The Debate Of Stem Cell Research - 1519 Words

With a quote from the New International Version of the Holy Bible, I bring the topic of stem cell research to the table to inform you on a topic you most likely know nothing about. According to the bible the strong need to bear with the failings of the weak. Why should we please ourselves if we don’t care for stem cell research? Among one of the, if not the most, controversial topics of our time comes one medical science that can save lives if legalized nationwide. We are talking about stem cells of course, and why the allowance of these basic cells in common medical practice has potential to vastly improve the lives of many. Despite all the good that can be derived from stem cell research, many are none too hasty to condemn the act for†¦show more content†¦Second, under certain physiological or experimental situations they can be induced to become tissues – or organs. This leaves a great deal of unexplored area in modern medical sciences, and a great deal for humanity to gain knowledge on about the human body. Now, to expand further on the topic we are encroaching on, there are 2 main types of stem cells as far as research is concerned. The first type, the one that brings about the controversy, is embryonic stem cells. According to mayoclinic.org, these stem cells come from embryos that are three to five days old. At this stage, an embryo is called a blastocyst and has about 150 cells. These are pluripotent stem cells, meaning they can divide into more stem cells or can become any type of cell in the body. This versatility allows embryonic stem cells to be used to regenerate or repair diseased tissue and organs, although their use in people has been to date limited to eye-related disorders such as macular degeneration. The second type is adult stem cells. According to the previously mentioned source, these stem cells are found in small numbers in most adult tissues, such as bone marrow or fat. Compared with embryonic stem cells, adult st em cells have a more limited ability to give rise to various cells of the body. Yet, due to many misconceptions about stem cells and how said stem cells are derived, there is a

National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People

National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) The mission of the NAACP is to protect and provide the political, educational, social, and economic equality rights of minority groups and citizens; attain equal opportunity of rights and excludes race discrimination between the citizens of the United States. The objectives of this mission are to inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination, to seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws, securing civil rights, to remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes, to educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and†¦show more content†¦The focus was examining the advancement of the black man in America. The organization attempted to increase aid from Booker T. Washington, which turned out to be a complete failure due too. Over the next 100 years, the organization of people worked within the court system excluded Jim Crows law. The reason of this was avoid execution and other deadly harming to make sure all citizens were receiving the proper civil rights (Brayton, 2014). Many believed that because there were many businesses of minorities that were devastated and black were taken to their homes that a civil rights organization was being formed. Out of all the group leaders there was only one black and his name was W. E. B. Du Bois. The number one focus at this time was to protect the rights and equality of all citizens in the United States (Brayton, 2014). This was agreed upon by the 13th -15th Constitutional amendments. This is where the book, â€Å"The Crisis† was established by W. E. B. Du Bois in 1910. The NAACP has made so much progress and currently has 64-member board of directors with headquarters in Baltimore, MD and regionals offices in California, New York, Michigan, Missouri, Georgia, and Texas (United States History, 2015). Currently, there are an estimated 500,000 members of the NAACP. This last update was in 2004. African Americans Education African American kids are likely to attend schools high-poverty schools because of race and income. In a study that was performed, there

Pros and Cons in Teenage Pregnancy Free Essays

How to prevent teen pregnancy has been a question for many years. Many people take having a baby as a joke. Getting pregnant and having a child involves many prose and cons. We will write a custom essay sample on Pros and Cons in Teenage Pregnancy or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the prevention of teen pregnancy there are many things that can be helpful. There are also other helpful ways to prevent teen pregnancy, such as sex education and birth control. All of these things are essential in the prevention of teen pregnancy. Refraining from sexual activities is a great way to prevent teen pregnancy, and the risk of getting a disease. In the past years less sex and more condoms use has meant lower rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease. Most teens have sex because of their friends being sexually active. The percentage of sexually active males declined from 57.4 percent to 48.8 percent, essentially erasing the gender gap. A National Survey of Family Growth stated that teens are having less sex. Avoiding sex and learning more about sex are good ways to assure your knowledge and decrease teen pregnancy. Traditionally children have received information about sexuality from their parents, church, friends, their doctors, and many other people. Many young teens learn about their bodies first. Many people believe that sex education being taught in schools assures children of correct and complete information about sexuality. Sex education starts in the primaries and continues through the secondary school. At the primary school stage, sex education teaches children about their bodies and attempts to promote a whole attitude towards the self-development process. During these years teachers attempt to correct any false ideas children may have learned about sex. At the beginning of secondary school teachers try to prepare students for puberty. For example, the children learn about nocturnal emissions, menstruation and changes that will take place in their bodies, they also learn and study reproduction. Further up the school, most young adult†s interest in sex increases, so they learn more about responsibility, and having relationships between members of the opposite sex. In secondary school, pupils learn more about the social and psychological aspects of sexuality. Many other subjects come up at this time in a teenager†s life, such as marriage, abortion, homosexuality, birth control, and other topics. Sex education is very importance to the teenage generation. Birth control is the control of birth or of childbearing by deliberate measures to control or prevent conception, contraception. An understanding of birth control requires some knowledge of human reproduction. Sexually, coming from a man millions of sperm are released into the woman’s vagina. If an egg is there sperm travelling through a woman’s fallopian tube will be fertilised by the sperm. Most birth control methods are made to prevent contraceptives. The most effective contraceptive method is surgical sterilisation. In many developing nations hormone drugs are injected into the body. Studies show that those methods are becoming effective, because the teenage pregnancy rate has dropped by 11%. Birth control is important to teenagers, and they should be used if a teen should become sexually active. Parents should remember to teach their children about birth control always, just in case a teenager should become curious and decide to have sex. In conclusion a teen pregnancy has a hard effect on society, in many ways. Most teen pregnancies were not planned. Surveys say about 65% of teen pregnancy’s were not even discussed with their sexual partners. All of the other percentage of teen pregnancy’s were not planned either, but it had been discussed with the teenagers sexual partner at some point in time. Most teenagers begin having sex without knowing the consequences. Teenagers need to take responsibility and remember to keep safe, because there are various ways to prevent teen pregnancy, for example abstinence, sex education, and various types of birth control. How to cite Pros and Cons in Teenage Pregnancy, Papers

