Field Trip Report to Jtmc Library

Field Trip Report to JTMC Library Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC), Pontian 14 March 2013 Introduction The purpose of this field trip is to look at existing conditions and facilities available at Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) library. Apart from that the trip was also intended to discuss possible improvements that can be suggested to the management of the library. Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) built on the site of the Rambah Village, Rimba Terjun Reuters in Pontian.It is one of the 13 Matriculation College under the auspices of the Matriculation Division, Ministry of Education to prepare students for further studies at any of the local universities and abroad. The college began operating on 11 May 2009, and can accommodate up to 700 students in certain time. The college is located near to the Pontian town and surrounded by large cities such as Batu Pahat and Johor Bahru. JTMC Library is a knowledge center which provides reference materials an d information for learning throughout the matriculation program.JTMC Library officially began operations on 1St January 2010 with a collection of 4,156 copies of the book. The mission is contributed to the excellence of knowledge in science and technology through improved access to sources of knowledge, access and distribution and spread accurate and effective info. Meanwhile, the vision is to be the superior knowledge center among technical matriculation by 2015. The motto of JMTC library is ‘Your Information Hub' and it has 4 main objectives which are provide information services to all library users.Secondly, effectively manage the library in line with the needs of teaching, learning, and development of JTMC. Then, promoting information services to citizens of JTMC and cultivate a culture of knowledge among JTMC citizens towards excellence in science and technology. Field observation Apart from collection storage center, resource center also plays a role in providing inform ation services package to support the process of learning and research at the Johor Technical Matriculation College. This is essential to achieve the mission of the college to provide the creative talent and innovative in the field of science and technology.Classification system that has been adopted is in accordance with the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Besides that, the library management use the system software Library Management System for borrowing process, returns, renewals and library databases. At this time JTMC Library led by the Director of Johor Technical Matriculation College which is Tuan Zaidi Bin Yazid and has the strength of 4 staff to lead the library operations. The JTMC Library consisting of Librarian, Administrative Assistant and have two Office Assistant.However, there is still a gap to fill the position of Assistant Library Officer and Assistant Librarian. Library operating hours on Monday to Friday is at 8 am to 5 pm on the day and 8. 30 pm to 11. 00 p m at the night. Meanwhile, during the weekends the library operating on the day only, which is from 10. 00 am to 5. 00 pm. Along with the development of technology resource center has also launched a digital collection consists of newspaper clippings, newsletters and abstract content review / article which can be accessed through the Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) portal.Throughout this observation, I can see some weakness of this library and have been thinking about some solutions to the problem. First, the number of staff during operating hours should be added and all the empty position should be filled. In addition, with the availability of adequate staff then the opening hours can be extended. Thirdly, books should be up to date and increase the number of reference books for critical subject. Then, library environment should be more interesting and ideal for carry out various college activities.Conclusion It is obvious that library plays a major role in ensuring st udent academic success. Therefore it is important for the library to provide the best service to satisfy customer needs. From my experiences Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) library can be one of the best library among other library when able to meet the demands of all users. APPENDICES [pic] Picture 1 : Main building of Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) [pic] Picture 2 : Main entrance of Johor Technical Matriculation College (JTMC) Library

The Business Of Water

Question1: The main stakeholders for Coca-Cola and Nestle would be the parties that would be mostly affected and at stake if the plant was to close down in the case of the passing of the law of closure due to negative effects on the environment. Firstly, the employees of the company and their families would be the most at stake, as they would lose their source of income. And in the case of Coca-Cola it might be that most of the village of Palchimada is working at that plant, hence this would affect the whole social environment in the village.On the other hand the villagers are also affected negatively as they are losing their water resources if Coca-Cola keeps operating. The second party at stake would be the suppliers of the company from boxes to ingredients and branding materials. Moreover, The shareholders of the company are affected as they would lose money, market share and return on investment, that would also give way for another stakeholder, which is the competition.Lastly, t he customers and clients of such companies are also affected, however, companies as such are very big and are able to supply almost anyone around the world, therefore clients are not primarily at stake. Question2: Carroll’s four-part model of corporate social responsibility suggests that CSR includes the economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic expectations placed on organizations by society at a given point of time. Under CSR pyramid, Nestle comes in the Ethical responsibility that is the third part of the pyramid.These responsibilities oblige the corporation to do what is right, just, and fair which Nestle perfectly abides with as the company never seemed to break any laws and was never involved in any unjust action. Regarding Nestle water plants, the company claims to be economically responsible by operating its plants in rural or remote areas, in the immediate vicinity of the water sources and in many cases, the company is an important economic base within the local co mmunity.i Generally, Nestle claims ethical responsibility. However, in this case it would prove the ethical responsibility if the company gave back to the community it operates in just like Coca-Cola did to prove that is an ethical company. On the top of the pyramid is Philanthropic responsibility, which Nestle seems to be executing very well. Nestle has created many programs to improve peoples lives. Such as, helping to address micronutrient deficiencies through a process called â€Å"nutritional landscaping†.In addition to many more, Nestle also offers a Plan that provides expert training so that farmers can grow coffee more sustainably, as well as practical assistance, including high-quality disease-resistant plantlets. ii Question 3: Citizenship is defined as a set of individual rights that are governed by the government. In some cases the failure of governments to fulfill their functions along with the rise in corporate power has led corporations to have a bigger role in society similar to the one of political actors. This is the case, which led to the privatization of water where municipal water companies have been inefficient.One of the governmental roles was by the US multinational company Bechtel in Bolivia, Which found it challenging to make the company operate efficiently. Hence, a law was passed giving the company monopoly rights over in the ridings they operated in, leading to no free water what so ever. This is a very weak performance on the side of the government and the corporation. Water is a human right, necessary for the survival of human kind and forbidding people to use the water from their wells and even the rain is a foolish and senseless act. The Business of Water Question1:The main stakeholders for Coca-Cola and Nestle would be the parties that would be mostly affected and at stake if the plant was to close down in the case of the passing of the law of closure due to negative effects on the environment. Firstly, the employees of the company and their families would be the most at stake, as they would lose their source of income. And in the case of Coca-Cola it might be that most of the village of Palchimada is working at that plant, hence this would affect the whole social environment in the village.On the other hand the villagers are also affected negatively as they are losing their water resources if Coca-Cola keeps operating. The second party at stake would be the suppliers of the company from boxes to ingredients and branding materials. Moreover, The shareholders of the company are affected as they would lose money, market share and return on investment, that would also give way for another stakeholder, which is the competition. Lastly, t he customers and clients of such companies are also affected, however, companies as such are very big and are able to supply almost anyone around the world, therefore clients are not primarily at stake.Question2:Carroll’s four-part model of corporate social responsibility suggests that CSR includes the economic, legal, ethical, and philanthropic expectations placed on organizations by society at a given point of time. Under CSR pyramid, Nestle comes in the Ethical responsibility that is the third part of the pyramid. These responsibilities oblige the corporation to do what is right, just, and fair which Nestle perfectly abides with as the company never seemed to break any laws and was never involved in any unjust action.Regarding Nestle water plants, the company claims to be economically responsible by operating its plants in rural or remote areas, in the immediate vicinity of the water sources and in many cases, the company is an important economic base within the local comm unity.i Generally, Nestle claims ethical responsibility. However, in this case it would prove the ethical responsibility if the company gave back to the community it operates in just like Coca-Cola did to prove that is an ethical company. On the top  of the pyramid is Philanthropic responsibility, which Nestle seems to be executing very well.Nestle has created many programs to improve peoples lives. Such as, helping to address micronutrient deficiencies through a process called â€Å"nutritional landscaping†. In addition to many more, Nestle also offers a Plan that provides expert training so that farmers can grow coffee more sustainably, as well as practical assistance, including high-quality disease-resistant plantlets.iiQuestion 3:Citizenship is defined as a set of individual rights that are governed by the government. In some cases the failure of governments to fulfill their functions along with the rise in corporate power has led corporations to have a bigger role in s ociety similar to the one of political actors. This is the case, which led to the privatization of water where municipal water companies have been inefficient.One of the governmental roles was by the US multinational company Bechtel in Bolivia, Which found it challenging to make the company operate efficiently. Hence, a law was passed giving the company monopoly rights over in the ridings they operated in, leading to no free water what so ever. This is a very weak performance on the side of the government and the corporation. Water is a human right, necessary for the survival of human kind and forbidding people to use the water from their wells and even the rain is a foolish and senseless act.

