Close Up Brand Analysis

BA 170 Midterm Paper Never settle for second best. And yet, since its inception in the Philippine market, second place has been Close Up’s niche. Though the brand has indeed been successful in differentiating its use and targets from the irreplaceable number one, the dream to finally land the gold continues to linger. Overview of the Brand Close Up was launched by Unilever in 1967 as the first gel toothpaste in the world. The product’s unique structure made it easy to market it as a new and diverse product, all other brands having manufactured the same opaque white consistency toothpaste normally has.Furthermore, the brand made sure to put the blue ocean strategy to their advantage. While competitors were going the more medical approach, Close Up branded itself as the more relatable brand to the youth. Currently, Close Up has eight variants out in the market. All their lines are made to function as the ‘fresh breath maker’, promising consumers long-lasting fresh breath. The variants mostly just differ in flavor apart from the Close Up Milk Calcium, which adds the teeth strengthening function to their product. Company Vision Close Up envisions itself as the number one toothpaste brand for the youth.Their goal is to get young adults to feel how much the brand can help them achieve fresh breath, which, in turn, can boost their confidence to face their everyday challenges. Close Up’s goal is to be the youth’s first choice when it comes to toothpaste brands. The Close Up Mission In line with the company vision is their mission to give the youth that confidence to make ‘the moment’ happen. Much of Close Up’s brand identity revolves around the concept of ‘the moment’, which they define as that special instant of interaction between two or more individuals.It may be as simple as asking someone to be their date to the high school prom or as big as saying I love you to their special someone for the first time. Close Up makes sure to be the factor that pushes the consumer’s insecurities aside in order for them to be confident enough to pursue that perfect moment. Target Market The brand associates itself with Filipinos aged 18-24 who are both sociable and optimistic. These young adults need that confidence to get up close and personal with others and believe that white teeth and fresh breath are important for social confidence and intimacy.Market Analysis The Toothpaste Market Based on Datamonitor, the toothpaste market in the Philippines has increased at a compound annual growth rate of 3. 3% between 2004 and 2009, with Colgate leading the pack with a share of 51. 7%. But after two decades of continuous growth, the toothpaste industry saw a decline in market usage causing most companies to cut prices. Currently, Close Up stands as the industry’s number two with a market share of approximately 20%. What are the factors that affect toothpaste choice in the market? A journal published by Ben Paul Gutierrez shows that there are thirteen attributes consumers look for when selecting their toothpaste. These include variables such as the ability to clean teeth properly, ability to give smooth and white teeth, ability to prevent cavities and the approval of dentists. (insert table of complete list here). Furthermore, the research shows the characteristics of the decision maker (ultimately, the one who chooses and purchases the product) and connects them to two behaviors, namely switching and involvement.Switching refers to the consumer’s brand loyalty whereas involvement refers to the buying behavior. (show table of high involvement/low involvement) Close Up and Colgate are both able to achieve high switching and brand involvement, which are expected of brand which have high market shares. Close Up’s Position In terms of age, Close Up has been consistent in marketing itself to the young adults. Map A shows the relationship between pric e and age and proves that Close Up is unique in its choice of age segment. This is particularly evident in their advertising, which will be discussed further in this text. insert perceptual map a) Looking at functional benefit (Map B), however, we see that Close Up lags behind Colgate, who has, over the years, developed more and more products to address different oral needs. This is also because Close Up has continuously focused on producing toothpaste with the same functional benefits, a few outliers aside. Though this is good for brand reinforcement, meaning that consumers quickly associate the same need to the brand, this may be a factor as to why the brand has stayed a challenger. insert perceptual map b) On the other hand, Map C illustrates the relationship of price and size. Here, Close Up is generally positioned in between two markets, with Colgate at Sensodyne being the higher priced brand (MORE ANALYSIS HERE) Lastly, Map D shows the relationship between price and functional benefits, which may also be interpreted as the consumer’s value for money. (insert perceptual map c) (insert more analysis) generally -toothpaste market, positioning, pricing, market behavior, segmentation breakthrough Consumer Insight -target market, trends, insight Current strategies Recommendations

The significance of context in information systems and organizational change Essay

