorer or a low bypass filter like Butterworth filter. In EDA signal, there is generally a latency of 1-3 seconds (i.e. a delay of around 1-3 seconds from when the event occurs to when you see the change in SC levels). Continuous decomposition analysis (CDA) is generally used instead of Discrete Decomposition analysis. This method extracts the phasic (driver) information underlying EDA and aims at retrieving the signal characteristics of the underlying sudomotor nerve activity (SNA). SC data is deconvolved by the general response shape which results in a large increase of temporal precision. Then data is decomposed into continuous phasic and tonic components. It is the method generally recommended for the analysis of skin conductance data. It features the computation of several standard measures of phasic EDA. Moreover, straightforward measures such as the average (or integrated) phasic driver activity are provided. To find Event Related SCR (ER-SCR) and separate it from Non-Specific SCR (NS-SCR), the event files are loaded in and the Ev ent related SCR activity is exported. The most common minimum threshold amplitude is 0.01  µS. Peaks with amplitude below this value is not considered significant. Another key factor is to standardize the values so that it can be compared across participants. For SCL the standardization is done using the formula: ((SCL ã€â€" SCLã€â€"_min) )/((ã€â€"SCLã€â€"_max –ã€â€" SCLã€â€"_min)) equation 2.2 Where ã€â€" SCLã€â€"_min is the baseline SCL which is to be measured while keeping the participant at rest doing nothing for at least 10-15 mins and ã€â€"SCLã€â€"_max is the maximum value computed when the participant is aroused using loud noise/music for a short period of time. This is done to get the SCL range of the given participant. Since this was not done for the SM study, it can’t be implemented. This can be circumnavigated by finding the minimum non-zero SCL score and the max SCL score during the study for each participant and use this as a baseline. Some studies recommend transforming SCRs into Z-scores. This requires the mean and standard-deviation to be used instead of a hypothetical maximum (from the other methods above). This navigates around the problems associated with determining the maximum SCR response from range-corrected methods / maximal correction methods. Here each raw SCR, a mean SCR value and standard deviation of SCRs, are used to compute the Z-score which is normally distributed, has an average of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. From here one can transform these Z-scores into T-scores, which have a mean of 50 and standard deviation of 10 (thus removing minus scores). The advantage to this approach here is that the resultant z-scores are based on unambiguous mathematical factors that represent the participants typical response level and not on unwarranted assumptions about maximum SCRs. Researchers further suggested that another useful transformation might be to divide each raw SCR, by the participants mean SCR thus providing a kind of standardized ratio. Final output is to obtain the ER-SCR activity window’s average SCR in T-score format, so that it can be compared across all the participants. From this, it might be possible to deduce suggestions/reasons for certain behavior during failure. Shimomura, et al. (2008) showed in his study that frequency domain analysis enabled detection of small differences in mental workload that could not be detected by traditional amplitude domain analysis. Here the signal is transformed from amplitude domain to frequency domain using techniques such as Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT). This technique enables real-time automatic analysis. Motion artifacts can cause the EDA signal to be quite noisy. If 90% of EDA value is zero or close to zero within a 5s window (a lower bound threshold of 0.001 µS can be used, it is probably caused by the sensors losing contact with the skin during that period and they can be removed. Generally, EDA levels are found to be not changing by more than 20% while increasing and 10% while decreasing, within a 1 second time window. A moving one second median filter can be used for initial interpolation to even out the signal. The resultant acceleration from accelerometer sensor can be used to find points/periods of high movements, and the EDA signal during that same period can be checked for motion artifacts, which can be removed if necessary. A bi-cubic interpolation of the signal can be done after the filtering to account for missing data points from the removal of motion artifacts. To summarize, skin conductance generally increases with arousal, stress, salience, mental workload, anticipation and overall increase in body temperature or physical activity. But measurements from palm of the hand or feet are generally highly sensitive emotional responses and can be distinguished from skin conductance spikes due to body temperature or physical activity. Heart rate variability Heart rate (HR) is the number of times the heart beats in a minute or â€Å"bpm†, and resting heart rate is the heart rate measured while being relaxed, but awake. Amongst the general population a resting heart rate of 60-80bpm is considered pretty good. But heartbeat intervals are irregular and there is variation in time between each heartbeat. Heart rate variability (HRV) is simply the measurement of variation between heartbeats. In general, a healthy functioning body will display a greater variability between beats than a poorly functioning one. Heart period is the time interval between two successive heart beats. The Sinoatrial node (SAN) can be seen on the top left side of the figure and the Atrioventricular node (AVN) to the right of SAN. The depolarization of SAN and AVN provides the electrical driving force that triggers the contraction of the heart. SAN’s spontaneous depolarization speed is typically faster than that of AVN, which is why it’s called natural pacemaker. Electrical impulses generated by SAN stimulates each beat of the heart, thereby dictating its rhythm. Sympathetic (SNS) and Parasympathetic (PSNS) branches of the autonomic nervous system are what mainly influence SAN. Hormone and immunity can have a role as well. According to Berntson, et al. (1997) â€Å"sympathetic activity tends to increase HR and decrease HRV, whereas parasympathetic activities tends to decrease HR and increase HRV†. HRV is closely related to emotional arousal. In HRV spectrum, there are both high-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) signals. HF activity generally decreases under pressure, stress, strain, focused attention etc. High stress can cause reduction in LF values as well. Individuals who worry more have shown reduction in HRV. In PTSD patients, HRV and its HF component is reduced whilst the low-frequency (LF) component is elevated. Decrease in PSNS activity or increase in SNS activity results in reduced HRV. HF activity (0.15 to 0.40 Hz), especially, has been linked to PSNS activity. LF activity (0.04 to 0.15 Hz), which is generally associated with a mixture of both SNS and PSNS. So, it’s safe to summarize that during rest periods, HF HRV tends to be higher than when the driver is engaged, stressed, focused or strained/tired. To analyze HRV, either time domain or frequency domain analysis can be implemented. Time domain methods include â€Å"measures of the variance among heart period, the variance of the differences among heart periods, and geometric methods based on the shape characteristics of heart period distributions†. The most common method used to compute heart rate variability amongst time domain methods is the square root of the mean squared successive heart period differences or the RMSSD (Root Mean Square Successive Difference) statistic. It is based on the differences between adjacent heart periods and is nominally independent of basal heart period, although heart period level and heart period variability are themselves physiologically correlated. Because of the differences between adjacent heart periods sample HRV over relatively short periods of time (the duration of a heart period), the RMSSD resolves the total variance by filtering out LF signals. Consequently, the RMSSD has been a pplied as a measure of HF based HRV. The properties of RMSSD, including its cut-off frequency and its frequency-dependent transfer function vary as a function of basal heart period. A more systematic parsing of heart period variance into specific frequency components can be achieved by frequency domain methods. There are mainly two ways to measure HRV and HR. They are Electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings and Photoplethysmogram (PPG) recordings. ECG recordings are collected by placing electrodes on the chest (near the heart), which measure electrical impulses for each cardiac cycle. QRS complex is the defining feature of ECG signal. QRS complex is the three graphical deflections seen on a typical ECG, which is Q wave (downward deflection right after P wave, which is IV.), R wave (upward deflection after Q wave) and S wave (downward deflection after R wave) which is represented by I., II. The heart’s electrical activation is measured directly by ECG recordings. It also generally shows a strong QRS complex presence in the resulting signal. Motion artifacts caused by sensor displacement due to participant movement is a common source of noise in ECG signals. These tend to fall in the same frequency range as the QRS-complexes, which can make it difficult to filter them without deforming the QRS complex. Photoplethysmogram (PPG) recordings are a less invasive method to study cardiac cycle. They generally measure the discoloration of the skin as blood perfuses through the arteries and capillaries with each heartbeat, using optical sensors. PPG is typically measured at the fingertip or at the wrist. The PPG Heart Rate Analysis generally consists of a systolic peak, a dicrotic notch, and a secondary peak called a diastolic peak (2.5b-III). In recordings with very low amplitude the diastolic peak may be absent. The main advantages of PPG over ECG are low cost, ease of setting up and non-invasive methods. Ways of obtaining the PPG signal contactless through cameras have been proposed, further reducing intrusiveness. There is generally more amplitude variation over short time-intervals, more variation in waveform morphology, as well as more noise from various sources as opposed to ECG measurements. This makes analysis of PPG more difficult. The heart signal is often split into heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) measures. The distance between the detected heart beats (the RR-intervals, named because in the ECG, the largest amplitude peak is called the R-wave) are used to calculate them. The heart beats are represented by the peaks in both signals. Even though the measurement technique vary quite considerably between ECG and PPG, a high correlation (median 0.97) between RR-intervals extracted from ECG and PPG signals has been reported. This makes the PPG a valid alternative for human factors studies that require non-intrusive heart rate measurements, and hence will be the focus of this research. Researchers talked on how to remove motion artifacts and filter it out of EDA signal. This is explained in the last paragraph of the previous section. The same methodology can be applied to remove motion artifacts from the HR/HRV signal as well.

