Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Types of Aphasia Free Essays

Aphasia is a correspondence issue. It’s an aftereffect of harm or injury to language parts of the cerebrum. Furthermore, it’s progressively regular in more established grown-ups, especially the individuals who have had a stroke. We will compose a custom paper test on Sorts of Aphasia or on the other hand any comparable point just for you Request Now Aphasia impedes a person’s capacity to utilize or get words. Aphasia doesn't debilitate the person’s insight. Individuals who have aphasia may experience issues talking and finding the â€Å"right† words to finish their contemplations. They may likewise have issues getting discussion, perusing and understanding composed words, composing words, and utilizing numbers. What Causes Aphasia? Aphasia may likewise be brought about by a cerebrum tumor, mind contamination, or dementia, for example, Alzheimer’s malady. Now and again, aphasia is a manifestation of epilepsy or other neurological issue. What Are the Types of Aphasia? Expressive aphasia (non-familiar): With expressive aphasia, the individual recognizes what the individual in question needs to state yet experiences issues conveying it to other people. It doesn’t matter whether the individual is attempting to state or compose what the person is attempting to impart. Open aphasia (familiar): With responsive aphasia, the individual can hear a voice or read the print, yet may not comprehend the significance of the message. In many cases, somebody with responsive aphasia takes language truly. Their own discourse might be upset since they don't comprehend their own language. Anomic aphasia. With anomic aphasia, the individual has word-discovering troubles. This is called anomia. In light of the challenges, the individual battles to locate the correct words for expressing and composing. Worldwide aphasia. This is the most extreme kind of aphasia. It is frequently observed just after somebody has a stroke. With worldwide aphasia, the individual experiences issues talking and getting words. What's more, the individual can't peruse or compose. Essential dynamic aphasia. Essential dynamic aphasia is an uncommon issue where individuals gradually lose their capacity to talk, read, compose, and appreciate what they hear in discussion over some undefined time frame. With a stroke, aphasia may improve with legitimate treatment. There is no treatment to turn around essential dynamic aphasia. Individuals with essential dynamic aphasia can convey in manners other than discourse. For example, they may utilize motions. Furthermore, many profit by a mix of language training and meds. What Are the Symptoms of Aphasia? The principle manifestations of aphasia include: Trouble speaking Struggling with finding the proper term or word Using bizarre or wrong words in discussion Step by step instructions to refer to Types of Aphasia, Papers

Saturday, August 22, 2020

American Revolution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

American Revolution - Essay Example The insurgency occurred because of collected complaints which the American individuals had enough of. They were additionally challenging the different demonstrations that had been built up by England and which were to their drawback. A model was the Stamp Act of 1765 which forced that each American was to pay duties to England so as to counterbalance the expenses of running the British Military Organization. There was the cash demonstration of 1764 that denied issuance of lawful delicate cash and this threated to destabilize the mechanical economy. The quartering demonstration of 1765 additionally added to the insurgency as it expected colonialists to house troops from Britain and even gracefully them with their well deserved food. The contention that happened among England and the settlements was fundamentally realized by the provinces conflicts with the principles acquainted with them by their British heads. These guidelines sabotaged them further and kept them from being free and they were worn out and furious about this. They along these lines began with revolts in a portion of the states which were at last replicated and rehashed in the remainder of the provinces and this thusly prompted the transformation which occurred over various years. They were completely contradicted to these approaches and they began joining against the British colonialists as they realized that once join together, they could without much of a stretch get their freedom. The settlements additionally quit giving cash to the British government. The British government had spent the greater part of its assets and even amassed obligation from the war and they required cash from the settlements to recuperate which was not approaching (Morton 41). They began revolting and mass fights to deny the new strategies England was conferring on them henceforth giving trouble to the colonialists. The final turning point was reached in 1763 after the seven year’s war. At this point, enough was sufficient with the abuse and the various Acts and

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Cellular neurobiology

Cellular neurobiology This morning I went in early to image neurons on the confocal microscope again, and I was going to take pictures of the lab and our equipment for you guys I wanted to take them when I was in early, so I wouldnt have to explain to all the postdocs what a blog is but I forgot the camera. Hey, Im not a morning person, and I cant remember to do everything when I leave my nice dark cozy apartment at 6:45 AM. At least I did remember to leave Adam a shopping list, so he could go to the store on his lunch hour and get me ingredients for cookies and pie! So I guess instead, Ill talk about what my lab studies generally, and hope you dont notice that there arent any shiny jpegs to go along with my talk. Ive been working in Morgans lab for the last three years, which makes me one of the more senior lab members. Morgans lab is primarily concerned with studying the proteins which make up neuronal structures called dendritic spines. As someone may or may not have ever told you (I know they didnt teach me anything about neurobiology in my high school bio class but maybe things have gotten better over the last five years), neurons talk to one another via chemical signals. One neuron gets excited, and sends an electrical signal to its end which causes little packets of neurotransmitter to be released. The packets of neurotransmitter travel across the synaptic cleft and bind to receptors on the outside of the postsynaptic neuron. Different neurotransmitters bind to different receptors, so at this point everything gets really complicated. But something thats relatively universal is that the receptors are anchored to other proteins, which form a scaffold for the receptors and their associated factors. These scaffolds are located in the spines, and form a line visible on an electron microscope. This is called the postsynaptic density, or PSD. The spines are the hotspots of activity in the postsynaptic neuron; there arent many/any receptors or scaffolds outside spines. Ohmigod, I did not make this figure in Paint. How rude of you to suggest that I did. This is from a paper of Morgans from 2004. As you can see, lots of proteins in spines are binding to each other, and some proteins act as master scaffolds binding many different types of proteins together. These master scaffolds seem to act as liasons to the actin cytoskeleton. This is important, because reshaping of the spines via the cytoskeleton can be shown to have effects on memory-like states. Relatedly, patients with fragile X (a prominent symptom of which is mental retardation) can be shown to have long, skinny spines; most spines in adult neurons are relatively short and have mushroom heads. If you look back at my neuron pictures from last week, youll see that the body of the neuron is yellow (red + green = yellow), but there are lots of little green speckly dots all over the dendrites. (Aside: Dendrite comes from the Greek for tree. If you look at a live neuron in 3-D, youll see that the dendrites do look quite a bit like tree branches.) The reason there are speckly dots is that my protein, which is stained in green, localizes very strongly to the spines. There are approximately a majillion proteins in spines, and each person in my lab is studying a different one, pretty much. Some people are studying kinases (proteins which add a phosphate group to other proteins, generally changing the activity of the other proteins in some way), some are studying scaffolds, and some are studying ubiquitin ligases (proteins which add a small molecule tag to other proteins, causing them to be degraded by the cell). So thats what we do! Questions? 1. Arun asked, Mainly, I was wondering how much social responsibility do you think scientists have and whether that is enough many labs seem to focus on issues which are interesting to scientists but will have no effect whatsoever to the outside world. I have mixed feelings about this personally. As I look through labs in which I could do my thesis, Im drawn to labs studying medically applicable problems blame Professor James and 21A.216 (Dilemmas in Biomedical Ethics), but I would love to do something to help cure diseases, particularly the really devastating stuff like tuberculosis and AIDS. But my personal interests arent necessarily in those areas, and Im certainly no microbiologist. Im reassuring myself for the moment that even areas that dont seem to be relevant to disease can be just a few fortuitous discoveries away from a new therapy. As long as its related to the workings of biological organisms, it is potentially medically applicable. You just have to think a little harder. ;) 2. Nathan asked, Im really interested in neurons, and I was wondering if youve heard of the theory that neuron density is associated with intelligence or comprehension. Is it true that the activity of a neuron is proportional to the length of its dendritic tree? I would say that more accurately, neurons more densely packed with spines will tend to be more active. In a hand-waving way, spine density and spine number are related to intelligence (see again the fragile X example above), but with the strong disclaimer that most studies of this sort are looking at changes in the electrical properties of one type of neuron my lab uses rat hippocampal neurons in a dish in culture, while there are many different types of neurons in your head cross-talking in ways we cant even begin to comprehend right now. Understanding intelligence in a cellular way is far away. 3. Ashley asked, I was wondering, after you get your bachelors degree, are you required to get you masters and then your PhD, or can you start working on your PhD right after getting you bachelors? It depends on your field. In science, you generally go straight from a bachelors program to a PhD program Ill never get a masters degree. In engineering, you generally receive a masters degree before you are eligible to receive a PhD. 4. Anonymous asked, im really interested in being a cheerleader this fall but i dont have any experience :( what should i do to prepare for the tryouts in the fall? First and foremost, DO NOT WORRY. We only call them tryouts so people will understand what were talking about as long as Ive been on the squad, weve never cut anyone who was interested in joining. Tryouts are really more for you to try out the squad and see if you would enjoy being a cheerleader. Historically, about half the people on the squad did not cheer in high school certainly I didnt, and I was even captain of the squad my junior year.

