Aflatoxin essays

Aflatoxin essays Aflatoxins are toxic carcinogens that are produced by fungi on crops or in feed. Aflatoxin is more than likely the most researched fungus because of the horrible effects it has on crops, animals, and humans. The fungus occurs when environmental conditions are abnormal, such as a drought or an insect infestation. There are many ways to prevent the growth of aflatoxin and to test for it once the fungus has infected the crops. Aflatoxin is a carcinogenic fungus that affects many living things including crops, animals, and humans. Aflatoxin spores are carried by wind, insects, and many other things, to the developing kernels. They infect the kernels by germinating on the silks and growing into the developing kernels. The fungus usually appears as a yellow-green or brownish spore mass and occurs most frequently on the tips of the ears. Depending on the amount of fungus in the crop, the grain may be used for food or feed. Otherwise, the corn would have to be destroyed (Stack). The chance of animals being affected by aflatoxin varies depending on species, age, sex, and nutrition. Some of the diseases that aflatoxin has been known to cause in animals are liver damage, decreased milk and egg production, and immunity suppression to infections (Aflatoxins 4). The presence of cancer has also been found in many animals due to aflatoxin contamination. Humans are exposed to aflatoxins by eating foods with products of fungal growth. Exposure is difficult to avoid because most fungal growth in foods is not easy to prevent. Acute aflatoxicosis in humans has been reported from many parts of the world, namely the Third World Countries, like Taiwan, Uganda, and India. The disease is characterized by vomiting, abdominal pain, pulmonary edema, convulsions, coma, and death. The conditions that increase the likelihood of this disease include limited availability of food, environmental conditions that favor fungal develop...