Elephants, Economics and Ivory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Elephants, Economics and Ivory - Essay Example 1) In the external environment of the not for profit industry, identify and critically analyze the dimensions of complexity which impact upon the management of people and organizations using appropriate MPO concepts. What are the implications of these key factors for organizations in the sector? Â  In considering the complex interrelationships of factors impacting the not for profit industry it is important to first consider the inherent conflict of conserving natural resources within a trade orientated international environment. It is submitted that this, in turn, requires a PEST analysis to critically evaluate the key external actors and triggers in people management and not for profit organizations. It is further submitted that the PEST analysis helps best understand the key factors for organizations in the sector. Â  The PEST analysis acronym means the political, economic, social and technological issues that could affect the strategic and operational development of a business, which in turn has a concomitant impact on people management. Moreover, identifying central PEST influences is an extremely useful exercise in summarising the external environment within which a business operates to provide recommendations as to how a business should respond to these influences (Worthington et al, 2005). Â  In general terms, the political dimension will consider the environmental regulation and legal mechanisms in place for enforcement of the not for profit industry’s goals in the relevant sector.

Assignment 3 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 12

3 - Assignment Example The spot gasoline prices are the prices that have an influence on the wholesale of gasoline. This is the price paid by stations when filling their storage tanks. The current price of commodity is $2.18 per gallon (Roseman n.d). This changes depending with season. For instance, during winter the prices are likely to go down by almost a half. The specifications for the commodity have changed since 1998 (Brand n.d). This is as way of keeping up with the new technologies being invented and especially in the oil production and refinery sectors. Also, the changes in the commodity specification are a method of creating environmental friendly products thereby reducing the products negative impacts on the environment (Roseman n.d). Sulphur levels in the Canadian gasoline are not to average more than 30 parts per million. Similarly, the sale of Benzene has been limited to 1.5% by volume. The current future of gasoline is that the prices are likely to shoot. This is because this is what has been trending from February 2015 until March 9 2015 (Roseman n.d). For example, the price was $2.332 on February 23 2015, $2.473 on March 2 2015 and $2.487 on March 9 2015 (Brand n.d). This explains the trend that the prices are going up every week. I expect the price of gasoline to average $3/bbl. The reason for this projection is that the current futures are suggesting a very high uncertainty in the overall price outlook. For instance, the future contracts for May 2015 averaged $52/bbl. This indicates an average of 52% volatility and 95% upper and lower limits. This confirms that the market expectations will widen over time. In my opinion, I would recommend that the projections for the commodity be set a month before the release of the commodity. The executive committee should avoid long duration’s predictions as this is affecting the price of gasoline. For example, if they predict the price shall go up even when the economy is doing great, the

Rewrite Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Rewrite Response - Essay Example It would be more logical that as women have a bigger say in the content of comic strips there would be an incline in positive representation of female characters. Because I do not read comic books frequently, I found Scott McClouds’ comic strip somewhat difficult to comprehend, more often getting lost in the design. However, his pursuit for modification of genres in comic book, to diverge from the conventional male superhero/damsel in distress story flow that encompasses various gender labels. I settle with McCloud on the control of comic books, and the effect they can have on the person who read, similarly as we are influenced by print and mass media. Hence, the significance of the need for comic books authors to streamline gender disparities in comics and use their control to change the gender labels. According to As Glascock and Preston-Schreck findings, despite noticeable progress has manifested in the inclusion of women and girls in print media comics in the recent 20 years, many predetermined labels in day to day comics in recent paper remain benchmarks in current papers(428). Underrepresentation women is not limited only to comic books but also the media as well, if this continues the thinking of people our society will remain conventional and will hamper drive towards gender equality. I disagree with the part McCloud’s comic when he wrote that in certain circumstances, the fight for gender balance and representation of minority seem at balances with genre issues. The preceding two reasons for representation of the world as it is through a body of work, yet the later seems bent toward our concern to diverge form it (124). My view of extending genres does not mean deterrence from reality; rather a paradigm of focus from male dominated storylines to more gender- balance plots, and holistic inclusion of women. My opinion is that the three goals are intertwined and with a more varied genres it is possible to instill

Entrepreneurship International new ventures - internalization, growth Thesis - 1

Entrepreneurship International new ventures - internalization, growth path, Measutement - Thesis Example Logitech and Skype are two firms that started out as international new ventures. Logitech and Skype are selected for case studies because they both represent the opportunities accorded international entrepreneurs and at the same time represent two different types of opportunities and risks taken and how those risks pay off and can be detrimental to international entrepreneurs. In this regard, Logitech represents how risks in international entrepreneurships can be profitable and Skype represents how risks can actually be detrimental to international new ventures. The results of this study confirm both network and internationalization theories. These results are discussed and implications for theory and practice are also discussed. Studies on international firms often focus on multi-national enterprises (MNE) which usually begin as large and powerful domestic firms that eventually branch out into the international arena (Oviatt & McDougall, 1994). However, advances in technology and an increase in the number of individuals with experience in international business have opened up opportunities for non-traditional MNEs (Oviatt & McDougall, 1994). Since the 1990s, there have been a significant and progressive growth in the number of ‘new and young firms’ that join the international market from the start (McDougall, Oviatt, & Shrader, 2003, p. 59). This trend in internationalisation from the start is known as International New Ventures (INV) (McDougall, et al., 2003). Researchers have attempted to understand why new firms which are comparatively small, would assume the additional ‘risk’ of venturing directly into the international market (McDougall, et al., 2003, p. 60). Traditional international business theories fail to provide a framework for analysing and understanding why international entrepreneurs venture out into the global market place from inception. This is because traditional international