Saturday, May 23, 2020

The Determinants Of Exchange Rate Essay - 2043 Words

A Time Series Analysis of the Determinants of Exchange Rate: The Case of Bangladesh Raafi Zakaria ID: 13105025 ECO 430: Econometric Analysis April 2015 Submitted to: Tanvir Sobhan This paper was prepared for a course requirement in ECO 430: Econometric Analysis in Spring 2015 at BRAC University. Abstract This study aims to formulate a model to determine Bangladesh’s exchange rate based on several economic indicators. By analyzing data from 1981 to 2013, it is observed that macroeconomic factors such as liquidity, net trade, debt and foreign exchange reserves relative to the US are significant in Bangladesh’s exchange rate determination. Interest rates, output and inflation are however insignificant, contrary to theory. This paper also discusses the relevance of unobserved effects and government interventions in exchange rate movements. . Engle-Granger Cointegration test does not exhibit a long run relationship between exchange rate and its determinants and therefore calls for further analysis. Introduction Exchange rate- the price of one country’s currency in terms of another, is one of the most keenly monitored, analyzed and governmentally manipulated economic indicators. For the free market economies of the world, exchange rates are hugely significant since they have a crucial part in determining the level of international trade and investment. According to Uddin, Quaosar Nandi (2013), the greater the exchange rate, the worse the circumstancesShow MoreRelatedForeign Direct Investment1674 Words   |  7 Pageswatch). The determinants of foreign direct investment may be the socio-economic, financial and the cultural factors which usually have positive and negative effect on the foreign direct investment. The risk is attached to the determinants of foreign direct investment. This paper examines the major determinants of foreign direct investment exchange rate, market size, political instability, infrastructure, openness to market and military rule. Data constraints in Pakistan some determinants consider toRead MoreTheories of Exchange Rate Determination822 Words   |  4 Pageseconomic literature on the relationship between interest rates and exchange rates in full, it will be useful to briefly discuss some of the important theories of exchange rate determination. There are many theories such as the theory of Purchasing Power Purchase Agreement (PPP), the Flexible Price Monetary Model (FPM), Sticky Price Monetary Model (SPM), Real Interest Rate Differential Model (RIRD), and Portfolio Balance Theory (PBT) of exchange rate determination. The PPP to maintain equality betweenRead Morec) State and discuss the empirical framework that underlies the relationship of the study. FDI= ÃŽ ²1900 Words   |  4 PagesMillion) EX = Exchange Rate (Official exchange rate of local currency units per US$) ÃŽ µ = Error term Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the dependent variable measure in terms of RM Million. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Debt (DT) and Exchange Rate (EX) are the independent variables or explanatory variables in this multiple regression model .Both GDP and DT measures in terms of RM Million whereas for the Exchange Rate, the unit of measurement is official exchange rate of local currencyRead MoreForeign Direct Fdi ( Fdi )846 Words   |  4 Pagesdevelopment of the country that receives it. The inflow of FDI is known to yield indirect benefits, such as enhanced employment opportunities, the improvement of the bal-ance of payments (BOP) account situation due to the increased availability of foreign exchange in an economy, and perhaps, most importantly, the prospect of the transfer of technology, manageri-al skills and other intangible knowledge to the host country which would allow domestic firms to improve their collective profitability and performanceRead MoreExport Pricing Strategie s1742 Words   |  7 Pagesperformed to identify the determinants of various export pricing strategies. A number of frameworks have been proposed by scholars. Cavusgil (1988) identifies six categories of variables having significant influence in determining export pricing. These are – a) Nature of product/industry, b) Location of production facility, c) distribution system, d) location and environment of the foreign market, e) U.S. government regulation, and f) management attitude. The determinants are extended by Myers, etRead MoreExternal Forces That Expect The Risk Of The Stock Market1224 Words   |  5 Pagesequity analyst, we expect the risk-free interest rate in the US to be 6.75%. Next will look at the U.S. equity risk premium, which will also be used in the best and worst-case scenarios. According to What is Equity Risk Premium, retrieved from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/equityriskpremium.asp, â€Å"Equity risk premium, also referred to as simply equity premium, is the excess return that investing in the stock market provides over a risk-free rate, such as the return from government treasuryRead MoreThe Effect Of Political Changes On Egyptian Economy1438 Words   |  6 Pagespolitical changes on Egyptian economy by studying the direct and indirect effect of political risk index and its sub-indicators on number of important variables such as economic growth, employment, exchange rates, Egyptian Exchange main index (EGX30), foreign investment flows, domestic interest rates, and domestic public debt during the time period from 2006 to 2015 using parametric and nonparametric statistical methods. The study concluded that political risk index and its sub -indicators have hadRead MoreExploring The Beliefs And Actions Of The Foreign Exchange ( Forex ) Market1728 Words   |  7 Pagespurpose This research was aim to discover the beliefs and actions of the trader in the foreign exchange (Forex) market, then adding to our knowledge about the microstructure of the Forex as well as trader’s view on exchange rate determination. Hence, it pointed out the divergence between economists’ and trader’s view. 1.2. Research method Authors used survey methodology with sample on UK-based foreign exchange dealers to collect analysis data. Specifically, 110 questionnaires were return from 1940 surveysRead MoreForeign Direct Investment Inflow Into Partner Countries1467 Words   |  6 Pageswith the logistic transformation of IIT, but the parameter estimate is statistically insignificant. DIST denotes the distance between Washington D.C. and capital cities of the U.S. trading partners and it generally considered to be an important determinant for both IIT and INT. Trade between neighboring countries tends to be large because distance is directly related to transportation cost. As a result, nations far from one another face high transportation costs will lead to reduced trade. The GravityRead MoreAssignment 101066 Words   |  5 Pagespoints) Change the Federal Funds Rate via Open Market Transactions (buying and selling gov t bonds on the open market). By far the most commonly used tool. Whenever you read about the Fed changing the interest rate they are referring to open market transactions the Federal Funds Rate. Since they cannot set the rate directly, but do it indirectly by buying and selling bonds on the open market, they usually refer to the desired interest rate as the target rate. 6. Choose one of the following

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

The Communication Within The Military - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 6 Words: 1949 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2019/05/17 Category History Essay Level High school Tags: Civil War Essay War Essay Did you like this example? The American Civil War was the war fought between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South) within the United States. The war erupted after years worth of conflicts between the two sides. Eventually, the Union was able to take the victory home, which ultimately united both sides. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Communication Within The Military" essay for you Create order If the South would have taken the victory, it would have been two distinct sides. The victory of the Civil War has been accredited to the skill of the commanders, the fighting qualities of troops, and resources in men and material, when in truth, it was all thanks to much more than that, such as the militarys intelligence and communication networks. The use of communication in the military was essential for the victory of the Civil War. Although many people may believe that the Union won due to the North having larger and many more companies and factories, larger cities, and a better economy than the South, nevertheless the Union attained the victory due to their communication networks within the military because they gained insight into the other sides locations and etc., looked at tactics they were using and were able to advance. The use of communication in the military was essential to the victory of the war for the North. Whether if it was through the form of letters, spies, an etc. Due to the fact that the main source of communication during the civil war was through letters, people had to advance so that others for whom the letters werent intended for, wouldnt be able to identify the content of what was being said. Many of the times, letters were intercepted, and the information was leaked, which affected either the Union or the Confederacy. Letters evolved over time, using ciphers to uncover the true motive of the letter. Military communication was a prominent aspect to the victory of the Civil War. If the military had no type of communication, they wouldnt have been able to gain insight, know when they were overpowered, and other information that was essentially a necessity. Communication between the military and others was a necessity because they needed to know information, because they could not just go in blindly, they needed to know that they were doing the correct thing. For instance, the Battle at Gettysburg, was not a mere collision of the two armies, the Confederates were going in blindly, but not the Union. The Union had marched 150 miles knowing that they would be there, because of the soldier-spies, that had reported back to them. The Union had spies that communicated back to them, fourteen locally organized groups of spies, had granted the Union the information necessary for the victory at the Battle of Gettysburg. According to the primary source, Sherman, William Tecumseh (1820-1891) to Colonel Robert Crooke Wood, the historical context is that it describes the armies preparedness, during the time of the Battle at Vicksburg. Furthermore, the importance of this document is that it demonstrates how with the communication they held between each other, they were able to continue the war because they had knowledge of what was occurring and if they were ready at the moment. The intended audience is Colonel Robert Crooke Wood and the purpose is to inform the Colonel of his army being well supplied with surgeons, medicines, medical supplies and hospital accommodations. It is a piece of letter that informs about the soldiers battling at the Vicksburg and how he was worried because many of the population had been wounded. The perspective is from William Tecumseh Sherman, who commands an army, and this is important because it is a form of communication, in which was effective because they informed each other whether they were prepared to go to battle. This piece of evidence demonstrates how a method of communication within the military was through letters, which was very so effective because they were able to commu nicate important information such as being prepared to continue going into war. Based on the primary source, Knox, William (1756-1795) Knoxs army diary (incomplete), the historical context is that it is on information about military tactics around the Battle of Germantown. It mentions movements of the army and important events that had occurred. Additionally, the importance of this document is that it represents how the army was doing in terms of ground they covered, materials they were in need of, things they had encountered that was information that could benefit them. The intended audience is that due to it being a diary, it was either for himself or for future references, if anything ever happened to him, or if he had to make reports to someone higher in power or status. The purpose was to record the movements of the army around Philadelphia in September and October 1777. The perspective was from William Knox who was a military officer of the Continental Army and later the U.S. Army, who also served as the 1st United States Secretary of War from 1789 to 1794. It is important because it records important information that was helpful for others in the military, like when it states on September 19, Intelligence recd. of the enemys pushing for Philadelphia the army crossd the Schylkill. According to a primary source, Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Nicholas Eveleigh, it is another primitive example of how military communication helped the Union be at a stage of benefit. The historical context is that is notes important events that relate to that of war. For instance, it mentions how ships loaded with arms had arrived from France and that Lord Cornwallis nearly captured General Benjamin Lincoln. Moreover, the context is that it informs the intended audience of prominent information such as the shipment of materials that were needed for the continuation of the war. The intended audience was Nicholas Eveleigh, who was an American planter and political leader who was a delegate to the Continental Congress for South Carolina in 1781 and 1782. The purpose is to inform of important details regarding the war and possible information that would help in the future of the war. The perspective is from Henry Knox, the secretary of War and it is important because it lists reports that were prominent to the continuation of the war, such as war materials arriving. If they hadnt received insight on the arrival of the materials, they wouldnt have known, when to continue and when to go pick up the latest arrival. Military communication was also used to let others know of plans that had went through, whether they were struggling or etc. According to a primary source named, Schuyler, Philip John (1733-1804) to James Duane, it demonstrates how the military communicated hardships or celebrations. In addition, the source is a piece of evidence that altered the war because many of those fighting the war, communicated about their losses and victories, in order to tell them details about how the other side was doing and the locations of where they were last at.The historical context is that it goes into great detail of the battle fought in New York, where they had to take the defeat due to them being overwhelmed. It states, abandon the fortress on York Island because the enemys strength was overwhelming. The intended audience is James Duane, a political leader throughout the war. The purpose is to inform the and give a response to James in terms of military actions that were taken and should be take n. It also informs of insight in terms of counties wanting to break away from New York and etc. The perspective is from Philip John Schuyler, a general in the American Revolution, and a United States senator from New York. This is important because it is a letter with intelligence that would benefit the Union, if they had received such important information. According to a primary source, Knox, Henry (1750-1806) to Lucy Knox, it demonstrates how even within family, military information was passed. The historical context is that it reports little activities since the retreat in the Battle of Long Island. It discusses military activities and the effects of such movements. The intended audience is Lucy Knox, the wife of Henry Know, I believe. The purpose is to inform her of important information such as military movements and life. Albeit, the information may seem to broad, in terms of its relation to the topic, the context of the letter was prominent because anyone who might intercept the letter would just see that there is communication between family, therefore, they would not care much of what the information could have potentially said. The perspective is from Henry Knox, a military officer of the Continental Army and later the United States Army, who also served as the 1st United States Secretary of War. It is important because they o ftentimes speculated of military activities that would occur later on, due to the information they had received. They informed one another of details regarding the military and etc. Military communication was more like military intelligence because it helped the military advance and know certain information, such as locations, names of certain people, the events of the current situation and more. According to a secondary source, Military Intelligence During Americas Civil War,it mentioned how a major part of intelligence used during the Civil War was through the following source: spies, scouts, cavalry reconnaissance, captured documents, mail, newspapers, interrogation of enemy prisoners, deserters, refugees, contrabands (fugitive slaves) ordinary civilians, balloonists and signal corps stations of observation. According to a secondary source, Lincoln in the Telegraph Office: Recollections of the United States Military Telegraph Corps during the Civil War, it mentions how essential communication in the military actually was. It discusses how the electric telegraph maintained speedy communication between Washington and armies in distant fields. By the ending of the war, the Union had strung over fifteen hundred miles of military telegraph line, whereas the Confederacy had only about a thousand. It was estimated that 6,500,00 Union messages passed over the wires during the war at a cost of about 40 cents per message. Ciphers were also very commonly used. The service arbitrarily assigned significance to certain words, or arranged words in a false position, throwing in meaningless words to confuse certain readers. According to a secondary source, The secret War for the Union: The Untold Story of Military Intelligence in the Civil War, it mentions how the success was due to the militarys communi cation. It states, for example, the standard depiction of the Battle of Gettysburg as the accidental collision of two armies marching half blindly is found to be true only for the Confederates. Their 150-mile march from the Rappahannock River to Pennsylvania was penetrated by soldier-spies whose findings enabled the pursuing Federals to cross the Potomac simultaneously with the main body of the invaders, and unbeknown to them. The Confederates assumed dangerously dispersed positions across South-Central Pennsylvania, their movements reported by fourteen locally organized groups of citizen-spies and scouts. In conclusion, the communication within the military was essential to the victory of the Union. Without the military communication, the Union would have been unable to win against the Confederates. Although many historians may believe that the Union was able to take the victory to the South due to its tactics or a better sustained economy, nevertheless, the Union was able to become victorious due to the communication networks in the military because they were able to gain insight, they were able to learn certain tactics from the other team, being able to know the location from the other side and etc. Communication network was an aspect of the Civil War that was essentially the victory of the war, due to the reaps of benefits, such as the importance of information.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Central Dogma Paper Free Essays