Age Discrimination free essay sample

The Introduction: Age discrimination in the workplace is more prevalent than many would care to believe. Older workers tend to be more expensive and take more time off from work, with this in mind it is not surprising that age discrimination has become one of the most common forms of discrimination in employment. While this form of discrimination is technically prohibited by statute, it is also by far the most difficult to enforce. Age discrimination differs from most discrimination laws in the fact that it must be proven that age was the dominant factor as opposed to simply being a factor. In this paper I will analyze the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 by exploring its history, and analyzing four unique cases filed under the ADEA. 1 These cases will consist of one general age discrimination case, one that shows the difference between state and federal enforcement, a supreme court case that discusses state sovereignty, and finally a case from which the prima facie test that most age discrimination cases use in transferring the burden of proof. Finally I will conclude with opinions on the effectiveness of the law. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) was put in place to prevent the discrimination of aging workers by employers, by providing protective class status to both men and women in the workplace over the age of 40 years old. Similar to most labor laws and those under Title VII, the enforcement of the ADEA was the responsibility of the EEOC and followed the same procedures as the previously mentioned laws. Petitioners must first obtain a right a right to sue letter from the EEOC, before filing suit. Upon the receipt of the right to sue letter from the EEOC the plaintiff must then file their compliant within 90 days. History: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 was introduced after a recommendation from President Lyndon B. Johnson after a secretary of labor statistical report that indicated that age discrimination for older workers was problem. Analysis showed that while unemployment for older workers was less than for younger workers, the period of time that the unemployed over a certain age remained unemployed was significantly longer than those in younger age brackets. In age discrimination cases, similar to other discrimination cases the compliant has the burden of establishing a prima facie case. Most age discrimination cases use prior case McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, a racial discrimination case from 1973 as a comparison in meeting prima facie requirements. In order to meet prima facie requirements and shift the burden of proof to the employer the petitioner must show (i) they belong to the protected class, in this case over 40 years of age; (ii) that they applied for and were qualified for the job; (iii) that despite their qualifications they were rejected; (iv) and after their rejection the company continued to seek applicants with similar qualifications. If the plaintiff is able to establish a prima facie case the burden of proof then shifts to the defendant to provide a rebuttal as to why the plaintiff’s age was not a deciding factor, which then shifts the burden of proof back to the plaintiff to refute the defendants defense. Case Analysis: Robert R. Monaco, v. American General Assurance Company: One important and recent case filed under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act is the case of Robert R. Monaco, v. American General Assurance Company. In the case Monaco is laid off from his position as Vice President of the Eastern Region for American General Assurance Company after their purchase of United States Life and upon a companywide decision to reduce their workforce as a result of eliminating a line of business that was not profitable. 4 In 1999, Monaco was 53 years old when he was laid off from his position as Vice President of the Eastern Region of the company. Company management did not fill the position instead they assigned Monaco’s responsibilities to Robert Shaw vice president that covered the west region. Robert Shaw was 55 years old at the time. In 2000, AGAC hired Tom Mckellar who assumed Monaco’s former duties in addition to other senior management duties. Monaco filed suit claiming age discrimination in 2001. 5 Monaco’s case show a unique aspect of the age discrimination laws in the United States in that many states have differing requirements of proof. Monaco’s case was tried in New Jersy under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), under which Monaco contended that prima facie requirements are less rigid in their application. While it was established that Monaco met the first three requirements of a prima facie case the court granted the defendants motion for summary judgment because Monaco was unable to meet the fourth condition and prove that his age was the decisive factor in his dismissal. 6 As mentioned earlier this burden differs from most discrimination laws which allow for race or sex to merely be one of many reasons for job discrimination. 7 Zippittelli v. J. C. Penny Co. Another case that exemplifies the difficulty in establishing a prima facie case of age discrimination is the case of Zippittelli v. J. C. Penny Co. , in which Joanne Zippittelli a long time J. C. Penny call center employee files suit against the company claiming that she was passed over on multiple promotions as a result of her age and sex. For this paper I will focus only on the age discrimination portion of the case. In the case, the plaintiff applied several times for promotions that she felt she was more than qualified for. She was promoted once over the course of the seven years from 1990-1997 despite frequent requests and continued employment with J. C. Penny. 8 The plaintiff contends in the case that she was passed over for promotion multiple times and that she on all occasions felt that she was passed over either due to her age, she was 66 at the time of suit, or because of her sex. However, the court found that these past cases could not be tried as the period of 300 days statute of limitations had passed. Therefore only the most recent of the instances would be considered in this case. The complaint of this case occurs in 2004 when the plaintiff and three additional women applied for the position of shift operations manager. There were two interviews that were conducted to rank and determine who would be given the position. Upon the completion of the interview process the plaintiff assumed that she would be given the position, however the position was given to Patti Cruishank a woman under the age of 40. 10 When we again reference McDonnell Douglas Corp. Green, and apply the prima facie test to the case we find that the plaintiff is able to meet these standards. 11 The plaintiff is able to establish that she is (i) a member of the protected class, being 63 at the time of the incident, (ii) it was established that she applied and was qualified for the job as her manager encouraged her to apply, (iii) the plaintiff was denied the position, (iv) and it was given to a significantly younger unprotected class. The court found that therefore she had successfully transferred the burden of proof to  the defense. 12 However the defense argued that they had legitimate non-discriminatory reasons for not promoting the plaintiff, and the court agreed transferring the burden back to the plaintiff to establish further that the company’s decision was made primarily on her age. The court dismissed the case finding that the plaintiff had not met the burden of proof to prove that her not receiving the promotion was based on her age. 13 This cas e further exemplifies the difficulty that plaintiffs face in proving age discrimination. Even as the plaintiff in this case proved a prima facie case and transferring the burden of proof, the defense was able to transfer the proof back with a simple denial that age was involved in the selection process and without direct proof to discredit this defense the case was dismissed. Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents: Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents, provides clarity in the issue of the 11th amendment which grants state sovereignty and 14th amendment specifically section 5, which was meant to allow the enforcement of civil rights laws after the Civil War and there effects on the ADEA. The 11th amendment of the US constitution passed in 1794, reads as follows and was meant to protect the sovereign rights of the states: The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State. 15 The 14th amendment was passed in 1896 following the civil war in order to allow for the enforcement of civil rights legislation. However, in the case Kimel v. Florida Board of Regents, the Supreme Court of the United States provided clarity in the application of both the 11th and 14th amendments in regards to the ADEA and its use against the state by those they employ. In the case three sets of petitioners filed suit against the Florida Board of Regents claiming discrimination on the bases of their age. One of the cases was dismissed under the basis of states’ rights under the 11th amendment. The remaining two cases, however dismissal was denied. All three where consolidated together and brought before the United States Supreme Court to decide if the ADEA could supersede a states 11th amendment rights. 16 A two part test is used to determine if the ADEA was meant to abrogate state rights under the 11th amendment. 1) Did congress intend to authorize suits against individual states? 2) Did congress in spite of their intent do so with a valid constitutional authority? The court found that while it is clear in the laws language that they intended for local and state governments to be included should suits arise, the language in the 14th amendment specifically section 5 does not specifically name protected classes and therefore this is left to be determined by the courts. The courts found that age did not have the same standing as race or gender and therefore would not be included under the 14th amendment. The court further added weight to their decision, claiming that all states have individual age discrimination laws in place that allow for the filing of suits against the state and local governments. McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green Since the McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green, case is often referenced in age discrimination cases for its use of the prima facie burden of proof transfer it is important to understand the origins and story behind this case. The surprising factor about this case is that the case has no bases in age discrimination. The case is instead a case filed against McDonnell Douglas Corp. claiming race discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, saying that the defendant may have violated 703(a)(1), which prohibits discrimination in any employment decision. This case is important as the Supreme Court used it to establish a procedure for cases that rely mainly on circumstantial evidence. 19 In the McDonnell Douglas case Percy Green was laid off from his position as a mechanic as part of companywide reduction in workforce. After being laid off, Green took part several illegal demonstrations that included blocking access to other workers at McDonnell Douglas by use of cars blocking roadways and a lock out. Three weeks later McDonnell Douglas placed an ad for a mechanic position. Green applied to the position and was denied employment, for which he filed suit claiming racial discrimination. From this case we can trace the establishment of a three step establish of burden of proof where; 1) the plaintiff must prove a prima facie case, 2) the defendant must rebut as the burden of proof has shifted, and 3) the burden shifts back to the plaintiff to provide proof that the defendants rebuttal is untrue. 21 Conclusion: In conclusion, I found that while age discrimination obviously exists and takes place in the workplace, it is extremely difficult to successfully pursue remedy through the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Of all of the protected classes under labor law and civil right laws the older worker is by far the least protected. Not only must a victim of age discrimination prove a prima facie case, often the most difficult part of pursuing a age discrimination case comes when the burden of proof shifts back to the plaintiff and they must demonstrate that age was the decisive reason behind the employment decision. This differs from all other protected classes, which only need prove that gender, race, or religion where factors and they need not be the decisive factor. The truth is older workers cost more money to employ. Older workers demand higher wages, require more time off, and are more likely to cost the company more money from an insurance stand point. Older workers need to continually develop in their careers in order to ensure that they are bringing irreplaceable skills and value to the business in order to ensure that they remain with the company and do not become a cost cutting measure, as the likelihood of proving and receiving remedies for age discrimination are not likely.

The Human Brain Essays - Neuroanatomy, Central Nervous System

The Human Brain THE HUMAN BRAIN The human body is divided into many different parts called organs. All of the parts are controlled by an organ called the brain, which is located in the head. The brain weighs about 2.75 pounds, and has a whitish-pink appearance. The brain is made up of many cells, and is the control center of the body. The brain flashes messages out to all the other parts of the body. The messages travel in very fine threads called nerves. The nerves and the brain make up a system somewhat like telephone poles carrying wires across the city. This is called the nervous system. The nerves in the body don't just send messages from the brain to the organs, but also send messages from the eyes, ears, skin and other organs back to your brain. Some nerves are linked directly to the brain. Others have to reach the brain through a sort of power line down the back, called the spinal cord. The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. The brain doesn't just control your organs, but also can thi nk and remember. That part of the brain is called the mind. Twenty-eight bones make up the skull. Eight of these bones are interlocking plates. These plates form the cranium. The cranium provides maximum protection with minimum weight, the ideal combination. The other twenty bones make up the face, jaw and other parts of the skull. Another way the brain keeps it self safe is by keeping itself in liquid. Nearly one fifth of the blood pumped by the heart is sent to the brain. The brain then sends the blood through an intricate network of blood vessels to where the blood is needed. Specialized blood vessels called choroid plexuses produce a protective cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid is what the brain literally floats in. A third protective measure taken by the brain is called the blood brain barrier. This barrier consists of a network of unique capillaries. These capillaries are filters for harmful chemicals carried by the blood, but do allow oxygen, water and glucose to enter the brain. The brain is divided into three main sections. The area at the front of the brain is the largest. Most of it is known as the cerebrum. It controls all of the movements that you have to think about, thought and memory. The cerebrum is split in two different sections, the right half and the left half. The outer layer of the cerebrum is called the cortex. It is mainly made up of cell bodies of neurons called grey matter. Most of the work the brain does is done in the cortex. It is very wrinkled and has many folds. The wrinkles and folds give the cortex a large surface area, even though it is squeezed up to fit in the skull. The extra surface area gives the cerebrum more area to work. Inside the cortex, the cerebrum is largely made up of white matter. White matter is tissue made only of nerve fibres. The middle region is deep inside the brain. It's chief purpose is to connect the front and the back of the brain together. The back area of the brain is divided into three different parts. T he cerebellum sees to it that all the parts of your body work as a team. It also makes sure you keep your balance. The thalamus is located in between above the lower brain and under the two hemispheres. THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE BRAIN: Most of the above mentioned parts of the brain were produced early in evolution but the higher mammals, especially humans went on to produce a sort of thinking cap on top of these parts. This thinking cap was divided into two different parts, the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. If the left side of your brain is more developed like most people's are, you are right handed. On the other hand if the right side of your brain is more developed, then you will be left handed. The right side of your brain is more artistic and emotional while the left side of your brain is your common sense and practical side, such

