Grade Speech Essay

From the minute the teacher mentioned the word SPEECHES i started to frown. I have never been a big fan speeches from the start, even though i have been doing them for a few years now i still have trouble with them. Whether its coming up with a topic, revising and editing, or presenting in front of the class i don’t like it one bit. But when you think of it who really does like doing speeches at are age. I have never met someone who has started jumping up and down cheering when they hear the teacher start talking about doing speeches. Or someone who started thinking yaaa i get stand up in front of all my friends and my classmates and talk about one subject for 5 to 6 minutes. But in the end we all have to do it one time or another. Knowing that I start thinking of different topics to do my speech on, and then i think why not do a speech on the very thing i have trouble with. Why not do a speech on doing a speech. So here’s my speech on speeches. The first step on creating your speech is too come up with a good topic. You wanna think of something that isn’t too boring. The last thing you want is to be standing there talking with half of the room falling asleep. You want a topic that is something your audience will find interesting or maybe something they can relate to. If your like me, coming up with the right topic to do your speech on can be challenging sometimes. So here are some things to keep in mind while finding a good topic for you. First thing is that the topic you choose has to be one that either you know a lot on or one that will be easy to research. If you cant get information on it then you wont have anything to talk about. Second thing to keep in mind is that you need to make sure the topic is appropriate for whatever audience you will be presenting to. Third thing is that another way to help think of a topic is to brainstorm. You can brainstorm many different ideas then choose the one you want to do most . The next part to do of the writhing section of your speech is the draft. this is one of the parts that takes the most work. The most important thing to keep in mind while writing your draft is that it’s a draft! A rough copy. You can go back and fix things later when you don’t like what u have written. There should be three parts to your speech. #1 the introduction. #2 the body. #3 the conclusion. The introduction is where it all starts. That’s where you have your opening sentence. You want your opening sentence to be something interesting that will grab the audiences attention and make them want to keep on listening to the speech. A good introduction is the way to start off a good speech the body of your speech is the middle. Its the biggest part of the whole thing. Then there’s your conclusion. Its the ending part of speech, the part where you Finnish up and conclude. Now its time to revise and edit.

3d Tv Business Plan

Business plan of 3D TV Executive summery LOGO[pic] 1. Problem: 3D TV market in China has great potential, but Chinese brands and foreign brands in terms of product quality and functionality,they are still a certain gap. What is the opportunity? Estimated 2013 flat-panel TV consumer demand of 42 million units, of which 20 million units of demand for 3D TV, smart TV demand 800 million units. Consumer demand will return to the essential characteristics of the TV – picture quality and sound effects; 3D channel launch volume growth accelerated 3D Smart TV scale.Has not yet appeared on the market directly by the 2D signal into 3D signal TV 2. Solution: Create a brand for innovative 3D TV market in China. shui is the newest high-tech product, movie technology brought right to your living room, 3D effects to bring you the visual impact you can enjoy anytime, anywhere. If you want to see the common chanel , just change the signal to finish the transfert by 3D-2D. 3. Market facing fulfi lling demand advantage From consumer groups, the average age of 3D TV consumption is becoming younger.To the age of marriage for young people will be more and more, they are the main purchaser of goods, all around us, you can see that they desire to buy the TV before marriage, but is missing in the second-tier cities such as Chongqing, Jinan, Hangzhou 3D television propaganda, in the second-tier cities, such as shopping malls, relatively speaking inside the 3D TV can not meet consumer multi-faceted, multi-selection requirements. I precisely for their needs and the setting up of the project, at the same time, the majority of manufacturers have also noticed that.Changhong, Konka, Hisense and other vendors . 4. Product with potential commercial value The main body of the project is to build a high, medium and low-grade TV. Required to achieve the purpose: to meet the vast majority of consumer demand for 3D TV. TV has great profit margins, very attractive terms from the manufacturers, m erchants. Enterprises have power, market demand naturally easily from share part of the profits, part of the relatively solid profit. 5. Our company?We will build two manufacturing plants in Zhejiang, to build our R & D base and the company is located in Hangzhou, the plant scale probably need about 50,000 square meters, fifteen thousand more than a thousand employees, the company has a chairman and general manager,R & D Director, financial Director, sales Director, human Resources Director, logistics Officer, plant department manager. 6. Group Prisident : zhang weizhong – training / EMBA + Entrepreneur . Hongyu – experience / sales managers in SUNING. Coodinator developpment product GUOMEI in ShangHai. The business profile 1. Description of my businessH2O Corporation is a Chinese multinational electronics company headquartered in ruian Zhejiang, China,which is 100 km northeast of the wenzhou. H2O is a China ‘s first self-developed 3D TV technoloy company, we not only sell our products to the market, to output our product philosopy : Innovation and change our lives! In addition, we will also build our own sales outlet based in the Pearl River Delta region, to establish a national entity with network the trinity-marketing standards mode. 2. Market and customer The concept of 3D TV launch time is not very long, but in the 1980s began to study abroad.Japan's Panasonic and Sony invested heavily in higher technological content of products in this study. Currently on the market there are a lot of the concept of 3D TV, the effect is less obvious than ordinary liquid crystal effect. The main reason is really 3D resources, many movies and TV shows 3D sense is not very strong; another TV product technology is not as advertised or we imagine that there is a strong sense of three-dimensional. The actual market share about 10% to 20%, and consumer groups are mainly concentrated in the cities and the high-spending families.Future production with the larg e number of 3D films and television programs, 3D TV will be the rapid development of the market share will average 80% -120% of the rapid growth of 3D TV on the market in 2015 is expected to account for 45-60% of the market share. Means that 12-18% of Chinese households will have 3D TV by 2015 †¦ From a technical point of view, has a self-luminous, wider color gamut, color is more real and natural, more levels of detail, the inherent advantages of the 1080 line dynamic clarity, soft eye Plasma TV can better show the 3D image effect.The domestic color TV market, market sales of the top five are domestic brands, totaled 66. 02 percent share. Which Konka TV retail volume market share of 14. 27%. LCD TV sales, made eight brands in volume accounted for 70. 06 percent of the market share. Among them, Hisense ranked first in market share of 13. 18%. It is understood that, since the beginning of this year, foreign brands have launched two price war to try to impact on the domestic colo r TV market, but did not gain market advantage.The impact of foreign investment, but also indirectly promote domestic brands from Competition to Cooperation. Current market for our new company, is both an opportunity and also a challenge, and our market position is the position in which the competitors in the market for consumer products, the degree of attention strongly shape the enterprise product unique, gives the impression of a distinct personality or image, so that the product on the market to determine the appropriate location. We are not on a product itself, what to do and what to do, but in the minds of potential consumers.In other words, we need to determine an appropriate position in the minds of potential consumers to the product, and the positioning of our products in high quality, new technologies, and affordable. Our market positioning can be divided into a predetermined bit of re-positioning of existing products and potential products. The re-positioning of existing products may lead to a change of product name, price and packaging, but the purpose of these appearance changes in order to ensure that the products worth buying the image of the left in the minds of potential consumers.Pre-positioning of potential products, requires marketers must start from scratch to develop all of the 4Ps Features meets the selected target market. Conducting market positioning, on the one hand to understand the competitor's product with what characteristics, on the other hand to study the degree of attention of the consumers of the various properties of the product. Our consumers will first be targeted at: Fever type: is the pursuit of the latest technology, the latest product of a group of people, but a limited number of their new creation of the new invention is extremely interested in and willing to try the immaturity of the technology and products, even yourself involved in personality or to the manufacturers recommendations. †¢ Pioneer type: more visio n and pursuit of a group of people, a sensitive technologies, products, the willing nearing mature technologies and products to improve work efficiency and quality of life, walking in front of the most people.Our competitors Chinese brand: TCL,KONKA,HISENSE, CHANGHONG Foreign brand: SONY,SANSUNG,LG,TOSHIBA,SHARP [pic] [pic] Product Our Technology 3D TV-based competitiveness in the market, our company is also actively cooperate with the market demand, to the main 3D TV brand belongs to China, and our company's core technology is the use of advanced production technology, production of a kind in the 3Dbetween the signal and 2D signal conversion machine, it's very small size to install TV back of the motherboard.When people need to convert, just use the remote control to control it, this machine will then pass the signal to the monitor, the TV will start the conversion according to the instructions, the whole process takes only a minute. PRODUCT [pic][pic][pic] [pic][pic][pic] Competit ive Comparison Our products are unique in the existing market. While there are other TV companies,none use these technology to produce 3D TV as ours. Our ideas come from listening to what other consumers have to say. Financial projection [pic] Benchmark[pic] Profit yearly [pic] 1 Marketing et salesProduct positioning â€Å"One and the only one† At present, there is only one 3D television channel in china. Not only it does not broadcast all-weather, but also the audiences must pay more cost to receive it. In addition, these programs of 3D television channel in china always have broadcasted in the general channel and had no more attraction. In consequence, the 3D televisions in Chinese family just are the common television in usual except watching 3D DVD or playing 3D TV games sometimes, can not show the 3D visual effects. There is not any brand’s 3D television can change the situation right now.But the innovation of our 3D television breaks up the situation. Our 3D tele vision is the first and the unique 3D television can change the signal 2D from general television channel to 3D by itself in the world. The appearance of our 3D television is a revolutionary change for the 3D television’s market. Our 3D television is the one and the only one product in the market. Make a price From the report of the Chinese 3D television’s market in April 2012(resource: http://big5. askci. com/news/201205/31/311653860124. shtml ), we will analyze and make sure our main product and its price.From the 3D television’s screen size, the large screen size 3D television is a mainstream product which is all over 20% by the consumer attention of screen size for 42 inch, 46 inch and 55 inch. The 46 inch screen size is the most popular. Proportion of top three concerns is more than 70%, showing the popularity of large screen size 3D television. [pic] In April 2012, China 3 d LCD TV market mainstream size product attention proportional distribution (Source: ZDC) From the price of a product, 5001-8000 RMB price segment 3D television has been in most of the concerns of consumers, concerned about the ratio reached 34. %, 3001-5000 RMB has also attracted the attention of consumer more than twenty percent. [pic] In April 2012, China 3 d LCD TV market price of different period of product attention proportional distribution (source: ZDC) Compare the current average price of the main dimensions of the 3D TV market in China, in addition to 46 and 55 inches and larger products, other dimensions of 3D TV price in 10000 RMB within. 42 and 47 inches from the Chinese local brands and LG, while 40 and 46 inches from Samsung, Sony, Sharp and other manufacturers, so their price is relatively high. [pic]In august 2011, size of 3D in Chinese TV market’s product average price(source: ZDC) From different brand, the foreign’s brands, such as: Samsung, LG, Sony, Sharp†¦, occupy the most of high-end market and the super large size 3D telev ision’s market (plus 52 Inch); the Chinese’s brands, such as: TCL, Hisense, Konka, Changhong, Skyworth†¦, occupy the most of low-end market. Normally, the price of foreign’s brands ‘3D televisions are made mostly triple than the Chinese’s brands‘3D televisions in the same size. We will take an example of the price of the most popular screen size 46 Inch in different brands: |Samsung |LG |Sony | |Land rent |? 3,000,000 |? 3,000,000 |? 3,000,000 | |Office rent |? 500,000 |? 500,000 |? 500,000 | |construction |? 2,000,000 |? 100,000 |? 100,000 | |Raw Materials |? 10,000,000 |? 12,500,000 |? 15,000,000 | |Equipment |? 0,000,000 |? 100,000 |? 500,000 | |salary |? 35,000,000 |? 38,000,000 |? 30,000,000 | |Advertisement |? 10,000,000 |? 8,000,000 |? 5,000,000 | |Research |? 10,000,000 |? 10,000,000 |? 10,000,000 | |Current funds |? 10,000,000 |? 10,000,000 |? 10,000,000 | |Insurance |? 1,000,000 |? ,000,000 |? 1,000,000 | |Other |? 2,000,000 |? 2,000,000 |? 2,000,000 | |Total |? 113,500,000 |? 85,200,000 |? 77,100,000 | In the second year and third year, the investment demand will gradually decrease. With the improvement of the profit, this plan calls for the bank loans to be repaid in the third year, these personal investments will be shared out bonus at the end of years according to the 20% of the investment. Risk prevention Possible risk and solution Risk: same industry competitors? Like every new company, new brand enter the fiercely competitive market at the very start, we must meet the strong competition counterparts to stop us to gain market share, such as: the others brands’ products significantly depreciate sales promotion, negative campaigning from the others brands’ and they will stand together to threat the dealers stop supplying their products if the dealers sell our products.Solution: So we must make a right price and reinforce the market communication to get market recognition and enough consum ers as soon as possible, thereby to enter the market and seek more development opportunities. Risk: material purchase? Suppliers casually raise prices of raw and processed materials Solution: As far as possible to expand purchase channels, compare the suppliers based on the quality, price and credibility. Choose the best supplier and establish a stable supplier chain.Risk: environmental pollution? The environmental pollution principal means the scrap TV pollution. It has a lot of heavy metals harmful to humans. If casually discarded harmful substances as rainwater into the underground or like a garbage landfill incineration, these harmful substances will stay here for a long time in the natural and the destruction of the ecological environment, and may at any time through a number of channels to enter the inside of the human body, so as to endanger human health.Solution: We will install a specialized decomposition of the old TV production line imported from Japan . ——à ¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Looking at the changes in the market, to fully grasp the pulse of the market, coldly towards market competition, the courage to challenge, ebullient, make their own taste and style, to create first-class brand —-slogan _____ zhang weizhong chairman