Personal experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Personal experience - Essay Example For instance, the fear of public speaking can be handled through practice. This means that if one has a fear of public speaking this problem can be encountered through practicing talking in front of the friends as they listen. After getting used to talk in front of the friend then one can look for a larger congregation like a class of fifty students and address to and through the practice the fear of public speaking may be solved. From the book, the lessons learned about the ambiguity aversion are that it comes from fear of the unknown. This is when someone feels it difficult to express his or her ideas in front of unknown congregation. This fear may be even deeply entrenched than the fear of public speaking. According to Berns 60, it is evident that the ambiguity aversion does not only happen to the human beings but also the other animals have this phenomenon and also experience the same. This fear can also be inhibited because the human beings posses a larger prefrontal cortex than the animals. One of the solutions to ambiguity aversion is to convert it into a risk. The use of Bayesian Updating may be used. Bayesian Updating is a process is a statistical process of using new process to update probability estimates (Bern70). Reappraisal can be commonly applied to view ambiguity as a very big opportunity to get and attain knowledge. If ambiguity is used over several times and repeatedly then it can be quickly changed into a risk. In the community, there has been a big issue on the pollution and many raised campaigns on how to dispose of unwanted material (Wheatley and Frieze 30). Due to this issue of pollution an idea can be got form it and be used in the play to come up with more useful items from the waste material. Via this problem of pollution on the land whereby the land is getting acidified by the chemicals disposed by the community and the industries after why a grant idea can be invented on

Business Research Methodologies Resit Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Business Research Methodologies Resit - Essay Example Research Methodology Research Design Research Philosophy The research shall contain elements of both positivism and interpretivism. The interpretivism philosophy is quintessential to our understanding of how and why international students arrive at a preference for certain mobile phone over another in London. This research incorporates identifying and analyzing the factors behind mobile phone selection by international students in London which have not yet been discussed in the context of UK in various past studies. Since this requires significant level of involvement, the subjective element associated with interpretivism will remain dominant. At the same time, the lack of objectivity related with using the interpretivist approach makes it necessary to adopt a quantitative approach and positivist philosophy for the establishment of our research instrument. Research Approach An inductive approach shall be used to identify common factors behind choice of mobile phones in London by inte rnational students which shall be picked up from raw data with subsequent generalizations made for the entire group. Key factors shall be grouped into categories such as cost, availability etc. from raw data and theory shall be developed capturing those factors that are judged to be significant by the researcher. Since the nature of research is qualitative, multiple interpretations may be made from open-ended data obtained through focus groups. Therefore, the findings shall be in large part interpreted in the context of the researchers’ prior experience and/or assumptions. Research strategy Reflecting a blend of positivist and interpretivist approach in our research, a combination of research strategies shall be used including surveys and focus groups. While the surveys are a reflection of the positivist approach, focus groups are suggestive of an interpretivist approach. Inferences regarding the factors that affect choice of mobile phone by international students in the UK s hall be made and relationships between these factors shall be determined using quantitative techniques. Focus groups have been defined as a series of discussions that are systematically planned and that obtain target audience’s perceptions in a particular area of interest under an environment that is tolerant and â€Å"non-threatening† (Krueger & Casey, 2009). The focus groups shall enable the identification of open-ended, sub-conscious responses from the students that they would otherwise not reveal through direct questions. Projective techniques such as those using images of various types of mobile phones (flip cover, sliding, QWERTY keypad, big screen) shall be shown along with various brands including Samsung, Nokia, Apple, Blackberry and others. This exercise particularly attempts to unravel social motivations such as peer pressure in their new place of study as well as the effect of factors such as security (little/no thefts) and supporting infrastructure such as mobile hotspots and e-shopping that may not be available in the countries to which these foreigners belong. Data Collection As suggested earlier, data shall be collected using focus groups and surveys. The surveys shall include both interviews and questionnaires.

Select a Code of Conduct to Revise Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Select a Code of Conduct to Revise - Assignment Example In addition, the communication language in which the code of business conduct should convey the message should be understood by the employees (Waldmann, 2006). Corporate companies like Diageo and Coca-Cola prohibit their employees from taking for themselves or directing business opportunity to other people that business opportunity that the organization has turned down. This code of business conduct needs to be revised. This is because of the fact that if organizations like Coca -Cola are not interested with the business opportunity they should therefore provide the employees with the chance of taking up the challenge and provide the services needed. This should be allowed to provide the employees the chance to grow themselves. If an organization is not interested in a business opportunity, then it means that it is giving other people that opportunity. Therefore, why not give the same opportunity to the employees to empower them and make them have better income and advance their careers (Barth, 2003). However, this opportunity should not be discovered using corporate property or information. Diageo should ensure that employees should not use the organization’s resources, information or position for personal gain or competing with the firm. It may be hard to sometimes determine the line between personal and firm benefits. The best action to do is ask for permission for the use of any firm property or services that is not solely for the benefit of the organization. In addition, in order to protect the interests of an organization, it is important for companies to monitor and review all data and information contained on an employee’s company issued property. This is for the sole purpose of protecting the organization’s information from outsiders. Moreover, strict measures and discipline should be instilled to those violating the rules. In conclusion, it is important for organizations to have the code of business conduct as it serves as a