Understanding Atomic Radius Trends The 2 Key Principles

Understanding Atomic Radius Trends The 2 Key Principles SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Need information on atomic radius trends? What's the trend for atomic radius? In this guide, we’ll clearly explain atomic radius trends and how they work. We’ll also discuss exceptions to the trends and how you can use this information as part of a broader understanding of chemistry. Before we dive into atomic radius trends, let’s review some basic terms. An atom is a basic unit of a chemical element, such as hydrogen, helium, potassium, etc. A radius is the distance between the center of an object and its outer edge. An atomic radius is one-half the distance between the nuclei of two atoms. Atomic radii are measured in picometers (one picometer is equal to one trillionth of a meter). Hydrogen (H) has the smallest average atomic radius at about 25 pm, while caesium (Cs) has the largest average radius at about 260 pm. What Are the Atomic Radius Trends? What Causes Them? There are two main atomic radius trends. One atomic radius trend occurs as you move left to right across the periodic table (moving within a period), and the other trend occurs when you move from the top of the periodic table down (moving within a group). Below is a periodic table with arrows showing how atomic radii change to help you understand and visualize each atomic radius trend. At the end of this section is a chart with the estimated empirical atomic radius for each element. Atomic Radius Trend 1: Atomic Radii Decrease From Left to Right Across a Period The first atomic radius periodic trend is that atomic size decreases as you move left to right across a period. Within a period of elements, each new electron is added to the same shell. When an electron is added, a new proton is also added to the nucleus, which gives the nucleus a stronger positive charge and a greater nuclear attraction. This means that, as more protons are added, the nucleus gets a stronger positive charge which then attracts the electrons more strongly and pulls them closer to the atom’s nucleus. The electrons being pulled closer to the nucleus makes the atom’s radius smaller. Comparing carbon (C) with an atomic number of 6 and fluorine (F) with an atomic number of 9, we can tell that, based on atomic radius trends, a carbon atom will have a larger radius than a fluorine atom since the three additional protons the fluorine has will pull its electrons closer to the nucleus and shrink the fluorine's radius. And this is true; carbon has an average atomic radius of about 70 pm while fluorine’s is about 50 pm. Atomic Radius Trend 2: Atomic Radii Increase as You Move Down a Group The second atomic radius periodic trend is that atomic radii increase as you move downwards in a group in the periodic table. For each group you move down, the atom gets an additional electron shell. Each new shell is further away from the nucleus of the atom, which increases the atomic radius. While you may think the valence electrons (those in the outermost shell) would be attracted to the nucleus, electron shielding prevents that from happening. Electron shielding refers to a decreased attraction between outer electrons and the nucleus of an atom whenever the atom has more than one electron shell. So, because of electron shielding, the valence electrons don’t get particularly close to the center of the atom, and because they can’t get that close, the atom has a larger radius. As an example, potassium (K) has a larger average atomic radius (220 pm)than sodium (Na) does (180 pm). The potassium atom has an extra electron shell compared to the sodium atom, which means its valence electrons are further from the nucleus, giving potassium a larger atomic radius. Empirical Atomic Radii Atomic Number Symbol Element Name Empirical Atomic Radius (pm) 1 H Hydrogen 25 2 He Helium No data 3 Li Lithium 145 4 Be Beryllium 105 5 B Boron 85 6 C Carbon 70 7 N Nitrogen 65 8 O Oxygen 60 9 F Fluorine 50 10 Ne Neon No data 11 Na Sodium 180 12 Mg Magnesium 150 13 Al Aluminum 125 14 Si Silicon 110 15 P Phosphorus 100 16 S Sulfur 100 17 Cl Chlorine 100 18 Ar Argon No data 19 K Potassium 220 20 Ca Calcium 180 21 Sc Scandium 160 22 Ti Titanium 140 23 V Vanadium 135 24 Cr Chromium 140 25 Mn Manganese 140 26 Fe Iron 140 27 Co Cobalt 135 28 Ni Nickel 135 29 Cu Copper 135 30 Zn Zinc 135 31 Ga Gallium 130 32 Ge Germanium 125 33 As Arsenic 115 34 Se Selenium 115 35 Br Bromine 115 36 Kr Krypton No data 37 Rb Rubidium 235 38 Sr Strontium 200 39 Y Yttrium 180 40 Zr Zirconium 155 41 Nb Niobium 145 42 Mo Molybdenum 145 43 Tc Technetium 135 44 Ru Ruthenium 130 45 Rh Rhodium 135 46 Pd Palladium 140 47 Ag Silver 160 48 Cd Cadmium 155 49 In Indium 155 50 Sn Tin 145 51 Sb Antimony 145 52 Te Tellurium 140 53 I Iodine 140 54 Xe Xenon No data 55 Cs Caesium 260 56 Ba Barium 215 57 La Lanthanum 195 58 Ce Cerium 185 59 Pr Praseodymium 185 60 Nd Neodymium 185 61 Pm Promethium 185 62 Sm Samarium 185 63 Eu Europium 185 64 Gd Gadolinium 180 65 Tb Terbium 175 66 Dy Dysprosium 175 67 Ho Holmium 175 68 Er Erbium 175 69 Tm Thulium 175 70 Yb Ytterbium 175 71 Lu Lutetium 175 72 Hf Hafnium 155 73 Ta Tantalum 145 74 W Tungsten 135 75 Re Rhenium 135 76 Os Osmium 130 77 Ir Iridium 135 78 Pt Platinum 135 79 Au Gold 135 80 Hg Mercury 150 81 Tl Thallium 190 82 Pb Lead 180 83 Bi Bismuth 160 84 Po Polonium 190 85 At Astatine No data 86 Rn Radon No data 87 Fr Francium No data 88 Ra Radium 215 89 Ac Actinium 195 90 Th Thorium 180 91 Pa Protactinium 180 92 U Uranium 175 93 Np Neptunium 175 94 Pu Plutonium 175 95 Am Americium 175 96 Cm Curium No data 97 Bk Berkelium No data 98 Cf Californium No data 99 Es Einsteinium No data 100 Fm Fermium No data 101 Md Mendelevium No data 102 No Nobelium No data 103 Lr Lawrencium No data 104 Rf Rutherfordium No data 105 Db Dubnium No data 106 Sg Seaborgium No data 107 Bh Bohrium No data 108 Hs Hassium No data 109 Mt Meitnerium No data 110 Ds Darmstadtium No data 111 Rg Roentgenium No data 112 Cn Copernicium No data 113 Nh Nihonium No data 114 Fl Flerovium No data 115 Mc Moscovium No data 116 Lv Livermorium No data 117 Ts Tennessine No data 118 Og Oganesson No data Source: Webelements 3 Exceptions to the Atomic Radius Trends The two atomic radius trends we discussed above are true for the majority of the periodic table of elements. However, there are a few exceptions to these trends. One exception is the noble gases. The six noble gases, in group 18 of the periodic table, are helium (He), neon (Ne), argon (Ar), krypton (Kr), xenon (Xe), and radon (Rn). The noble gases are an exception because they bond differently than other atoms, and noble gas atoms don't get as close to each other when they bond. Because atomic radius is half the distance between the nuclei of two atoms, how close those atoms are to each other affects atomic radius. Each of the noble gases has their outermost electron shell completely filled, which means multiple noble gas atoms are held together by Van der Waals forces rather than through bonds. Van der Waals forces aren't as strong as covalent bonds, so two atoms connected by Van der Waals forces don't get as close to each other as two atoms connected by a covalent bond. This means the radii of the noble gases would be overestimated if we attempted to find their empirical radii, so none of the noble gases have an empirical radius and thus don't follow the atomic radius trends. Below is a very simplified diagram of four atoms, all about the same size. The top two atoms are connected by a covalent bond, which causes some overlap between the atoms. The bottom two atoms are noble gas atoms, and they are connected by Van der Waals forces that don't allow the atoms to get as close together. The red arrows represent the distance between the nuclei. Half of this distance is equal to atomic radius. As you can see, even though all four atoms are about the same size, the noble gas radius is much larger than the radius of the other atoms. Comparing the two radii would make the noble gas atoms look bigger, even though they're not. Including noble gas radii would give people an inaccurate idea of how big noble gas atoms are. Because noble gas atoms bond differently, their radii can't be compared to the radii of other atoms, so they don't follow atomic radius trends. Other exceptions include the lanthanide series and actinide series at the bottom of the periodic table. These groups of elements differ from much of the rest of the periodic table and don’t follow many trends the other elements do. Neither series has a clear atomic radius trend. How Can You Use This Information? While you probably won’t need to know the atomic radius of various elements in your day-to-day life, this information can still be helpful if you’re studying chemistry or another related field. Once you understand each key atomic radius period trend, it makes it easier to understand other information about the elements. For example, you can remember that noble gases are an exception to the atomic radius trends because they have a full outer electron shell. These outer electron shells also make the noble gases inert and stable. That stability can be handy. For example, balloons are typically filled with helium, not hydrogen, because helium is much more stable and therefore less flammable and safer to use. You can also use atomic radii to estimate how reactive different elements will be. Atoms with smaller radii are more reactive than atoms with larger radii. The halogens (in group 17) have the smallest average radii in the periodic table. Fluorine has the smallest atomic radius of the halogens (which makes sense based on the trends), and that makes it highly reactive. Just adding fluorine to water will produce flames as the fluorine turns into a gas. Summary: Periodic Trends Atomic Radius There are two main atomic radius trends. The first atomic radius periodic trend is that atomic radii increase as you move downwards in a group. This is due to electron shielding. When an additional shell is added, those new electrons are farther from the atom’s nucleus, which increases atomic radius. The second atomic radius periodic trend is that atomic size decreases moving left to right across a period because the atom’s stronger positive charge due to having more protons attracts the electrons more strongly and pulls them closer to the nucleus, reducing the size of the atom. There are a few exceptions to these trends, noticeably the noble gases which don’t form bonds the way most other atoms do, and the lanthanide and actinide series. You can use this information to better understand the periodic table, how atoms bond, and why certain elements are more reactive than others.

Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management Essay

Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Management - Essay Example Implication of Current Global Financial Crisis on Innovation of Firms Since innovation relies on resource allocation in terms of research and development, it is likely to be affected by current global financial crisis (Nakagawa,pg.258). A closer scrutiny of various European firms has revealed a significant change in innovation investment amidst the economic crisis. A survey conducted in 2009, revealed significant shifts in innovation investments across various firms in Europe where innovation investment and expenditure in firms declined from 40.2 percent to 10.6 percent (Filippetti and Archibugi,pg.2). The reduction in innovation investment and expenditures was attributed to direct effects of global financial crisis and recession. The economic crisis and recession reduces the short-term willingness of firms to engage to invest in innovation due to adverse macroeconomic environment that firms operate within (Archibugi, Filippetti and Frenz,pg.2). The mode of financing channels for Eur opean enterprises has been through bank loans and stock and bond market. In fact, most European banks have reviewed and tightened their money supply regulation due to global financial crisis (Fasnacht,pg.73). ... Most firms rely on profits and extra revenues for their research and development initiatives. Since the global economic meltdown is directly related to earnings of companies, any slight reduction in companies’ profits can affect their innovation approaches and incentives (Savona, Kirton and Oldani,pg.140). All business sectors and companies in Europe have felt the effect of the ongoing financial crisis in varying degrees thus leading to deterioration of their revenues and profitability. The reduction in financial results of European companies is linked to reduction in consumerism, export cut back or reduction and shifting demand in domestic consumers. Cash flow and increased profitability and revenues are crucial for the survival of companies in relation to engagement in innovative activities. Robust and increased cash inflow in terms of profitability and increased revenues provides the safest protection of companies to engage in innovation. Research and development initiative s in European firms have hence been affected by the ongoing global recession due to the fact that their commitments to innovation have been pegged on success in revenue and profit growth. On the other hand, the ongoing financial crisis and economic turmoil has not affected the commitment of other European companies to innovation. This is particularly evident in high performing businesses that continue to invest in innovation amidst the economic turmoil (Heinrich and Betts,pg.34). Although other firms and businesses have panicked and reduced investment on research and development, some high performing firms have remained calm and are continuing to invest in innovation even though there has been pressure for such companies to reduce capital expenses (Shahzad, Ullah and Azam,pg.6). The

Spacial topic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Spacial topic - Essay Example 2. Operational decision makers- After creation of the business strategy, the objectives for the operation business process are established. 3. Reporting, controlling and analytical processes- The necessary information and data for the desired changes in operational managers’ behavior are identified and specified by the business analysts. 4. ELT developers and data base specialists- The data from data warehouses is gathered by the database specialist or the ETL (extract, transformation, and load) developer who make it assessable and usable to the front-end application of the business. 5. IT Professionals- In this layer, infrastructure run and develop the primary data is developed by generating sources or creating new data by the IT professionals. (Laursen & Thorlund, 2010) Chapter 2 Question1. Explain the process of business analytics at strategic level. Answer. The process of business analytics at strategic level could be explained by integration between the BA function and th e company’s strategy. There are four different scenarios showing the degree of integration between business strategy and strategy: 1. Where no formal link exists between strategy and BA, the BA function is used on an ad hoc basis. 2. When the link between BA and strategy is coordinated, the BA function is purely reactive and there is no feedback procedure from BA to strategy. 3. When there is a formal feedback procedure from BA to strategy and strategy innovation is supported by BA. 4. Where the information is used as a strategic resource. It enables the information to be used to determine the strategy. (Laursen & Thorlund, 2010) Chapter 3 Question1. Explain the process of establishing a new business processes with the Rockart model? Answer. The process of establishing a new business processes with the Rockart model consists of the following stages: 1. Objectives- The first step is the identification of the objectives, i.e. to identify the aim and purpose of the information t o be developed. 2. Operational Strategy- The operational strategy to fulfill the objective is identified and implemented. 3. Critical Success Factors- A large number of activities are initiated by implementation of a strategy. Some of these activities are more critical than others. All such critical success factors should be identified. 4. Lead and Lag Information- The information at functional level can be broadly classified as: Lag information- The information which we choose to register on an ongoing basis is the lag information. Lead information- Lead information is created on the basis of lag information. It helps in monitoring and improving the existing or initiating processes. (Laursen & Thorlund, 2010) Chapter 4 Question1. What are the required competencies of a business analyst? Answer. A business analyst is a provider of methodology. A business analyst must meet the following requirements: 1. Business competencies- A business analyst must have the business competencies and should understand the business process properly. He or she must have the business insight. 2. Tool Kit must be in order- A business analyst should be able to deliver multiple information in same data and should be able to visualize the information as the user. 3. Technical understanding- The business analyst should have the technical understanding of the information which could be used in collection and presentation of data. (Laursen & Thorl

Problem Solving Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Problem Solving - Essay Example This is because there is no definite solution to a problem as all solutions lead to development of new problems and solutions. Problem solving techniques are on-going processes needed for the survival of an organisation. Halpern (2002) explains that problem solving techniques should be able to find and formulate the problem that affects the progress of an organisation, implement a decision, audit the results obtained from the decision made and review the obtained results to determine if they are appropriate. More effort, energy, time and money should be spent on the prior stages of problem solving techniques rather than on the later stages. However, most executives ignore this fact as they aim at acting quickly and decisively thereby creating a type III error (working on the wrong problem) (Paradies & Unger, 2002). Therefore, this report will discuss problems that curb the development of organisations and appropriate problem solving techniques that are used to eliminate this paradigm. This report will also analyse features of these problem solving techniques and the issues faced while applying them to the problems. Most organisations especially new business enterprises are faced with strategic planning problems. Such organisations are unable to appropriately define the strategy and direction of their firms. They are unable to formulate efficient decisions in distribution of the organisational resources such as capital and labour, a fact that affects their capability to strive in the stiff market competition (Bradford & Duncan, 2000). Most researches, studies and surveys that have been conducted show that most successful organisations implement the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis into the culture of the organisation to strategically plan for the operations, decision making and resource distribution tactics. According to Lorenzen (2006), SWOT analysis comprises of the identification of organisation's objectives to determine internal and external factors which may enable or prevent the achievement of these objectives. The SWOT analysis was formulated by Albert Humphrey with the aim of helping business ventures to effectively identify areas for development by matching the strengths of the organisations to available opportunities and the weaknesses to potential threats that the organisation may face. This enabled organisations to attain competitive advantages over their counterpart business enterprises. In other words the SWOT analysis enables organisations to detect the threats and weaknesses of the organisation and convert them to strengths and opportunities that the organisation can utilise to increase its performance. Also organisations are able to effectively overcome these threats and weaknesses thereby attaining appropriate market control due to implementation of strategic plans into the culture of the organisation (Tracy, 2000). The internal factors comprise of the strengths and weaknesses that determine the accomplishment of objectives of an organisation for example the 4Ps, manufacturing capabilities and personnel among others. On the other hand the external factors comprise of opportunities and threats that an organisation faces such as technological changes, socio-cultural changes and the competitive position of the