The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology was founded by Francis Crick in 1958. A central dogma of biology provides an explanation as to how gene expression occurs. The central dogma is the main thesis of molecular inheritance. We will write a custom essay sample on Central Dogma Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now It states that DNA makes RNA, which makes protein. Genes control the traits by controlling which proteins are made. The process of Central Dogma of Molecular Biology is when DNA transcripts into RNA and then translates into protein. Transcription is the transfer of genetic information from DNA forming into RNA. The differences between DNA and RNA are the sugar that’s in DNA which is called deoxyribose and ribose for RNA which does not have sugar. When DNA replication begins, it begins at a specific point in the DNA molecule called the origin of replication site. The enzyme helicase unwinds and separates a portion of the DNA molecule. After the DNA polymerase separates a portion of the molecule it then initiates the process of replication in which DNA polymerase can add new nucleotides to a pre-existing chain of nucleotides. Therefore, replication begins as an enzyme called primase and it assembles an RNA primer at the origin of the replication site. The RNA primer consists of a sequence of RNA nucleotides, complementary to a section of the DNA strand that is being prepared for replication. The RNA primer is then removed and replaced with a sequence of DNA nucleotides. Then Okazaki fragments are synthesized and the RNA primers are replaced with DNA nucleotides and the individual Okzaki fragments are bonded together into a continuous complementary strand. During transcription deoxyribose nucleic acid is formed into another nucleic acid which is ribonucleic acid or RNA. Transcription begins when RNA polymerase binds onto the double stranded DNA molecule. RNA polymerase moves along the strand of DNA making a complementary single stranded RNA molecule. Here’s a good thing you could remember, take the root word ‘scribe’ out of transcription and think of it was a person who writes copies of important documents because that is what scribe means. Next is translation, it is the process of using the code in RNA to put together the protein and translation is a word that describes the transfer of information from one to another. Translation begins when messenger RNA binds to the ribosome. The RNA passes along the ribosome and brings out 3 nucleotides at a time. While that’s happening the amino acid that is being carried is also being transferred to the amino acid chain. After that is done the ribosomal complex falls apart and the protein is released into a cell. During protein synthesis, amino acids build a protein molecule that’s, of course, called protein synthesis. Synthesis means ‘putting together’, so that is a good way to remember protein synthesis. Protein synthesis is the cellular process of building proteins. Translation has a part of the central dogma that is also included in protein synthesis and transcription is not. Translation is just the decoding of RNA to make a chain of amino acids that will then, later, turn into protein. Overall in central dogma, DNA is simply the instructions to making proteins. How to cite Central Dogma Paper, Papers

Saturday, May 2, 2020

South-East Asia

Question: Describe about the South-East Asia? Answer: Rising location: In the region of South East Asia, the rising countries for appropriate business locations are China, Dubai, India, Bangladesh and some part of Afghanistan. These countries are well developed and still developing in the business field, especially the countries like India and China, where the population is very high, in these two countries consumers are very good in numbers. New industries and Technologies: In this region small and medium business achieved huge success. As far as large business are concern, in Dubai and Afghanistan petroleum related business is well affirmed due to availability of raw materials and other resources. Though countries like India and China are considered as developing countries but in recent past they proved their improvement in the world business as to the technological aspects. Human Resources: In South East Asia, human resources are very much available, worlds two largest populated countries, China and India is located in this region, for that purpose in any business human resources are not a problem here. Now these countries are quite developed in skill developing sectors as well, so qualified employees will be available in this part of the Asia (Askegren, 2005). Political environment and risks: In all the countries located in this part of Asia, political environment is quite helpful, as these countries are looking for employment for their youths and development in the field of world trade, for that purpose they welcomes entrepreneurs to their countries. As far as political conditions are concern, risk factors are there but they can be eliminated (Bensahel and Byman, 2004). Markets: In this part of Asia, worlds two largest populated countries are situated. Generally small and medium price goods are more effective in the market of these countries, as there is huge population but these countries are still developing, so big pricing goods are less acceptable for the citizens of these countries (Cheung, Vikas and Ma, 2011) . Company strategies: The company should target the middle and lower middle class customers as they are the largest in numbers. Level of distribution must be very good as these are very big in territorial aspect. In certain level depending upon the type of the business joint ventures with the concern government can also be established (Chau, 2008). Macroeconomic environment: Economic equilibrium in these countries may be a problem as these are developing country and they are settling down their economic system. So it may be quite rigid in nature which may not be suitable for business economy (Hubbard, 2009). Energy and resources: Resources and energy level differs from one country to another but in general to the subcontinent region China, Dubai and India is quite developed in business sectors, here energy sources and other resources are not a big issue subject to some exceptions. Customer behavior: Here middle and lower middle class persons are the main consumers. Low price goods are sold in a rapid speed as the consumers are still surrounded by their basic needs and amenities. Fluvial, shipping, road transportation: In recent time subcontinent countries has developed their skills in transportation sector in noticeable mark. Shipping, flying and road transport are very developed now and suitable for business purpose too. FDI: By Foreign Direct Investment the entrepreneurs can earn a good profit by conducting their business in these countries and it will also help to enhance the economic aspect of the concern country (Blaine, 2008). References Askegren, P. (2005).Human resource. New York: Ace Books. Bensahel, N. and Byman, D. (2004).The future security environment in the Middle East. Santa Monica, CA: RAND/Project Air Force. Blaine, H. (2008).Foreign direct investment. New York: Nova Science Publishers. Chau, V. (2008).Relationship of strategic performance management to team strategy, company performance and organizational effectiveness. Bradford: Emerald. Cheung, Y., Vikas, K. and Ma, G. (2011).The evolving role of Asia in global finance. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald. Hubbard, R. (2009).Macro economics. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Sunday, March 22, 2020