Since their arrival on the mobile and web computing scene, information systems have had a profound effect on economies, organizations and societies. Individuals have also enjoyed a great deal of the extended effect of the activities that are conducted within the social aggregates provided by information systems. This report seeks to evaluate the impact and the role of information systems on the quality process on different industries in order to make the implementation and application of quality assurance easy, simple, fast accurate and time saving. The journal of strategic information systems seeks to explore the impact that information systems has had on the general process and profitability of a company. This journal has a scholarly audience for those who are in search of better understanding on how best information systems have improved their lives and the potential that they still hold for the future. Since it is documented as a scholarly article, it is expected that the article shall fulfill educational curiosities regarding how information systems have enabled simplicity and some level of perfection in the business world. It is also expected that the journal shall provide precise information with extensive research carried out to back the statements outlined in the article. According to the journal article, the gradual increase in dependence of information systems has shown a steady rise in the need for quality improvement within business enterprises. The article sites a survey carried out to show that IT improvement in t erms of quality is the top problem facing IT executives in the current job market. It is because of the multidimensional edge that IT presents that the position of Chief Information Officers (CIO) has become a recent development in the corporate sector. The journal models the relationship between information systems quality and the organizational impact it has. The article hypothesizes that there is a greater organizational impact in situations where the systems quality, service quality and information quality are high. According to the article, information system service quality is the most influential concept, followed by information quality and then system quality in the overall performance of the business. However, the article fails to mention other impacts that are attached to the success of the organization such as efficiency of the personnel and the updating of information system quality. On the other hand, the article’s mention of Ackoff (1967) is critical to the support of the information system theory. Ackoff pointed out five misconceptions regarding information systems by stating that the most critical information deficiency that managers suffer is from the high levels of irrelevant information. Furthermore the article points to Whitaker and Voas (2006) and Parnas (2003) who confirm that software is plagued with problems such as fragmented software modules that are hard to integrate and hard-to-use interfaces. However, at the time this information was presented this was a rampant p roblem that was facing the software industry and the IT world in general. However, recent researches have shown that in recent years, this has changed drastically and information systems are required to be top notch before they can be released into the market for use and even for testing. The article fails to mention that there have been increased measures and precaution taken to ensure that quality assurance is the core principle in the world of information systems. It also fails to mention that quality assurance is the only link to continued success in an organization when it comes to matters of information, technology and systems. It is only through the assurance of information systems that organizations can adapt systems that are guaranteed to produce tangible and beneficial results. The article also emphasizes on the use of information technology in the general performance of business and the overall perception of the outside world. It is lacking in the expertise to recognize t he fact that quality assurance goes hand in hand with quality control which is mostly effected by use of personnel employed to overlook the process. Therefore, although the article has been pinned as a scholarly article in the journal, it requires much revision in order to remain relevant in the world we live in today. Encyclopedia Britannica posted an article on information systems that proved to be worth reviewing. The article lays the importance of information systems in organizations. The article states that information systems enhance several capabilities of an organization which in turn provide support for business activities. For example, decision making, product development, customer and supplier relation and sometimes the general business model are the areas where information systems fit best. The article does not hold any opinion towards the importance of information system but it does point out the advantages and the potential that information systems hold in the organization. The article is right in pointing out that information systems advancements create new options in the way business is conducted which is generally true, but the article fails to mention that information systems require to be constantly updated. Besides updating, information systems require to be assured so that the results can be translated into the output of the company which shall be of the same quality. The language used in this article is informative and without any bias and it makes its credibility rise with each statement. For example, the article includes that information systems do not necessarily translate to increased profits. The success of a business depends in part the adoption of effective information systems, but it also in the skill to which the information systems are deployed and used alongside other factors such as customer relation and knowledge of the industry. The article is witty and well updated with the latest advancements in quality assurance processes. For example, the article is clear in the definition and the implication of virtual organizations whose quality assurance has to be constantly updated because of the evolving and fast paced information system world. The article does not fail to mention the importance of human personnel in the workings of the company and the incorporation of information systems. Although the article is mainly focused on the information technology literate the simplicity of definition of terms means that the audiences of the article are both the literate and the illiterate to the IT world. It is through the incorporation of information systems to the World Wide Web that quality assurance can be improved drastically. Through quality assurance, individuals can participate in global forums and national events such as elections, referendums, and opinion polls. It is therefore, through the incorporation of info rmation systems in such fronts that quality assurance becomes paramount. The article vividly describes and gives simple illustrations for the ways in which quality assurance in information systems can assist all members of the society. According to the journal of the association for information, science and technology (2014), quality assurance is an administrative and procedural activity that is implemented in the quality system to ensure that both the goals and objectives of the product are fulfilled as intended. The journal hosted an article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change. The article mainly speaks about the implementation of information systems which is relevant to the above outlined thesis. The article indicates that there are three distinct principles that are to be followed in the implementation of information systems throughout the organization. The first principle should incorporate innovation of the information system with regard to the socio-organizational change, the second principle involves the analysis of the local organizational, the national and the global context of the information system, while the third system uses the analysis of the decisions mad e towards the innovation process of the information system. The article is based on an assumption that ICT does not face any deterministic implications on the organizational results which makes it miss its mark in terms of convincing about the implementation of information systems. The failure in assumption is largely misplaced because ICT has a large role in the performance of the business which ultimately makes it a valuable variable to consider. The article on the significance of context in information systems and organizational change also points out that the information systems research is mainly contextual because it is mostly based on an organizational setting instead of a laboratory setting. It is for this reason that information systems studies are subject to the environment in which they are applied, according to the article. The position of context of information environment used in the article is fairly placed given that different environments, markets or industries pose different challenges for the organization and the information system in use. Different fields of engagement require certain assurances in terms of the incorporation of information systems. For instance, quality assurance in information systems for the military is more precise that that which would be used in a local bookstore. One in a bookstore would be used to track borrowed books while one for the military would be used to track missiles and comm unicate code during wartime. On both counts, quality assurance would have to be stepped because it involves the use of human personnel to operate the information system. On the other hand, quality assurance should be strict so that human use of the information system can be smooth and accommodating and at the same time it should be time saving. The article is well organized starting from the introduction, all through the body and into the conclusion. The points raised in the article such as the concept that information systems are mainly concerned with IT innovations is well founded. The article sites many references for backing the information presented going as far back as 1989 when the initial concepts for the internet were taking place. The audiences intended for the article are scholars who require in-depth information about information systems, their innovations and implementations. The article is highly resourceful and rich in detail for any scholarly work. The article states that in order to maintain a competitive edge in the respective field, companies have to invest in information systems like ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning) software that serve different functions in the organization. These systems also provide real time data that is used to aid in fast decision making. Information systems such as ERPs help co mpanies to manage their operations seamlessly across the globe. This information is particularly helpful especially in aiding the thesis statement that seeks to give credit to quality assurance for the easy integration, simplicity and quickness in the performance of business duties. Quality in any field is determined by the users, clients or customers who use the product and not by the society in general. The quality, as is often confused is not related to the actual price of the product or the service. The two are separate variables though relating to the same product. Therefore, adjectives like ‘poor’ and ‘high’ should not be used in relation to quality. Even in IT and information systems there are standards by which products must conform and they are monitored by such standards as ISO, 9000 or an alternative as the CMMI model. This is the idea projected in the journal of information systems (2009) that was designed in the interest of quality intervention in the quality assessment arena. The article on the benefits of information systems to organizations indicate that companies benefit by cutting down on human labor that previously cost them billions in wages. Since the invention and the spread of information systems companies have op ted to cut down on human labor down to the most important employees within the company. Although the article is fundamentally clear on the importance of cutting down human labor services, it fails to mention that quality assurance in the information systems that replace them are in constant need of updating for as long as the systems are in place. The article is geared to the well informed in the field of information systems and information technology as it mentions some of the most recent advancements such as cloud computing. The article merely seeks to hit the final nail on the information system concept coffin by including these latest features. Although other articles speak about virtual organizations and virtual communication systems, the journal of information systems seeks to give the latest advancements as well as options and possibilities in the industry. The drastic, yet advanced calculations in the growth of the information technology world have led to the overreliance of computerization that might eventually become the downfall of human beings. Without human intervention to the computerized world, there is an ever conscious possibility of failing to meet set objectives in terms of assurance of quality. The article seeks to inform of the impending danger of the failure to adhere to quality assurance precautions which is commendable and very informative. The article is neither biased but rather it leaves the reader with an option to think outside the box, consider gathering more information or take the information provided at face value. The tile of the article suggests that there shall be many sides to the information system story which is clearly shown and well detailed. The main purpose of the article from a scholar’s point of view is to broaden the thinking of the reader and to create a set of questions as to what lies ahe ad with information systems. Both the application and implementation of information systems has been revolutionary and has defined the 21st century in a huge way. Therefore, quality assurance on information systems has become tougher and more brutal as days go by primarily because of the competition and the innovativeness associated with information technology. The article seeks to highlight the consequences of ignorance and also the failures that companies undergo as a result of ignoring quality assurance requirements for the betterment of their stature in the industry. It is only with quality assurance that new ideas and concepts can be fostered within the organization. Quality assurance ensures that there is always room for improvement on the information system so that companies can grow according to their mission statement. The article is witty and largely educative and at the same time cautious as was the intention. The article is one to look out for in the world of information systems. The international journal of computers, communications and control had an article on management of information systems titled ‘managing the digital firm’ which was an eye opener for those interested. The article was written by rather two professionals in the information systems arena who have extensive background knowledge in information systems. From the title of the article, it is expected that the information provided shall be highly educative and without any blunder. It is also expected that because of the doctoral status of the authors, the information provided can hardly be refuted. The article kicks off by stating that knowledge of information systems is essential in the creation of successful and competitive corporations that add value to their products and services. The article further cements this statement by stating that it is inconceivable for a company to operate without the extensive incorporation of IT. This statement is rightly so because from a global p oint of view, all relationships between customers, suppliers and employees are mainly maintained digitally. The tone used in the article is educational which suggests that it is meant for scholars, educators and to a large extent, managers who are often faced with major information systems challenges. In order to do so, the authors of the article have incorporated a sociotechnical style of presentation through the combination of computer science, management science as well as operations research and blended them with behavioral elements that are drawn from sociology, psychology and sociology. The article contains in large part presentation of facts from a management of information systems (MIS) point of view. The article explains in detail the concepts of digital firms and how quality assurance should be incorporated in the information systems adopted by organizations. The article also advices on keeping information systems updated in order to ensure that the quality assurance process remains easy, simple, fast, and accurate and not time consuming. The article is a masterpiece if not the b lueprint of the future of information systems and businesses in all industries. The article explains in great detail that information systems are relevant in all industries and all markets however miniscule they might seem. The article is very resourceful and without any identifiable flaws. However, its lack of emphasis on quality assurance is a minor setback, but the essence of the article is captured in the rest of the details discussed. References Avgerou, Chrisanthi. â€Å"The significance of context in information systems and organizational change.† Information Systems Journal 11.1 (2001): 43-63. Print. Benbasat, Izak, and Ron Weber. â€Å"Research Commentary: Rethinking à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Diversityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  in Information Systems Research.† information systems research 7.4 (1996): 389-399. Print. Haigh, Thomas. â€Å"The history of information technology.† Annual Review of Information Science and Technology 45.1 (2011): 431-487. Print. Hayman, J. L.. â€Å"Educational Management Information Systems For The Seventies.† Educational Administration Quarterly 10.1 (1974): 60-71. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Failures.† European Journal of Information Systems 2.3 (1993): 157-158. Print. â€Å"Information Systems Research: Policy on Special Issues.† information systems research 16.1 (2005): 6-8. Print. â€Å"Information systems and interorganizational networks.† European Journal of Information Systems 5.2 (1996): 73-74. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 17.4 (2008): 287. Print. â€Å"Journal of Strategic Information Systems Best Paper 2008.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 18.4 (2009): I. Print. Karim, Akram Jalal. â€Å"The Significance Of Management Information Systems For Enhancing Strategic And Tactical Planning.† JISTEM Journal of Information Systems and Technology Management 8.2 (2011): 459-470. Print. Kini, Ranjan B.. â€Å"Strategic Information Systems.† Information Systems Management 10.4 (1993): 42-45. Print. â€Å"Management Information Systems (MIS).† Inc.com. N.p., 23 Apr. 2010. Web. 15 May 2014. . O’, Tiomothy J.. â€Å"Executive Information Systems.† Journal of Information Systems Management 6.2 (1989): 34-41. Print. Osinulu, L. F. Amusa. â€Å"Information Technology, Quality Assurance, and Academic Library Management.† Library Philosophy and Practice 1 Feb. 2010: 13-29. Print. Parker, Donn B.. â€Å"Ethics for Information Systems Personnel.† Journal of Information Systems Management 5.3 (1988): 44-48. Print. Ritch, Stephen, and Robert J. Munro. â€Å"Management Information Systems, Planning, And Public Community Colleges.† Community Junior College Research Quarterly of Research and Practice 6.2 (1982): 179-186. Print. Sprowls, Clay. â€Å"Strategic information systems: A European perspective.† The Journal of Strategic Information Systems 3.4 (1994): 345-346. Print. Stowell, Frank. â€Å"Do We Mean Information Systems or Systems of Information?.† International Journal of Information Technologies and Systems Approach 1.1 (2008): 25-36. Print. Teittinen, Henri, Jukka Pellinen, and Marko JÃÆ' ¤rvenpÃÆ' ¤ÃƒÆ' ¤. â€Å"ERP in action à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  Challenges and benefits for management control in SME context.† International Journal of Accounting Information Systems 14.4 (2013): 278-296. Print. Warren, Matthew. â€Å"Ethics in Information Systems.† Australasian Journal of Information Systems 13.2 (2006): 23-29. Print. Winter, M.c., D.h. Brown, and P.b. Checkland. â€Å"A role for soft systems methodology in information systems development.† European Journal of Information Systems 4.3 (1995): 130-142. Print. Xu, Li D.. â€Å"Systems characteristics in information systems design.† Systems Research 9.1 (1992): 67-78. Print. Zwass, Vladimir. â€Å"Information systems in the economy and society.† Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2012. Web. 23 May 2014. . Source document