Internet Marketing in Business Essay

Learning Outcomes 1. Know what role internet marketing has within a modern marketing context 2. Understand the benefits of internet marketing to customers 3. Understand the opportunities offered to businesses by internet marketing 4. Understand the challenges faced by businesses using internet marketing This assignment is my own work. If I have worked with someone else or have received help I have shown this clearly in my work. I have given references for all quotations and materials from the work of other people. Student signature†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Date †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Marking Criteria Pass Criteria to be met P1 describe the role internet marketing has within a modern marketing context P2 describe how selected organisations use internet marketing P3 explain the benefits to customers of a business using internet marketing P4 describe the benefits and opportunities to the business of using internet marketing within the marketing mix of a selected business P5 explain how internet marketing has made a selected business more efficient, effective and successful P6 explain the challenges of globalisation facing a selected  business when using the internet as a marketing tool Merit Criteria to be met M1 analyse the benefits of internet marketing to customers M2 analyse the marketing opportunities and challenges faced by a selected business when using internet marketing Distinction Criteria to be met D1 evaluate the effectiveness of internet marketing in meeting customer needs for a selected business Embedded English Skills Embedded Maths Skills Speaking and listening – make a range of contributions to discussions and make effective presentations in a wide range of contexts (giving presentations). Writing – write documents, including extended writing pieces, communicating information, ideas and opinions, effectively and persuasively (writing reports). Interpretation of numerical data Production of charts and tables from data Intra/Extrapolation of data to new situations Creation of case studies The Scenario 1. You will work in teams of three (maximum) people. Working individually is  allowed. 2. Each member of the team will keep a reflective diary logging their input into the team work which will be presented alongside their evidence at the end of the assignment. 3. Your team is acting as a consultancy for a business which is considering expanding their operations online. Your coursework will consist of the advice that you give this company. 4. Your will make FOUR pitches to this company, addressing the information required in the following briefs. 5. The format of the pitch is yours to decide. It must be a format which can be reviewed by a third party of necessary. Possible formats could include a written report, a presentation, a portfolio of evidence, a video or a recorded structured question and answer session etc. You are not required to use the same format to answer each brief. BRIEF ONE – P1, P2 Using examples from businesses with established online presences, describe the changes that internet marketing has delivered to the modern marketing concept, how the internet complements the traditional operations of these businesses and what benefits this use of the internet delivers for the businesses. Your pitch should include: (P1) how using the internet has changed the way companies interact with their customers (P1) which tools have been introduced to enable marketing on the internet (P1) how companies ascertain the wants and needs of the customer using the internet (P2) examples of how these tools are used by a number of businesses to market to customers (P2) examples of best practice in using the internet for marketing (P2) how internet marketing is integrated with more traditional marketing media BRIEF TWO – P3, M1 Carry out primary and secondary research into the customer experience of marketing on the internet and present the benefits that have been delivered  to these customers. This brief must be informed by actual experiences and should take into account both positive and negative responses from customers. Your pitch should include: (P3) examples of benefits to customers that have come as a result of internet marketing (P3) positive and negative case studies of customer experiences of internet marketing (M1) analyse how internet marketing builds on conventional offline marketing practices. (M1) give a detailed explanation of the effect use of internet marketing tools to enhance the customer experience. BRIEF THREE – P4, P5, P6, M2 Present the client with a guide to the practical methodology of marketing online. This should include reference to marketing strategy, including but not limited to the marketing mix, the changes to operations which will result in greater effectiveness and efficiency and the impact of moving from a local to a global business audience. It should also detail the challenges that would face the business and make recommendations on how to overcome them. Your pitch should include: (P4) an outline of the benefits and opportunities for an organisation of using internet marketing. (P4) a case study of an organisation which uses internet marketing which details their usage, using the marketing mix as a framework. (P5) an explanation of efficiency gains that can be achieved through the use of internet marketing. (P5) examples of the usage of internet marketing techniques to achieve effective and successful outcomes for organisations. (P6) examples of the impact of globalisation on organisations that use the internet for marketing. (P6) how do businesses modify their online presence to suit a global audience? (M2) an analysis of the opportunities and challenges that internet marketing creates for an organisation. (M2) detailed examples of instances where organisations have  overcome these challenges. BRIEF FOUR – D1 Present a case study of an existing business which has introduced an online marketing and/or sales function and evaluate the impact that internet marketing has had on the organisation and its customers. This brief also requires you to identify the needs of the customers and detail how they have been addressed by internet marketing. Your final pitch should include: (D1) a detailed case study of a selected business showing how they use internet marketing to achieve their aims and objectives. (D1) a detailed explanation of the wants and needs of the customers of the business. (D1) an explanation of how the use of internet marketing meets these wants and needs. (D1) an explanation of how the use of internet marketing fails to meet these wants and needs. (D1) recommendations of how the selected business could improve their internet marketing to become more efficient and effective, justified with examples of best practice and innovators in the area. RESUBMISSION FEEDBACK/DATE: SUMMATIVE FEEDBACK: STUDENT REFLECTION: UNIT GRADE: Grade (please circle) Points (please circle) P / M / D 70/ 80/ 90 Learner Declaration: Name & Signature: I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own work. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice. Tutor Signature: Date:

Privacy Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Privacy - Assignment Example The recording of different aspects of a person’s life can be perceived as having a rather long established history in human society. Over the years, this has however been undergoing a radical transformational change in the type of data collected, the depth of this information as well as its volume. The effect of this transformation is that individuals in society only get to enjoy what are relatively very low levels of privacy. One of the easiest avenues through which privacy violations can potentially occur is through the internet. While most systems and websites require that an individual voluntarily provides private information, it is possible for this information to be illegally acquired through phishing and hacking (Bernal, 12-14). The threat to privacy that is posed by phishing websites and hackers is that people in society are now investing in better and increasingly more expensive computer security systems to ensure that their information and data is secure and remains private. Another effect that privacy is seen to be having on privacy is that countries and societies around the world are now clamoring for lawmakers to formulate and implement better privacy laws to protect them. This was recently brought to a head when it emerge that that the United States national security agency had not only put mobile data on the country’s citizens on surveillance in an attempt to try an fight terrorism, it had also expanded its surveillance to include millions of individuals around the world and this included the German Chancellor (Bihanic, 165). The reducing privacy in society has raised a number of ethical concerns key of which is the threat to the society’s privacy that is posed by the government (Morley, 205). Although some of the actions that are routinely taken by the government such as compelling individuals to identify themselves, database profiling, and conducting physical searches on people’s home can be argued to be done with good

How does emotional design can stimulates people's attitudes on a web Research Paper

How does emotional design can stimulates people's attitudes on a web site - Research Paper Example To understand the details of the effects of the website best, a research should be carried out on how interactive design, color effect, typography effect, images and layout affect the user emotionally. Methodology The research used the most appropriate tools that would give objective feedback whose findings would be used for future researches and remedies. The chosen tools were questionnaire method and a virtual survey. They are both positivist (quantitative) and interpretivist (qualitative) paradigms. This project was qualitative A qualitative research is a type of research that yields descriptive material based on observation, spoken or written word. It is basically based on the user feedback. The survey was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature. It was exploratory because it sought to explore the perceptions and views of different website users of different ages. The research was a five-phase longitudinal study of primary data from previous researches and built upon t he consequential findings. It consisted of; 1. Design of a suitable checklist to before the starting of the project 2. The self-rating by each of the websites chosen against the checklist. 3. User rating of the websites chosen against the same checklist 4. ... However, there are more phenomenology elements. Similarly on the deductive-inductive front, there is a mix of the two. The research begins from a deductive stance. Based on the chosen websites case study, the research will demonstrated the quantifiable improvements three months after the project. The project assumed that all concerned found the evaluation well worthwhile hence gave trustworthy opinion that ere not biased at all. This lead to a recommendation of the wider use of this project to help the websites and the website designers make choices and changes to improve their designs and the emotional design. The objectives were completed through collating research using both primary and secondary methods. Primary data will be gathered using in-depth analysis of previous findings. The interviews were conducted through virtual interviewing of pop ups that linked the randomly chosen users to the interview questions page. This method was chosen because the structured interviews were f ormal, and can be used to explore in-depth a general area. There was a pre-determined list of question to work with. The research findings formed a discursive and evaluative nature using qualitative research to explore and support arguments, rather than presenting quantitative data as the main focus of the study. The method chosen tried to be as subjective as possible posing questions in a structured manner that avoided researcher bias. It was the customer’s discretion to give information based on merit against the checklist. The assumption as that their opinion as a representation of the majority in the target group that took the interview and the survey. Structured

Government regulation of business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Government regulation of business - Essay Example The reason for this argument is that government regulation sets a very fair business operating ground for all businesses to operate. Kain (2013) will however not support this opinion, saying that the regulations often foster the need for rigorous competition between companies, resulting in the untimely collapse of smaller businesses. Generalizing the ideas gathered above, Holt (2013) expresses the opinion that there are generally five (5) major areas of government regulations and the perspective from which a particular business takes the regulation determines the effect that these would have on their operations. The five government regulations identified by Holt (2013) are in the areas of advertisement, employment and labor, environmental, privacy, and safety and health issues. Based on the five major areas of government regulations outlined by Holt (2013), the Best Practice website (2013) indicates that the absence of any of the key government regulatory indicators would lead to serious market failures in the areas of â€Å"insufficient information for the public, injustice to customers, Failure to comply with State and Firm Regulations, unjust compensation, and Unaffordability increases†. Best Practice (2013) Need for Government Regulation in Business. [Online] Available at http://www.best-practice.com/compliance-best-practices/compliance-management/need-for-government-regulation-in-business/ [27th August,

