Trichy free essay sample

To contribute to the growth of India’s international business by disseminating knowledge about international business and trade by: †¢ Imparting requisite knowledge to prospective managers of international business. †¢ Assisting business organizations involved in exports / imports / foreign trade through specific studies and consultancy reports. †¢ Adopting best practices in imparting education in international business through its own as well as through partner institutions and organizations across the globe. Objectives †¢ To mould students and learners into globally competent managers in international business, with the requisite knowledge, skills and exposure to match the requirements of the industry. †¢ To impart education in theory and practice of international business, so as to develop the capabilities of students in decision-making in today’s complex international business environment. To organise and conduct research and thereby expand the knowledge domain. †¢ To impart knowledge to exporters, importers and regulators through training and research. †¢ To assist the government and regulators in policy formulation and modification. We will write a custom essay sample on Trichy or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Our Founder Late Sri Raja Bankatlal Gopikishan Badruka (1905-1966) BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 2 2 pages 3 11/9/2009 12:17:59 PM Over the last 60 years, the Badruka Educational Society has grown from strength to strength, setting up various educational institutions covering a wide spectrum of learning at graduate and postgraduate levels: †¢ Badruka College of Commerce †¢ Badruka College Post-Graduate Centre †¢ Bankatlal Badruka College for Information Technology †¢ Badruka Institute of Foreign Trade †¢ Badruka Institute of Foreign Education †¢ Badruka Institute of Professional Studies †¢ Badruka Junior College for Girls †¢ Bansilal Badruka School of Music and Dance †¢ Ramdayal Ghasiram Badruka Technical Institute †¢ Laxmi Nivas Badruka Vidyarthi Gruh. Over 70,000 students have had the privilege of passing out of the portals of the Society’s institutions, enriching the Indian nation in academics, fine arts, management, IT, commerce, politics and business. On the foreign education front, the Badruka Institute of Foreign Education (BIFE) had earlier been conducting the MBA program of Edinburgh Business School, Heriott Watt University, UK. Hony Secretary Sri Hari Prasad G Badruka keeps exploring new programs of value to students in various domains. BIFT has already tied up with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and efforts are on to tie up with the Hague University, Netherlands for a faculty and student exchange program. Similar tie-ups with other renowned foreign universities / institutions in UK, Europe USA are also being considered. Study visits to a few foreign countries are already being organized by Badruka Institute of Foreign Trade (BIFT), which owes its genesis to Sri Badruka’s vision of India empowered by managers who are competent to handle large, globally spread businesses in an environment where national boundaries have indeed vanished. Serving the society through value-based education Sri Hari Prasad G Badruka, the Chairman Honorary Secretary of the Society, is a dedicated educationist, visionary and philanthropist with a commitment to excellence. He has played a major role in the development of the Society through his dedication and involvement in the administration of the Society for nearly four decades. Sri Badruka has always believed that students must undergo education which not only helps them to further their careers but also fosters strong value systems in them. BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 3 1/9/2009 12:18:05 PM Aimed at preparing qualified professionals in the challenging field of international business, BIFT was established in 2001, under an MoU with Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, which is internationally renowned and is ranked amongst the top 10 B-schools in India. IIFT has been extending academic and faculty support to BIFT. BIFT is situated in Hyderabad, which has recorded phenomen al growth with large enterprises being established in the IT / Pharmaceutical / Biotech / FMCG / Retail / Financial Services sectors. The five-storeyed BIFT building has a built-up area of over 60,000 sq. t. The students enjoy well-equipped, air-conditioned lecture halls, PCs with broadband internet connectivity, Wi-Fi enabled campus, LCD projectors, audio systems, e-journals under EBSCO, electronic databases of industries / companies through CMIE’s Prowess India Trades, Kompass Trade Directory, Trade Wizard Software, etc. The cutting-edge curriculum of MPIB comprises all subjects of the MBA program of a standard B-school and in addition, 15 more subjects that equip students in International Finance, International Marketing Trade, Global Logistics, International HRM, etc. BIFT has tied up with Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, where BIFT students undertake shortterm specialization courses in International Finance, International Marketing or Port Management. BIFT is also exploring tie-ups for short-term value-added courses to be taken up in some reputed B-schools in the UK, Europe and USA. To offer new vocational opportunities, BIFT has introduced two-year Masters Programs in Healthcare Management, Infrastructure Management and Pharma-Biotech Management, under an MoU with Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University. It is in the process of introducing a 4-6 months internship in ‘Shipping and Port Management’ in association with Westport, Malaysia. Other new introductions include an Entrepreneurship and Family Business Program, as well as industry-focused weekend lectures (with APITCO). The growing number of students enrolled from all parts of India in the recent batches is indicative of the rapidly increasing popularity of MPIB. At BIFT, a unique trilogy of students, faculty and learning resources produces some of the best minds in the country. Consequently, our students today hold key and enviable managerial positions across several reputed organizations in India and abroad. The teaching method and learning pedagogy at BIFT include lectures, case studies, seminars, group discussions, business games, role plays, simulation exercises, structured and unstructured group work, as well as industry visits and port visits to foreign countries like Singapore, Malaysia, etc. Commencing this academic year, BIFT has switched over to the semester system of instruction (from the earlier trimester system), to enable students to get more time for industry interaction. Masters Program in International Business Cutting-edge curriculum for global business BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 4 4 pages 5 11/9/2009 12:18:13 PM From the Director Changing Trends in Management Education†¦ Pioneering Sectoral Vocations. Established in 2001, BIFT has carved out a niche for itself over the last eight years in the International Business education arena, with overwhelming acceptance in the Trade and Industry. That over 600 BIFTians are occupying coveted positions in business organizations both in India and abroad, is a standing testimony of the Industry’s acceptance of our pedagogy and content. It is heartening to note that the ill effects of the global economic slowdown, resulting out of speculative greed in the financial markets, are slowly tapering off. As per both IMF and World Bank, the Indian and Chinese economics are on the up-swing and it is expected that in the next 6-10 months, the global markets would emerge stronger. This is a welcome sign for all business management students. The corporates are looking for innovative, unpretentious young minds with focus on learning and handson experience to steer the engines of growth in the emerging areas. To be successful in the global markets, the students need to acquire powers of critical thinking and moral reasoning coupled with knowledge on contemporary business issues and multi-cultural focus. The corporates prefer sectoral enthusiasts who have a flair for niche business areas and are ready to hone their skills in diversified segments with an open mind focused on ‘learning’ rather than ‘earning’. In the above context, BIFT would be providing increased exposure in areas like International Product / Brand Management; Acquisitions Mergers and Business Valuations; Port Operations Management; Banking, Finance, Insurance, etc. BIFT has also introduced Masters courses in emerging areas like Infrastructure Management, PharmaBiotech Management and Health Care Management, under MOU with JNTU-Hyderabad, for better sectoral vocations. Nurturing entrepreneurs who would transform into ‘job providers’ rather than ‘job seekers’ is also the need of the hour. As the real India lives in rural areas, the students need to be social entrepreneurs with focus on areas like Microfinance, NGO Management, etc. Lastly but not the least, based on experiences gained from the global mortgage derivatives debacle, which the Indian financial system has withstood, we need to evolve our own ‘Indian Approach to Corporate Management’ with strong foundations in Ethics and Values, merging the best of both East and West. We invite our respected corporates to partner with us in this ‘Yagna’ of Corporate Social Responsibility ‘Innovation – Intuition – Inspiration’ is the Mantra for Success. From the Director’s Desk Prof GS Rao BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 5 11/9/2009 12:18:18 PM From the Academic Coordinator The Badruka Educational Society was established with the objective of inculcating academic excellence and lasting ethical values in the students. BIFT values learning as a way of life and promotes the habit of critical thinking and intellectual curiosity. We offer students access to cutting-edge learning experience, facilities and materials, to a faculty that vigorously pursues research and scholarship and to an academic guidance that is sensitive to their interest, needs and abilities. This is more than an academic exercise, for which we are employing good management practices. Our curriculum focuses on skills a manager would require to operate in an environment marked by diversity. Business at global level gets more competitive, considering that policies differ from country to country, turbulent currency values and varying consumer behavior. So a manager who works in this set-up requires a special set of skills, which our International Business curriculum aims at imparting. Further, our institute lays a great deal of emphasis on regularly exposing our students to the corporate world, which in turn helps us to chalk out an innovative academic strategy and keep abreast of trends abroad. As a result of this, our students become more articulate, confident and ready for the industry when the time comes. We welcome all the prospective employers of our MPIB students to look at these international leaders in the making, recruit them in good positions, groom them in the organization and in turn benefit from their youthful energy and specialized knowledge. The Placement Process The students of BIFT have come from various educational backgrounds. They have been groomed with soft skill training and classroom trainings to face the final placement process. But, education of the future leaders will be incomplete without the exposure to working in an organization. The placement process covers Pre-Placement Talk and Final Placement. Pre-Placement Talk The Pre-Placement Talk offers the corporate and students an opportunity to interact and get to know the organization better. Organizations make important presentations to the students about the organizations and career growths in which student concerns like job responsibilities, remuneration package, ladder of growth, cross-functional exposure are answered. Final Placement The industry participates in final placement process to utilize intellectual capital of BIFT. The