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 8

Economics - Essay Example Basically, the Irish Government and European Central Bank are fixing a problem that has struck worldwide. In the end, the Irish economy will bounce back. As around the world, Ireland had a massive amount of bad bank debt. This bad bank debt has created a crisis within the Irish economy. This phenomenon has been worldwide. Banks have been making irresponsible loans, Irish banks were no exception. Kirby (2010: 4) reports â€Å"Government subsidies fuelled a frenzy of building around the country and banks lent recklessly to developers to buy land at grossly inflated prices and to customers to buy the houses and apartments built on this land at equally high prices.† When the economy was better, mortgage interest and collateral were seen as a win/win situation. However when the economy started taking a downward turn the banks began having too much collateral. Bankers do not want collateral, they want mortgage payments. Once these mortgage payments started to decrease, Irish banks started to fail. The banks were not tightly regulated before the recessions. Loans could be given on inflated prices. McCormick (2009) explains, â€Å"Overreliance on construction, cheap credit and securitization of housing loans exposed Ireland to a sharp reversal of economic activity. Irish housing prices collapsed and the banking sector faced losses and liquidity pressures.† The more given, the more the banks expected to receive. If regulations had been in place on how much could be loaned, property assessed correctly, and other common sense rules, the Irish economy might not be in a recession. McDonald and Moya (2010) reports: Hard-pressed Irish taxpayers are now rescuing the banks from the consequences of their greed and folly. In return, we must now insist that they go back to basic business, and that means keeping every fundamentally profitable company in business. As a result of the failing banks, the Irish Government and

The Reform Movements of the 19th Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Reform Movements of the 19th Century - Essay Example Though the previously ignored fractions of society achieved social recognition, there are still issues that exist in society. Evidently, the reform achieved a lot though it fell short of the expectations of the protagonists. Reform and the Slaves One of the most important achievements in the reform was the end of slave regime. In fact, the anti-slavery ideology as propounded by the abolitionists won the battle in 1865 with the 13th Amendment. Evidently, the northern states had started giving up slavery after the American Revolution. However, many states in the south continued depending on slavery as the primary means of labor as they had cotton. Admittedly, one factor that led to the fight for the freedom of slaves is the religious awakening in the reform period, especially among the Protestants. For example, the Protestants proclaimed that it is highly necessary to reform the society to make the Kingdom of God a reality as the religion focused on the Second Coming of Christ. In addi tion, the Evangelical mission to save others gave women a chance to engage in social reform movements that were aimed at protecting slaves. Being the worst treated creatures in the society, for these reformists, slaves were the primary concern. People like William Lloyd Garrison, Quaker Lucretia Mott, and many others formed the American Anti-Slavery Society and many of the members were women; both white and African American. As time passed, by the mid 19th century, the Anti-Slavery Society was split into various fractions including the Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, and even the Liberty Party. By 1848, history saw the Liberty Party joining a coalition and creating the Free Soil Party followed by a Free Soil Convention in 1848. However, as time passed, things were getting complicated in nature. The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 saw marshals seizing and returning fugitive slaves, and thus, the free slaves again fell prey to the southern slaveholders though some managed to flee to Canada. Now, it was time for the Kansas Nebraska Act that allowed each area to decide their policy on slavery. As there was no progress in the slavery issue, in 1859, John Brown and his followers attacked the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia, but as their revolt did not materialize, Brown and followers were caught and hanged. Admittedly, this only resulted in enraging even the pacified supporters of the anti-slavery movement. Soon, there arose the Civil War in 1861. As the Civil War ended, history witnessed the passage of the 13th Amendment that outlawed slavery. Five years later, in 1970, there was the 15th Amendment that allowed the African-Americans the right to vote. Admittedly, a lot has been achieved by the reform movement. However, a report by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor shows the picture of an incomplete work. The report Civil rights and civil wrongs: racism in America today that appeared in the November-December 2003 issue of International Socialist Review quotes the Presid ent as saying â€Å"My nation’s journey toward justice has not been easy and it is not over†¦the racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Taylor). In addition, the writers point out the fact that according to statistics, African Americans still continue to lag behind whites in all walks of life.

Sustainable Use of Gas in Israel Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 2

Sustainable Use of Gas in Israel - Assignment Example Since then, other deposits have been found on the shores of Israel along the Mediterranean Sea. Initially, all the gas deposits were for exportation, but since 2004, there has been an increase in the demand for gas within the local economy. Industries were growing and the energy demand of the country was rising. However, the extraction of gas has numerous effects on the environment. This is made worse by the fact that drilling of gas is done in the sea as this endangers the marine life. Most drilling companies do not adhere to the strict environmental regulations due to the offshore nature of this activity. However, in the recent past, there have been instances that have resulted in spillages in the sea and this has brought to light the activities of these offshore companies. The main role of this project is, therefore, to come up with a framework by which the gas companies can operate sustainable businesses by considering the impact that this industry has on the environment. The country of Israel is well endowed with natural resources. Most of this has been in the oil sector with the country having many refineries. In 2009, the Tamar natural gas deposits were found off the coast of Haifa, Israel. This discovery marked a major turnaround in the energy sector for Israel (Cohn 2010). The Tamar gas fields are one of the largest natural gas deposits in the world and have the potential to meet all the energy requirements of Israel for the next 20 or 30 years. This was however only the beginning because in the next year there was the discovery of several other deposits in Leviathan and Tanin. The Leviathan deposit is twice as big as the Tamar deposit. This marked a major shift in the fortunes of Israel as it begun to exploit these natural resources. The location of Israel next to the major oil producers in the world had not helped it meet its energy demand given the hostile relations between Israel and most of these nations.  

Reaction paper - James Weldon Johnson Personal Statement

Reaction paper - James Weldon Johnson - Personal Statement Example The ex-colored man is a complex character but very human. The narrative, told in first person, allows the reader to see and feel through the character. It makes the narration very real and, in fact, it pulls the reader in understanding the struggles of the blacks, and how the African American community behaves similar to the Whites. Although of a different color, we have the same dreams as they have, to have economic stability, to have independence and freedom, to improve our social status. We are no different than them, and this is one pressing point of the story. The only difference between the two races is the existing racial block, the very same reason that the ex-colored man threw his black dreams away. As his millionaire friend put it, becoming a black means throwing away life to the poverty, ignorance and the hopeless struggle of the black people. This statement clearly signifies the entire direction of the narration. The ex-colored man has chosen his path away from racial, so cial and economic discrimination to become a regular man who can move freely without any prejudice from the society. The narrative does not only signify the differences between the races, rather it gives us a realization that we, as humans, choose to side with the dominant culture in order to avoid the negative forces of the

Pathway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Pathway - Essay Example Moreover, design thinking can be applied to several global issues like healthcare issues. I have completed the courses and learned about pathway themes in classes. Design thinking is used as a guide in designing of products and process in order to satisfy the customers. Innovation in products and services is also emphasized by design thinking. It is an analytical thinking process that will help me to achieve goals. My major is business management, and the courses that I took for my pathway are MGMT 6 (Business Ethic), MGMT 80 (International Business), and OMIS 17 (Business Computing). Design thinking will help me to analyze several issues and facts in international business practices. Moreover, the concepts of design thinking can be used to innovatively conduct a synthesis to formulate solutions to different issues. The concepts of design thinking will help me to analyze business ethics in the business practices of several global and domestic firms to find solutions to problems. Answ er 2 Analysis: Disciplinary Perspectives on an Issue Business practices of breastfeeding products are a global issue that can be examined through several approaches that are identified in MGMT 80 and MGMT 6. Nestle is one of the leading food product companies in global market. The company was engaged in some unethical business practices. The marketing strategy that Nestle implemented was unethical. These unethical marketing strategies have destabilized the potentiality of breast feeding products in several developed and developing countries. These in adequate strategies have affected the brand image and business performance of Nestle badly in the global market. The same kind of Issue can be looked at through the lens of International Business Practice. My MGMT 80 class studied the business practices of global firms. I have realized from the class that an organization that is doing international business practices must take into account the different customer standards. On the other hand, they must also be able to maximize their profit. For an example, Wal-Mart the leading retail chain in the global market had to face several problems regarding the selling of furniture in America. They had violated the environmental law by using the natural resources in an unethical way. Therefore, they had to stop the selling of wooden furniture. In order to regain their reputation they started several social activities. For an example, Wal-Mart delivered 100 truckloads of free goods, 20 million US Dollar in cash and food for 100,000 meals in order to help the people of US who were affected by devastating Hurricane Katrina. The social activities helped the company to once again maximize their profit. Applying the concepts of design thinking in Accounting and information systems, I can effectively appraise the business practices of global firms. Accounting and information systems have helped me to gather a concrete knowledge and understanding of business ethics issues in busine ss practices. The understanding of the issues and required analytical skills will help me to understand the business environment factors. These will help me in the near future when I will start my career in this competitive global market. Answer 3 Reflection: Looking Back and Looking Forward Learning about this pathway theme helps me to

Social construction of sexuality Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social construction of sexuality - Assignment Example These aspects include the roles of each person, their health needs, and limitations, and the responsibilities that the society bestows on them. Gender and the related binaries have been constructed by the society. The issues of being a male or a female, masculine or feminine, heterosexual or homosexual, man or woman and others that are related to sexuality as we understand them today have a connotation in the society’s construction of gender. To be male or female, may be seen as a biological aspect of the human being. However, being male and female as seen from the society point of view is largely dependent on the society in question. For instance, competing in athletics calls for more than the physical aspects of being male or female. Reports have shown that there is more to being male or female than having the physical and observable features of the specific sex. A case of Patino, a Spanish Olympic athlete is a clear example. The athlete was denied a chance to participate in the events. Despite the fact, that she was physically female, her cells on examination showed that she had a Y chromosomes, typical for a male (Crozier, 292-294). The issues of sexuality, as we know them today, can, therefore, be said to be directly related to how the society construct and explain being male or female. Homosexuality and heterosexuality are a rather new aspect of sexuality. The emergence of these concepts and how we understand and perceive them today can be related to the political, socioeconomic, medical, colonial expansions and scientific development of the nineteenth century and even more recently. The modernity that science and the rest of the factors seem to support purportedly brought about the prevalence. In the earlier years, sexuality and sexual activities were directly related to male and female relationship. However, when the colonial expansion, militarization and