Portrait of Dr Gachet Essay Example for Free

Portrait of Dr Gachet Essay A. Introduction When the name Van Gogh comes up, one can imagine sunflowers, stars at night, rice fields, and lonely portraits. His works resemble writing. (Berger, 2001, p.87) His life rendered to writing. When one hears his name, one remembers a song, a play, a book.   Van Gogh’s appeal is world-wide. Collectors, dealers, and museums place a high price on a painting. Artists, art critics, and even an ordinary person who knows a thing or two about Western art can appreciate his works as well as his life story.    He was a post impressionist painter. (vangoghgallery.com) One of the controversial paintings of Van Gogh is the Portrait of Dr. Gachet. The subject (Paul Ferdinand Gachet) was the painter’s physician and friend. He made the portrait six weeks before he committed suicide. (businessweek.com, 1998) B. Description / Analysis The subject in the painting occupied much of the space. It cuts a diagonal line in the middle of the canvass. The slant gives the mood of the subject. Dr. Gachet is in a reclining position as if exhausted and sad. The subject’s outline – from his hat, to his shoulders, to his hand, was drawn with soft curved lines. The features of the face and the coat are also of curves. The curves give the work an over-all softness which contributes to the idea of sadness; as opposed to sharp lines which usually denote coldness. There were very few straight lines used. They can only be seen in the objects (two books) beside the subject. There are also the famous small strokes using semi-curved lines used by Van Gogh to give texture. The strokes have little space between them. And, the background colors of these strokes are still very visible. These small strokes create a pattern-like detail ( it used the principle of repetition) to the visual objects that uses them such as subject’s clothes and his background.   The main subject is oval. He is like a fruit reclining on a table. The dominant colors are blue and green. There are many shades using these colors. They are contrasting to the subject’s skin tone which is mostly a combination of yellow and cream. The face and the arms are fair with soft details using light brown and green. The contrast of the dark and the light colors brings attention to the face, and thus the mood of the subject; which as mentioned earlier looks exhausted and sad. The subject was placed in the middle ground.   The foreground are the other visual objects such as books, table and the flowers in a vase. The foreground gives an idea to the setting; that the portrait was done during a casual encounter. The background is an outline of a landscape (in dark blue) and sky (in pale blue). The background colors are of the same shade which create harmony. The Portrait of Dr.Gachet was painted in 1890. Its size is 67 x 56 cm. It used oil on canvas.(paletaworld.org) Van Gogh used this medium the most as shown in his most famous paintings. There are debates on whether Van Gogh’s art is impressionist, expressionist or post-impressionist. Partly, due to the small brush strokes he used to give detail to visual objects, some say he belongs to the impressionist painters. The small strokes are signs of the artist’s swift motion during painting. Since the outline of the visual objects are simple, one gets the idea that the artist must have paid attention to the affect reality such as the mood or feeling of the subject at that time. This presents a way of seeing; as opposed to hyperrealist artworks which concentrate on the mastery of details. (Berger, 2001, p. 8) C. Interpretation The over-all impact of the painting is sadness. It was an intimate portrait because the painter was drawing out feelings. This can be seen in the choice of colors, soft lines and -most obvious- the details of the subject’s face. By the title alone Portrait of Dr. Gachet, one expects to see a serious man. Visual details show the same characteristic as the subject appears to be a serious man. Beside the subject were books. Reading suggests educational or professional background. The subject wore a dark coat and a defined moustache -which are the common symbols of being proper. The usual portraits are arranged like a pictorial. The Portrait of Dr. Gachet deviates from this. It is not a display of attributes. The painting is affective. This means that it shows a relation between the subject and the painter. The subject was relaxed enough to recline and show his emotions. He looks exhausted or resigned from something, and he is conveying it. The table used as a foreground suggests the looker (the painter) might be on the other end. Facts concerning the subject’s relation to Van Gogh came as no surprise. He was said to be unable to help Van Gogh in his depression and is suffering from it as well. (Bertman, 2006) The subject’s relation to the painter is relevant. He was his doctor. And he was with him days before the painter’s death.   The sad and tired look on the doctor’s face symbolizes surrender. The death of Van Gogh came days later. In the Portrait of Dr. Gachet, Van Gogh was painting vulnerability. He was keen to the moment being lived by himself and his subject. D. Judgment The Portrait of Dr. Gachet stirred controversy for the high price it was bought and the mystery of its vanishing. It was auction in 1990 with a bidding that started with $20 million and sealed with $ 82.5 million. A Japanese industrialist kept it in a secret store room. He gained notoriety when he exclaimed in jest that the piece would be cremated with him. After his death, the painting was said to have been sold, but it was no longer seen by the public. The Portrait of Dr. Gachet is controversial not only because it was the painting bought with the highest price for an auction. The very manner of passing it from one collector to another who did not have any interest in sharing it to the public, and not even to view it himself, (Kleiner, 2000)   show how art is a property of the privileged. Its vanishing act sparked further debates on the commodification of art. The common sentiment revolves around the seemingly waste of art because Van Gogh was important to the public. But, the pr ivileged (collector) did not have the intention to give. It seemed their own love of art is a pretension. (Berger, 103) E. Conclusion The Portrait of Dr. Gachet is a portrait of many values. It is a portrait drawn to portray beyond social status. It also described social relations. It is an artwork about perception and emotions. It is an intimate portrait of a man who was supposed to cure the painter. It is significant to all who appreciate Van Gogh. It is also valuable to all who regard art beyond one’s private collection.

Groups and Culture Essay Example for Free

Groups and Culture Essay Cultural and social expectations dictate that individuals as members of one culture or society interact with other members, it is in the interpersonal relationships and interactions that the individual has with others that socialization occurs (Hofstede, 2000). The first interpersonal relation that an individual in any culture would have is confined in the family. Growth and maturation however dictates that the individual relate and interact with other people outside of his or her family, this could be teachers, caregivers, classmates and friends. Interacting with other people widens the perspective of the individual, in play children learn how to communicate and compromise, in the classroom, they learn to compete and cooperate and in the workplace, they learn to conform and collaborate (Hofstede, 2000). Everyone is part of a group, be it the family, a neighborhood, a class, a department, or a community. A fully functioning and healthy individual would be a member of two or more groups, and for each group, a different set of rules and expectations apply. A universal characteristic of groups is that it consists of two or more individuals who are interacting and behaving towards a common goal. Within this setting, group members constantly communicate, cooperate, and conform to the rules and objectives of the group (Guss, 2002). For example, a gang of adolescent boys had been formed based on friendship, and each member subscribes to the rules of the gang, thus behaviors like rites of initiation are meant to strengthen the member’s commitment to the group. The goal of the gang may simply be to cultivate their friendship and protect each other, thus the members would cooperate in order to achieve that goal (Brew, Hesketh Taylor, 2001). In contrast, a group of teenagers in a bus is not really a group because they do not have shared rules and expectations, although they may have the same goal, and that is to reach their destination. Groups also tend to form and break up over the course of life events and human development. The behavior of groups and its members are also heavily influenced by the dominant culture in which it is situated. A group of workers in a collectivist culture like that of South Korea would strongly conform to the rules and regulations of the organization they work for (Hofstede, 2000). Complaints against company practices or policies are expected to be minimal such that collectivist cultures places value on group cohesion, unity, and cooperation. Workers in South Korea would believe that they are working not for themselves but for their families, their organization and their country. Thinking of one’s self above others in this culture is frowned upon, thus, not many individuals take leadership roles because it calls attention to oneself (Hofstede, 2000). Thus, workers conform without question, they cooperate with the given policies and they build relationships among the workers. On the other hand, a group of workers in an individualist culture like the US is not as easily conforming and cooperative as the workers in South Korea. Individualist cultures places importance on individual achievement, individual differences, self-expression and nonconformity (Hofstede, 2000). Workers in the US would join organizations that provide them with the opportunities for individual achievement and professional growth. To a certain degree, US workers do conform to the expected behavior of workers, but only if they perceive it as a necessary requirement of their individual performance. For example, workers generally attend company activities because they get something out of it, or because it is required of them to come and attendance would have positive implications in one’s performance rating (Hofstede, 2000). In this culture, workers are vocal about their ideas and opinions about the organization’s policies, they are confrontational such that demanding increase in one’s salary is the norm, not the exception. References Brew, F. P. , Hesketh, B. , Taylor, A. (2001). Individualistic-collectivist differences in adolescent decision making and decision styles with Chinese and Anglos. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 25, 1-19. Guss, C. D. (2002). Decision making in individualistic and collectivistic cultures. In W. J. Lonner, D. L. Dinnel, S. A. Hayes, D. N. Sattler (Eds. ), Online Readings in Psychology and Culture (Unit 4, Chapter 3), (http://www. wwu. edu/~culture), Center for Cross-Cultural Research, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington USA. Hofstede, G. (2000). Cultures consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed. ). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

