Based On Your Reading Of Gulliver’s Travels, To What Extent Do You Agree That Jonathan Swift Is Misanthropic In His Presentation Of Human Society

In Gulliver's travels I think that Jonathan Swift is trying to show people what human society is really like. He does this through 4 voyages each to a different imaginary place, where the people are a satire of a different aspect of human society, and in each voyage Swift is telling us what he thinks of human society through what Gulliver says, and what he sees. Many people have described the book negatively for example William Thackeray, an 1850's novelist described it as, â€Å"Filthy in word, filthy in thought, furious, raging, obscene,† and indeed over the two and a half centuries since it was first published it has caused a lot of controversy and has divided opinions. Gulliver's first voyage is to a place called Lilliput. The Lilliputians are small people, about 6 inches high, and this is a metaphor for their small-mindedness. Gulliver criticises the way the Lilliputians elect their ministers- by doing circus tricks, â€Å"†¦ ith a dance on the rope and whoever jumps the highest succeeds in office. † This quote is showing that Swift is annoyed that people have to ‘jump through hoops' to get into office. This is one of the stupid laws in Lilliput. This is like politics in the 18th century and even now, in that the rich were the only ones in parliament in the 18th century, and now it is mostly the rich in parliame nt because they are the only ones who can finance a campaign. Another law is no urinating in the palace. When a fire breaks out in the palace Gulliver does not want it to burn down, â€Å"This magnificent palace would have infallibly been burned to the ground,† so he urinates on it to put it out. Then the king of lilliput makes several articles against Gulliver. This is Swift satirising the ingratitude, hypocrisy and cruelty of the state, because he is talking about England, and it is also saying how a normal law could be used to drive out a person the king or prime minister didn't like. At the end of the voyage to lilliput, my opinion of the Lilliputians is that they are ungrateful and small-minded. They are ungrateful because they don't thank Gulliver for saving the palace, they are small-minded because thy have a war with Blefuscu because they open their eggs at the other end. This is satire for the war with France over religion. This could show that Swift is misanthropic because he is only saying how they are against Gulliver not what good things they have done, if any. However this could show that Swift is not misanthropic because they might not have done anything good, and he only targets those who deserve it, the politicians. Gulliver's second voyage is to Brobdignag. Brobdignag is the land of the giants. I think that they are giants as a symbol of their great wisdom, the opposite of the Lilliputians. Gulliver tells the king there about European and English society and especially the wars. Gulliver says, â€Å"It was only a heap of conspiracies, rebellions†¦ our ambition could produce. † This quote seems misanthropic because Swift is criticising everything in human society and saying people only do bad things like rebel and murder. However Swift may be right and might only want the world to improve, and one way to do this is to tell people plainly and simply. The king's response to what Gulliver says in damning. He calls humans, ‘the most pernicious race of odious little vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl the earth. † This is misanthropic because it is Swift saying exactly what he thinks of the human race. The third voyage is to Laputa, Glubbdubdrib and Luggnag. In Laputa, Swift is satirising scientists and intellectuals. The people in Laputa live on a floating island and use this fact to exploit those below them. I think this is a metaphor for the rich at the top of the hierarchy exploiting the poor below them in hierarchy. Also in Laputa are the scientists. They have a personal servant that taps them on the mouth when they have to speak and on the ear when they have to listen. This is saying that scientists and intellectuals have to be reminded to listen to others because they think that what they say is right. Another thing the scientists do is invent stupid things, for example to get pigs to dig the fields by burying truffles for them to dig up, but the flaw is that you have to bury the truffles first so you might as well just dig the ground and not bury truffles. The second part of this voyage is to Glubbdubdrib. In Glubbdubdrib, Swift is satirising superstition and magic. Gulliver gets the chance to go back in time and see what really happened in the past. He finds out that history is partly lies, â€Å"The world had been misled by prostitute writers, to ascribe the greatest exploits in war to cowards, the wisest council to fools, sincerity to flatterers, Roman virtue to betrayers of their country, piety to atheists, chastity to sodomites. † This tells me that swift really thinks that history is lies and people who don't deserve it have had all the glory. The final part of the third voyage is to Luggnagg. Gulliver tells us what he would do if he could live forever. He says, † †¦ Procure myself riches†¦ in the second place I would apply myself to the study of arts and science. Lastly I would carefully record every action and event of consequence that happened in the public†¦ By which acquirement I should be a living treasury of knowledge and wisdom, and certainly become the oracle of the nation. † Here Gulliver is saying that if he was a Struldbrugg, or immortal, he would first get riches for himself, then afterwards use his capacity to learn all things in arts and science, and use what he has learned to be the oracle of the nation. However at the end of this voyage Gulliver sees what happens to them when they get extremely older then normal, they get even more deformed in proportion to their age, and are hated by all the other people, and he decide that he would rather die then live forever. In the voyage to Luggnagg, swift is making us think about whether all humans would use their capacity to help others, or whether they would just use it to become the richest person in the world. Gulliver's fourth voyage is to the country of the Houyhnhnms. This is the place where horses, or houyhnhnms, are the dominant species, and the humans, or Yahoos, are the subordinate race. Gulliver first finds this out when he is attacked by a group of Yahoos. He describes them as, â€Å"very singular and deformed. † Gulliver then gives a long description of them, for example, â€Å"the females have long hair,† â€Å"The hair of both sexes was of several colours, brown, red, black and yellow. † This is an ironic description of humans because Gulliver is describing exactly what a human is like naked and does not even realise it. The Yahoos â€Å"discharge their excrements† on Gulliver and this makes them seem barbaric and uncivilised. Then, when two horses appear they walk around Gulliver softly in awe of his hat and his clothes â€Å"hanging off him. † This is a direct comparison and is showing that humans are not as civilised as they think and that when shown from a different perspective, they can be the uncivilised ones. When Gulliver goes to the house of the horses he sees that it is like a human house but with things horses need like a manger to eat from. Gulliver is soon compared to a Yahoo, and he realises that he is a Yahoo but his clothes are keeping it a secret. Throughout this voyage the impression is built up that this place is a utopian society, but in the end, Gulliver can't stay there. Here, I think swift is telling us that humans can't be part of a utopia so they shouldn't try. When Gulliver returns home he hates his family and can't stand to be around them, â€Å"for the first year I could not endure my wife or children in my presence, the very small of them was intolerable, much less could I suffer them to eat in the same room. † This is showing the readers that being with a much more civilised race, or even a very different race, can change you and the way you see things. At the end of the voyage to the country of the Houyhnhnms, I think that even though it is a utopian society, they don't have some concepts humans have so it would be hard to live there. In conclusion, I think that swift is not misanthropic in his presentation of human society because he presents models of human behaviour in the Houyhnhnms and the Brobdignagians, because it is in these voyages that the people in the places are commenting on what Gulliver has to say and it isn't Gulliver saying what was bad in that place. However, the Brobdignagian model is better because they have flaws and are not perfect. Swift shows this because the Brobdignagians have freak shows and this is inhumane. Furthermore I think Swift is not misanthropic because his main attack is on unjust wars, and this is a common in all four voyages. Another reason I think swift is not misanthropic, is that he only criticises those who deserve it, like the ‘quack' doctors, and the drunks who use all their family's money on alcohol. Also, swift shows the flaws of mankind and wants to improve it. I know this because he wrote about good people like the Brobdignagians and the Houyhnhnms, as I said before. Swift also only tells us about what has happened to him, so if he has only had bad experiences with, for example politicians, then he can only make bad comments about them. However, Gulliver doesn't tell us about any good people in England at the time, or any good experiences he had had with people, he focuses on the bad. In conclusion, I think that Jonathan Swift is not misanthropic in his presentation of human society because he only comments on what he knows, and his main aim is to make the world better, and the best way to do this it to tell people in simple terms, in a story of a popular genre.

How new words are created in English

Knowing the relationships of sound and meaning of each word, we will be able to understand how new words are created in English. Basically, there are several ways that new words can be created: by inventing a new sound sequence and referring it to a meaning, by altering the meaning of an existing word without altering the pronunciation, or by modify or expanding the sound sequence of an existing word. The first way refers to acronyms, which are words formed from the initial letters of a phrase. For instance, IPA is the abbreviation of International Phonetic Alphabet, whereas others, such as NASA from National Aeronautics and Space Administration, are pronounced like words instead of a succession of letter names. Some acronyms are written lowercase, causing people to forget their origins and becoming entire new independent words. For instance, ‘radar' derives from radio detecting and ranging. Also, parts of words are clipped to become shorter; for example, examination was shortened as ‘exam', ‘phone' from telephone, and ‘flu' from influenza. Last, there are blends which are words made by combining syllables from different words. Examples are ‘motel' from the first syllable of motor plus the second syllable of hotel, ‘infotainment' from the first two syllables of information plus the last two syllables of entertainment. Second, the meaning of a word may be generalized, for example, ‘Kleenex' is originally a brand name for facial tissue. But now it refers to facial tissue in general. ‘Silhouette', now means dark outline being seen against light, was taken from the name of Etienne de Silhouette. Also, we can change the category of words, such as ‘people', which is a noun mostly meaning the plural of person, can also be a verb meaning populate a place. Finally, there is the metaphorical extension of existing words, like to ‘chew' on an idea meaning to ponder on it. Another way is to compound individual words. Two nouns, say, honey and moon, are joined together to form the compound noun, ‘honeymoon'. The adjective mobile is joined with the noun phone to form the compound noun ‘mobile phone'. The preposition under is joined with wear to form the compound noun ‘underwear'. The verb play is joined with the noun ground to form the compound noun ‘playground'. As for all these compounds, the last word of each compound gives the collective meaning. New words are also formed by borrowing form other languages, and the words have been assimilated into English. For example, there are words from French, like brochure, from Japanese, like sushi, from German, like beer, and so on. Moreover, some words are created by onomatopoeia. Humans mimic the sounds of nature and use these sounds as referents for the sources of sound, such as buzz, whiz.