Is it important for people to have popular culture in daily life Essay

Is it important for people to have popular culture in daily life - Essay Example To emphasize on the consumerist and corrupted fiction that is popular culture, this essay will base its argument on James Harold article, ‘A moral Never-Never Land: Identifying with Tony Soprano’. This article will provide the essay with a counter-argument position to Harold’s reasoning. Harold’s article will assist this essay to provide points on why identifying with popular culture is a moral wrong and not vital to the everyday existence of man. The essay will pick various points against Harold’s final stand while also borrowing ideas from his article on why popular culture is a moral wrong. To further illustrate and prove the moral wrong of popular culture, the essay will use Harold’s examples borrowed from the TV series ‘the Sopranos’. In his article, Harold argues that associating with popular culture, in his instance, ‘the Sopranos’, does not affect the general public. He postulates that the show provides a balanced view of the good and bad people that it is impossible for one to get only caught up with the show’s protagonist Tony Soprano. He notes that the show’s other main characters such as Jeniffer Melfi provide the audience with a point of view that holds a different view from Tony’s violence filled life. In his article, the author bases it around the moral aspect of popular culture. Due to its consumerist nature, popular culture mostly tends to be sensationalist and in effect end up holding no moral ground or values. It is for this reason that this essay disputes it necessity to people’s everyday life. The strengths of Harold’s article is that it provides a double view argument on the subject of morality and popular culture. The author provides argument by Pl ato and Tolstoy’s moral criticism of art (Harold, 2011). He uses this countering argument to base his argument that art provides a plethora of perspectives which allow the

One consequence of globalisation is that transnational corporations Essay

One consequence of globalisation is that transnational corporations have become increasingly adept at creating new ways of organizing and outsourcing production. Critically evaluate this statement - Essay Example Manufacturing was the life blood of a nation’s economy. This is not the case anymore. Although the productivity of the manufacturing sector in United Kingdom, and elsewhere, has improved, the share of manufacturing in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the countries of the developed world has declined (OECD 2009). In the United Kingdom, for instance, the share of manufacturing has come down from nearly 22% in 2000 to 16% in 2007 (OECD 2009). One of the most important reasons for this loss in the share of manufacturing sector is the emergence of Asian and other third world countries as a provider of cheap labour where the transnational companies could shift their manufacturing units and continue manufacturing their products at a fraction of the cost of what it would have had, had they continued to manufacture it in the developing world. The multinationals have become adept at exploiting each and every opportunity to reduce the costs of their products by shifting their production base from one low cost centre to another low cost centre. This has resulted in increasing profits for the companies, and in some cases, lower prices for the end customer. On the other hand, globalization has also lead to problems for the transnational organizations. They have received negative publicity over the alleged ill treatment of the workers at their low cost manufacturing centres, and for using the natural resources of the countries they are operating in and spreading pollution there. The transnational corporations try to adapt themselves to the changing landscape of business in many different ways. Their responses have ranged from outsourcing a part of their business to acquiring strategic business partners abroad. The advantages offered by moving the manufacturing units offshore are not only related to cost, but also to quality, risk mitigation and the ability to concentrate on the core areas of business. The biggest

Fibre Optics Essay Example for Free

Fibre Optics Essay Optical Fibre is used to transmit light between 2 ends of the fibre, a ‘waveguide’ or ‘light pipe’. It is very thin, around the thickness of a human hair, and made of transparent fibre made of glass or plastic. Optical fibre is sometimes known as Fibre Optics when used in science and engineering. Instead of using one metal wire the threads of fibre optics are but in bundles which transmit messages and images and other data. Fibre optic cables can carry more data than metal cables as well as being less susceptible to interferences, being lighter and thinner and faster. However they are very expensive and fragile. Nevertheless most telephone and internet companies are starting to use fibre optics instead of metal cables and soon most communications will be using fibre optics. It works by using total internal refraction, where the light reflects backwards and forwards internally along the whole length so the image can be communicated clearly from one end to another In 1854, John Tyndall showed that light signal could be bent by demonstrating that light could be conducted through a curved stream of water. Next, in 1880 Alexander Graham Bell invented his ‘Photophone’. This transmitted a voice signal through a beam of light which worked very similarly to how a phone now works with electric signals. In 1888 a medical team in Vienna used bent glass rods to look inside the body. In 1895 a French engineer designed something similar to television which used bent glass rods to guide light images. Over the years many people started to develop things increasingly similar to the fibre optics used today. In 1952, a physicist named Narinder Singh Kapany performed experiments that led to to the invention of optical fibre. A few years later the type of optical fibre we used today were invented where the fibre is coated with cladding that could make a better refractive index. After this, development focused on the bundles of fibre used for image transmission. In 1956, researchers in Michigan created the first semi-flexible gastroscope, used to look inside the body in operations. Jun-ichi Nishizawa, a Japanese society, started the idea of using optical fibres for communications on 1963. Uses of optical fibres and the impact upon society Communication: They are used in telephone cables and are faster and have a higher bandwidth than copper cables. As telecommunication demand increases we will be needing fibre optics more and more as it offers huge communication capacity. A much greater amount of information can carried through an optical fibre in comparison to a copper cable. They are also cheaper and thinner so therefore easier to install and maintain though the installation price is significantly higher than installing copper wires. Also, as signals go along a cable some energy is lost, however, with optical fibre the signal can be regenerated every 50 km instead of the 2 km of copper wires. On top of all this they do not cause electrical interference o or cause sparks that could cause explosions Medical uses: Optical fibres are used in laproscopic surgery or keyhole surgery where a bundle of optical fibres, or an endoscope, is put down the patient’s body so the doctor can see the area he is operating on. They also allow doctors to see inside the patient’s body without having to perform surgery as it can be inserted through the mouth. Also they are used as bright lights that can be used by doctors.

Contingency Tables Essay Example for Free

Contingency Tables Essay The two nominal level variables are respondent’s sex and marital status. The independent variable is respondent’s sex and dependent variable is respondent’s marital status. The null and alternate hypotheses are Null hypothesis, H0: Marital status is independent of sex. Alternate Hypothesis, H1: Marital status is dependent on sex. The variable sex measures respondent’s gender. The valid categories of measurement for the variable sex are ‘Male’ and ‘Female’ and they are coded as 1 and 2, respectively. The variable is a good example for the nominal level of measurement, as it merely identifies a category. The variable marital status measures respondent marital status. The valid categories of measurement for the variable marital status are ‘Married’, ‘Widowed’, ‘Divorced’, ‘Separated’ and ‘Never married’ and they are coded as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The variable is a good example for the nominal level of measurement, as it merely identifies a category. Majority (57. 3%) of the respondent’s were male. Majority (53. 0%) of the respondent’s were married. The percentage of respondents widowed, divorced, separated and never married were 11. 0%, 14. 2%, 2. 7% and 19. 1%, respectively. Table 1 shows the cross-tabulation of respondent’s marital status by sex. The distribution of male respondent’s for married, widowed, divorced, separated and never married were 59. 8%, 4. 8%, 11. 7, 1. 4% and 22. 2%, respectively. The distribution of female respondent’s for married, widowed, divorced, separated and never married were 48. 0%, 15. 6%, 16. 1, 3. 6% and 16. 8%, respectively. The table provides an evidence of correlation (association) between respondent’s sex and marital status in the sample. There appears a weak association between respondent’s sex and marital status. In general, the information summarized in the table 1 seems to provide evidence supporting research (alternate) hypothesis, as the distribution of male and females respondent’s for marital stratus are not similar. The value of nominal directional measure of association lambda is 0. This indicates no relationship between respondent’s sex and marital status that is knowing the respondent’s sex does not increase the ability to predict his or her marital status. This statistics (lambda) does not improve upon the use of column percentages to evaluate the given correlation.