Welfare Essays (824 words) - Federal Assistance In The United States

Welfare Welfare is a government program that provides money, medical care, food, housing, and other things that people need in order to survive. People who can receive help from these welfare programs are children, elders, disabled, and others who cannot support their families on their current income. Another name for welfare is public assistance. There are many organizations that supply this public assistance. Such as Salvation Army and other groups. Public assistance benefits help many people who live below the poverty line, an income level is established for families. If your income is below this you would be eligible to receive this help. Welfare in the United States Federal and state governments in the Unites States serve the poor people through about 60 public assistance programs. Most people receive help through one of the four major programs. These programs are Medicaid, Aid to families with dependant Children, Social Security, or Supplemental Security, or the food stamps program. I will discuss the four programs individually. Medicaid provides free medical care to the poor people. Funds vary from state to state. In some situations, people who may be able to pay daily needs, but can't afford large medical bills may also be able to receive Medicaid. Some services paid for are bills such as doctor's visits and nursing home care. Most Medicaid funding comes from the federal government. The rest is supplied by the state. Each state runs their own Medicaid program. A.F.D.C. provides cash benefits to dependent children and the parents or the guardians taking care of them. Most families that qualify for A.F.D.C. have just one parent in the home. About 80 percent of these families are headed by a woman. A.F.D.C. also pays benefits to two-parent families if both parents are unemployed. Most A.F.D.C. funding comes from the federal government. The states provide the rest of the money and administer the program. The sizes of families' payment vary from state to state. Next is Social Security Income. This provides financial Aid to people in need who are at least 65 years old, blind, or disabled. The federal government finances and administers social security income programs in most states, though some states supply the federal payment and are able to run their own programs. Finally, the Food Stamp Program helps low-income households buy more and better food than they could otherwise afford. Each participating household receives a certain number of coupons called food stamps. The stamps are issued by the federal government. The number of stamps a household receives varies with the family's size, income, and expenses. Cooperating grocery stores accept the stamps like money for food purchases only. There are other programs such as energy assistance and public housing. Energy assistance, which is federally financed but administered by the states, helps people pay fuel bills. Public housing provides low cost rental apartments in government owned buildings. State and local governments fund and administer their own general assistance programs. These programs provide financial aid for needy people who do not qualify for other types of welfare. People waiting to receive assistance from other programs also may get temporary emergency aid from general assistance. Back in the early days, welfare resembled the English system. Social governments were responsible for helping the poor. But the colonies and later the states, sometimes helped the local government provide aid. The first federal welfare program, began after the Revolutionary War, they provided pensions to war veterans. During the Civil War these pensions were expanded to cover soldiers' widows and orphans. In the early 1900's, primary responsibility for providing welfare benefits shifted from local to state governments. During these years, states enacted programs to aid dependent children and the elderly. The criticisms of welfare ranges over a number of social and economic issues. Some people criticize welfare programs for not providing high enough benefits to eliminate poverty. Spending on welfare would have to increase greatly to eliminate poverty, and many people believe the cost is already too high. Many critics of the welfare system charge that providing a steady income to needy people encourages idleness. Actually, most welfare benefits go to elderly, blind, and disabled people and mothers with young children. But welfare does discourage some recipients from working harder by reducing benefits if their income increases. Many people also criticize the welfare system for being too complex and costly to administer. Each program has its own eligibility requirements and ways of calculating benefits, and these rules vary from state to state. Public officials collect detailed information about applicants to determine their eligibility for benefits. This process is time-consuming and costly. Some people cheat the system by not reporting all the income they earn. But

Friday, March 6, 2020

Free Essays on The Goal

The Goal Book Review I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s so unlike any book I’ve had to read for class before, except for novels that we read in English class, of course. It was sort of a text book, but with a story. And an interesting plot, no less. I liked how Goldratt got me all involved in not only Alex’s job at the plant, but his personal life as well. I’ll have to admit that as I was getting into the story, it was easy to guess that the book will conclude with a happy ending. I was enthralled anyway, though. I thought this book was so good, it actually only took me three days to read. I thought that was pretty good considering all the stuff a person does in one day. What got me so interested is the way the story is written. Goldratt kept me trying to guess what Alex was going to do next, and that kept me reading into the next chapter. And not only did he keep me guessing about how in the world Alex was going to save the plant, he also kept me guessing about how Julie was going to react to all of it. But Julie’s reaction is typical. I’m sure I would feel the same as her as well. I think it’s hard when one spouse stays at home while the other one works long hours. What I enjoyed most about this novel is the fact it seemed so real. We’ve got this ordinary guy, who’s an engineer like me. My husband, who is actually an industrial engineer, got excited when he saw me reading this book. He had read it in his intro class and really like it as well. Though he said they read it over the course of several months. Anyway, this ordinary guy has real life problems just like everyone else in the world. There are problems with his job, working too hard, and work cutting into his personal life. I think one great thing that this book tried to teach is how to balance work and life. Sure, we all want to do well in our careers and move ourselves up the ladder, but there really needs to be some s... Free Essays on The Goal Free Essays on The Goal Eliyahu M. Goldratt’s The Goal When I first started reading The Goal, I felt that I couldn’t relate to the topic and setting of the book, since I am still an undergraduate business student who has not even begun studying a specific area of business. But the more and more I read, the more I became interested in the story and the more involved I became in rooting for the success of the plant. Never before have I really thought about the world of manufacturing, especially managing a plant that produces industrial parts. As a marketing major, I think I have always felt that manufacturing was a completely separate part of business like the financial aspects of business (accounting and finance). The Goal brought into perspective the problems that can arise from the different demands on the manufacturing process, especially the differences in goals among the different parts of a business. I never realized, until reading this book, the pressures that marketing puts on manufacturing and the consequences of the pressures to produce more and more to sell at lower and lower costs in order to gain customers. I also thought it was interesting that a business could have been running for so long with different goals- one department was concerned with inventory, one department was concerned with cost, and one department was focused on pleasing customers and trying to sell as many orders as possible. When Jonah helped Alex focus in on the real goal of the plant, to make money, it seemed to me that a goal so simple should have been obvious to everyone in the company from the start. I now realize the importance of communication within an organization on all levels, especially when it comes to matters of money and production, since those two factors almost drove Alex’s plant out of business. In conclusion, I feel that this was an extremely valuable and pleasant read for me as a business student, and I would highly recommend th... Free Essays on The Goal The Goal Book Review I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s so unlike any book I’ve had to read for class before, except for novels that we read in English class, of course. It was sort of a text book, but with a story. And an interesting plot, no less. I liked how Goldratt got me all involved in not only Alex’s job at the plant, but his personal life as well. I’ll have to admit that as I was getting into the story, it was easy to guess that the book will conclude with a happy ending. I was enthralled anyway, though. I thought this book was so good, it actually only took me three days to read. I thought that was pretty good considering all the stuff a person does in one day. What got me so interested is the way the story is written. Goldratt kept me trying to guess what Alex was going to do next, and that kept me reading into the next chapter. And not only did he keep me guessing about how in the world Alex was going to save the plant, he also kept me guessing about how Julie was going to react to all of it. But Julie’s reaction is typical. I’m sure I would feel the same as her as well. I think it’s hard when one spouse stays at home while the other one works long hours. What I enjoyed most about this novel is the fact it seemed so real. We’ve got this ordinary guy, who’s an engineer like me. My husband, who is actually an industrial engineer, got excited when he saw me reading this book. He had read it in his intro class and really like it as well. Though he said they read it over the course of several months. Anyway, this ordinary guy has real life problems just like everyone else in the world. There are problems with his job, working too hard, and work cutting into his personal life. I think one great thing that this book tried to teach is how to balance work and life. Sure, we all want to do well in our careers and move ourselves up the ladder, but there really needs to be some s...

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Marketing the Bad Boys of the NFL Research Paper

Marketing the Bad Boys of the NFL - Research Paper Example The Super Bowl is the most-watched American television broadcast. Super Bowl XLIV, played in 2010 between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, became the most-watched American television program in history, drawing an average audience of 106.5 million viewers and taking over the spot held for 27 years by the final episode of MASH. Sunday Night Football has become the most popular sow in prime-time television this season, dominating the overall Nielsen ratings, with the highest average viewership for a prime-time NFL package in 14 years. Sunday, December 6th's Pittsburgh-Baltimore classic, seen in nearly 23 million homes, was the most-watched show on television in the first week of December 2010, as Sunday Night Football has been since the start of the 2010 season. The NFL is so violent that the league, the US military, and neurologists recently held a conference to investigate head injuries and concussions and determine if equipment or rule changes could protect the players better. Remarkably, the military was involved because NFL players suffer the same type and frequency of injuries as soldiers in combat. That is an astonishing correlation – the NFL is as violent as combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. NFL is so violent that players regularly suffer 'career-ending' injuries that leave them crippled for life. It is so violent that Daryl Stingley was paralyzed for life in a game, and in pre-season games at that. In a meaningless preseason game New England Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan overthrew wide receiver Darryl Stingley, Jack Tatum of the Oakland Raiders, known for his vicious hits, nailed Stingley while he was in the air, snapping vertebrae in his neck. Stingley was a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. He died in April of 2007 at the age of 55 of heart disease and pneumonia complicated by his quadriplegia. NFL also has a propensity for criminality and criminal violence.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Write a complete laboratory report that covers all three experiments Essay - 1