Discrimination Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Discrimination - Essay Example in was an openly racist society in 1959 when a black man, Kelso Cochrane, was lynched in London streets with little more than an apathetic response from police. The perpetrators of this crime were identified by several eyewitnesses but the four white men were simply interviewed and released. Racist murders continue to take place, such as the Anthony Walker ice axe incident in Wales last summer, but this type of senseless racially motivated murder is now viewed by society as a horrific crime against a human being and not as simply a byproduct of ‘purifying’ Britain. Beginning with the Cochrane lynching, attitudes began to change. This general intolerance of racially motivated crime has gained momentum over the past 10 years following a series of attacks resulting in the murders of Roland Adams, Stephen Lawrence and Kriss Donald. Inner cities were the usual center of racial issues but now in Britain â€Å"there has been a shift in the geography of public disquiet, and it is the small provincial towns on the coast like Margate, Dover and Hastings that have become the centre of concern about illegal immigration and asylum† (Back, 2003). While the point can be argued that there is less overt racism now than there was 10 years ago, there has been a resurgence of widespread unsympathetic reporting in both local and national print media which portrays refugees as ‘beggars’ and involved in ‘violent crime.’ This reflects the new surge of racist sentiments across the nation. This discussion examines racism in Britain, cau ses for the phenomenon and various reasonings for its continuance. Those of ethnic minority are more likely than whites to live in depressed neighbourhoods, suffer ill health, live in congested housing and suffer a higher rate of unemployment even when compared to white people of similar education and employment qualifications. The majority of violence motivated by racism takes place in economically depressed locations although it is not

Role of Financialization in the Financial Crisis Assignment

Role of Financialization in the Financial Crisis - Assignment Example The severe turbulence that followed the financial crisis of 2007-2010 has raised concerns regarding the level at which the global financial system is ready to face critical failures. Moreover, the question of whether the financialization process, which has been promoted worldwide more than a decade, has been related to the above crisis has not been avoided. In fact, there are many indications that the specific process had a major role in the financial crisis of 2007-2010. Its potential involvement in a new crisis of such kind cannot be rejected. The current paper examines the role of the financialization process in the banking crisis of 2007-2010. Moreover, the potential relationship of the pursuit of shareholder value and the ‘new economy boom’ with the process of financialization is also explored. The examination of the literature published on the specific field has led to the assumption that the relationship between the above-mentioned events and frameworks is strong. At the next level, another issue is also discussed: the level at which investor behavior can influence corporate strategy and performance. It is proved that the involvement of shareholder value in corporate strategy and performance can be significantly influencing the corporate decisions on critical issues, as for example the strategies that the firm will follow for facing the expansion of financialization, as a global economic trend. Financialization, as a sociological and economic trend, is not a recent phenomenon. In fact, in accordance with Orhangazi (2008), three phases can be identified in the development of financialization: the first one represents the pre-1980 period during which financialization was based on a ‘long waves approach’ (Arrighi 1994 in Orhangazi 2008, p.41). In the years that followed in 1980, the financialization was related to the concept of neoliberalism (Orhangazi 2008). Recently, financialization has been related to the global financial mark ets (Orhangazi 2008). The view of Lucarelli (2011) that â€Å"financialization is related to the capitalism’ (Lucarelli, 2011, p.111) seems to be the most effective description of financialization, as a trend influencing the performance of the global financial system. On the other hand, Krippner (2011) refers to financialization as the ‘growing importance of financial activities as a source of profits in the economy’ (Krippner 2011, p.27). 2.2 The relationship between financialization, the banking crisis, the pursuit of shareholder value and the ‘new economy’ boom. As noted above, the financialization focused on the use of financial activities as the main source of profit. At the next level, financialization is an economic trend accepted and promoted globally, which means that it can affect the global financial system. The role of the financialization in the structure and the development of financial transactions worldwide has been revealed through the banking crisis of 2007-2010 (Foster, 2007). It was because of that crisis that the role of financialization for financial systems internationally has been set under consideration (United Nations, 2009). Financialization should be considered as a key cause of the appearance and the expansion of the 2007-2010 crisis, because of the following reasons: a) in the context of financialization the accumulation of profit worldwide has been related to financial activities; the exchange of money in its various forms has become a key method for achieving profit. In this way, the traditional method for gaining money, the work as physical activity has lost its value.

Living Long and Keeping Well Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Living Long and Keeping Well - Essay Example In their article "Living Long and Keeping Well: Elderly Canadians Account for Success in Aging," by Bassett, R; Bourbonnais, V; and McDowell, I, the writers have correctly researched aging population in Canada to find out the causes for their long life and well-being. Nonetheless, they have not found anything new in the research made by them. The research made by Bassett, R. et al lacks depth. Let me hasten to mention that if the purpose of the article is to reinforce the theory of good living and nutritious diet for long living, I have no objection to it. Indeed, in this age of fast and junk food, the need of nutritious diet has to be constantly reminded to make the right impact. However, my point is that Bassett et al have come up with analyses that do not provide any new insight into the causes that make for long, healthy lives. Reasons such as: keeping active, maintaining good nutrition, and the explanation of Francophones and Anglophones are very broad and these are useful in the case of every age group. The actual reason for longevity must go beyond what have been mentioned in the research (Canadian Journal on Aging). As already mentioned in the problem citing activities, good nutrition, etc. do not convincingly prove longevity. The hypotheses are based on general activities and food intake that anyway make for good health in any age group. There must be certain aspect unique to each individual responsible for his or her carrying on with aplomb even in advanced years. It may be the cup of green tea an aged couple may have been taking regularly since their middle years. It may be a long walk a bachelor may be enjoying since his youth. Such unique aspects have not been adequately covered. Samples There has not enough samples been tested to find out the end results of certain unique behavior. As mentioned earlier, an aged couple may have found elixir in the green cup of tea they have consumed regularly since their middle years. Talking to individuals and couples on the reason they feel are responsible for their longevity and analyzing them could prove to be more effective in the type of research Bassett et al have undertaken. Variables The variables researched by Bassett, R et al are too broad to be cited for the purpose of this study. Undoubtedly, they have come back to the same point of good hygiene and proper diet. However, there are millions who are equally adept at consuming good diet all their years and they have not lived long enough to convince the world that they have done nothing wrong to have their life cut short. Method Likewise, the method adopted for the purpose of the research does not cover well the precise reasons for the longevity of the aged in Canada. The reason that "physical illness was less significant than the will to adapt to illness and avoid further physical decline as long as possible" is also much too broad to shed any light on the uniqueness of the research (Canadian Journal on Aging). Conclusion After going through the article and reflecting on the points made by the writers, I am unable to find justification for treating the article with so much concern. This research would be better made by lay

BDX Organizational Information Technology Summary Research Paper

BDX Organizational Information Technology Summary - Research Paper Example In addition to the small group, there is a larger group of contract personnel and consultants, who do not use the company’s network. The following are the names of the key personnel in BDX: The title of the IT department is Computer Lab, and the number of staff in this department is three. Each staff is allocated various responsibilities, which range from software installation to information technology systems maintenance. The IT department is allocated 30 percent of the total budget. The budget includes employee’s remunerations, purchase, and development of relevant information technology systems. The budget also includes maintenance fees for the various information technology systems in the company. There are users project leaders at the organization. These project leaders are concerned with research and development activities of the organization. They have the responsibility of ensuring that the organization is up-to-date with technology and making use of technology to enhance functions of the organizations. A web team exists which is led by Toni McEntire. Toni is the Network Administrator and he creates and maintains the BDX webpage. Two other employees assist Toni and they ensure that all technology-related items run smoothly; they include web updating and maintenance. The web team name is Fast Technology Innovators and it reports directly to the Network Administrator. The name is based on the mean age of the web team and the present situation in the technological world. The company has outsourced most of the functions such as help desk, stationaries, office equipment, and infrastructure materials. The move is to ensure that the company is not overwhelmed by the many functions. This also ensures that everyone in the company runs smoothly and as expected. There were no new hires last year and this is because of the fact that the company is still in its early development

BUSINESS STRATEGY Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

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20th century human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