Behaviour of Termites: Breeding and Effects of Repellents

Behaviour of Termites: Breeding and Effects of Repellents Introduction and Review of Literature General biology of termite Termites are social insects that live in colonies, which, in turn, function because the complementary roles played by the different caste. In United States, subterranean termites, Coptotermes spp. and Reticulitermes spp. are the most destructive and cause substantial economic damage to buildings/structures (Su Scheffrahn 1990). A population of subterranean termites is comprised of distinct colonies. Colonies may occupy underground networks that link several foraging sites (Thorne Breish 2001). Termite foraging behavior The nutritional ecology of termites has played a significant role in shaping their evolution and ecology organization (Thorne, 1999). To understand colony structure and the organization of foraging termites, it has been necessary to map both nest and feeding sites, frequently using behavioral assays of aggression to ascertain the colony affinity of a given nest or group of workers occupying a food source (Long Thorne 2006). Also, dye indicators and mark release recapture studies have been developed to attempt to census colonies, determine colony boundaries, and plot the distribution of foragers and other spatial aspects of resource use (Su et al. 1984, Forschler Townsend 1996, Thorne et al. 1996, Abdul Hafiz et al. 2007). Studies of termite foraging range generally offer statistic description of colony nest and satellite sub nest distribution and sometimes reveal the temporal dynamics of foraging range expansion and territorially, similar to what has been described in ants. Colony structure and the spatial organization of foraging in termites are, nevertheless, poorly understood in comparison to other social insects. The cryptic nesting and foraging habits of subterranean termites have hindered our understanding of many important features of their population biology, especially the distinctness of colonies and the breeding system within colonies. Their cryptic foraging and nesting habits, many features of subterranean termite biology have been difficult to study by using the traditional methods of field investigation. The main obstacle has been a lack of practical methods for delineating large numbers of colonies (Long Thorne 2006). Termite control Chemical and physical barriers to prevent them from reaching wood construction are two basic methods that have been used to control termites. Currently, insecticides used for termite control can be categorized into three groups, organochlorine, cyclodiens, which are being phased out of use because of potential damage to the environment and human health; pyrethroids, which considered not effective because of their repellency and short residual life in soil; and new termiticides that are considered as non repellent and slow acting termiticide (Potter and Hillary 2003). Remedial control is extremely difficult with acutely toxic chemicals because termites avoid area with dead termites, preventing any further contact with the toxicant. For the Formosan subterranean termites, remedial control using slow-acting toxic baits is are more acceptable method than the use of acutely toxic insecticides. Sub lethal insecticide exposure may be expected to influence insect behavior because most insect icides attack the nervous system resulting in detection by insects, distruption of physiological processes, and behavioral resistance (Haynes 1988, Silverman and Bieman 1993). The purpose of applying insecticides to soil proximal to a structures foundation of a continuous insecticide barrier in soils under and around the structure (Kamble, 1991). This barrier may be created by using either pre or post construction techniques. Post construction insecticide application technique include void treatments, soils trenching, sub slab injections, and soil rodding application. Chemical and physical barriers to prevent them from reaching wood construction are two basic methods that have been used to control termites (Abdul Hafiz et al. 2007). Remedial control is extremely difficult with acutely toxic chemicals because termites avoid area with dead termites, preventing any further contact with the toxicant. Sub lethal insecticide exposure may be expected to influence insect behavior because most insecticides attack the nervous system resulting in detection by insects, disruptions of physiological processes, and behavioral resistance (Haynes Baker 1988, Silverman Bi eman 1993) Non repellent termiticide Termiticide that do not repel termites from penetrating into treated soil but rather successfully kill them were recently registered in the United States (Kard 2003) and other parts of the world. They have become popular alternatives to conventional repellent soil-poisoning agents (Shelton and Grace 2003). Nonrepellent termiticides have been shown to be effective for the elimination of termite infestations when applied around the exterior perimeter of the building (Potter Hillary 2001) New generations of termiticides which contain imidacloprid (Premise ®), fipronil (Termidor ®) and indoxacarb, chlorfenapyr (Phantom ®), Chlorantraniliprole are used as soil-applied or by direct injection in the colony, posed lethal effects to subterranean termite (Osbrink Lax 2003; Kamble Davis, 2005; Hu et al., 2005; Spomer et al.,2009). The advantages of these new termiticides are slow-acting and non-repellent. Thus, termites cannot detect these termiticides when applied in to the soil or when used on filter paper in the laboratory. The transfer effect of imidacloprid, fipronil and indoxacarb among termite workers was studied by researchers and results showed that the termites were able to transfer the termiticides from the treated termites (donors) to the untreated termites (recipients) (Kard 2003, Thorne and Berisch 2001, Vargo Parman 2004, Tomalski and Vargo 2005, Hu et al. 2005, Shelton Grace 2006; Spomer et al.,2009). Termite baiting Baiting for suppression or elimination of subterranean termites is not a new idea. The ultimate goal of termite baits is to eliminate termites from structure (Su 1994, Su et al. 2000). Recently, hexaflumuron baits have successfully been applied to control the field colonies of Coptotermes spp. and Reticulitermes spp. (Su 1994, Su et al. 2000). At the same time Nouviflumuron also have been widely used in termite baiting. In laboratory trials in which R. flavipes were fed radiolabeled noviflumuron or hexaflumuron, noviflumuron demonstrated significantly faster speed of action, greater potency, and nearly 4-fold slower clearance from termites compared with that of hexaflumuron (Sheets et al. 2000; Karr et al. 2004, Spomer Kamble, 2006). Primer pheromones (Wilson Bossert, 1963) are chemical messengers that can be passed among individuals, thereby triggering a physiological response in a recipient. In termites, JH is one such primer pheromone (Henderson 1996); it includes presoldiers differentiation from workers at excessively high titer. The differentiation of the soldier caste, a development end point, in respond to JH is indirect in maintaining immature features in all other non social insects (Henderson, 1996). In the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in the research on and the development of bait systems for termite management. The increasing availability of bait systems for the control of active termite infestations is already significantly affecting termite management practices in many part of the world. There is even discussion of using such system as standalone measures for the long- term protection of a structure (Su et al. 2001; Grace et al. 1996). Even though these important and remarkable trends, baiting is developing technology, and many more changes to existing bait technology can be expected (Potter 1997). The bait matrices containing hexaflumuron, a chitin synthesis inhibitor, were most effective in reducing or eliminating foraging populations of Coptotermes formasanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar (Su Scheffrahn, 1996, Su, 1994). Molecular genetic marker The application of molecular genetic markers to the field populations of subterranean termite provides a powerful way to discriminate among large numbers of colonies be identified and distinguished from each other. The application of molecular genetic marker to field populations of subterranean termites provides a powerful way to discriminate among large numbers of conspecific colonies in a population as well as to determine colony breeding structure (Husseneder et.al. 2003) Genetic markers provide the most powerful means for delineating the boundaries of colonies and for determining colony affiliation for groups of foraging workers (Thorne et al.1999, Vargo 2003a,b). Microsatellite markers, with their co-dominant nature and high variability, are especially useful for investigation of colony distinctness (Vargo 2003b). Genetic markers are also the most practical way to determine colony breeding structure (Thorne et al.1999, Ross 2001), and there have been a growing number of genetic studies of breeding systems in termites (Luykx 1993, Husseneder et al. 1997, 1999, Husseneder Grace 2001a, 2001b, Vargo et al. 2003), including some on Reticulitermes spp. (Cle ´ment 1986, Reilly 1987, Jenkins et al. 2002, Bulmer et al. 2001, Vargo 2003b). The most detailed studies to date of the eastern subterranean termite, R. flavipes, are those of Reilly (1987) using allozymes, Bulmer et al. (2001) using allozymes and mitochondrial DNA haplotype data, and Vargo (2003a,b) using microsatellites and mitochondrial DNA sequence data. These studies have revealed variation in colony social organization in R. flavipes from very highly inbred colonies in Tennessee (Reilly 1987), to a mixture of approximately one third simple families and two thirds inbred colonies headed by many neotenic reproductives in Massachusetts (Bu lmer et al. 2001), to three fourths simple families and one fourth inbred families with only a few neotenics in North Carolina (Vargo 2003b). The above studies were conducted in natural areas, and there are no comparable studies performed to date in urban areas around buildings. Colony social organization in R. flavipes may vary in response to local ecological conditions (Bulmer et al. 2001), raising the possibility that for a given geographic area, colonies in urban habitats may differ in their social organization from those in natural habitats. In a study of Reticulitermes Hesperus Banks in southern California, Haagsma and Rust (1995) found differences in colony size, foraging activity, and body weight between colonies in natural and urban habitats. In addition to providing a powerful way to determine colony distinctness and to infer colony breeding structure in subterranean termites, molecular genetic markers are useful for applied studies, such as tracking colonies over time after exposure to an insecticide treatment and determining whether termites that reappear after treatment are part of the originally treated colony or are from a neighboring untreated colony that has moved into the area (Husseneder et al. 2003). Such studies are critical in the evaluation of management practices that target septic colonies and aim to eliminate them or greatly suppress their populations. Genetic/breeding structure population Colony fusion For social organisms, genetic structure assumes additional significant not only for the evaluation of social behavior, but also for the evolution of multiple queen societies, reproductive skew, sex ratio conflict, conflict over growth versus reproduction. Colony fusion has long been a suspected mechanism generating unusual colony genetic structure in termites. Colony genetic structure, reported a lack of genetic differentiation between colonies of Reticulitermes grasseiacross some regions of France and Spain. Together with this genetic data, a lack of distinct nest mate discrimination in laboratory trials (Clement 1986) suggested that colony fusion was widespread in some populations. Although recent studies have failed to corroborate these earlier descriptions of widespread colony fusion in this species (DeHeer et al. 2005), Clements work raised considerable awareness about colony fusion for those working on other subterranean termites. In introduced populations of Coptotermes formos anus, inter-colony aggression is often found to be weak or variable (Husseneder and Grace 2001a, Cornelius Osbrink, 2003) and one mark-release-recapture study described patterns consistent with a colony fusion event (Su and Scheffrahn, 1988). Nevertheless, genetic evidence for colony fusion in this species has remained elusive in spite of the relatively large numbers of colonies which have been assayed (Vargo et al., 2003, 2006; Husseneder et al., 2005). For Reticulitermes flavipes many experimental results have suggested the possibility that colony boundaries were porous. Laboratory agonism studies (Grace 1996, Polizzi and Forschler 1998, 1999, Bulmer and Traniello 2002, Fisher and Gold, 2003) and field surveys of molecular diversity (Jenkins et al. 2002, Bulmer et al. 2001) both suggested that individuals originating from different colonies may not distinguish between nestmates and non-nestmates, and consequently share the same nests or tunnel systems. However, in contrast to other species of subterranean termites these findings in R. flavipes have been confirmed via more direct assessments of colony fusion (Fisher et al. 2004), including one molecular study that provided a time course of colony genotypes before and after merger (DeHeer and Vargo 2004). Such fused colonies also appear to occur in other groups of termites. The relatedness hypothesis indicates that fused colonies are preferentially formed between groups of related termites because any costs associated with fusion are reduced when relatedness remains high in these colonies. This argument necessarily assumes that such colonies experience some general benefits to increasing their size (Costa and Ross, 2003). The genetic diversity hypothesis posits that increased genetic diversity provides sufficient group-level benefits to offset the costs of decreased relatedness within colonies. The specific benefits of increased genetic diversity could include the same types of benefits hypothesized to occur elsewhere (Schmid-Hempel and Crozier, 1999), in addition to the potential benefit that could result from a reduction in inbreeding. Simple family extend family Subterranean termite colony such as Coptotermes formosanus, generally begin as simple families headed by two primary (alate derived) reproductives that pair after mating (Tamashiro et al. 1987, Raina et al. 2003). As time goes by, the primary king and/or queen will be replaced by varying numbers of neotenics (non alate derived reproductives) from within colony; where this replacement leads to extended families with different degrees of inbreeding depending on the number of reproductives and number of generation of inbreeding (Thorne et.al 1999, Bulmer et al. 2001, Vargo et al. 2006, Husseneder et al. 2007) Bioinformatics/ Computational Molecular Biology Biological database is a large, organized body of persistent data, usually associated with computerized software designed to update, query, and retrieve components of the data stored within the system. A simple database can be a single file containing many records, each of which includes the same set of information (Lewis et al. 1995). For example, a record associated with a nucleotide sequence database typically contains information such as contact name, the input sequence with a description of the type of molecule, the scientific