Leadership Styles At Asda Plc Management Essay

Leadership Styles At Asda Plc Management Essay Knowledge is power, and information is nowadays one the most valuable assets if not the most valuable one. However [if not properly managed] information becomes rapidly useless, becoming a serious competitive disadvantage for any organization. Leaders play a crucial part in the game of knowledge management in all levels inside a company. The basic skills of any leader should make him/her able to solve problems, to make decisions, to plan, to manage meetings, to delegate, to communicate and to self management, but it also requires human qualities for nowadays good leaders are those who are capable of understanding and responding to the peoples needs and to the constant challenges and demands of modern days, without compromising the goals of the organization. Instead in the traditional model the leader would be at the top of the hierarchy as a chief authority. Currently a good leader is not the one who is feared [while occupying a power position inside an organization] but the one who is respected and trustworthy for its human qualities like character, values, ethics and beliefs, while combining it with other specific skills. Otherwise wont attract followers. But how can theories and leadership models are applied to a real situation evolving a real organization and how useful can that really become? Companys Introduction: ASDA will be used as a practical example of an organization: After War World I the milk prices were falling down rapidly, farmers had to protect themselves in response to that a farmer from Yorkshire (in association with other farmers) named J.W. Hindell created in 1920 the Hindells Dairy Farmers Limited to acquire or build both wholesale and retail outlets for their milk, guarantying a steady market and a floor price. That lasted about 25 years with a variety of dairy business, involving 9 companies in this process. This partnership became a public company in March 1949 (Associated Dairies and Farm Stores Limited), employing 1200 people. By 1965, Associated created a subsidiary [ASDA Stores Limited], extremely profitable. A new concept was launched: new extremely large stores were open, in abandoned warehouses or mills, offering a limited selection of goods at the lowest prices. By 1978, ASDA had 60 superstores and two years later more than  £1 billion sales mark. In 1984 John Hardman became managing director and decided that changes (including new look for stores, new lightningà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) were needed or ASDA would fall behind , the ASDA Brand new line of foods would emerge to increase sales including other measures , under Hardman  ´s direction the company sold not only but also the Associated Fresh Foods, concentrating only in superstores and expanded line of food stores, only expectation was Allied, a chain of carpet and drapery stores ,the Group was not able to sell it. ASDA acquired 62 of rival Gateways superstores, the company kept on full expansion. In 1991 after Hardman resigning Archie Norman took and the next several years were dedicated to restructuring, renewing the brand image, lowering prices and product mix and in 1995 the profits were increasing again as compared to 1992. Then in 1999 the U.S. retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. offered to takeover ASDA and in 2000, after the acquisition, launched Smart Price, a new brand based on Wal-Mart. ASDA with 259 stores is now the second largest retailer in the UK, having a very big competitive advantage: price competition in a variety of shops, which helps customers to relate with the company. Also under Wal-Marts wings ASDA has been adding new departments like: pharmacies, opticians, jewellery, besides selling music, videos, and books. Examine the impact of different leadership attributes and skills on work groups There is no universal academic concept of Leadership there are as many definitions as the number of scholars studying it (combination of certain characteristics, skills, process à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). It can be described as the result of a process by which an individual influences others in order to accomplish a common goal. Leadership should not be confused with power or authority for it is a wider concept, demanding much personal effort from the leader in order to fully mobilize the people in achieving that common goal mostly supporting all strategy on top of the companys values and culture. Many theories try and keep trying to identify the skills that a good leader should have, some became popular and important tools for management and leadership until now. John Adairs Action-Centred Leadership Model supported leadership has 3 main responsibilities: task, team/group and individual, keeping all these 3 responsibilities in the right balance the success would be guaranteed: better quality, sustains morale, develops the team and also highlights the intervention of the leader as a successful one. The leader, like in Tom Peters theory also, should be inspiring to others, showing enthusiasm, commitment and ability to pass all that to the people. Although he argued that the situation itself would appoint the leader and determinate what kind of leadership, nevertheless some leaders need innate characteristics like military ones (need courage), other human qualities like integrity, wholeness and moral sense were considered essential to any leader. Elizabeth Moss Kanter focused on empowerment [key to human motivation] management should be available for those usually put aside, like women, clerical workersà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ decentralizing authority with the creation of other small and autonomous groups. Early researches on leadership are more behavioural searching to classify personal features that set efficient leaders apart from other people. Works like Daniel Golemans and also Higgs and Dulewicz work (among others) about emotional intelligence theory became very popular. EQ has become a very important factor to select and recruit, for management development, job profiling, HR planning, customer relationsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ even to reduce stress by decreasing conflict, improving relationships and communication, stabilityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Daniel Goleman ´s EQ theory (EQ Emotional Quotient) is a revolutionary concept by defending that success does not depends only of the IQ (Intelligence Quotient), but also behaviour and character are twice important. His studies lead him to develop a model containing several personal (e.g. capability of understand oneself, self-control, self motivationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) and social competences (Organisational awareness, Change catalyst, Building bondsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦), necessary for a good leadership. This is a tremendously important contribute most of all to develop people and organizations allowing to understand peoples behaviours, attitudes, potential, styles in management and interpersonal skills. Higgs and Dulewicz divided Emotional Inteligence in 3 major areas: Drivers: motivation and decisiveness, skills that give people the necessary energy for achieving goals. Constrainers: conscientiousness, integrity and emotional resilience (control and smooth the excess of drivers) Enablers: sensitivity, influence and self-awareness, skills that help performance and the success of individuals In result a successful leadership would be the sum of EQ, IQ and also Managerial Competence (MQ). In their theory the EQ of an individual (interpersonal sensitivity, self-awareness à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) is also result of cognitive ability and certain management competences; EQ is also affected by drivers and constrainers. Impact of leadership attributes and skills: Psychologists Litwin and Stringer at Harvard University developed research among top companies all over the world, in order to investigate the connection between leadership behaviour, team climate and performance ,they identified 6 types of effective leadership styles creating a (ILS) the inventory of leadership. Coercive: gaining immediate compliance from employees Authoritative: long term vision and leadership Affiliative: generates trust and harmony Democratic: allows group consensus and creating new ideas Pacesetting: leading by example and finalization of tasks to high standards Coaching: the professional evolution of employees. The ILS helps to understand the leadership from the side of those who are led, it provides the leader the choices for leadership behaviour focusing on the individuals and how their behaviour affects team  ´s results. Also, these 6 leadership styles would produce a positive and stable climate inside the organization improving motivation and performance. Climate was measured using some criteria to measure employees perception on how they were treated (like: amount of responsibility given; the clarity of goals and objectives; team spirit à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). They also concluded that organizational climates would vary according to the leadership styles, proving that the leaders personal qualities and actions have definitely a major impact on others. Explain how different theories, models or principles of leadership can be used to gain insights into leadership requirements for a given organisational context Mostly Re-developing of envision is not very much inaugurating, an entirely new envision for organisation as it is coming back the organisation that is failed to keep possession of its way to their main agenda. The new CEO Archie Norman took into command as CEO of ASDA Supermarket chain in the UK in 1991. That time ASDA was going diminishing, descending to a poor and poor position as compare to their competitors e.g. Tesco, Sainsburys and Safeway. Basically ASDA was losing its way as it tried to race with Sainsburys and Tesco by going upmarket, ASDA was at that time using a major designer to remodel their stores, Increasing their Product range, Introducing own-label products and appointing new management to give a big support to their stores. So ASDA was doing lots of new ideas due to ASDAs costs Rose. Because of costs rising ASDA trying prices up and do to this ASDA was going away from their core customers. About three-quarters of ASDAs stores in that areas where the average income of people was below as average standard income. People were going on the cheapest prices to purchase their food. ASDA had also introduced new range of non food retailing products like furniture and carpets. So ASDA had led to a  £1 billion debt burden. Archie Normans challenge was to take ASDA of their First Position, which he termed the Virtuous Circle revaluating the customary price with different of 5 to 7% below of their competitors and helpful and friendly service. That was definitely difficult by financial point of view but with the good effort ofASDA Way of Working it became possible. With the effort of Norman the new approach was formed to transform that became an all-powerful and no races system to one where employees enjoyed work and regularly providing customer service with a personality derived from the heart of the company The struggle of Norman started daily huddles (like meeting) with managers and colleagues instead of weekly huddles, Introduced Sharing option for all employees of ASDA with same terms from top to bottom, with All efforts of ASDA Colleagues ASDA brought biggest increase in sales. Everyone had right to give suggestion directly to Archie Norman, So he got 14,000 suggestion just in first 18 months. So the profits margin within 5 years in 1991  £168.3 million to  £304 million in 1996 when Archie Norman took command of ASDA as CEO role to Allan Leighton Evaluate the usefulness of the theories, models or principles of Leadership The World is entering in 21st Century, How many Development programs are try to focusing with usefulness of their leadership training. As resources are becoming more limited but the organisations are also trying to more and more accountable for meeting their goals. Taking Accountability and responsibility for improving youth leadership life skills today, Confident the assure for impressive leadership tomorrow. Define the leadership skills needed for a specific situation within an organization Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.  John F. Kennedy The concept of Leadership in ASDA is slightly different while based in the servant leadership model, the leader is first a servant, and the mission of the leader is to serve others. Basically Servant leaders should help followers to develop their own values that support the organization in its mission (examples of this kind of leadership: Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama. Training a leader is essential to any business success, mainly for small and medium sized companies, the leadership development as well as the people training has become a very important process, especially for companies who look to reduce costs and increase their revenues, and over the time companies who develop their human assets (leaders and people tend to have better results than those who dont. Propose methods to develop leadership skills to meet the specific requirements of a part of an organization A leaders skills can be sculptured and polished using different kind of methods like training courses, coaching, mentoring, by renewing the own methodology in leadership development programmes, making partnerships with well-known academics ,formal management programs, international study tours , experimental workshops, action learning projectsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ For example the CEO of U.K. grocery chain ASDA is responsible for profound structural changes like freezing wages, but also promoting transparency and egalitarianism in the organization, making ASDA a great place for everyone to work. Trust and openness increased as well as shareholder value in consequence. Such kind of leader is more participative, at same time capable of: Planning, effectiveness, Financial and commercial understanding, Innovation, vision, creativity, taking initiative, problem-solving and decision-makingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The Belbin frame-work team roles model makes it possible for organisations to understand the weaknesses and strengths of individuals and creating more balanced teams to accomplish tasks and roles looking for the best performance of the team. This model could be quite useful when talking about a major company like ASDA with so many and such huge stores to manage, each one divided into several departments. A second benefit of this model applying to ASDA  ´s example is that it allows to point out the existence of Incompatibility inside a team, avoiding the mix of the wrong individuals is one of the key reasons why teams fail. An ineffective team may at times be nothing more than just a consequence of the wrong combination of people. Critically evaluate the use of a full range of methods of leadership development within the specified context There is a large variety of leader development methods, but there are 5 major ones (also adaptable to ASDA): Developmental relationships mentors and role models and also those who are designed to stimulate and support learning like coachers. Managers are expected to contribute to the development of their employees by teaching, coaching, giving feedback. Nowadays the online social networking sites allow the dissemination of information at an epidemical speed; Developmental assignments giving leaders the right challenge so they can develop their needs and goals (promotion, working in a multicountry project team; working in a joint venture) also very useful to develop cultural awareness and adaptability in a global era; Feedback Processes -ongoing honest feedback, there processes may include 360- degree feedback for all managers with direct reports, in the end of a project to obtain feedback from their teamà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Formal programs mainly off-the-job joining individuals to share learning and development experiences; Self-development activities (reading books, articles, using internet, all-staff meetingsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦) The pursuit to understand leadership concept continues daily, within rapidly and ever changing century. Leaders are expected to focus their attention on a more ethical leadership and on how emotions form and sustain relationships, what kind of thinking will be used? How can a leader coordinate several people, many dispersed geographically? Conclusion: Leadership is common and necessary in all aspects of society and as a concept is not fully understood, daily challenged by constant demands of modern society, however there is no common definition of leadership no organization can stand without the leader fully understanding its values and culture, in order to strongly motivate and inspire the constituents that participate of the organization. Understanding the relationship between leader and the people is the key for any organizations success, not so much in a power or authority perspective, but looking also for more human characteristics and qualities. Being a leader also implies responsibilities and its also up to the public to support the practice of good leadership so it is even more important to understand the possibilities and weakness of leaders that is the true potential of theories and models of leadership.