20th century human resource management - Essay Example During the last quarter of the 20th Century, human resource management arrived in the UK, having originated in the US. Please identify and explain those factors that led to the rise of this concept in the UK at this time"Human resource management is one of the distinguished sub-sectors which fall under human rights. Human resource management is related to employees. Their training; recruitment, interview and selection; labor relations, performance appraisal, wage and salary administration, equal employment opportunity, occupational health and safety act, personnel records management, quality of work life. Hence it deals with every necessity of an individual employee.Human resource management is said to have been originated in America in the late fifties and early sixties by the propagation of a different view of the work-force by the organizational humanists such as Argyris and McGregor. Since then number of new approaches leading to HRM have been formulated which include human capital theory by Likeert and human resource indexing by Schuster. The major similarity between all these approaches was that in these theories human labor was treated as a major asset rather then viewing labor as a cost factor. These theories or concept were further modified in 1980's the basic modification was that the new concepts aimed at the importance of the human factor aimed at integrating the personal function into general strategic management. These concepts were used as the foundation of HRM. (Human Resource Management: An International Comparison).... While in UK the trade unions were much more powerful and membership was high, thus a vacuum was created in UK to evacuate the strong bonds between trade unions. To achieve this misconception was created that the pluralist industrial relations strategy to deliver good industrial relations or an efficient and productive industry has failed. (Contemporary Industrial Relations: A Critical Analysis) The result of this was that a new legislation was needed urgently which would be detrimental about the roles of trade unions. Thus UK policy makers deduced an approach which had the potential to replace pluralistic system; this approach was the human resource management which focused on individualism. In the 1980s UK faced recession while his competitor US was in the period of mass production and corporate organization. The reason for this was the shortcomings in managerial techniques, UK employers and mangers chose to retain their imperial and specialist markets. Thus when the Bruisers realized their mistakes they chose to adopt US standards of managing human resource. This was the time when human resource management was introduced in UK after being originated and tested by the American organizations. The private sector was the first to adopt human management resources. (Change for Competitive Success) The private sector adopted human resource management first because in the 1980,s a number of private organizations were being introduced in the UK. The governments organizations were old and well established thus they were able to compete with increase in completion very easily. While the newly developed private sector which was growing rapidly was not able to compete with the increase in competition, as not only were the private organizations evolving

EU Law Enforcement Mechanisms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

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

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Uses of Water Essay Example for Free

Uses of Water Essay 1. For drinking and for life processes. On an average, a man consumes about 60,000 to 80,000 litres of water in his lifetime. The body of an adult contains nearly 40 to 50 litres of water at any given time and water constitutes about 66% of the average body make up. Aqueous solutions fill the cells in the body. Nutrients, oxygen, and metabolic waste products are transported by blood, which is mostly water. Digested food is absorbed in the form of an aqueous solution. In plants too nutrients are transported in the form of aqueous solutions. 2. In agriculture Plants absorb their nutrients from the soil in the form of dilute aqueous solutions. Much of the worlds food crops are now grown under irrigation i.e. where regular water supply is diverted from dams, rivers, lakes etc. 3. In food industry Water is the common medium used all over the world to prepare various types of foods i.e., for cleaning of food, cooking with/in water: preservation (freezers, fridges etc.) washing and cleaning of utensils, hands etc. 4. In bathing, washing, cleaning, sanitation etc. 5. In industries Chemical industries are the greatest consumers of water; for instance, 170 litres of water is needed to manufacture just 1 kg of steel and about 144 tons of water is needed to produce one ton of paper. 6. For hydro-electric power production. 7. For transportation as well as recreation. Transportation by sea and recreation such as swimming, fishing, sailing and other water sports are the important means of using water. 1. For cooking food, for cleaning and drinking. 2. For cultivating food. 3. For transport and recreation. 4. For cleaning. 5. For plants and animals to live in. 6. For factories, industries and power stations Sources of water: Sources of fresh water Surface water Main article: Surface water Lake Chungarà ¡ and Parinacota volcano in northern Chile  Surface water is water in a river, lake or fresh water wetland. Surface water is naturally replenished by precipitation and naturally lost through discharge to the oceans, evaporation, evapotranspiration and sub-surface seepage. Although the only natural input to any surface water system is precipitation within its watershed, the total quantity of water in that system at any given time is also dependent on many other factors. These factors include storage capacity in lakes, wetlands and artificial reservoirs, the permeability of the soil beneath these storage bodies, the runoff characteristics of the land in the watershed, the timing of the precipitation and local evaporation rates. All of these factors also affect the proportions of water lost. Human activities can have a large and sometimes devastating impact on these factors. Humans often increase storage capacity by constructing reservoirs and decrease it by draining we tlands. Humans often increase runoff quantities and velocities by paving areas and channelizing stream flow. The total quantity of water available at any given time is an important consideration. Some human water users have an intermittent need for water. For example, many farms require large quantities of water in the spring, and no water at all in the winter. To supply such a farm with water, a surface water system may require a large storage capacity to collect water throughout the year and release it in a short period of time. Other users have a continuous need for water, such as a power plant that requires water for cooling. To supply such a power plant with water, a surface water system only needs enough storage capacity to fill in when average stream flow is below the power plants need. Nevertheless, over the long term the average rate of precipitation within a watershed is the upper bound for average consumption of natural surface water from that watershed. Natural surface water can be augmented by importing surface water from another watershed through a canal or pipeline. It can also be artificially augmented from any of the other sources listed  here, however in practice the quantities are negligible. Humans can also cause surface water to be lost (i.e. become unusable) through pollution. Brazil is the country estimated to have the largest supply of fresh water in the world, followed by Russia and Canada.[4] Under river flow Throughout the course of the river, the total volume of water transported downstream will often be a combination of the visible free water flow together with a substantial contribution flowing through sub-surface rocks and gravels that underlie the river and its floodplain called the hyporheic zone. For many rivers in large valleys, this unseen component of flow may greatly exceed the visible flow. The hyporheic zone often forms a dynamic interface between surface water and true ground-water receiving water from the ground water when aquifers are fully charged and contributing water to ground-water when ground waters are depleted. This is especially significant in karst areas where pot-holes and underground rivers are common. Ground water Main article: Groundwater Sub-Surface water travel time Shipot, a common water source in Ukrainian villages Sub-surface water, or groundwater, is fresh water located in the pore space of soil and rocks. It is also water that is flowing within aquifers below the water table. Sometimes it is useful to make a distinction between sub-surface water that is closely associated with surface water and deep sub-surface water in an aquifer (sometimes called fossil water). Sub-surface water can be thought of in the same terms as surface water: inputs, outputs and storage. The critical difference is that due to its slow rate of turnover, sub-surface water storage is generally much larger compared to inputs than it is for surface water. This difference makes it easy for humans to use sub-surface water unsustainably for a long time without severe consequences. Nevertheless, over the long term the average rate of seepage above a sub-surface water source is the upper bound for average consumption of water from that source. The natural input to  sub-surface water is seepage from surface water. The natural outputs from sub-surface water are springs and seepage to the oceans. If the surface water source is also subject to substantial evaporation, a sub-surface water source may become saline. This situation can occur naturally under endorheic bodies of water, or artificially under irrigated farmland. In coastal areas, human use of a sub-surface water source may cause the direction of seepage to ocean to reverse which can also cause soil salinization. Humans can also cause sub-surface water to be lost (i.e. become unusable) through pollution. Humans can increase the input to a sub-surface water source by building reservoirs or detention ponds. Desalination Main article: Desalination Desalination is an artificial process by which saline water (generally sea water) is converted to fresh water. The most common desalination processes are distillation and reverse osmosis. Desalination is currently expensive compared to most alternative sources of water, and only a very small fraction of total human use is satisfied by desalination. It is only economically practical for high-valued uses (such as household and industrial uses) in arid areas. The most extensive use is in the Persian Gulf. Frozen water An iceberg as seen from Newfoundland Several schemes have been proposed to make use of icebergs as a water source, however to date this has only been done for novelty purposes. Glacier runoff is considered to be surface water. The Himalayas, which are often called The Roof of the World, contain some of the most extensive and rough high altitude areas on Earth as well as the greatest area of glaciers and permafrost outside of the poles. Ten of Asia’s largest rivers flow from there, and more than a billion people’s livelihoods depend on them. To complicate matters, temperatures are rising more rapidly here than the global average. In Nepal the temperature has risen with 0.6 degree over the last decade, whereas the global warming has been around 0.7 over the last hundred years. Sources Of Water 1. Rainwater. 2. Springs. 3. Rivers and lakes. 4. Surface wells. 5. Deep or artesian wells. Rain water takes up the dust and gases from the air, and organic matter from the roofs over which it is collected. The long storing in a cistern gives bacteria opportunity to grow in large numbers, causing the water to be unsafe for drinking purposes. Springs are a source of pure water supply if they are not contaminated by passing through soil which is polluted. Rivers and lakes are a common source of water supply, but they may be made very unfit for drinking if the surface water and sewage from towns and cities is allowed to drain into them. Surface wells are a very unsafe source of drinking water supply, and the water should never be used when there are cesspools, drains, barnyards, or any other sources of contamination within a radius of 200 feet of them. Deep artesian wells furnish pure water as a rule, unless the piping is not tightly jointed, when impure water from a subsoil stream near the surface may enter the pipes. Ice Freezing has little effect upon bacteria except to lessen temporarily their vitality. When the ice melts, the bacteria may again become active. Ice made by artificial means from distilled water is the only pure ice. For cooling drinking water, the water should be placed on the ice and the ice should not be put into the water. Hard And Soft Water Soft water is water in which no mineral matter is dissolved. Hard water is water in which such minerals as lime, magnesium, and iron are dissolved. Boiling precipitates some of the mineral matter, thus tending to soften the water. This mineral deposit may be seen on the inside of a teakettle. Hard water that is to be used for cleansing purposes may be softened by the addition of washing soda, borax, ammonia, potash, or soda lye.