Nurses Perspectives of Smoking Initiation, Addiction, and Cessation Essay

Nurses Perspectives of Smoking Initiation, Addiction, and Cessation - Essay Example The steps to inhibit the practice of smoking was taken through the medium of an in-depth understanding of the issues as related to the attitudes of the nurses toward smoking initiation, addiction and cessation. In addition, attempts were made to explore the preference of nurses for smoking cessation interventions. For the purpose of the study, a community-based intervention was conducted in an 8-week support group. The participants were required to initially complete a questionnaire, which held its base on previously validated instruments, which was used to assess demographics, smoking history and knowledge about cessation and advocacy. The personal characteristics of the participants were required to be included in the instrument. The questions presented were related with the age, race or ethnicity, gender, marital status and geographical location, smoking status. , education, years in nursing, certification, current position, involvement in patient care, and place of employment, de tails on smoking and cessation history. The survey was not inclusive of the names of the participants. The data obtained was analyzed line by line and within the framework of pre-established content area. The results revealed presence of four themes, which were initiation of smoking and addiction, myths and misconceptions about quitting, overcoming addictions, and strategies for improving on the platform of smoking cessation. The efforts of the addiction and cessation of smoking as mentioned by the nurses was similar to those, which were, presented by the general population. However, the smoking practice in nurses was found to associate with a feeling of guilt. Another important experience, which was mentioned by the smoking nurses, was their feeling of lack of understanding projected by fellow nurses and mangers regarding their need of quitting the smoking practice. Those nurses who had successfully quit the practice of smoking were motivated by health concerns, pregnancy and their children. The nurses were of the opinion that several interventions can act as supportive in their attempts of smoking. Some of these interventions include the worksite services and Internet support group. The paper concluded that the feelings expressed by the nurses regarding the cessation of smoking interventions was same as that presented by the general population. The nurses realized two major concerns and these included confidentiality about their practice of smoking and counseling on the regard of guilty feeling for being a smoker. The study adhered with the ethical principles and no revelation of the names of the participant nurses was made in the paper or otherwise. The method of data collection employed questionnaire, which held the advantage of being less expensive and with the type of questions selected, proved to be expressive. Other important benefits of questionnaire as a method of administration is that it is less time consuming and therefore nurses, as participants were not required to depart with their essential responsibilities in order to fill in the questionnaire. The questionnaire also holds the advantage of posing less pressure on the subjects for immediate response thinking and there is no need to have the technical skill as required in the case of interview

Religion in colonial America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Religion in colonial America - Essay Example Women were also actively involved in the caring of sick during the epidemic of small pox. Special assembly prayers were held for sick as at one time almost 100 people felt sick every day. This was considered as four times more lethal than the plague, though the city had faced the wrath of fire also. Women along with men however, actively engaged themselves into removing the ruins as well as re-building of the city. (National humanities Center, 2013).  Ã‚  While life before revolutionary war was based upon living a typical life where woman was required to focus on the household work, the life during the war was a bit difficult. Those whose husbands had gone to war were made responsible for taking care of their families, while at the same time doing tasks which were mainly male-oriented. Apart from working and caring of the children and elderly, women were active in playing their part n society.  It is critical to note however, that women, especially in Boston were subjected to law s which prevented inter-racial marriages. Black women were especially not allowed to marry with the white males and vice versa. These laws actually restricted the freedom and movement of women in choosing their own relationships. This also prevented a widow like me to actually look for re-marriage and enter the new relationships based upon mutual understanding and respect for others.  Those who were single or widowed like me tended to perform duties in war besides working as spies. Women who were young.... Women were also actively involved in the caring of sick during the epidemic of small pox. Special assembly prayers were held for sick as at one time almost 100 people felt sick every day. This was considered as four times more lethal than the plague, though the city had faced the wrath of fire also. Women along with men however, actively engaged themselves into removing the ruins as well as re-building of the city. (National humanities Center, 2013). While life before revolutionary war was based upon living a typical life where woman was required to focus on the household work, the life during the war was a bit difficult. Those whose husbands had gone to war were made responsible for taking care of their families, while at the same time doing tasks which were mainly male-oriented. Apart from working and caring of the children and elderly, women were active in playing their part n society. It is critical to note however, that women, especially in Boston were subjected to laws which pr evented inter-racial marriages. Black women were especially not allowed to marry with the white males and vice versa. These laws actually restricted the freedom and movement of women in choosing their own relationships. This also prevented a widow like me to actually look for re-marriage and enter the new relationships based upon mutual understanding and respect for others. Those who were single or widowed like me tended to perform duties in war besides working as spies. Women who were young and physically fit were encouraged to take part in the revolution and contribute towards making things happen. The era before revolution actually helped Boston women to have an improved political understanding of the events and how they could contribute