Free College Essays - Loss of Faith in Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown :: Free Essay Writer

Loss of Faith in "Young Goodman Brown" Throughout ones journey in life, our individual perceptions of faith in God, in mankind, and in ourselves, guide us along our path. In the absence of clarity of our faith, one is led to believe the norm is what proves to be popular within a society. Nathaniel Hawthorne's, "Young Goodman Brown", demonstrates to the reader, man's inherent attraction to evil, the intertwined depths of evil, and that a lack of understanding of faith; can not only destroy ones life, but also steal from the beliefs which binds us together as a social group. Even with a clear understanding of the Puritan attitude, the reader is left with the dilemma that seems to impose the idea, that faith in God alone is but a dogma in the absence of faith in and an understanding of humanity. Therefore, we resolve that it is not good enough to choose between good and evil; we must be all embracing of the doctrine of faith and forgiveness, so that we can function in a contributory way within our community. Is Young Goodman Brown's encountering with the Devil merely a test of his own faith? Or perhaps, is he simply intrigued by the mystique of evil forces that lie outside the realm of what he considers acceptable behavior in his Puritan times? Â  "With this excellent resolve for the future, Goodman Brown felt himself justified in making more haste on his present evil purpose" (634). Through his writing Nathaniel Hawthorne is able to develop a distinct set of doctrine that existed within the mind of Goodman Brown. Thus, the reader can assume that one trait of Puritan Society is a lack of tolerance for forgiveness. It is no wonder that Puritanism is known for a somber outlook on life, and a tendency to be immovable. A Puritan Society might find it difficult to see perfection in it's own members, especially if they do not recognize their own tendency toward hypocrisy. Young Goodman Brown's perception of his faith abandons him because he lacks a clear understanding of his experience in the woods. So in his ignorance he simply continues to criticize others due to the events that have taken place in his misguided life. He resolves that those he had previously viewed as pious, are now hypocrites in his eyes. "Men of dissolute lives and women of spotted fame, wretches given over to all mean and filthy vice and suspected of horrid crimes" (640).

Child and young person development Essay

Task 2 – Explain the difference between sequence of development and rate of development and why the difference is important. The sequence of development is the order in which development takes place. Although some stages of development may be missed (for example some babies do not crawl and go straight from shuffling to walking) the sequence is usually followed by children and the order usually remains the same. The rate of development is the time-frame given for the average development of a child expected at a certain age, i.e. at one has started to walk. All children are unique and will develop at their own rate. The rate of development is just a guideline. For example: some babies start teething from 6 months and some of them start at 9 months. Some babies can start making sentences at around 1 year; others can only speak few broken words. Read more: Rate of development  essay The sequence of development generally remains the same. The rate of development can change considerably and many other factors such as individual growth patterns, social background, health and nutrition, disability and learning difficulties can have an effect on it. It is important to know the difference between the sequence and rate of development as it helps to meet the children’s individual needs. It helps you recognise if any children have special educational needs and helps you plan to make sure they are getting the help and support they may need. Practitioners must have a good understanding of the child development rates. Practitioners should: †¢Carry out assessment and observation effectively. It is required for practitioners to make development comparisons between a child’s actual development stage and expected development rates. †¢Offer appropriate activities and experiences. This will be informed by  observation, monitoring and assessment of individual children. †¢Anticipate the next stage of a child’s development. This allows the practitioner to provide activities and experiences that will challenge and interest children, therefore, stimulating the child’s learning development. †¢Notice when children are not progressing as expected. Although children develop at different rates, significant delays in one area or many delays in several areas can be an indication that children need intervention and extra support.

Free Essays on Paul Cronan Case

I. LEGAL ANALYSIS – ISSUE ONE Are AIDS patients such as Paul Cronan protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)? Rule: According to the US Department of Justice, the ADA prohibits discrimination in all employment practices, including job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. It applies to recruitment, advertising, tenure, layoff, leave, fringe benefits, and all other employment-related activities. To secure protection from discrimination under the ADA, an individual first must show that she has 1) an impairment which 2) substantially limits 3) a major life activity, or that the individual is regarded as having such impairment by the person who is discriminating against her. Analysis: It is imperative to determine whether or not having contracted AIDS qualifies an individual for protection under the ADA. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the case Bradgon v. Abbott that individuals with HIV or AID are protected under the ADA. Although the Supreme Court stopped short of concluding that HIV is always, automatically, a disability for purposes of coverage under the ADA, it did note that the concept of "asymptomatic HIV" is something of a misnomer because of the virus' constant, destructive activity and therefore HIV is always an impairment under the ADA. Conclusion: By a vote of 5 to 4, the majority of the court concluded, that HIV represented an impairment which substantially limits reproduction, and that reproduction is a major life activity under the ADA. I agree with the courts decision in this case. This precedent should be extended to Cronan’s situation and provide him the necessary protection. Under the terms of the ADA, Cronan’s rights were violated. O’Brian had the legal right to inform management about Cronan’s aliment due to the fact that the disease would cause him to be absen... Free Essays on Paul Cronan Case Free Essays on Paul Cronan Case I. LEGAL ANALYSIS – ISSUE ONE Are AIDS patients such as Paul Cronan protected by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)? Rule: According to the US Department of Justice, the ADA prohibits discrimination in all employment practices, including job application procedures, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. It applies to recruitment, advertising, tenure, layoff, leave, fringe benefits, and all other employment-related activities. To secure protection from discrimination under the ADA, an individual first must show that she has 1) an impairment which 2) substantially limits 3) a major life activity, or that the individual is regarded as having such impairment by the person who is discriminating against her. Analysis: It is imperative to determine whether or not having contracted AIDS qualifies an individual for protection under the ADA. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in the case Bradgon v. Abbott that individuals with HIV or AID are protected under the ADA. Although the Supreme Court stopped short of concluding that HIV is always, automatically, a disability for purposes of coverage under the ADA, it did note that the concept of "asymptomatic HIV" is something of a misnomer because of the virus' constant, destructive activity and therefore HIV is always an impairment under the ADA. Conclusion: By a vote of 5 to 4, the majority of the court concluded, that HIV represented an impairment which substantially limits reproduction, and that reproduction is a major life activity under the ADA. I agree with the courts decision in this case. This precedent should be extended to Cronan’s situation and provide him the necessary protection. Under the terms of the ADA, Cronan’s rights were violated. O’Brian had the legal right to inform management about Cronan’s aliment due to the fact that the disease would cause him to be absen...