An Assessment Of Human Resource Information System Information Technology Essay

An Assessment Of Human Resource Information System Information Technology Essay Nowadays, we are in a highly dynamic and competitive business globe. Hencea key person or top management of any organization tries to earn a larger share of the existing market. In such an environment, Information Technology (referred to henceforth as IT) and Information Systems (referred to henceforth as IS) would sharpen the business process and smooth the functions of the day-to-day operations. Although there are number of software or ISs are available in an organization, Human Resources Information System (referred to henceforth as HRIS) is the only system which takes care of human capital of the organization. Therefore, it is very important to have an effective and efficient HRIS and it should be maintained properly. Especially, infrastructure of the telecommunication organizations should be consisted with innovative technologies to cater quality service through their satisfied staff. Human Resources (referred to henceforth as HR) Department should pay more attention to achieve the desires of internal customers such as employees, middle managers and senior managers. According to the pilot survey, nearly all the employees in Sri Lanka Telecom PLC are using HIRS which has been implemented island wide. Existing users are facinga lot of system issues such as outdated, incorrect, inconsistent data, less reliability and user-friendliness, low performance, insufficient user training and most importantly poor contribution in making decisions. Theseissues mightheavily affectthe companys HR functions. The main objectives of this study are to assess the effectiveness of existing HRIS implemented in Sri Lanka Telecom PLC and identify its implications, advantages of introducing Online Performance Appraisal System (referred to henceforth as OPAS) to support the Strategic Human Resource Management (referred to henceforth as SHRM) in same organization context. To achieve the above objectives, the researcher has to address different aspects and various categories of employees and all managerial and technical difficulties in using the system, user trainings, inaccuracy of data, and use of web base sub sets of HRIS, etc. Conceptual Background Main focus of this section is to describe the main concepts which would be used in the entire research study. What isHuman Resource Information Systems? Tannenbaum(1990, p. 27) defines that Human Resource Information System is the system used to acquire, store, manipulate, analyze, retrieve and distribute related information regarding an organizations human resources.Nowadays, HRIS functionality includes corporate communication, recruitment, selection, training, employee opinion survey, compensation, payroll services and employee verification as well as general information (NgaiWat 2006). Same time HRIS assists HR professionals to focus on human capital analysis, but simply having more information does not automatically lead to a better analysis (Roehling et al. 2005). HRIS is an important tool for many businesses. Even the small office needs to realize the benefits of using HRIS to be more efficient. Normally,HR system should provide the capability to plan, control and manage HR costs more effectively; achieve improved efficiency and quality in HR decision making; and improve employee and managerial productivity and effectiveness. They also provide centralized location for company policies, announcements, and links to external URLs, reliable communication processes and save paper by providing an easy-access. There are two types of IS for HR Professional. The software available as web-based and desktop based. More popular some HRIS modules are: Recruitment Attendance and Leave Organization charts Employee self-service (Employees can update personal information and view benefits selections, absence transactions and payroll information) Automatic alerts Benefits Administration (Save paper and postage, take weeks off the benefits open enrollment period, reduce administration time, and improve data accuracy) Training and developments What is Human Resources management? Human Resources management is the process of managing human capital in organizations in a systematic and structured manner. This covers the job analyses, planning, recruiting the right people for the job in right time, managing wages and salaries, providing benefits and incentives, training and development, performance evaluation, resolving disputes, and communicating with all employees within the organization. What is the Performance Appraisal System? The Performance Appraisal System (referred to henceforth as PAS) is a software program which provides the facility to evaluate an individual employees performance and productivity link with objectives of the organization and pre-defined criteria in systematic way. Generally, performance appraisal interview is conducted once a year. Some companies have implemented mid-year review to monitor the progress of achieving individual targets. In the process of PA interviewing supervisor provides feed back to the employees, recommend trainings, and discuss compensation, disciplinary decisions, or job status. Performance management systems would align and manage organizations resources in order to achieve corporate goals through highest possible performance. What is the Strategic Human Resource Management? The strategic human resource management is relationship of strategic goals and objectives of the organization, with human resources in order to increase productivity, flexibility, to develop organizational culture and competitive advantage. HSRM involves as a strategic SHRM partner to achieve corporate goals through human resources functions such as employee selection, recruitment, carrier development, benefit management, etc. Main features of SHRM: There is a precise relationship with overall organizational strategic goals and HR policies and practices. HR management delegates much of their responsibilities down the line. There are some organizing schemas linking individual HR interventions mutually supportive. Contextual Background This section covers the current context of the research study in brief. A pilot survey was conducted to identify the contextual background of the Sri Lanka Telecoms (referred to henceforth as SLT) HRIS and used a semi-structured interview guide line to interview six senior managers who are attached to the HR group and other user group who are involving implementation and currently using the HRIS. Through the pilot survey the researcher has identified the problems of the context. Furthermore, SLT Annual reports were referred to in order to identify their policies and practices and also Telecom Management Information System (hereinafter referred as TMIS) documents such as user guides, architecture, diagrams were referred. At present,Sri Lanka Telecom is the leading Telecommunications Service Provider in Sri Lanka. For the first time SLT introduced a HRIS in year 2000 through a local company. It included very basic HR functions and facilitated simple operations. However in year 2005 the system was upgraded and currently using new version which has many automated HR processes keeping up-to- date employee records such as payroll, Attendance, personal information, training and development, benefit management, etc. Chief Officer Human Resource (referred to henceforth as CHRO) of Sri Lanka Telecom stated that SLT had spent around 30 Million LKR for Telecom Management Information System to upgrade the entire HR system in 2005. Although, SLT is paying approximately 1.5 million LKR for the annual maintenance of HRIS there are some technical and managerial issues available. Most of the users who are using existing system face lot of -issues such as out dated, incorrect, inconsistent, information less reliability and user-friendliness, low performance, insufficient user training and especially poor contribution in decision making. Human Recourse activities are very important for any organization to carry out their day to day business activities. As displaying in Figure 1.1, there are twenty sub modules are available in TMIS and it starts from employee recruitment to termination.HR processes include HR planning, exam assessment information, recruitment, Employee Information Manager, transfers, promotions, payroll, bonus, training development, attendance leave, disciplinary, welfare benefit management (e.g. loan, housing loan, medical reimbursement, circuit bungalow reservations, quarters allocation). Module Overview of the Telecom Management Information System C:UsersSLTUSERDesktopTMIS Diagrams.jpg Figure 1.1.HRM Enterprise Module Overview.Reprinted from TMISV2 System Architecture Document (p.11), by Hsenid Business Solutions,2005. Reprinted with permission. Research Issue Although, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC has been using the existing Human Resources Information System for the last decade, there is no sufficient improvement in human resource management and it does not support the strategic decision making. Furthermore, manual performance appraisal stem is not contributed to the strategic human resource management effectively and efficiently. Purpose of the research The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of existing Human Resource Information System implemented in Sri Lanka Telecom Public Listed Company (referred to henceforth as PLC)and to understand weather existing sub systems and web-based applications are supported to the strategic human resource management adequately. Especially HRIS should be contributed to the decision making in human resource management. Outcome of this research would contribute to the body of knowledge by filling existing gap in strategic human resource management of HRIS at SLT studies by analyzing senior HR mangers, middle HR mangers and senior officers of other user groups who are engaged in human resources group as well as Human resources information system. This study would determine the advantages of online performance appraisal system further for strategic human resource management at Sri Lanka Telecom PLC. Significance of the Study All employees are using SLT HIRS in their day-to-day activities to fulfill various individual, operational and managerial requirements. Currently, SLT has implemented the HR system island wide (All groups, divisions in head office and regional offices). Most of the users who are using existing system face lot of issues such as out dated, incorrect, inconsistent data, less reliability and user-friendliness, low performance, insufficient user training and most importantly poor contribution in making decisions. which might affect the operations relating to the HR matters such as salary, overtime (OT) and Bata payments, maintaining employee master records, attendance, leave and benefit management (Issuing loan, medical reimbursement, etc..)etc. Therefore, it is necessary to have an assessment of all subject modules in existing HRIS and identify the advantages of automating the performance appraisal system (referred to henceforth as PAS). We have to gather ideas from different aspects, and various categories of employees including senior managers. All managerial and technical difficulties in using HRIS, training requirements, inaccuracy of data, barriers to maintain up to date records, use of web base sub system, etc., need to be addressed. It is also necessary to assess existing HRIS and its relevance to the strategic human resource management in line with the organizational HR goals. Objectives and Research Questions Table 1.1 Objectives and Research Questions of the Study. Objectives Research Questions To identify the features of HRIS What is HRIS? What are the features of HRIS at SLT? To evaluate the existing HRIS for Strategic Human Resources Management (SHRM) How existing system is supported to strategic human resource management? How web-based applications are useful to strategic human resource management at SLT? To identify the advantages of Online Performance Appraisal System (OPAS) for Strategic Human Resources Management(SHRM) at SLT What is performance appraisal system? What are the advantages of online performance appraisal system for strategic human resource management at SLT? Note. Researchers work Research Method and Design Research approach The researcher uses deductive approach since general quantitative data would be moving to the particular situations of organizations. Time horizon Researcher gathered data one time interviewing from senior managers in a pilot survey and through e-mailing the research questionnaire to the sample group within the SLT. Therefore, time horizon is cross sectional. Population, Sample Sample Techniques All employees in SLT have been considered as population. Sampling process of the research is based on the stratified random sampling technique. Data collection methods and procedures 1. Semi-structured interviews Six interviews were conducted with senior managers in SLT based on semi-structured interview guide line. 2. Questionnaire Research questionnaire was designed using the liker scale method and e-mailed to the sample group. 3. Journal articles and work papers Journal articles and work papers were used to find out more information on previous research work relevant to HRIS, HRM, PAS and SHRM. 4. SLT annual reports and TMIS documents Annual reports and TMIS documents were referred. Internet / web sites Refer online journal articles, text books, etc. Scope of the study / Delimitations Existing HRIS contains twenty separate modules to provide HR practices such as Human Resource Planning, Recruitment and Selection, Training and Development, Time and Attendance, Disciplinary, Payroll, Welfare and Performance Appraisal, etc. SLT HRIS is same as traditional HR services which provided conventional HR systems in other organizations. Four out of twenty modules (Recruitment, HR Planning, Exam Assessment and Disciplinary) are not being using and Performance Appraisal module is not yet implemented. In this study, researcher hopes to evaluate the existing HRIS and its usefulness for strategic human resource management and identifies the advantages of sophisticated On-line Performance Appraisal System which will improve the strategic human resources management at SLT. Organization of this dissertation Chapter 1: Introduction -This chapter contains the background of this study, research issue, significance of the study and its objectives. Literature survey would be discussed under chapter 2 which include spats studies and their findings. It also highlights the existing gaps in body of knowledge and discovers the potential contribution of the current research to fill the gap. Mainly, chapter 3 explains the Research Methodology of the study which includes research philosophy, approach, strategy and conceptual framework of this research. Conceptual framework is developed identifying context of the study. Furthermore, select the suitable statistical methods to analyze the data. The researcher elaborate the results and present using appropriate graphs, charts and tables using statistical software packages would be consider in Chapter 4 called Data Analysis. Chapter 5: Discussion, Conclusions and Recommendations Point out the observations, findings of this study and highlights the future researches for the potential researchers. Chapter Conclusion This section briefs the facts of the entire research study. Present business world is very competitive and running with the state-of-the-art technology. Many organizations use Information Systems in four levels (strategic level, management level, knowledge level and operational level) in their day-to-day operations. HR Department uses HRIS for the workforce management. However Human Resource Information System implemented in Sri Lanka Telecom PLC has lot of issues, such as insufficient user training and less supportive for the decision making at each organizational level. Therefore, main objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of existing Human Resource Information System in SLT and its usefulness for Strategic Human Resource Management to identify the advantages of Online Performance Appraisal System which will advance the Strategic Human Resources Management at SLT. Outcome of this research would contribute to the body of knowledge by filling existing gap in strategic human resource management of HRIS at Sri Lanka Telecom PLC.