Climate Change Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Climate Change - Research Paper Example Extreme temperature is not suitable for sustaining life forms on earth. If the temperature rises beyond certain limits, survival of humans and animals on this earth would be difficult. It should be noted that there is equilibrium, with respect to the quantity of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide from atmosphere for photosynthesis and they liberate oxygen when the process is over. On the other hand, human and animals breathe oxygen and liberates carbon dioxide. Thus, the atmospheric content of oxygen and carbon dioxide follows a ratio all the time. However, when atmospheric temperature increases, survival of trees and plants would be difficult and thereby the ratio of oxygen with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will be spoiled. In other words, the content of carbon dioxide increases whereas that of oxygen decreases in the atmosphere because of atmospheric temperature rise. Such a situation is not suitable either for humans or all othe r living things. â€Å"Deforestation is an important factor in global climate change. It is estimated that more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide are released to the atmosphere due to deforestation, mainly the cutting and burning of forests, every year† (Deforestation). ... In many villages women are hit the hardest by natural disasters. They often cannot swim, have fewer assets to turn to for alternative livelihoods when crops are destroyed, and have fewer employment opportunities away from the home. The perception of many villagers and local leaders is that the climate is already changing. The main problems were typhoons, unpredictable weather, and the threat of salt water intrusion from sea level rise and other factors (A report for Oxfam, 2008, p. 3-4). Floods, tsunamis, earthquake, hurricanes etc are some of the weather calamities caused by climate change problems. All these natural disasters can cause immense damage to human life and properties. The frequency of occurrence of these kinds of natural disasters has been increased a lot in the recent past. Many people believe that climate change problems are the major reasons behind it. The occurrence of unexpected weather calamities is causing huge damage to the life environment and agriculture. Huma n activities are causing huge damages to the environment. Heavy industrialization and increased automobile use result in increased use of fossil fuels. Increased use of fossil fuels causes big problems to the environment since fossil fuels have the ability to release toxic greenhouse gases to the atmosphere at the time of its burning. Land, water and air are getting polluted as time goes on because of unregulated industrialization and automobile use. Moreover, greenhouse gases have the ability to destroy the ozone layer at the top of the earth which is shielding us from the intrusion of harmful radiations from sun and outer universe. â€Å"Scientists believe that Global Warming will lead to a weaker Ozone

Islamic Responses to Western Modernization in the Middle East Essay

Islamic Responses to Western Modernization in the Middle East - Essay Example In present times, when modernity is largely defined according to the terms of the West, Islam has often been criticized of being regressive and unable to move on with the times. This paper shall look at two articles that came out in The New York Times and in BBC. According to Nicholas Kristof and Timur Kuran, there is an underutilization of women in the Middle Eastern Muslim Countries. They however, argue that this is a fairly recent phenomenon. They argue that it was the advent of industrialization that has resulted in a comparatively less liberated atmosphere that women have to face in Muslim countries of the Middle East. The authors talk about the different standards that are set in ascertaining the contributions of women in the different cultural frameworks. They also argue that the problems that are found with the Islamic treatment of women can be traced to a faulty assessment and interpretation of Islam. It happens according to them as a result of â€Å"Islamism†, a phen omenon that occurs as a result of the conflict between modernity and Islamic worldviews. According to them, such conflict deepens the stands that are taken by hardliners within the Islamic establishment, making them adopt more and more regressive perspectives (Kristof and Kuran). There are problems with such an approach. One of them is that it does not admit of the possibility of a debate into the tenets of Islam that actually may be oppressive for women. Apart from this, it also talks of the possibility of a utopian form of Islam that can be achieved merely through a different interpretation of it. Apart from these flaws, this approach also ignores the historical marginalization that woman of these communities have faced and the economic and social repercussions of it. The article seeks to set right the flaws in religion through religion and not through a holistic intervention. Roger Hardy’s article does not fall into the trap of offering alternatives. He talks of the flaws in the processes of modernity and the hurry that it has displayed in asserting its superiority over Islamic structures of society. Instead of incorporating changes, what the colonizers sought to do was to impose them. This, Hardy suggests is something that was counter-productive. According to him, one of the major issues that such communities have with modernity is the doubt that it introduces into the psyche of the societies that it is a part of. This problem persists in most Muslim societies of today as well (Hardy). As can be seen, there are several problems that can be identified right from the level of the perspective of the author(s). To find or to suggest any solution would not be a conclusive venture but a beginning. This is so because any possible solution needs to emerge from a dialogue in which every party which has a stake needs to be a participant. As a result, one needs to take on board the doubts that are voiced by the Islamic establishment and also organizations that work within such countries for the empowerment of women for making such a solution. A solution needs to be reached through a compromise where each party is willing to cede ground to the other. However, this does not mean that outmoded ways of living that unfairly oppress one section of mankind are allowed to stay on. The inevitability of progress has to be accepted. The oneness of the progress of humanity in a

Gun Control Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Gun Control Report - Essay Example Mostly, those involved in gun violence may not be gun owners, but might be individuals that have illegal access to guns. Generally, gun ownership tends to be strict upon civilians as many at times individuals with the intention of committing crimes acquire guns with relative ease through illegal means. Therefore, it is import that the government sensitizes the public on matters related to gun ownership before the actual implementation of gun control policies at the legislative stage of governance. Further, this report will give the various statics surrounding the reported numbers of gun related crimes within the urban setups as compared to those in rural areas. Ideally, the number of gun related violence in urban states where there are strict regulations on gun acquisition are higher than the rates in rural areas where gun acquisition is easy (Joe, 2012). Subsequently, the report will be in tandem with the practical approaches applicable in the minimization of gun related crimes at t he lowest level of governance to ensure that civilians also play a role in developing safer living environments. The report would also to address the impact of the castle doctrine laws in some states as possible contributors to gun violence. This is in line wit the Institute of Legislative Action under the National Rifle Association as per the provision of the Second amendment in the US Constitution (Davies, 2013). Your sincerely, May 20th 2013 Table of Contents Table of Contents 4 Executive Summary 5 Introduction 5 Problem statement 7 Method 7 Findings 8 Analysis 10 Conclusion 10 References 12 Joe, W., B. (2012). The reality of the Gun Control Debate. Retrieved from http://wjoeb.hubpages.com/hub/The-reality-of-the-Gun-Control-Debate 12 Webster, D. W. et al. (2012). The Case for Gun Policy Reforms in America. John Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research Press. Retrieved on 20th May 2013 from http://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-gun-policy- and-research/publications/WhitePaper102512_CGPR.pdf 12 Appendix 13 Executive Summary Presently, at least thirty thousand people that are part of the American population die because of gun inflicted wounds in which the greatest proportion of this number is young people. Ideally, this aspect has made gun violence be the greatest contributor to the premature demise of the young population of America. On the other hand, the statistics on the number of reported non-fatal gun related crimes amount to close to three hundred and forty seven thousand cases with a minimal number of this people seeking treatment at hospital departments. In essence, the rate of homicide in America is seven times higher than that of other developed economies making it a worrying trend for a good performing economy (Sowell, 2012). Fundamentally, the lack of proper gun laws is the prime reason as to why there is a higher prevalence of gun ownership and higher cases of gun related violent crimes. Further, gun viole nce also impacts the economy as the US population loses a significant number of the work force to violent deaths while the rest incurs expenses in seeking treatment for the injuries caused by gun violence. The traumatic effect caused by gun violence tends to have an impact on the increase of poverty levels as it tends to influence psychological imbalance for those affected by this tragic event. According to statistics, the average direct or

The Declaration of Independence in the American Legal System Essay

The Declaration of Independence in the American Legal System - Essay Example The Declaration of Independence in the American Legal System How the Declaration of Independence came about started a long time ago, in the annals of history. The laws in the United States which currently govern Americans’ private and working lives, in several spheres, have radically changed over the last two hundred-and-thirty-five years that this country has been in existence. When lawyers speak of the English legal system they are referring to the unified legal system of England and Wales. However, since the U.S., before its inception was colonized by the British—much of American law is derived from the English legal system. Since Great Britain ruled over the colonies, they had adopted the British legal system. There are several sources of the American legal system—including the nature of law, common law, and statute law—and why the Declaration of Independence is most closely associated with statute law, even though it has elements of the other law in i t. a. The Nature of Law In any community or group, rules made by the people will develop to control the relationships between these members. These rules are essential if the community is to work. Human beings tend to congregate in societies with a basic human instinct to survive and as far as is possible to flourish. Even in primitive societies, traditions, religions, and customs will affect conduct as a society develops. As these societies grow, a more complex set of rules of a more definite nature emerge and a body of law comes into existence. At the same time machinery for the enforcement of these new laws must also come into existence. At first, the colonies were a body of independent states that operated separately from each other. However, eventually, the colonies realized that their independence was imminent once Britain started to block their supply ships with the help of German mercenaries. This made it evident to politicians, statesmen, and writers that Britain was declari ng war on the colonies (in essence). Thomas Jefferson used language from John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government to help, in part, draft the Declaration of Independence: â€Å"Republicanism meant more than ousting the king. The Declaration of Independence had stated the principle of popular sovereignty: Governments derive ‘their just powers from the consent of the governed.’ In the heat of revolution, many Patriots gave this clause a democratic twist† (Henretta and Brody 2010, 174). Jefferson would later develop the Federalist powers, having developed the concept of checks and balances in government. b. Common Law Most legal systems in Europe (including Scotland) are strongly influenced by Roman Law, and still, have some carryover today. The body of law that applies in England and Wales is different and has gradually developed over a long period of time. This body of law is called the ‘Common Law’ and has become the basis of law not only in England and Wales but also in the United States of America and many Commonwealth countries. The common law developed from the Norman Conquest in 1066 when a centrally strong government led to a centralization of the administration of law, the unification of varied local customs, traveling judges and centralized courts with a ‘common’ law.