name of the source organism from which it was isolated, and often, literature citations associated with the sequence. The term of Bioinformatics meaning the application of information technology to the field of molecular biology. Bioinformatics currently contains the creation and advancement of databases, algorithms, computational and statistical techniques, and theory to solve formal and practical problems arising from the management and analysis of biological data (Hogeweg1980). Over the past few decades rapid developments in genomic and other molecular research technologies and developments in information technologies have combined to produce a tremendous amount of information related to molecular biology. It is the name given to these mathematical and computing approaches used to glean understanding of biological processes. Common activities in bioinformatics include mapping and analyzing DNA and protein sequences, aligning different DNA and protein sequences to compare them and creating and viewing 3-D models of protein structures (Huang 2004) Bioinformatics focus on developing and applying computationally intensive techniques (data mining, machine learning algorithms, and visualization) to achieve this goal. Major research efforts in the field include sequence alignment, gene finding, genome assembly, protein structure alignment, protein structure prediction, prediction of gene expression and protein-protein interactions, genome-wide association studies and the modeling of evolution (Huang 2004). In the application of molecular ecology studies of termites, mitochondrial genes were used for taxonomy purpose in termites (Cameron Whitting, 2007). Thus, the whole mitochondrial genome can be used to predict useful regions for further investigation in the multiple alignments methods application. Multiple alignments are the key starting point for prediction of protein secondary structure, residue accessibility, and the identification of residues important for specificity. Multiple alignments can provide the basis for the most sensitive sequence searching algorithms (Barton Sternberg, 1990). Furthermore, methods in multiple alignments affective analysis of a well-constructed multiple alignments can provide important clues about which residues in the protein are important for stabilizing the second and tertiary structure of the protein (Altschul et al. 1997) ClustalW will calculates the best match for the selected sequences, and lines them up so that the identities, similarities and differences can be seen and will provide a better quality for sequences (Thomson et al. 1994). Meanwhile, T-Cofee application is better to overcome with some of the problems that standard hierarchical method s have in aligning sequences of very different length or that share only local region similarity (Notredame et al. 2000). The program works by building a library of pairwise alignments for the sequence interest. Furthermore, T coffee has been adapted to include structural alignment and alignments from threading algorithms since it can work from pairwise alignments that originate from any source (Notredame et al. 2000). In addition, the program PSI-BLAST searches database with a single sequence, any high-scoring sequences that are found are built into a multiple alignment, and this multiple alignment is then used to derive a search profile for subsequent s earch of the database. This process is repeated until no new sequences are added to profile, or a specific number of iteration have been performed (Jones 1999). Research Objectives To test non-repellent termiticide model assay for their ability to induce detectable molecular changes in worker termites e. g., hemolymph proteins their corresponding genes. To infer the colony social organization of R. flavipes in urban habitat based on colony and population genetic structure and to compare this social organization in nearby natural habitat, To track the foraging locations of a large number of Reticulitermes colonies from natural forest (Wilderness Park) over the course of three field seasons using previously developed microsatellites by Vargo (2000). To analyze colony and population genetic structure/breeding system in natural and urban regions in order to determine the prevalence of neotenic reproduction and improve our understanding of the factors facilitating the spread of subterranean termites to new urban areas To determine the termite colony either a simple colony or extended colony using molecular ecology methods and also to determine if the colony undergo any kind of colony fusion To delineate the genetic structure of swarm aggregations of alates in order to infer potential mechanisms leading to inbreeding avoidance that do not require kin recognition. To utilize bioinformatic/molecular computational biology application tools to analyzing data at molecular level using BLAST, Clustal X, TCofee for sequencing analysis, pairwise/multiple alignment to study colony breeding structure of R.flavipes MATERIALS AND METHODS Termite Collection Sampling Reticulitermes flavipes, the Eastern subterranean termite, will be collected from locations within Wilderness Park Recreational Area, Lincoln; NE. Twenty workers will be sampled in each collection point located every 20 m along two intersection transects. The termites will be maintained on moistened corrugated cardboard and only 3-5th instar worker termites will be used for the study. Detection of fused colonies In order to detect colonies that had undergone fusion, collections of termites from large numbers of established colonies of R. flavipes will be collected between May 2009 and October 2011. At each location, minimum of 20 adult workers in 95%ethanol from multiple feeding sites, and mapped the locations of these feeding sites relative to one another using compass and measuring tape (DeHeer and Vargo, 2004). Samples will be stored in alcohol at 480C until DNAisolations could be performed. Microsatellite genotyping (Fusion Inbreeding) Using the Puregene DNA purification kit (Gentra systems, Minnepolis MN, www.gentra.com), genomic DNA will be isolated from each of 20 whole worker bodies from each of the feeding sites. At the location, minimum of 20 adult workers in 95% ethanol from multiple feeding sites will be collected, and mapped the locations of these feeding sites, and the locations of these feeding sites will be mapped relative to one another using compass and measuring tape. Each genotype individual termites at six different microsatellite loci : Rf1-3, Rf21-1 and Rf24-2 from Vargo (2000) and Rs15, Rs76, and Rs78 from Dronnet et al. (2004). PCR reactions will be setup in 96oC. Well plates in 5ul reaction mixtures containing 1X PCR buffer (Eppendorf), 2mM MgCl2, 0.2 mM of each dNTP, 0.2 U Taq polymerase (Eppendorf), 0.4 pmol of forward primer. Forward primers will be labeled with IRD 700 fluorescent dye (LI-COR), and samples were run on Li-Cor 4200L automated sequencer. Gel image will scored manually on Adobe Photoshop 7.0 by comparison to a size ladder. Colony affiliations To determine colony affiliation of the collection points, methods of other studies will be followed. Testing all pairs of collection points within each species for genotypic differentiation by means of a permutation test by using the program FSTAT (Goudet 2001). Pairs of collection points that will be significantly differentiated will be grouped into the same colony Morphology Scanning electron microscopic pictures (coronal and profile views) will made of the heads for each species) and will be studied using a binocular microscope to evaluate the profile of the post clypeus. Colour of the tibia of reproductives will be noted because this feature is an informative morphological indicator in association with the postclypeus profile. Genetic Data Analysis/ Simple or Extend Colony (Breeding Structure) The collection points will be analyzed to determine belonged to the same colony. The genotypic frequencies between all pairs of collection points by means of a log-likehood (G) based test of differentiation using the program GENEPOP on the Web (Raymond Rousset 1995; http://genepop.curtin.edu.au/). The overall significance will be determined via Fishers combined probability test. G-test analysis will be performed with collection points over the large scale with multiple collection points within the extensively sampled sites and finally among the colonies from each population to verify genetic differences will be used. Colonies will be classified as simple families when workers had genotypes consistent with being the direct offspring of one pair of reproductives and when the observed frequencies of the genotypes did not differ significantly from those expected under Mendelian segregation of alleles from two parents. Significance will be determines by a G-twst (P Colonies will be classified as extended families when the genotype distributions within colonies were not consistent with being produced by a single pair of reproductives (e.g more than four genotypes at a locus or three or more homozygote genotypes) or genotypes frequencies deviated significantly from those expected in simple families. Genetic relatedness among workers will be estimated for each colony and averaged over colonies for the same site will be using the computer program RELATEDNESS 5.00 (Queller Goodnight 1989) Inbreeding-adjusted estimate of relatedness r* that better reflects the number of reproductive presents in each colony by using Pamilo (1985) formula R*= r- [ 2FIT /(1+FIT)]/ [1-2FIT/(1+FIT)] I,C,T representing different colonies The breeding system and genetic differentiation among colonies will be investigated with hierarchial F statistics, assuming the infinite allele model and with individuals nested in colonies. The hierarchical analysis will be performed with F-stat program. It will be investigated whether there will be isolation by distance (a positive correlation between genetic differentiation and geographical distance) by calculating Fst between pairs of collection points within large colonies using the programe FSTAT 2.9.3.2 and by testing the significance of correlation between FST/(1-FST) and logarithm of geographical distances with MANTEL test (Mantel 1967). Computer program GENEPOP, with 10 000 permutations and the Mantel correlation coefficient r can be obtained with MANTEL (http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/morph/soft-mult.html) Estimating Colony Foraging Area Termite collected at a sampling point will considered to be affliated with a given colony if Fct, which measured genetic differentiation between collection points, will not significantly different from zero (i.e., 95% confidence interval did not overlap with zero. Fct will be measured between all possible combinations of collection points pair at each site. Variation in mitochondrial DNA markers will be provided additional support for colony designation (Bulmer et al. 2001). The maximum linear distance between collection points affiliated with the same colony will be used to estimate foraging range. For colonies that will be composed of three or more collection points (n+4), will be estimated the area encompassed by non intersecting lines drawn between collection points and adjusted so it did not overlap with neighboring collection points affiliated with different colonies. Swarming trap The swarm aggregation of alates will be collected alive with light traps. The traps consisted of buckets with a battery operated black light attached to attract the alates. Flight Observation Sticky trap will be used to monitor the dispersal flights of these species, which, in hindsight, may help explain some of the differences in how they are genetically structured. In addition their emergence and landing location. Sex ratio Sex ratio in swarm aggregations were tested for significant deviation from 1:1 using Binomial tests. Swarm aggregations were tested for significant genotypic differentiation with log likehood G Statistics using FSTAT 2.9.3.2 Bioassay Genetic mutation/change after being exposed to non repellent termiticide The concentrations were 0.001, 1.00, 10,100 and 1000 ppm for fipronil, imidacloprid and indoxacarb. In addition, distilled water was used as control for each termiticide. The method used for treatment was described by Hu (2005). Five kilograms of soil were collected from the site of the subterranean termite C. gestroi colony. The soil was then oven-dried. One kilogram for each termiticide was sieved and subsequently divided into six parts. The soil was placed in 100g increments into self-sealing plastic bags for treatment. Ten milliliters of the five concentrations of, fipronil, imidacloprid and indoxacarb will be added to the 100 g bag of soil for testing. The bags were sealed and allowed to mix thoroughly. The soil will be removed from the bags and placed in plastic bags (12 by 115 cm). The termiticide-treated soil was air-dried in a hood for ten days to allow solvents in the formulation to evaporate. Treatments were replicated three times using new stock solutions for each replicate. Bioassay design: Bioassay tubes designed by Su et al. (1995) will be used to investigate termite penetration in various thicknesses of termiticide-treated soil (Figure1). At time of testing, dried treated soil will be removed from the hood, placed into plastic bags and 10 ml of water was pipetted into the bags to obtain 10% moisture content. Three (3 cm) wooden applicator sticks were placed at the bottom of the glass test tube (2 by 15 cm), and 7% non-nutrient agar was inserted into the test tube until it rested on the wooden sticks. Oven-dried and sieved soil will be placed into plastic bags and moistened to concentrations of 10% (10ml /100g) to serve as untreated sand in the test designs. A 0.0, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, or 10cm layer of termiticide-treated soil was centered between two layers of untreated soil (Figure.1). A glass funnel will be used to place the soil in the test tube and a scintillation vial (10ml) attached to the shank of a screwdriver was used to lightly and level the layers of soil. A 5 cm segment of termiticides-treated soil and a 5 cm segment of untreated soil served as control. Additionally, layers of untreated soil at various thicknesses in the bioassay tube will be served as control. The soil segment will be capped with a 1.0 cm core of agar and a 4cm by 4 cm portion of paper towel folded placed on the top of the tube. Eighty C. gestroi workers and five soldiers (20:1) were placed in each test tube to simulate normal termite activity and prevent overcrowding. A piece of aluminum foil will be placed over the top and end of each tube, and will be covered with black plastic container to allow for darkness and prevent desiccation of the termites. Bioassay tubes will be kept at 29 ±1 °C. The experiment was a 6 (concentrations) x 3 (replicates) x 5 (soil thickness) factorial design with concentration and thickness as the main effects. Test tubes will be held vertically in test tube racks with termites at the top of the tube. Observations will be made daily up to one week for the number of worker termite mortality, vertical distance of treated soil penetrated by termites and percentage of penetration into treated soil. The percentage of termite mortality and soil penetration data were subjected to arc-sine transformation before analysis of variance and means were separated with Tukey HSD. Then percentage of penetration into treated soil and the percentage of mortality were analyzed with analysis of variances (ANOVA). Also the percentage of surviving termites located at the bottom of the bioassay unit was analyzed. DNA will be isolated from dead termite to b