4-Step Guide How to Study for the SAT in a Month

4-Step Guide How to Study for the SAT in a Month SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you've only got a month before test day, don't freak out! Although it's not a ton oftime to prepare for the SAT, it can be enough if you useyour time wisely. In this guide, we share with you our best advice on how to study for the SAT in a month. We'll begin by analyzing the feasibility of studying for the SAT in a month and then go overthe critical steps you must take in order to get your plan going. Finally, we’ll leave you with 12 high-impact tips you can use during your studies andon test day to help you get the SAT score you need for college! NOTE: This article largely assumes you’ll be conducting a self-guided study plan. Those who'd prefer ahelping hand should takeadvantage of our expert SAT tutors as well asour completely customizableSAT prep course! Is Studying for the SAT in a Month Doable? Let's start by addressing the crux of this article: is studying for the SAT in a month a feasible endeavor? The answer is yes; however,how doable a month-long study plan is depends greatly on what kind ofscore improvement you're hoping for. In terms of total point improvement on the SAT, here are the (approximate) numbers of hours you'll need to study: 0-30 point improvement: 10 hours 30-70 point improvement: 20 hours 70-130 point improvement: 40 hours 130-200 point improvement: 80 hours 200-330 point improvement: 150 hours+ As you can see, the higher the score improvement you want, the more hours you’ll have to dedicate to studyingfor the SAT. Because the SAT is such an important test for college, and because high school students are busy people, our usual recommendation is to set aside at least six months for SAT prep. This way you won't have to squeeze in too many study sessions each week, and you should still be able to hit the score you need- even a fairly lofty one requiringan increase of 200+ points. For those who'd like to improve their SAT scores by something closer to, say,100 points,three months should generally suffice. But not everyone has three or six months to committo studying for the SAT. So if you've only got a month to get started, don't worry; you can still increase your score. You just need to be willing toclock in the necessary amount of study time whenever possible. There are limitations to this, though.If you want to improve your SAT score by something close to 200 or 300points (150+ hours of study time), one month likely won't give you enough time todo so. For a plan like this to work, you'd have to study about 38 hours a week, or more than five hours a day! This is waytoo much time for anyone todedicate entirely to SAT prep. At this rate, you're guaranteed to burn out after a day or two! So to recap, studying for the SAT in a month is doable, as long as you: Are ready to create a regular study schedule and stick with it. Want toimprove your total SAT score by no more than 130-200 points (equivalent to about 80 study hours). Now, let's take a look at how to study for the SAT in a month using our simple four-step plan. How to Study for the SAT in a Month:4 Critical Steps for GettingStarted Gettingthe most out of your month-long SAT study plan means figuring out what your current SAT score is, what kind of scoreyou need for college, and how you intend to achieve that score. Ouressentialsteps below will teach youhow to prepare for the SAT in a month, so you can take the test with confidence. Step 1: Find Your Target Score In order to determine how many hours you'll need to study, you must first findyour SAT goal score. This is the score most likely to get you into all of the colleges you're applying to. The easiestway to find your SAT goal score is to search for average SAT scores (which are usually presented as score ranges) on your schools’ websites. Get onGoogle and look for â€Å"[College Name] average SAT† or â€Å"[College Name] 25th/75th percentile SAT.† You can also browseour SAT requirements database by searching for "[College Name] SAT requirements PrepScholar."Here is an example of USC's SAT requirements page. Your target score should match or exceedthe 75th-percentile score for your most competitive college.Gettingthis score will give youthe best shot at gaining admissioninto all of your colleges, even your most competitive ones. Step 2: Figure Out Your Baseline Score Once you’ve found your goal score, it’s time to figure outyour baseline score (where you’re currently scoring on the SAT). You will use this benchmark score to determinethe number of points neededto hit your goal score (as described in Step 1). To get your baseline score, take anofficial SAT practice test. Be sure yourecreate a realistic test-taking environment as closely as you can: take the test in a quiet room and timeyourself exactly as you'll be timed on the SAT. Once finished, use your test’s answer guide to calculate your individual Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) scores as well asyour total SAT score. This total scorewill serve as your baseline score. You can also use thispractice test to get a feel for which areas of the exam and which question typesare most challenging for you. Step 3: Create a Study Schedule The third step is to come up with a study schedule you'll be able to follow fairly rigidly over the course of a month. First, findthe difference between your baseline score and your target score to get the total number of points required toachieve your target score. Then, look for your difference using the following point ranges to determine how many total hours you'll need to study over the course of a month. As I mentioned previously, one month should give you enough time to study for up to 80 hours and attain, at a maximum, a200-point score increase: 0-30 point improvement: 10 hours 30-70 point improvement: 20 hours 70-130 point improvement: 40 hours 130-200 point improvement: 80 hours The second half of this step is to divide yourhours into a feasible weekly study plan. Below are various schedules you can try out depending on the score range you're aiming for on test day. Alwayschoose the best plan that will work for you personally.So if you loathe the idea of studying for the SAT on weekdays, stick to longer study sessions on the weekends. On the other hand, if studying for more than an hour straight isutterly torturous for you, opt for shorter, more frequent study sessions scattered throughout the week. Light: You Want to Improve Your SAT Score by 0-30 Points If your baseline score is within 30 points ofyour target score, congratulations! You havea very doable month-long study schedule. For this plan, your total prep time is about 10 hours, or a meretwo and a half hours a week. Your options for aweekly study schedule are as follows: 2 hours and 30 minutes, once a week 1 hour and 15 minutes, twice a week 30 minutes, five times a week Medium: You Want to Improve Your SAT Score by 30-70 Points In this scenario, your baseline score is slightly more removed fromyour target score - but not by much! For this medium-sized plan, you muststudy a total of 20 hours, or five hours a week on average. Idealstudy schedules for this plan include: 2 hours and 30 minutes, twice a week 1 hour and 15 minutes, four times a week 1 hour, five times a week Heavy: You Want to Improve Your SAT Score by 70-130 Points Now we get to the tougher plans. With this schedule,you'll have to really startbuckling down to reach your goal of70-130 points. To do so successfullywithin a month, you must study for a minimum of 40 hours, or about10 hours a week. Possible study schedules are: 3 hours and 20 minutes, three times a week 2 hours and 30 minutes, four times a week 2 hours, five times a week Heavier: You Want to Improve Your SAT Score by 130-200 Points This SAT prep plan, though technically feasible, requires a high amount of diligence, regularity, and commitment. To improve your baseline score by 130-200 points, you must study for a minimum of 80 hours, or 20 hours a week on average. Note that at this rate, each of your study sessions will befairly lengthy at three or more hourslong. Your best options for a foolproof study schedule are as follows: 5 hours, four times a week 4 hours, five times a week 3 hours and 20 minutes, six times a week Impossible? You Want to Improve Your SAT Score by 200-330 Points This certifiably insane plan would require a total of 150+ study hours in a month - that's 38 hours a week! Therefore, due to its impractical nature,I do not recommend attempting this plan. Instead, it'll be more helpful for you toaim for a slightly smaller point increase (see plan â€Å"Heavier† above) and then retake the SAT at a later date if you want toimprove your score even more. Just be sure you give yourself more than a month of study time on the second go-around - ideally, anywhere from three to six months. Want to learn more about the SAT but tired of reading blog articles? Then you'll love our free, SAT prep livestreams. Designed and led by PrepScholar SAT experts, these live video events are a great resource for students and parents looking to learn more about the SAT and SAT prep. Click on the button below to register for one of our livestreams today! Step 4: Gather SAT Study Materials Now that you've gota foolproof study plan, it’s time to gather the SAT prep materials you’ll usefor content review and practice during your prep sessions. If you've already got a stash of SAT materials ready to use, awesome! If not, here is a convenient compilationof some of the best SAT resources currently available: The Ultimate SAT Study Guide for SAT Prep: This guide contains links to all of our most important and relevant SAT articles. Use this guide as a broad reference for information on both SAT study resources and test-taking strategies. You can also use it to answer any questions you may have concerning scoring and other SAT logistics. Complete Official SAT Practice Tests, Free Links:Go to this article to download all official SAT practice tests, answer keys, and answerexplanations.Be sure toprioritize newer practice tests(i.e., those based on theredesigned SAT) over older ones. Best SAT Prep Books 2017 (Updated for New SAT): Read this article for candidreviews of the best SAT prep books. All books on this list have been reviewed by a perfect SAT scorer, so you can rest assured they’re worth purchasing! The Best SAT Prep Websites You Should Be Using: Online study materials can be just as helpful as SAT prep books as long as you know where to find qualityresources! Use our guide to help you find the best online SAT resources, from practice questions and strategy guides to virtual prep courses. Khan Academy: A partner website of the College Board (the creators of the SAT), Khan Academy offers a plethora of realistic SAT practice questions and tutorial videos- all for free! Check out our comprehensive guide for tips on how toincorporate Khan Academy into your SAT study plan. As a bonus resource, our SAT blogoffers a vast amount of SAT information, from tips and strategies to testing logistics and more. So feel free to use this resource if you have any questions about the SAT or simply want toreview content using our free study guides! Once you've selecteda solid assortment of quality SAT resources, read on to see ourtoptipson how to study for the SAT in a month. How to Prepare for the SAT in a Month: 6 Surefire Tips A month isn't a particularly long time to study for the SAT, but with our six surefire tips, you're guaranteed to get the score you want on test day! #1: Familiarize Yourself With the SAT Format As is the case with any exam,knowing what to expect on test day can give you a big advantage, not to mention a little extraconfidence. Start your SAT prep byfamiliarizing yourself withhow the test is scored and what type of content it tests. Then, move on to the specifics of each SAT section by learning about what kinds of questions you'll encounter on the exam and what kinds of skills you'll need to master in order to get a high score. For an in-depth overview of each SAT section, refer to the following guides: What’s Actually Tested on the SAT Reading Section? SAT Reading Skills What’s Tested on the SAT Writing Section? Grammar and Questions What’s Tested on the SAT Math Section? Topics and Practice Knowing the SAT format inside and out will give you the upper hand on test day by ultimately eliminating the risk of surprises. #2: Take 2-3 Official Practice Tests to Measure Your Progress Once you've begun studying for the SAT, it's important you consistently check whetheryour SAT score is improving or not by takingofficial SAT practice tests. For a month-long study plan,two or three official practice tests should suffice.Takethe first test at the beginning of your study plan to get your baseline score (as described in Step 2 above). Then, take a second test abouthalfway through your study plan todeterminewhether your prep materials and study methods are actually helping you, and to see whether you have any glaring weaknesses you need to concentrate on more. Practice tests must be taken at the appropriate times to be most effective.So don't take a test too early (less than a week after you’ve started studying for the SAT) or else you likely won’t notice any significant changes. Similarly, don’t take a test too close to test day, as this will only drain your energy! #3: Review Core SAT Math Topics Your study plan would be incomplete if you don't spend any timereviewing the core concepts tested on SAT Math.Broadly, the three major SAT Math topics are algebra, advanced math, and problem solving and data analysis. Altogether, these three topics account for 90 percent of Math questions. But what exactly should you study?Startby mastering thebasics of integers. (You can also check out ouradvanced guide to integersfor detailson prime numbers, absolute values, exponents, and more!) Afterward, progress to the following critical SAT Math topics: For Algebra Linear functions, equations, and inequalities Single-variable equations Systems of linear equations For Advanced Math Quadratic and nonlinear functions and equations Exponential functions and equations Graphing functions Manipulatingpolynomials For Problem Solving and Data Analysis Statistics (mean, median, mode, etc.) Ratios and proportions (including percentages) Graphs, scatterplots, and tables We also offer individual Math strategy guides, which you can access throughour ultimate SAT math prep guide. #4: Learn Basic Math Strategies In addition to masteringcore SAT Math topics, it's imperative youlearn some of thebasic strategies for tackling SAT math. One key strategy you can use while studying is to re-solve math problems you’ve missed before looking at the answer explanations. Here's how it works: using high-quality math practice questions (those on the official SAT practice tests are always safe bets), you’ll answer various SAT Math questions and then check your answers one by one. As you do so, mark the ones you got wrong and then immediately attempt to solve them again, this timeusing the correct answer as a hint. Re-solving questions allowsyou to think more deeply about why you missed a question and what other ways you can use to approach it and come up with a solution. Additional Math strategies areplugging in answers and plugging in numbers. With these two strategies, you can attempt almost anymath problem, even if you’re clueless about how to solve it. These strategies work well if you don't knowhow to simplify algebraic expressions or how to use algebra to solve systems of equations and inequalities. #5: Review Core SAT Grammar Topics Switching gears now! For the SAT Writing and Language section, you must possess a working knowledge of written English conventions and then use this knowledge to correct and improve sentences in various passages. In short, you must understand all of the fundamental rules of English grammar and punctuation. Rules and conceptsmostcommonly tested on the SAT Writing section include: Commas, colons, and semicolons Apostrophes and possessives Subject-verb agreement Modifiers Homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings) Restrictive and non-restrictive clauses Redundancy Idiomatic phrases #6: Develop a Strategy for Reading SAT Passages Passages are abundant on both the Reading and Writing sections of the SAT; in fact, every question on these two sections is based on a passage! Therefore,it's important you cultivate the ability to interpret various types of passages both quickly and accurately. There are many methods for approaching SAT passages. Becausethe Reading and Writing sections pose different types of questions in regards to their respective passages, you may find it easier to develop separate reading strategies for each section. On the Reading section, test takers typically use one of the following strategiesfor reading passages: Skim the passage and then read the questions Skim the questions and then read or skim the passage Read the passage in its entirety and then answer the questions (not recommended) And on the Writing section, test takers tend to use one of these strategies: Answer questions as you read the passage paragraph by paragraph (highly recommended) Answer each underlined question in order as you read the passage Skim the passage and then answer the questions Read only the underlined sentences (not recommended) Ultimately, which passage-reading strategy you choose is up to you, and its success depends on how you read and digest information best. To help you determine which strategy works wellfor you, test out the different strategies listed above using the Reading and Writing sections onofficial SAT practice tests (make sure you time yourself for the same amount of time you’ll be given on the SAT). After you take the tests, compare your scores for each section. Any scores that are significantly higher on one test shouldpoint to a strategy that suits you. 6 Additional SAT Study Tips for the High Achiever The following six tips are geared toward those who are planning to spend at least40 total hourson studying for the SAT in a month and would like additional tactics for reaching their SAT goal scores. #7: Carefully Analyze Real Questions Your study sessions will likely feel pretty long, so spendsome of your time carefully analyzing real SAT questions. The best resources to use for this are official SAT practice tests. As you peruse thequestions on these tests, look for concrete clues to help you identify the type of questions you're encountering on each section. For example, can you differentiate thebig picture questions on the Reading section from the little picture questions? On the Math section, can you identify which problems fall under theHeart of Algebra category? The Data Analysis and Problem Solving category? How doNo Calculator questions differ from those on the Calculator section? Examining how various types of concepts are presented on the SAT will allowyou tobecome an expert on the SAT format. As a result, you'll start to spend lesstime trying to comprehend SAT questionsand more time trying tosolve them. #8: Master ALL Applicable Math Topics and Grammar Rules Test takers hoping for a staggering point increase must move beyond the basics of SAT Math and grammar and start delving into more advanced (albeit less commonly encountered) SAT topics. For the Math section, spend extra time mastering the final10 percent of topics (called â€Å"Additional Topics in Math†). This category primarily covers: Geometry, including triangles, circles, 3-D objects, lines and angles, and arc lengths Trigonometry Complex numbers Additionally, try tomemorizeall of the major SAT Math formulas. Although you’ll be given a list of formulas on the exam, these formulas revolve exclusively around geometry (a less commonly tested topic). Thus, it's imperative youmemorize other relevant formulas, such as those for algebra and trigonometry, that will not be given to you on the test. That being said, you should still memorize the ones on the test, too; doing this willsave you time on test day, as you won't need to repeatedly check the list of formulas for help. In regards to grammar, those with ample time on their hands should make it a goal to master all of the rules detailed in our complete SAT grammar guide. This guide goes over some of the more complex grammar topics, includingrelative pronouns, parallel structure, and fragments and run-on sentences, that you'll need to know for the SAT. #9: Hone Your Reading Comprehension Skills To become an expert at SAT Reading, you must not only know how to read the passages but also how to select the correct answer. And here'sthe trick: there is always only one answer that is 100-percent, unambiguously correct. What do I mean by this? All correct Reading answers are supported bydirect evidencein the passages. So of the four answer choices given to you for each question, only one will be clearly correct - all of the other choices willcontain some sort of clue to indicate they are clearly incorrect. Make sure you practice honing this trick withhigh-quality Reading questions.As you do so,think deeply aboutwhythe incorrect answer choices are incorrect. Dead giveaways for incorrect answersare thosethat: Are too broad Are too specific Are unrelated to the passage Say the opposite of what’s written in the passage Contain extra information that isn’t written in the passage Offer a slightly plausible interpretation thatisn’t directly supported by the passage Even asingle word can make an answer choice incorrect, so alwayskeep a sharp eye as you consider answer choices on the Reading section. #10: Study Vocabulary Although vocabulary no longer constitutes a major portion of theSAT, those trying toincrease their EBRW scoresshould cover all of theirbases by studying vocabulary words likely to appear on the SAT. Luckily, all of the vocabulary on the new SAT is only about medium difficulty; the challenging part, however, stems from having to know tertiary meanings of common terms. For quality vocabulary prep, check out our selection of 150 ACT vocabulary words andScholastic’s 100-word SAT/ACT vocabulary list. (Note that thevocabulary tested on the SAT is now extremely similar to that tested onthe ACT, so it's perfectly OK to useACT vocabulary resources for your SAT prep!) #: Strengthen Your Weaknesses Another tip for high achievers is to target your weaknesses by drilling challenging SAT topics and question types. Focusing on your most difficultareas will help youhone your test-taking skills, effectivelyraising your SAT score. Doing this will also teach youhow todetect patterns in the errors you make, so that you canavoid making them again in the future. The best way to combat your SAT weaknesses is to dedicate more time to both content review and hands-on practice. Use high-quality resources such as prep books for comprehensive content explanations. Then, look for realistic practice questions on your most difficult topics (official practice tests and prep books are solid resources for questions). Work through the questions one by one and check their answers to ensure you understand what mistakes you’re making and how you can alter your habits to answer the questions correctly on test day. #12: Practice Pacing Yourself Don’t assume that just because you’re familiar with the content of the SAT that you’ll be able to breeze on through it! Instead, taketime to develop an ideal pace. One of the worst things you can do on the SAT is leave dozens of questions unanswered, but being aware of how much time you spend on each question should greatly reduce this risk. On practice tests, time yourself and try to see whether certain question types take you longer to work through than others. Then, work on developing faster techniques and strategies for the types of questions that usually eat up your time. On the other hand, if you’re routinely finishing practice tests with tons of time to spare but not scoring where you want to score, you’re likely moving way too fast. In this case, devote more time to double-checking your answers and re-reading any ambiguous questions, sentences, or passages. The Final Word: How to Study for the SAT in a Month Studying for the SAT in a month, though challenging, can be a feasible option for certain test takers depending on the number of points by which you’d like to improve your baseline score. The more points you want, the more hours you’ll need to dedicate to studying - and thus the harder it’ll be to stick to your study plan. If you are trying to improve your score by a significant number of points - say, 200 or more - one month likely isn’t going to be enough time for you to be able to successfully do so. To study for the SAT in a month, you must first find your SAT target score based on your colleges’ average SAT scores and then take an official SAT practice test to get your baseline score. After you've gotten both of these scores, select a study schedule that corresponds to the total point improvement you want to make on the SAT. Once you’ve gathered your SAT prepmaterials, follow thesesix tips to get the most out of your month-long study plan: Familiarize yourself with the SAT format Take 2-3 official practice tests to track your progress Review core SAT math concepts Learn basic math strategies Review core SAT grammar topics Develop a strategy for reading SAT passages And for those with more hours to dedicate to studying, use your extra time to: Carefully analyze real questions Master all applicable math topics and grammar rules Hone your reading comprehension skills Study vocabulary Strengthen your weaknesses Practice pacing yourself With these tips in mind, you should have no trouble implementing a surefire month-long SAT study plan! What’s Next? Feel like you're running out of time?Stay calm! With ourexpert last-minute SAT tips and strategies, you can still get the SAT score you want - no matter how little time you've got left before test day. Need extra help studying for the SAT?Check out our top 21 SAT tipsand learn everything you need to know aboutacing the SAT! Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Juveniles should be tried as adults when committing major felony Research Paper