The United States and South Korean view on North Korea Essay Example for Free

The United States and South Korean view on North Korea Essay Abstract: Since the declaration of North Korea’s nuclear experiments, many countries have reacted negatively towards the subject. Most concerns have come from the United States and South Korea, as the two countries have close ideologies on North Korea’s policies. Relatively, the North Korea’s history had its focus on military power, politically. The strategic location of the country around the Sea Japan 50 nm on maritime force and the mountainous terrains between Russia, China and South Korea, makes the area isolated from the influences it could get on the political aspect. Its current leader, Kim Jong IL, has permanently believed on the Juche and Independence. Hence, its subsequent actions towards other countries have been very open in accordance to its motivations. Tying up with the concrete documents and studies on North Korea’s geopolitical position, the observation of United States and South Korea remains concurrent and comprehensive. Historical Background:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Before, North Korea has existing ties with the Soviet Union, giving the country a chance to exploit the relationship of United States and the Soviet Union. However, the wind suddenly blew away from the North Korea’s political objectives, as Soviet Union diminished its relationship with North Korea in the 1980’s. It leaves the country of no military alliance to a powerful country and becomes isolated for a very long period (wiki.galbijim.com, 1993). Because of the subsequent negative events on North Korea, the decision to make talks with South Korea became inevitable in 1984 leaving the South Korea-U.S. team military exercise cancelled in June 1992. Following this action was the Declaration of Denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula on December 31, 1991, which bans the testing, manufacture, production, possession, storage, deployment, receipt, and use of nuclear weapons on the peninsula (wiki.galbjim.com, 1993).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Its resistance to be absorbed by the South Korea’s growing economic success has mediated the motivation of North Korea to make efforts of military advancements, which serves nuclear power as a choice of military force. As the news of nuclear testing in North Korea spread, United States declared a deadline for the country’s submissive alliance to their policies (english.ohmynews.com, 2006). North Korea’s nuclear test in October 9, 2006 has been the desperate option of North Korea to avert a threat in regime collapse and the reunification to South Korea (Jae Hoon, 2006). Objectives: To observe differences between the South Korea’s and United States opinion on North Korea nuclear tests. To describe how the sea power and air force of North Korea has developed after its separation from the Soviet Union. To determine the reasons for its obvious resistance from South Korea’s growing opportunities of political power. To analyze the future methods planned by the United States government against North Korea’s political strategies. To distinguish which countries have the volition over North Korea’s desperate actions concerning military and political methods. Technical Approach:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This research will examine different sources coming from North Korea’s web archive, the United States’ CIA World Fact book, and articles containing the geopolitical stance of North Korea. Furthermore, it will reexamine the geography and its influence to North Korea’s capability upon its engagement on warfare. Tables, maps and appendices will also be provided when necessary. Bibliography: â€Å"Analysis: Bush Knows that Iran is not North Korea.† 2 November 2007. 30 January 2008. http://www.iran-resist.org/article3948 Avery, E. Squassoni, S. â€Å"North Korea’s Nuclear Test: Motivations, Implications, and U.S. Options.† 24 October 2006. 30 January 2008. http://fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL33709.pdf. Bulychev, G. â€Å"The Geopolitics of the North Korea-South Korea Rail Link to China, Russia and Europe.† 30 May 2006. 30 January 2008. http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?ItemID=10350. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. â€Å"Politics.† 30 January 2008. http://www.korea-dpr.com/. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. â€Å"Geography.† 30 January 2008. http://www.korea-dpr.com/. â€Å"Geopolitical Changes: New World Order and North Korean Security.† June 1993. 30 January 2008. http://wiki.galbijim.com/Loc2:Geopolitical_Changes:_New_World_Order_and_North_Korean_Securitys of June 1993. Harding, A. â€Å"South Korea’s Anger Over Nuclear Test.† 14 October 2006. 30 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6048344.stm. Jae Hoon, S. â€Å"North Korea’s Nuclear Gamble.† 10 October 2006. 30 January 2008. http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/display.article?id=8274. Jones, N. â€Å"North Korea’s Nuclear Test and Pacific Geopolitics.† 15 December 2006. 30 January 2008. http://www.globalengage.org/media/article.aspx?id=2032 Kalinowski, J. CIA World Fact book-North Korea. 29 October 2000. 30 January 2008. http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1378861. Kim Beng, P. â€Å"A Shift in the Regional Balance of Power After North Koreas Nuclear Test?† 2006. 30 January 2008. http://www.aseanfocus.com/asiananalysis/article.cfm?articleID=995. Klinger, B. â€Å"North Korea: Clouds Block the Sunshine at the Six-Party Talks.† 10 January 2008. 30 January 2008. http://www.heritage.org/Research/AsiaandthePacific/wm1771.cfm. Nicksch, L. â€Å"North Korea’s Nuclear Weapon’s Program.† 5 April 2002. 30 January 2008. Olsen, E. â€Å"U.S.-North Korea: From Brinkmanship to Dialogue.† 1 April 2003. 30 January 2008. http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/rsepResources/si/apr03/eastAsia.asp. Pei, M. Mastro, O. â€Å"How to Deal with North Korea.† 31 December 2006. 30 January 2008. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=viewid=18918prog=zch,zgpproj=znpp. Staff Writers. â€Å"North Korea Vows To Bolster Military Power.† 25 March 2007. 30 January 2007. http://www.spacewar.com/reports/North_Korea_Vows_To_Bolster_Military_Power_999.html. Suk, H.H. â€Å"N Korea Military Tactics In A War With US: A Strategy Of Massive Retaliations Against US Attacks.†Ã‚   24 March 2008 http://www.rense.com/general37/nkorr.htm. Tanweer, A. â€Å"North Korea, South Korea: U.S. Policy at the time of Crisis.† Journal of Third World Studies. Spring 2005. 30 January 2008. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3821/is_200504/ai_n13642816. Tanaka, A. â€Å"Overview of Geopolitical Risks in Northeast Asia.† 30 January 2008. http://www.sais-jhu.edu/centers/reischauer/MOFTanaka.pdf. Thor. â€Å"Korea, North and South: The Geopolitics of Unification.† 30 January 2001. 30 January 2008. http://thormay.net/koreadiary/northsouth1.html.

Oli Analysis for Disney Into China Essay Example for Free

Oli Analysis for Disney Into China Essay Under the  Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the signatory states are required to provide copyright protection for a minimum term of the life of the author plus fifty years, but they are permitted to provide for a longer term of protection. (The  United States  did not become a Berne signatory until 1988, but had previously provided for the minimum copyright term the convention required in the  Copyright Act of 1976. ) The Walt Disney Company created numerous classical animation images which all enjoy copyrights. In other words, Ownership advantage relating to the possession and exploitation of monopoly power,which undoubtedly created an entry barrier. B)resourceamp;capability Pixar Animation Studiosa subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is an American  computer animation  film studio  based in California. The studio is best known for its  CGI(Computer Graphics Interface)-animated feature films. Pixar has produced  thirteen feature films, beginning with  Toy Story  (1995). It was followed by  A Bugs Life  (1998),  Toy Story 2(1999),  Monsters. Inc. 2001),  FindingNemo  (2003),  The Incredibles  (2004),  Cars(2006),  Ratatouille  (2007),  WALL-E(2008),  Up  (2009),  Toy Story 3  (2010),  Cars 2  (2011), and  Brave (2012). Twelve of the films have received both critical and financial success. The sudio has earned 27  Academy Award,seven  Golden Globe Awards, and eleven  Grammy Awards,among many  other awards and acknowledgments. In o ther words,ownership advantage relating to the possession of scarce,unique and sustainable resources and capabilities, which helped Disney to attain market power and cost advantage. One of the major risks of joint ventures is the probability of a partner stealing the other’s capabilities in order to later compete on its own. Nonetheless, Disney’s resources and capabilities are so rare and inimitable that this risk should not be reason enough for considering other options. In other words, technology risk is almost non-existent for Disney, since other companies might copy the rides, but they will never be able to copy the Disney experience, which is attributed to its resource;amp; capability. 2,The human resource is another key ownership advantage of Disney. ecruiting the right and instilling in them Disney culture an essential part of building a unified workforce. â€Å"we hire for attitude, not aptitude. † Disney recruits, selects, and trains everyone who works with the company in the same way—whether cast members or third-party employees. Disney uses its unique corporate culture to unite all workers in a common goal: to help the gues t. Competencies of managers Disney cast members aren’t just hired for a job; they play a role in the â€Å"show. † Every aspect of the casting (hiring) process is a presentation of the Disney culture. In essence, Disney begins the training process even before a new cast member is hired. For example,the whimsy of the casting building is designed to ease the minds of anxious applicants, while communicating the rich Disney heritage. Early in the process, candidates can view a film depicting what it is like to work at Disney. The film also communicates conditions of employment. After viewing it, a small percentage of candidates self-select out of the process. This is a good thing, since those candidates might not be â€Å"right fit† for the culture—and Disney might not be right-fit for them. This process not only saves time and money, but it leaves the applicants feeling good about themselves and Disney company. During the interview process, casting professionals will base the hiring decision on work experience, personality and educational background. By the time they go through their interview, candidates will have a basic picture of the Disney’s culture and expectations. Disney shows their employees how their efforts affect the overall resident experience—even if they don’t interact with residents directly. When the staff sees the big picture, they also see how vital their roles are in the business. Teaching employees how they fit into Disney’s overall operation and demonstrating how their role contributes to Disney facility’s overarching goal breeds unity and solidifies the corporate culture. At Walt Disney World ® Resort alone, there are over 2,000 job classifications, but everyone understands the goal and operates on the same page. Disney trains every cast member in the same way, no matter what job, and goes to great lengths to ensure that cast members understand the company’s heritage and purpose. This helps them feel connected to the company, and to their jobs. Disney has a Center for Excellence which is geared to help cast members succeed in their role of delivering exceptional quality service. In addition, Centers for Excellence serve as local learning sites that offer a variety of technical, job skill, and interpersonal training courses which cast members can take online free of charge. The end result is a team of cast members that is equally skilled and guest-focused. Training is reinforced through ongoing efforts, such as mentoring, continuing education, and leadership training, contributing greatly to a culture of excellence. Location advantage As global as possible,as local as necessary. First,In the case of Disney, it is a horizontal FDI, thus it may be profitable for Disney to be close to their consumers. The reasons are as follows: – the existence of trade barriers in the form of tariff quotas, transport costs etc. – on-site provision of the services is an inherent part of the Disney’ business (e. g. recreation facilities) Second, production costs is lower in Hong Kong, the reasons are as follows: – lower wages in developing countries(In Hong Kong Disneyland case, there is cheap labor force flow from Eastern coastal provinces) – better infrastructure and close ties to external input suppliers from mainland China. Third, demand related variables (market potential) China has the world’s largest population and one of the fastest growing economies, which makes it an extremely attractive market for Disney. Disney’s animated characters are popular throughout the country; Mickey Mouse Magazine is the number one children’s magazine in China. According to the statistic in Chinese government, The population under 15 years old child is around 221,640,000 in 2011, which means there is a large market potential in China. (In 2005, it’s a major milestone in their approach to China, with the successful grand opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. This phenomenal new theme park introduces Disney to a broad new audience. ) In theory Disney should be capable of running the park by itself, but the power and influence of the Chinese government is so high that a joint venture seems to be the less risky option . Asia is a complicated market and it usually pays to not only have the government on your side, but to have it as a major investor. It also benefits the venture to have a local partner with deep knowledge of traditions and customs. Thus, from an institutional and cultural point of view the selection of a joint venture was justified. Internalization advantage For Disney, In-house production is more profitable than outsourcing, licensing, etc. The reasons are as follows: – Contractual imperfections induce Disney to exploit its ownership advantage internally rather than licensing its product/process to a third party. To capture coordinating