Event Studies and the Measurement of Abnormal Returns Essay

Event Studies and the Measurement of Abnormal Returns - Essay Example This paper is aimed at identifying the events of stock market and making a case study of one of the events. Many studies were carried out for the events of stock market. Study was made on the influences of stock splits and stock prices by Dolley (1933). Publication of papers in the leading business journals indicate that the event studies were done by Myers (1948), by Barker (1956), (1957), (1958) and by Ashley (1962). Event studies were introduced to the financial experts and managers through two papers first by Ball Brown in 1968 and second by Fama et al in 1969. The methodology of studying events of the capital markets have developed and advanced manifold since then and yet the two papers of Brown and Fama provide the core elements of an event. MacKinlay (1997) The market model developed by Ball Brown and Fama contributed in their success. Their model was patterned after the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) developed in 1964 by Sharpe. The data from the Center for Research in Se curity Prices (CRSP) at University of Chicago was used by Ball Brown and Fama which also made it a standard source for research for the entire capital markets. The development of computer hardware and statistical analytical software and its increasing access and usage also played important role in the success of event studies. The key issues of capital structure market were made prominent by papers of Modigliani and Miller (1958), (1961) and (1963) which made studies of event a key empirical tool. The events that can impact capital market include declaration of dividends or earnings, splits of stock, mergers of two or more companies, listings of new companies in exchanges, initial public offerings (IPO) and changes of people at key management positions. The impact of such events can be underreaction, overreaction, abnormal returns and reversals. Corrado (2011) Literature Review There are many types of event studies in the literature such as examination of Return Variances by Beaver (1968), and Patell (1976), studies on volume of stock trading by Beaver (1968) and Campbell and Wasley (1996), analyzes of operating performance by Barber and Lyon (1996) and management of earnings through discretionary accruals by Dechow, Cloan, and Sweeney (1995) and Kothari, Leone, and Wasley (2005). However our paper is focused only the mean stock prices. Corrado (2011) The researches during past thirty years have not changed the basic statistical format and it still concentrate around the measurement of mean and cumulative mean of abnormal return before and after the event. The only major changes that took place are the periods of the data for which mean is calculated. Earlier data of returns were used on monthly basis but today data are used on daily and intraday basis. This helps in measuring the abnormal returns more accurately and determines its effects more descriptively. The second change which has come in the event studies is in the ways of estimating the abnormal return s for events that are long-horizon. The new development of French 3 factor model in pricing asset by Fama also brought some changes in event studies methodology. In spite of these changes, there are serious limitations in the methods of long-horizon and extreme caution is required while making any inferences from it. (Kothari and Warner, 1997, p.301) The model of event study constitute examination of behaviour of the stock

Gender stratification Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Gender stratification - Essay Example Sexism, as used in this context, refers to the situation in which men are seen as superior beings and therefore, regarded as better suited to take on challenging tasks and education fields. On practical perspective, sexism has had severe consequences on women. As widely cited, sexism has always made women to strive to avoid impressing careers often seen as belonging to men. Perhaps, this might be hinged on the fact that their objective is to avoid the societal impression that they are much less desirable as mothers or spouses or even less feminine. Gender stratification often encompasses all the aspects of a person’s social life cutting across the social classes. As such, it relates the probabilities of both genders to the unequal access to property, power and prestige due to the sex differences. This area of interest explores social patterns coupled with cultural practices. When one dives into the mechanics of society workings, certain features are common to each and every co mmunity. In connection to this, there also exist differences in characteristics, traditions and customs. More particularly the differences observed in institutions of learning concerning the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics clearly points out this extended form of stratification. Gender identity is the classification of one as either male or female. It is how an individual sees himself or herself. It is the apparent manifestations that result from the personality of an individual. It has the ability to reflect on ones gender identity. Gender identity is self identified and results from intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Many at times gender identity can be confused with gender roles. The latter denotes behavior manifested by factors acquired through observation; this can be exemplified by behavior and appearance. Thus, the gender role is often an outward expression of a person’s gender identity. This article will endeavor to expound on such gender stra tification, with a focus on gender construction, gender socialization and the role of media. This being the case, five articles will be analyzed in a move to have a broader view of this discussion. Body According to the Broyles (2009) the gender pay gap of women in the United States that experiences and education accounted for most of the widespread gender gap. According to the findings of this article, work function and the employer accounts for most of the pay gap. Indeed, women hold positions in the lower paying chemistry positions. This article, well points out that work place diversity within the STEM professions is less likely to occur without the wage parity between men and women in the STEM professions. Elaborating further on this subject, this article asserts that, a way of achieving gender pay equity in the STEM professions must involve the federal tax incentives in order to ensure compliance with the standards stipulated by the federal pay equity standards. Giving a back up on this issue, the article by Shapiro and Williams point it out that, stereotype threats have played a role in undermining women performance as well as, reducing the interests of women in STEM fields (Shapiro & Williams 74). In one study, they observed that negative stereotypes presented by parents and the teachers shaped the interests of women and their abilities in the performance of STEM field. Indeed their

Architectural History and Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Architectural History and Theory - Essay Example This was brought about by a renaissance of interest in Japanese building, due in part to two publications and an imported building, the appearance of which in itself was an inspiring recommendation. Both publications date from 1936. The first is a 36 page booklet with cardboard covers by Bruno Taut, a Prussian, who, throughout the 1920's, had been an engineer and designer of housing communities in Germany. In 1933 Taut went to Japan as an authority on architecture as well as industrial design. He spent some of his time examining and re-evaluating Japanese architecture, and on October 30, 1935, he revealed his conclusions in a Lecture Series on Japanese Culture sponsored by the Kokusai Bunka Shinkokai (Society for International Cultural Relations) at the Peers' Club in Tokyo. The talk with 25 illustrations was published the next year in essay form, under the title Fundamentals of Japanese Architecture (Taut 1936). Historical Development Bruno Taut took the position that the West misle d the Japanese into thinking the peak of their architectural achievement was the ornate sanctuaries at Nikko (Stennott 2004). In truth, he said, Nikko shows an undigested conglomeration of borrowed elements that are not Japanese by any means. Sure, simple inhabitant taste is to be found in the early Shinto shrines at Ise, in medieval Japanese farmhouses, and particularly in the Katsura Villa near Kyoto, the last of which was planned and built during the second quarter of the seventeenth century. Not like the contemporary group at Nikko, weighted down by the "ostentatious architectural conceptions of the war-lords," the Katsura articulates a freedom of design "in which harmony arises from absence of coercion," therefore becoming "a totally isolated miracle in the cultured world." The author has represented his favorite villas by connotation "international" and "eternal." The Katsura Villa was a return to inborn Japanese artistry, after centuries of being deceived by foreign imitation s, brought about by the stabilizing force of Zen principles that eschewed irrelevant ornamentation and abnormalities of proportion. Buildings referred to in the text are signified among the plates at the back of Taut's book, and these comprise a height of the Hiunkaku, of which the staircase leading up from the lake has been compared to the suspended flight of steps at Falling Water. The second publication of 1936 was Jiro Harada The Lesson of Japanese Architecture, issued at London and Boston. C. Geoffrey Holme, writing in the Introduction, states that the "Lesson" is proposed for the Western world, and may be "summarized in brief as standardization, diversity in unity, conventionality to a mode of living, connexion with nature, simplicity and, certainly, usefulness to purpose" (Harada 1936). Harada's text comprises three chapters, entitled, "A Short Historical Survey," "General Observations," and "The Japanese House Toda." They include seven figures and 158

To what extent do socia factors such as age, gender, social status or Essay

To what extent do socia factors such as age, gender, social status or ethnicity correlate with linguistic variable - Essay Example This means that social factors like age, gender, social status and ethnicity are closely associated with language variation. â€Å" Miscommunication can occur when a member of one social group addresses a member of another social group†. ( Cutting Joan, 2002 ). Socio-linguistics is the branch of linguistics that studies language in relation to society. Socio-linguistics is partly theoretical and partly empirical – partly a matter of going out and amassing a body of facts and partly of sitting back and thinking. Hence if we want to examine the correlation between language variation and social factors, we have to investigate language samples from various parts of the world and a couple of studies carried out by researchers in this regard. Let us first consider the age factor. We do not expect an adult to babble like a child. Adult speech is notably different. Young boys and girls also use a different kind of language from adults in the same community. Youths are always ke en to maintain the generation gap. This tendency is reflected in the way they create their own codes like whistling, and certain words whose meanings they share with peers. This can be called ‘teenage slang’, which ‘serves as a mark of membership and solidarity’. ... The vocabulary is as transient as the popularity. Teenage slang can include words, phrases, dialogues, characteristic tones, strange pronunciations and also syntactic patterns. Without doubt, it would sound out-of-place and shocking if a respectable adult uses teenage style of speech. This shows that the age factor is closely related to age factor. Gender is another important factor that affects speech. In most communities, men and women do not use identical language. Just as sounds like /s/, /f/ and /l/ have a typical onomatopoeic bearing, certain sounds are feminine in nature. At the lexical level, ‘adjectives like lovely, darling and cute may carry feminine associations, as do words that describe precise shades of color like mauve---‘. ( Finegan Edward, 1999 ) In some languages like Japanese, there is a dramatic difference between the speech of men and women. Here are two examples: 1. Oh dear, you’ve put the butter in the refrigerator again. 2. Damn, you have pu t the butter in the refrigerator again. Anyone can easily guess that utterance (1) above is uttered by a woman and (2) by a man. Women are also generally observed to be more talkative and speak in a higher pitch compared to men. The topics of discussion also differ among men and women. Some forms used by men in Koasati Indians of Louisiana are also used by middle-aged women in the community. This shows that linguistic variability can be accounted for by the role that people play in their community. Men play the authoritative role. The same authority is enjoyed by elderly women, hence, the similarity in language. In many Oriental languages, the second person plural is used by women even to address a single man, in