Write a complete laboratory report that covers all three experiments for Lab 2 Water Quality and Contamination - Essay Example ater comprises at least 70% of the earth, only about 1% percent of this water is fresh water, and the rest 99% of the water is non-usable salty water. The process of purifying salty water to make it usable fresh water is extremely complicated and expensive and as such, people, many animals, and plants have to survive on the 1%. There are three sources of fresh water used by people and animals; ground water, surface water, and aquifers. Surface water includes water that collects on the ground through the process of precipitation and which does not evaporate back to the atmosphere or even infiltrates to the ground. This water collects in such places such as rivers, lakes, among others. Ground water on the other hand settles underneath the ground, and is stored in pores, fractures, or solid rock underneath the earth surface. This water collects in these places through the infiltration process. Aquifers on the other hand are areas where water collects such as in sand, gravel or permeable rock. Although rainwater is pure, it gets contaminated very fast, especially after it touches the ground through man made, natural and animal pollutants. Ground pollutants travel from one place to another through streams, rivers, or ground water while others are available in the air. Man-made pollutants include motor oil, petrol and diesel, acidic chemicals, among others. There are many dangers of consuming contaminated water, especially the potential of these impurities in causing diseases. Poisons, disease causing agents and toxins can reside in water, and adversely affect people. Medics believe that contaminated water such as toxins and lead acid chemicals are responsible for majority of cancers affecting many people today. It is because of these impurities and dangers associated with contaminated water that water purification becomes