An Ethnographic Study of Well- being of Dinka Refugee Women

An Ethnographic Study of Well- being of Dinka Refugee Women Qualitative Critique Article Title: Well-being of Dinka Refugee Women of Southern Sudan Salima Shams Introduction: This paper would critique qualitative article title â€Å"Well- Being of Dinka Refugee Women of Southern Sudan† (Baird Boyle, 2012). Primary author of the study Baird is professionally an ARNP/CNS (Advance Registered Nurse Practioner/ Clinical Nurse Specialist), and also CTN: Certified Transcultural Nurse. Second investigator is also a nurse and has done MPH following her RN and both of the investigators had owned PhD degree. The major strength of the study is that researchers have evaluated cultural themes in their study of the cultural sharing group. According to (Le Compte, Millroy, Preissle, 1992 cited by Creswell 2007) â€Å"themes may include such topics as enculturation, socialization, learning, cognition, domination, inequality, or child and adult development† (p.71). Moreover, they have interconnected these themes with participant well-being; therefore, it has held my interest into it. Moreover, language of the article is easy to follow. The majo r area of improvement is that at many instances, I feel article lacks clarity and factual accuracy. The Problem: Research problem seems significant to nursing as it is concern with individuals’ (refugee) health and well- being. Moreover, significance of the problem to nursing has also been mentioned by researchers. Authors have mentioned study participants, and study questions. Purpose of the study is also stated by the authors but they haven’t mentioned key study variable â€Å"well-being† in it (Polit Beck, 2012). Problem statement of the study has been progressively developed through highlighting (problem identification/ introduction, Background, scope and consequences of the problem, knowledge gap, and proposed solution). The benefits of present study were stated clearly that is it will help in improving current nursing practices offered to refugee women (literature review section, para. 6). Authors haven’t mentioned any limitations of their study in the article. General assumptions of the theoretical framework have been utilized in the current stud y. Moreover, philosophical assumptions of qualitative and ethnographic research can easily be viewed in the article (Polit Beck, 2012). However, at few instances I have to infer such as whether phenomena has been viewed holistically or not. Review of the Literature: Literature has been comprehensively reviewed, synthesized well and logically presented by the researchers. The authors have summarized studies that address phenomena of well-being in refugee women. However, it would have been better, if further empirical literature specific to African refugee women would have been added. Authors have identified knowledge gap in the literature (Literature Review section, para.6). Moreover, majority of literature shared in the article was paraphrased and taken from primary sources. With that, majority of literature in literature review section except one, is recent that is within 10 years’ time when current study would have been started. Theoretical work has also been included by researcher in the article. However, theoretical work should have been further expanded; for example, conceptual definition of well-being should have been added. Additionally, another question could also be generated from literature review, such as, evaluation of the study participants’ social factors (Literature Review section, Para. 5) that hinder in refugee women resettlement and on their well-being. Theoretical/ Conceptual Framework: Middle range theory of transitions has been used as a theoretical guide for the current study (refer to appendix A and B) but no conceptual framework has been illustrated in the article. Qualitative studies utilize framework to create boundaries for the study, and framework helps in literature review, data collection, analysis and presentation of findings (Ryan, Coughian, Cronin, 2007). Though, framework has not been adequately utilized and described by authors in their research. For example, they have not integrated pattern and properties mentioned in the physical model in their study. Moreover, they have only talked about three type of transition in present study (developmental, situational and health- illness) but have not talked about organizational transition in present study. Justification has been provided for the use of specific theoretical framework â€Å"Three types of individual transitions†¦. as well as after their settlement† (Baird Boyle, 2012, pp.15-16). Furthermore, it is evident from the research article that the framework has guided researcher in identification of study population, main themes for data analysis and presentation of findings (Ryan, Coughian, Cronin, 2007). Population and Sampling: Authors have clearly defined target population â€Å"refugee women †¦. asylum to the United States† (Purpose of study section, p.14). Although it is one of the qualitative study design (ethnography) in which researcher describes and interprets shared and learned patterns of values, behaviors, belief and language of culture sharing group (Creswell, 2007, p. 68) and purpose is not the generalizability but to fully identify the pattern. So, adequate data collection is an important factor, in present study there were 10 study participants. According to Creswell (2007) â€Å"An ethnographer is interested in examining theses shared patterns and the unit of analysis is larger than the 20 or so individuals† (p.68). To maintain variability of the sample, subjects with diverse characteristics were included in the study (Refer sample section). Yet, researchers haven’t encountered any negative case and they have also not described participant se lection criteria. The method of sampling for the (subject) selection was through church, and by snowball. Following it purposive sampling for subject selection has been done and it is aligned with qualitative study design. Purposive sampling method provides opportunity for â€Å"theoretical sampling†. Theoretical sampling means selecting subjects who represent the important characteristics that researchers consider of interest to the study (Pidgeon Henwood, 1996) or intentionally adding of ‘outliers’ case in the study (Barbour, 2001). However, sampling method for the setting has not been described and majority of interview took place at participants’ homes and observations at church. Research Design: Ethnography study design has been used in the study. Study Design seems appropriate in regard to purpose of study as it is looking at behavior modifications/ value transformation in study participants and interpreting these modifications in relation to participants own culture. Webster dictionary define behavior as â€Å"anything that an organism does involving action or the way in which something functions or operates†. These behavioral (function) modifications have occurred in study participants because of the shift in their value system and individual learn values through their family/ society culture, socialization and through cognitive advancement. In nutshell, if we understand individual behavior, then we ultimately understand individual culture. Additionally, study is also highlighting intra- family and intra- community issue of power, resistance and dominance. However, I feel that questions that have been formulated are not according to study design. T hey are more providing understanding for phenomological research. Authors have describe participant characteristics and the context of study; hence, study is transferable/ replicable (Konradsen, Kirkevold, Olson, 2013). Data Collection: Interview, observations, field notes have used as a data collection strategy. Researcher have mentioned that the data collection methods are in accordance with ethnographic research (Baird Boyle, Method section, 2012, p. 16); however, haven’t rationale the use of selected method. Interview method of data collection seems appropriate in relation to study question; as study aimed at understanding experience of resettlement of refugee women. However, if other method (artifacts) of ethnographic data collection has been added, then it would have further enriched the data (Creswell, 2007, p.120). Protection of Human Rights: Authors have taken permission from University institutional review board. It is mentioned in the article that the participants were approached through church congregation and by snow ball sampling technique. Therefore, it indicates that people might had come forward and participated voluntarily into it. Although the researchers haven’t overtly said informed consent was taken but they have mentioned that approval has been taken from the board, it implies that informed consent would have been taken place. Study doesn’t appear to be a case of deception. It is not mentioned in the article the time at which individual participant consent would have taken place but site agreement was obtained prior to review board approval. Since the sample size is small; therefore, one can easily identify participant who is divorced or USA citizenship holder. Maximum benefit to participant has been maintained by researcher through participatory action research (PA R) project. Moreover, time provided for the study was compensated with money. Analysis: Researchers have generally explained method of data analysis which gives impression that â€Å"editing style of data analysis† have been used (Polit Beck, 2004). Nevertheless, they should have provided details of raw data; so that theoretical connectedness of data to themes could have been evaluated (Burns and Grove, 2001). Method of data analysis fit with level of inquiry, but since middle range theory of transition was used as a framework. Therefore, they should have used deductive approach for content/ data analysis following editing style of data analysis. Authors have in-cooperated participant words to support themes but haven’t inco-operated field notes along with participants transcriptions’. However, at few instances explanation provided under the themes titled ‘standing on our own two legs† and â€Å"Hope for the future† is not coherent with its title. For example, ‘several of them identified role models on televisionà ¢â‚¬ ¦.woman† (Baird Boyle, Finding section, 2012, p. 18). Rigor: The data collection methods are reliable and verifiable as interpreter and audiotaped have been utilized. Moreover, time allocation for interview was appropriate, longitudinal, with the interval of 2-5 month apart. However, adequate details of the interview questions (structured/ unstructured) have not been provided. It has been mentioned in the article that reliability was established through consensual validation with an experienced qualitative researcher. Moreover, validation of analysis is also done by study participants and primary interpreter. There is no notification of discrepant result in the article. Very scarcely researchers have present (etic) perspective in the article. Moreover, researchers haven’t shared their reflexivity in the article. Conclusion and Recommendation: All three themes that have emerged at the end of data analysis were discussed in finding section in relation to study questions. Conclusion that has been presented in the article is stated as â€Å"refugee women as strong, resilient, and capable of being responsible for their own and health and well-being† and this is justifiable to the findings of the study. The recommendation for nursing practice includes providing culturally competent interventions to promote health and well-being of refugee women and for future research studies authors have suggested to evaluate the phenomena in voluntary immigrants or undocumented workers. Recommendation for nursing practice is supported by the study results. I feel that transferability of the findings in Pakistani setting greatly depends on the geographical location because there is high inter and intra province variations in women status throughout the country. Appendix A Retrieved from, http://www.adolescenciaesaude.com/imagebank/images/en_v9n3a04 Appendix B Retrieved from http://jsn.sagepub.com/content/17/6/300/F1.large.jpg