Philosophy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Philosophy - Assignment Example This therefore requires using the senses and consistent with the rationalist thought. To illustrate a posteoriori thinking, we can cite ourselves as an example by either touching ourselves or seeing ourselves in the mirror to validate that we indeed exist and has physical presence. In sum, posteoriori is an acquired knowledge and contingent truth. b. A priori - A priori can be likened to an acquired knowledge and necessary truths. These are knowledge that is independent of the observation of our sensory perceptions to validate its truth. These are truths and knowledge that does not validation of the physical world to justify. For example, we can use the statement that â€Å"Sarah is a mother† because it would imply that by using a distinctly feminine name, we will realize that it is only women who could be mother. It does not need any justification in the outside world nor further investigation because we just know that it is only women who can give birth or become a mother because it is only them who has the physical facility to bear a child and it follows that men cannot bear child because their body will not allow it. There are however exemptions to the priori mode of thinking such as Anselm’s ontological premise in arguing in the premise of the existence of God. His argument purports to a priori proof of God’s existence which is independent of any proof or observation. He argued that because God is God, His existence does not need to be validated by experience to justify that He exists. He concludes that because there is nothing that exists to be greater than God, then it is unimaginable to think that there is no God. c. Innate ideas – is also known as Descartes Theory of Ideas. These are ideas that are inherent in man or natural attribute of thought. Albeit this theory of knowledge was not expounded extensively in a treatise such as other works, innate ideas was mentioned in a letter to Guillaume

Business ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Business ethics - Essay Example Cookson Group plc is a leading multinational company dealing with material science relating to substances as well as chemicals that are required in the production processes of industries such as steel and electronics among others. Moreover, the company is facilitated with enhanced technical services as well as with better R&D facilities. Furthermore, the company performs business activities based on ethical standards as well as quality (Cookson Group plc., 2011). The discussion will emphasize upon critically analysing the code of conduct of Cookson Group plc. Moreover, identification of three major components that demonstrates the values as well as the business ethics of the group will also be portrayed in the discussion. Critical Analysis of Code Code of conduct of different companies signifies that the employees of the companies are required to perform their respective functions complying with the moral standards as well as the values. It has been apparently observed that several c ompanies have given much importance to improve ethical performance within the workplace for encouraging the employees to perform their activities in an ethical manner. Moreover, codes of conduct are viewed to be the statements of values as well as ethical standards of companies. Furthermore, code of conduct provides terms as well as conditions in accordance with the operations of a company that are required to be conducted. It also provides standards for sustaining a better environment as well as in maintaining health as well as safety of products or services that offers by a company. Codes of conduct are formulated on the basis of certain specific sector or issues with the motive of minimising or eliminating those issues as well as to improve performances of those sectors (Mamic, 2004). Code of conduct generally comprises certain major components such as code of ethics and value statements among others. A code of conduct generally signifies a written statement stating the behaviour which is to be adopted by the employees while performing their individual functions within a company. Furthermore, code represents the desire of the management of a company to implement certain specific policies as well as values for conducting business operations in an efficient manner (Venugopalan, 2011). There are varied factors that influence code of conduct which comprise corporate culture prevailing in the working environment of a company as well as standards that are utilised for measuring behaviour of the employees as well as the performances of a company. It has been viewed that code of conduct primarily depends upon the resources that are utilised for monitoring as well as implementing the procedures within a company. Training facilities provided to employees can also be considered to be an influencing factor of code in a company. Furthermore, communication system as well as flow of information in the workplace of a company determines company’s code of conduct (Mam ic, 2004). Code of conduct is required to be developed with an appropriate language. In this similar context, code of conduct of a company is required to be communicated in languages which will be appropriate for the audiences such as customers and investors among others worldwide. Code of conduct represents certain values as well as standa

The title character of The Great Gatsby Essay Example for Free

The title character of The Great Gatsby Essay How far do you agree with Nick’s view that Gatsby is â€Å"worth the whole damn bunch put together†? The title character of The Great Gatsby is a young man, around thirty years old, who rose from an impoverished childhood in rural North Dakota to become fabulously wealthy. Indeed, Gatsby has become famous around New York for the elaborate parties held every weekend at his mansion, ostentatious spectacles to which people long to be invited. And yet, Nick Carraway’s description of the protagonist asserts that Gatsby seems curiously out of place among the ‘whole damn bunch’ which inhabits this lavish, showy world. Indeed, despite the aura of criminality surrounding his occupation, his love and loyalty to Daisy Buchanan and ultimately his capacity to dream, set him apart from the other inhabitants of East Egg and West Egg. A key criticism made in Nick’s first person, self-aware and retrospective narration is that the ‘whole damn bunch’ entertained by Gatsby lives in extravagance. In Chapter Three, comparative adjectives and adverbs imply that the parties they attend grow ever increasingly lavish; the narrator expresses how ‘laughter is easier’, an ‘opera of voices pitches a key higher’ and ‘groups change more quickly’. In fact, the sheer scale of the operation required to keep them excited is emphasised by details that Nick gives, including ‘a machine in the kitchen which could extract the juice of two hundred oranges in half an hour if a little button was pressed two hundred times by a butler’s thumb.’ But the ‘vacuous bursts of laughter’ and the dancing ‘in eternal graceless circles’ lend a degree of artificiality to the proceedings. Indeed, the tone of the narration reveals another major shortcoming, suggesting that this outward show of wealth by the inhabitants of West Egg and East Egg is used to cover up their inner corruption and moral decay. This decadence is first exemplified by the length of the parties held by Gatsby. Although the statement does hold some truth as the contrast between Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. From chapter one, we begin to understand that the relationship between Tom and Daisy is purely superficial, a relationship that seemed to be based on show and wealth. In this chapter, we learn from  Jordan that Tom has been seeing another woman in New York, and Toms attitude toward Daisy does not adopt the most loving manner. Instead of allowing his wife to join in on the conversation or take interest in what she talks of, he is more concerned about the extremist book hes been reading and discussing its racist views The idea is if we dont look out the white race will be will be utterly submerged. This greatly contrasts with Gatsby. He is compassionate toward Daisy unlike Tom who treats her only as a possession, and his determination in refusing to give up on her and this dream world he has created for the two of them. Even in chapter seven when Daisy runs over Myrtle, Gatsby takes the blame himself just to protect her Nick asks, Was Daisy driving? to which Gatsby responds, Yes but of course Ill say I was. By this time Gatsby has already abandoned his elaborate parties, which only existed as a way to lure in the one he so yearned for, which counteracts the argument that he was purely covetous and materialistic. He even shouts at Tom in chapter seven, She only married you because I was poor and she was tired of waiting for me, which illustrates how all the effort and his immersion in illegal business was all to build up an Empire big enough and grand enough for Daisy, and also demonstrates how money-orientated and trivial Daisy is. In comparison to Daisy, it may well be said he was worth a lot more than her. Towards the end of the book she and Tom both pack up and move on, recoiling back into all their money and hiding away from the upset and destruction they had both caused. Another reason Gatsby stands for something greater than the other characters is the fact that he died with love still in his heart and a dream to aspire to. He did not die bitter and anguished over the fact he could not have Daisy, over the fact that his whole life had been created with her at the centre, and all for nothing. Gatsby died only with a taste on his tongue of what life could be like with Daisy, of what it would feel like to have her as his own, but this seemed to console him enough to know he was dying a happier and better man. He refused to give in until the very end, when Nick suggests that Gatsby ought to go away, Gatsby is almost in shock when he responds, Go away now, old sport? He could not bear to tear himself away  after how far he had come, how far he had gotten to Daisy being his. And despite his loves own selfishness and shallow ways, he dies still with that green glow of hope in his heart. Gatsby is worth the whole damn bunch put together because he died with love. I agree with this statement completely as despite his involvement in bootlegging and how his life was built around lies, Gatsby stands for something in which the other characters lack. I believe he stands for hope, for love and for dreams. This is shows through his adoration of Daisy and his determination to never give up on her.