real proof of the quality and effectiveness of any institution lies in the acceptance of its graduates in the industry. The placement of the 2007-09 graduating batch proves the rigorous two-year MPIB program at BIFT. The Institute has an impressive and consistent placement record. With best wishes, Rakesh Chander Sharma The BIFT Placement Team L to R: Mr Ravi Kumar, Mr PR Venkat Sai, Ms Preeti, Ms Jhansi BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 6 6 pages 7 11/9/2009 12:18:23 PM From Head Institutional Development Today, people perceive and measure excellence in higher education pertaining to the development and achievement of an institution as the number of students placed and their overall pay packages. There seems to be a need for thorough introspection here†¦ Education, in its broadest sense, is an act that has an effect on the mind, character, or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense education is a process by which society transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills and values from one generation to another through educational institutions. The true values of education are to develop people of quality and character and to create an awareness of social responsibilities. An educational institution has to shoulder multiple aspects to ensure its progress by creating a competitive yet nurturing service attitude in individuals. At Badruka Educational Society, we aim not only to equip our students with the necessary skills needed but also focus on providing this service at an affordable cost, without any discrimination or gender preference. The overall development of our students is of utmost importance to all of us working here. We help them develop various skill sets including understanding the employer’s need. A centralized Placements and Grooming Division has been set up for this purpose. To bridge the gap built over the years, we have developed a grooming program based on valuable inputs from our faculty, recruiters, alumni and past experience. Also, activity-based training is imparted for personality development. Blood donation camps and service at orphanages is a part of understanding various aspects of life. Our students conduct and participate in management festivals, conferences and seminars. Industrial visits and guest lectures by eminent personalities are a regular feature here. We ensure that the students undergo various levels of learning and unlearning so that their Intelligence, Emotional and Spiritual Quotient is equally developed to be successful and satisfied in life. We strive constantly to ensure that every Badrukan is an ‘inner’ as well as an ‘outer’ winner. Poonam R Saraf From Manager Placements Welcome to the gallery of portraits of some of the best potential managers available. Over the years Badruka Institute of Foreign Trade (BIFT) has become a prime choice of the recruiters across the country. BIFT was rated by a Business India survey in the ‘A+ category’ in 2007 and in the ‘A category’ in 2008. BIFT students receive the best of inputs from academicians, professional soft skill trainers like TIME Institute, Badruka’s in-house Grooming Division, as well as from practicing managers. Their training stint in Nanyang Technological University at Singapore, port visits to Malaysia and faculty / students exchange program with Hague University (Netherlands) enrich the students with international exposure. In addition to the standard MBA curriculum, 14 additional subjects are taught with dual specialization in International Marketing, Finance and HR, with Trade being common to all the students. Our endeavour is not only to create smart analytical ‘left-brained’ students but also those with soft-skills, inclined towards the ‘right-brain’ and who readily work across global cultures. We can proudly say that the earlier recruiters have been quite satisfied with the quality of the BIFTians picked up by them, as is being reflected in their feedback, and also the fact that they have been visiting our campus again and again. We promise to provide you quality students to suit your requirements aptly. We look forward to your continued support, and invite you to visit our campus and see for yourself the great potential that is waiting to be tapped in each of our bright students. PR Venkat Sai BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 7 11/9/2009 12:18:28 PM Core Mentors BIFT faculty members take the students beyond the typical classroom atmosphere, and provide continuous individual guidance to the students to mould them into competent professionals who can confidently take on the challenges of the highly competitive corporates which have acquired global dimensions with their business spanning several countries in the world. Dr Aswani Kumar M. Sc. , MBA, Ph. D. Prof J R Kumar B. Com, FICWA Mr Rakesh Chander Sharma BE (Chem), PGDEE, Advanced Diploma in French, Diploma in Scientific and Technical Translation (French) Professor Expertise in: General Management and Marketing Expertise in: General Management Strategic and Unit Level Indirect Taxation Cost Accounting Academic Coordinator Expertise in: Consultancy related to chemical industries, environmental / energy-related issues. Mr M Durga Prasad M. Com. , M. Phil. (Finance) (Ph. D. ) Ms Mehnaaz Siddiqui BA, MBA (HR Marketing) (Ph. D. ) Mr KC Mohanty M. Sc, MBA (Marketing), ITM (FIEO) (Ph. D. ) Assistant Professor Expertise in: Management Accounting, Financial Management, Management of Financial Services. Authored two books and presented articles at national seminars. Assistant Professor Expertise in: HRM, Marketing, International Business Assistant Professor Expertise in: International Marketing, International Trade Operations, WTO, Agri Business, Commodity Trading, Export Import Management Mr Deepak M. Sc. (Statistics) Prof G Surender Reddy M. Tech. (Ind. Mgt) IIT-Madras, LLB, PGDIPR, PGDPEM (OU), CAIIB Lt Col (Retd) AV Anand MIE (Mech), MBA, PGHRM, PG Equipment Management, (Ph. D. ) Assistant Professor Expertise in: Statistics and Operations Research, Research Methodology Expertise in: Development Banking, Corporate Consulting, Management Teaching, Entrepreneurship Development and Mentoring Coordinator Evaluation Expertise in: HR, Administration and Leadership Mr Prayaga Ramakrishna Head, Center for Indian Management Studies (CIMS) Mr Unnikrishnan Kurup M. A. (Economics), M. A. (Sociology), M. Phil, (Ph. D. ) Mr Syed Muzammiluddin B. Com (Computers), BCJ, MBA, (Ph. D. ) Associate Professor Expertise in: Educational Consultant and Professor in Economics, Principal under Kerala University in Kerala. Assistant Professor Expertise in: Marketing, Soft Skills BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. ndd 8 8 pages 9 11/9/2009 12:18:32 PM Tie-ups with Foreign Institutions BIFT has tied up with the Nanyang Technological University for BIFT students to undergo a short-term course in Marketing / Finance / IT etc, commencing from the batch of 2008-10 students. Also, we are in dialogue with a few other international institutions in UK, Netherlands and Spain, and fo r enabling desirous students to pursue short-term study modules in Marketing, Finance, Trading, Information Technology and other domains which will provide them ample value addition and also help them secure international placements. BIFT is now study center of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK for certificate and diploma courses. BIFT’s integrated approach towards management education combines the regular set of all MBA-level management subjects with the international business-related curriculum is drawn from IIFT’s rigorous and knowledge-packed syllabus, as well as BIFT’s own additional inputs based on industry demand. The delivery of inputs by qualified in-house faculty is reinforced with that of eminent faculty from IIMs, IIFT and a few foreign universities. Foreign languages such as French and Spanish are being taught. In addition, Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin languages are also being offered to BIFT students this year onwards. The students are evaluated on the basis of assignments, presentations, group discussions, quizzes, role-plays and class tests. Considerable stress is laid on discipline, cultural values and personality development. Students make weekly group presentations on top business stories of the week based on their daily browsing of business newspapers and journals in the library. The students’ skills are honed to make them emerge as knowledge-endowed global business managers of tomorrow, whose quest for knowledge will never cease. BIFT believes that knowledge is the willow that winners wield. Towards this belief, BIFT has set as its goal the transformation of its students, which will make their dreams come true. Mr Rael Escobar (an MBA student from Hague University, Netherlands) under student exchange program in dialogue with BIFT Director and faculty members Mr Patrick Sim (Senior Business Development Executive, NTU-Singapore) discussing details of a new module in Port Management with BIFT officials Ms Tam Kam Peng (Head Alliances Learning Partnership) and Ms Aarti Porwal (Chief Representative CIMA, UK) with BIFT Director Prof GS Rao and Prof JR Kumar Mr Jeff Carter (Dean, Canadian College, Vancouver) in conversation with BIFT Director and faculty members for Student Exchange Program BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 9 11/9/2009 12:18:39 PM Conducive Learning Ambience Library and e-Journals The BIFT library has a collection of over 10,000 books and subscribes to 40 national / international journals and magazines. As many as 1100 e-journals through EBSCO and databases like CMIE’s India Trades and Prowess, and Trade Wizard Software have been provided to the students. Valuable data is also available in the form of trade directories, country / product research reports, project reports, trade publications, video-library, CDs and software packages of various kinds, etc. Library Session in Progress Computer Lab The Institute has a state-of-the-art Computer Centre with a Local Area Network comprising a Server, 80 Pentium Nodes and Internet access through a dedicated broadband link, electronic databases, etc. WiFi Connectivity in Campus WiFi connectivity is provided for facilitating students, faculty and visiting guest faculty in BIFT premises. Computer Laboratory Laptops for Students Students are provided with laptops to enable them to not only access and browse databases but also store study material, data, and carry out analyses of data, presentations through slide shows, etc. Seminar Hall and Classrooms Air-conditioned classrooms. and a seminar hall-cum-auditorium equipped with contemporary teaching equipment such as an LCD projector, overhead projector, TV and VCR, broadband internet connection, audio system, etc. re available. Students in Classroom Cafeteria Serving hygienic and tasty snacks, the cozy cafeteria on the college campus also provides a useful platform for informal exchange of ideas / information between students of various batches and disciplines, as well as with the faculty. Students enjoying snacks in Cafeteria BIFT Placement Brochure (08-10) FINAL. indd 10 10 pages 1 1 11/9/2009 12:18:54 PM Visiting / Guest Faculty A number of guest / visiting faculty from reputed institutions in India and abroad are invited to conduct lectures on curriculum topics. Study visits constitute an important aspect of the course curriculum, providing the students practical exposure to the dynamics of the industry / corporate business. Interactive sessions with corporate managers are arranged during the visits. Students are sent every year on study visits to Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), the world’s busiest port, Jurong Port (Singapore), as well as to Northport and Westport, Port Klang, Malaysia. During these visits they meet senior executives of various multinational companies and obtain valuable insights into the dynamics of global trade / international business, global logistics, international marketing and international finance, etc.

