Ethics in Statistics free essay sample

There are a number of possible ways in which unethical behavior can arise in statistics and researchers should steer clear of these. It is relatively simple to manipulate and hide data, projecting only what one desires and not what the numbers actually speak, thus giving birth to the famous phrase â€Å"Lies, damned lies and statistics†. However, this doesn’t happen all the time and there is no reason not to believe in the conclusions of a statistical analysis (Siddharth, 2010). Ethics in statistics is not straightforward and can be quite complex at times.It also greatly depends on what kind of statistical analysis is being done. Unethical behavior might arise at any point – from data collection to data interpretation. For example, data collection can be made inherently biased by posing the wrong questions that stimulate strong emotions rather than objective realities. This happens all the time when the survey is aimed to try and prove a viewpoint rather than find out the truth (Cruz, 2010). We will write a custom essay sample on Ethics in Statistics or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Other unethical behaviors might include scientists not including data outliers in their report and analysis to validate their theory or viewpoint.This happens both in pure and social sciences. By obscuring data or taking only the data points that reinforce a particular theory, scientists are indulging in unethical behavior (Morales, 2010). Ethics in statistics are very important during data representation as well. Numbers don’t lie but their interpretation and representation can be misleading. For example, after a broad survey of many customers, a company might decide to publish and make available only the numbers and figures that reflect well on the company and either totally neglect or not give due importance to other figures.Surveys and polls often indulge in unethical behavior to reinforce a viewpoint. For example, a survey might not reflect true public opinion because it is not statistically significant. However, many surveys do not publish this along with their poll and this can be misleading. As a researcher it is important to be objective and provide the complete picture that has been obtained from the experiment without hiding any details or overemphasizing something for personal gain. Ethics in statistics are important to give the right direction to research so that it is objective and reflects the truth. In February 2001, Enron was named exceedingly unfathomable, meanwhile they â€Å"window dress† their books in effort to hide their debts and Wall Street remained in the dark. August of 2001 Enron’s Vice President Sherron Watkins wrote an anonymous letter to Mr. Lay describing accounting methods that she felt would lead the company to â€Å"implode in a wave of accounting scandals† (North, 2005). On 14th August2001 Jeff Skilling, the chief executive, resigned and was replaced by Kenneth Lay. Mr. Kenneth Lay, once again CEO emailed his employees stating that they expected the company’s stock prices to go up. On the other hand, Mr. Lay sold off his own stock in Enron. Kenneth Lay also took $300 million over three years, for the purpose of services rendered to the company. On 12th October 2001, Arthur Anderson’s legal counsel directed workers who audit Enron’s books to destroy all except the basic documents. The real scandal broke on 16th October 2001 when Enron announced that they loss $638 million, due to â€Å"failure of its internet investment†. Immediately the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that they were investigating Enron. See, Enron had adopted an accounting technique called the Special Purpose Entity (SPE).Initially Enron used SPE appropriately by placing non energy related business into separate legal entities. On the other hand they tried to manufacture earnings by manipulating the capital structure of the SPE by hiding their losses and they did not have independent outside partners that prevented full disclosure. Also they did not disclose the risks in their financial statements. Enron had made agreements with approximately 3,000 off balance sheet entities. How Enron used SPE’s for off Balance Sheet formatting In order to keep up, Enron to borrowed money to invest into new projects.Enron then created partnerships with lenders to keep the debt off its books. Chewco Investments was one of the partnerships that allowed Enron to keep $600 million in debt off the books it showed to the government and to people who own Enron stock (Norton). Seeing that this debt never appeared in Enrons reports, it made Enron seem extremely financially successful. Enron’s auditing firm, Andersen, one of the world’s five leading accounting firms at the time received millions of dollars the majority of which was not for auditing (North, 2005).Arthur Andersen allegedly applied irresponsible standards in their audits due to conflict of interest over the substantial consulting fees generated by Enron. In 2000, Arthur Andersen was paid $25 million in audit fees and $27 million in consulting fees (this amount accounted for roughly 27% of the audit fees of public clients for Arthur Andersens Houston office). The auditors methods were probed as either being completed for conflicted reasons or a lack of capability to sufficiently assess the financial convolutions Enron employed (Healy ; Palepu, 2003).Enron scandal resulted in shareholders loss amounting to nearly $11 billion when it plunged to less than $1 by the end of November 2001. When the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) began their investigation, Dynegy offered to purchase the company at a fire sale price. Soon that deal fell through and Enron filed for bankruptcy on December 2, 2001. Enron filed under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, and with assets of $63. 4 billion, it was by landscape the largest corporate bankruptcy in U. S. istory until WorldComs 2002 bankruptcy (Benston, 2003). On the very same day Enron filed for bankruptcy, they slapped Dynegy with a lawsuit for $10 billion, claiming that they breach the contract. The Enron scandal captivated everyone’s attention worldwide. Enron not only robbed $70 billion of shareholder assessment, but they also evaded on tens of billions of dollars in debts. Enron, at the time, employed 20,000 people. The employees of Enron did not only lose their jobs but they also lost their life savings when Enron’s stock dived.Due to the fact that Enron had close to $67 billion owed to its creditors, employees and shareholders were only able to receive limited, if any, assistance aside from severance from Enron (The New York Times, 2003). In order for Enron to pay its creditors, they held auctions selling its assets, such as art, photographs, logo signs, and its pipeline (Vogel, 2003). As investors, we put our trust in the economic system’s â€Å"gatekeepers† (North 2005). We rely on the knowledge and ethical standards of the accountants, the financial intermediaries and government regulators.When gatekeepers fail to inform us, the investors, of companies’ breach of ethics and lowering of standards, they too should be held accountable. Organizations tried avoiding breach of its ethical standards, by increasing the programs and workshops in order to help management and employees develop strong ethical principles. Companies that executed ethical programs have deterred and regulate transgression amongst employees. Organizations identified that effective business ethics programs are good for business performance (Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell 12).Companies realized that not only did ethical practices and fair judgments of employees strengthened employees’ commitment and trust, it also attracted investors. Because employees and organizations were closely linked to consumers, the ethical conduct with the consumer increased the customer grati fication and customer trustworthiness. The use of ethical practice helps motivate employees and steer them in the right direction. It can also prepare managers to make ethical decisions when it is hard to differentiate right from wrong.