Juveniles should be tried as adults when committing major felony crimes - Research Paper Example Trying juvenile delinquents as adults for major felony offenses is a response to this distinct category of juvenile offenses. As a sound solution, trying juveniles as adults is a process with legal basis. Moreover, the juvenile justice system is not equipped to handle cases of juvenile felony crimes. In addition, protocols and standards of practice in place ensure the proper handling of juvenile delinquency cases transferred to the criminal justice system by considering the distinct psychosocial characteristics of juveniles. Keywords: waiver, transfer, major felony crimes, juvenile delinquency, juvenile court, criminal court, psychosocial characteristics Juveniles Should Be Tried As Adults When Committing Major Felony Crimes Debate over trying juveniles as adults for committing major felony crimes persists. Those who oppose the treatment of juvenile felony offenders as adults assert the differences in the psychosocial characteristics of juveniles and adults as a justification for tre ating juvenile offenders distinctly from adults as well as the harshness of imposing penalties on juveniles similar to those imposed on adults. Proponents of treating juvenile felony offenders as adults cite the need to firmly address the alarming statistics on serious crimes committed by juveniles and the graveness of the violence involved in these crimes through legal protocols and standards. Both sides offer valid arguments. However, there are valid reasons that justified the enactment of laws and development of policies allowing for the treatment of juvenile felony offenders as adults. Violent crimes committed by juveniles made way for the wider adoption of processes allowing juvenile felony offenders to be tried as adults (Griffin et al., 2011). Moreover, protocols are also in place to ensure that the criminal justice system properly handles the cases of juvenile felony offenders (Nunez et al., 2007). Standards of practice also continuously evolve with developments in laws and jurisprudence that govern the process of transferring delinquency cases to the criminal courts (Keller, 2012). With these in mind, juveniles should be tried as adults when committing major felony crimes within a system of legal protocols and governing standards. Supporting the treatment of juvenile felony offenders as adults is not akin to saying that the system is the absolute solution to juvenile delinquency. Despite developments in recent years, the process of trying juvenile felony offenders as adults remains imperfect. However, it is a developing system. Future developments in legislation, jurisprudence and best practices are likely to enhance the role of this system in addressing juvenile delinquency. Juveniles should not be Tried as Adults Opposition to the practice of trying juveniles as adults when they commit major felony crimes revolve around the assertion that juveniles are different from adults so juveniles should not be adjudicated in the criminal justice system meant for adults. In a study, the psychological maturity of juveniles who just reached 18 was compared with that of adults aged 25 in terms of their assumption of responsibility and foresight of the consequence of their actions. The results showed that those who just reached

Quality management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Quality management - Essay Example A number of scholars and theorists have contributed their knowledge and expertise towards the study of quality of management. Majority of such theories have been developed from actual organizational experiences. Juran, Feigenburn, and Deming were amongst the earliest theorists who contributed valuable ideas and concepts towards quality management in organizations. These ideas were further extended and made adaptable by the Japanese theorists namely; Genichi Taguchi, Shigeo Shingo, and Kaoru Ishikawa. The ideas provided by such eminent scholars led to the development of important quality management techniques such as Six Sigma, Just in time, Mc Kinsey 7S framework, Jidoko, Kaizen and quality circles amongst much more. These concepts are widely practiced in modern organizations to gain efficiency in operations and attain quality related objectives in end products. Kelemen’s dimensions In the book Managing Quality by Mihaela Kelemen, the author has provided insight upon the impor tance of quality management on the basis of eight important approaches which are divided into two important categories. The categories are mainly the managerial and the critical perspectives of the quality management approaches. These perspectives and approaches are considered to be an extended view of Garvin’s framework in quality management. However, the approaches developed by Kelemen were seen to incorporate the notions provided by different, authors. Writers were also seen to support more than one particular approach.