Anti-war essays

Anti-war essays With the nation in a ruckus over war, a new group of war protestors emerged and they took the shapes of many different forms. Their goal was clear: to stop the war. Their motives however, in an ongoing effort to reach In the popular novel Johnny Got His Gun, Americans were exposed to an emotional side of the war. This novel, which many had a copy of, told the story of a young man named Johnny, who now laid in a hospital bed as a useless, miserable being. Being unable to do anything, except simply think, he tells his side of the story. He shows the effects of the war, and explains that it is not worth fighting for a life of freedom, if you are dead. While this approach worked fine for the Oprah Winfrey crowd of the war era, there were many other hardcore business, political and military leaders that still needed to be convinced that the war should stop! To oblige, the anti-war activists put on a new face. ...

Sovereignty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words - 1

Sovereignty - Essay Example se to examine if one is paying attention in issues like the altering nature of limitations and the potential of constructing following communities further than sovereignty (Waltz, 2003, pp. 10-12). This research focused on this truth that certainly; it is hard to believe that anybody ever asserted the "statecentric" sight of international politics that is today so intentionally rejected by those who look for to emphasize the role of "the novel international actors (Paul Piccone, 2001, 174-184)." What was extensively asserted concerning European international family members from the time of Vattel in the mid-eighteenth century awaiting the finish of the First World War was the lawful fiction of a political cosmos that consisted of states unaccompanied, the policy that only states had human rights and duties in international law. Both following leaders and academics often maintain outstanding times. But what does it mean to converse of outstanding politics in international relations? In one intelligence exceptionality is a evocative category referring to a fundamental alter in the systemic circumstances of international politics. Furthermore, inside this piece of writing a different idea of exemption is examined. It refers to an exacting method of conceptualizing the natural world of international following order (Jens Bartelson, 2003, pp. 209-227). Therefore, the exemption defines political arrange by income of constitutional-legal way of thinking in which dissimilar understandings of the natural world and rank of international law and its following transgressions explain competing visions of international following order. The focal tip of this international politics of exemption is not the customary distinction flanked by liberal and practical human being views of international politics but the constitutio nalist harmony of normativism, decisionism, and institutionalism. In one sense the notion of exception is a evocative group referring to a fundamental change

Restraints and seclusion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Restraints and seclusion - Essay Example aises the concern if restrained re-traumatizes the sick at their most vulnerable, if seclusion damages the alliance of therapeutic and if that is the case if it can undergo justification. Studies from Massachusetts consider the vulnerable to be mostly affected by seclusion. The vulnerable consist of those with past sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical trail, developmentally disabled, physically trail, and sensory impaired patients. Therefore, seclusion can easily lead to re-traumatization to the above named group of individual. LaFond, R. (2007, September). Reducing Seclusion and Restraint for Improved Patient and Staff Safety. In a https://www.crisisprevention.com., 2 (4), 12 Retrieved July 9, 2013, from https://www.crisi prevention .com/CPI/media /Media/Resources/research/Lafond-from-07-JSM-JOU-002. Pdf This article â€Å"Reducing seclusion and restraint for improved patient and staff safety† by Randall Lafond talks about the benefits of avoiding seclusion and restraints for patients. The author states that there should be legal law which reduces seclusion and restraint among patients. The article explains the way in which health care services disregard the importance of the reduction of seclusion and restraints. He states that staff must be trained to encourage the practice of reducing seclusion and restraint among patients. As per LaFond, â€Å"In the baseline year of 2002, 83 episodes of seclusion and restraint were documented. The total documented time was 220:03 minutes against 1606 admissions and a total of 16,054 patient days†. He asserts that for the safety of psychiatric patients the reduction of seclusion and restraints is important. Master, K. (2004). Can narrative therapy decrease the use of seclusion and restraint, 2 (4), 34. Retrieved July 8, 2013, from http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/M ember Resources/Practice_Information/SR_Articles/Can_Narrative_Therapy_Decrease_th e_Use_of_Seclusion_and_Restraint.aspx This article by Kim Masters states whether

Internationa Economics, migration and refugee Assignment

Internationa Economics, migration and refugee - Assignment Example Theres need to establish credible establishments that can access and also equitably send out these types of methods in order that the nation to gain the greatest value from its aspect endowment. The learning resource curse, generally known as paradox of lots, is a non-desirable predicament that will comes up in the event the establishments trusted with the country’s endowment don’t possess sound policies (Piros & Christopher, 2013). It is common knowledge that international locations and also areas having an abundance of natural resources, specifically point-source non-renewable resources like naturally occurring mineral deposits and fuel energy, are apt to have less economic development and also more serious development functionality compared to international locations having much less natural resources. That is hypothesized to be initiated by various causes, which include although not limited to decrease in competitive power of other economic sections, instability connected with income through the normal learning resource industry due to vulnerability for you to worldwide product current market swings, govt mismanagement connected with resources, or corrupte d establishments that provide an easy path for revenue to be diverted away illegally. Resource scarcity may sometimes be absolute or even relative. Absolute scarcity identifies where by you will find basically not enough amounts of resource to meet current need. We are unable to possess any extra resources irrespective of how we extend. General scarcity however, identifies an instance where by there might be actual amounts of any resource present yet scarcity is out there due to issues with regards to offer or even submitting or even distribution(Lin, Justin & Chang, 2009). Achieving the need for your resource may well indicate discovering reduced quality of resources. A vintage example inside focusing the purpose played by establishments/institutions inside making a states