Authors vs. authors

Authors vs. authors Authors vs. authors? Hi. At Reedsy we live, sleep, and all but photosynthesise self-publishing news and discussion. Even if you were living under a rock, a massive rock, like a boulder, you wouldn’t have been able to avoid the suddenly very loudly proclaimed views of authors both traditionally published and self-published over the whole Amazon-Hachette blood war that’s been happening for over a month by now. So we had to say something. In fact, we said two things. Below you can find Ricardo’s take, and you can find Dave’s perspective over here.–Petition vs. petitionOne thought came to my mind when I read Barry Eisler’s article on last week’s two recent and infamous (in certain circles anyway) petitions: Have you guys forgotten that you’re all authors? Shouldn’t you all be on the same page?A little context for those totally unfamiliar with these things. You’re probably aware of the Amazon vs Hachette clash, right? But you probably don’t know why these two publishing giants are at each other’s throats (because, by the way, Barry is right: Hachette is part of the Lagardà ¨re group, which is also a giant). Well, don’t feel bad about it - it’s starting to seem like no one else is much more informed than you are.When trying to research what exactly Amazon and Hachette are fighting about about, it’s diff icult to get any details more specific than ‘pricing and distribution’ (who could have guessed, right?). Whatever’s going on, everyone is worried this could affect†¦ well, everyone (even self-published authors?†¦)On Wednesday Douglas Preston published an open letter to readers, asking them to email Jeff Bezos to tell him†¦ something. To be nicer to Hachette, maybe? Because when you don’t know what the problem is, it’s difficult to ask for solutions.Rather than emailing Amazon, Hugh Howey, Barry Eisler, and other self-published authors responded with with their own petition, including plenty of persuasive detail about everything Amazon has done for them (making self-publishing possible), and their bad experiences with traditional publishing. This makes Howey Bezos’s defender.Where does that leave us (meaning, still, readers)? Who should we be listening to? Speaking totally personally, I like what Howey said. More importantly, ev en there’s a lot of truth on both sides, I feel I can endorse Howey in a way I just can’t endorse Preston et al. Why? Because they speak with clarity. They say they side with Amazon and against Hachette, and say it plain and clear. Preston’s letter is eloquence without effect, reiterating a problem without resolving it: â€Å"we are not siding with anyone†. Come on†¦An author voice for the publishers?Well, I’m afraid we still don’t have an answer to this vital question. For now, it’s self-pub authors vs. â€Å"some trad† authors. And that’s bad enough. Were it to be truly trad. vs. pub, that would be worse.Until now, I’ve always seen mutual respect between self-publishing authors and mainstream ones. Hugh Howey’s battle was against publishers and bookshops, not against authors. As a reader, I don’t want that to change.

Read an article in an art magazine the right the summery Essay

Read an article in an art magazine the right the summery - Essay Example ibuted to her success, and these include hard work and determination, her interaction with Alfred Stieglitz and the paintings of the unique landscape of New Mexico also made her famous. Despite this, as the author notes, O’Keeffe’s work was relatively unknown beyond America, and this can be attributed to the fact that European seldom organized exhibitions that involved works from American artists. In addition, American art was not valued by institutions and collectors at the beginning of the twentieth century. Although O’Keeffe knew much about European art at the time, she was never trained in Europe and neither did she travel there. Her art, unlike that of other American artists at the time, was free of European influence. Her abstract images distinguished her among the American artists. Starting the early 1970s, different European collectors started to purchase her works. One of such collectors was Baron Henry Thyssen-Bornemisza. Since then, many institutions have organized and hosted exhibitions of her works in Europe. Georgia O’Keeffe, which is the Georgia O’Keeffe museum’s retrospective exhibition in Europe, was started by Arthemisia whose offices are in Rome. The author further notes that current exhibition in Europe includes around sixty works from each of the seven decades O’Keeffe was active. Generally, the author notes that, unlike before, O’Keeffe’s works are now recognized across