Artificial Restraints In Lord Of The Flies :: essays research papers

"GOLDING PUTS SO MANY ARTIFICIAL RESTRAINTS ON HIS STORY IN ORDER TO EMPHASISE HIS POINT, THAT THE WHOLE THING COMES OUT TOO NEATLY AND, IN FACT, REDUCES THE POWER OF HIS MESSAGE."I think that, while the boys experience immense bad luck due to the author, the story still proves its point. It is still possible though, that the bad luck of the boys could have been experienced in real life. I think that without this bad luck, the point of the story wouldn't be as great, because without the restraint's Golding placed on the boys, life on the island would have been too easy for the boys.The major constraint that Golding puts on the boys is the personality clash between Jack and Ralph. From the beginning, when Ralph is elected leader, Jack hates Ralph, and towards the end of the book, the feeling becomes mutual. Without Jack and Ralph's problems, life would have been easy, and the 'darkness of man's heart' would not have been conveyed to the reader. Jack shows 'the darkness' and if he and Ralph had just been friends, there would never have been an opportunity for Jack to show this darkness which lurked beneath the surface. Golding also uses the dead pilot conveniently against the boys - the way in which he is caught in the trees just in the right position to be caught by the wind and look like the beast and the way the wind picks up after Simon has let him down from the trees and carries him out to sea, so that the other boys cannot see that it wasn't a beast. The author uses the boy's fear against them, and although this could possibly happen in the situation, Golding uses it as a weapon against them, their morale and their companionship. I think that the boys split up and go to Jack because of the fear - he can kill the beast, he can get them meat, and if they ever get upset, he can start a dance and all will be fine.

Extinction Of Dinosaurs Essay -- essays research papers

Extinction of Dinosaurs Two-hundred and thirty million years ago the first dinosaur-like creature roamed the earth. Within five million years it could be considered a dinosaur. They were soon at the top of the food chain. They populated every continent. Then 65 million years ago they vanished. The most powerful creatures ever to live on earth had become extinct. Dinosaurs were not the only victims of this "mass extinction." There were many other species that were killed off. During what is known as the K-T extinction (K stands for Cretaceous, T stands for Tertiary), many species and families became extinct. These include all marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs, mosasaurs, ichthyosaurs, and ammonites, swimming and flying reptiles, sea crocodiles, and foraminifera. In addition to that there were many bony fish, sponges, snails, clams, and sea urchins became extinct. Paleontologists have proposed scenarios that could have caused these extinctions. One such scenario involves the growing number of small mammals which ate dinosaur eggs, and therefore caused the dinosaurs' birth rate to drop. The birth rate became smaller than the death rate and the dinosaurs died out. This, however, is not a plausible scenario. This would only account for the dinosaurs, but not all the other creatures of that time. Paleontologists needed to come up with a more plausible and de...

What’s in a Name? :: Personal Narrative Writing

What’s in a Name? My dad has this old Bill Cosby record that he used to listen to in the age of record players (now he's got the very same in CD version). It was a comedy routine in which Cosby describes his childhood. He reminisces in particular about how he could tell when he was in trouble. His father would say something to the effect of "GODDAMIT, GET OVER HERE!", and then Cosby throws out the punch line of the story: Up until he was about ten years old, he thought his name was "GODDAMIT." I never had to be addressed as GODDAMIT to know I was in trouble. In my father's voice, it was volume that usually revealed this information. When my eardrums hurt from hearing my name, my FULL name, JANET PAULINA MORRIS, my dad didn't want any other poor children within earshot to think they were in trouble; however, he did intend for everyone within a five-mile radius to hear that I was in for it. When my mother had to call out my name in order to reprimand me, even if it was in private, she had to pretend we were in church or something. Her voice became very low pitched, almost a whisper, and then came the recitation of the three lovely words with which I had been baptized, JANET PAULINA MORRIS. Though she nearly whispered, there was nothing serene or endearing in her tone of voice when scolding me. It didn't matter what she said . . . "I love you very much" could be thrown from her mouth like a dagger when she used that tone of voice. There is a point in communication where words are of no consequence in bringing across a particular message. Sometimes, what is said is irrelevant, and how it is said singularly brings across this message. It all depends on diction. Aristotle was the first to coin the term "diction" in his analysis of the making of art and other things in Poetics. Diction, Aristotle claimed (only I think he made this claim in Greek), clarifies language and alludes to a source of interest in a speaker's tone of voice. My mother's source of interest was, um, well . . . me. She wanted to make sure that I knew exactly where she was coming from and exactly what I was supposed to do about it.