Islamic and Western Civilizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Islamic and Western Civilizations - Essay Example However, there is a section of the academic community that has opposed the clash theory from the start and continues to attack it as having proceeded on the wrong premise. This paper assessed the rationale and validity of Huntington's thesis and evaluated the logic of the arguments lined up by critics against it. The new world order seen by Huntington (1996) after the Cold War, in which the bloodiest clashes will occur between Islam and the West, is actually prefigured by events in early history that included the European forays of Islamic forces in Europe. Troops carrying the Islamic flag supposedly attacked the Ottoman Turks in Vienna and parts of Eastern Europe and conquered but were later repulsed from Iberia. In effect, there had always been an ideological conflict between Islam and Christianity, on which Western civilization is based, because of the universal belief that one's religion is always better than the others. For this reason, followers of one religion seek to convert others and this becomes the source of conflicts. Huntington in his book Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order indicated that through the years, as Western countries prospered and outpaced other regions that practice non-Christian religions, the concept of universalism acquired more than religious meaning in the West, which began to believe that all civilizations should adopt Western values. This is perceived to be the underlying reason behind the US invasion of Iraq and its continued presence in that Muslim country. This becomes a source of great resentment for Muslims, especially the Islamic fundamentalists. All these historical and modern factors combined have led and would farther lead to bloody clashes between the Islamic and Western civilizations. Among the more recent expressions of such anti-Western resentment were 9/11, the Afghanistan-Iraq conflict, and the Israeli-Hizbollah-Lebanese wars in 2006. Fault Line Wars In Huntington's view, conflicts between different civilizations manifest itself in two forms - fault line conflicts and core state conflicts. Fault line conflicts are those that occur between neighboring states belonging to different civilizations or within states that are home to populations from different civiliz