Managing Environmental Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing Environmental Issues - Essay Example Fryxell and vryza (2007) assert that the simulation focuses on three major environmental philosophies on human responsibility towards the environment. Examples of simulation put in place in order to manage environmental issues include the anthropocentric view, biocentric view and ethical extensionism. The model explored by Fryxell and vryza (2007) explores on how human being inter and intra relates to the natural world and therefore assesses how human activities impacts on the natural environment. Therefore, this discussion contributes to the critical study of the mankind responsibility in protecting and managing the nature and his role in the environment. Environmental justice refers to the fair treatment that explores the meaningful involvement of people especially the minority and low-income populations into the development, implementation and enforcement of the environmental laws, regulation and policies as asserted by Fryxell and vryza (2007). Consequently ensuring coverage of adverse and desperate health impacts that are a burden to the environment and affect also affect the people. Environmental justice is achieved when everyone within the environment can enjoy the same degree of protection from the environment and from health hazards activities of the population. Environmental simulation aims at accessing the decision making process by the stakeholders to have a healthy environment in which all the people can live, learn or work comfortably without any disturbances (Fryxell & vryza, 2007). This is achieved by facilitating open dialogues among many stakeholders involved in managing the environment. In doing this, fair treatment is achieved in involving all kinds of people from different part of the world regardless of their race, color, originality or income with an aim of achieving a healthy environment for the benefit of all. There are many stakeholders involved in the management of environmental

The Nuremberg Main Trials Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Nuremberg Main Trials - Essay Example However, Nuremberg was flawed, to a certain extent, and it is sensible to assume that its imperfections could be the most integral features of it deserving of attention at present. Still, many would believe that there are other features, as well, and that a number of these address undying desires for the triumph of fairness and justice.2 This essay examines the appropriateness of the indictments, the issue of jurisdiction, and general questions of legality with reference to the ‘fair trial principle’ in the Nuremberg main trial. Appropriateness of the Indictments The function of the IMT at Nuremberg was to formally question the ‘main’ German war criminals. IMT had two members from each of the four participating nations, namely, the United States, Great Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. These members would shape various paradigms of criminal law and process.3 The IMT mission was instigated in 1945, as soon as the Committee of Chief Counsels of the four p arties to the London Agreement—a declaration that specify the guidelines and law through which the Nuremberg trials were to be carried out-- approved and passed an indictment laying down the criminal acts arraigned against the ‘main’ war criminals.4 The indictment convicted them with four violations: ‘(1) common plan or conspiracy, (2) crimes against peace, (3) war crimes, and (4) crimes against humanity.’5 Common plan or conspiracy The scholars of the Nuremberg Trials claimed that it is crucial to impugn the guiltiest offenders for conniving to pursue the Nazi persecution of the Jews and other acts of violence. Nevertheless, it was not a war misdeed for the nation to perpetrate acts of violence against its own people.6 For that reason, â€Å"[t]he American motives for spinning the dense web of conspiracy to inculpate the Nazi brass is no secret in that the stratagem was essentially intended to procure legal grounds for holding the instigators of th e Nazi movement accountable for the record of ‘domestic’ bestialities against assorted segments of their own population, including the Jewish minority.†7 In view of that, a conspiracy conviction was seen crucial so as to impugn individuals for planning or pursuing a common plan to perpetrate crimes against civilians. The Tribunal took into account the indictment of common plan or conspiracy on the basis of two rationales: first is the blameworthiness of organisations, and second is whether the war criminals had connived to pursue genocide and persecution. The latter rationale was settled under the accusation of ‘crimes against peace’.8 The Tribunal, as regards to the accusation of ‘conspiracy’, simply deemed: In the opinion of the Tribunal, the evidence establishes the common planning to prepare and wage war by certain of the defendants. It is immaterial to consider whether a single conspiracy... has been conclusively proved.9 Moreover, t he Tribunal resolutely strived to lessen the possible perils to minor collaborators or innocent members which could have stemmed from its judgment to charge four organisations of war crimes.10 As claimed by Professor Schwarzenberger, â€Å"