Innate Immune System Components

Innate Immune System Components There are individual systems of the immune system, innate immunity which we are born with and it is non-specific. It is genetically based and passed on to our offspring and adaptive immunity in which we acquire through humoral and cell mediated immunity. Innate and adaptive immune systems are distinct systems but act together at numerous levels to develop a complete defense against invading pathogens. Both systems have mechanisms for distinguishing self from non-self, therefore, under normal situations they are not directed against the hosts tissues and cells. Innate Immunity Elements of the innate immune system (figure 1.8) have been known for many years. However, in the past few years there has been a greater focus on innate immunity and its role in protection against infection and tissue injury and its role in tolerance to self-antigens. Innate immunity defines a collection of protective mechanisms the host uses to prevent or minimize infection. The innate immune system operates in the absence of the specific adaptive immune system but is tied to adaptive immunity in many ways. The innate immune system is characterized by a rapid response to an invading pathogen or foreign or effete cells. In addition to the rapid response, it is also non-specific and usually of a short duration. Innate immunity lacks immunological memory and there is no clonal expansion of lymphocytes as seen in the adaptive immune response. The innate immune response is also important in directing the specific, long-lived adaptive immune response. The host defense mechanisms associated with innate immunity consist of a number of physical barriers (intact skin) and secretions accompanied by a number of serum factors such as complement, certain cytokines, and natural immunoglobulins. The cellular components of innate immunity include a number of cell types, many of which are found at potential points of entry of pathogens. Examples of these cells include natural killer (NK) cells, (figure 1.2), polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), macrophages (figure 1.3), and dendritic cells (DCs), (figure 1.2). The intact skin and mucosal tissues provide considerable protection against invading infectious agents. However, once the agents pass through the skin a number of important events take place. This includes activation of the complement cascade that triggers the development of a number of substances to attract phagocytes to the area. A number of antimicrobial peptides are produced at epithelial cell surfaces. These antimicrobial peptides play an important role in local defense mechanisms, disrupt bacterial cell membranes, and probably play a role in preventing skin infections. Antimicrobial Peptides (figure 1.4) Human ÃŽÂ ²-defensins are produced by epithelial cells in the mucous membranes of the airways and intestinal tract. Defensins are small cationic peptides that have broad antimicrobial activities against a number of microbial agents including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses. Defensins are non-glycosylated peptides containing approximately 35 amino acid residues, and ÃŽÂ ²-defensins have six cysteine residues that provide a distinct structure. Stimulation of the epithelium by certain cytokines can induce defensin production. The exact mode of action of defensins antimicrobial activity is unknown. There are three defensin subfamilies: ÃŽÂ ±-defensins, ÃŽÂ ²-defensins, and ÃŽÂ ¸-defensins The Complement System The complement system (figure 1.5) is another important component of innate immunity. The system consists of 30 proteins found in serum or on the surface of certain cells. Activation of the complement system results in a cascade of biochemical reactions that ultimately ends in lysis and disruption of foreign or effete cells. Without activation, the components of the complement system exist as pro-enzymes in body fluids. As a by-product of the activation of the cascade, a number of biologically reactive complement fragments are generated. The complement fragments can modulate other parts of the immune system by binding directly to T lymphocytes and bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B lymphocytes) of the adaptive immune system and also stimulate the synthesis and release of cytokines. Natural Antibodies Natural antibodies have been recognized for some time but recently they were described as a component of the innate immune system. Natural antibody is defined as an antibody that is found in normal, healthy individuals who have no evidence of exogenous antigenic stimulation. Natural antibodies are believed to develop in a highly regulated manner; they are usually found in low titer in serum and are low-affinity antibodies. A high percentage of the natural antibodies found in serum are of the IgM class. These antibodies are produced by a primitive B lymphocyte, called the B-1 lymphocytes. B-1 cells are usually CD5+ and considered to be long-lived and self-replicating. Natural antibodies play an important role as a first line of defense against pathogens and other types of cells, including precancerous, cancerous, cell debris, and some self-antigens. Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) TLRs (figure 1.6) are found on phagocytic cells, including mononuclear phagocytes, circulating monocytes, tissue macrophages, and endothelial cells, and are important components of the innate immune system. TLRs make up a family of cell surface protein receptors present on several cell types that function to recognize certain conserved molecular components of microorganisms and signal that microbes have breached the bodys barrier defences. TLRs serve as first responders in a mammalian host to recognize the presence of an invading pathogen. They also generate an inflammatory response to attempt to remove the invading agent. Phagocytosis (figure 1.7) Polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes have been well-known components of the innate immune system for many years. Detailed studies of PMN phagocytosis and intracellular killing of microorganisms have led to a better understanding of important defense mechanisms against invasion by pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and enveloped viruses. PMNs are attracted to the site of microbial invasion, recognize the microbe, become activated, kill the microorganisms, resolve the infection, undergo apoptosis, and are then ingested and removed by either macrophages or neighbouring endothelial cells to resolve the inflammatory response. PMNs arise as myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow. Specific growth factors and cytokines mediate the differentiation of myeloid precursors into mature PMNs. After entering the circulation, the PMNs have a half-life of about 8-12 h before undergoing a programmed cell death (apoptosis) and are reabsorbed through endothelial walls. The PMN turnover is about 1011 cells per day. Cytokines and Chemokines Cytokines and chemokines are small, secreted polypeptides that regulate essentially all functions of the immune system. Cytokines participate in determining the nature of the immune response by regulating or controlling cell growth, differentiation, activation, immune cell trafficking, and the location of immune cells within the lymphoid organs. Cytokines are a group of intercellular messengers that contribute to inflammatory responses through activation of the hosts immune cells. Cytokines are host-derived products that enhance the recruitment of circulating leukocytes as a response to the presence of pathogens. Cytokines also play important roles in leukocyte attraction by inducing the production of chemokines, which are known to be potent mediators of chemo-attractant activity for inflammatory cells. Chemokines and cytokines provide a complex network of signals that can either activate or suppress inflammatory responses Natural Killer Cells Initially, NK cells were referred to as non-specific lymphocytes because NK cells could kill certain virally infected and malignant cells without known prior sensitization. NK cells were known to resemble large lymphocytes morphologically and were referred to as large granular lymphocytes. Approximately, 10-15% of the lymphocytes circulating in peripheral blood are NK cells. NK cells are distinct from T- and B lymphocytes because they express neither immunoglobulin receptors nor T-cell antigen receptors. There are other distinctions including phenotype and function. NK cells have receptors that recognize major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I antigens. Because NK cells have cytotoxic properties, their function is highly regulated in their interactions in both the innate and adaptive immune systems. NK cells play important roles in innate immune responses and immune regulation. They communicate with other cells through a complex of both activation and inhibitory signals through cell surface receptors. Dendritic Cells The DCs develop in the bone marrow from hematopoietic pluripotential stem cells. Precursor DCs are constantly generated in the bone marrow and are released into the peripheral blood. After leaving the bone marrow, the precursor DCs home to a number of different tissues where they reside as sentinels waiting to interact with antigen. The precursor DCs express low-density MHC class II antigens and after encountering a proper stimulus differentiate into highly endocytic and phagocytic iDCs. Precursor DCs circulate in the environment and on contacting a pathogen produce cytokines, that is, ÃŽÂ ³-interferon, and undergo maturation to iDCs. The iDCs increased phagocytic and endocytic capabilities that lead to binding antigen by the iDCs and then maturation to mature DCs. Adaptive Immunity In contrast to innate immunity, adaptive immunity (figure 1.8) is flexible, specific, and has immunological memory, that is, it can respond more rapidly and vigorously on a second exposure to an antigen. Immunologic memory provides a more powerful response to a repeated exposure to the same foreign substance or antigen. Adaptive immunity is more complex because it provides the ability to respond very specifically. Innate and adaptive immunity responses interact effectively to enhance the bodys defense mechanisms against foreign or damaged host cells. Inherent in both innate and adaptive immune responses are the mechanisms to distinguish self from non-self. The primary blood cell elements of the adaptive immune system are T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. These T- and B-cells provide the unique specificity for their target antigens by virtue of the antigen-specific receptors expressed on their surfaces. The B- and T-lymphocyte antigen-specific receptors develop by somatic rearrangement of germline gene elements to form the TCR genes and the immunoglobulin receptor genes. This recombination mechanism provides unique antigen receptors capable of recognizing almost any antigen encountered, and provides the specific immunological memory for a rapid, vigorous, and specific response to a later exposure to the same antigen. It is estimated that millions of different antigen receptors may be formed from a collection of a few hundred germline-encoded gene elements. For many years, innate and adaptive immune responses were studied as separate systems because of their different mechanisms of action. However, it is now understood that synergy between the two systems is required to provide adequate immune reactivity against invading pathogens. Innate immune responses, through their barrier and relatively broad types of actions, represent the first line of defense against pathogens. At the time the innate system is getting activated, the adaptive system becomes activated also. The adaptive response becomes evident a few days later because it requires time for sufficient antigen-specific receptors to be generated through clonal expansion/proliferation. There are multiple interactions occurring between the two systems, which results in the co-amplification of each respective response and leads to the ultimate destruction and elimination of the invading pathogen. B lymphocytes The primary function of B lymphocytes is the production of antibodies that are