Optically Active Polymers

Optically Active Polymers Optically active polymers play very important role in our modern society. The speciality of optically active polymers are known with its various characteristics as occurred naturally in mimicry. The present review describes the monomers and synthesis of optically active polymers from its helicity, internal compounds nature, dendronization, copolymerization, side chromophoric groups, chiral, metal complex and stereo-specific behaviour. The various properties like nonlinear optical properties of azo-polymers, thermal analysis, chiroptical properties, vapochromic behaviour, absorption and emission properties, thermosensitivity, chiral separation, fabrication and photochromic property are explained with details. This review is expected to be of interesting and useful to the researchers and industry personnel who are actively engaged in research on optically active polymers for versatile applications. Optically active materials are those which can able to rotate the plane of polarization of a beam of transmitted plane-polarized light containing unequal amounts of corresponding enantiomers. The optical activity originates from the presence of chiral elements in a polymer such as chiral centres or chiral axes due to long-range conformational order in a macromolecule. In fact, most naturally occurring macromolecules possess the ability to organize to more complex high structure rather than single one and manifest their functions. Optically active polymers are related to problems of the charged and reactive polymers, since optical activity is an inherent property of both natural macromolecules as well as a great variety of polymers synthesized. Chiral compounds are optically active and essential for life such as proteins, polysaccharides, nucleic acids, etc. and chirality is most important for existence. About 97% drugs are formed from natural sources, 2% are recemates and only 1% is achiral, in looking of chirality of nearly 800 drugs. Optically active polymers today have also become of great interest and thus play an important role in molecular arrangement and assembly, which is critical for optoelectronics super molecular structure [1-4]. The synthetic optically active polymers may also play important role like mimicry of naturally occurring polymers and that’s why the extensive studies are required on their synthesis, conformations and properties. Various kinds of optically active polymers e.g., fro m its helicity, internal compounds nature, dendronization, copolymerization, side chromophoric groups, chiral, metal complex and stereo-specific behaviour are reported, however, those are not placed in a systematic manner. In the present review an effort has been made to collect most of those works in one place for better understanding in the subject with detailed explanation of properties like nonlinear optical properties of azo-polymers, thermal analysis, chiroptical properties, vapochromic behaviour, absorption and emission properties, thermosensitivity, chiral separation, fabrication and photochromism. -Classification of optically active polymers Optically active polymers are divided into three types: Biopolymers as obtained from nature. Polymers prepared by almost completely isotactic polymerization by modification of naturally occurring polymer backbones such as polysaccharides. Synthetic polymers as per the requirement with proper tailoring of functional groups. -Speciality of optically active polymer Optical properties of polymers are not so different of other substances, excepting those characteristics related to the chain dimension and structure or conformational changes. Optically active polymers have found interesting applications because of their specific properties. The optical properties of these materials lie at the basis of many applications, for example in chromatographic methods for enantiomeric separations or creating complex optical devices. The dispersion of the specific rotation offers information regarding the conformational changes or Cotton effect. Optically active polymers characteristics as follows: Optically active polymers with configurational chirality: the optical activity is given by the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom in the backbone or in the side chain of the monomer; Optically active polymers with conformational chirality: the optical activity is related to the conformational changes; Optically active polymers with both configurational and conformational chirality: the optical activity is given by macromolecular asymmetry and by the presence of the asymmetrical centers. -Monomers of optically active polymers Some biological polymers are composed of a variety of different but structurally related monomer residues; for example, polynucleotides such as DNA are composed of a variety of nucleotide subunits. The solid-state structures of polystyrene – poly(Z-L-lysine) block copolymers were examined with respect to the polymer architecture and the secondary structure of the polypeptide using circular dichroism, quantitative small and wide-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy [5]. Synthesis of optically active polymers The optically active compounds are synthesized by highly efficient methodologies and catalysts. The various synthetic approaches for optically active polymers are described below: Helical polymer: Helicity is one of the subtlest aspects of polymer chain where the polymer chain spiral structure along the chain axis acts like a spring. Helical polymers are frequently occurring in nature in single, double or triple helices form in genes, proteins, DNA, collagen, enzymes, and polypeptides. The helical conformations increase the stability of the natural polypeptides. Preparation of artificial helical polymers is a great challenge to the researchers. So far, only limited success has been achieved in constructing microscale particles using helical polymers, despite the great number of analogous microparticles created from vinyl polymers and even from other conjugated polymers like poly(thiophene), poly(phenylene ethynylene), and poly(fluorene) and polyacetylenes. Meckings et al has performed extensive investigations on preparing nanoparticles from polyacetylenes, which have shown interesting potential in inkjet printing. Later on, various group of researchers have successfully prepared both nano and microparticles consisting of optically active helical substituted polyacetylenes [6]. Such nano- and microarchitectures demonstrated remarkable optical activity and significant potential applications ranging from asymmetric catalysis, chiral recognition/resolution, and enantiomer-selective crystallization to enantio-selective release [7-9]. Synthetic helical polymers may be classified as either static or dynamic helical polymers, depending on the inversion barrier of the helical conformation [10-11]. Static helical polymers have a relatively high energy barrier for helix inversion and are stable in solution, while dynamic helical polymers have a relatively low energy barrier for helix inversion and exist as a mixture of right- and left handed helical domains that are separated by rarely occurring helix reversals. Even a slight incorporation of optically active repeat units can shift the equilibrium to excess one-handed helicity. The chiral recognition properties of biopolymers with skilled emulating of synthetic helical polymers are currently a focus of much interest. Enantioseparation, catalysis, and sensing are among the more promising applications of molecular recognition based on responsive three-dimensional intramolecular or intermolecular superchiral structures. Optically active conjugated polymers represent an attractive class of chiral macromolecules adaptable to this purpose because their chiral behaviour can be augmented by nonlinear electrically conductive or optical properties arising from conjugation along the backbone. The first example of optically active polycarbazoles, poly[N-(R)- or (S)-3,7-dimethyloctyl-3,6-carbazole]s (R- or S-PDOC) were synthesized in 60-70% yield using modified nickel coupling method [12]. Helical polymers are easily denaturalized by certain physical factors e.g. heat, ultraviolet irradiation, and high pressure and by other chemical factors such as organic solvents. Various helical polymers have been synthesized, which include polyisocyanates, polyisocyanides, polychloral, polymethacrylates, polysilanes, polythiophenes, poly(p-phenylene)s, poly(1-methylpropargyl-ester)s, poly(phenylacetylene)s and poly(-unsaturated ketone) [13-19] (Fig. 1). Other polymers are whose optical activity is main chain or side chain chirality dependent e.g. amino-acid-based polymers are nontoxic, biocompatible and biodegradable. Optically Active Polymers Optically Active Polymers Introduction Optically active polymers are related to problems of the charged and reactive polymers, since optical activity is an inherent property of both natural macromolecules as well as a great variety of polymers synthesized. Most of the naturally occurring molecules/macromolecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins, and polysaccharides are chiral and optically active. Chirality is essential for life. This situation can be very obviously seen if  we look at the chirality of nearly 800 drugs (about 97%) derived from natural sources. Only 2% are racemates and only 1% is achiral. Synthetic optically active polymers are of great interests, since they might mimic the fascinating functions of naturally occurring polymers, leading extensive studies being conducted on their synthesis, conformations and functions. In fact, most