Rights of a Child with Disability

Rights of a Child with Disability All childcare settings are forbidden from discriminating in anyway against disabled children when they apply for the school. All children should be made to feel accepted and welcomed; they should be offered the same opportunities as abled children. All children should have the opportunity to attend public or private school. Schools should adapt their setting to accommodate all children. This may mean that the setting may need to install ramps ofr wheelchair bound children. This would mean the setting is promoting equal rights for all children. This all comes under the Equality Act 2010. Under the SEN Code of Practice all childrens’ needs will be aimed to be met in a mainstream setting. Despite a child’s disability or additional needs they should still be offered a full education. Parents will be asked to offer support at home and members of staff at the child’s setting will always keep the parent informed about everything that is happening with their child. The United Nations Convention on the rights of a child states that all children should have their views listened too. However the influence that a child has over a situation will depend on the level of maturity that the child possesses. This is all mentioned in article 12 of The UNCRC. It is said that all children should have the right to a full and independent life. This means that all children should receive special support and care if they need it. Article 31 says that every child should be exposed to culture like any other child. Therefore the people working with the children should adapt the setting so it allows them to do so. Inclusive practice is something that is extremely important to not just disabled children but all children. Inclusive practice promotes diversity in an environment. Settings should uphold not just a child friendly approach to learning but also a child centred approach to learning. A child friendly approach is simply when the environment is nice for the children, practitioners will treat all children in a respectful manner, the will do this regardless of if the child is a boy, girl, disabled or able bodied. The aim of this approach is that all children will feel safe in the environment they are in and they will gradually improve. On the other hand a child centred approach is when practitioners will push the children to do their best. This will always be done in a respectful way, practitioners will not pressurise the children but they will make sure they are continually challenging themselves in a safe way. They may be asked to face strategic problems in a group setting which in turn w ill encourage socialising and communication which some children may have struggled to do originally. Children will be taught valuable life skills and shown how to organise themselves. This will give children a sense of independence. However most importantly practitioners will want children to feel empowered despite their disability or additional needs, and to feel safe and secure in their environment. All settings should be in a social model of disability frame of mind this is when practitioners do not to pay attention to the child’s disability or condition but remember and respect the fact they have feelings this model is here it empower children not knock their self-esteem. Medical model of disability is when the child’s disability is seen as an illness that a cure should be found. This makes children feel disempowered, this will make the child lose who they are and will always be seen as a walking illness. If a setting is following the medical model then they are no longer working in line with inclusive practice. Promoting the inclusive practice should mean that respect for children; teachers and parents/carers should always be given. Practitioners should show empathy towards the children and have their interests at the heart of planning. Respecting a child in an inclusive practice can be done in many ways however one is not defining the child by the symptoms of their condition, this will dishearten a child and they will not feel like the rest of their peers. Children should always feel safe and secure in the environment in which they are in. If a child has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it may be a struggle to get that child to relax and to concentrate on their work. Nevertheless if the child’s interests and hobbies are in the heart of planning this may encourage good behaviour and concentration in the classroom. Which in turn will produce good results not just for the child in question but all the children that may have originally been distracted by child that suffe rs from ADHD. Showing empathy towards a child and his/her family shows that you have and understanding of their condition and respect what they are going through. But in no way does showing empathy mean you have to sympathise with them and show them pity, this will not benefit you or the childs progression. Showing empathy however will allow for a deeper insight in to their condition and have a broader understanding of their day to day life which will help you make settings more accessible and beneficial for them. Attitudes within an environment may need to be adjusted knowing more about a child’s disability will help practitioners to change attitudes about the way they look at things. For example if a blind child has just joined the class they may decide to change the way the room is laid out to help that child. This is because the teacher understands that having tables just dotted around the room may become a hindrance to that child. Practitioners should try to empower the children let them become more involved with their own day to day life, let them make decisions on their education and the way they wish to be treated. Everyone single child should feel safe and welcomed when they enter any childcare setting. Children should always feel valued and respected no matter what their condition is; equal rights should always be at the front of everyones minds along with the child being at the centre of all planning. Having a disability doesn’t mean the child is a second class citizen, disability should always be represented in a fair and positive light. A child with a disability is likely to already have low self-esteem so they should not feel degraded any further; this means not prejudiced language or behaviour should be used. If this behaviour does arise it should be addressed quickly, in a sensitive manner you should let the person know that they have done is wrong. Anyone that is involved with the setting should portray a positive attitude towards diversity. Parents are always going to be the biggest source of information regarding a child; parents can be brought in to an educational setting to help a teacher to provide the best care for a child. A practitioner may ask the parent to share their expertise with them, other professional may be brought in to help deliver the best education for a child. Every child has strengths as well as areas in which they require additional help; however an educator should also focus on the child’s interests and strengths this will make the child feel good about themselves, practitioners should praise a child for good work. Parents have a substantial emotional investment in their child and this should be valued at all times. A practitioner may say that a child would be better off not attending a mainstream school, this may be extremely upsetting for a parent to hear, and this is when a member of staff should offer support not only to the child but to the parent also. It should always be remembered that this is all new for the parent; they may not understand the procedures that are involved with having a SEN child. To help the parents/carers feel more comfortable with the situation all documents should be given to the parents in advance of meetings. Having a copy of the setting procedures before the meeting means that the parent can feel more prepared for when it comes to the meetings also it means that parents can ask questions about things that may be concerning them. By questions being asked and answers being given a strong teacher and parent/carer bond can be made. Practitioners need to be under the understanding that their opinions may differ to the opinions of the parents. They must remain calm, respectful and professional when having discussions with parents. Parents/carers should be allowed the time to think about the practitioners ideas, then once everyone has come to agreement they can all sit down together and deliberate about best way to care for the child. In some cases the parents may also have a disability themselves; also there may be a language barrier between the parent and the practitioner. The practitioner should try to offer as much support as possible to the parent/carer. If English doesn’t happen to be their first language then maybe a translator could be brought in to make them feel more comfortable in the situation. Flexibility on the scheduling of meetings will always be greatly welcomed by the parents/carers. Often they may have work commitments or other children, if practitioners can be flexible about what time the meeting can take place it will help the families massively. If meetings can be arranged in advance it is likely that the families will be able to arrange cover for work and alternative childcare if needed. This proves to the families that the members of staff are trying to help them as much as possible to make their lives a little easier. If a child needs are more in-depth the help of other professionals may be needed. There are many different professionals that may provide a service that could help a child, such as a Speech and Language Therapist, they will be used if the child struggles to be able to communicate, also if the child struggles to swallow a speech and language therapist will be used. A paediatrician is a doctor that is located in a hospital; this may seem scary however it’s just so they can keep a closer eye on the childs progression on regular visits. Social workers are there to offer support to the families and the child as a child with a disability or an additional need is likely to be viewed as a target for bullying. The environment that the child is learning in should always be adapted to the best of everyone’s ability to meet that child’s needs. All resources/materials should always be checked that they are not just age but also stage appropriate. However the environment should also be appropriate for them, this may mean a setting may have to adapt to meet the needs of every child e.g. if a child is blind the layout of a room may need to be changed. If a child has a lack of manipulative skills they may find undressing and dressing difficult. If the child has a PE lesson it may be a good idea to give that child extra time to change or allow the child to come in to school with their PE kit on and only have to change after the session. Some children find it hard to express their opinions or how they feel about things. They may not be able decide which type of toys they want to play with. Practitioners should try using visual aids to be able to understand what type of the things the c hild likes and dislikes. Resources should always be checked to make sure they are stage suitable as if the activities are too easy the child will lose interest and not improve but if the activity is to hard then the child will not focus and will not progress as they will feel discouraged. All these things need to be taken in to consideration when adapting a practice.