Impact of Corporate Governance on Capital Investment

Impact of Corporate Governance on Capital Investment Introduction Overview Through various studies over the years, different scholars and financial analysts have been able to establish a relationship of cash flow on firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ investment spending. It was significantly proven by (Modigliani Miller, 1958) that a firmâ„ ¢ financial status is irrelevant for real investment decisions in a world of perfect and complete capital markets, after controlling for the cost of capital. In case of managerial discretion, based on (Jensen, 1986) free cash flow theory, firms increase investment (including projects with negative present value) based on the availability of cash flows with incentive of increasing firmsâ„ ¢ value beyond level of optimal investment. Moreover, an agency costs also appreciate the borrower net worth by charging a premium on the external financing. The discussion above explains that the firmsâ„ ¢ investment decisions are dependent on the availability of internal funds, as cost advantage over external fund is evident. While choosing an appropriate capital structure, there are certain trade-offs which affects the decision. These trade-offs include tax advantage through acquiring debt against the bankruptcy cost which advocates the use of equity. Keeping this in view, various different models have been supported to explain this corporate capital structure behavior. Pecking Order Theory, initially mitigated by (Donaldson, 1961) describes the financing practice as prioritizing the means of financing, which is necessary for the management to counter against asymmetric information. Either they should generate the funds internally or acquire funds externally through debt rather than equity. Implications to the pecking order theory involves the positive impact of leveraging on the market price, which means, financing through debt sends a positive signal into the market about the firmâ„ ¢ future prospects. Furthermore, intermediaries also undermine the role of management as the financial intermediaries such as investment banks function as the insider to the firm. Consequently, keeping an eye on the firms operations and influencing the firmâ„ ¢ capital financing decision. However, Pecking order theory of (Myers, 1984) argues that the firms operating in imperfect or incomplete capital markets where the cost of external capital exceeds that of internal funds, the financial structure may be appropriate to the investment decisions of companies facing uncertain prospects. Gauging the level of corporate investment in any firm is based on the corporate governance; market position of a firmâ„ ¢ asset against its book value can be termed as Tobinâ„ ¢ q ratio. Identified by (Chung Pruitt, 1994), Tobinâ„ ¢ q as the ratio of a market value of a firm to the replacement cost of its assets. Tobinâ„ ¢ q can be considered an effective tool for determining financial performance as the data can be collected readily from a balance sheet. When calculating Tobinâ„ ¢ q ratio, the replacement cost can be determined approximately by the book value of firmâ„ ¢ plant and equipment. Approximate q can be replaced with the actual Tobinâ„ ¢ q to make the calculations unproblematic and data can be readily available without any discrepancies. Problem Statement To study the impact of corporate governance on the capital investment decision through cash flow and Tobinâ„ ¢ q interaction in relation with Capital Investment HypothesEs H0: Firms with investment spending that is influenced by cash flow will be associated with high Q values. In fact, the equilibrium level of Q for these firms will be larger than one. (FCF Theory) HA: Firms indicating a liquidity constraint by not paying dividends will have the most significant cash flow/investment relationship, and will be associated with high Q values in the market. (PO Theory) Outline of the study The report contains the contemplation of research data that will study the phenomenon of cash flows and investment discussed earlier in this paragraph. The study categorizes firms according to characteristics (such as dividend payout, size) which will help measure the level of constraints faced by firms. The study will help readers to understand the complexities of Pecking order theory and Free Cash Flows concept with regard to asymmetric information available and corporate governance which influences decision of the firms. To measure the effect that cash flow-financed capital spending and Q has on firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ investment, Ordinary Least Square Regression model will be used to estimate the function. To compute the influence on the Investment, instruments used are: (1) Cash Flow, (2) Approximate q, and (3) an interaction of both variables are created. Through studying the parameter estimates of interaction variable, positive influence on investment will support the Pecking Order hypothesis and negative influence will govern the Free Cash Flow hypothesis. The equation hypothesized in the next part is linear. Definitions Pecking Order Theory: (Myers, 1984): A firm is said to follow a pecking order if it prefers internal to external financing and debt to equity if external financing is used. Free Cash Flow Theory According to (Jensen, 1986) free cash flow theory, high cash flow and low debt create agency costs associated with conflicts between manager and share holder over the payout of this free cash, which is the cash left after the firm has invested in all available positive net present value projects. Capital Structure A careful and systematic analysis of how claims against a corporations assets can or should be determined, assessed, and accounted for. (Riahi-Belkaoui, 1999) Capital Investment Decision Capital Investment decisions are those decisions that involve current outlay in return for a stream of benefit in future years. (Drury, 2006) Tobinâ„ ¢ q Tobins q is a measure of investors expectations concerning a firms future profit potential. It is defined as the ratio of the market value of a firm to the replacement cost of its assets. (Strecker, 2009) Literature Review (Vogt, 1994) explained the capital spending behavior of companies with respect to change in dividend cash paid, cash flows, sales, and market value of assets. The regression equation models the variables to proportion of fixed assets, and distributes the firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ data in segments of Dividend Payout Groups and Asset Groups. Primarily, Dividend Cash has a strong negative impact on capital spending; it explains that in order to finance additional fixed investment firm needs to sock cash by reducing their dividend. Cash flow, Sales, and Q Ratio having a positive coefficient demonstrates that with an increase in future cash flows, the firm will improve its capital spending. (Cleary, 1999) has developed a relationship between the firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ investment decision and the firmâ„ ¢ financial status. Financial status has been studied with respect to the liquidity constraints. The data is classified into groups through a discriminant analysis on basis of dividend payout policy. These groups helped identify which firms are more prone to be financially constrained and the results showed that firms having high credit worthiness are significantly more sensitive to the availability of internal funds than that are less credit worthy. It has been proposed that the various ownership structures make managerial decision based on the interaction between investment and the firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ liquidity constraints. The study conducted by (Dedoussis Papadaki, 2010) mentioned that the management can be held separate from its ownership, even on basis of the nationality of the company. On the other hand, it also explained that the relative shareholding of CEO and the controlling shareholders can also be the basis of separation. Findings support that the Low Q, small, and new firms under the generalized model are facing asymmetric information problems. Indeed these firms are expected a priori to face financing problems that affect the cost of their external financing. On the other hand, low Q, old and low dividend firms are more likely to face managerial discretion problems that result to over-investment. The impact of Tobinâ„ ¢ Q is mainly used to determine the investment opportunity of the firm. In this article, marginal Tobinâ„ ¢ Q has been taken to evaluate the firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ investment and Research Development expenditures. Under the asymmetric information (AI) hypothesis firms with attractive investment opportunities may be unable to finance them because of inadequate internal cash flows and because the cost of external funds is too high due to the capital markets ignorance of the firms investment opportunities. The agency or managerial discretion (MD) hypothesis links investment to cash flows by assuming that managers obtain financial and psychological gains from managing a large and growing firm and thus invest beyond the point that maximizes shareholder wealth. (Gugler, Mueller, Yurtoglu, 2004) Taking in viewpoint the impact of capital structure on the capital investment decision, firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ investment demands is the more susceptible towards cost-of-capital or tax-based capital incentive. Whereas, capital structure seems irrelevant as against internal sources of funds can be effectively substituted with sources of funds generated externally. (Fazzari, Hubbard, Peterson, Blinder, Poterba, 1988) explicates that cash flow/investment relationship is more sensitive when taken in reference with firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ dividend behavior. Comparison based on firms having more or less liquidity constraints can be further improved when compared on a division based on the scale of the firms, i.e. young or small firms versus large ones. This way the researchers can address the problem of firms lacking the asymmetric information. Research Methods The chapter explains the model used in the given research study. The study focuses on analyzing the influence of Cash Flows and Tobinâ„ ¢ q on Corporate Investment. The equation representation consists of the proportion of capital spending to the beginning-of-periods net fixed asset (I/K) as a function of: (1) cash flow divided by beginning-of-period gross fixed asset (CF/K), and (2) beginning-of-period Tobins q (Q). Method of Data Collection