GSM Implementation

GSM Implementation GSM Implementation in various places Transaction terminals: SMS messaging can be used by machines like the EDC, POS terminals to conform transaction from the main server. Supply Chain Management: The GSM M2M technology can be used to fulfil the needs of SCMs huge IT infrastructures with leased lines, data centre, workstations. Multiple Remote Data Collection Points: With the help of the GSM modem connected to PCs, GSM electronic terminals PCs one can send and receive data from all over the world. This help client to receive data from branch offices, business associates, warehouses, and Mobile phones. Large Transaction Volumes: GSM SMS messaging is capable of handling large number of transaction data in a very small period of time as it can receive large number of messages on your server without internet connectivity. With the help of GSM at a time the shopkeeper can handle hundreds of transaction. High Uptime: GSM mobile network have high uptime as compared to other communication networks so it helps business. It can be used in communication industries as it doesnt require any kind of wires for setting up the network so there is no fear of cutting of wires. Implementation of GSM Technology There are three main parts of the GSM Network * Mobile Station (MS):-The subscriber carries out this part. * Base Station Subsystem (BSS) :- It controls radio link with mobile station. * Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS):- This part keeps track of the call switching between two mobiles and also looks over Memory management and also between fixed network users and mobile. Network structure All of the elements when combined together produce many GSM services such as voice calls and SMS. Mobile Station Consists of: * Mobile Equipment (ME):- These consist of equipment such as hand portable and vehicle mounted unit * Subscriber Identity Module (SIM):- It is a chip size object which contains the information about the user like its identification, secret keys. The BSS In the above diagram the Base Station Subsystem (BSS) is shown containing the Base Station Controller (BSC) and the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) which are connected together on to A-bis interface. The Packet Control Unit (PCU) is also shown connected to the BTS although the exact position of this depends on the vendors architecture. The Air Interface or Um is used to connect the mobile to the BSS which is connected by the A interface to the NSS. The NSS The Network and Switching Subsystem(NSS)comprises of the MSC connected via the SS7 network to the HLR. The AUC and EIR, although function differently from the HLR are shown together as combining them is a standard in all Vendors networks. The NSS is connected by the A interface to the BSS. It is directly connected to the PSTN from the MSC. There is also a connection to the Packet Core (called the Gs) although this is optional and not always implemented. The GPRS Core Network The GPRS Core Network shown here consists of SGSN which is connected to the BSS by the Gb interface and the GGSN. These two devices are connected together to a private IP network called the GPRS backbone shown as the Gn Reference Point. http://www.pulsewan.com/data101/gsm_basics.htm http://sinarsuryakomindo.blogspot.com/2008/10/gsm-history.html http://foosms.com/gsm.htm MODULATION TECHNIQUE Modulation is the technique of embedment of a signal into the carrier frequency (wave). There may be analog (includes FM, AM) or digital modulation. In digital modulation Binary values 0 and 1 is embedded in the carrier frequency by changing its frequency, amplitude or phase. In this way digital modulation may be ASK (Amplitude shift keying), FSK (Frequency shift keying) or PSK (Phase shift keying). In GSM, GMSK (â€Å"Gaussian Minimum shift keying†, also known as â€Å"Gaussian filtered Minimum Shift Keying†) Modulation technique is used which is a type of FSK that continuously uses Phase modulation. Advantages of GMSK over other techniques-> * Being able to carry digital modulation and efficiently using spectrum. * Sidebands do not extend outwards from main carrier like other phase shift keying and thus, it avoids interference. * No discontinuities as change in frequency occur at â€Å"carrier zero† crossing points. * Being continuous frequency shift keying modulation scheme. It uses the frequency hopping technique, which involves switching the call frequency many times per second for security. GMSK Fundamentals The unique factor of MSK (Maximum Shift Keying) is that frequency difference between the logical 1 and 0 states always equals to half of data rate, expressed in modulation index terms and always being equal to 0.5. MSK modulation Signal using MSK modulation Sidebands extend can be easily traced in the plot drawn for the spectrum of an MSK signal. Therefore before applying it to the carrier modulating signal is passed through a low pass filter (Gaussian filter). Before filtering it must have narrow bandwidth, sharp cut-off and impulse response should have no overshoot. Finally MSK signal gets converted to GMSK modulation. Spectral density of MSK and GMSK signals Spectral density of MSK and GMSK signals Generation of MSK Modulation There are mainly two ways of to generate MSK modulation. Description of First way- The filtering of Modulating signal is done using Gaussian filter and then it is applied to frequency Modulator to set modulation index to 0.5. It is the simplest way. Its limitation lies in the fact that Modulation index must exactly equal to 0.5, which is practically not suitable as drifts are experienced by the components (which is not possible to be set exactly). Generating GMSK using a Gaussian filter and VCO Generating GMSK using Gaussian filter VCO Description of second way- Quadrature Modulator (or I-Q Modulator) is one of the ways. Here the phase of a signal lies in quadrature or 90 degrees to other one. It uses one signal, known as to be in-phase and another being quadrature to the first one. Use of Modulator of this type the Modulator index is exactly maintained to 0.5 without any further setting. Thus it is much easier to use and also it provides the required level of performance. Block diagram of I-Q modulator used to create GMSK Block diagram of I-Q modulator used to create GMSK For Demodulation the above techniques can be used in reverse. BASIC IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS- The three systems of GSM are * Switching system (SS) * Base station system (BSS) * Operation and support system (OSS) The Switching System- It is responsible for all call processing and other functions with following described units. GSM Network Elements Home Location Register (HLR)- It is the most important database of an operator storing every important details of subscribed customer. Whenever a customer buys a new connection his registration is made in HLR. Mobile services switching centre (MSC)- It performs telephony switching functions of system including controlling calls to and from other telephone and data systems. Visitor Location registers (VLR)- When a cell phone roams into a new MSC area, VLR connected to that MSC requests for data about mobile station from HLR. Later VLR will not need to interrogate HLR whenever customer makes any call. Authentication centre (AUC)- It verifies each callers identity and ensures confidentiality of each call. Equipment Identity Register (EIR)- This database stores information of Mobile devices thus preventing calla from unauthorised or stolen ones. Base Station System- It consists of Base Station Controllers (BSC)- It is the switch serving as physical links between MSC and BTS also providing functions like handover, cell configuration data, and control of Radio frequency (RF) power levels in BTS. Base Transceiver Stations (BTS)- It is the radio equipment which serves each cell in Network. A group of BTS are controlled by BSC. GSM Telecommunication Tower Operation and Support System (OMC)- This entity (connected to all equipment in switching System and to BSC) helps the operator to govern the whole system and offer customer cost-effective support and maintenance activities need for GSM network. Additional Elements- Message centre (MXE)- It Handles SMS, voice mail, fax mail, email, and cell broadcast. Mobile Service Node (MSN)- It governs Mobile intelligent network (IN) services. Gateway Mobile Services Switching Centre (GMSC)- It interconnects two networks. MSC then known as GMSC. GSM Interworking Unit (GIWU)- It consists of Hardwires and Software both and acts as an interface to various network for data communication. Problems in Implementation of Technology:- Ø Implementation of GSM technology requires a number of equipment. Many equipment need to be installed like tall towers. These towers are fixed at proper area in line of sight. Also satellites functionality also requires attention. Ø Installation of Several equipment and devices require huge amount of money. Thus GSM architecture is very costly. Ø Maintenance of equipment used in GSM is practically not affordable time and again. Ø There are several protocols applied in GSM Technology, resulting problem in implementation. Ø There is possibility of breaking into GSM networks that use cipher text-only cryptanalysis encrypted communication. These attacks are based on security flaws of the GSM protocols, and work whenever the mobile phone supports A5/2. Ø The available radio frequencies need to be re-used closer together and continuously within the network so that spectral efficiency can be unlimited. Ø There is huge consumption of power in GSM implementation, which is not convenient. Ø GSM is also not secure as the sent signal or message is not so much hard to be decoded. So the third party may avail of it somehow using some technology. ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY GSM (Global System for Mobile communications: originally from Groupe Special Mobile) is the most widely used digital cellular technology for transmitting mobile voice and data services in the world. It uses SIM (SubscriberIdentityModule) cards, which acts as digital identity, and is tied to the cellular network by searching for cells towards the towers (bts) in the nearby location. GSM is a second-generation (2G) cell phone system used by over 3 billion people across more than 212 countries and territories. In over twenty years of development, GSM has been continuously upgraded to provide better signal, speech quality and thus fulfil the mass demands. It also facilitates to roam, switch carriers and the operators without replacement of handsets. 01-01-10 The GSM technology originally originated by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) in 1982 when it firstly created Group Special Mobile (GSM) for the purpose of designing a pan-European mobile technology. European Telecommunications Standardization Institute (ETSI) later in 1991 adopted the GSM standard. GSM technology was firstly commercially lunched in 1991 in Finland, although it has been for testing purposes since 1980. 01-01-5 Newer versions of the standard are much compatible with the original GSM system. For example,Release 97,the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) added the packet data capabilities to GSM technology. Release 99 introduced higher speed data transmission usingEnhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE). It uses variation of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and is the most widely used of the three digital wireless telephone technologies (TDMA, GSM, and CDMA). Data is digitized and compressed and, sent down a channel with two other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. Most 2G GSM networks operates in the 900MHz or 1800MHz bands. It operates on four different frequencies worldwide. GSM calls are either based on data or voice. Voice calls use audio codecs called half-rate, full-rate and enhanced full-rate. Data calls can turn the cell phone into a modem operating at 9600 bps having ability to carry 64 kbps to 120 Mbps of data rates. GSM technology even keeps people in touch while roaming also as it home operators are having roaming collaboration with foreign operators. IMPORTANCE OF TECHNOLOGY GSM is the most popular, reliable and the fast growing wireless technology for mobile phones in the world. It has approximately covered the 89% share market of the global mobile telecom in more than 219 countries and territories with more than 3.8 billion people as per May 2009 study. Its signalling and speech channels being digital differs it from its and so pronounced as a second generation (2G) mobile phone system. This has also meant that data communication was easy to build into the system. It also provides the integrated high-speed data, fax, paging, voice mail and short messages services (SMS) capabilities and thus offering communication to be secure, private and fraud prevented. Many operators provide access to ISDN services to transmit data fast. Several offer GPRS facility to connect to high speed data communication channel (9600 bps). Global GSM Growth GSM market share has grown at exponent rate over recent years. However the target to achieve 1 billion customers took 12 years (Feb 2004) but later it was a surprising fact that it crossed the 2 billion mark only in another 2.5 years (By June 2006) and 3 billion GSM customers in another less than 2 years. Now the Telecoms and Media hope to surpass 5 billion targets by 2013. GSM is the legacy network of the evolution to the third generation (3G) technologies Universal Mobile Telecommunication System, (UMTS) also known as WCDMA, and High Speed Packet Access (HSPA). Maximum Mobile phones manufacturer develop their products based on GSM technology and all mobile companies provide their customers GSM networks. The Social Impact of Mobile Telephony Mobile telephony is undoubted one of the most superb developments telecommunications industry. The number of subscribers is rapidly increasing in tremendous way. More and more people are being connected to the telecom. GSM technology has greatly affected the social life. The various operators have been proving a number of offers to fascinate their customers. Due to aspects like reliability, security, voice and data transmission facilities GSM is much popular among the users. People are shifting to wireless communication from their fixed phones. Rapid increase in GSM market Popularity Reasons of GSM Technology * Improved spectrum efficiency. * High speech quality. * International roaming. * Better signal quality. * Offer voice, data and fax. * Offer secure communication and privacy. * Low-cost mobile sets and base stations (BSs). * Flexibility SIM. * High share market capture. * Low terminal and service cost. * ISDN compatibility. * Compatibility with Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) for data transmission. * Support for new services like VAS. Backbone for 3G and other evaluating technologies GSM customer growth in India Health Issues It is the recent report that use of GSM mobile technology poses Health Hazards. Its regular and continuous use for hours may create heath problems like irritations, allergies, headache, ears pain etc. It is fact proved by scientists that radio waves of frequencies that it utilises can create electric fieldsin human cells and brain. Long term exposure may have adverse health effects too. Many research institutions controlled by government and independent bodies are continuously studying over it. Also research results are being revived by ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) and the WHO (World Health Organisation) at global level. Use of cellular phone is highly restricted to be turned off while in flight as the radio frequencies may interfere. The same case happens at hospitals as the radio signal may create interference with electronic medical devices at short rang or cause uneasiness among patients. While driving use of cell phone is advised to avoid and in petrol pumps as the radio waves used in GSM technology may cause interference. d> GSM SECURITY:- 1. PURPOSE OF USING GSM SECURITY:- As we know that security is the essential feature in any service. Hence, GSM network also follows certain level of security in the services which it provides. Hence, there are mainly two security purposes which are kept in mind when it is concerned of the GSM network:- First of all, to protect the Accessibility to the mobile services and secondly to prevent disclosure of any crucial information/data at the radio path to achieve the privacy regarding that particular data. 2. THE SECURITY FEATURES OF THE GSM SERVICES:- There are several features of the GSM service for the security of its customers. Some features are stated below: 1. Authentication is being provided to the registered customers only. 2. The process of encryption is being used for secure data transfer. 3. The identity of customer is being verified. 4. The cellular phones are useless without a SIM card. 5. A secret key Ki is being used to achieve authentication. 3. Representation of the GSM Security:- GSM security is represented in two ways:- a. Authentication b. Encryption A. Authentication: The process of authentication is being categorized in to various stages which are stated below:- 1. First of all an IMSI (International mobile subscriber Identity) is being send to the network by the mobile station. 2. After that the IMSI is being received by the network and the KI corresponding to that IMSI is found. 3. A 128 bit random number (RAND) gets generated by the corresponding network and is send to the mobile station through the medium of air. 4. Through the use of the algorithm A3, the network (AuC) and the MS (SIM) use KI and RAND to produce a signed result (SRES). 5. The SRES is being sent to the network by the MS. 6. For the validity purpose network performs the testing on the received SRES. B. Encryption: The process of encryption gets started by ciphering mode request (i.e.: secretly executed request) command from the GSM network. After receiving the request the process of encryption and decryption of data gets performed by the mobile station. Different key stream is involved in the encryption of each frame over the air traffic. Different key stream is generated for each frame as the A5algorithm which is used to encrypt the data is initialised with the KC and the number of the frame to be executed resulting in the generation of different key stream. The same KC gets executed as long as it does not get verified by the MSC (Mobile services switching Centre) through the MS(mobile station) which results in the generation of the new KC. The Authentication of MS is an optional process and is usually not performed in the beginning of a call. Hence it is assured that the KC will not get changed during a particular call. As it gets switched off IMSI (International mobile subscriber identity) gets stored by the mobile station on the SIM card to assure that is gets available when it is switched on again. In the hardware of the mobile phone the A5 algorithm gets executed as data is being encrypted and decrypted through the air. 4. The Algorithm used in the GSM Security: There are three algorithms which are used in the GSM security:- 1> A3: The MS Authentication Algorithm:- In the GSM model, A3 acts as the authentication algorithm. This algorithm generates a 32 bit output as it gets the RAND (128 bit random number) from the MSC (Mobile service switching Centre) and the secret key KI as input from the SIM. The size of KI and RAND is of 128 bits. The A3 algorithm is represented as a one-way hash function. This function produces an output which is of fixed length as a random input is given to it. A COMP 128 algorithm is used for the A3 algorithm by every GSM operator in the world. This algorithm acts as the reference algorithm for the various tasks which has been pointed out by the GSM association. 2> A8, The ciphering Key Generation Algorithm: In the GSM network, A8 algorithm acts the session key algorithm. The A8 algorithm generates 64 bit output by taking two 128 bit input. The output generated is 64 bit session key KC. COMP128 acts the reference algorithm for the A8 algorithm also as it is there in the A3 algorithm. At one run, COMP128 generates both the session key KC as well as the SRES response. 3> A5, the stream-ciphering algorithm: In this algorithm encryption of data over the air occurs. For secure data, there are three possibilities in the case of GSM; it includes the A5/0, A5/1 and the A5/2 algorithm. This algorithm came into existence because the GSM standard was designed for Europe and as per the export regulations it did not allow the implementation of the technology outside Europe. f> Advantage of GSM Services:- Following are the Advantage of GSM service: - 1>First of all the GSM network is fully developed which means that it contains stability with proper features and services. Hence it has over 450 million subscribers worldwide. 2> The other advantage of GSM network is that it contains better voice quality and low- cost alternatives to make calls, such as Short message service (SMS) . In the case of GSM network the quality of voice is fine inside the buildings. 3) Another advantage of this service is that the equipments are easily available from the vendors who execute the following service. 4> GSM services provide the roaming facility to its customers so that they can use the service anywhere in the world. 5) GSM networks provide higher talk time due to its pulse nature of transmission and its ability to use routers. 6) GSM provides the facility of International Roaming which is highly beneficial in context to its customers. 7> The presence of Smart Cards which acts as subscriber Identity Modules through which encryption of data occurs in a secure manner which is highly advantageous with respect to commercial background. 8> lastly the common advantage of the GSM service is that it provides the user the freedom to choose a mobile set of his/her choice and the SIM card is also being selected by user of their choice. They also have the option of making the changes to both the equipments accordingly. Disadvantage of GSM Services:- The GSM service has following Disadvantages:- 1> The first disadvantage is that the algorithms which are being used in this service for the security purpose is not available to the public. 2> In the GSM service only Access security is being provided and the different communications occurs only in a fixed network. 3> The major disadvantage of the GSM service is that it lacks the access to the American market. 4> For the usage of this service, the user needs the requirement of higher power and the coordination between cell to cell. 5> The network coverage of this technology is not better in the rural areas as compared to its competitor service of the CDMA technology. Reference: http://sawaal.ibibo.com/computers-and-technology/what-advantages-gsm-technology-3g-technology-245344.html http://www.connectindia.in/posts/list/gsm-what-are-the-advantages-of-gsm-technology-how-it-works-910021.htm http://www.edaboard.com/ftopic200835.html http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070202053500AA6OrQt http://www.gsm-security.net/papers/securityingsm.pdf http://cryptome.org/jya/gsm061088.htm