Infertility Essay -- Health, Reproduction, Sperm Hyperactivation

Infertility is a significant and common problem; approximately 9% of couples throughout the world are infertile with 56% of couples needing treatment (Boivin et al, 2007). Study by Mike Hull demonstrated that sperm dysfunction is the single most common cause of male infertility (Hull, 1985). This observation has been confirmed by other studies with report that dysfunctional sperm may exist against entirely normal semen analysis and conversely normal sperm function with very poor samples (oligozoospermia) (3-4 in Cris paper). Without a clear understanding at cellular and molecular level of sperm dysfunction, the only effective treatment for these cases is assisted reproductive technology (ART). It is generally accepted that diagnostic and predictive value of conventional semen analysis is very poor in predicting sperm fertilising potential of infertile couples. As result of this, numerous studies on assessing the cells’ functional competence and diagnose sperm dysfunctions have been developed over the last few years in an attempt to assess the predictive value of these tests for the outcome of in-vitro fertilisation. One of the most important parameters of sperm function is hyperactivation. For fertilisation to occur, spermatozoa must undergo capacitation either in vivo (in the female reproductive tract) or in vitro (in conditioned culture medium), which involves a sequence of membrane and metabolic changes, including transition of progressive motility to a highly irregular movement (hyperactivation). Hyperactivated motility is displayed by sperm swimming in the oviduct and has several physiological advantages, which could certainly help sperm to move effectively through different obstacles in the female reproductive tract e.g.... ...rtilisation rate was studied in prepared sperm samples that were surplus following treatment, to eliminate inter ejaculate-variation. The aims of this study were to examine (1) the incidence of Ca2+ store failure among sub fertile patients and its clinical significance in male infertility; (2) the relationship between % hyperactivation and intracellular Ca2+ level in response to Ca2+ -store mobilising agents; (3) if intracellular Ca2+ and HA are related to IVF success; (4) if hyperactivation in response to Ca2+ -store mobilising agents is biomarker to differentiate between men with normozoospermic samples and patients with severe male factor infertility; and (5) if impaired store mobilisation is stable problem in these patients or vary between ejaculates, this is achieved by recalling sub fertile patients with store malfunction to be examined further. Infertility Essay -- Health, Reproduction, Sperm Hyperactivation Infertility is a significant and common problem; approximately 9% of couples throughout the world are infertile with 56% of couples needing treatment (Boivin et al, 2007). Study by Mike Hull demonstrated that sperm dysfunction is the single most common cause of male infertility (Hull, 1985). This observation has been confirmed by other studies with report that dysfunctional sperm may exist against entirely normal semen analysis and conversely normal sperm function with very poor samples (oligozoospermia) (3-4 in Cris paper). Without a clear understanding at cellular and molecular level of sperm dysfunction, the only effective treatment for these cases is assisted reproductive technology (ART). It is generally accepted that diagnostic and predictive value of conventional semen analysis is very poor in predicting sperm fertilising potential of infertile couples. As result of this, numerous studies on assessing the cells’ functional competence and diagnose sperm dysfunctions have been developed over the last few years in an attempt to assess the predictive value of these tests for the outcome of in-vitro fertilisation. One of the most important parameters of sperm function is hyperactivation. For fertilisation to occur, spermatozoa must undergo capacitation either in vivo (in the female reproductive tract) or in vitro (in conditioned culture medium), which involves a sequence of membrane and metabolic changes, including transition of progressive motility to a highly irregular movement (hyperactivation). Hyperactivated motility is displayed by sperm swimming in the oviduct and has several physiological advantages, which could certainly help sperm to move effectively through different obstacles in the female reproductive tract e.g.... ...rtilisation rate was studied in prepared sperm samples that were surplus following treatment, to eliminate inter ejaculate-variation. The aims of this study were to examine (1) the incidence of Ca2+ store failure among sub fertile patients and its clinical significance in male infertility; (2) the relationship between % hyperactivation and intracellular Ca2+ level in response to Ca2+ -store mobilising agents; (3) if intracellular Ca2+ and HA are related to IVF success; (4) if hyperactivation in response to Ca2+ -store mobilising agents is biomarker to differentiate between men with normozoospermic samples and patients with severe male factor infertility; and (5) if impaired store mobilisation is stable problem in these patients or vary between ejaculates, this is achieved by recalling sub fertile patients with store malfunction to be examined further.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter Four Essay