Sunday, January 26, 2020

What It Means To Be A Great Power Politics Essay

What It Means To Be A Great Power Politics Essay Great Powers are the most powerful members in the international system. The idea of Great Power plays a significant role in the theory of international relations as any changes in the Great Powers strategies or emergence of new Great Powers normally alter the status quo. This essay began by examining the different criteria used by scholars to define Great Powers, following by my own definition of Great Powers to further discuss and illustrate my understanding of this concept. Today, China plays a new role in the international system, garnering increasing attention around the globe. Chinas economic strength and political clout are already influencing places beyond the Asia Pacific region. Africa, as a place in which Chinese engagement is expanding rapidly, can be used as a region to assess whether China is a Great Power or not. The second part of the essay analyses Chinas foreign policy towards Africa since the 1990s with attention to Chinas objectives there as well as the reactions of the African. Various aspects will be discussed, including Chinas political, economic, military presences and soft power to assess whether China is a Great power in Africa or not. II. Definition of Great Powers in the International System Scholarly definitions The traditional definition of great power can be found in the distinction made at the Paris Peace Conference, which suggested that great power is a state with a global scope of interests in the international arena  [1]  Throughout the years, the concept of great power has been conceptualized by a number of theoretical schools of international relations, for example, realism, liberal internationalism and constructivism. According to a prominent British historian Arnold Toynbee, great power can be defined as a political force exerting an effect coextensive with the widest range of the society in which it operates  [2]  , while one of the leading scholars of the international relations in 20th century, Martin Wight regards, great powers as powers with general interests, i.e. those whose interests are as wide as the state systems itself, which today means worldwide.  [3]  And for Professor Hedley Bull from the University of Oxford, great power contributes to international system by managing their relations with one another; and by exploiting their preponderance in such way as to import a degree of central direction to the affairs of international society as a whole.  [4]  I agree with these viewpoints that the ability to project influence and power beyond its region is a decisive factor for defining greatness. The concept of great power is a pivot in many realists international relations models, including the theory of hegemony, balance of power and the polarity in international system. According to a prominent Neo-realist scholar, Waltz Kenneth stated in his remarkably influential book, Theory of International Politics, the great powers extraordinary positions in the international system enable them to undertake tasks that other states have neither the incentive nor the ability to perform.  [5]   Some realist scholars argued that there is asymmetry of power within the international system. According to Krasner, when power asymmetries are high, the frequency of intervention increase.  [6]  He put forward the argument that a great power intervene the weaker states internal affairs by various norms, values and principles to justify and legitimize their actions. They sometimes violate those values and principles, but themselves stay free from external interference.  [7]   Another realist scholar, Leurdijk also suggested that the international system is in hierarchical relations- relations of dominance and subordination.  [8]  That means, the great powers are those who dominant over the subordinated countries. Therefore, from this perspective, a great power is a state which has more state sovereignty and autonomy it can claim, and it is subject to less external intervention.  [9]  Also, a great power is able to enforce the rule of international law. Meanwhile, contemporary international law incorporates broader ideas more than the rule of non-intervention. According to Khachikian from Stanford University, it now embraces ideas of permissible intervention, such as enforcing international peace, protecting one nationals, preventing a spillover across state borders, stopping mass human suffering and others  [10]   Generally speaking, the traditional definitions of great power emphasize on the powers wide global interests in the international system, while some scholars consider great power as a state which possess the capacity to exercise influence within the international system. From this perspective, great powers are able to intervene their targets of intervention and not being a target of intervention by other actors in the international system. To conclude, we may say that the former viewpoint stress on goal and interests while the latter on put emphasis on capability and influence. Both of the concepts are able to provide us a general view. And it is true that a great power should be a state playing active role in the international system and possess the ability to influence on the region it interested in. Nevertheless, I am of the opinion that the definition of Great Power should also be something more specific and concrete. There need to be a standard unit of account for measuring political power. In this essay, I will assess a countrys power through various defining elements, for example, its geographic base, economic resources, educational and technical level, military potential etc. Great Power in a more tangible sense To be a great power in international system, the nation has to possess not only economic prosperity and military might, but also strong soft power and identity as a leader. In this essay, economic strength refers to the level of development. For soft power, strong cultural ties with other countries, moral strength and technological level should be considered. Identity as a leader refers to the bargaining power in international arena and the ability to take action independently and at the same time, plays an active and co-operative role in the international system. Economic strength Economic strength cannot merely assessed by the size of the economy, but also to what extent, the economy is developed. From my perspective, a great power must be economically developed. Economic development used here includes several meanings: First, the growth of national income (measured by the Gross National Product) or the output of goods and services per head of population. Second, the increase in ability of a society to produce goods and services and to satisfy wants. However, If we consider development as a process of expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy,  [11]  as what Professor Amartya Sen put forward, then one can argue that economic development as a process of expanding the economic freedoms that people enjoy. Apart from monetary value, economic security, living standards, life expectancy, and social welfare like education and health services should also be considered. Therefore, internally within a Great power, people should enjoy the rights to sell and purchase the goods at equilibrium prices provided by a competitive environment which the movement of labor and capital is fr ee. Also, it should be structurally strong in the industrial, financial and technological sectors. Economic growth is often the greatest source of global influence. Nevertheless, high-level of economically developed is just a criterion for being a Great Power. For a Great Power in International System, the country should accept and adapt to the rules of games in the international system. Economically, the country has to cooperate with other leading economies in overcoming obstacles to world trade, being an active part of the international market. Military strength Military strength is a significant factor of a countrys power projection capacity. Military strength of a certain country is usually measured by military expenditure, defense spending, number of military personnel and aircraft carrier, size of navy, etc. However, we should not neglect the level of military technology in assessing a countries power. The arm force of a Great Power should be a modernized one. Furthermore, to be a Great power in international system, the state has to maintain frequent high-level dialogue regarding strategic matters with other actors within the international system. Soft power and identity as a leader The concept of Soft Power is invented by Harvard University political scientist Joseph Nye, he stated that soft power rests on the ability to shape the preferences of others.  [12]  From my point of view, this idea embraces cultural factors, educational level, reputation of the state, etc. The higher the level of soft power, the higher the countrys ability to achieve their objectives in their targeted region, therefore, it is a crucial criteria for being a great power. National image is something intangible but important for a nation to portray itself as a great power. Stability of political and social systems, cultural interactions with other countries, active participation and contributions to world peace are all related to how the country is seen by the outside world. Having respect and prestige, it does not only help the state to overcome its internal problems, but also convince the targeted region that their actions are legitimized. A great power must be able to influence on the region you interested in, at the same time, that region welcome your influence and engagement. As soft power is a key factor for achieving international objectives and legitimizing actions, we should take it into account when assessing a countrys greatness. Furthermore, the state identity as a leader is also a decisive factor. A great power is a state which has bargaining power in international arena and the ability to take action independently. Independent does not mean refusal to bring itself in line with the international system, but referring to not being the target of intervention by other powers. And the identity as a leader also refers to active and co-operative role in the international system. My definition for Great Power is a combination of tangible and intangible elements. To conclude, a great power is an active player in the international arena with strong economic, military strength and soft power, while having interests and capacity to project its influence to places beyond its region. At the same time, the targeted place welcomes its influence. III. Is China a Great Power in Africa? Chinas rapidly increasing engagement in Africa is virtually rooted in her remarkable rise as a global power. With greater involvement into African market in the form of development assistance, trade and investment, together with some level of military cooperation, peacekeeping and employment of soft power, China has emerged as a key-player in Africa. The expansiveness of her activities has gone beyond the Western engagement that came before her in the region and her engagement became one of the most significant developments for Africa in recent years. Through playing an active and positive role in Africa, China has built up her benign image and Great Power status in the world. This part of the paper analyses Chinas foreign policy towards Africa since the early 1990s to discuss whether China is a Great power in Africa or not. As mentioned in the first part of this research paper, one of the criteria to be a Great power is the ability to influence on the region you interested, at the same time, your influence and intervention are welcomed by the region. Therefore, the second part of this paper examines the objectives underlying Chinese foreign policy towards Africa and discusses whether China is successful in achieving those objectives. Chinas involvement on the African continent will be reviewed from various levels, including economic engagement, political presence, military ties and the projection of soft power. It argues that the impressive scale and scope of Chinas engagement together with the positive reactions from African countries to Chinas expanding presence proved China to be a Great Power in Africa. Chinas Objectives in Africa Chinas rapidly expanding engagement in Africa is actually part of its transformation of the foreign policy to a more active one. Chinese objectives in Africa basically include, access to natural resources, export markets,  [13]  projecting her influence beyond the Asia-Pacific region and thus strengthening Chinas status as a Great Power. Facing fierce criticism from the West after the Tiananmen Incident in 1989, China started to establish closer ties with non-Western countries.  [14]  Since African states constitute a massive voting clout as they occupied over one-fourth of the seats in United Nations General Assembly, China can be benefited from developing cordial relations with them. In the 1990s, China greatly increased her assistance to developing countries, especially to African countries.  [15]   China helped African states overcome their tremendous poverty, boosting the African economic through comprehensive investment and development in the region. Beside economic sphere, Chinas contribution in United Nation peacekeeping and continued training and educational assistance reflects Chinas significant role in Africa that it can be conceived as a Great Power in the region. Chinas Political presence in Africa The beginning of the relations between China and Africa can be dated back to the voyages of Zheng He (1372-1433) in the Ming dynasty, while some scholars regarded the Bandung Conference of 1955 marked the real start of Africa-China relations.  [16]  The momentum of closer ties greatly accelerated throughout the last 10 years. Their closer relationships signalized by frequent high-level diplomatic trips by Chinese leaders to African capitals and frequent high-level diplomatic trips by African leaders to Beijing.  [17]  In 2006 there were 48 African states heads gathered in Beijing for the Forums on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which marked the largest gathering of African top political leaders outside of the United Nations (UN).  [18]   Besides, there are rapid establishment of African and Chinese migrant communities in both China and Africa. In addition to governmental level interactions, continuing increase in interactions between ordinary Africans and Chinese can also be seen within their relationship.  [19]   The first part of this paper has mentioned that we may assess a country is a Great Power or not from a geographical perspective. Through this perspective, Chinas engagement in Africa is broad enough as a Great Power because it maintains official diplomatic relations with 48 African countries out of the total number of 53.  [20]  Several events reflected African support to China, for example, they supported Beijing to be the host city for 2008 Olympic Games during the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decision-making process. Also, Africa supported Chinas One-China policy and helped prevent Taiwan from getting a seat in United Nations many times.  [21]   Moreover, China is actively participating in the affairs of the African Union (AU). China promised $100-$150 million for constructing permanent headquarters and attended African Union summits in 2006 and 2007.  [22]  Chinas governments assistance has been appreciated by Africa. Jean Ping, the chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, commended China in January 2009 for her contributions to Africa and identified China as Africas key strategic partner.  [23]  He also expressed that the African Union would like to boost consultation and cooperation with China on the regional and international affairs.  [24]   Different from the European great powers in the 19th century, China did not send her troops to Africa to fight wars and depriving the African aborigine. Rather, China has demonstrated effort for keeping peace without appearing military threat. According to Xinhua News Agency in 2007, a total of 1,400 Chinese troops are taking part in separate UN peacekeeping operations in seven African countries, including Sudan, where 415 Chinese peacekeepers are deployed in the south.  [25]  The number of military personnel deployed by China in peacekeeping operations in Africa exceeds those of other permanent members of the UN Security Council, making China the largest contributor of all. Furthermore, China provides financial support to the African Union regarding the peacekeeping in Somalia and Darfur.  [26]   Politically, China has a strong presence and influence in Africa. China also plays an active and constructive role in peacekeeping activities in Africa. At the same time, Chinas role has been highly recognized by the African countries. For example, the top official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia commended that, never in modern history has a nation successfully made such a determined and massive effort as China has in achieving progress within such a short span of time. Ethiopia has been following this remarkable achievement with great interest and admiration.  [27]  As mentioned above, a Great Power able to influence the region at the same the region welcomes your influence. From this perspective, China is qualified as a Great Power in Africa. Chinas Military Presence in Africa For arm sales to Africa, China ranked the third from 2003 to 2006.  [28]  Although Chinas military ties with Africa are not as strong as political and economic ties, to some African states, military cooperation with China is extremely crucial. Especially for those countries under civil wars but that came under military embargo from the west, for example, Sudan and Zimbabwe. China has established some small arm factories in Sudan and Uganda, producing light weaponry for the region. Besides, in 2005 and 2006, Nigeria purchased missiles and fighter jets from China and in turns, awarded oil contracts to China.  [29]   In fact, China maintains security and military relations with all African countries except those four countries diplomatically recognize Taiwan. In this sense, China maintains a great military presence in the region. Also, its armament sales and peacekeeping activities have the capacity to alter the political situation in Africa. Chinas major objectives in Africa are getting natural resources and maintaining economic interests. And she is able to achieve her goals through providing the military resources to persuade African countries to help her. To counter the American presence in Africa, China will continue to expand its military ties with African countries, at the same time, making contributions to the United States peacekeeping in the region. Chinas steps will further enhance her Great Power status in Africa. Chinas Economic Presence in Africa The volume of China-Africa trade in recent years increased dramatically, from $8.92 billion in 2001 to $40 billion dollars in 2005, $73 billion in 2007, and reached $106.8 billion in 2008. China is now, overtaking Britain and France, became Africas second largest trading partner after the United States.  [30]  31 China has extended scope of duty-free imports from Africa from 190 to 440 items and is discussing with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) for proposing a free-trade agreement between them.  [32]  African countries greatly appreciated Chinas removal of tariffs on goods as they have been benefited from Chinas action.  [33]   In 2001, Hu Jintao called for Chinese enterprises to go global. Key State Owned Enterprises have begun to set up joint ventures in extractive industries in Africa.  [34]  In 2005, China had already established over 800 enterprises in Africa region.  [35]  In 2009, Chinese investments by both the government and private enterprise in Africa almost tripled in value compared to the figures in 2000.  [36]   Between 2000 and 2003, China provided $1.3billion in debt relief to 27 African countries and an additional $1.2 billion in debt cancellation for 33 African countries in 2006.  [37]  In addition, China has provided considerable amount of development aid, in the form of low-interest loans, to African countries. China provided $13 billion to Angola, $9 billion to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and $2.5 billion to Ethiopia as well.  [38]   Additionally, China is the members of African Development Bank Group (AfDB), African Development Fund (ADF) and West African Development Bank (WADB). China contributed to the Banks institutional activities, and technical assistance operations to promote economic and social development in Africa. China hosted the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the AfDB and the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the ADF in Shanghai in May 2007.  [39]  Besides, China is engaging actively into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the South African Development Community (SADC).  [40]  All these reflected Chinas pivotal role in Africa. With ongoing economic and trade cooperation and exchange, we can see that China presence in Africa keeps rapidly growing and China has capability to influence events in the region. As African countries are yearning for an alternative to the West that they have relied on over a long period of time, they are in need of Chinese investment and assistance to help develop their economies. Unlike the Western donors who tend to impose Western values like democratic ideas on Africa, China invest and provide aid without much preconditions and interference in their internal affairs, therefore, it is not unimaginable that China is regarded by Africa as a more cooperative and valuable partner to the West. Besides providing loans, China also invest in infrastructure development and many high-visibility projects, that the African leaders generally in favor. Physical infrastructure constructions have been long neglected if not avoided by Western donors.  [41]  Also, Chinese investors are highly reputed by the African of their rapid completion of infrastructures with acceptable qualities.  [42]  Moreover, the General populace in Africa prefers physical infrastructure to monetary aid as the aid money would eventually be manipulated by corrupt leaders. Through providing more practical help, Chinas influence and presence in Africa are further strengthened. Nevertheless, some argue that there are also many complications for China to expand her presence in Africa. The biggest obstacle is the anti-Chinese sentiment resulting from the flooding of cheaper Chinese manufactured goods in African markets. The Chinese firms underbid many local firms in Africa, causing close down of factories and unemployment. However, we should not neglect that import of cheaper goods from China means that the African can buy many goods that they could not afford to purchase before. And the Chinese investment projects at least created some new job opportunities for the Africans. All these actually have improved the living standards of many general Africans. Nowadays, China has already constituted a pivotal part in the African economy. Although the Africans may consider Chinese engagement as a challenge as they worry about Chinas growing global power may turn her role in African to become as stifling as they have experienced with the west  [43]  , generally, they need Chinas participation and the African leaders today consider Chinese embrace as not only a source of investment, but also a chance as well as a counterbalance to the West. Soft power To access a country is a Great power or not, we do not only consider its influence over their targeted regions through economic and military power, but also the influence through soft power. When examining Chinas power in Africa, its projection of soft power should not be neglected. As mentioned in the first part of this paper, soft power rests on the ability to shape the preferences of others  [44]  In this paper, Chinas soft power policy refers to the use of cultural, educational means to boost her image and thus to influence public opinion and persuade nations abroad in Chinas favour. The establishment of Confucius Institutes and the recruitment of international students are prominent forms of Chinese projection of soft power. China has already set up more than 20 Confucius Institutes throughout Africa, teaching African people Mandarin, Chinese history and culture.  [45]   China has educational relationships with 50 African countries and keeps increasing her assistance on training and education to African countries. In 2005, China also hosted the Sino-African Education Minister Forum.  [46]  In 2007, there are around 5,900 students from Africa studying in China, with most of them receiving scholarships provided by the Chinese government.  [47]  The Chinese government also promised to double the number of such scholarships by 2011,  [48]  and establish 10 agricultural technology centers in Africa.  [49]  Every year, China trained large number of African professionals in fields of agriculture, education, medical science, etc. Besides, Chinas state-run Xinhua news agency also trains African journalists in both Africa and China.  [50]   Chinas use of education, technical training and cultural exchange as a channel of employing soft power is successful in boosting Chinas image in Africa and thus expanding its global influence. The projection of soft power can essentially gain the support from the general public in Africa. With closer and closer educational relationships, the future generations and educated elites in Africa will certainly have better understanding about China. Having support from governments, and non-governmental actors, including both educated elites and general populace, China gained legitimacy as a Great Power. IV. Conclusion My definition of great power as mentioned in the first part of the essay, is an active player in the international arena with strong econ

Saturday, January 18, 2020

5.05 Works Cited

I do think that the lawsuit against Brianna LaHara was fair; she technically stole over a thousand songs. I do feel that it is a bit unfair that there was a law suit against a 12 year old, but also she needed it to be done now before she got herself into some real trouble when she was older. If it was me in this situation, I would just give myself over to them and confess what I did. I do not think it is a reasonable program at all.I am not one for having that fear constantly eating at the back of my brain, so I would rather just face the consequences. If I knew I was at such risk for arrest and lawsuits, I would turn myself in voluntarily. There are too many risks, and cases already made against this subject. According to CBS News, a woman in 2009 illegally downloaded TOO much music! She shared copyrighted music online and levied $222,000 in damages against her.She even had to pay the six record companies that sued her $9,250 for each of 24 songs they focused on in the case. WORKS C ITED: â€Å"Woman Faces The Music, Loses Download Case. † CBSNews. CBS Interactive, n. d. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. . â€Å"12-year-old Settles Music Swap Lawsuit. † CNN. N. p. , 18 Feb. 2004. Web. 20 Mar. 2013. .