Artificial Fish: AUVs Designed to Model Animals :: Autonomous Undersea Vehicles Fish Essays

Artificial Fish: AUVs Designed to Model Animals Humans venture beneath the ocean's surface to collect resources, conduct research, engage in warfare, and perform countless other tasks. The need for increasingly specialized technology to accomplish these tasks has prompted the development of many different designs of submersibles, varying from manned nuclear submarines to Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) dragged behind surface ships, to untethered Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (AUVs) (Blidberg 1). This last design, the AUV, has received special attention in recent years as humans explore greater and greater depths. As its name suggests, the AUV functions independently, without intervention from a human operator. It carries its own power source (traditionally a battery), and receives all its commands from an onboard computer, thus involving some degree of artificial intelligence. This computer serves to direct the robotic submersible in performing a pre-defined task. Because its movement is not restricted by a cable connec ting it to a mother ship, the AUV is ideal for operating in hazardous areas and at great depths. Current and proposed activities for AUVs include undersea exploration, scientific sampling of physical oceanic conditions (such as salinity level and temperature), laying and inspection of gas lines and cables, searching for downed aircraft, and mine reconnaissance (Canfield, Hylands). A key aspect of common AUV design, however, prevents this list of activities from expanding and limit the current potential of AUV performance. Due to the inefficiency of propulsion and power systems, AUVs are highly unstable in any turbulent water, are limited to short missions, can carry only small payloads, and have little maneuvering control at low speeds (MIT, Canfield). In the most unfavorable of conditions, AUVs may not even be able to reach their intended destinations while traveling at slow speeds, despite the use of slow speed guidance systems (Healey 335). Small rotary propellers plagued with low efficiency and lagged response times typically power AUVs (MIT). Furthermore, batteries often require 70% of the hull space (MIT). Closely tied to efficiency of propulsion systems is the hydrodynamic shape of the submersible's hull. While hull designs have improved over time, they do not compare to the hydrodynamic efficiency of fish and aquatic mammal shapes. As Jeff Walker, a biology professor at the University of Southern Maine, stated, "It's a lofty goal for a human-made vehicle to achieve the performance of a fish" (qtd.

The Azores :: essays research papers

The Azores is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in between North America and Europe. Azores is a region not a country. The main language is Portuguese. The archipelago is 760 miles from Lisbon and 2,110 miles from New York.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Azores is made up of nine beautiful and fascinating islands, Corvo, Flores, Faial, Graciosa, Pico, Sao Jorge, Sao Miguel, Santa Maria, and Terceira. A group of islands like this is also called an archipelago. They are divided into three groups. The Eastern group is made up of Santa Maria and Sao Miguel. The central group is made up of Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico, and Faial. The western group is made up of Flores and Corvo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The capital of these islands are: Corvo, Vila Nova do Corvo, Flores, Lages, Faial, Horta, Graciosa, Santa Cruz, Pico, Lagis, Sao Jorge, Vila das Velas, Sao Miguel, Ponta Delgada, Santa Maria, Vila do Porto, and Terceira, Angra do Heroismo.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  All the islands have there own little story on which they tell their history and important facts and this all makes up the history of the Azores.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First I will start with the island of Sao Miguel: which is also known as the Green island because color given by the Forests. Sao Miguel is the most populated of the nine islands, and has an area of 297 square miles and a population of 250,000. The discovery of this island took place sometime between 1426 and 1439.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Santa Maria: The island of Santa Maria has an area of 42 square miles. It is the southernmost island in the archipelago and its major settlement is Vila do Porto its capital. Its exact date of discovery is still a matter of discussion today. It is believed that it was discovered between 1427 and 1432. The settlement of the island took place during the course of the 15th century. Santa Maria is exceptional for the way its white painted cottages with their unusual chimneys are scattered over the landscape.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Terceira: The island of Terceira has an area of 250 square miles. Its called Terceira because it was the 3rd island to be discovered. About 1450 a Fleming, Jacome de Bruges, began to colonize the island.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Owing to its privileged location, the island was then the port of call for Portuguese ships sailing the Atlantic. Angra was the 1st settlement to be razed to the status of township (1534).

Oprah Winfrey :: essays research papers fc

OPRAH GAIL WINFREY   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Oprah Gail Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954 on a farm in Kosciusko, Mississippi to Vernita Lee and Vernon Winfrey. Her parents originally planned to name her Orpah, but the midwife made a mistake on the birth certificate. Up until the age of 6 Oprah lived with her grandmother. After this Oprah went to live with her mother and two half brothers in Milwaukee. Instead of living on a farm she now lived in the ghetto. While Oprah was living with her mother who gave her no supervision, she became out of control. Her mother Vernita could no longer handle her, so she was sent to Nashville to live with her father Vernon and his wife, Zelma.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Her father who was a barber became a city council member and was a strict disciplinarian. He demanded that Oprah add five new words to her vocabulary before she had her dinner each evening. Under these conditions Oprah became an excellent student. At the age of 16 she won an oratorical that guaranteed her a full scholarship to the University of Tennessee. After graduating in 1976, Oprah was offered a job from the ABC affiliate in Baltimore. In 1984, Winfrey and her producer moved to Chicago to liven up an A.M. Chicago Show. In 1985, the show was renamed the Oprah Winfrey Show. In 1986, She formed a Production company called Harpo Inc. (The name Harpo is her first name spelled backwards.) Oprah was not only a talk show host, she was an actress who played in various movies, which were: The Color Purple, Native Son, The Women Brewster and beloved Oprah’s Angel Network 5 ways to be an Angel   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This network started September 18, 1997. This program was designed to show you how you can improve your life and the world. Some important things that are involved in the Angel Network are: 1. Creating the World’s Largest Piggy Bank to raise money for needy students. a. All money will go into one big scholarship fund that will send needy students to college.