â€Å"Becoming a franchisee is an odd combination of starting your own business and going to work for someone else† (Schlosser 94).In Eric Schlosser’s Non-fiction book, Fast Food Nation, Schlosser reasons that fast food has widened the gap between the rich and the poor, started an obesity epidemic and propelled American cultural imperialism abroad. While the idea of a franchiser/ franchisee relationship appears to be nothing but beneficial, it has a serious drawback, which is the release/ acceptance of certain issues out of each party’s control. This, in turn causes other companies to try to develop new ways of forming this relationship. Subway, for example uses â€Å"Development Agents† to help ease tensions. However due to this, the controversial issue of encroachment emerges. This leaves society asking at what price is success worth it? And how is success measured by these companies? The franchisee/ franchiser relationship has its benefits, but also one major downside which can cause conflicts and controversies. â€Å"At the heart of the franchise agreement is the desire by two parties to make money while avoiding risk† (Schlosser 94). In starting your own business, there is a huge financial risk. Even if you have an amazing idea it takes a lot of well managed money. Becoming a franchisee, though, while still costing a good amount of money, the risk is considerably smaller because the name, advertising and product is already out there. â€Å"One provides a brand name, a business plan, expertise, access to equipment and supplies. The other puts up the money and does the work† (Schlosser 94). Franchising makes it easier for companies to expand their market and profit from that. â€Å"The relationship has built-in tensions. The franchisor gives up some control while not wholly owning each operation; the franchisee sacrifices a great deal of independence by having to obey the companies rules† (Schlosser 94). When putting that amount of money and work into building a successful franchise it is frustrating when you can’t make any changes you want on your own. While there is a great deal of sacrifice, particularly on the side of the franchisee, bottom line, when the profits are rolling in everyone gets along just fine. Because the franchisee/franchisor relationship has built in tensions, it has led companies to explore new ways of forming this partnership. â€Å"The chain relies on â€Å"development agents† to sell new Subway franchises. The development agents are not paid salary †¦ [their] Income is largely dependent on the number of Subway’s that open in their territory† (Schlosser 100). These development agents are technically independent contractors who will try to open as many subways as possible, because the more they open the more they are paid. â€Å"They are under constant pressure to keep opening new Subway’s, regardless of how that effects the sales of subway’s that are already operating nearby† (Schlosser 100). Because they are independent contractors they don’t worry about how sales of other Subway’s are affected by their actions, in order to make money they need to keep opening franchises regardless of if they are making Subways across the street from other Subway restaurants. â€Å"As the American market for fast food grows more saturated, restaurants belonging to the same chain are frequently being put closer to one another. Franchises call this practice â€Å"encroachment† and angrily oppose it† (Schlosser 99). Although it may lead to a decrease in sales at the individual restaurants, the franchisors benefit from this practice that puts its franchisee’s out of business. While some can credit Subway for attempting to find new ways to form its relationships with its franchises, overall, its practices hurt its individual restaurants and make it one of the worst chains to be a franchisee for, long-term. Due to the harsh reality uncovered in this chapter, society is able to see how hard it is to become successful, whether it is as a franchisee or starting a company on your own. At a success seminar Dave Feamster took his employees to, a paralyzed but still upbeat and motivational Christopher Reeve’s said, â€Å"Since my accident, I’ve been realizing †¦ that success means something quite different† (Schlosser 107). Reeve’s is referencing the millions he made in his 20’s and that there may be more to success than that. â€Å"’I see people who achieve these conventional goals, he says †¦ ‘None of it matters† (Schlosser 107). This is such a powerful moment in the chapter, Schlosser is supposed to be attending a motivational seminar and yet readers walk away from it wondering, at what point success worth it is. If this man who was famous and beloved by America says he thinks he is irrelevant, what about us? In this chapter readers see that big companies measure their success in money and profits, but how should society measure it’s? The public education system might measure success in graduates or students that go on to college. But the great thing about this chapter is Christopher Reeve’s challenges the way you measure your success and leaves that up to the audience’s interpretation. â€Å"If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it† (Brainy Quotes W.C. Fields). The franchisee/franchisor relationship while mostly beneficial, has its hindrances, which is each party sacrificing some control. As companies such as subway have explored new ways of forming this relationship, even more problems have emerged from this. Readers are left wondering at what price success is worth it, and how big companies measure their success. Works Cited Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation. New York: Perennial, 2002. Print. Book Rags Media Network.  © 2001 – 2011 Brainy Quote. < http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/wcfields108002.html>