International Parity Conditions Essay -- essays research papers fc

â€Å"Prices, Interest Rates, and Exchange Rates in Equilibrium† (International Parity Conditions) Table of Content Executive Summary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.4 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Literature Review†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Findings and Analysis: †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 a.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  PPP†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦10 b.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  FE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..12 c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  IFE†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.14 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conclusion & Recommendations †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦16 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.17 Appendix A. Historical Data†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦18 Table of Figures Figure 1. International Parity Conditions Figure 2. Scatter Diagram for PPP Figure 3. Time-series data for inflation rates differential and exchange rate change Figure 4. Regression Plot for PPP Figure 5. Scatter Diagram for FE Figure 6. Time-series data for inflation and interest rates differentials Figure 7. Regression Plot for FE Figure 8. Scatter Diagram for IFE Figure 9. Time-series data for interest rates differentials and exchange rate change Figure 10. Regression Plot for IFE Executive Summary This assignment is aimed at examining the evidence for three of the relationships that underpin (explicitly or implicitly) much of international macroeconomics. The first is purchasing power parity (PPP), or the hypothesis that there exists a constant long-run equilibrium real exchange rate. The second is Fisher Effect, which tests the relationship between difference in inflation rates and difference in nominal interest rates. The third establishes a relationship between real exchange rates and real interest rate differentials or International Fisher Effect. The tests are conducted on a basis of two economies: United States and Kazakhstan. The results are obtained using graphs and regression models, which significantly increase the power of the tests. The empirical evidence is evaluated on the basis of historical data for the period of 1999-2003. The paper is divided into two main parts. The first part contains analysis of the historical data about interest rates, exchange rates, and 3-month T-bills (Kazakhstani name: MEKKAM) in two countries: Kazakhstan and USA. The second part gives implications based on the res... ...ptember  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  148  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.32  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.93  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.1218  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -3.98  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -5.07   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  October  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  147.82  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2.04  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.94  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.5647  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -4.26  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  November  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  146.99  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6.4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.77  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.91  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.5826  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -4.63  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  December  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  144.7  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6.4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1.88  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  0.93  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  -4.52  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Biology By2 Revision