Derivatives in Financial Market: Portfolio Management

Derivatives in Financial Market: Portfolio Management Derivative Structures in the Market and Their Place in Corporate Portfolio Management Abstract Derivatives are financial instruments that do not hold independent value, but where instead the value of the instrument is based on the underlying value of a given asset, which can range from financial assets such as stocks, bonds and market indexes to commodity assets such as oil, gold or wheat, to more obscure or exotic assets such as weather or other exotic assets. The four main categories of derivative include forwards, futures, options and swaps, each of which is used for a different risk control technique and each of which has its own unique structure, risk, and potential for return. Derivatives are commonly used in financial firms to balance portfolios and reduce risk by spreading it across the market, or in order to mitigate potential risk by limiting it (for example, placing a ceiling or floor on currency exchanges or purchases). This paper explores the use of derivatives in the financial market, including their use in portfolio management. Following a thorough definition of the derivative, the paper explores the use of derivatives in portfolio management and other banking activities, and offers a substantive risk assessment that addresses the potential difficulties that the use of these instruments may pose as well as a description of the benefits of using derivatives. The paper also explores ways in which actual financial institutions use derivatives through examination of public reports and other available information, in order to determine what current practice is in the use of these reports. The report concludes with recommendations for portfolio managers within financial institutions regarding the use of these instruments for risk management as well as the potential dangers of their use. The study is intended to provide an overview guide to this material and an analysis of existing research that can be used for further research and understanding of the subject material. Chapter 1 Introduction to the Research Project The use of derivatives in corporate risk management has come under scrutiny recently in the news, following reports of credit risk derivatives being used improperly by some firms and banks during the mortgage lending collapse of 2007-2008. However, while these instruments may be misused, they also hold an important role in both financial and non-financial firms in hedging risk and balancing corporate portfolios and investments. Derivatives can be used in a number of different applications. These applications include balancing risk across a number of different investors, gaining access to foreign currency or reducing currency exchange risk exposure, and reallocating loan risk across lending portfolios within or among banks. While these instruments clearly have benefits in terms of balancing, spreading and reducing risk to the individual investor, corporation or bank, there are still considerable risks that must be considered. For example, credit risk derivatives were at fault for revenue losses because they were improperly calculated to be less risky than they actually were. Conversely, a currency option, one type of derivative that reduces the potential for risk in currency exchange rates, could end up being a poor rate if the market does not change in the expected manner. These are just a few of the risks that can be encountered within the use of derivatives in financial and non-financial firms. This paper presents an overview of the types of derivatives available, the risk involved in using the derivative, and other important factors that must be considered in its use. Research Aims The main aim of this research is to explore and identify the derivative structures in the financial market and examine different corporate responses to the changes in the market and uses of these derivatives. The research also examines the impact posed by changes in the market on the corporate portfolio strategy. By first providing an overview of the different types of derivative structures available, and then analyzing corporations in order to identify how they use these structures, the research paper analyzes corporate portfolio diversification as a strategy and explores the potential for derivatives in financial markets. Research Objectives The main research objectives of this project include: Definition of the structure and application of derivatives Definition of the risk posed by application of derivatives in a competitive market Description of the common usage and potential impact of derivatives on the financial institution Examination of the impact of market changes in the corporate portfolio within the financial institution Identification of the limitations and risks of derivatives as used in the corporate portfolio Identification of appropriate risk management and portfolio management strategies Importance of the paper Sustained changes in the financial and competitive environment of industries, increasing globalization and increasing complexity of financial markets has led to an unprecedented period of currency and interest rate volatility worldwide. In order to counter this increase in risk, innovative foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk hedging techniques have developed at a rapid pace. Although these derivatives are intended to assist in risk management and risk minimization, particularly in terms of uncertain cash flows and currency exchange rates, their use has been uncertain, as instruments grow increasingly exotic. This paper will provide a guide to derivatives and their use in the financial market, as well as provide a clear understanding of the risks involved in the use of derivatives and their appropriate application to risk management, as well as discussion of how the risk of the derivatives themselves may be handled. This information can be used by investment risk managers and others in order to guide policies regarding the use of these instruments and allow for an increased understanding of the underlying issues involving these instruments. Methodology overview The methodology that will be used is that of desk research and meta analysis. This method will assemble information from a large number of sources, including primarily secondary research, and organize and analyze it in such a way as to create an understanding of the research material in the general case. This information will be able to be used for description of the operation and formulation of derivatives in a number of markets. Data collection The main data collection technique used in this discussion will be secondary research or desk research. This method was chosen both because of the limited time available to perform the survey and because of the amount of information already available on the subject matter. Secondary information will include primarily a literature review, which will provide background and theoretical information that can be used in order to form an overall picture of the theory and practice of using derivatives and derivative structures. Other secondary data will be used to examine the issues at hand for analysis, including materials such as company reports, journal articles and time series, and previously conducted surveys that address the subject matter. However, it should be noted that derivatives are not ordinarily considered reportable assets, and so may leave little trace on company reports and discussions. As such, generalized information from sources such as the Bank for International Settlements will be used as much as possible rather than specific firm information. Data analysis Following the collection of data using the method described above, the data will be analyzed using a number of techniques. Analysis methods are intended to be both quantitative and qualitative, in accordance with the data available for analysis. Quantitative analysis will be exploratory and descriptive, using data summaries in such methods as charts, tables, and descriptive statistics. Qualitative analysis techniques that will be used will include categorization, development and analysis of relationships, and descriptive techniques. This data analysis will be used in order to create an overall view of the data that can be used in order to explore the research questions. Organization of the paper The table below presents the organization of the remainder of the paper in terms of chapter numbers and contents. Chapter Contents Chapter 2 Literature review and context review Chapter 3 Methodology overview Chapter 4 Presentation of results of analysis, discussion of results and examination of risk and risk mitigation strategies for firms using derivatives Chapter 5 Conclusions and recommendations for further study Table 1 Organization of the paper Summary This chapter has presented an overview of the aims and objectives of the paper as well as the methods that will be used to explore the research objectives. It will provide a guide to the remainder of the paper. The next chapter, the Literature Review, provides insight into the structure and definition of derivatives as well as providing insight into their use in financial markets. Chapter 2 Review of the Literature In order to provide background and theoretical information for the discussion in the following chapters, this chapter presents an overview of the current state of affairs concerning derivatives and their use in the financial firm. This includes a description of the definition of derivative, the varying types of derivatives and what their uses and significance are, and a description of their current use in the banking context in order to examine the overall importance of derivatives in portfolio management. This chapter will also provide an overview of the concepts of portfolio management in order to examine issues involved in the use of derivatives. Definition of derivatives Although there are a number of different definitions of derivatives, the basic principle of the derivative is that it is not, in and of itself, an asset or investment; instead, it is a financial instrument that is based on the value of an underlying asset or instrument (Hunt Kennedy, 2004, p. 1). As such, it should be clear that as a derivative has no independent financial value, it should not be considered to be an investment per se; if the firm wishes to make an investment in the underlying asset, it is more appropriate to do so directly. Instead, derivatives are used to gain potential access to cash flows, risk, currency exchanges or other valuable items or to distribute risks across a number of different users, markets, or geographic areas rather than assigning all risk to a single portfolio or individual (Hunt Kennedy, 2004, p. 3). Derivatives may be based on the value of a wide range of underlying instruments, including stocks, bonds, indexes, exchange rates, interest rates or the prices of commodity such as wheat, oil or livestock (Hunt Kennedy, 2004). More exotic underlying instruments include credit risks of packaged assets and even long-range weather forecasts; however, these exotic underlying instruments fall outside the scope of this discussion and will not be examined in-depth. Underlying concepts There are a number of underlying concepts that must be understood if the idea of the derivative is to be fully described. The first such idea is that of replication. In brief, replication is the portfolio of assets (trading strategy that will pay out an identical amount to the payout of the derivative in any potential trading circumstance (Hunt Kennedy, 2004, p. 3). In other words, the balance of the portfolio, on which option pricing theory is based, is dependent on its ability to mirror the price of the option that it is compared against. The second important underlying idea is that of arbitrage. Hunt and Kennedy (2004, p. 3) defined arbitrage as a trading strategy that generates profit from nothing with no risk involved. Arbitrage opportunities are assumed not to exist in the trading of derivatives; although it is clear that some random arbitrage opportunities might exist, they cannot be counted upon in a trading strategy and should not be considered for the purposes of this analysis. The underlying security is defined as the security involved in an option or other derivative transaction (Chorafas, 2008, p. 36). In other words, the underlying security (or underlying asset) is the security or asset from which the derivative derives its value, like a commodity such as oil, gold or wheat. These underlying securities rarely actually change hands (although it may occasionally occur). As Chorafas noted, while the underlying security may be based in an asset or liability, it cannot be considered to be an asset or liability itself, but is instead intended only to hedge risks from other market areas. Chorafas demonstrated that the relationship between the underlying security and the derivative is likely to be nonlinear; that is, the price of the derivative will not depend immediately on the price of the underlying security, but will instead be offset by other factors. The figure below demonstrates this nonlinear relationship. Figure 1 Nonlinear relationship between the value of derivatives and underlying instruments (Chorafas, 2008) The idea of notional principle amount, or face amount, is the amount of money on which the trade is based; however, this money is never actually intended to change hands, it only provides a basis for such characteristics of the derivative as interest rate calculation or other bases for engaging in the trade (Chorafas, 2008, p. 36). This may be specified not only in currency, but also in any other relevant measurement, such as shares, kilos, gallons, bushels, or whatever the natural means of measuring the underlying asset might be. Types of derivatives There are a wide range of types of derivatives, and custom derivatives are often assembled in order to meet the requirements of the parties involved in the trade that do not easily coincide with the definition of any standard type. However, the four major categories of derivatives include options, forwards, futures and swaps. Each of these types has a different structure and different uses within the market, and each is traded differently within the market. The description, structure and main uses of each of these types of derivatives are described in detail below. Options An option is an instrument that gives the buyer the opportunity (but not the requirement) to purchase a given instrument at a specific time for a specific price (Chorafas, 2008, p. 39). An option may be a call option (guaranteeing the buyer the right to buy the underlying good at the set price) or a put option (guaranteeing the owner the right to sell the underlying good at the strike price) (Kolb, 2003, p. 4). The buyer of an option may decide to exercise it (in which case they take delivery of the underlying) or to not exercise it (in which case it expires); if the buyer does exercise the option (decide to take delivery) the seller must give it to them for the agreed-upon price. The price at which the buyer may exercise the option is the strike price, while the price paid to the seller for the option is known as the premium (Chorafas, 2008, p. 40). The expiration date is the date by which the option must be exercised is the expiration date. The type of option will determine whether the option can be exercised only on that date, at any time prior to that date, or at certain specific times prior to the expiration date. American options can be exercised at any point up to the expiration date, while European options allow exercise only on the expiration date (Kolb, 2003, p. 507). A Bermuda option has set intermediate dates between the purchase and the expiration date at which it may be exercised (Kolb, 2003). There are also a number of exotic options that provide more customized payment, delivery and exercise agreements that may rely on the price of the underlying asset; for example, a barrier options exercise depends on the value of the underlying asset reaching a price specified in the contract, while an Asian option depends on the average price of the underlying security (Kolb, 2003). A so-called plain vanilla option, however, depends only on the current price of the underlying and other characteristics of the option such as exercise price and time until expiration (Kolb, 2003, p. 577). Caps, floors and collars are particular characteristics of a given option, which are intended to limit exposure to upside and downside risk (Smith Walter, 2003, p. 84). A cap, commonly used in an interest rate swap as well as other options, fixes the upper rate of exchange, while a floor similarly fixes the lower rate of exchange; as can be envisioned, a collar fixes both the upper and lower rates of exchange in order to reduce the potential for risk. Options are extremely popular derivatives that are used in both financial and nonfinancial firms for portfolio balance. Forwards A forward, or more properly a forward contract or option, is structured in much the same way as an option; however, rather than the exercise of the instrument being optional at the expiration date, exercise is mandatory at that time (Kolb, 2003). A basic definition of a forward was given by Kolb, who remarked, A forward contract always involves a contract initiated at one time; performance in accordance with the terms of the contract occurs at a subsequent time. Furthermore, the type of forward contracting to be considered here always involves an exchange of one asset for another. The price at which the exchange is set at the time of the initial contracting. Actual payment and delivery of the good occurs later (Kolb, 2003, p. 2). Forward contracts are commonly used in currency exchange operations and other transactions in which the individuals involved wish to reduce uncertainty; for example, in a currency exchange forward, the seller ensures the present value of the trade, as does the buyer. Although the currency exchange rates may fluctuate over the time between the contract and the expiration date, the risk for each party will be reduced because they will be able to protect themselves from changes in the currency exchange (Kolb, 2003). As such, forwards are commonly used for securing access to foreign currency or other underlying assets that an individual will need in the future at a risk-controlled price. In effect, the use of forwards removes uncertainty from the future business climate, therefore reducing risk. Forwards may also be used in order to create a position in the weaker currency when performing interest rate hedging (Smith Walter, 2003, p. 43). In effect, the investor attempts to determine when a weak currency is going to undergo a currency collapse (such as the 1997-1998 Asian market collapse, which began with a weakened currency in Thailand), and then purchases interest rate forwards in this currency, then waits for the interest rate in the country to drop as monetary policy shifts to propping up the currency rather than attempting to slow growth. However, this strategy is not without risk because there is always the potential that the currency may not depreciate or, if it does, that the requisite interest rate drop will not occur, or will not be sufficient to make the investment worthwhile. Futures Futures are an even more specialized form of the option. Futures contracts, which always trade on organized exchanges rather than in over the counter transactions, are a type of forward contract with highly standardized and specified contract terms futures contracts are highly standardized with a specified quantity of a good, and with a specified delivery date and delivery mechanism (Kolb, 2003, p. 3). According to Kolb, performance on a futures contract is also guaranteed with by a clearing house, or a financial institution that guarantees the integrity of the market, and are protected by margin, or security payments posted by traders as a good-faith indication of willingness to trade (Kolb, 2003, p. 3). Futures, unlike other forms of derivatives, trade in a regulated market and as such may not be as complex to handle as other forms of derivatives such as forwards. Futures are most commonly used for trade in commodities, and are often used by nonfinancial institutions rather than financial institutions. Swaps Unlike the other forms of derivatives, a swap is not just a specialized form of option, but is instead a different type of instrument. A swap is an over-the-counter instrument involving the exchange of one stream of payment liability for another (Smith Walter, 2003, p. 75). According to Smith and Walter, this derivative has only developed since the 1980s, with an increasing use of derivatives by non-financial corporations in order to reduce risk and reduce cost of listing on stock and bond markets. Swaps, as contingent values, are also not listed on financial reports, which allow firms to manoeuvre their full investment in a given