Overcome Laziness and Become a Successful Person

Overcome Laziness and Become a Successful Person Get Things Done: Overcoming Laziness Even though all of us are mortal, for some reason we dont seem to care that we have limited time on this planet. To find purpose, to love, to see the world, to know thyself to accomplish all these things, we have on average 70 years if were lucky. If not, we have even less time. Unfortunately, laziness and procrastination is in our nature. However, in every human theres also a successful person, who cant reveal him/herself without the right effort. The question is how can we wake this successful person up and deal with laziness and procrastination? How can we start valuing the precious moments that we have on this wonderful planet and begin doing something that really matters? Lets look at these five tips to help you beat laziness quickly: Take action. As simple as that. If you dont want to write, sit down and start writing. If you dont want to read, sit down and start reading. If you dont feel like exercising youve got the idea. Procrastination happens when you listen to that Gollum voice in your head. With all your strength, make it shut up and just start doing what you need to do. You can never start if you keep listening to it. One bite at a time. Imagine that you are served with a delicious meal and told that you need to eat it in one bite; otherwise, it will be taken away. Could you do this? None of us could, because fortunately we have normal-sized mouths. So, if you cant do that, why to project this one giant bite attitude to your daily tasks? Take one bite at a time and you can even start finding your tasks pleasurable. On the other hand, if you try to do everything at once, you will do nothing and lose the motivation. Most of the time, it is we who make our lives difficult. Remove the distractions. When we dont want to do something, even such things as cleaning the closet, start to look for an attractive side. We also tend to follow different distractions around us watch TV series, scroll Facebook pages, read blogs etc. Focus on what youre doing without any distractions (disconnect the Internet, turn off the TV and put your phone on a fly-mode) and take some rest when youre done. Find motivation. Remind yourself how important is what youre doing. If the things youre doing stopped being important, then its time for introspection and recapping your goals. Reward yourself. Of course, you dont want to become a robot. And you dont have to; you can reward yourself after each completed task. In fact, this is one of the greatest ways to stay motivated. Take a little nap, go for a 15-minute walk, or perform some activity that you like. This way, you will have more motivation to get things done. The most difficult part in overcoming laziness is taking action. So, heres a final straightforward recommendation turn off that bad friends voice in your head, and just start making things happen.