Parasitic Nutrition 21 May 2011 10:43 = organisms that live on or in another organism obtaining nourishment at the expense of the host and causing harm. Gut parasite (Taenia solium) = tapeworm Primary host = human (eat uncooked infected pork) Secondary host = pig (drainage channels contaminated by human faeces) Adaptations†¦ – Suckers & hookers (attachment) – Body covering (immune responses) – Thick cuticle (inhibitory substances = enzymes) – Simple body systems (reproduction) – Very thin & large surface area (food absorbed over whole body surface = diffusion) – Male & female sex organs (gut can only accommodate 1 tapeworm) – Number of eggs produced (increase chance of survival) – Eggs have resistant shells (survive until eaten) Dormant embryos can form cysts in organs – damage surrounding tissue BY2 revision Page 1 Adaptions to different diets 21 May 2011 10:53 Reptiles & Amphibians = swallow food whole Mammals = cut up and chew (palate separates nasal cavity & mouth – kept in mouth longer) Carnivore = short gut (easily digest protein) Herbivore = long gut (p lant digestion difficult) Dentition Mechanical digestion = easier to swallow & increases surface area for enzyme action Herbivore Incisors Canines Lower jaw, cuts against horny pad (upper jaw) Indistinguishable from incisors Carnivore Sharp (tear flesh from bone) Large, curved, pointed = seizing prey, killing & tearing flesh Carnassial (slide past each other = garden shears) molars = cutting/crushing) Vertical (open wide to capture & kill prey) Not horizontal (dislocation) Jaw muscles = well developed/powerful (grip firmly on prey/crush bones) Cheek teeth Interlock. (W into M) Worn down = sharp enamel ridges (efficiency). Open roots (grinding) Jaw movement Other Circular grinding. Horizontal plane Diastema = gap between front & side teeth. Tongue moves cut grass to grinding surfaces (cheek teeth) Ruminants Produce most protein eaten by humans eg. Cows/sheep Mutualism/Symbiosis = close association between members of 2 species, both derive some benefit from the relationship. – Can't digest cellulose (no cellulose enzymes) – Cellulose-digesting bacteria live in gut of cow – Separated = food left long enough for digestion, bacteria isolated (optimum pH & conditions) Cellulose digestion†¦ – Grass chopped (teeth), saliva, cud formed, swallowed – 1st stomach = cellulose digesting bacteria (glucose = fermented – organic acids into blood. Waste = co2 & methane – Cud into next region, regurgitated & chewed again – 3rd stomach = water absorption – 4th stomach (‘normal' stomach) = protein digestion – Small intestine = absorption Rumen = greater variety of mutualistic organisms than in caecum More efficient = more complete breakdown of cellulose Bacteria = source of protein when dead BY2 revision Page 2 Digestion 21 May 2011 11:35 = the break down of large insoluble molecules into smaller soluble molecules. Physical & chemical. Food passes through alimentary canal where it is digested & absorbed into the body. Digestive enzymes = hydrolases (catalyse hydrolysis of substrate – addition of water) – Carbohydrates (polysaccharides) > disaccharides > monosaccharides (Amylase = maltose >glucose) – Proteins >polypeptides >dipeptides >amino-acids (peptidase = endo/exo) – Fats > fatty acids & glycerol (lipase) Mouth (buccal cavity) – Mechanical digestion (teeth) – Saliva = salivary lands (mucus, salivary amylase & mineral ions = optimum pH – slightly alkaline) = lubrication & some protein digestion (amylase = starch > maltose) – Swallowed as bolus Oesophagus – Peristaltic contractions (longitudinal & circular muscles = not under conscious control) – Occurs all way through alimentary canal Stomach = muscular sac (2 sphincter muscles = cardiac & pyloric keep food in stomach) – Muscles in stomach wall contract rhythmically (mix food with gastric juice = secreted by stomach wall) – Gastric juice = optimum pH of enzymes (pH2. 0), kills most bacteria, peptidase enzymes = protein > polypeptides Pepsinogen (inactive) = activated by HCl to active peptidase enzyme – Mucus = form lining (protect wall from enzymes & acid/assist movement) – Food leaves as chyme – Purpose of HCl = optimum pH for enzymes, kill microbes, activate pepsinogen (pepsin) Gastric glands = peptic/chief cells (p epsinogen = inactive until HCl), oxyntic (secretes HCl) & goblet cells (mucus) Small Intestine = duodenum (first 20cm) & ileum Bile = produced in liver, stored in gall bladder, into duodenum via bile duct. = no enzymes. Bile salts = emulsifying lipids (lowers surface tension = globules – droplets [surface area]) = neutralise acidity = exocrine glands in Pancreas via Pancreatic duct. = Contains enzymes. Trypsinogen – Trypsin (Enterokinase) = Endopeptidases (protein > peptides) Pancreatic Amylase (starch > maltose) Pancreatic Lipase (lipids >fatty acids & glycerol) Pancreatic juice Walls of duodenum = Brunner's Glands (secrete alkaline juice & mucus) – correct pH & lubrication/protection Enzymes secreted by cells at tips of villi (Crypts of Lieberkuhn) Maltase = Maltose > 2 Glucose Sucrase = sucrose > glucose & galactose Endopeptidases/Exopeptidases = polypeptides > amino acids Endo = quaternary/tertiary – smaller polypeptides. Exo = peptides – amino acids Absorption Ileum adapted†¦ – Long BY2 revision Page 3 – Long Lining folded = large surface area Villi = finger like projections Epithelial cells = surface of villi (microscopic projections – microvilli) Large number of mitochondria = lots of energy required Glucose & Amino-acids = epithelium of villi (diffusion & active transport) into capillary network – hepatic portal vein to liver Fatty acids & Glycerol = lacteal (blindly ending lymph capillary) – lymphatic system into bloodstream (thoracic duct) Fatty acids, Glycerol & most vitamins = diffusion through epithelial cell membrane Glucose, Amino acids & dipeptides = need ATP (energy) – co-transport (Na+ ion) Dipeptides digested intracellularly-pump ions out and then draws more in – carries molecules in with it. Large intestine – Caecum, Appendix, Colon & Rectum – Water & mineral salts absorbed in colon – vitamins secreted by micro-organisms (vitamin K & folic acid (Vitamin B9) – Faeces = semi-solid condition (undigested cellulose, bacteria, sloughed cells) – defaecation Uses†¦ Soluble food products – bloodstream – tissues (assimilation/provide energy) – Glucose = energy release (respiration)/excess stored (fat cells) – Amino Acids = protein-synthesis. Cannot be stored (deaminated – urea {disposed} & carbs {stored}) – Lipids = membranes/hormones/excess stored as fat BY2 revision Page 4 Structure of the gut 24 May 2011 08:52 Peristalsis = aids movement of food through alimentary canal 1) 2) 3) 4) Ingestion Digestion (mechanical = increase surface area/chemical = enzymes, glands in wall/outside wall) Absorption Egestion Structure of Mammalian Gut – Outer serosa = layer of connective tissue (protection/reduces friction from other organs as it moves) – Muscle layer = inner circular/outer longitudinal muscles = peristalsis – Sub-mucosa = connective tissue, contains blood/lymph vessels – absorption & nerves (co-ordinate muscular contractions – peristalsis) – Mucosa = innermost layer (lines wall of gut), secretes mucus (lubrication & protection), secretes digestive juices in some regions (stomach)/absorbs food (ileum) – Lumen = cavity of gut BY2 revision Page 5 Glands 1) Large glands outside gut – secretions pass through tubes/ducts into lumen Eg. Salivary gland, liver, pancreas 2) Glands in form of cells in sub-mucosa Eg. Secrete mucus in duodenum (Brunner's glands – alkaline juices also) 3) Glands in form of cells in mucosa Eg. Gastric glands(stomach) = gastric juice Crypts of lieberkuhn(in base of villus of small intestine) = enzymes (complete digestion) – maltase = maltose – Sucrase = sucrose – Endopeptidase/exopeptidase = peptides/dipeptides BY2 revision Page 6 Adaptions for nutrition 24 May 2011 09:37 Nutrition = obtain energy to maintain life functions and matter to create/maintain structure (from nutrients) Autotrophic plants Use simple organic materials CO2 & H2O to manufacture energy & make complex compounds (make own food) – provide food for others = producers Green plants build up complex organic molecules eg sugars from CO2 & H2O. Source of energy = sunlight (absorbed in chlorophyll & related pigments) [6CO2 +6H2O > C6H12O6 + 6O2] Use energy from special methods of respiration to synthesize organic food Consume complex organic food material (cannot make own food) = consumers. Take food into bodies and break down by digestion. Usually internal in digestive system. Digested material – absorbed (body tissues – used by cells) Herbivores/Carnivores/Detritivores Dead/decaying matter – no specialized digestive system. Secrete enzymes outside body & absorb. (extracellular digestion). Microscopic = decomposers (important recycling valuable nutrients – nitrogen) – Photosynthesis Plants/algae/ certain bacteria Autotrophic bacteria Animals, fungi, some protoctists & bacteria Most animals – Chemosynthesis Heterotrophic – Holozoic feeders – Saprophytes (saprobionts) – Parasites – Mutualism (symbiosis) Fungi & some bacteria Tapeworm Organism that live in/on another organism and receive nutrition from it. Host suffers harm. Highly specialized. Cellulose Involves close association between members of2 different species. digesting bacteria Both derive some benefit from the relationship BY2 revision Page 7 Reproductive Strategies 24 May 2011 10:08 Life cycle = sequence of changes through which it passes during its life from origin in reproduction until death. Reproduction = ability to produce other individuals of the same species Asexual – Rapidly produces large numbers (identical genetic composition = clone) – Binary fission (eg. Unicellular organisms – bacteria/amoeba) – Budding (eg. Hydra/yeast) – Bulbs (eg. Onion/daffodil) – Runners (eg. Strawberry) – Tubers (eg. Potato) Sexual – Involves 2 parents – Less rapid than asexual – Offspring are genetically different – Fusion of haploid gametes Advantages/Disadvantages†¦ Asexual = lack of variety (adapting to environmental change) = if well suited to environment conditions, large numbers of successful type built up quickly Sexual = genetic variety (adapt to environmental change) = development of resistant stage in life cycle (can withstand adverse conditions) = formation of spores, seeds, larvae = dispersal of offspring. Reduces intraspecific competition – enables genetic variety to develop as required. = more chance of mutation (complexity of process) Production of Gametes Diploid = body cells (mitosis) Haploid = sex cells/gametes (meiosis) Haploid Sperm + Haploid Egg = Diploid Fertilized Egg Zygote formed – mitosis to grow Male gamete = small& extremely motile Female gamete = large/sedentary (presence of stored food) Mammalian eggs have only enough to survive until formation of placenta External Fertilization – Discharge gametes directly into sea/freshwater – Considerable wastage = eggs may not encounter sperm – Vast numbers of gametes produced – Frogs – joining of sperm/egg assisted by coupling. Male rubs hind legs on female for her to lay eggs, he immediately releases seminal fluid over them. – Amphibians usually terrestrial, must return to water to breed = external fertilization Internal Fertilization – Occurs inside body of female – Requires intermittent organ to introduce sperm to female's body – Less chance of gametes being wasted BY2 revision Page 8 – Less chance of gametes being wasted Allows male gamete to be independent of water for movement Fertilized egg can be enclosed with protective covering before leaving female. (Animals lay eggs) Embryos develop within parent and derive nourishment from her (placenta) = greatest adaption (mammals) Development of Zygote – Usually outside body – easy prey for predators – Many eggs produced to ensure some survive – Insects, internal fertilization (ensure sperm deposited in female's reproductive tract), external development (laid on food source) – Evolution of amniote egg (reptiles/birds) = fluid filled cavity, surrounded by membrane & protective shell, encloses embryo within yolk sac – Birds incubate eggs = embryo development (external) – Mammals = young retained in mother's womb/uterus (no shell). Embryo nourished from mother's blood supply (placenta). Born in relatively advanced state of development. Parental Care – Very little usually – Stickleback looks after eggs, defends territory, fans eggs to provide o2 until they hatch – Birds & mammals = provision of shelter, feeding, protection from predators, training for adult life. More parental care provided = fewer offspring produced Unisexual/Hermaphrodite â₠¬â€œ Plants = male and female gametes produced in one individual – Every individual capable of forming fertilized eggs – Possibility of self-fertilization = inbreeding (reduced genetic variability) – No intromittent organs – special techniques evolved for transferring gametes Success of Insects – Mainly terrestrial – Depend on these to pollinate crops – Competition for food also – Carry disease eg. Malaria Incomplete Metamorphosis (eg. Grasshopper) – Egg – Intermediate form = nymph (resembles adult – smaller) – Hard exoskeleton – doesn't grow, must shed skin/molt – Does this a series of times until it reaches full size Complete metamorphosis (eg. Butterfly/housefly) – Egg – Lava (specialized for feeding/growing) – Pupa/chrysalis – complete change – Emerges as adult specialized for dispersal and reproduction Plants Simple plants = algae (seaweeds = confined to sea) & mosses & ferns (confined to damp areas -male gamete can swim to egg) Successful plants = conifers & flowering plants (independent of water for reproduction – able to colonize land) Flowering plants = morphology (Efficient water carrying xylem vessels & reproduction) – Male pollen grains with hard coat = withstand desiccation (transfer to stigma of female – affect by environmental conditions) – Plants & grasses = small inconspicuous flowers – pollen carried by wind – Brightly coloured flowers & scent = attraction by insects (carry pollen to stigma) BY2 revision Page 9 – Brightly coloured flowers & scent = attraction by insects (carry pollen to stigma) Male gametes travel through pollen tube to female part and egg (no longer needs film of water to reach egg) Fertilised egg develops into seed containing food store (with resistant coat) Key to success = relationship with animals (attract insects which pollinate/seed dispersal) & enclosure of eggs in ovary and evolution of seed – Can survive adverse conditions Flowering plants are so successful because of†¦ – Short interval between flower production and setting of seed (few weeks) – Seed with food store = embryo develops until leaves are produced above ground (photosynthesis) – Seed protects embryo from desiccation & other hazards = resistant coat – Leaves deciduous & succulent = decay when fall to ground – humus produced. (rapid recycling of ions for reuse) BY2 revision Page 10 Translocation 24 May 2011 14:41 = transport of soluble organic materials, sucro se and amino acids (bi-directional movement) Products of photosynthesis = phloem. From source (area that makes the photosynthate – sucrose = leaves) to sink (where needed for growth/storage) Phloem structure – Sieve tubes (adapted for longitudinal flow of material = no nucleus ,have pores =sieve plates allows rapid flow of manufactured food substances) – Companion cells (linked to sieve tubes by plasmodesmata with fibres & parenchyma, dense cytoplasm = lots of mitochondria – lots of metabolic activity, large nucleus – controls activity) – Phloem fibres – Phloem parenchyma â€Å"Mass flow† hypothesis – There is a passive flow of sucrose from source to sink – Does not account for observations such as movement in opposite directions at same time & rate – Other hypotheses = diffusion, cytoplasmic streaming Evidence for translocation†¦ 1) Aphid (greenfly) – Feed (proboscis), leave embedded proboscis, liquid = sucrose & amino acids. Sectioning stem shows proboscis is in phloem sieve tube 2) Ringing Experiments – Cut off ring of bark (including phloem, leave xylem), immerse in water. Swelling above cut = accumulation of organic solutes, cannot continue. Will eventually die 3) Radioactive isotopes – Carbon-14 supplied to plant – fixed in glucose upon photosynthesis (14C6H12O6) – Stem cut, x-ray = phloem contains radioactivity BY2 revision Page 11