Main source of collecting the required data is from secondary sources. It includes the Balance Sheet Analysis of Joint Stock Company listed in Karachi Stock Exchange provided by State Bank of Pakistan consisting of data of our relevant variables. The data was taken in annual terms to conduct this research. Sampling Technique The Convenience sampling or grab or opportunity sampling would be use in this research. Sample population selected because it is readily available and convenient. Sample Size The sample period taken under study covers 8-years period beginning at the start of 2000 and ending at the close of 2008. The data was taken from a sample of 70 (non-banking and non-financial) companies which are listed on Karachi Stock Exchange and included in KSE-100 index. Research Model Statistical technique Ordinary Least Square Regression technique is used to study the impact of variables included in the study. It helps studies the relationship between a dependent variable and several independent variable. It also assumes the relationship to be linear or ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"straight line,ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€š? where the values of predictors lies directly proportional to Criterion variable. SPSS Software is used to develop the regression model and evaluate the influence of predictors on dependent variable. Results Findings and interpretation of results Aggregate Sample: Table : Represents the model summary of regression estimates for the full sample of 69 firms The predictors, i.e. main effects of Cash Flow and Tobinâ„ ¢ q and an interaction term of both, included in the model helps explain 78.5% of Investment (Table 1) shown mentioned as R Square. Least variation in Adjusted R Square suggests that the variable to observation ratio in the given model is sufficient. Casewise diagnostic was also conducted to eliminate the outliers in the data to improve the results. Table : Studies the F-statistics to test whether the model predicts the dependent variable significantly The F-statistics (Table 2) is significant and it determines the regression model with the given predictors can significantly predict the outcomes at a 0.05 significance level. Table : The parameter estimation for full sample of 69 firms with respect to dependent variable, t-statistics is used to test the null hypothesis ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²1 = ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²2 = ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²3 = 0 The coefficient values of all predators included in the test are significant at a 0.05 significant level (Table 3), which shows that they have a strong influence on the investment of the firm. The standard coefficient shows that Cash Flows have a much greater impact on Investment than market value on the firm, which is exemplified through Tobinâ„ ¢ q. Dividend Payout groups: Table : Presents the sample statistics for 69 KSE listed (non-banking and non-financial) companies which are included in the KSE-100 index. The three rows distribute the statistics into High, Medium, and Low payout policies. Average dividend-to-income ratios of greater than 0.35, between 0.35 and 0.10, and less than 0.10 define High, Low, and Medium dividend-payout firms, respectively. While studying the dividend-payout groups (Table 4), the descriptive helps to identify characteristics to confirm whether the data being studied has the authenticity and the behavior pattern which commonly related to the groups assigned. The values of Investment, Cash Flow, and Tobinâ„ ¢ q associated with the groups are in complete correspondence with the hypothetical occurrence. Firms having a higher (lower) dividend payout have greater (lower) market value, and lower(higher) level of cash flows and investments. Table : Represents the model summary of regression estimates of 69 firms split by High, Medium, and Low dividend-payout policies. The model helps explains 81.9%, 66.7%, and 80% data in High, Medium, and Low dividend-payout firms (Table 5), shown in R Square. Least variation in Adjusted R Square suggests that the number of observations is sufficient with respect to variables in each group separately. Table : Studies the F-statistics to test the null hypothesis of ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²1, H = ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²1, M = ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²1, L The F-statistics (Table 6) in each dividend payout group is significant and it determines that each regression model with the given predictors can significantly predict the outcomes at a 0.05 significance level. Table : Shows the parameter estimation for each payout groups with respect to dependent variable, t-statistics is used to test the null hypothesis ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²1 = ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²2 = ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²3 = 0 The coefficient values of predators in High and Low dividend payout groups are all significant at a 0.05 significant level (Table 7), which shows that they have a strong influence on the investment of the firm. Except for Medium dividend payout group, which has insignificant coefficient values of Tobinâ„ ¢ q, showing no impact on the investment. The standard coefficient shows that Cash Flows have a much greater impact on Investment than market value on the firm, which is exemplified through Tobinâ„ ¢ q. Hypothesis Assessment Summary Hypothesis Independent Variables B t Sig. Comments Firms with investment spending that is influenced by cash flow will be associated with high Q values. In fact, the equilibrium level of Q for these firms will be larger than one. (FCF Theory) Cash Flow ÃÆ'Æ’Ã ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  Q H0= ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²3 ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²3,H = .135 5.295 .000 Rejected ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ² 3,M = .072 .991 .324 ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ² 3,L = .140 5.482 .000 Firms indicating a liquidity constraint by not paying dividends will have the most significant cash flow/investment relationship, and will be associated with high Q values in the market. (PO Theory) Cash Flow ÃÆ'Æ’Ã ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬  Q HA= ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ²3 >0 ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ² 3,H = .135 5.295 .000 Accepted ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ² 3,M = .072 .991 .324 ÃÆ'Ã…Â ½Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ² 3,L = .140 5.482 .000 Dependent Variable: Investment Table : Summarizes the results and explains that the hypothesis accepted is directly in correspondence with the aggregate hypothesis. As illustrated (Table 8) capital spending of low payout firms is positively and strongly influenced by the interaction term, consistent with the PO hypothesis, the parameter estimate for the high payout firms are also positive but marginally significant. Conclusion, Discussions, Implications And Future Research Conclusion The results illustrated above demonstrates that the positive relationship between the degree of the CF/I relationship and Q found latter in the aggregate data (Table 3) is concentrated in low or no dividend paying firms. This finding is in further support with the PO hypothesis. Discussions The objective was to study and test the causes of universal relationship between Cash Flow and Investment Spending. Hence, two hypotheses were included in the research to study the source of this relationship: the free cash flow hypothesis (FCF) hypothesis, which works on the assumption that managers prefer investing its free cash flow excessively into investment projects that are not profitable, and the pecking order hypothesis (PO) purports that managers are prone to investment comparatively less than the opportunity provided due asymmetric information-induced liquidity constraint. As advocated in favor of Pecking Order Theory by (Fazzari, Hubbard, Peterson, Blinder, Poterba, 1988) and many others, for groups which consists of small firms with low-dividend payout to fund capital spending, exhibits heavy reliance on cash flow and cash changes. The relationship can be more significantly studied when the impact of larger q value is associated with this group. Evaluating the impact of corporate governance on investment-cash flow relation requires a critical judgment as to how do the firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ cash flow and the existing market value influence the investment decision. Financially constraint firms may have a larger impact on liquidity associated matters and managers might take discretion in choosing the right sources to tap. Agency cost may be involved in making such a decision where managers may consider paying dividend as a higher opportunity cost as it reduces the firmsÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚ ¢ free cash flow to exploit new profitable investment projects. Implications and Recommendations In the current market situation where external pressures existing can also be taken into proxy. When managers making a capital investment decision they need to take in view other non-financial aspects that also influences the decisions to a certain extent. Furthermore, financial intermediaries having a certain level of involvement and sharing information sensitive to the market can also be a major factor that might be giving a varying result against Investment. Investing in profitable-investment projects can bring in greater resources to the firm in future and it entails a huge decision burden upon the shoulders of the managers. Shareholders expecting to earn a greater return through investing in them can also be undermined when manager decided to have a low payout policy. Funds generated internally is a possibility where there is a healthy cash flow, but it is also preferable if this free cash is invested into marketable security for allocating the resources into a profitable venture for a time being to make it a positive impression. Future Research In future studies there may be more aspects of cash flow-investment relationship which can be studied for assessing the degree impact it has on this relationship, i.e. sales, debt performance, capital structure, firm size, etc. The research study may also be improved if the observation of firms are increased that will in turn reflect a more clear picture about the relationship in the current scenario.