specific for a given antigenic component of an invading pathogen. Antibodies are encoded by the heavy (H)- and light (L)-chain immunoglobulin genes. Antibodies may be secreted or cell surface-bound on B lymphocytes. There are five classes of immunoglobulins: IgM, IgG, IgA, IgD, and IgE; and the classification is based on the isotypes of the H chain. B lymphocytes represent roughly 10-15% of the peripheral blood lymphocyte population and free immunoglobulins make up a considerable proportion of serum proteins. After an encounter with a specific pathogen and an antibody response is generated, the level of specific antibodies to that antigen decreases in serum over a relatively short period of time. However, immunological memory persists in the B-cell population, which is capable of rapid clonal expansion upon re-exposure to that same antigen. T lymphocytes Whereas B lymphocyte products recognize extracellular pathogens, T lymphocytes are adept at identifying and destroying cells that have been infected by intracellular pathogens. For T cells to recognize antigenic peptides, the peptide must be presented in the context of cell surface MHC class I or class II proteins. In other words, T cells can only recognize molecular complexes consisting of the antigenic peptide and a self-structure, that is, the MHC. Depending on whether the antigenic peptide has been synthesized within the host cell or ingested by the cell and modified by proteolytic digestion, either MHC class I or class II proteins are required. Proteins of the MHC are intimately tied to T-lymphocyte responses and recognition of antigenic peptides. The MHC class I proteins consist of three HLA classes: HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C with hundreds of allelic variants of each. Structural studies have shown that class I molecules exist as cell surface heterodimers with a polytransmembrane ÃŽÂ ±-chain associated (noncovalently) with a nonpolymorphic ÃŽÂ ²2 microglobulin protein. The protein chains are folded in such a way as to form a physical groove capable of binding up to an 11 amino acid long peptide. Antigenic proteins are degraded by proteolytic enzymes to about this size for binding to th e MHC class I proteins for antigenic presentation. Antigenic peptides are bound in the groove of the HLA molecule and expressed to the cell surface for presentation to initiate a T-cell response. Humoral Immunity (figure 1.9) The human immunoglobulins are a family of proteins that confer humoral immunity and perform vital roles in promoting cellular immunity. Five distinct classes or isotypes of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE) have been identified in human serum on the basis of their structural, biological, and antigenic differences.1-4 IgG and IgA have been further subdivided into subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 or subclasses IgA1 and IgA2 on the basis of unique antigenic determinants. Multiple allotypic determinants in the constant region domains of human IgG and IgA molecules as well as kappa (ÃŽÂ º) light chains indicate inherited genetic markers. Finally, there are several immunoglobulin-associated polypeptides such as secretory component (SC) and J chain that have no structural homology with the immunoglobulins, but serve important functions in immunoglobulin polymerization and transport across membranes into a variety of secretions (e.g., saliva, sweat, nasal secretions, breast milk, and colostrum). This diversity of the immunoglobulin components of the humoral immune system provides a complex network of protective and surveillance functions. Human IgA Polymeric secretory IgA (figure 1.10) is composed of two four-chain basic units and one molecule each of SC and J chain (approximately 400,000 MW). It is the predominant immunoglobulin in colostrum, saliva, tears, bronchial secretions, nasal mucosa, prostatic fluid, vaginal secretions, and mucous secretions of the small intestine. In contrast, 10% of the circulating serum IgA is polymeric, whereas 90% is monomeric (160,000MW). Together, they constitute approximately 15% of the total serum immunoglobulins. Trimers and higher polymeric forms can exist, but in small amounts. Two subclasses of IgA have been identified (IgA1 and IgA2), which differ by 22 of the 365 amino acids. In terms of complement activation, IgA poorly activates the classical pathway. This process has been hypothesized as a host mechanism for attenuating inflammatory responses induced by IgG antibodies at the mucosal surface. In contrast, IgA reportedly activates the alternative pathway of complement to provide some direct protective functions. IgA, once bound to a bacterial or parasitic surface antigen, may bind CD89 (IgA receptor) on infl ammatory cells (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and eosinophils), leading to their destruction by means of antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Moreover, its binding to viral or microbial surface antigens may restrict the mobility of microorganisms and prevent their binding to mucosal epithelium. Finally, secretory IgA can play an important first line of defense in antigen clearance by binding to antigens that leak across an epithelium and transporting them back across to prevent their entry. To summarize,  IgAs unique structure resists proteolysis and it functions to block uptake of antigen, bacterial o r viral attachment, limit inflammation induced by classical pathway complement activation, and promote microbial destruction through ADCC by binding to leukocyte receptors. Human IgD IgD (figure 1.11) is a four-chain monomer of approximately 180,000 MW with a long hinge region that increases its susceptibility for proteolytic cleavage. Although IgD is normally present in serum in trace amounts (0.2% of total serum immunoglobulin), it predominantly serves as a membrane-bound antigen receptor on the surface of human B lymphocytes. Despite suggestions that IgD may be involved in B-cell differentiation, its principal function is as yet unknown. As such, IgD is rarely quantified in a general workup of an individual suspected of a humoral immune deficiency or a B-cell dyscrasia. Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D with serum IgD levels >100 U/mL, however, has been noted in conjunction with periodic fever syndrome. This condition is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by recurrent episodes of fever accompanied by abdominal distress, lymphadenopathy, joint involvement, and skin lesions. It appears to be particularly responsive to anti-tumor necrosis factor ( TNF) treatment. Mutations that lead to this disease occur in the mevalonate kinase gene, which encodes an enzyme involved in cholesterol and nonsterol-isoprenoid biosynthesis. Human IgE IgE (190,000 MW) was identified in 1967 as a unique immunoglobulin that circulates in serum as a four-chain monomer. Although IgE constitutes only 0.004% of the total serum immunoglobulins, it possesses a clinically significant biological function by binding through its Fc region to the alpha chain on high-affinity receptors (FcÃŽÂ µR1) on mast cells and basophils. On subsequent exposure to relevant protein allergens from trees, grasses, weeds, pet dander, molds, foods, or insect venoms, IgE antibodies on mast cells become cross-linked. This process triggers the production and release of vasoactive mediators (e.g., histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes) that can induce mild to severe immediate type I hypersensitivity reactions in sensitized  atopic individuals. Human IgG In healthy adults, the four polypeptide chain IgG monomer (150,000 MW) constitutes approximately 75% of the total serum immunoglobulins. IgG is approximately equally distributed between intra- and extravascular serum pools. Moreover, IgG possesses the unique ability to cross the placenta, which provides protection for the fetus and newborn. Human IgG has been subdivided into four subclasses on the basis of unique antigenic determinants. IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 possess an MW of approximately 150,000, whereas IgG3 is heavier (160,000 MW) as a result of an extended 62-amino acid hinge region that contains 11 interchain disulfide bonds. IgG3s highly rigid hinge region promotes accessibility of proteolytic enzymes to sensitive Fc cleavage sites, which results in an increased fractional catabolic rate and a shorter biological half-life (7-8 days) than has been observed for IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4 (21-24 days). In terms of complement activation, IgG1 and IgG3 are the most effective, whereas IgG4 due to its compact structure does not readily activate the classical pathway of complement. IgG4 antibodies are also unique in that they appear to be functionally monovalent due to in vivo exchange of IgG4 half-molecules. As such, thi s is believed to lead to the formation of small IgG4 immune complexes that have a low potential for inducing immune inflammation. Moreover, IgG4 antibodies have the ability to interfere with immune inflammation caused by the interaction of complement-fixing IgG subclasses with antigen. Researchers in the field of allergy have speculated that IgG4 antibodies also scavenge antigen that prevents mast cell-bound IgE antibody from being cross-linked by antigen, and thus blocking IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reactions in atopic individuals who have undergone immunotherapy. Other important structural and biological differences among the human IgG subclasses relate to their Fc receptor binding, and the different binding sites on the constant region domains for rheumatoid factors, complement components, and bacterial proteins (protein A and protein G). Human IgM IgM (figure 1.12) is a pentameric immunoglobulin of approximately 900,000 MW that is composed of a J chain and five IgM monomers. Pentameric IgM constitutes approximately 10% of serum immunoglobulins in healthy individuals. Along with IgD, monomeric IgM is also a major immunoglobulin that is expressed on the surface of B cells where it serves as an antigen receptor. The C-terminal portion of pentameric secreted IgM differs from that of its monomeric cell-bound form. Secreted IgM has a mu chain with a 20-amino acid hydrophilic tail and a penultimate cysteine that facilitates polymerization. Cell membrane-bound IgM has a 41-amino acid membrane tail that contains a hydrophobic 26-amino acid segment that anchors the IgM molecule in the B-cell membrane lipid bilayer. IgM antibodies are clinically important because they predominate as an antigen receptor in early immune responses to most antigens. With a functional valency of 10, IgM antibodies are highly efficient in activating the classi cal complement pathway. IgMs actual functional valency, however, is only 5 due to steric hindrance among its many antigen-binding sites. Cell Mediated Immunity Cell Mediated Immune response (CMIR) (figure 1.9) is the functional effectors pf the immune response for phagocytosis, cell killing by cytotoxic T cells, NK and K cells Macrophage Activation While the production of antibody through the humoral immune response can effectively lead to the elimination of a variety of pathogens, bacteria that have evolved to invade and multiply within phagocytic cells of the immune response pose a different threat. Cell Mediated Cytotoxicity Cell Mediated Cytotoxic immune response is implicated in refusal of foreign grafts and the exclusion of tumors and virus-infected cells. The cells involved in these methods are cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, NK-cells and K-cells. NK cells Also known as the large granular lymphocytes are normally non-specific, MHC-unrestricted cells involved mainly in the elimination of neoplastic or tumor cells.   Once the target cell is recognized, killing occurs. K cells K-cells contain immunoglobulin Fc receptors. They are involved in Antibody-dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC occurs as a result of an antibody being bound to a target cell surface via specific antigenic determinants expressed by the target cell. Once bound, the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin can be recognized by the K-cell. This type of CMIR can also result in  Type II hypersensitivities.