Explore a Career as a Marine Biologist

Explore a Career as a Marine Biologist Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms that live in salt water. A marine biologist, by definition, is a person that studies, or works with a salt water organism or organisms. That is a fairly brief definition for a very general term, as marine biology encompasses many things. Marine biologists may work for private businesses, in non-profit organizations, or at universities and colleges. They may spend most of their time outdoors, such as on a boat, underwater, or in tide pools, or they may spend much of their time indoors in a laboratory or aquarium. Marine Biology Jobs Some career paths that a marine biologist would take include any of the following: Working with whales, dolphins or pinnipeds in an aquarium or zooWorking in a rescue/rehabilitation facilityStudying smaller organisms like sponges, nudibranchs or microbes and using them to learn about neuroscience and medicineStudying shellfish and the best way to raise animals like oysters and mussels in an aquaculture environment.Researching a particular marine species, behavior or notion; and teaching at a university or college. Depending on the type of work theyd like to do, there may be extensive education and training required to be a marine biologist. Marine biologists usually need many years of education at least a bachelors degree, but sometimes a masters degree, Ph.D. or post-doctorate degree. Because jobs in marine biology are competitive, outside experience with volunteer positions, internships, and outside study are helpful to land a rewarding job in this field. In the end, a marine biologists salary may not reflect their years of schooling as well as, say, a doctors salary. This site indicates an average salary of $45,000 to $110,000 per year for a marine biologist working in an academic world. That may be the highest-paying job path for marine biologists. Marine Biology Schooling Some marine biologists major in topics other than marine biology; according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administrations Southwest Fisheries Science Center, most of the biologists are fishery biologists. Of those who went on to do graduate work, 45 percent got a B.S. in biology and 28 percent got their degree in zoology. Others studied oceanography, fisheries, conservation, chemistry, mathematics, biological oceanography, and animal scientists. Most got their masters degrees in zoology or fisheries, in addition to oceanography, biology, marine biology, and biological oceanography. A small percentage got their masters degree in ecology, physical oceanography, animal sciences, or statistics. Ph.D. students studied similar topics including operations research, economics, political science, and statistics. Click here to learn more about what marine biologists do, where they work, how to become a marine biologist, and what marine biologists get paid.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - Essay Example He lives life like a trapped bird, because society expects him to be good in actions and attitudes. Dr. Jekyll chooses to be a good person, the perfect Victorian model that Evangelicals are proud of. Inside, however, he battles his Id that he has contained too much. He does not give in to his selfish desires, such as by doing philanthropic work, and as a consequence, his subconscious learns to love selfish and lethal desires. Soon, his appearance gives way to the inner self. The inner self, when it breaks free, becomes wild and strong. Dr. Jekyll turns to Mr. Hyde, the full expression of his innermost desires. This paper shows that when the inner self is fully imprisoned though appearance, it will be repressed, but not forever; and when it is released, it will destroy the humanity of a person. Wendy Perkins, in â€Å"Critical Essay on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,† examines the role of the ideologies, utilitarianism and Evangelicalism, in shaping Victorian England during the ninete enth century. These ideologies opposed each other and affected the context of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Perkins stress that these ideologies forced people to choose between being hedonistic and being moral, which are both extremes that do not do the soul and identity any good at all. She argues that through this novel, Robert Louis Stevenson criticizes Victorian society. Dr. Jekyll would not have created an evil alter ego, Mr. Hyde, if he had enough channels to express his â€Å"desires.† Perkins uses the characters of Utterson and Enfield to describe what norms should be during Victorian times. Utterson represents the â€Å"human side that refuses to condemn others.† Perkins is saying that if people did not focus on being good alone, then freedom of expression has been more tolerated, if not widely promoted. Enfield has the â€Å"same temperament as Utterson.† He stands for moderation in attitudes and behaviors. Utterson and Enfield shame Evangelicals and utilit arians who focus on their own goals and values. These characters are examples of tolerance and moderation that utilitarianism and Evangelicalism lacked. Perkins argues that society has made it harder for people to balance their conflicting desires. Utilitarianism justifies the creation of Mr. Hyde, since he enables Dr. Jekyll to fully express his desires, even evil ones. Utilitarianism says that it is right to pursue pleasure and eliminate pain. Mr. Hyde provides pleasure, though not in the normal kind. He makes Dr. Jekyll feel free to be whoever he wants to be. Dr. Jekyll also uses the â€Å"duplicity† of his characters to balance his conflicting urges and norms. Evangelicalism, however, compels Dr. Jekyll to kill himself, since he can no longer control Mr. Hyde. As a result, the ending satisfies Victorian norms. In the end, Dr. purifies the world from the existence of a malignant tumor like Mr. Hyde. Perkins stresses that utilitarianism and Evangelicalism are two extreme id eologies that pushed Dr. Jekyll to create Mr. Hyde. These ideologies do not promote sobriety and do not help people balance their different needs and interests. Perkins emphasizes that it is important for people to have a sense of balance in their lives, or else, they will also produce their Mr. Hyde, who cannot be controlled anymore. In â€Å"The Prisonhouse of my Disposition,† Daniel Wright explores that duplicity is not the main goal of Dr. Jekyll. He contends that such analyses are superficial and incomplete. He presents a psychological view of the novel, where the double

Dynamics of Terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Dynamics of Terrorism - Essay Example Nassar presents an in depth picture on the real and historic causes behind terrorism. For him, as it were, every global citizen and leader in Parliament are, among others, responsible for the current and widespread menace of terrorism. That is why Nassar says: Recently, a former student of mine wrote me one of those rare but special notes that teachers occasionally receive. Lynn Weddle of the class of 1985 wrote, "I often am reminded of the many things I learned while in your class and how some of the things you mentioned became truly prophetic." My former student went on to remind me of a statement I had made in class arguing that the Soviet Union was not the enemy we needed to fear but rather "a Third World country that we would never expect to wreak havoc on the US." The events of September 11, 2001, reminded her of that statement. While the events of that dreadful day were a wake-up call to most Americans, terror has been a normal way of life for a long time to many people around the world. It certainly has been a part of my life since birth (Nassar i-iv). Terrorism is and terrorist incidents are on the increase in Asia and Middle-East and West Asia while they are on a decreasing trend in Europe and America. Terrorist violence and incidents have led to thousands of death every year from 700 to about 6000 in the world (Sengupta and Cockburn 27 March 2007). International Terrorist Incidences 1968 to 2004 Source: Graph from MIPT database, http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp This menace of terrorists' violent and fatal incidents is beyond human description and definition. Various dictionaries and encyclopedias define terrorism mainly in terms of acts of fatal violence and attacks against established and recognized institutions of State and its citizens and forces. Academics and experts do not fully agree with such simplistic meanings and definitions. For Jimmy Carter, Palestinian people have always suffered at the hands of the Israel's policy of "Apartheid" against them (Carter 176). If this so then what about Palestine's' sustained terrorists attacks not only aimed at Israel but also the different countries of the entire world. For Nassar Jamal, terrorism is use of excessive force, fatal attacks with the intention to create terror and panic in order to secure calculated political demands. He, however, finds - quite like Bjorgo (First Chapter) - institution of State more responsible for present-day terrorism. Gurr and Cole believe that there are different levels of terrorist attacks and violence - the conventional and non-conventional. Terrorist groups are not gun-trotting armatures. They have there aims and purposes. As such there main objective is to accomplish their political aims through effective means of massive violence. They even use weapons of mass destruction especially nuclear, biological and chemical weapons [NBCs] (1-22). Defining terrorism leads also to a major question. Are terrorists normal human beings Are they primarily pathological cases Yes, even terrorists of today are normal beings and their global system and networking is