Are Eyewitness Identifications Reliable?

Are Eyewitness Identifications Reliable? Eyewitness identifications during identification procedures such as show ups, live line ups and photo line ups are reliable to an extent in the forensic discipline, but are mostly fallible when assisting police with their enquiries regarding suspects and offenders, due to the fact that the reliability is dependent on a variety of factors relating to the memory of the witness and situational context of the crime. There are three types of memories: sensory memory, (â€Å"very short duration for which sense-based information is held post exposure† (Lecture (2015)), short – term memory (â€Å"information that can be stored for approximately thirty second without rehearsal† (Lecture (2015)) and long-term memory (â€Å"the unlimited amount of information that can be stored over a lifetime of rehearsal† (Lecture (2015)). The computer memory model refers to the factors relating to the input of information, the passage of time for which the information is stored an d output of eyewitness information through different types of questioning. The input aspect of the computer memory model can be separated into witness and situation categories which include factors such as stress and age. Stress is a crucial factor when determining the reliability of eyewitness identification as it can diminish the accuracy of the memory and is largely dependent on whether the victim or witness has experienced a violent crime such as an armed robbery or aggravated assault. Research studies have been conducted in the area of stress/arousal, concluding that there is a correlation between high anxiety exposure and errors associated with eyewitness memory. Coinciding with this research finding is the correlation between trait anxiety and a significantly lower frequency in errors associated with eyewitness memory. A research study was conducted by the University of London, investigating the effects of high state anxiety on the participant’s abilities to identify and describe the antagonist from a horror labyrinth present in a line up. This was sparked due to the fact that 215 individuals were acquitted after being falsely imprisoned in the United State of America following the re-opening of cases using DNA from the crime scenes(Valentine and Mesout, (2009), page 151). This â€Å"mistaken eyewitness identification was a cause of the miscarriage of justice, of 75% of these cases† (Valentine and Mesout, (2009), page 151). The study consisted of two sample groups; the first sample group consisted of 20 employees from a retail store whose participation helped legitimize the state anxiety inventory. Each employee’s standard heart rate was monitored and recorded during a brisk seven minute walk prior to entering the labyrinth, once entered the participants encountered a frighteni ng individual before continuing on with the exhibit and completing the state anxiety inventory questionnaire forty five minutes later. This sample proved that there was an increase in heart rate which was caused by psychological arousal when entering the London Dungeon. The eyewitness study group consisted of 56 participants and also encountered the scary person in the labyrinth; similarly they completed the state anxiety questionnaire forty five minutes later and a trait anxiety questionnaire followed by a â€Å"written free call description of the scary person† and a â€Å"cue recall† before rating their confidence after completing an impartial photo line-up consisting of nine individuals. The results of the research study concluded that â€Å"participants who reported lower state anxiety recalled more correct descriptors† (Valentine and Mesout, 2009, page 157), which would obviously indicate that â€Å"people who reported higher state anxiety recalled fewer correct details† (Valentine and Mesout,2009, page 157) of the antagonist. Furthermore, â€Å"participants who reported high state anxiety were less likely to correctly identify the [scary person]† (Valentine and Mesout, 2009, page 158), which is statistically shown as â€Å"only 17% of eyewitness[es] correctly identified the person from a nine-person culprit-present photograph line-up† (Valentine and Mesout, 2009, page 159). Additionally, there is a link between sex and state anxiety suggesting that male eyewitnesses are more accurate in their identification in comparison to their female counter-parts, which could be due to the fact the females experienced higher anxiety levels than males in London Dungeon (Valentine and Mesout, 2009, page 158, 159). However, regardless of the different results between sexes and state anxiety, overall the results clearly indicate that psychological arousal experienced during exposure to high stress situations for both genders, si gnificantly affects the ability of eyewitnesses to recall information and recognize culprits during identification procedures, which diminishes their reliability. Similarly, a field study was also conducted during U.S Army survival school training, which was imperative for gaining optimal research results rather than research studies conducted in laboratories. The investigation was conducted on â€Å"five hundred and nine†¦ active –personnel enrolled in military survival school training† (Morgan et al., 2004, page 3). The participants were separated into four different studies, each focusing on a specific identification procedure when attempting to recognize instructors during simulated high and low stress interrogations during the prisoner of war camp phase of training. Of the 228 participants in the first study group which focused on the live line-up method of identification, 188 participants were interrogated by two instructors while 40 participants were interrogated by one instructor (Morgan et al., 2004). The second study group consisted of 114 subjects which focused on the photo line-up method of identification (Morgan et al., 2004). The third group comprised of 167 participants who focused on the photo line-up method while under high stress and lastly the fourth group focused on the photo line-up identification method while under low stress (Morgan et al., 2004). Following the interrogations and according to the identification method their study group focused on, each participant was required to identify the instructors present in the questioning. The results confirmed the general point of view that by exposing individuals to high stress situations, the subject’s ability to recognize the target person was impaired due to the overwhelming influx of emotions the participant experienced at the time. The data collated suggests that the criminal justice system would benefit substantially in reducing the number of cases of innocently imprisoned individuals, if law enforcement agencies shifted their attention towards the sequential method of eyewitness identification. Statistics indicate that th e sequential photo method is considerably accurate than the live line-up and photo –spread method (Morgan et al., 2004). This is due to that fact that study group 3 and 4 scored the lowest in high stress situations; â€Å"49%†(Morgan et al., 2004, page 8) in their ability to â€Å"correctly identified their interrogator† (Morgan et al., 2004, page 7) , â€Å"100%†(Morgan et al., 2004, page 8 ) in their ability to â€Å"correctly identified that their interrogator was not present in the †¦ sequential presentation of photos† (Morgan et al., 2004, page 7), and recorded fewer errors â€Å"(51%)†(Morgan et al., 2004) in their ability to â€Å"not pick their true interrogator â€Å"(Morgan et al., 2004, page 7), in comparison to study group 1 and 2, who were focusing on alternative identification methods. Furthermore, evidence suggests that eyewitness identifications can be increasingly reliable during high stress situations with the aid of cued photographs (49%)(Morgan et al., 2004, page 9) than without (â€Å"66%†)(Morgan et al., 2004, page 9 ). Nevertheless, regardless of different identification procedures, the reliability of eyewitnesses to recall and recognize the target person under high anxiety is steadily lower compared to low anxiety situations. Like stress, the ability of eyewitnesses to correctly identify the target person during procedures of recognition, is dependent on the age of the witness therefore only reliable to an extent. Most research studies conducted conclude with findings indicating that the ability to accurately identify the culprit is higher among teenagers and young adults, in comparison to middle aged and older adults, as the common conception is that with age comes reduced facial recognition due to impaired memory. However, most of these research studies include young assailants therefore failing to recognise that eyewitness identifications of older adults are reliable to an extent, if the trigger person is of the same age. A research study group conducted two experiments in London, experiment 1 consisted of â€Å"113† [random]†¦Caucasian male† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 645) participants, who were inexperienced in identification procedures and were selected from either their â€Å"workplace leisure area or around the university† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 645). The subjects were then divided in two sample groups depending on their age, â€Å"between 18 and 25† or†¦ 35 and 55 years old† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 645). Both sample groups comprised of approximately half young adults and half middle aged adults, and were assigned to either a â€Å"1-day or [a] â€Å"1-week condition† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 645). Participants were required to independently view four videos for which â€Å"two showed a car being stolen [(by one young culprit in the first video and one adult culprit in the second video)] and two showed a television being stolen [(by one young culprit and one adult culprit)]† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 645). Volunteers were then required to accurately identify the trigger person in a culprit present photo line-up consisting of â€Å"six fillers and one culprit† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 645), a day or week later. Results collated indicate that middle aged adults assigned to the one day condition find it notably difficult in identifying young offenders, scoring only 24% in the ability to positively identify the younger culprit (Wright Stroud, 2002). Results continued to decline for middle aged adults assigned to the one week condition as they were only 20% accurate in positively identifying the younger culprit in comparison to younger adults, scoring 47% in their accuracy after one day and 29% after one week (Wright Stroud, 2002). However, results indicate that although middle aged adults struggled to accurately identify the young assailant in the one day condition, their ability to positively identify there same age culprit scored 47% in accuracy. Experiment 2 was conducted similarly, although it explored if age biases were present during culprit absent photo line-ups. The study consisted of an additional â€Å"180† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 649) subjects which were divided again into two separate age groups ranging from â€Å"18 and 33 or between 40 and 55 years old† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 649). Researchers also removed the one week condition from the experiment as â€Å"effect size was largest for the 1-day delay† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 649) in the first experiment. Participants viewed the four crime videos again and were then required to accurately identify the trigger person in a culprit present or culprit absent photo line-up. Among both age groups, the accuracy of subjects increased by 10% when the assailant and filler were of the same age of the participant’s during the culprit present line-up (Wright Stroud, 2002) , which was also evident in first experiment. However, during culprit absent photo line-up, the statistics indicated that â€Å"own age biases† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 652) exist only with culprit present photo line-ups due to the fact that middle aged adults won’t â€Å"be more likely than younger participants to identify an innocent young suspect, but they will be more likely to fail to identify a guilty young culprit† (Wright Stroud, 2002, page 652). Similarly, a research study was conducted with broader younger and older age groups, ranging from â€Å"16-33 years and †¦ 60- 82 year[s] [old]† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 44). The study consisted of â€Å"172† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 44) volunteers for which younger participants were selected from their respective â€Å"local colleges† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 44) ,while older participants were selected based on their reply to local flyers in â€Å"local centres, clubs, and societies† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 44). Participants were required to participate in a â€Å"face-source recollection task† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 45) prior to watching two videos for which there was a young offender or older offender engaging in a criminal activity. Subjects were then â€Å"assigned to the delay or immediate test condition [session]† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 46) and took part in â€Å"two line-ups with the perpetrator [either] present or †¦.absent† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 46). They were then subsequently made to repeat the facial recollection task for which participants needed to identify â€Å"old (seen in session 1) or new (not seen in session 1)† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 46) faces. The median statistics of younger versus older adults indicate the same results as of experiment 1 and 2 of the previous article, that overall, younger participants were able to correctly identify the culprit (â€Å".86†) (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 46) regardless of time delay in comparison to older participants (â€Å".49†) (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003,page 46). However, the most notably important relationship of the statistics, is the correlation between the accurate recognition of culprits among both age groups and the â€Å"measure of source recollection derived from a separate face-recognition task† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 43). Results reveal that older adults recorded noticeably poorer on the task thus indicating that â€Å"source-recollection deficits are partially responsible for age-related differences in performance of the line-up task† (Memon, Bartlett, Rose Gray, 2003, page 43). Mistaken identification by eyewitnesses during show up, live line-up and photo line-up procedures, contribute significantly to the number of unjustly imprisoned individuals, some of which (340) have already been executed. Almost all research studies conclude with contradictory evidence to one another however there are clear patterns among results of factors, which influence the reliability of eyewitness recall and recognition. The situational factor of witness stress/psychological arousal, determines the extent for which eyewitness recall are dependable on during testimonies. Exposure to high stress situations, increase state anxiety, which diminishes the dependability of eyewitness memory recall across both genders. Variables such as gender differences also indicate that women in comparison to men are less accurate in their ability to identify and describe the trigger person. However, the assistance of cued photographs during sequential photo method