position if desired (Smith Walter, 2003, p. 76). Common swaps include interest rate swaps and currency exchange swaps. Currency swaps allow firms to exchange their exposure to currency risk (for example, by limiting the amount paid in interest from one position to another) by exchanging currency rates from one to the other. Historical currency swap rates demonstrate the overall growth in currency swaps. The table below demonstrates the growth in currency rate swaps over the top ten traded currencies in 2000. As can be seen, the Euro almost immediately became prominent, with rapidly increasing amounts of currency swaps overtaking the currency as it was instituted. The use of currency swaps is extremely common in financial and non-financial firms that require protection from currency risk. For example, those with operations in multiple countries (Smith Walter, 2003). Currency Notional Amount Traded Per Year (Historical Figures) 1998 1999 2000 Australian dollar 206 365 387 Canadian dollar 594 647 623 Danish Kroner 28 37 40 Euro 4,667 5,981 Hong Kong dollar 89 321 450 Japanese yen 5,319 4,236 4,254 New Zealand dollar 10 6 3 Norwegian Kroner 48 127 103 Pound Sterling 2,512 2,242 2,391 Swiss franc 419 459 456 Table 2 Historical trades in currency swaps, 1998-1999 (Smith Walter, 2003) Interest rate swaps allow for firms to exchange interest rates on funds, often in exchange for future value of a payment stream. As noted by Smith and Walter, these instruments are advantageous because they allow for the transfer of potential immediate interest risk, as well as offering individuals access to funds at lower interest rates. In addition to an immediate swap, a pair of traders may engage in what is called a forward swap, in which payments at some time in the future are fixed rather than immediately exchanging hands (Smith Walter, 2003, p. 83). These derivatives are not commonly used in the financial world, but may take place for example in order to fix interest rates through the duration of a long-term building project or perform similar interest rate fixation. Credit derivatives Of particular current concern is the credit derivative, which protect the lender against loan default in much the same way as a loan guarantee. According to Smith and Walter (85), the major types of credit derivatives include total return swaps (in which the potential returns from a risky underlying loan instrument are exchanged for a lower, but less risky, guaranteed return); credit default swaps (in which an upfront fee is exchanged for coverage in the case of a default on the underlying loan instrument); and the credit linked note (in which the buyer makes a series of payments to the seller, which are returned if there are no credit difficulties during the lifetime of the loan) (Smith Walter, 2003, p. 86). Banks have commonly used these derivatives in the recent past in order to limit their exposure to consumer debt; however, as the recent subprime mortgage crisis in the United States has shown, reckless use of credit derivatives may not be appropriate. Many hedge funds (estimated by Douglas to be a tenth of the total market) specialize in credit derivatives, following a number of different strategies for engaging in credit derivatives trading and arbitrage. The authors noted that of the participants in the credit derivative markets, the majority of funds that specialized in credit derivatives worked in emerging debt markets and convertible arbitrage opportunities, rather than in less risk, but less rewarding, areas such as distressed debt and high yield debt (Douglas, 2007). The risks of credit derivative instruments will be explored more fully in Chapter 3, Data and Analysis. Derivative trading Derivatives are traded in one of two ways. Over the counter derivatives (OTC derivatives) are derivatives that are traded directly between private parties, rather than being traded through an exchange (Smith Walter, 2003). Some of the most commonly traded derivative structures that are traded over the counter include swaps (which are usually custom-packaged in order to meet the needs of both parties involved in the trade) and exotic options and other custom-packaged derivative products (Smith Walter, 2003). These instruments are best traded over the counter because of their custom nature; the OTC sale format allows for customization of the package in order to meet the needs of the purchaser in terms of portfolio balance and risk adjustment (Chorafas, 2008, p. 58). However, this flexibility comes with a cost in risk undertaking, as there is no open market value of the instrument in order to ensure that the buyer does not overpay (Chorafas, 2008, p. 59). Although precise figures on the trade of OTC derivative instruments are difficult to obtain due to the private and non-reported nature of the trades, evidence points to a very large market for these instruments. According to the Bank for International Settlements, the estimated international trade in OTC derivatives as of December 2007 was approximately 596,004 billion US dollars (Bank for International Settlements, 2007). The second form of derivative trading is exchange-traded derivative trading, in which derivatives are listed on exchange for buyers and sellers in much the same fashion as stock or bond markets (Chorafas, 2008). The potential for overpricing that exists in OTC derivatives is not present in exchange-traded derivatives, because the existence of the open market results in the establishment of a fair market value for the derivative (Chorafas, 2008, p. 60). However, many types of derivatives are traded in derivative exchanges; most commonly, interest rate swaps and commodity forwards and futures are available on derivative exchanges (Chorafas, 2008, p. 75). While customization of derivative packages is not possible, for some purposes the use of a traded derivative is entirely sufficient to meet the needs of the portfolio management problem, and should be considered as lower cost than creating a customized over the counter derivative sale. According to the Bank for International Settlements, the exchange trading activity in derivatives during the 2nd quarter of 2008 (March to June) totalled 600,465 billion US dollars, which represented a total trade volume of 2,397 million contracts in total (Bank for International Settlements, 2008). Portfolio management The main use of derivativ Louis Isadore Kahn | Architect Biography Louis Isadore Kahn | Architect Biography Louis Kahn was one of the most renowned personalities of the 20th century Architecture. The impact that he made with some of his works was so remarkable that he was rightly compared with Corbusier and Mies Van Der Rohe. Louis Kahns work made huge impact specifically on the younger generation who were more willing to try out the non-traditional way of designing buildings. Louis Kahn truly believed that all architects should thrive for unparalleled excellence which would help them make an ever-lasting impact on the society, as seen by the works of Greeks and Eygpt. Keeping this goal in mind, Louis Kahn devoted his entire career in seeking perfection and pursing excellence. Louis Kahns best works are located in India, US and Bangladesh and incidentally they were produced in last two decades of his career. His works represent precise integration and assembly of structure, a silent admiration for materials and lights, a dedication to classical geometry, and a great deal of concern for human values. Louis Kahn was considered a enigmatic thinker or more like a philosopher who wanted to bring out change in the field of Architecture. BACKGROUND Born in 1901 in Estonia, Russia, Louis Isadore Kahn is considered to be one of the most influential architects of the second half of the twentieth century throughout the world. Louis Kahn migrated to the U.S. along with his family in his early years (in 1905). After completing his graduation from the University of Pennsylvania in 1924, Louis Kahn started his career as a draughtsman and later worked as head designer in several other firms in Philadelphia. He also worked in the offices of Philadelphias leading architects, Paul Cret (1929-1930) and Zantzinger, Borie and Medary (1930-1932). In the latter half of 1930s Louis Kahn served as a private consultant to the Philadelphia and The United States Housing Authority. His knowledge in modern architecture expanded when Kahn worked with European emigres Alfred Kastner and Oskar Stonorov. In the early 1940s Louis Isadore Kahn associated with Stonorov and George Howe, with whom Louis Isadore Kahn designed several wartime housing projects. K ahn was not only an American architect, but was also an educator and philosopher. Until 1947, Kahn had worked with a series of partners, after which, Kahn set up his independent/private practice. It was during this year, that Kahn also began with his influential teaching career atÂÂ  Yale University as Chief Critic in Architectural Design and Professor of Architecture (1947-1957) and then at the University of Pennsylvania as Cret Professor of Architecture (1957-1974). SIGNIFICANT ELEMENTS OF DESIGN Kahn wanted to redefine the bases of architecture through a re-examination of structure, form, space, and light; since his earlier work abstained from the international style modernism. Earlier works of Kahn had a traditional international style of architecture. However somewhere in the middle of his career, Kahn turned his back on this traditional approach and pursued innovation by redefining the use of structure, light, form and space. Louis Kahn described his quest for meaningful form as a search for beginnings, a spiritual resource from which modern man could draw inspiration. It is widely believed that Louis Kahn, who was then a Resident Architect at the American Academy in Rome, was extremely impressed by the astonishing architectural feats of Greeks, Egyptians and the Romans and this triggered the change in his approach of designing the buildings. Other experts believe Kahn was also influenced by the part of Philadelphia where he grew up. There were many factory buildings with large windows. These brick structures were very solid. This industrial design is apparent in several of Kahns early works. The impact of this European experience can been seen in Louis Kahns latter works. The work undertaken by him in last two decades of his life demonstrated a sincere desire to create a sense of place, showcased the true side of structure, and demonstrated the successful application of Platonic geometry principles. Louis Kahn must be credited for re-introducing various concepts which most of the modern architects had deserted like centralized spaces, using extensive geometric principles and demonstrating solid mural strength. Kahns buildings are admired for outstanding use of geometric shapes and implementing platonic geometry principles which creates magnificent experience for the users. Louis Kahn is credited in re-defining modern architecture in more than one ways. For e.g. Kahn was known to appreciate the appearance and feel of different materials that he used in his work. Kahn is also known to have used brick and concrete extensively and his innovative usage of these materials demonstrated his talent to the world. Kahn realised the importance of sunlight and was highly impressed by its usage in Egyptians and Greek works. Hence Kahns works demonstrates wide-scale implementation of sunlight through different kinds of interesting windows and openings. Egyptian works also inspired Kahn to use extensive geometric shapes and hence we find many of his buildings taking shape of squares, circles or triangles. Louis Kahns vision on how an architect can make difference to his design can be seen from the masters own words. A building is like a human, an architect has the opportunity of creating life. The way the knuckles and joints come together make each hand interesting and beautiful. In a building these details should not be put in a mitten and hidden. Space is architectural when the evidence of how it is made is seen and comprehended. EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS WHERE ELEMENTS OF LOUIS KAHN DESIGN WERE IMPLEMENTED All these elements of design philosophy can be seen in all the works of Louis Kahn starting from his first mature work the addition to the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, Connecticut, 1951-1953). This is considered to be Kahns first architectural masterpiece where one can see that much prominence has been give to the structural innovations demonstrated by hollow tetrahedral concrete ceiling and floor slab system, which was a mater-piece, a fantastic design of placing the mechanical and electrical systems. Kahns magnificent artistic sense can be seen from the design of the triangle-shaped staircase which sits in a rounded concrete shell, defining the servant space to be distinguished from the served spaces of the building. Richards Medical Research Building at the University of Pennsylvania (1957-1965) and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies (LaJolla, California, 1959-1965) demonstrated magnificent use of spaces and is the primarily responsible for the origin of the phr ase served and servant spaces. Kahn applied his principles to create masterpieces, which made a great deal of sense to the usage of space and light. His buildings, like the Yale Art Gallery extension (1951-53) or the Trenton Boathouse in New Jersey (1954-59) or even the Richards Medical Towers in Philadelphia (1957-62), create astonishing effects with the change in light, all possible due to the intelligent use of space and light. As a result, the user gets an entirely different experience of working in the building during different times of a day. By constructing Salk Institute in La Jolla, California (1959-67), Kahn created another masterpiece which had extraordinarily inspiring sequence of buildings. Richards Medical Towers This building demonstrates many key elements of Louis Kahns architecture. All these elements have been used before by other architects but not all at the same time. Through this structure, Kahn demonstrates the application of servant and served spaces, overcomes the problem of in sufficient lighting and more importantly integrates form, material, and process. As stated by Romaldo Giurgola and Jaimini Mehta, Richards Medical Towers represents a significant turning point in contemporary architecture. Salk Institute in La Jolla This particular building emphasizes the principle, Keep it simple and strong. Through this building, Kahn has achieved astonishing use of space, may it be the space available for Laboratories where research is conducted, or may it be the office space where ideas arise. This institute shows a wonderful collaboration of mind and action. The buildings beautiful concrete surfaces ensure precise detailing and magnificent experience. The structure is created in such a way that it takes care of the need to enclose specific spaces and does not rely on a general envelope to cover such specific space. Paul Heyer, described the central court of the building in a very artistic way. The central court, as a typical Kahn-like space of shimmering blue water, a band pointing toward the ocean epitomizing what human endeavour can accomplish at one scale with geometric clarity and authoritative but modest deliberation, to give to the scale less sweep of the ocean, here the Pa cific, a poignant gesture. Louis Kahn was known for his ability to create epic architectural structures that showcased human scale. He predominantly used brick and bare concrete as his building materials and he used highly refined surfaces like travertine marble for reinforcing the textures. (http://www.answers.com/topic/louis-kahn) Beyond its functional role, Louis Isadore Kahn believed architecture must also evoke the feeling and symbolism of timeless human values. Louis I. Kahn attempted to explain the relationship between the rational and romantic dichotomy in his form-design thesis, a theory of composition articulated in 1959. In his personal philosophy, form is conceived as formless and unmeasurable, a spiritual power common to all mankind. It transcends individual thoughts, feelings, and conventions. (http://architect.architecture.sk/louis-isadore-kahn-architect/louis-isadore-kahn-architect.php) Integral to Kahns notion of timeless form in the making of significant architectural spaces is the role of natural light. Louis Isadore Kahn described structure as the giver of light. For several projects located in hot sunny climates, such as the U.S. Consulate in Luanda, Angola (1959-1962). the meeting houses of the Salk institute, the Indian Institute of Management (Ahmadabad, India, 1962-1974), and the National Capital at Dhaka, Louis Isadore Kahn developed visually dynamic sunscreens. Great walls with variously shaped openings shield inner rooms from the harsh light. The evocation of a wall in ruins suggests an ancient part Louis Isadore Kahn s handling of light is a central theme in two unrealized synagogue projects, Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia Pennsylvania, 1961-1972) and Hurva (Jerusalem Israel, 1967-1974) as well as in one of his greatest works the Kimbell Art Museum (Fort Worth, Texas. 1966-1972). In the art museum, light enters through narrow slits in the concrete cycloid vaults and is diffused through the gallery interiors, which are rich with travertine and oak. Kimbell Art Museum This Louis Kahns masterpiece in Fort Worth is a beautiful demonstration of outmost perfection which can be compared only to the works done by the Greeks. Kahn used all the tools and available resources with such flawlessness, that it produced a building which had all the components working in a sychronized way and the system as a whole worked perfectly. It is difficult to find any building that does not utilize the materials properly and this one is no exception. INSPIRATION FOR OTHER ARCHITECTS Louis Kahns philosophy and extraordinary work has had influence on quite a number of contemporary architects. Tadao Ando, in his early twenties, took intiative and travelled throughout Japan, Europe, Africa and the United States for his architectural studies. He never took any formal training in the field of architecture. He would study architecture by observing the actual buildings and reading books of renowned architects such as Le Corbusier, Mies Van der Roher, Louis Kahn, etc. After he had gathered enough knowledge through his journey across different countries, he started his own practice. When asked about defining his style of architecture, Tadao had once said that, To me, walls are the most basic elements of architecture, and in all my works, light is an important factor. The Benetton Communications Research Center (Italy) and the Naoshima contemporary art museum, (Japan) showed that Tadoa Ando was truly inspired and has learned a lot from the works of Louis Kahn. Renzo Piano (born in 1937) completed his graduation in architecture in 1964 after which he worked in his family business. From 1965-1970, Renzo Piano worked in the offices of Louis Kahn (Philadelphia) and ZS. Makowski (London). Along with Renzo Piano, another famous architect who was greatly influenced by Louis Kahn was Richard Rogers. Renzo Piano met Richard Rogers at the Expo70 in Osaka and both immediately realized that they had common interests. One of the most famous projects of Renzo Piano Richard Roger is that of Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris. The building was designed in such a way, as if it were turned inside-out, with the services visible on the exteriors of the building making the inside of the building light and airy. Thus, this building can be said to be made on the similar basic concept which Kahn had applied years earlier in the Arts Centre where because of his theory of served and servant spaces, huge services ducts rose up through the building. Hence, it can be s afely concluded that Renzo Piano and Richard Roger were both influenced by Louis Kahn. Architect Norman Foster is another famous personality influenced by Louis Kahn. Foster happened to study masters in architecture in America at a time when Louis Kahn was designing the extension at the Yale University. Getting influenced by Kahns designs and philosophy, the two architects have also ended up designing the worlds most exciting buildings. For example, Norman Fosters Hongkong and Shanghai Bank project demonstrates Louis Kahns influence on Norman Foster. Another architect inspired by Kahn is James Stirling. Stirling was known for his experimental approach, which meant that he was not committed to one particular style. Also, this approach meant that Stirling was ready to try out new ideas and that definitely reflected Louis Kahns quality of designing. Stirlings earlier projects for Oxbridge stressed more importance to the concept than to the artistic and utilitarian needs. Due to this experimental approach and rigid adherence to concept, Stirling was often criticized for not following architectural principles.