naturally occurring macromolecules possess the ability to organize to more complex high structure rather than single one and manifest their functions. Optical activity is a ph ysical spectral property of chiral matter caused by asymmetric configuration, confirmations and structures which have no plane and no centre of symmetry and consequently have two mirror image enantiomeric forms of inverse optical rotation. The recemic mixture of chiral enantiomers is optically inactive. The great majority of natural molecules contain chiral centres and are optically active. This is the case because living systems and their extracts as enzymes are able to produce completely stereoselective asymmetrical synthesis or transformations. This led Pasteur to say that ‘life is asymmetrical’ at the molecular level. The majority of food and drug molecules of physiological activity are chiral [1]. Xi et al. [2-8] investigated about chirality of optically active compounds. Optically active polymers today have also become of great interest owing to their chiral structure which may play an important role in molecular arrangement and assembly, which is critical for optoelectronics super molecular structure [9-12]. Chiral polymers with helical chain backbone have received increasing attention due to their helicity generating from secondary interactions such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. These chiral helical polymers undergo conformational change as well as helical reversal easily. The concept of the optically active aromatic chromophore as ‘conformational probe’ in isotactic polymers can be further extended by the use of optically active monomers [13]. Optically active polymers have exhibited a number of interesting properties in several highly specialized areas such as chromatographic resolution of steroregular [14], chiral [15-16], asymmetric catalysis and phase of the separation of racemic mixtures [17], thermosensitivity [18], synthesis molecular receptors and chiral liquid crystals for ferroelectric and nonlinear optical applications [20]. In the last year [52], Angiolini and co-workers have synthesized and investigated methacrylic polymers bearing in the side chain the chiral cyclic (S)-3- hydroxypyrrolidine moiety interposed between the main chain and the trans azoaromatic chromophore, substituted or not in the 4’ position by an electron withdrawing group. In these materials, the presence of a rigid chiral moiety of oneprevailing absolute configuration favours the establishment of a chiral conformation of one prevailing helical handedness, at least within chain segments of the macromolecules, which can be observed by circular dichroism (CD). The simultaneous presence of the azoaromatic and chiral functionalities allows the polymers to display both the properties typical of dissymmetric systems (optical activity, exciton splitting of dichroic absorptions), as well as the features typical of photochromic materials (photorefractivity, photoresponsiveness, NLO properties). Recently, highly efficient methodologies and catalysts have been developed to synthesize various kinds of optically active compounds. Some of them can be applied to chiral polymer synthesis and in a few syntheses for optically active polymers; chiral monomer polymerization has essential advantages in applicability of monomer, apart from both asymmetric polymerization of achiral or prochiral monomers and enantioselective polymerization of a recemic monomer mixture. Optically active chiral polymers are not only fundamentally interesting, due to the rich and complex architecture of macromolecular chirality as compared to that of small molecules, but also technologically important because their unique chiral arrays give rise to a number of potential, and in some cases commercially implemented. Classification of Optically active polymers: Optically active polymers are divided into three types: Biopolymers: Biopolymers are the main type of biomaterials. According to their degradation properties, biopolymers can be further classified into biodegradable and non-biodegradable biopolymers. Many implants, such as bone substitution materials, some bone fixing materials, and dental materials, should possess long term stable performance in the body. Recently biopolymers acts as developments in bone tissue engineering, vascular tissue engineering, nerve tissue engineering, genitourinary tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, gene therapy, and controlled drug delivery have promoted the need of new properties of biomaterials with biodegradability. Biologically derived and synthetic biodegradable biopolymers have attracted considerable attention [21]. Polymers prepared by almost completely isotactic polymerization by modification of naturally occurring polymer backbones such as polysaccharides. Synthetic polymers: Polymers synthesized from low molecular weight compounds are called synthetic polymers, e.g., polyethylene, PVC, nylon and terylene [7]. This polymer is also divided into three types: (a) Addition polymers: Addition polymers are including vinyl, aldehyde, isocyanide and acetylene polymers that were prepared via addition polymerization reaction such as poly(acryl amide)s, polyolephynes, polystyrene derivatives, polyazulenes, poly(vinyl ether)s, polymethacrylate, polymethacryloylamine, polychloral, polyisocyanides, polyisocyanates, polyacethylene and polyethers [22–32]. (b) Condensation polymers: Condensation polymerization continues to receive intense academic and industrial attention for the preparation of polymeric materials used in a vast array of applications [28]. One of application is synthesis of chiral polymers. For this purpose, monomer must be optically active. (c) Cross-linked gels: One of application is synthesis of chiral polymers. For this purpose, monomer must be optically active. One of application is synthesis of chiral polymers. For this purpose, monomer must be optically active. Why optically active polymers are important? or Speciality of optically active polymer Optical properties of polymers are not so different of other substances, excepting those characteristics related to the chain dimension and structure or conformational changes. Optically active polymers have found interesting applications because of their specific properties. The optical properties of these materials lie at the basis of many applications, for example in chromatographic methods for enantiomeric separations or creating complex optical devices. The dispersion of the specific rotation offers information regarding the conformational changes or Cotton effect. Optically active polymers characteristics as follows: -Optically active polymers with configurational chirality: the optical activity is given by the presence of an asymmetric carbon atom in the backbone or in the side chain of the monomer; Optically active polymers with conformational chirality: the optical activity is related to the conformational changes; Optically active polymers with both configurational and conformational chirality: the optical activity is given by macromolecular asymmetry and by the presence of the asymmetrical centers. Monomers of Optically active polymers Polymerization is the process of combining many small molecules known as monomers into a covalently bonded chain or network. During the polymerization process, some chemical groups may be lost from each monomer. This is the case, for example, in the polymerization of PET polyester. The monomers are terephthalic acid (HOOC-C6H4-COOH) and ethylene glycol (HO-CH2-CH2-OH) but the repeating unit is -OC-C6H4-COO-CH2-CH2-O-, which corresponds to the combination of the two monomers with the loss of two water molecules. The distinct piece of each monomer that is incorporated into the polymer is known as a repeat unit or monomer residue. The identity of the monomer residues (repeat units) comprising a polymer is its first and most important attribute. Polymer nomenclature is generally based upon the type of monomer residues comprising the polymer. Polymers that contain only a single type of repeat unit are known as homopolymers, while polymers containing a mixture of repeat units are known as copolymers. Poly(styrene) is composed only of styrene monomer residues, and is therefore classified as a homopolymer. Ethylene-vinyl acetate, on the other hand, contains more than one variety of repeat units and is thus a copolymer. Some biological polymers are composed of a variety of different but structurally related monomer residues; for example, polynucleotides such as DNA are composed of a variety of nucleotide subunits. The solid-state structures of polystyrene – poly(Z-L-lysine) block copolymers were examined with respect to the polymer architecture and the secondary structure of the polypeptide using circular dic hroism, quantitative small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy [33]. Synthesis of optically active polymers Much of the attention in chiral polymers results from the potential of these materials for several specialized utilizations that are chiral matrices for asymmetric synthesis, chiral stationary phases for the separation of racemic mixtures, synthetic molecular receptors and chiral liquid crystals for ferroelectric and nonlinear optical applications. Presently optically active compounds are synthesized by highly efficient methodologies and catalysts. In a few synthetic approaches for optically active polymers, chiral monomer polymerization has essential advantages in applicability of monomer, apart from both asymmetric polymerization of achiral or prochiral monomers and enantioselective polymerization of a racemic monomer mixture [17].