identification procedures, have p roven to increase accuracy of descriptors and facial recognition of the perpetrator, which if implemented across the criminal justice system, would increase the reliability of eyewitness identifications along with reducing the number of innocently imprisoned citizens. Strict guidelines for unbiased questioning during eyewitnesses interviews, would also reduce suggestibility and implanted false memories. The most contradictory research evidence stems from the accuracy of younger and older eyewitnesses. Although studies generally show that younger adults are more accurate in either identifying or describing culprits, these studies fail to recognise that to an extent, that younger adults are only higher in their accuracy rates, due to the fact that young culprits are mostly used across all studies. Eyewitness reliability in terms of age was dependant on a variety of factors. Firstly, experiments conducted have shown that there is a correlation between higher accuracy results of older adults and their ability to identify same age (older) culprits in target present line-ups. Secondly, time also played a crucial factor as accuracy of both age groups were dependant on short or long delays in recognition, with older participants decreasing in accuracy with increasing time. However overall, younger participants were slightly more accurate regardless of age difference and time delay. This wou ld indicate that immediate questioning and identification procedures would increase the accuracy of identifications for older eyewitnesses. By Mathew Franczak References Wright, D., Stroud, J. (2002). Age differences in lineup identification accuracy: People are better with their own age. Law And Human Behavior, 26(6), 641-654. doi:10.1023/a:1020981501383 Valentine, T., Mesout, J. (2009). Eyewitness identification under stress in the London Dungeon. Appl. Cognit. Psychol., 23(2), 151. doi:10.1002/acp.1463 Morgan, C., Hazlett, G., Doran, A., Garrett, S., Hoyt, G., Thomas, P. et al. (2004). Accuracy of eyewitness memory for persons encountered during exposure to highly intense stress. International Journal Of Law And Psychiatry, 27(3), 265-279. doi:10.1016/j.ijlp.2004.03.004 Memon, A., Bartlett, J., Rose, R., Gray, C. (2003). The Aging Eyewitness: Effects of Age on Face, Delay, and Source-Memory Ability. The Journals Of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences And Social Sciences, 58(6), P338-P345. doi:10.1093/geronb/58.6.p338 The Mitochondria: Structure, Functions and Reactions The Mitochondria: Structure, Functions and Reactions Mitochondria are rod-shaped structures that are enclosed within two membranes the outer membrane and the inner membrane. The membranes are made up of phospholipids and proteins. The space in between the two membranes is called the inter-membrane space. The structure of the various components of mitochondria are as follows: The outer membrane is a relatively simple phospholipid bilayer, containing protein structures called porins. Ions, nutrient molecules, ATP, ADP, etc. can pass through the outer membrane with ease. The inner membrane is freely permeable only to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water. Its structure is highly complex, including all of the complexes of the electron transport system, the ATP synthetase complex, and transport proteins. There are folds present which are organized into lamillae (layers), called the cristae. The cristae greatly increase the total surface area of the inner membrane which makes room for many more of the above-named structures than if the inner me mbrane were shaped like the outer membrane. The membranes create two compartments. The intermembrane space is the region between the inner and outer membranes. It has an important role in the primary function of mitochondria, which is oxidative phosphorylation. The matrix is a complex mixture of enzymes that are important for the synthesis of ATP molecules, special mitochondrial ribosomes, tRNAs and the mitochondrial DNA. Besides these, it has oxygen, carbon dioxide and other recyclable intermediates. In glycolysis, what type of reactions do hexokinase and phosphofructokinase catalyze? In general, what is the importance of these reactions or in other words what makes them unique in the glycolysis pathway? The first step in glycolysis is phosphorylation of glucose by a family of enzymes called hexokinases to form glucose 6-phosphate (G6P). This reaction consumes ATP, but it acts to keep the glucose concentration low, promoting continuous transport of glucose into the cell through the plasma membrane transporters. In addition, it blocks the glucose from leaking out because the cell lacks transporters for G6P. Phosphofructokinase (PFK) is a glycolytic enzyme that catalyzes the irreversible transfer of a phosphate from ATP to fructose-6-phosphate. Because this reaction is irreversible, PFK is the key regulatory enzyme for glycolysis. When ATP levels are high in the cell, the cell no longer needs metabolic energy production to occur. In this case, PFKs activity is inhibited by allosteric regulation by ATP itself, closing the valve on the flow of carbohydrates through glycolysis. In general, how are fats and proteins utilized during cellular metabolism? Proteins contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen , and sometimes other atoms. They form the cellular structural elements, are biochemical catalysts, and are important regulators of gene expression . Digestion breaks protein down to amino acids. If amino acids are in excess of the bodys biological requirements, they are metabolized to glycogen or fat and subsequently used for energy metabolism. If amino acids are to be used for energy their carbon skeletons are converted to acetyl CoA, which enters the Krebs cycle for oxidation, producing ATP. The final products of protein catabolism include carbon dioxide, water, ATP, urea, and ammonia. What two molecules combine in the TCA cycle to form Citrate? Where did each precursor molecule come from? The Citric Acid cycle begins with acetyl-CoA transferring its two-carbon acetyl group to the four-carbon acceptor compound called oxaloacetate to form a six-carbon compound called citrate. Acetly-CoA is created when from the reaction of pyruvate dehydrogenase. Oxaloacetate is created from a combination of pyruvate carboxylase and Malate dehydrogenase. Would you expect to find the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in an anaerobic bacterium? Explain why or why not and explain what task this complex performs. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is a complex of three enzymes that transform pyruvate into acetyl-CoA by a process called pyruvate decarboxylation which involves the oxidation of pyruvate. Since anaerobic bacterium only exists in oxygen-free environments you would not expect them to contain this complex. What are high energy electrons and what is represented by an oxidation-reduction potential? Using this knowledge briefly explain the importance of Figure 5.14 and the role of the high energy electrons carried by NADH and FADH2 in the creation of ATP. Why are the electron transport chain complexes referred to as proton pumps? Electron transport chains are biochemical reactions that produce ATP. ATP is made by an enzyme called ATP synthase. ATP synthase is powered by a transmembrane proton gradient, which conduct protons from high to low concentration across the membrane. In essence working to pump protons through a proton channel which temporarily opens in the inner membrane How are NADH and FADH2 different when it comes to interacting with the ETC? NADH+H+ arrives from Stage II of carbohydrate metabolism or Stage III (TCA cycle) to the ETC and immediately oxidizes to NAD+ with its protons (hydrogen ions) going into the matrix and its electrons (e-) going to cytochrome complex 1. As the electrons arrive on cyctrochrome complex 1 the complex immediately goes through redox (reduction and oxidation). This reaction creates a proton pump within the cytochrome, pumping some protons from the matrix through the cytochrome into the intermembrane space. The electrons now transfer to mobile carrier Q and NAD+ returns to its original source. FADH2 arrives from the TCA cycle to the ETC and goes directly to cytochrome mobile carrier Q. FADH2 oxidizes to FAD with its protons going into the matrix and its electrons going to mobile carrier Q. Mobile carrier Q shuttles the electrons from FADH2 (and from cytochrome 1) to cytochrome complex 2. The electrons are transferred to cytochrome complex 2 and it immediately goes through redox (reduction and oxidation). This creates a proton pump, pumping protons from the matrix through cytochrome complex 2 directly into the intermembrane space of the mitochondrion. FAD returns to the TCA cycle. What does the proton-motive force represent (you dont need to explain the formula)? A proton-motive force represents the energy that is generated by the transfer of protons or electrons across an energy-transducing membrane. Describe the structure of ATP synthase and the binding change hypothesis of mitochondrial ATP production. ATP synthase is made up of two portions, F1 and F0. The FO portion is within the membrane of the mitochnodria and the F1 portion is above the membrane, inside the matrix of the mitochondria. The binding change mechanism involves the active site of a ÃŽÂ ² subunit cycling between three states. In the open state, ADP and phosphate enter the active site. The protein then closes up around the molecules and binds them loosely the loose state. The enzyme then undergoes another change in shape and forces these molecules together, with the active site in the resulting tight state binding the newly-produced ATP molecule with very high affinity. Finally, the active site cycles back to the open state, releasing ATP and binding more ADP and phosphate, ready for the next cycle of ATP production. Describe the structure of a chloroplast and give a brief summary of its evolutionary origin. The chloroplast is the organelle where photosynthesis occurs in photosynthetic eukaryotes. The organelle is surrounded by a double membrane. Inside the inner membrane is a complex mix of enzymes and water. This is called stroma and is important as the site of the dark reactions, more properly called the Calvin cycle. Within in the stroma is a network of stacked sacs. Each stack is called a granum and each of the flattened sacs which make up the granum is called a thylakoid. Each thylakoid has a series of photosystems and associated proteins. The photosystems contain chlorophyll and other pigments and all these associated structures in the thylakoid membrane are the site for the light reactions in which light energy is converted to chemical energy needed for the Calvin cycle in the dark reaction. Chloroplasts are believed to have arisen as free living bacteria that became endosymbiont with the ancestors of photosynthetic eukaryotes. An endosymbiont is any organism that lives within the body or cells of another organism. Briefly describe the experiment performed by Ruben and Kamen and describe what this experiment helped to prove. Ruben and Kamen bombarded graphite in the cyclotron, a type of particle accelerator,in hopes of producing a radioactive isotope of carbon that could be used as a tracer in investigating chemical reactions in photosynthesis. Their experiment resulted in production of carbon-14. What is the photosynthetic role of the light-harvesting antenna pigments? In photosynthetic systems a variable number of pigments act as light-harvesting antenna to absorb and direct solar energy to photochemical reaction centers. The effectiveness of the reaction centers depends on the efficient transfer of excitation energy from these antenna molecules. In plants, what are photosystems, what is the significance of the primary P680 and P700 pigments, and how do these fit into the Z scheme arrangement depicted in Figure 6.10 of your text? Photosystems are protein complexes that are found in the thylakoid membranes of plants. They are involved in photosynthesis as enzymes which use light to reduce molecules. There are two families of photosystems. Within photosystem type 1 is the P700 reaction center. Its absorption spectrum peaks at 700 nm. When photosystem I absorbs light, an electron is excited to a higher energy level in the P700 chlorophyll. These electrons are moved in pairs in an oxidation/reduction process from P700 to electron acceptors. Within photosystem type II is the P680 reaction center. Its absorption spectrum peaks at 680nm. What is photolysis and what is its significance during photosynthesis? Photolysis is defind as the splitting or decomposition of a chemical compound by means of light energy or photons. Photolysis is the part of photosynthesis that occurs in the granum of a chloroplast where light is absorbed by chlorophyll, turned into chemical energy, and used to split apart the oxygen and hydrogen in water. The oxygen is released as a byproduct while the reduced hydrogen acceptor makes its way to the second stage of photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle. What is photophosphorylation and how is this accomplished by PSII and PSI? Photophosphorylation is the production of ATP using the energy of sunlight. In photophosphorylation, light energy is used to create a high-energy electron donor and a lower-energy electron acceptor. Electrons then move spontaneously from donor to acceptor through an electron transport chain. When a special chlorophyll molecule of PSII absorbs a photon, an electron in this molecule attains a higher energy level. Because this state of an electron is very unstable, the electron is transferred from one to another molecule creating a chain of redox reactions, called an electron transport chain (ETC). The electron flow goes from PSII to cytochrome b6f to PSI. In PSI the electron gets the energy from another photon. The final electron acceptor is NADP. Cytochrome b6f and ATP synthase are working together to create ATP. This process is called photophosphorylation What is the function of Rubisco? In the Calvin Cycle of photosynthesis, the enzyme rubisco grabs CO2 and incorporates it into RuBP (commonly called carbon fixation). The cycle continues until one G3P is made; a precursor to glucose. What is the usefulness or function of the the 12 GAP molecules produced by the fixation of 6 CO2 molecules via the Calvin cycle? The function is for the manufacturing of carbohydrates What is the function of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and what advantage is given to plants that contain this enzyme? Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is an enzyme in the family of carboxy-lyases that catalyzes the addition of CO2 to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to form the four-carbon compound oxaloacetate. Carbon fixation via PEP carboxylase assimilates the available CO2 into a four-carbon compound (oxaloacetate, which is further converted to malate) that can be stored or shuttled between plant cells. This allows for a separation of initial CO2 fixation by contact with air and secondary CO2 fixation into sugars by RuBisCO during the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis. In succulent CAM plants adapted for growth in very dry conditions, PEP carboxylase fixes CO2 during the night when the plant opens its stomata to allow for gas exchange. During the day time, the plant closes the stomata to preserve water and releases CO2 inside the leaf from the storage compounds produced during the night. This allows the plants to thrive in dry climates by conducting photosynthesis without losing water through open stomata during the day.