How to Achieve World Domination :: Process Essays Dominating Essays

How to Achieve World Domination Are you tired of the grind? Do you long for easier days? Do you grow weary of lesser people who have struggled to the top and are now telling you what to do? Are you out of high school or soon will be? Are you mad all the time? If you answered yes to these questions you may be ready to embark on the job of a lifetime, a no holds barred quest to fulfill your every desire. But wait! It's not just a job; it's complete and total control over a select group of people. In this high tech fast paced rewarding career you not only get to subserviate those around you into whimpering masses, but also get to see your dreams come to fruition through long and complicated acts of deviousness. Beautiful buxom women will flock to you and your new-found power. You'll have confidence, no stress and the perks of dealing harshly with what bugs you will lead you to a life of fulfillment and relief and many nights of peaceful slumber knowing that those who you once held in disrespect you now hold in the palm of your hands. What is this hallowed of hallowed jobs that will prove once and for all who is the alpha male? What is this rewarding path that will show you the country and get your demands met at the same time? The push of a button could reap you millions in cash. Leaders will tremble at your name. If you have what it takes: an iron fist, a will of steel or even buns of cinnamon, you too can be a part of the booming field of brand new despots. Act fast, uproot your life and follow these tips, and you too can become AN EVIL OVERLORD! GETTING STARTED Lesson one- Do it for yourself! You may have seen recent movies in which actors have portrayed "Evil" doctors, leaders, and even flat out thugs. But as all things out of Hollywood, these stories are tainted with the capitalist greed that makes for a good movie. Strangely the very people who are giving us these "outlandish" characters are the people whom we can turn to for prime examples of underhanded dealings and a lack of decency which all-good evil leaders posses. They are right, their characters are wrong. These film villains are always beaten; they usually lack an air of class, and furthermore are many times out for simple money or a bleeding heart special cause.

Like A Virgin.. Or Not :: essays research papers fc

Like a Virgin†¦or not   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Madonna had always been a holy icon until the early 1980’s when the name â€Å"Madonna† developed a dual connotation. The introduction of America’s top female sex symbol Madonna created an image far opposite of the previously known hallowed one. In John Fiske’s essay â€Å"Madonna,† he depicts the singer’s character, portraying her as socially and semiotically powerful. Although his essay is currently outdated, Fiske illustrates an illusion of Madonna that Generation Xers eventually accepted and will probably never forget.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Sex has always been a controversial matter in American society. Before the 1980’s, those that openly articulated their views about sex were thought of as promiscuous and perverse, unless they were male. Perhaps, that is why the aura of Madonna stirred raving controversy across America. Fiske notes that her image was not a â€Å"model meaning for young girls in patriarchy, but a site of semiotic struggle between the forces of patriarchal control and feminine resistance, of capitalism and the subordinate, of the adult and the young (Fiske 282).† Never before had a woman presented herself so provocatively yet so comfortably.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the beginning, Madonna ultimately sacrificed sexual purity. Her daring exploitation of sex from a feminine point of view was definitely a breakthrough in 1980’s American society. Often, she dressed like a man and grabbed herself in â€Å"sacred† and â€Å"unseen† places. Actions like these, as Fiske points out, presented a threat but â€Å"not the traditional and easily contained one of woman as a whore but the more radical one of woman as independent of masculinity (Fiske 284).† Young girls regarded her actions not as â€Å"tarty† or â€Å"seductive† but as completely â€Å"acceptable.† Eventually, they embraced her image and strived to follow her example of the independent and sexually licentious woman (Fiske 283). Society has finally accepted feminine independence and accredited Madonna as the pioneer for introducing that autonomy. In many ways, she now represents the woman’s metamorphosis. As Fiske noted she began by showing â€Å"both her pleasure in her own physicality and the fun she finds (found) in admitting and expressing pleasure: it is (was) a sexual-physical pleasure that has (had) nothing to do with men†¦(Fiske 285).† While this may have been an impression of Madonna in the 1980’s, she has evolved into what society deems as the epitome of badass woman: utterly independent. Fiske’s essay does not really have much application to the perception of Madonna in today’s society.

The KKK :: essays research papers fc

I have learned that the Ku Klux Klan was in response to the Southern bitterness towards blacks having won freedom from slavery in the aftermath of the civil war. Congress had passed the Reconstruction Acts which divided the South into 5 military districts, each under a general. New elections were to be held in each state with freed, black, male slaves being allowed to vote; this infuriated Southerners. The first branch of the Ku Klux Klan was founded in Pulaski, Tennessee, around 1865, the name Ku Klux comes from the Greek word, Kuklose, meaning circle. The Klan was a secret organization founded by 6 ex-confederate veterans, they considered the Klan to be a secret social club, not knowing what a violent organization it would turn into. They decided to make their Klan costumes as odd as possible. Klan members would be dressed in white sheets and their faces would be covered with white masks. These ex-soldiers would ride through the town, make jokes and act silly, this made former bla ck slaves to believe that the ghosts of the Confederate dead had risen to reclaim their land. Many Southerners began to join the Klan and harm former black slaves. Soon these night rides turned into violent night rides and lynching’s. Once the Klan began to make a name for itself, General Nathan Bedford Forrest, the famous cavalry leader, became the leader of this invisible empire. The Klan was effective in keeping blacks away from the voting polls. The Klan was coming under increased attack by Congress and the Reconstruction state governments. The leaders of the Klan realized that the Klan’s end was near as an organized force.