Theme - Definition and Examples in Composition

Theme s in Composition Definitions (1) In literature and composition, a  theme is the main idea of a text, expressed directly or indirectly. Adjective: thematic. (2) In composition studies, a theme is a short essay or  composition assigned as a writing exercise. See also: Composing My First College Essay, by Sandy KlemFive-Paragraph EssayModels of CompositionTheme WritingWhats Wrong With the Five-Paragraph Essay? See Examples and Observations below. Also, see: EpiphanyMotifPlotThesis Etymology From the Greek, placed or laid down Examples and Observations (definition #1): Simply put, a storys theme is its idea or point (formulated as a generalization). The theme of a fable is its moral; the theme of a parable is its teaching; the theme of a short story is its implied view of life and conduct. Unlike the fable and parable, however, most fiction is not designed primarily to teach or preach. Its theme, thus, is more obliquely presented. In fact, theme in fiction is rarely presented at all; readers abstract it from the details of characters and action that compose the story.(Robert DiYanni, Literature. McGraw-Hill, 2002) Orwells Theme(s) in the Essay A Hanging- A Hanging is [George] Orwells first distinctive work. It gives an apparently objective account of a ritualistic executionfrom fixed bayonets to a bag over the head of the condemnedin which the narrator officially and actively participates. . . . At this halfway point Orwell states his theme: till that moment I had never realized what it means to destroy a healthy, conscious man. When I saw the pris oner step aside to avoid the puddle, I saw the mystery, the unspeakable wrongness, of cutting a life short when it is in full tide. Instead of invoking religion, he asserts a quasi-religious sense of lifes sacrednessthe first expression of the instinctive humanism that characterizes all his work.(Jeffrey Meyers, Orwell: Wintry Conscience of a Generation. Norton, 2000)- A variation on this theme occurs in several of Orwells most famous texts containing epiphanies, moments of illumination in which the humanity of people he has hitherto viewed in terms of dehumanizing generalizations suddenly breaks through, and Orwells perception is jarred as he understands, with a shock, that these are people like himself. . . . In the early sketch entitled A Hanging (1931), Orwell describes how his idea of what it means to kill a man is altered by the Hindu prisoners gesture of stepping aside to avoid a puddle on the way to the gallows. What the text reveals, however, is that the prisoner at first l ooks to Orwell like a mere insignificant object. Into this scene, well defined in terms of the prisoners already marginal existence, breaks the unexpected gesture, making Orwell (or the Orwellian narrative persona) realize that the prisoner is alive, just as he is . . . . This chronicle is generally interpreted along the lines Orwell lays down, as the revelation of the barbarity of execution, but its primary meaning, I believe, is another. An inferiorized human being has for an instant become a genuine person in the eyes of one of the masters.(Daphne Patai,The Orwell Mystique: A Study in Male Ideology. University of Massachusetts Press, 1984) The Themes of the Novel Charlottes Web- Themes are subject to readers interpretation, so different individuals may identify different themes in the same book; the dominant idea or theme, however, should be apparent to readers.Charlottes Web offers many layers of meaning to readers. Younger children are apt to understand this book as an animal fantasy. Older children are ready to apprehend the cycle of life and death, while adults recognize the irony in a situation that gives one character credit for the creativity of another. This is why we recommend using Charlottes Web in the third or fourth grade, when children are ready to understand its major theme.(Barbara Stoodt et al., Childrens Literature:Discovery for a Lifetime. Macmillan, 1996)- Identifying theme is typically a bit more difficult perhaps because theme is often confused with plot summary or motif. . . . Charlottes Web (White, 1952) is a story about a pig whose life is saved by a spider is not a theme statement! It is a pl ot statement. Charlottes Web is a story about friendship is also not a theme statement! Rather, it is a statement identifying one of the most important motifs in the storyfriendship. A theme in Charlottes Web is that true friendship involves responsibilities as well as privileges is a theme statement!(R. Craig Roney, The Story Performance Handbook. Lawrence Erlbaum, 2001)- Besides mortality itself, throughout many idyllic scenes [in Charlottes Web] Andy [White] dabbed colorful spots of melancholy. He translated the song sparrows aria as sweet, sweet, sweet interlude and informed the reader that it referred to lifes brevity. Crickets harped on the same theme. But overall Andys theme was the joy of being alive, of reveling in the moment with visceral attention. What seemed like two themes were really one.(Michael Sims, The Story of Charlottes Web. Walker, 2011) The Difference Between Plot and ThemeIf you sometimes confuse plot with theme, keep the two elements separate by thinking of theme as what the story is about, and plot as the situation that brings it into focus. You might think of theme as the message of the storythe lesson to be learned, the question that is asked, or what it is the author is trying to tell us about life and the human condition. Plot is the action by which this truth will be demonstrated.(Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, quoted by Kenneth John Atchity and Chi-Li Wong in Writing Treatments That Sell, rev. ed. Henry Holt, 2003) Thesis and ThemeThe thesis is the main point you are trying to argue [in a composition]: for instance, that abortion is every womans right or that housing discrimination is wrong. The theme, on the other hand, is a motif established by orchestrated connotative language that reinforces the thesis. Theme differs from thesis in that theme relies on inference and suggested meaning rather than on direct st atement.(Kristin R. Woolever, About Writing: A Rhetoric for Advanced Writers. Wadsworth, 1991) Pronunciation: THEEM

Gardner's Intelligences Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Gardner's Intelligences - Assignment Example The best way to depict Gardner’s Theory of Intelligence is as a wheel rather than in a linear manner. His theory of intelligence is broken up into the following categories: spatial, linguistic, logical-mathematical, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalistic, and existential. Spatial ability involves being able to visualize images such as puzzles using the mind. Linguistic intelligence is the intelligence of language. Everything dealing with words, reading, writing, etc. comes naturally to people with high linguistic intelligence. Logical-mathematical intelligence deals with mathematical computational abilities. Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence can be compared as being similar to athletic ability. People with good body-kinesthetic intelligence usually have good coordination as well as good reflexes. Musical intelligence coordinates to musical ability such as singing, recognizing tones, playing an instrument, etc. Interpersonal intelligence talks abo ut the ability of people to relate with one another and intrapersonal intelligence relates to the self-reflective behavior that we have within ourselves. Lastly, existential intelligence can be related to spirituality. Since there are so many aspects of intelligence, some of these are interconnected and it is possible to be intelligent in multiple areas. This theory also explains how people who are considered to have lower IQ scores could be gifted in other areas.

Should Athletes be role models Annotated Bibliography

Should Athletes be role models - Annotated Bibliography Example Dr. Connor asks that are the millions spent on the quest for Olympic gold really value for money. The investment is meant to buy success, create role models and encourage engagement, but it does not. The Olympics was founded on participation and the "spirit" of sport. We have now moved so far into ugly nationalism and crass commercialism. The role-model argument is an obvious furphy. Nary has a week gone by without yet another scandal involving an elite athlete - be it drugs, alcohol or violence. As role models, they certainly are poor choices. Athletes, by definition, are obsessive often to the point of being clinically compulsive in their behavior. The author of this article has presented two contradicting views of people about athletes and their conduct as role model. He elucidates that there are two groups of people having varied opinion about it. One group believes that athletes are just similar to other professionals who are being hired and paid by their employers to exhibit best possible performance in their respective sports and, by no means, they are liable to act as role models. While the other group believes that, sportsmen have assumed the status of public figures and they are sometimes blindly being followed by people specially the youth, so it is their social and moral obligation to present themselves as role models. The author of this book is a female athlete and presents women athletes as cultural icons.

Internet Marketing Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Internet Marketing - Case Study Example With the series of eCommerce, which is the buying and selling of products and services via the internet, e-business has broken off into quite a few components, two of which are Business-to-Consumer (B2C) in addition to Business-to-Business (B2B). Furthermore, Business-to-Consumer or B2C commerce refers to the buying and selling of products and services online from the seller to the purchaser. It engages the "consumers shopping for and buying individual and household products. It also needs businesses to use online marketing and products techniques to draw and retain customers as well as to endorse products and services to them (eCommerce Program, 2005)." An instance of a victorious Business-to-Consumer website would be Target.com. Just like the usual brick and mortar store, customers can log onto the site and shop for personal and family items. There are no mediators to go during, the shopper just adds items to his or her shopping cart and when ended, checks out with a credit card or online check. In a Business-to-Consumer environment, mainly functions of the company are handling or are obtainable to the consumer via the internet from sales to purchaser support. One of the advantages to online B2C method is the unlimited ava ilability of the site; as long as you can log in, you are free to browse and purchase. Background of Organization Established in 1982, Futureshop had turn into today Canada's main electronics retailer. Throughout these 20 years, Future Shop has full-grown from a "one store operation" situated in Burnaby, British Columbia, to Canada's main, fastest-growing nationwide retailer of customer electronic products for the digital age with more than 100 stores from coast to shore and still rising. (Their annual sales in year 2001 had surpassed 2 $ billion) Future Shop stores are now a separation of Burnaby-based Best Buy Canada Ltd., which is a wholly-owned supplementary of Best Buy Co. In order to achieve our objective the consulting team first looked at the company background and analyzed Futureshop's current value chain activities and the revenue model being used. An examination of the various methods they use in order to market and promote their website was conducted. This was achieved by looking into aspects of market segmentation, web presence, and specific advertising used at Futureshop's webpage. Our team also studied the legal, ethical and cultural issues pertaining to Futureshop. Now for each of these sections of analysis we performed a SWOT analysis in order to characterize our most important findings. By using our SWOT analysis we were able to propose recommendations which are suggested to improve the business. Service/Product Offering This project investigates the web based business of a well known Canadian based retailer, Futureshop.com. The main objective of the Futureshop e-commerce website is to be at an international level of business and to enhance its marketing capabilities. Our team analyzed the website of Futureshop. This company's presence on the web was established in 1995 and represents a reflection of all goods and services delivered by Futureshop to its customers. Futureshop. By the end of the project we have given our conclusions

Casino gambling in Hong Kong Essay Example for Free

Casino gambling in Hong Kong Essay Recently, there is a storm of controversy over the latest scheme regarding the legalization of casino gambling. Advocates of the proposal reckon that such policy is a hope for the unemployed whereas contenders fear the growth of gambling business will have negative influence to our next generation’s values. Before we have our decision made, let us make an in-depth analysis into both advantages and disadvantages of the issue. As presumed, the rise of gambling industry is bound to produce job opportunities. To maintain the operation of a casino, it requires any amount of human resources such as a manager to take care of the administration, a security guard to ensure the situation of casino is under control. Most importantly, casinos provide the jobless with a wide variety of low-skilled work. Unlike college graduates, it is not that easy for lowly-educated job seekers to find a permanent job in such a knowledgeable society. Those who lack education is always the majority of unemployment and thus, if these people receive a stable job from the development of casino, a drop of the unemployment rate is about to emerge. As a result, the quality of life within the unemployed is likely to have improvement. Secondly, with more and more casinos set up in Hong Kong, our tourist industry will be benefited either. People regardless of their age, are fond of diverse lucky games, ranging from poker games to Mark Six and that’s why local people or travelers from the globe would respond to our gambling industry if created. Just like Macau, we can all see how Macau’s economy benefits from the well-developed gambling industry. Furthermore, there are not many cities constructed with casino, therefore if Hong Kong has this rare entertainment, we will stay ahead of our neighboring cities and the competitive edge will be preserved. After analyzing the possible good of the proposal, we should now move on to the opposite side discussing the hazard. Having been nagged about the harm of gambling, we are all clear of what excessive gambling could basically lead to. Just as some official advertisements claimed, once people begin to gamble, there is a big chance that they would get addicted unconsciously. As teenagers at such impressionable age are believed not self-disciplined enough, it is most feared compulsive gambling would be severest among vulnerable youngsters. In fact, not only will teens be involved, but also adults who tend to bet on their luck. As soon as casinos are readily available, people will treat gambling as a daily hobby and participate in gambling every now and then. What matters most is that such addiction of gamble could lead to an increase of crime rate. If gamblers had exhausted all their assets to gamble, they would probably resort to crimes like robbery, blackmail so as to gain more money to pay debts and pursue in gambling again. With these problems’ occurrence, the status quo of Hong Kong will be adversely affected. In addition to the impulse on the stability of Hong Kong, the competitiveness will deteriorate as well. Given that obsession of gambling can turns people into corruptible gamblers, the labor force of Hong Kong will be weakening due to a numerous of new gamblers used to have decent pursuit instead of gambling all the day. Consequently, with these lazybones draining our resources everyday and doing nothing to make contribution to our society, Hong Kong will no longer be a prosperous city. After reviewing both sides of views towards the issue, which one do you find more convincing? Personally, I reckon that the idea to legalize casino gambling should be abandoned. Even though it may contributes to our economy, it is as insensible to implement the suggestion as to promote gambling and put our prosperity at risk. In other words, it’s not worthwhile to trade our citizens’ mind for financial reward. Besides, there is no emergency to rush our economy development and that’s why, it’s not necessary to allow such hazardous business to get into our city. Hence, the proposal should not be approved, at least not for now.