Aristotle and Aurelius Essay

Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics goes to show that he believes that the end goal of all human actions is eudaimonia, or happiness through success and fulfillment. Following this concept Aristotle goes on to explain that through virtuosity a human being can lead a happy life. He defines virtue as a disposition to make the correct decisions that lead to the chief good of happiness. A perfect example is when he describes someone who does an action well as being good, but they are only considered good because of their distinctive activity. The distinctive activity for human beings can be considered our rationale. This is where virtue comes into play in the matter, but this translation could also be deciphered as excellence. Human beings do every single thing they do for a reason and that reason is to help towards an end goal. Although it may seem like the end goal might be something good like eating lunch, it is actually a chain to the ultimate good which is being happy. Happiness in Aristotle’s view is not second-by-second or even minute-by-minute but an entire lifetime. This is because we view happiness as and end goal which we hope to achieve by death and that way you can look back on a person’s life to see if they succeeded in their goal, through virtuous moral character and virtuous intellectual character and through the act of temperance. A life-time of that act can guarantee a happy, fulfilling, and successful life. Being virtuous come through two different ways in our actions as said by Aristotle, â€Å"Excellence being of two sorts, then, the one intellectual and the other of character, the intellectual sort mostly both comes into existence and increases as a result of teaching whereas excellence of character results from habituation†¦ † (Nicomachean Ethics, 1103a15). Intellectual virtue comes from teaching, experience, and time while character virtue is formed through the habit of repeated virtuous actions and constant practice. This allows for every human being to potentially have a virtuous moral character for the fact that it cannot be learned but only practiced, and not one person can be born already virtuous. The only problem with this concept is that there is no exact guideline in which to follow in order to become virtuous and, ultimately, happy. Basically Aristotle explains that you can find virtue in the middle ground of your actions, for example, he says â€Å"For to arrive at one of the two extremes is more erroneous, to arrive at the other less; so, since it is hard to hit upon intermediate with extreme accuracy, one should take to the oars and sail that way, as they say, grasping what is least bad of what is available†¦ † (Nicomachean Ethics, 1109a35) There is no teaching as to why, for example, courage is preferred over cowardice or rashness but that you need to practice being courageous in order to understand the reasoning for being courageous. This is true for all virtuous traits and merits of the human character and by combining the moral and intellectual teachings and habits can you start on the path of a virtuous disposition. The key to virtue is keeping within a balance between the vices. For an excessive vice there is excessive pleasure but also excessive pain and for the opposite there is no pleasure and no pain. The key is in a state of temperance in order to feel the correct amount of pleasure for a healthy lifestyle and choices. Aristotle’s views show that someone with a virtuous disposition should automatically or naturally choose the best action or behavior in any circumstances without having to rely on reason because the virtuous habit has been already learned. In response to someone arguing against an accidental choice, these views only perceive the deliberate and voluntary choices made by the person of virtue. Also a virtuous moral character will always aim for the good while unjust character will try to aim for what is their perception or the â€Å"apparent† good as said in â€Å"That wish is for the end, we have already said; but to some it seems to be for the good, whereas to others it seems to be for the apparent good. The consequence, for those who say that the object of wish is the good, is that what the person making an incorrect choice wishes for is not wished for.. † (Nicomachean Ethics, 1113a10). A virtuous person will always do the right thing and will never be surprised by their actions, nor will they do it the right thing with an ulterior motive. Though you cannot live a happy life just with a virtuous disposition because you still need to act within accordance to virtue, you absolutely cannot live a happy life without virtue. Having virtue in your actions will lead to the final goal of happiness because it far outweighs the happiness found in pleasure, awards or merits. II. Marcus Aurelius was a philosopher-king and emperor of the Roman Empire and was considered of of the most influential Stoic philosophers of all time. His greatest work Meditations is an honest portrayal of Aurelius’ thoughts as they were found in journal form, never meant to be publicized. He wrote these books for himself as a sort of guideline and thought-provoking inner voice. In his works of Meditations, Marcus Aurelius doesn’t use arguments as a way to get his point across but rather states his words as truths and seems to be very confident in his uses. It seems he is prying at the meaning of life, the why’s and how’s of it all on the idea of living. He is very blunt in his use of understating the human existence in the world and compares them to specks in the grand scheme, but the point of this is to provide a sort of carpe diem lifestyle. By letting yourself let go of the things you cannot control, you begin to gain a better understanding of the things you can control and act accordingly. â€Å"We were born to work together like feet, hands and eyes, like two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions. † (Meditations, 17). This quote goes to show how you cannot allow yourself to get angry at another person for what they have done, but to continue your existence and recognize what you need to do. He advises in his writings â€Å"To shrug it all off and wipe it clean-every annoyance and distraction-and reach utter stillness. † (Meditations, 54) and once you can do that you can realize what is natural. Stoicism being a very popular philosophy in ancient Rome for it called for a â€Å"cosmic determinism† in relation to â€Å"human freedom† by a parallel will to that of Nature . Aurelius,himself, was a firm believer in the Logos, which can be identified as a principle a guiding force for the universe, human beings and all matter. In fact, it is one of the most important concepts in Stoicism for the ancient Romans of the time. The stark and â€Å"manly† belief that every single citizen had a duty, whether they were a king or a peasant, were expected to follow it to the best of their abilities. The term utter stillness is used to acknowledge the state of no distractions. By achieving this you can focus solely on appropriate actions and how to follow your own road by the way of Nature on an unconscious level. Not by thinking about it but by acting naturally should you continue to help others, work for yourself, never stopping but continuing to reply to Nature’s demands. To do this all under the Logos, in order to find our common sense and avoid the annoying distractions all the while by controlling these actions through your inner unconscious/conscious self. III. The Greek philosopher Aristotle and the Roman philosopher-king Marcus Aurelius can be compared and contrasted in their similar and different ways of thoughts. First you can compare Aristotle’s ideas on eudaimonia and Aurelius’ use of utter stillness to help follow the logos, also the final step of death as the end of one’s journey towards a life of fulfillment. Contrastingly, they have different outlooks on purpose of human life and how to lead to the fulfilling of that said life. Stoicism was developed within the framework of Greek theory and philosophies from Plato and Aristotle so obviously there are bound to be many similarities. Both of these men were truly brilliant and ground-breaking in their respective ways of thought and led centuries of intellectuals to search for more fulfillment and happiness’s in their lives. Some big differences between Aristotle and Aurelius were there views on mortality or death. While Aristotle concludes that our lives are given to us and as valuable as human beings want to make them, the Stoics view on life is that is shaped by death and that the thoughts, choices and actions are just based on the knowledge of death. Eudaimonia is a subject in which Aristotle and Aurelius were familiar with in their writings about philosophical life. Aristotle thought of eudaimonia as an activity done with virtue performed rationally and consciously. Aurelius and the other Stoics insist that the way for eudaimonia is to live a morally virtuous life, in regards to the fact that virtue is good, vices are bad and most everything else is neutral. A popular argument for this where a death in the family would be involved, according to Aristotle, that would rob the most virtuous person of their eudaimonia while the Stoics would consider that neutral. Another interesting fact about Aristotle is how he acknowledges how â€Å"dumb luck† can aid or block the journey for eudaimonia, for example being born beautiful or losing close friends and family. Basically, they agree that eudaimonia is self-sufficient; the chief goal in life and that eudaimonia is the most complete end result. Virtue is very important to both philosophers and their ways of thinking and considers it absolutely crucial for eudaimonia. Aristotle and Aurelius can agree that no one is born just virtuous as it must be an act learned. Virtue is believed to be how one can control their emotions for it helps them to stay stable and in moderation. Overall, living life virtuously is living a life full of dignity. Marcus Aurelius’s view is a much more justified view because it is more modern and more adaptable. As the stoicism wants people to better themselves within reasonable goals and change values into something that will bring upon an unconscious change so that they may make better decisions consciously. Aristotle instead relies too much on a proper upbringing and calls the loss of good and friends as a prevention of eudaimonia. Stoics learn to realize what is out of their control and move on to what they can control. Aristotelian views also say that if a person dies early that it is a tragedy and that they were taken away before they reached their prime which in the Stoics eyes, a virtuous person should never be afraid of death because their life is sufficient when living a virtuous life. The difference continues when viewing the topic of emotions for Aristotelian that emotions are not good nor bad, only bad when expressed inappropriately while the Stoics think the whole point of eudaimonia is to be free from emotion. Finally the stoics don’t see a difference between the rich, poor, slaves or free men, because in their views bodily and external things can no impact on their dignity, whereas Aristotle believes that a life based on virtues along with enough material and external goods like freedom, wellbeing, and close friends lead to a life of dignity. Overall, Aurelius and the Stoics have built upon and modified Aristotle’s view to be more realistic and to try and be more optimistic in leading the best possible life no matter the circumstances.