The Awakening :: essays research papers

Edna Pontellier The Awakening, which was written by Kate Chopin, received a great deal of criticism when it was first published in 1899. Much of the controversy over the novel arose because of the character of Edna Pontellier. Edna was very much unlike the women of her time. In today's terms she would be considered a rebel. Edna opposed the traditional roles of society that kept many restraints on the women of the 1800's. According to traditional society of the 1800's women were assigned the duties of tending the home, caring for their husband, and bearing children. On the other hand, the men of this time were to be considered the authority of the household and were basically in charge of what goes on throughout the household internally and externally as well as mentally and physically. It is Edna's choice to disobey these roles and her need for self-discovery, which cause a shocking end to this adventure to find her true self. In her critique, the female artist in Kate Chopin's The Awakening: Birth and Creativity, Carlene Stone takes the reader through stages of Edna's struggle to become an artist showing direct correlation with her becoming and individual and in control of her own self. For example she states how Robert's encouragement while she is painting is very innocent in the beginning but eventually lead's to the awakening of her passions of her body and her falling in love with Robert. The fact that Edna falls for Robert goes against those societal roles which where followed by some many women of the 1800's. Robert plays a big role in Edna's self-development through artistry and love by being a huge source of imaginative power. Stone then goes on making references to the scene in which she grows tired during Mass and leaves with Robert who takes her to Madame Antoine's home. She states that stories told by Madame Antoine represents the oral tradition of art and that this day is the high point o f Edna's imagination and she will return to it in her memory as she paints. Another form of art in which Stone refers to is structured art, which is supplied by Mme. Reisz. Mme. Reisz plays her music with great feeling and art, which evokes pictures in Eden's mind and her passions of her body, arise once again. These pictures and passions once again contribute greatly to the continuing development of Edna's artistic growth, which continues to lead to her self-discovery.

Brave New World Vs Reality Essay -- essays research papers fc

Brave New World vs. Reality In many cases when you read a novel you may find comparisons between the "fictional" society and your realistic one. The author may consciously or unconsciously create similarities between these two worlds. The novelist can foresee the future and write according to this vision. In Brave New World, Adlous Huxley envisions the future of our society and the dangerous direction it is headed in. Brave New World is greatly dependant upon soma, as in our world where prescribed drugs and drug abuse are prominent. This is evident when Bernard and Lenina return from the Savage Reservation. Lenina is devastated from her experiences, so decides to take soma. It illustrates how like our world when something upsets us instead of trying to solve the problem we use drugs to mask them. Linda's addiction to soma is also an illustration of the similarities of drug abuse between our two worlds. Linda's return to Brave New World after many years brings her to the abuse of soma. She uses it as an escape from reality. Some of us use drugs to escape from the harshness and the tough brutality of reality. We always dream of the perfect utopia and expect our world to transform into it. Some of us always look for the easy way out and drugs allow us that. A further similarity of Brave New World to us, is when John is in the hospital after his mother's death due to soma abuse, and witnesses the workers receiving their soma rations. John begins to throw the soma out ...

Prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Essay -- Examining Pr

Prejudices are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education: they grow there, firm as weeds among stones. CHARLOTTE BRONTE, Jane Eyre Prejudice is something which has affected everyone at one time or another. It is like looking out a frosted window and not seeing a clear picture. When people look through a frosted window they sometimes see a blurred vision of the world outside. Sometimes we see people as very different from ourselves when really they are just a very little bit different from us. We can even see someone as an enemy instead of for who they really are. These narrow minded views in our society are prevalent, even though most of the time they are incorrect. To Kill a Mockingbird expresses many diverse pictures of prejudice; the situations also show that prejudice can be conquered. Aunt Alexandra will not allow Scout to play with Walter Cunningham because he is a poor boy. Aunt Alexandra shows her prejudice by not letting Scout play with someone of a lower social status "they're good folk...

Case Analysis Swatch Essay

In 1978, when Dr. Ernst Thomke became managing director of ETA, the position of this Swiss flagship industry had changed dramatically. Especially with the presence of a strong competency (Japan and U. S). Macro-environment: (PESTEL Analysis) * Economic: Threat: The market share had fallen from 56% to a mere 20%. Opportunity: The production had grown from 61 million to 320 million pieces and movements annually. Opportunity: the decline of the dollar was not quite as evident. Threat: Market share loss was more pronounced in finished watches (Japan was producing 50. million Electronic watch compared to Switzerland and had 21% of market share on finished watches) Threat: The situation was aggravated by adverse exchange rate movements relative to the U. S Dollar. Swiss watches was more expensive. Summary: The company had a great problem due to the high technologies of competitors, also their watches was more expensive so their market share had decreased. Industry Environment: 5 Forces of M. Porter: Threat of entry: * New entrants in the market of watches: Japan, Hong Kong. * Prices dropped dramatically from 1000/2000 $ in 1970 to merely 20/40 $ by the end of 70’s * In the 80’s, several competitors switched to the more sophisticated analogue models and thus created competition for the Swatch. Intensity of rivalry among existing competitors: Japan held the technological edge and created the new electronic watch to compete with Swatch. Most of the early American digital watch producers had started to withdraw from the watch business * Ebauches entered into direct international competition with Japanese, French, German and Soviet manufacturers. Bargaining power of Suppliers: * Ebauches S. A, of which ETA was part, was the major producer and supplier of watch movements for ASUAG, the main company (the Switzerland’s largest watch corporation). Bargaining power of Buyers: The third world and newly industrialized nations offer a previously unexplored market for Swatch * The Swiss exported movements and unassembled parts to foreign customers * ETA expanded its movements sales beyond its then current customers (Switzerland, France and Germany) to Japan, Hong Kong and Brazil. Substitute Products: * The invention of â€Å"Electronic Watches† by Japan. The new analogue watch designed by Swatch Key Success Factors: * The â€Å"Delirium† project with the objective to create the world’s thinnest analogue quartz movement. * Highly qualified labor, requiring flexibility, quality, and first-class styling at low-cost. The company adopted the strategy of differentiation and low-cost (economies of scale). * The Swiss company had their stronghold in assembly. * ETA and its parent company ASUAG have a long history of high quality watch design and manufacture. * As part of Switzerland’s largest watch company, ETA had the resources to mount a turnaround effort. * ETA claimed more control over its distribution channels and increased authority in formulating its strategy. The Swatch is produced in one single operation, which means that the production costs are lower. Attractive distributor margins and extensive training of the retailers sales personnel combined with innovative advertising ensure the unique positioning of the product. * The Swatch’s innovative design and production technology led to the creation of a low-cost, highly reliable watch; giving ETA a clear competitive advantage. * Strong brand and customer loyalty: †¢ Repositioning into in the fashion market. A wide range of products with different designs across all price points Mission, Goals, Objectives, Social Responsibility and Ethics: Objectives: Price: Quartz-analogue watch, retailing for no more than 50 Franc Suisse * Sales target: 10 million pieces during the first three years. * Manufacturing costs: Initially 15 SFr – less than those of any competitor. At a cumulative volume of 5 million pieces, learning and scale economies would reduce costs to 10 SFr or less. Continued expansion would yield long-term estimated costs per watch of less than 7 SFr. * Quality: High quality, waterproof, shock resistant, no repair possible, battery only replaceable element, all parts standardized, free choice of material, model variations only in dial and hands.