Poem of William Caslos William Essay

William Carlos Williams is a pioneer who creates a whole new realm in American poetry. He is regarded as an important and influential poet because of his unique and usually plain style. The poem â€Å"Poem† is one of the most prominent poems reflecting Williams’ style of writing. In this piece of work, Williams discusses a central contrast between the mortality of life and immortality of art through the image of two roses – in nature and in poetry. It can be said that life is symbolized by the rose, the central image and also the main theme of â€Å"Poem†. The real rose and unreal one are skillfully used to represent two factors: the reality and the art. In nature, a rose which cannot avoid the cycle of time undergoes stages of nature rules. First, it germinates from a seed. Then, it grows up and blooms or blossoms. Next, it fades or discolored. Finally, it dies. â€Å"The rose fades – And is renewed again – By its seed naturally† (Williams, 1983). The issue of the rose fading show that life, no matter what forms, follows the nature changing rule and eventually fades away. Meanwhile, Williams uses the image of the rose in poem to respect the art because the real rose will fade naturally but the rose of art keeps an ever-lasting beauty: â€Å"Save in the poem – shall it go – to suffer no diminution – of its splendor† (Williams, 1983). Generally, the whole poem presents the central contrast of nature versus art, death versus life and cycle of time versus perfection that lasts forever. With respect to the highlighted image of the rose in poetry, it can not be touch but lives forever and remains perfect, fresh, young, and beautiful regardless of time. It has the empowerment of splendor, perfection, and immortality. In fact, Williams’ intention after his words of praising the power of the rose in poem is to advocate the power of art in general. It seems that the poet gives prominence to art whose role is to inspire and guide people through curves of life thanks to its beauty and significance of teaching truth, giving beauty and pleasure, shaping moral characters, showing power of language and showing human experience.

Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism

In America, there is a predominant growth in multiple ethnicities and cultural backgrounds; leading to the usage of multiple languages in the American culture. There is a growing need for many people to learn and utilize multiple languages within the workplace and within one's own personal life. The importance of bilingualism and the knowledge of multiple languages is ever increasing, and therefore becoming more important for the younger generations. The push for knowing multiple languages and becoming bilingual has many potential negative and positive effects. Bilingualism is the ability to use two languages when communicating orally or in writing. The usage of multiple languages within the American culture is becoming very common and beneficial. It is difficult because as teacher you always have to find new and interesting methods in order to arouse learner’s interest, but at the same time it is enjoyable since teachers are given the opportunity to work with them. For myself, I enjoy working with bilingual children; I as a caregiver try to learn the students’ first language so that I will be able to communicate with them as much as possible in their native language. Currently in my classroom I have a German native. His name is Lucas and he is fifteen months old. His mother is German and his father is an American soldier. Both of his parents speak English and German. So at home they communicate with him in both languages. I talk to his mother and father on a daily basis to find out new words in German so that I can talk to him in both languages. I have discovered that some words that I do say in German he really does respond to them better, than if I would tell him to do something in English. Second language acquisition is the process of learning other languages in addition to the native language. Second language acquisition is a long process which can include many stages. For instance, a child who speaks German as the mother tongue starts learning English when he/she starts going to school. English is learned by the process of second language acquisition. Students of second language acquisition go through the same stages of learning, the period of learning varies. Some students tend to learn better by responding to visuals and pictures. There are many positive benefits in the acquisition of a second language and bilingualism. There are many positive affective factors for second language acquisition and bilingualism. Some positive factors can be listed as: the student’s attitude towards learning the new language, the teacher motivational attitude, and the proficiency in the student’s first language. Also learning a second language at an early age can have a positive effect on intellectual growth, and also enhance and enrich the child’s mental and development. Furthermore it can open the doors of opportunities to other cultures and help the children learn and appreciate other people from other countries. There are two types of bilingualism. The first type is simultaneous bilingualism. Simultaneous bilingualism is when children acquire two languages prior to the age three. Simultaneous bilingualism normally happens when the language used at home is different from language used in the community or school. The parents, caregivers or other family members might not speak the language of the school or the community, or the parents could speak two or more languages but have made a decision about which language they speak with the child. (http://www. brainy-child. com/article/bilingual. shtm) The second type of bilingualism is successive bilingualism. Successive bilingualism refers to instances in which a child acquire their second language after the age of three† (Otto, 2010, pg. 71). Once they have reached the successive bilingualism stage some children learn their second language formally through school or through language classes. With successive bilingualism a child has the advantage of their first language as a base. They use this to both analyze and develop t he second. For example, the child knows that language is organized in a particular order. The more mature a child is they also have a better vocabulary base, acoustic perception, and comprehension. Therefore they would make fewer errors in a second language. For example, I once worked with a little boy, Julien, he spoke NO English when he entered my classroom (only Spanish) also, and his mom spoke NO English. As time passed he picked up English but when he got angry he would spout off in Spanish. ABSOLUTELY the cutest thing I ever saw! When parents to do not speak English I take that as a learning opportunity for myself and the parent. I try to communicate in that parent’s native language as best as I know how. Even if that means only knowing the basics. As the year progressed, the parent also learned how to speak English from taking classes on the army installation. When she could finally communicate with me she was very excited and so was I. Our relationship really grew. However, there is a critical period of learning a second language, â€Å"Many linguists believe there is a ‘critical period' (lasting roughly from birth until puberty) during which a child can easily acquire any language that he or she is regularly exposed to. Under this view, the structure of the brain changes at puberty, and after that it becomes harder to learn a new language. This means that it is much easier to learn a second language during childhood than as an adult. Apart from the above, children do tend to develop more native-like pronunciation when bilingualism begins before adolescence. † (http://www. brainy-child. com/article/bilingual. shtm) With that being said children tend to learn a second language better before the age of fifteen. â€Å"Learners and their learning strategies will change over time. A five year old will have a different language learning profile and language learning strategies than a fifteen year old. † (http://www. rainy-child. com/article/bilingual. shtm) As bilingual children acquire the home and target language they have been found to mix the languages in the same communicative interaction. This is known as language interference (Otto, 2010). â€Å"Code mixing is also when the children appear to be mixing the two languages. When the children code mix this may simply reflect their parents’ use of the t wo languages. It can also reflect the attempts to maintain a conversation when knowledge of the second language is not sufficient to express the desired message. † (Otto, 2010, pg. 72). I have seen this happen on a regular basis in the preschool classroom. One incident I remember, I was joining my son for lunch and I was passing the lunch to the child next to me, when handing him the ham in the container, he replied â€Å"no bitte† which means no thank you. He said â€Å"no† in English and â€Å"thank you† in German. According to Otto, the author of Language development in Early Childhood, â€Å"Codeswitching is distinguished from code mixing and language interference by the speaker’s apparently conscious and deliberate use of two languages within the same sentence or from one sentence to another† (Otto, 2010, pg. 2) Codeswitching usually occurs when a idea label is not available in the language being used. When talking to my father he uses codeswitching all time. He would be in the middle of a conversation with me speaking to me in English and if he does not know the correct word in English he would automatically say it in Spanish . I never knew that there was a professional word for this type of language. â€Å"In the past, especially prior to 1960, bilingualism was thought to be an educational handicap† (Otto, 2010, pg. 72). It was believed that children could not learn a second language, while maintaining their first language (Otto, 2010). This is termed subtractive bilingualism. When a child encounters subtractive bilingualism this could result in the negative impact on the families. The communication between the families can become disrupted. â€Å"Prior to the 1970’s research has increased our understanding of the factors involved in second language acquisition† (Otto, 2010, pg. 73). We as educators need to get involved and help children and their amilies that are bilingual. â€Å"Current approaches to bilingualism emphasize the acquisition of the second target language, with the continued development of the home language. â€Å"This approach is also referred to the as additive bilingualism because a child’s language skills are enhanced in both languages† (Otto, 2010, pg. 73). Immersion programs promote additive bilingualism for majority language speakers. These are highl y valued educational programs. Although teaching is provided in the second language, the teacher knows and may use both languages. For example, the Child Development Center that I work for here in Hohenfels, Germany offers immersion programs to the military community. They offer German and Spanish immersion programs. I believe that these are great programs and that will be very helpful for our community, being that we have some many bilingual families in our community. Right know the classes are offered for children ranging from ages three years until twelve years of age. Also in the Hohenfels community there is Host Nation classes offered at the Elementary school. The host nation class teaches basic German words. This class also teaches the German customs. The class is offered twice a week in forty –five minute blocks. This class is very beneficial when you are in a different country. I went out to eat with my co-worker and her daughter is in the fifth grade, and just from her attending those classes twice a week she was able to order my food for me at the restaurant. I was impressed. Just being able to communicate basically and the read the menu, is what she has learned from her host nation class at school. As mentioned before, I believe the younger the child is, the better the time is to teach a child a second language. â€Å"Children who have acquired a level of fluency in two languages have been described as having the following increased language competencies: higher levels of metalinguistic awareness, greater and earlier awareness of language structure, wider perspectives, and more social skills† (Otto, 2010, pg. 73). This supports the claim of there being positive effects to bilingualism. Language is not taught directly, but it is acquired through ways which are clearly understood in a low anxiety environment. I am seeing this in my profession more and more each day. The amount of importance put onto second language acquisition is much higher that it has been before; at least it is more profound now. As a caregiver, I have learned that relationships and learning opportunities will allow children to strive in acquiring a second language. Children and families will continue to learn English as they come to the land of the â€Å"American Dream,† and caregivers, like myself will only slowly begin to see the effects second language acquisition has on our society. References Otto, B. (2010). Language Development In Early Childhood. (3rd Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson BRAINSKILLS.  (2011).  How does language acquisition happen? .  Retrieved from http://www.brainskills.co.uk/HowDoesLanuageAcquisitionHappen.html Brainy Child.  (2011).  The Impact of Bilingualism on Overall Language Development and Academic Success .  Retrieved from http://www.brainy-child.com/article/bilingual.shtm) Education.  (2011).  Becoming bilingual: acquiring two languages.  Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/bilingual-acquiring-two-language/ Alice Callaghan.   (2010,  July  11). English immersion.  Los Angeles Times,p.  A.33.   Retrieved March 01, 2011, from Los Angeles Times. (Document ID:  2078277161). MacLeod,  A.,  ;  Stoel-Gammon,  C..  (2010). What is the impact of age of second language acquisition on the production of consonants and vowels among childhood bilinguals?  The International Journal of Bilingualism,  14(4),  400-421,511.   Retrieved March 01, 2011, from Research Library. (Document ID:  2266735221).