Augusta National Golf Course :: essays research papers

Golf is the ultimate battle between man and nature. It is a beautiful sport in which dreams come true and hearts are broken. Man is challenged on every stroke by nature’s elements. Wind and rain are only a few of the conditions that affect this great game. Undulating hills, sand bunkers, thick rough, and even creeks and ponds come into play on most golf courses. These features are fierce at Augusta National Golf Course. Located along the fall line, the natural beauty of the region is the perfect complement to this championship golf course. Every spring when the flowers are in full bloom, Augusta plays host to The Masters Championship and is transformed into the Mecca of Golf.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The main reason Augusta National is the greatest American golf course comes from its natural beginnings. Originally the property the golf course stands on was Fruitland Nurseries. From 1858 until 1918 this company imported many trees and plants from around the world to decorate the landscape. Golfing legend Bobby Jones discovered this land after retiring in 1930 and chose it as the location for his dream golf course. To pay homage to the ground’s history, every hole is named for a different plant found on each hole. Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. was the greatest golfer of his time. He was only 28 when he retired from competitive golf, but had won an amazing 13 major golf championships in both the United States and Great Britain during his brief career. After retiring he redefined the art of course architecture. He would utilize the natural advantages of the property and use mounds rather than adding too many bunkers and put into play the natural creeks as water hazards. Jones wanted this concept of golf course architecture to make a contribution to the game as well as give expression to his ideas about golf design. Bobby Jones came out of retirement only to play annually in the Masters.

Review Questions Essay

What are some factors (patterns of behavior) that project a company’s culture? List several examples from organizations you work in. The factors that are most important in the creation of an organization’s culture include founders’ values, preferences, and industry demands. A company’s culture, particularly during its early years, is inevitably tied to the personality, background, and values of its founder or founders, as well as their vision for the future of the organization. It is shaped in the early days of a company’s history. When entrepreneurs establish their own businesses, the way they want to do business determines the organization’s rules, the structure set-up in the company, and the people they hire to work with them. While founders undoubtedly exert a powerful influence over corporate cultures, the industry characteristics also play a role. Industry characteristics and demands act as a force to create similarities among organizational cultures. For example, despite some differences, many companies in the insurance and banking industries are stable and rule oriented, many companies in the high-tech industry have innovative cultures, and companies in the nonprofit industry tend to be people oriented. 3. What are three major elements that complicate listening? Give customer-service related examples of each. The three elements that complicate listening comprise the internal, environmental and interactional elements. To start with, internal elements involve the use of words at a level that the hearer can hear, and the most importantly, can understand. Talking loudly and nonsensely or meaninglessly can totally deviate your customers from doing business with your company. The customer services on the phone can result in such scenario if the voice of the customer rep is too low or too loud, or the line is not clear or s/he uses very technical words that the receiver cannot understand. Secondly, the environmental factors â€Å"which determine what we are able to listen to and what we cannot. These factors can impact our individual ability to listen and our organization’s listening capacity, as well. These factors include:   Our individual listening capacity, the presence of noise, and the use or misuse of gatekeepers. † (Timm, Paul, Pg. 43) â€Å"In contrast to the environmental elements of the listening process, the interactional elements concern internal psychological processes that are not as easily identified. Two such psychological elements deserve careful consideration: self-centeredness and self-protection.