Cultural Manifestation Via A Game Of Street Basketball Essay

Two hoops, ten players, one basketball court and one leather ball to dribble, pass, shoot and score points with. The other aspects of basketball – the rules, the technicalities – are all fluid and bent by the whims and preferences of the existing culture, even the existing playing teams. Street basketball may not be the roots of the sport, but through the years, it has becoming both the foundation of professional basketball as well as the avenue for the exercise of the growing subculture in street basketball. Ballard (2004) elaborates: â€Å"Within the caged confines amidst the bohemian community of Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan can be found the essence of street basketball: all the grit, showmanship, competition, and spectacle that make the game great† (pg 35). To those who are not indoctrinated in the culture of street basketball, it is easy to say that what they see being played on the street and what they see flashing on their television monitors are both the same game of basketball; that they share so many similar attributes and that the only thing different in street basketball compared to collegiate or professional basketball is the level of popularity. But that is far from the truth – because those who know and understand street basketball, those who lived and breathed street basketball, those who bled and literally died in the cement floors of the street basketball courts know that what they do where they do it is so much different from what high salaried pro basketball players do in the NBA. They have different stages where they play; they have different rules as well as different ways of enforcing it; they have different cultures and different reasons why they play basketball. The only thing they have in common is that they all want that leather and rubber spheroid up in the air and then inside the rim, swooshing the net that makes a catcall for such a sexy swing. Professional basketball is all about winning the coveted ‘ring’, about being able to parade around town like rockstars and hoist that championship trophy alongside guys who you might be elbowing the following season. In professional basketball, there is a certain convenience for players and team owners to just move from one team to another because it is just a job for them, but on the street, one’s alliance to a basketball team is a binding oath; jumping to another team is never about the job of getting the Ws and finishing the season with the ‘ring’, and most players who see a former teammate desert them always take it personal, because street basketball is never a job. It is a brotherhood where loyalty is the most expensive and most important aspect of a player, and those who sell it cheap will always have a ‘low market value’. Street basketball and professional basketball have different set of ethos – in street basketball, they play for their team’s pride and for the wager while in professional basketball, they play for their own personal pride and for their own personal salary, especially in today’s era when even the best of players are traded to other teams in exchange for the chance of the team’s long term vision to take shape. In street basketball, it is always here and now, every game feels like the last game, and it is hard to go home with a monkey on your back because when you lost, you did not just part with some of your money, you also parted with some ounces of self respect and the respect of the people in the neighborhood about you, your team and your game. Observing and analyzing human behavior – Like every cultural vestige and like every subculture type, included in the consideration for the analysis of certain cultural practices is the assessment of human behavior. In street basketball, there are also a set of prevailing human behavior and the dictating factors on why such patterns exist, appear and persist. The manifestation of these sets and patterns of human behavior inside street basketball is two-pronged; those which the average eyes can see and those which only the trained eyes can detect happen simultaneously. It is both reflected and hidden in the way they dress, in the way they talk and in the way they play the game. The human behavior patterns in street basketball depict that of the prehistoric tribes – it requires that only the fittest with the toughest set of behaviors survive. And what are these behaviors? The behavior in fighting, in negotiating, in people management and control of power – all of these behaviors are essential for a person to survive the culture of street basketball. Without some of these behaviors, the individual is forced outside the circle of street basketball. Players fight for their place to be among those who are considered as respected basketball players in the street. Outside the five-on-five, there are those who wield similar power, clout and influence – those who fix wagers, those who tap, harness and control budding talents and those who are present in the circuit for their own socio-political reasons. One needs only to sit down by the bleachers and take a good look around to see the abundance of a diverse set of human behavior present inside one confined yet open spaced rectangular domain of street basketball. African American guys play with white guys and vice versa, and so does the relationship of those who have different ethnic descent, and this reflects the behavior of the individuals inside street basketball when it comes to ethnic sensitivity. Other easily discernable behaviors found in street basketball include the penchant of most basketball players for gambling, their obvious disregard for socially accepted behavior while in public like going topless for most of the time, spitting, cursing and the prevalence of foul and derogatory terms hurled at each other, the integration of gang related separatist attitude and the resorting to physical assault as a way to settle differences of avenge any feeling of indignation. Looking at street basketball players, the universal behavior noticeable is their take on street basketball as the end all and be all of their lives – they gamble every paper bill they have on the pockets of their pants, sometimes, even money that they don’t have, on a round of street basketball without serious regard for what will happen in the future in the event that they lose their bet; most of them would rather spend their days playing ball and cementing their hold among their peers and their social cliques, which sometimes result in the creation of strong bonds of brotherhood between two persons or among members of a group or the creation of intensive animosity as well; school is never an equally important priority, and the preference for the type of work they would engage on is similar on how they battle, win and lost in street basketball – exciting, thrilling and promises the yield of a quick buck.. Street basketball is a religion, while professional basketball is a mere day job for night shift dribblers, and the rituals that are involved in the daily exercise of their faith exists in different aspects – there are rituals of battle, rituals of praise, rituals done to ask for intercession and divine intercession as well as the rituals for both the victorious and the defeated. At some point, the ‘real’ and the ‘sports-based’ religion meets in the middle, when religion is infused in the practice of a competitive sport, because there is one ultimate human behavior that is manifested greatly in street basketball – and that is the desire to win, because winning is always more than the scorebook statistics; it is about winning wagers and bets, winning the respect of the crowd as well as the opponents and winning your own sense of self respect towards yourself. A sports activity is a particular cultural event, and like any other cultural event, st reet basketball is unique in different places. But despite these differences, this cultural event shares the same characteristic – and that is this: that it is the showcasing of the most primitive instinct that is present among humans inside the society; it is a display of skill, grace, strength and the set of values to which a person will be remembered for; it is a reminder of how fiercely competitive the world is, how one should earn everything with his bare hands standing on his own two feet alone. Street basketball speaks a lot about a place’s culture; pro basketball is plain entertainment. Works Cited: Ballard, Chris. â€Å"Hoops Nation: A Guide to America’s Best Pickup Basketball. † University of Nebraska Press, October 2004.