Kurt Vonnegut Essay

Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, Slaughterhouse – Five appeared on the list of Time magazine’s 100 all time best English language novels since 1923. Written in 1969, this novel is considered a classic and is also known as one of his best works. Slaughterhouse -Five spans the different time periods of the life of Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist. Vonnegut witnessed the Bombing of Dresden in World War II, and this novel portrays the aftermath of the war. Vonnegut uses time travel as the plot device to portray human conditions from an unusual perspective. He was a prisoner in the Battle of Bulge in December 1944; in Dresden, Germany as a battalion scout. In all likelihood, the bombing of Dresden saved him from being sent to the Auschwitz gas chambers. Vonnegut was among the few survivors that were taken as prisoners to a slaughterhouse during the war and he worked in a meat-locker under this slaughterhouse, making diet supplements for pregnant women . The title refers to the slaughterhouse where Billy stayed as the prisoner of war. Vonnegut combines science fiction elements along with human conditions in the aftermath of the Dresden bombing, to drive the point. Slaughterhouse-Five is the story of a man Billy Pilgrim who has â€Å"come unstuck in time†. This term refers to his surviving a plane crash where he suffers a minor brain damage. Vonnegut has created a satire on fatalism. He believes that no matter how distressing the situation of a man is; he has the power to create his own reality through the sheer power of imagination. Billy Pilgrim experiences different time periods of his life especially his experiences of the World War II. The seemingly random happening of his life structures the thematic elements of the novel in an unraveling order. The novel examines many events in Billy’s life. This includes the death of his wife, his capture by the Nazis in World War II, and the unfortunate bombing of Dresden, which also became the inspiration of this book. The major theme comprises of the narrative that depicts Billy’s difficult times in Dresden, the secondary theme that runs through is his easy and affluent life as an optometrist in the city of Illium, New York, which is a fictional stand-in for Troy, New York, the city of Schenectady, New York. This is the place where Vonnegut has based most of his novels. The fiction runs parallel to the story of Vonnegut’s own transition from the depressing years of 1930’s, which was also the time period when ‘The Great Depression’ occurred, to a well to do existence that followed. The satirical essence of the novel is portrayed by the repetitive phrase, â€Å"so it goes† which Vonnegut uses to describe death and dying; whether it is of man, animal or the bubbles of champagne. He uses it to downplay the fact of ‘mortality’; making it sound humorous and routine. Some would say that his writings are creepy, but the fact is that he wrote beautiful, bizarre and horrifying novels replete with dark humor, and that set him apart as a unique writer. In Slaughterhouse –Five he uses words and phrases such as, â€Å"mustard gas† and â€Å"roses† to describe the rotting smell of a corpse, and the breath of an alcoholic. This novel explores the idea of fate, freewill and illogical nature of human beings. In the first chapter the narrator apologizes about the fact that the novel is so â€Å"short and jumbled and jangled† and then goes on to explain the fact that there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. The satirical tone and the dark humor is the alibi, which he uses to describe the horrific aftermath of bombings and war in general. There are three themes that he uses in Slaughterhouse –Five. The first and foremost theme is the- War. He writes about the contrasts of war; which is love, beauty, humanity, innocence, humor etc. In Slaughterhouse –Five just like his many previous novels, he says that war is bad for us and it is better to love one another and live in peace, than have wars. However, she doesn’t use love as the contrast of war, since Billy Pilgrim was not shown as a man who is madly in love with his wife. Yet he chose to depict it in a light yet effective manner. An interesting contrast Vonnegut uses in his novels are differences between the characteristics of men and women. Men are shown as cruel and ready to he engage in war any time, and the females are the shields, playing the shock absorber’s effect capably, as they are always engaged in trying to dissuade men from getting into wars. Women in Vonnegut’s novels are more humane, loving and have strong wills. The most compelling theme is that we as people are like bugs trapped in an amber and there are no â€Å"whys â€Å" to it. In a sequence in the novel, when Billy is trapped in Tralfamadorin Flying Saucer he asks, â€Å"Why me? † â€Å"†¦. Why you? Why us for that matter? Why anything? Because this moment simply is . Have you ever seen bugs trapped in amber? † Billy was asked, and he recalls that he in fact had a paperweight in his office, which was a blob of polished amber with three ladybugs trapped inside it. Billy answers in affirmation and he is told: â€Å" Well, here we are, Mr. Pilgrim, trapped in the amber of this moment. There is no why. † (ibid pg. 76-77). This extraterrestrial experience of Billy is symbolic of the fact that we are physically stuck in this world with no choice over our circumstances. In Vonnegut’s novels there are no set themes or plot that follows the story of heroes, heroines or villains. As Ernest W. Ranly says that all the characters in Vonnegut’s books are â€Å"comic, pathetic pieces, juggled about by some inexplicable faith, like puppets. † (Riley, 1974, pg. 54). Vonnegut himself says in his book Hocus Pocus that if there is no one to take the blame for the bad happenings in the book, it can only mean that the villain is God Himself; â€Å" or Herself or Itself or Whatever† (Vonnegut, Hocus Pocus, 1990). Another significant theme is that there is no soldier, only man. Being a soldier is a myth as a soldier is just a puppet of war used to do as the war demands. He doesn’t remain a human being anymore. Vonnegut expresses this thought most noticeably in this extract from the novel from the time when Billy was imprisoned in Dresden. When the three fools found the communal kitchen, whose main job was to make lunch for workers in the slaughterhouse, everybody had been waiting for them impatiently. She was a war widow. So it goes. She asked Gluck if he wasn’t awfully young to be in the army. He admitted he was. She asked Billy Pilgrim what he was supposed to be. Billy said he didn’t know. He was trying to keep warm. â€Å"All the real soldier are dead. † She said. It was true. So it goes. (Vonnegut 1969. Pg. 159). Another obvious theme is that death is inevitable. It also goes on to explain that life goes on, no matter what happens and who dies. The phrase â€Å"so it goes† occurs one hundred and six times throughout the novel; it happens every time someone dies, to take away the seriousness of death and impart a humorous quality to its inevitable graveness. This book has different meanings for different people, as everyone would be likely to interpret its subtle messages in their own way. The point that Vonnegut wanted to make was that no matter what happens , we should retain our humanity.

The function of setting in the presentation of Jane Austen’s main concerns in Emma

In Jane Austen's novel Emma, the function of setting is to demonstrate life as it would be in Highbury around the same time as Austen was writing the book (around 1815). The setting mostly refers to the period the is set in story as well as the place, which of course also bears much relevance. However, Jane Austen's main concern in the book was to convey social convention, an aspect of life which would have a major affect on the characters in the story as it did Jane herself, in context to the period it is set. Also the themes of marriage and wealth also tie in with social status in the book as it would be of importance in the early 18th century that it is set in. The character that to help all these themes together as well as Emma herself is Harriet. Not only is the power of status shown by Emma's control over Harriet,( not even by force but Harriet's freewill, as she admires and aspires to Emma)but she also takes the theme of marriage with Emma's mischievous behaviour as she tries to match make Harriet to suitors of seemingly higher class. Harriet also ties in with the education being a parlour boarder at Mrs Goddard's school. We are able to see a glimpse of what education is like as Jane Austen bring s in her description of Mrs Goddard the mistress of a school â€Å"not of seminary, or an establishment†¦but, a real, honest, old-fashioned boarding school†¦where girls may be sent out the way and scramble themselves in to a little education, without any danger of bringing back prodigies† We are shown the kind of education girls would have received at the time, a middle class education. Jane evokes a warm sense to the ides of school though the last line is a little shocking it brings in the real world, a world where contraception were not available and pre-marital sex was still a shameful act in the eyes of society. The â€Å"scramble† for education also shows the type of education the girls may receive. Not a full education but whatever the girls could grasp. In this way we can already see the kin d of education that society of the period were growing up with. However for Emma, a member of higher class this was different, as it is shown, she was educated by Miss Taylor as would all member s of upper class be tutored at home. Through out the novel there are marriage agreements and suitors made and discussions between characters of â€Å"equal marriage† this refers to marrying a person in the story of equal wealth and status. By the end of the novel it seems all characters seem to have found their equal in marriage, with Emma it is the gentlemanly Mr Knightly who if not just equal in status is equal by intellect as is evident through their many long conversations they hold, conversations on a level we never see Emma talk to Harriet with. Harriet also marries Mr Martin who after all turns out to be the right match for her. Though it would seem the message from the writer is that one should marry within ones own status, it is interesting to acknowledge the marriage at the beginning of the book. Miss Taylor, Emma's nanny therefore middle class, marries Mr Weston, of upper class, and there seems to be no evidence of criticism from the writer or characters of their marriage. In fact there are so many occ asions in the book where the couple are described well together and perfectly married it seems they are almost a role model to other married couples at the time. However though there is a happy ending, Jane Austen uses Emma, with her mischief and interfering nature to demonstrate the importance of social class and equal marriage within society at the time. As she takes Harriet and manipulates her feelings towards Mr Elton, the occurrences only reveal the nature of class to us. When Mr Elton realises Harriet has affection for him he is disgusted at the thought of it, even wise Mr Knightly comments on Mr Elton's views as Mr Elton said he would marry richly. This is revealed even further when he turns his attentions on Emma, the richest female in the story. His desire for Emma or rather Emma's money in turn disgusts her, and the feeling is evident and her â€Å"astonishment† shows how unequal she feels her self to him and how superior. An unequal marriage seems the most shocking of all things in the story, as it would in context. However after being rejected Harriet only turns her attentions higher to Mr Knightly, the richest man in Highbury; however the reader does not feel this is arrogance on the part of Miss Smith, believing that he may requite her feelings but the fault of Emma who builds up Harriet's vanity through the book. The importance of marrying for money seems far more important than marrying for love and it is only then when the idea of marrying for love enters Emma' head. The only reason it seems Mr Knightly could marry Harriet would be for love, for Harriet has nothing of possession to offer. Though this idea is introduced, marrying for love, two central characters Emma and Harriet marry into equal relationships, and though they do love their partners, it is the equality that is expressed so importantly. It is simply that Jane Austen has idealised their relationships with their love for their partners and equality both being present to the characters. The marriages contrast to the marriage of Mr Elton and Mrs Elton, as is commented by a character that in marry Mrs Elton, Mr Elton received twenty thousand pounds, an equal marriage but not one for affection to each other. In the novel Jane Austen only shows their judgemental characteristics and superficial attitudes, perhaps the example of a bad marriage, though equal in status? Though the term setting in fiction also applies to period, an important factor in this book the setting, in referral to place is also important. Highbury is a rural environment almost cut off from the world. This small town helps us understand the narrow mindedness of some characters, and also the reason of so little action. The central action to the story is conversation, the lack of action means that to keep the reader entertained Jane Austen had create something else to keep the readers interest. Through such detailed language and description we receive such vivid characters and receive a lot information from their speech and others speech about them. This also ties in with the period as presentation of a person would be very important and so what you say was also important, this is reproduced in Emma, as everything each character says reveals something about them. Also by setting the story in a remote rural area there can be more attention to new characters that enter the life of Emma. The conversation and excitement created by the awaited arrival of Frank Churchill creates a lot of excitement between characters in the book as it is not often visitors would come. Importance is added on this figure as he is a bachelor of Emma's age and so expectations of the reader and other characters are raised. Therefore in the setting of Emma, Jane Austen's main concern with period was to show the social convention of the time, the way it affected marriage and also the importance of marriage in the context of the story. Jane uses Emma and Emma's treatement and views of other characters to show the three main themes of money, status, and marriage within the 18th century period it was set.