Friday, January 10, 2020

Fashion & Marketing †Individuality vs Conformity Essay

A seemingly intractable paradox underlies Westerners choice of fashion in the twenty-first century. On the one hand, the democratic and social progress made in the West in the past fifty years has led to radical revaluations of, and profound reversals of attitudes towards, issues such as gender, class, race, social stereotypes, cultural identity and so on: in short, the Western citizen of 2005 has far greater personal freedom for expression than could have been conceivable for a Westerner in 1905 or even 2005 (Craik, 1994). The modern student of Western fashion trends might therefore reasonably expect to notice in the clothing choices and styles of twenty-first Westerners ever greater diversity and individuality – to notice a kaleidoscopic and multi-coloured efflorescence of personal freedom in fabric and cloth. And, indeed, in many instances in Western society there is a profusion of individual styles mirroring newly liberated individual personalities. Yet, on the other hand, despite this potential for individuality, the fashion student notices, paradoxically, that Westerners are exhibiting an ever greater homogeneity and similarity in their clothing choice – for instance, the ubiquitous presence, amongst certain definable social groups, of trendy brands like Tommy Hilfiger, Zara and FCUK. The principal force behind this homogeneity is argued to be (Miles, 1998 & Radford, 1998) the massive and all-consuming power of giant global fashion houses and their resources for mass branding and advertising. To many fashion critics and scholars these hugely powerful companies have come to swamp the potential for personal and individual expression that was made possible by social changes in Europe and America in the past fifty years. In a further paradox, it was these very changes themselves, and the liberation and emancipation of consumer power and choice which they released, which provides the consumer markets and spending-power which make these huge companies possible. In other words, for the gender, class, and social revolutions of the twentieth century to happen this required the protests and emancipation of Western masses; but this very freedom itself created a mass homogeneous market that could be exploited by fashion corporations themselves made possible by these changes. In a final paradox, Rosenfeld (1997) and Davis (1993) argue that modern man is free to choose the clothes he wears and so is himself responsible for submitting himself and his individuality to temptations of mass production and consumerism that surround him. The fascinating question before this literature review is then: why is it that Westerners, granted at last a large measure of personal freedom for expression, ‘choose’ nonetheless to submit themselves to mass trends and to enslave themselves to perhaps an ever greater extent than when such freedom was not obtainable? Of further interest is the question: how have particular cultural groups, and fashion trends, resisted mass consumerism of fashion, and gone on to use these new freedoms to establish exciting and original expressions of their personalities? Section 2: Sources A few words about the origin and authority of the sources used for this literature review are perhaps necessary before turning to the main themes of the review. The principal type of source discussed in this literature review are academic books and journals; in addition, some internet sources are employed also. The academic books referred to in this review are amongst the seminal texts in the literature of fashion and marketing, their authors world-class experts in their fields, and therefore the reliability and authority of their material is extremely high. The fashion student can have high, if not complete, confidence in his employment of these sources to illustrate his themes and arguments. Likewise, those texts from other fields in this review, such as Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams (Freud, 1900) or Lacan’s Language of the Self (Lacan, 1998), are usually included by critics and scholars in their lists of the most important works of the twentieth-century. They too then may be used by the fashion student with a high degree of trust in their authority and reliability. A note of caution might be sounded however about the employment of internet sources in any literature review. Whereas the process of publishing work in an academic book or journal is a lengthy one, requiring considerable cost and numerous stages of scrutiny by fellow scholars and experts, thus ensuring the quality of those sources, nonetheless, the standards required for publication on the internet are often lower and less vigorous. The vast profusion material released daily on the internet requires the conscientious student to subject the internet sources he employs to greater scrutiny and doubt than might be the case with academic books or journals published in the traditional paper-based way. Consequently, the internet sources used in this literature review have been vigorously scrutinised and tested for their reliability in the fashion described above. Section 3: Review The following literature review is discussed according to the following thematic schema in five parts: (1) The Paradox of Individuality and Conformity, (2), Global Trends and World Markets, (3) Semiotic Theories of Fashion Promotion & Visual Communication, (4) Popular Cultures and Distinctive Identities, and, (5), Sociological & Philosophical Views of Class, Gender, Social Stereotypes and Cultural Identity. The Paradox of Individuality and Conformity The contemporary situation in Western fashion and personal clothing choice is one of apparently irresolvable paradox: Westerners are today endowed with ever greater personal freedoms, extending naturally to their choice of personal clothing and one would expect this freedom to lead to a plethora and profusion of individual styles and manners of dress: these freedoms should result in less conformity of style than was present in say 1905 when gender, class and social prejudices compelled and forced a person to dress in a particular way and style. Yet, despite these abundant new-found freedoms, Western clothing choice in 2005 seems to display ever greater conformity and homogeneity. That is, Westerners are ‘choosing’ to dress more and more alike one another – Westerners’ expression of their personalities through their choice of style is showing ever greater similarities to one another. How then could this be possible? This question is discussed at the general level in great depth by F. Davis (1993) Fashion, Clothing and Identity and by Fiske (1990) in Introduction to Communications Studies. Global Trends & World Markets The most persuasive and frequently given answer to the above question is that the rise of huge fashion houses – such as Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger, Armani, Prada, Zara, amongst many others – along with their massive resources for branding and advertising, have drowned-out the recently attained freedoms of Western individuals to reflect their personalities in their choice of clothing. This point is powerfully made in D. Crane’s seminal text Fashion and the Social Agenda: Class, Gender and Identity in Clothing. (Crane, 2004). Crane argues that just at the critical historical moment (the end of the 20th Century) when Westerners were finally endowed with greater personal freedoms in fashion and personality expression than ever before, that these freedoms were immediately smothered by forces such as globalization and capitalism which gave birth to vast fashion corporations whose financial resources and advertising capacity have become too great and powerful for individual expression to poke through and flower. This point is corroborated and reinforced by numerous other scholars and authorities in fashion and marketing. F. Davis (1993) in Fashion, Culture and Identity, L. Rosenfeld (1997) in Clothing as Communication, and J. Craik (1994) in The Face of Fashion; Cultural Studies in Fashion all endorse Crane’s central premise that individual freedom of personality expression through clothing and style is suffocated by the capitally fuelled force of the major fashion brands to overwhelm this expression through relentless psychological pressure, carried by advertising, to conform to the style and choice ‘imposed’ and ‘decided’ by these companies and not by individuals themselves. M. Barnard in Fashion as Communication (1996) makes an interesting refinement of this basic premise by suggesting, in a further paradoxical statement, that it is the very freedom of gender, class, social status etc. , of the past fifty years which has led to ever greater conformity to popular styles and to an even greater imposition of style than existed before such freedoms were possible. In other words, to echo a sentiment expressed by Nietzsche in 1888 (Nietzsche, 1888) and Freud in 1900 (Freud, 1900) human beings have natural herd instincts which are present whether people are free or not, and these instincts generate the need for leadership and imposition from one source or another. Thus, whilst before the 1960’s style conformity was forced upon Westerners by gender and class stereotypes, nonetheless, after the 1960’s when these stereotypes were lifted, Westerners became susceptible to a new ‘authority’, ‘imposition’ and ‘leadership’ in the form of vast fashion corporations whose choice of style and expression is propagated through intensive branding and advertising. According to this philosophical view, endorsed by Bruce Stella and Pamela Church Gibson (2000) in Fashion Cultures Theories: Explorations and Analysis, the personalities of Westerners today and their choice of expression of their personalities through clothing, is largely decided by fashion corporations and advertising companies – thus resulting in the uniformity of style and expression which is so evident from a casual glance at our high-streets today. Semiotic Theories of Fashion Promotion & Visual Communication A interesting example of the practice of a semiotic theory of fashion promotion is that discussed in A. Rhodes’ and R. Zuloago’s paper ‘A Semiotic Analysis of High Fashion Advertising’ published in 2003. The chief motif of Rhodes’ and Zuloago’s work is that ‘Fashion advertising is an excellent example of identity-image producing media’ (Rhodes & Zuloago, 2003: p8). They state at the outset of their paper that ‘The nature of the product is tied directly to identity – those objects with which we encase our bodies for public display  ­- and fashion is acknowledged as a cultural language of style’; a little further on they add ‘Taken as a whole, high fashion media and advertising describe a spectrum of identity, unified in general types of signifiers – young women, high status, high sexuality – and through the constant repetition and variation of images on these themes serve to create this identity spectrum. ’ (Rhodes and Zuloago, 2003, p1). Thus, in their paper, Rhodes and Zuloago seek to define the symbiotic relationship between high fashion and the cultural and social identity of one particular social group: young, rich and sexually confident women. Rhodes and Zuloago argue that the advertising campaigns of companies like Prada, Donna Karen, Armani, Dolce Gabanna and others like them, speak so powerfully and seductively to these women, and that the images employed penetrate so deeply into their consciousness and social orientation, that they come to identify their personalities almost wholly with the product. Rhodes and Zulago recognise, nonetheless, that whilst the influence of major fashion brands over social groups like the one mentioned above is immense that these groups too, by their social characteristics and newly liberated personalities, constantly force the fashion brands to invent new styles and designs that evolve to reflect the changing consciousness of these particular and individualistic groups (Rhodes & Zuloago, 2003: p5). The symbiosis is nearly total; and similar relationships between major brands and other social groups are evident throughout modern Western culture. Popular Cultures and Distinctive Identities R. Radford points out in Dangerous Liaison: Art, Fashion and Individualism (1998) that the mass conformity of modern fashion style and personality expression is not of course universal, and many original and fresh styles – punk, gothic, ethnic, etc. , – have arisen from the social freedoms of recent decades, both in reaction to the preceding centuries of restricted expression and also in reaction to the monotonous uniformity of the mass-branded and consumer-based style. As suggested in the last sentence, Radford distinguishes between styles which are (1) a reaction to the restrictions of former centuries, (2) those which are defiances of the modern branded uniformity, and, (3), those which are a reaction to neither, but rather are healthy and original efflorescences of cultural uniqueness and individual expression. In the first category Radford places the astonishing growth in popularity of ‘gender-liberated’ products like bikinis, short-skirts and casual clothing which were, in other centuries, repressed by the authorities either because of gender prejudices or inequalities, or because of antiquated ideas about the morality or sexual imprudence of certain items and styles of clothing. To take an instance of gender discrimination cited by Radford (Radford, 1998: pp. 142-148), it was not socially or morally permissible for women in former times to wear beach attire (bikinis, swim-suits etc. ,) that revealed or celebrated anything of the sensuousness or beauty of the female figure; women were therefore universally condemned (in Western countries) to wear a single type plain, non-sexual beachwear. But since the lifting of this social prejudice and stigma, there has been a profusion of designers, from Gucci and Dolce & Gabana to Zara and BHS, who have produced modern designs which allow women to celebrate the sensuality and beauty of the female figure. Women today enjoy the same rights as men to wear what they like either to the beach, to the disco or to work; thus, in this instance, despite the domination of the fashion brands, women now have the opportunity to, and do indeed exhibit in practice, a greater expression of individuality of personality than was possible or permissible before the last decades. In the second category, Radford places fashion styles like punk and gothic: styles which rebel against the conformity of modern mass-consumer culture and relish in the controversy and upsetting of convention induced by the difference of their style. Studded clothing, fluorescent coloured hair, male make-up, cross-dressing etc. , are rebellions against the usual fashion paradigm and make the personality statement that some people disagree with popular sentiment and convention and express this in clothing styles that are often shocking and scandalous (Barthes, 1983). In the third category are individualistic styles, such as ethnic, which are neither reactions to historical repressions or to modern mass conformity, but which are rather healthy flourishing of individual personality or philosophy. For instance, contemporary Western style permits a greater exhibition of ethnic clothing or pride in national dress than was acceptable fifty years ago. F. Davis argued as early as 1988 in Clothing and Fashion Communication that clothing could be a vehicle for greater racial tolerance and for multi-culturalism and racial integration in modern Western society. A concomitant of this toleration is a celebration and pride in the wearing of clothes of national dress; clothes that display part of the person’s personality repressed for decades. Sociological & Philosophical Views of Class, Gender, Social Stereotypes and Cultural Identity Jacques Lacan in Language of the Self (Lacan, 1997) gives a fascinating philosophical and psychological interpretation of the individuality vs. conformity paradox, filtering it the prism of class, gender and social stereotypes, to argue that human beings are essentially language-animals and can be manipulated if one finds the key to the use of this language. Lacan argues in his seminal text Language and the Self (1997) that the social freedoms attained by Westerners in the past half century have given them Westerners unprecedented opportunities to reflect their innermost ‘self’, their basic human constituency, through new cultural media such as television, the arts, and by derivation, fashion and our choice of media. Lacan argues further that the ‘self’ of previously repressed groups such as women, homosexuals, African-Americans and so on is now able to manifest itself in cultural forms that had previously been repressed for centuries, and which are now bursting out in the diversity of artforms prevalent in our society today. Nonetheless, through his principal scientific and philosophical investigation into the language-animal, Lacan argues that Westerners have been seduced by the clever and innovative marketing campaigns of the major fashion brands, who use slogans and images to target specific social groups. Thus Lacan explains the phenomenal seduction of modern Western man to the worded slogans of designer labels and celebrity endorsed products. Lacan suggests that the advertising campaigns of major fashion brands seduce the consumer’s unconscious directly and that this explains the phenomenon of mass conformity to such a homogeneous type of personal expression through fashion as is evident in our society. Section 4: Conclusion In the final analysis, the literature of the fashion and marketing texts on the subject of individuality vs. conformity, and the influence of branding upon this relationship, reveals the following points. Firstly, that a curious and complex paradox deeply underpins the dynamics between individuality and conformity. To the one side, the liberation of women, homosexuals, formerly repressed racial groups, underprivileged classes and others, in the second half of the twentieth-century, has led to a huge mass of people in Western society who have previously unimaginable freedom to wear whatever styles and types of clothing they believe best express their individuality and uniqueness. For instance, gender prejudices removed, women can now wear trousers ; race prejudices declining, repressed groups can wear a city suit or opera tuxedo; in many other instances Westerners are free to dress as however their mood, philosophy and occupation inclines them. On the other hand, the ceaseless ascent to prominence and immense power of the great fashion houses and fashion brands has led to a blanket of homogeneity being spread over the personal expression of many Western consumers. Philosophers like Lacan, and psychologists like Freud and Nietzsche, suggest that man has an innate herd instinct that compels him to conform to the trends of the crowd and to seek a higher authority and leadership to decide and impose his personal expression upon him. According to this view, despite the newly attained freedom of Westerners, they have substituted for the old imposition of gender and class barriers the new authority of the mass product and the famous brand. Thus ‘personal choice’ and ‘freedom of expression of personality’ through clothing are merely illusions that do not correspond to modern reality. Furthermore, the conformity of modern Western dress is, according to D. Crane (Crane, 2004), even more intense today than in other centuries, since in 2005 particular styles and mass produced clothing items – Crane gives Levi’s jeans as an example – permeate all classes and genders of society and therefore have a ‘total sphere of conformity and influence’; in other centuries a particular item or style of clothing would only dominate one social group; today brands like Nike, Zara, Levi’s, Armani and so on, can penetrate the personal expression of every social group from top to bottom. Nonetheless, the flourishing of reactionary and rebellious fashions expressions such as punk and gothic, as well as the profusion of small individualistic designers and such styles as ethnic suggest that the mass produced fashion items have not and will not dominate totally and may even be forced back a little as personal expression is allowed to bloom in the new forms and clothing styles of the twenty-first century. Our final words might be these: that the question of conformity vs. individuality now hangs in a delicate balance and equilibrium, that Western society pivots at a vital moment in the history of its ability to be able to define itself. The opportunity exists for Westerners to dazzle the world with an efflorescence of new styles of clothing that reflect the cultural diversity, racial integration, and class assimilation achieved in the past fifty years. The danger remains nonetheless that these achievements and potential expression will be swamped by the relentless march of mass consumer fashion and our seduction to it. Section 5: Bibliography Academic Books, Journals & Articles – Barnard, M. (1996) Fashion as Communication, Routledge – Barthes, R. (1967, 1983). The Fashion System, New York: Hill and Wang. – Bruzzi Stella & Church, P. G. (2000). Fashion Cultures Theories, Explorations and Analysis, Routledge – Craik, J. (1994) The Face of Fashion; Cultural Studies in Fashion, London: Routledge. – Crane, D. (2004). Fashion and Its Social Agenda: Class, Gender and Identity in Clothing. Oxford University Press, Oxford. – Davis, F. (1985). ‘Clothing and fashion as communication’, in Solomon, M. R. (ed. ) The Psychology of Fashion, Massachusetts: Lexington Books. – Davis, F. (1993). Fashion, Culture and Identity, Chicago, IL: Chicago University Press. – Du Gay, P. (1996). Consumption and Identity at Work, London: Sage. – Fiske, J. (1990). Introduction to Communication Studies, London: Routledge – Freud, S. (1900). The Interpretation of Dreams. Penguin, London. – Lacan, J. (Reprinted 1997). Language of the Self, Baltimore, MD. : Johns Hopkins University Press – Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, Self and Society, From the Standpoint of a Social Behaviourist, Chicago, IL. : University of Chicago Press – Miles, S. (1998). Consumerism as a Way of Life, London: Sage Publications – Nietzsche, F. (1888). Ecce Homo. Peter Gast Books, Basel. – Quirk, R. (Et al. ). (1989). The Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, Oxford. – Radford, R. , ‘Dangerous Liaison: Art, Fashion and Individualism’, Fashion Theory, vol. 2, issue 2, Oxford: Berg, 1998, pp. 151-64. – Rosenfeld, L. B. and Plax, T. G. (1997). ‘ Clothing as communication’, Journal of Communication, 27: 24-31. – Smith, A. (1759/1976). The Theory of the Moral Sentiments, Edinburgh. Internet Sources – Mead, G. H. (1934). Mind, Self and Society, From the Standpoint of a Social Behaviourist, Chicago, IL. : University of Chicago Press http://www2. pfeiffer. edu/~lridener/DSS/Mead/MINDSELF. HTML – Smith, A. (1759/1976). The Theory of the Moral Sentiments, Edinburgh. http://www. adamsmith. org/smith/tms-intro. htm – Rhodes, A. & Zuloago, R. (2003). A semiotic Analysis of High Fashion Advertising. www. garhodes. com/Semiotics_of_Fashion. pdf