Determination of Brand Personality Dimensions Essay

Abstract This research was conducted to (i) identify brand personality dimensions of a laptop computer amongst computer science students; (ii) examine significant differences in the brand personality dimensions of the laptop according to the students’ background of gender, brand owned, year of study and programs; and (iii) examine the relationship between perceived brand personality of the laptop and its quality rating. The measurement of brand personality was based on the Aaker’s Brand Personality Scale. A total of 268 questionnaires were gathered from computer science students in a Malaysian public university using Stratified Random Sampling method. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to validate the measurement. The findings revealed that sincerity was ‘the human characteristic’ that users of the laptop associated themselves with the brand. Ruggedness was a brand personality that nonusers associated themselves with the laptop. Significant means differences were observed in the brand personality dimensions of the laptop according to the students’ gender, present year of study and academic program. For users of the laptop, sincerity and modern of the brand personality dimensions were positively correlated with the brand quality rating. For non-users, a positive correlation existed between ruggedness, diligent and modern of the brand personality with the brand quality rating. Several implications were drawn based on the results of the research to enhance branding strategies of the laptop and for future researches. Keywords: Brand Personality, Brand Personality Scale, Laptop Computer Copyright ? 2   A number of researchers have examined the success and failure of a brand. However, one area of branding strategy that has been largely overlooked by researchers is brand personality. When consumers view a brand as having human characteristics, the brand is said to have a personality. For instance, brands such as Harley Davidson (Ruggedness), Nike (Excitement), Hallmark (Sincerity), Wall Street Journal (Competence) and Tiffany (Sophistication) have all been found to have strong brand personalities. Yet, what kind of personality traits would a laptop computer brand have? The laptop computer industry in Malaysia is facing competitive challenges among 30 different laptop computer brands from around the world such as Acer, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Compaq, Twin Head and such more. With the fast going researches and developments, this competition becomes trickier for laptop computer manufacturers where all of them try to create different identity as the reason to become outstanding in the market. This is vital because all strong laptop brands (e. g. Dell, Acer, and HP) possess outstanding quality, services and at the same time granting the promises they gave to the consumers. Brand personality becomes compulsory to create better communication with their customers through their identity. Due to the aggressive competition between laptop computer’s company, brand personality helps them to build their own personality and image in order to become salient-kill in the eyes of the consumers. A well established brand personality will influence consumers’ brand preference and patronage and develops stronger emotional ties, trust, and loyalty with the brand. Thus, the purpose of this research is to determine the brand personality of a laptop computer among students of computer science in a public university in Malaysia. Specifically, in the first objective, we looked to see if this laptop computer brand have a brand personality and the second objective is to identify how this personality differs according to the demographic background of its users and users of other brands. Lastly, in the third objective we investigated the relationship between the laptop computer brand’s perceived personality and its perceived quality ratings.   What is brand personality? As defined by Aaker (1997), brand personality refers to the set of human characteristics associated with a brand. Aaker assumes that the brands are the same with the human personality or character, and the brand personality is created when a consumer attached his or her personality-like character to a specific brand. According to Hawkins, et al (2001), brand personality can be considered as â€Å"what type of person the brand would be if it were human and what it would do and like†. Copyright ? 2012 Society of Interdisciplinary Business Research (www. sibresearch. org) Rev. Integr. Bus. Econ. Res. Vol 1(1) 2. 2 116 Brand as a person/symbolic use As suggested by Aaker (1997), brand personality is created in the perspective of brand as a person. It has the same concept with Hawkins, Best, and Coney (2001) where they assume that the brand to be a human and every human has his own personality. Beyond such expectations, consumers often invest brands’ identities with human personality attributes, and this in turn leads to the symbolic use of the brand (Hawkins et al. , 2001). According to Aaker (1996), by assuming the brand as a person, it can create a self-expressive benefit that becomes a vehicle for the customer to express his or her own personality. For example, Apple notebook users might identify themselves as casual, young, anti-corporate and creative. Therefore, a brand have a personality when users value beyond its functional utility and consumers will use brands as symbolic devices to explain and express their own particular personality (de Chernatony and McWilliam, 1990). 2. 3 Aaker’s Brand Personality Scale In order to measure brand personality, Aaker (1997) had established a 42-item scale by eliminating redundancy from trait list optioned from three sources – personality scales from psychologists, personality scales used by marketers (academics and practitioners), and original qualitative researches.