10 Tungsten Facts - W or Atomic Number 74

10 Tungsten Facts - W or Atomic Number 74 Tungsten (atomic number 74, element symbol W) is a steel-gray to silver-white metal, familiar to many people as the metal used in incandescent light bulb filaments. Its element symbol W derives from an old name for the element, wolfram. Here are 10 interesting facts about tungsten: Tungsten Facts Tungsten is element number 74 with atomic number 74 and atomic weight 183.84. It is one of the transition metals and has a valence of 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. In compounds, the most common oxidation state is VI. Two crystal forms are common. The body-centered cubic structure is more stable, but another metastable cubic structure may coexist with this form.The existence of tungsten was suspected in 1781, when Carl Wilhelm Scheele and T.O. Bergman made previously unknown tungstic acid from a material now called scheelite. In 1783, the Spanish brothers Juan  Josà © and Fausto DElhuyar isolated tungsten from wolframite ore and were credited with discovery of the element.The element name wolfram came from the name of the ore, wolframite, which derives from the German wolfs rahm, which means wolfs foam. It got this name because European tin smelters noticed the presence of wolframite in tin ore reduced the tin yield, appearing to eat tin like a wolf would devour sheep. What many people do not know is that the Delhuyar brothers actually proposed the name volfram for the element, as w was not used in the Spanish language at that point.  The element was known as wolfram in most European countries, but called tungsten (from Swedish tung sten meaning heavy stone, referencing the heaviness of scheelite ore) in English. In 2005, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry dropped the name wolfram entirely, to make the periodic table the same in all countries. This is probably one of the most highly disputed name changes made on the periodic table. Tungsten has the highest melting point of the metals (6191.6  °F or 3422  °C), lowest vapor pressure, and the highest tensile strength. Its density is comparable to that of gold and uranium and 1.7 times higher than that of lead. While the pure element may be drawn, extruded, cut, forged, and spun, any impurities make tungsten brittle and difficult to work.The element is conductive and resists corrosion, although metal specimens will develop a characteristic yellowish cast upon exposure to air. A rainbow oxide layer is also possible. It is the 4th hardest element, after carbon, boron, and chromium. Tungsten is susceptible to slight attack by acids, but resists alkali and oxygen.Tungsten is one of the five refractory metals. The other metals are niobium, molybdenum, tantalum, and rhenium. These elements are clustered near each other on the periodic table. Refractory metals are those which exhibit extremely high resistance to heat and wear.Tungsten is considered to have low toxicit y and plays a biological role in organisms. This makes it the heaviest element used in biochemical reactions. Certain bacteria use tungsten in an enzyme that reduces carboxylic acids to aldehydes. In animals, tungsten interferes with copper and molybdenum metabolism, so it is considered slightly toxic. Natural tungsten consists of five stable isotopes. These isotopes actually do undergo radioactive decay, but the half-lives are so long (four quintillion years) that they are stable for all practical purposes. At least 30 artificial unstable isotopes have also been recognized.Tungsten has many uses. It is used for filaments in electric lamps, in television and electron tubes, in metal evaporators, for electrical contacts, as an x-ray target, for heating elements, and in numerous high temperature applications. Tungsten is a common element in alloys, including tool steels. Its hardness and high density also make it an excellent metal for constructing penetrating projectiles. Tungsten metal is used for glass-to-metal seals. The elements compounds are used for fluorescent lighting, tanning, lubricants, and paints. Tungsten compounds find use as catalysts.Sources of tungsten include the minerals wolframite, scheelite, ferberite, and huebnertie. Its believed about 75% of the worlds supply of the element is found in China, although other ore deposits are known in the US, South Korea, Russia, Bolivia, and Portugal. The element is obtained by reducing tungsten oxide from the ore with either hydrogen or carbon. Producing the pure element is difficult, due to its high melting point.

TQM assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

TQM assignment - Essay Example 2(D) (ii) measuring satisfaction of internal customer. A questionnaire or forming focus groups (employees meet and the are asked question) can be used to evaluate the satisfaction. Typical question is Are you satisfied working for this hotel If not, state the reason and necessary changes 2(D) (iii) Some of the problems that will be encountered when evaluating and analyzing the results are: For the first question (How can we serve you better)Different customers will give different views about the hotel improvement methods. The list of the variables may be too long. For example one customer can talk about improving the time required to serve client, while another may comment about improving quality. The hotel management may be faced by numerous solutions and may not have capacity and capability of fulfilling each client wants. Question 2 Are you satisfied working for this hotel If not, state the reason and necessary changes Many internal customers may give the solution of increasing wages and salary and leave out vital issues like harsh management due to fear of victimization. Question 3 the funnel rules The four funnel rules are Rule 1 'leave the funnel fixed, aim at the target and make no adjustment' Rule2 'at drop k (k=1, 2, 3---, the marble will come to rest at point zk which is measured from target' that is zk is the error at drop k, move funnel to a distance -zk. Rule 3 'set the funnel at each drop right over the spot zk, which is measured from target 'no memory Rule 4 'set the funnel at each drop right over the spot (zk) where it last came ' (Source (Thomas, P. 2008. Tampering effects and diagnosis. Quality publishing.[online]. Available at...Hotels such as Hilton spend millions in advertising so as to attract and retain customers. The internal customers; refers to a set of services directed towards the workers working in the hotel. These include the front office personnel, the management of the hotel, different department and vendors and consultant. The internal customer is usually neglected in the big hotels and this has ripple negative effects on the external customer. Such a question will help the managerial team determine the level of customer satisfaction as well as provide an answer to the improvement question. Question should gear towards, services quality, speed and other aspects. Different customers will give different views about the hotel improvement methods. The list of the variables may be too long. For example one customer can talk about improving the time required to serve client, while another may comment about improving quality. The hotel management may be faced by numerous solutions and may not have capacity and capability of fulfilling each client wants. (This is volition of rule number 4) which stipulates that "train the trainer" is unacceptable as this progresses the error. The error increases as the levels of training increases. Rule number 4 assumes 'no memory'.

Critical Analysis of Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt by Jean Kilbourne Article

Critical Analysis of Two Ways a Woman Can Get Hurt by Jean Kilbourne - Article Example Portraying women as seductive and helpless reaffirms the notion that men are superior to women in an already male-dominated culture. This does not help the cause of women fighting for equal rights, opportunities, wages and representation in the real world. Jean Kilbourne’s main hypothesis is that using women as objects of sex appeal in advertisements to promote consumer products objectifies them, shows them as commodities that are easily available, makes their position vulnerable and exposes them to aggression. She has used several examples of advertisements that expose women to near pornographic depiction and shows women as having little resistance towards male attraction. She claims that using woman’s body as an object to enhance sales of commodities like perfumes, some companies use women in erotic, fantasy settings which in reality have no bearing with the product they are endorsing. However, the advertisements leave images of nude women in the minds of customers who start to associate perfumes with these models and in a bid to be like them, buy more perfume. So what is meant to be a delicate olfactory experience is converted into a visual stimulant quite disassociated from the product. For an advertisement meant to promote a tender and light perfume, the use of nude women is quite unnecessary. According to Kilbourne, images of this kind use women’s bodies as objects of desire rather than the product. It is not surprising then, that women are used as symbols of sex which leads to crimes and harassment against women. These pictures are suggestive and when put up for public display may be taken literally, demeaning the image of women and create confusion in people’s minds about women’s right to say no to unwanted attention.  Ã‚