Funny Birthday Quotes to Tickle Your Imagination

Funny Birthday Quotes to Tickle Your Imagination A birthday is a joyous occasion. What could be a better birthday gift than the gift of happiness? This birthday, share happiness by spreading laughter using a funny birthday quote. If you enjoy wisecracks, this page has funny birthday quotes to suit your sense of humor. Robert FrostA diplomat is a man who always remembers a womans birthday but never remembers her age.You know you are getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.Sir Norman WisdomAs you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I cant remember the other two.AnonymousA well-adjusted woman is one who not only knows what she wants for her birthday, but even knows what shes going to exchange it for.AnonymousI never forget my wifes birthday. Its usually the day after she reminds me about it.AnonymousWhen I have a birthday I take the day off. But when my wife has a birthday, she takes a year or two off.AnonymousAge is a number and mine is unlisted.Larry LorenzoniBirthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.John GlennThere is still no cure for the common birthday.

Free Essays on Ed Philosophy On Teaching History

Personal Educational Philosophy â€Å"To understand history, you must grasp how your everyday view of the world developed, how it was created by the reality of the people who lived before you. It took 1000 years to evolve the modern way of looking at things, and to really understand where you are today, you must take yourself back to the year 1000 and then move forward through the entire millennium experientially, as though you actually lived through the whole period yourself in a single lifetime.† (Redfield, 1994) I have chosen to become a history professor to open the minds of college students who have despised history, not because of the contents of what they are taught, but because of the way that they were taught. With an existentialist point of view on education, my teachings will be based on how individuals influences and reacted to certain events in history, not the events themselves. In order to fully explain why I agree with the existentialist philosophy, I should point out why I feel this will help my ability to teach my students. Existentialists rely on self-reflection as a major tool. I can’t think of a better way to show a student what happened throughout history than by asking how he or she would react in that time period. Imagine being a journalist trying to capture the feeling of a nation on November 23, 1963, the day after President John F. Kennedy was shot. Take your imagination further to capture the torn emotions felt by Mary Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln‘s wife, who’s half-brother Ben Hardin Helm was killed as a Confederate General in the Civil War (Find A Grave, Retrieved 2002). By throwing yourself into a situation and expressing those emotions you feel about that situation, your reactions will bring about a deeper meaning; one not so easily tossed aside after an exam is taken or the course is completed. Existentialists also believe that a classroom should be an open forum for di... Free Essays on Ed Philosophy On Teaching History Free Essays on Ed Philosophy On Teaching History Personal Educational Philosophy â€Å"To understand history, you must grasp how your everyday view of the world developed, how it was created by the reality of the people who lived before you. It took 1000 years to evolve the modern way of looking at things, and to really understand where you are today, you must take yourself back to the year 1000 and then move forward through the entire millennium experientially, as though you actually lived through the whole period yourself in a single lifetime.† (Redfield, 1994) I have chosen to become a history professor to open the minds of college students who have despised history, not because of the contents of what they are taught, but because of the way that they were taught. With an existentialist point of view on education, my teachings will be based on how individuals influences and reacted to certain events in history, not the events themselves. In order to fully explain why I agree with the existentialist philosophy, I should point out why I feel this will help my ability to teach my students. Existentialists rely on self-reflection as a major tool. I can’t think of a better way to show a student what happened throughout history than by asking how he or she would react in that time period. Imagine being a journalist trying to capture the feeling of a nation on November 23, 1963, the day after President John F. Kennedy was shot. Take your imagination further to capture the torn emotions felt by Mary Todd Lincoln, President Abraham Lincoln‘s wife, who’s half-brother Ben Hardin Helm was killed as a Confederate General in the Civil War (Find A Grave, Retrieved 2002). By throwing yourself into a situation and expressing those emotions you feel about that situation, your reactions will bring about a deeper meaning; one not so easily tossed aside after an exam is taken or the course is completed. Existentialists also believe that a classroom should be an open forum for di...

The Seminar Log Comprises Three Sections Coursework

The Seminar Log Comprises Three Sections - Coursework Example Public diplomacy aimed at the United States part of the United States soviet trading’s, as well as giving compelling grievances and remarks concerning the soviet policy (Critchlow, 2004, p. 75). This diplomacy drew on newly restricted materials from the former soviet records. The transactions, data programs, and additional operations undertaken by the United States information and agency and the department of state played a vital part in increasing self-governing philosophies and principles within the soviet alliance. Candid and balanced were far more productive than the uncoordinated advertising that was utilized originally. The documentation of public diplomacy in the course of the cold war gives a number of significant lessons for the United States foreign legislators in the period following the cold war (Critchlow, 2004, p. 75). America’s informational crusades were active in escalating the fall of the Soviet Union and the scattering of the communist universe. Prote cted in a heroic philosophical strive for more than forty years, corporations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Lib ­erty (RFE/RL), the voice of America (VOA), and the United States Information Agency (USIA) interconnected the principles of democracy, personal liberties, and the liberated market. Eventually the advertisement of these principles added mainly to the closely cruel disbanding of the soviet empire (Critchlow, 2004, p. 75). Week 5 seminar question: PCD (public diplomacy) in the contemporary world order The committee assigned by the United States to investigate the incidence gave a 3D approach for fighting international terrorism that apparently included factors of public democracy (Critchlow, 2004, p. 78). It claimed the need for communication and defense of American standards in the Islam community, all the way through much resilient public democracy to arrive at more individuals. The efforts of the committee at this point ought to be as robust as they were in fighting clos ed communities in the course of the cold war. All this is extreme, and the advertisement of American values following the significantly detested choice to invade Iraq in 2003 is debatably an unbelievably hard determination, and a highly duplicitous one at that. One approach in which an individual can argue that the United States has made developmental advancement in its public democracy is the election and actions of its present president, (Barack Obama). He made the choice of pulling battle groups out of Iraq, redeploying Taliban in Afghanistan and making multiple speeches indicating his aspiration on arriving at and authorizing the Muslim community (Critchlow, 2004, p. 79). Whether the United States has advanced suitable public diplomacy, approaches made to handle the risk from the terrorists groups are available. Nevertheless, I would argue incidences as 9/11, the London bombings of July 7th 2005, and the following perspectives and Iraq apparently depict the requirement for effec tual community diplomacy on the part of the United States and its supporters (Critchlow, 2004, p. 78). Week 6 seminar question: Nation branding: opportunities and limitations There exist a number of outstanding overall geographic arrangements in the performance of nationwide brands utilizing a vast longitudinal scanner databank that extents numerous consumer-packed commodities criteria and United States marketplaces (Dinnie, 2007, p. 127). Across marketplaces, they

EVOLUTION Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

EVOLUTION - Term Paper Example Genetic drift on the other hand leads to variation in the gene pool while non-random mating and gene flow results in reduction of differences among populations. 12. Biogeography is concerned with the geographical location of species all over the planet. Related species or species that share common ancestry can be found in different regions with similar climatic conditions. 13. Analogous structures occur due to convergent evolution for instance wings in both insects and birds while homologous structures are similar in anatomy but different in functions such as bat and birds which have pterodactyl wings. Vestigial structures are redundant with no biological importance or use like the ear bones in humans. 14. Embryonic development is important in explaining evolutionary relationships in that related species usually have patterns of embryonic development that resemble one another. Moreover, similar patterns of development are hypothesized as to have only evolved once. 18. Microevolution refers to changes within a genetic pool which results in small changes in an individual while macroevolution is significant changes in individuals resulting in creation of new species. 20. Barriers to reproduction can either be pre or post zygotic isolation mechanisms. In Pre-zygotic isolation, the mechanism occurred before breeding and include; gametic, mechanical and habitat isolations. On the other hand, post reproduction isolation occurs after copulation in includes mechanisms such as hybrid sterility, zygote mortality and non viable hybrids. 21. Allopatric speciation occurs when species are separated by a physical barrier while parapatric speciation takes place when species are not separated by barriers but live on the same area but develop different adaptations due to things such as pollution. On the other hand, sympatric speciation is controversial because it takes place in members within the same geographical location. 25. Cladistic approaches