Literary Genre Essay

Literary genres are determined by literary technique, tone, content and by critics’ definitions of the genres. A literary genre is a category, type or class of literature. Major forms of literature The major forms of Literature are: * Novel * Poem * Drama * Short story * Novella Various forms of literature are written in and further categorized by genre. Sometimes forms are used interchangeably to define genre. However, a form, e. g. , a novel or a poem, can itself be written in any genre. Genre is a label that characterizes elements a reader can expect in a work of literature. The major forms of literature can be written in various genres. Classic major genres Genre is a category characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. The classic major genres of Literature are: * Drama * Romance * Satire * Tragedy * Comedy * Tragicomedy Genre categories: fiction and nonfiction Genre may fall under one of two categories: Fiction and Nonfiction. Any genre can be either: a work of Fiction (nonfactual descriptions and events invented by the author) or a work of Nonfiction (a communication in which descriptions and events are understood to be factual). Common genres: fiction Subsets of genres, known as common genres, have developed from the archetypes of genres in written expression. The common genres included in recommended Literature from kindergarten through Grade Twelve by the CaliforniaÃ'Ž Department of Education are defined as:[1] * Drama – stories composed in verse or prose, usually for theatrical performance, where conflicts and emotion are expressed through dialogue and action * Fable – narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale * Fairy tale – story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children * Fantasy – fiction with strange or other worldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality * Fiction narrative – literary works whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact * Fiction in verse – full-length novels with plot, subplot(s), theme(s), major and minor characters, in which the narrative is presented in (usually blank) verse form * Folklore – the songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or â€Å"folk† as handed down by word of mouth * Historical fiction – story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting * Horror – fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread and sometimes fear in both the characters and the readerÃ'Ž * Humor – Usually a fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain and sometimes cause intended laughter; but can be contained in all genres * Legend – story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, that has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material * Mystery – fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secretsÃ'Ž * Mythology – legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods * Poetry – verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses * Realistic fiction – story that is true to lifeÃ'Ž * Science fiction – story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets * Short story – fiction of such brevity that it supports no subplots * Tall tale – humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance Common genres: nonfiction * Biography/Autobiography – Narrative of a person’s life. A true story about a real person. * Essay – A short literary composition that reflects the author’s outlook or point. * Narrative nonfiction – Factual information presented in a format which tells a story. * Speech – Public address or discourse. * Textbook – Authoritative and detailed factual description of a topic. Literary fiction vs. genre fiction Literary fiction is a term used to distinguish certain fictional works that possess commonly held qualities that constitute literary merit. Genre works are written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Literary fiction may fit within a classification of market fiction, but also possesses generally agreed upon qualities such as â€Å"elegantly written, lyrical, and †¦ layered† that appeals to readers outside genre fiction. Literary fiction has been defined as any fiction that attempts to engage with one or more truths or questions, hence relevant to a broad scope of humanity as a form of expression. There are many sources that help readers find and define literary fiction and genre fiction. Literary element A literary element is an element found in the whole works of literature. Literary elements are not â€Å"used† by all authors; instead, they exist inherently in forms of literature and are derived by the readers of a work in question. [1] This distinguishes them from literary techniques, which are less universal and are used intentionally rather than being emergent characteristics of a literary work. For example, characterization, conflict, setting, and point of view would be considered literary elements, whereas irony or foreshadowing are considered literary techniques. Literary elements are most frequently used to help discussion on a work or better understand a work of literature. For instance, the New York State Comprehensive English Regents Exam requires that students utilize and discuss literary elements relating to specific works in each of the two essays,[2] much like many other state-level high school exams nationwide. Literary elements  * antagonist * archetype (prototype/original/classic/model) * characterization * climax * conflict * dialogue * diction * denouement (resolution) * dramatic structure * falling action * language * mood * moral * motif (feature/recurring design) * narrative mode (point of view) * narrative structure * Peripheral (minor/not a central important)Ã'Ž * plot * protagonist * rising action * setting * speaker * syntax * theme * Tone * Literary Analysis: Using Elements of Literature Students are asked to write literary analysis essays because this type of assignment encourages you to think about how and why a poem, short story, novel, or play was written. To successfully analyze literature, you’ll need to remember that authors make specific choices for particular reasons. Your essay should point out the author’s choices and attempt to explain their significance. Another way to look at a literary analysis is to consider a piece of literature from your own perspective. Rather than thinking about the author’s intentions, you can develop an argument based on any single term (or combination of terms) listed below. You’ll just need to use the original text to defend and explain your argument to the reader. Allegory – narrative form in which the characters are representative of some larger humanistic trait (i. e.greed, vanity, or bravery) and attempt to convey some larger lesson or meaning to life. Although allegory was originally and traditionally character based, modern allegories tend to parallel story and theme. * William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily- the decline of the Old South * Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde- man’s struggle to contain his inner primal instincts * District 9- South African Apartheid * X Men- the evils of prejudice * Harry Potter- the dangers of seeking â€Å"racial purity† Character – representation of a person, place, or thing performing traditionally human activities or functions in a work of fiction * Protagonist – The character the story revolves around. * Antagonist – A character or force that opposes the protagonist. * Minor character – Often provides support and illuminates the protagonist. * Static character – A character that remains the same. * Dynamic character – A character that changes in some important way. * Characterization – The choices an author makes to reveal a character’s personality, such as appearance, actions, dialogue, and motivations. Look for: Connections, links, and clues between and about characters. Ask yourself what the function and significance of each character is. Make this determination based upon the character’s history, what the reader is told (and not told), and what other characters say about themselves and others. Connotation – implied meaning of word. BEWARE! Connotations can change over time. * confidence/ arrogance * mouse/ rat * cautious/ scared * curious/ nosey * frugal/ cheap Denotation – dictionary definition of a word Diction – word choice that both conveys and emphasizes the meaning or theme of a poem through distinctions in sound, look, rhythm, syllable, letters, and definition Figurative language – the use of words to express meaning beyond the literal meaning of the words themselves * Metaphor – contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme without using like or as * You are the sunshine of my life. * Simile – contrasting to seemingly unalike things to enhance the meaning of a situation or theme using like or as * What happens to a dream deferred, does it dry up like a raisin in the sun * Hyperbole – exaggeration * I have a million things to do today. * Personification – giving non-human objects human characteristics * America has thrown her hat into the ring, and will be joining forces with the British. Foot – grouping of stressed and unstressed syllables used in line or poem * Iamb – unstressed syllable followed by stressed * Made famous by the Shakespearian sonnet, closest to the natural rhythm of human speech * How do I love thee? Let me count the ways * Spondee – stressed stressedÃ'Ž * Used to add emphasis and break up monotonous rhythm * Blood boil, mind-meld, well- loved * Trochee – stressed unstressed * Often used in children’s rhymes and to help with memorization, gives poem a hurried feeling * While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping, * Anapest – unstressed unstressed stressed * Often used in longer poems or â€Å"rhymed stories† * Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house * Dactyls – stressed unstressed unstressed * Often used in classical Greek or Latin text, later revived by the Romantics, then again by the Beatles, often thought to create a heartbeat or pulse in a poem * Picture yourself in a boat on a river, With tangerine trees and marmalade skies. The iamb stumbles through my books; trochees rush and tumble; while anapest runs like a hurrying brook; dactyls are stately and classical. Imagery – the author’s attempt to create a mental picture (or reference point) in the mind of the reader. Remember, though the most immediate forms of imagery are visual, strong and effective imagery can be used to invoke an emotional, sensational (taste, touch, smell etc) or even physical response. Meter – measure or structuring of rhythm in a poem Plot – the arrangement of ideas and/or incidents that make up a story * Foreshadowing – When the writer clues the reader in to something that will eventually occur in the story; it may be explicit (obvious) or implied (disguised). * Suspense – The tension that the author uses to create a feeling of discomfort about the unknown * Conflict – Struggle between opposing forces. * Exposition – Background information regarding the setting, characters, plot. * Rising Action – The process the story follows as it builds to its main conflict * Crisis – A significant turning point in the story that determines how it must end * Resolution/Denouement – The way the story turns out. Point of View – pertains to who tells the story and how it is told. The point of view of a story can sometimes indirectly establish the author’s intentions. * Narrator – The person telling the story who may or may not be a character in the story. * First-person – Narrator participates in action but sometimes has limited knowledge/vision. * Second person – Narrator addresses the reader directly as though she is part of the story. (i. e. â€Å"You walk into your bedroom. You see clutter everywhere and†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ) * Third Person (Objective) – Narrator is unnamed/unidentified (a detached observer). Does not assume character’s perspective and is not a character in the story. The narrator reports on events and lets the reader supply the meaning. * Omniscient – All-knowing narrator (multiple perspectives). The narrator knows what each character is thinking and feeling, not just what they are doing throughout the story. This type of narrator usually jumps around within the text, following one character for a few pages or chapters, and then switching to another character for a few pages, chapters, etc. Omniscient narrators also sometimes step out of a particular character’s mind to evaluate him or her in some meaningful way. Rhythm – often thought of as a poem’s timing. Rhythm is the juxtaposition of stressed and unstressed beats in a poem, and is often used to give the reader a lens through which to move through the work. (See meter and foot) Setting – the place or location of the action. The setting provides the historical and cultural context for characters. It often can symbolize the emotional state of characters. Example – In Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, the crumbling old mansion reflects the decaying state of both the family and the narrator’s mind. We also see this type of emphasis on setting in Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice. Speaker – the person delivering the poem. Remember, a poem does not have to have a speaker, and the speaker and the poet are not necessarily one in the same. Structure (fiction) – The way that the writer arranges the plot of a story. Look for: Repeated elements in action, gesture, dialogue, description, as well as shifts in direction, focus, time, place, etc. Structure (poetry) – The pattern of organization of a poem. For example, a Shakespearean sonnet is a 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter. Because the sonnet is strictly constrained, it is considered a closed or fixed form. An open or free form poem has looser form, or perhaps one of the author’s invention, but it is important to remember that these poems are not necessarily formless. Symbolism – when an object is meant to be representative of something or an idea greater than the object itself. * Cross – representative of Christ or Christianity * Bald Eagle – America or Patriotism * Owl – wisdom or knowledge * Yellow – implies cowardice or rot Tone – the implied attitude towards the subject of the poem. Is it hopeful, pessimistic, dreary, worried? A poet conveys tone by combining all of the elements listed above to create a precise impression on the reader.