Phosphonium Vermiculites Dispertion: Polymethylmethacrylate

Phosphonium Vermiculites Dispertion: Polymethylmethacrylate Ultraphonic in situ polymerization improves the dispersion of phosphonium vermiculites in polymethylmethacrylate with excellent mechanical property Bin Zhang1, Dingfeng Xu1, Shaozao Tan1,*, Langhuan Huang1, Xiang Cai2, Ting Wu2,*Abstract In order to improve the dispersion of phosphonium vermiculites (OVMT) in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), the ultraphonic in situ polymerization method was introduced, and a series of OVMT-PMMA (PBTP) nanocomposites were successfully prepared. The results indicated that the assistance of ultraphonic could increase the interfacial interactions between OVMT and PMMA, thus the particles of OVMT dispersed better in the PMMA matrix with a highly exfoliated structure. In addition, the obtained PBTP nanocomposites showed better mechanical properties than those prepared without ultraphonic, suggesting the great potential of ultraphonic in situ polymerization in the synthesis of polymer/clay nanocomposites. Keywords: phosphonium vermiculite; polymethylmethacrylate; ultraphonic; in situ polymerization; dispersion 1. Introduction In the past decades, polymer/clay nanocomposites have attracted much attention of chemists [1-3], because the additions of these layered silicates exhibited significant improvements in mechanical and thermal properties of polymers with very low amount of loading [4,5]. Until now, three main methods have been considered for the synthesis of polymer/clay composites: melt blending, solvent exfoliation and in situ polymerization [6]. Compared with other methods,in situ polymerization is more efà ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ cient and environmentally friendly [7]. Nevertheless, the dispersed efficiency of clay in polymer matrix is unsatisfactory, leading to limited improvements in the properties of polymers. Thus, it is necessary to modify the surfaces of pristine clays and introduce other synthesis methods, which can overcome the shortcomings [8]. In this paper, we reported a highly effective synthesis method of phosphonium vermiculites/polymethylmethacrylate (PBTP) nanocomposites by ultraphonic in situ po lymerization. Then, the excellent dispersion of the phosphonium vermiculites (OVMT) in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) was displayed, and the resulting effects on the properties of PBPT nanocomposites were also demonstrated. 2. Experimental sections 2.1 Materials Benzyltriphenylphosphonium (BTP) of C.R. grade was supplied by Qingte Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. Vermiculite (VMT) with cation-exchanger capacity of 135 mmol/100 g was purchased from Hebei Lingshou Micro-mineral Co. Ltc. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and 2,2-azobis isobutyronitrile (AIBN) were supplied from Sinopharm Chemical Reagent Co. Ltd. 2.2 Preparation of OVMT 60 g VMT was dispersed in 300 ml deionized water, to which 120 mmol BTP was slowly added. Then the mixture was stirred vigorously at 80  ºC for 10 h. The resulting product was washed with deionized water for three times. After dried at 80  ºC under vacuum and gathered with 300 mesh sieve, the OVMT were obtained. 2.3 Synthesis of PBTP nanocomposites 1 wt.%, 3 wt.% and 5 wt.% OVMT were respectively dispersed in methyl methacrylate with 0.2 wt.% of AIBN. After stirred at 25  °C for 0.5 h, the suspension was polymerized in a water bath at 80  °C for 2 h with the help of ultraphonic. Then, the suspension was followed with post polymerization at 35  °C for 20 h and at 105  °C for at least 2 h orderly to get PBTP nanocomposites. The resulting PBTP nanocomposites were designated as PBTP-S1, PBTP-S2 and PBTP-S3, respectively. For comparison, the PBTP nanocomposites prepared without ultraphonic were designated as PBTP-1, PBTP-2 and PBTP-3, respectively. 2.4. Characterizations Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) were measured with the Perkin-Elmer-Spectrum GX-Spectrophotometer. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) patterns were recorded on a Rigaku D/Max 1200 X-ray Diffractometer (40 kV, 40 mA, Cu KÃŽ ±,) with a scan speed of 2 º /min. The microstructures were investigated by transmission electron microscope (TEM, Philips Tecnai 10, Nederland). Mechanical properties were conducted following ASTM D638M-91a with a Universal Testing Machine (LLOYD LR100K). 3. Results and discussion In the FTIR spectrum of VMT (Figure 1a), the broad band near 3620 cm-1 was due to -OH stretching mode of interlayer water, while the absorption peak in the region of 1662 cm-1 was attributed to -OH bending mode of adsorbed water. The bands at 1030 and 460 cm-1 were attributed to stretching vibration and bending vibration of Si-O, respectively. In the FTIR spectrsum of OVMT (Figure 1b), compared with that of VMT (Figure 1a), two new peaks at 2925 and 2854 cm-1 appeared, which were ascribed to the asymmetric and symmetric vibration of methylene groups (CH2)n in the aliphatic chain [9]. Therefore, the existence of BTP in OVMT was proved, and the OVMT was successfully prepared. Figure 1. FTIR spectra of (a) VMT and (b) OVMT. In Figure 2a and 2b, the (001) planes of VMT and OVMT were observed at 2ÃŽ ¸ = 7.44 º and 2ÃŽ ¸ = 5.87 º, corresponding to the d-spacings of 1.19 nm and 1.50 nm, respectively, which indicated that the galleries of the silicate layers in VMT had been expanded for about 0.31 nm by the intercalation of BTP. Thus, successful preparation of OVMT was proved again [10]. XRD patterns of PBTPs were shown in Figure 2c-h. It was found that the diffraction peak intensities of PBTPs prepared with ultraphonic in situ polymerization were less than those of PBTPs prepared without ultraphonic in situ polymerization, indicating lower degree of crystallinity. To our surprise, the PBTP-S1 even did not exhibit any diffraction peak, indicating the extensive layer separation associated with the altitudinal delamination of OVMT silicate layers in the PMMA matrix, which resulted in the total exfoliation of the clays [3,5]. So, these results showed the PBTPs prepared with ultraphonic in situ polymerizatio n had better dispersion of OVMT in PMMA than those prepared without ultraphonic in situ polymerization. In addition, the 2ÃŽ ¸ value increased in the PBTPs matrix with the increase of OVMT content, indicating the increase of OVMT content would lead to a bad compatibility of OVMT with the PMMA matrix. Figure 2. X-Ray diffraction patterns of (a) VMT, (b) OVMT, (c) PBTP-S1, (d) PBTP-1, (e) PBTP-S2, (f) PBTP-2, (g) PBTP-S3 and (h) PBTP-3. To further understand the layer structures of OVMT in the nanocomposites, TEM was performed. In Figure 3, the PBTPs prepared with ultraphonic in situ polymerization were homogeneously and randomly dispersed in the PMMA matrix, and it was observed from time to time that some small intercalated stacks with a thickness of a few tenths of nanometers were remained, which was ascribed to the largely expanded d-spacing of OVMT caused by the chains of the exchanged ions and the presences of the methacrylic groups, improving the compatibility between OVMT and PMMA matrix [1,2]. However, the PBTPs prepared without ultraphonic in situ polymerization appeared to be more aggregated in the PMMA matrix. These results also demonstrated PBTPs prepared with ultraphonic in situ polymerization had better dispersion of OVMT in PMMA than those prepared without ultraphonic in situ polymerization. Figure 3. TEM images of (a) PBTP-S1, (b) PBTP-S2, (c) PBTP-S3, (d) PBTP-1, (e) PBTP-2 and (f) PBTP-3. Table 1. Mechanical properties of PMMA and PBTPs. Then, the mechanical properties of samples were tested (Table 1). Compared with those of the pure PMMA, the modulus and the elongation of the PBTPs were increased with the increasing of the clays, whatever they were prepared with or without ultraphonic in situ polymerization. The tensile strengths of PBTPs prepared with ultraphonic in situ polymerization showed obvious improvement, and when the additions of OVMT were 1 wt% and 3 wt%, they increased about 10.7 % and 16.1 %, respectively. The enhancements were mainly attributed to the homogeneous dispersion and strong interfacial interactions of OVMT in the polymer matrix, and high exfoliation of the silicate layers in the PMMA matrix, which provided high resistance against the plastic deformation. However, the tensile strengths were decreased with the increasing of the clays when PBTPs were prepared without ultraphonic in situ polymerization, which indicated clays gathered and had poor dispersion in polymer matrix. 4. Conclusion In summary, the OVMT was prepared and characterized by the FTIR spectra and XRD patterns, and the results showed that the BTP were intercalated into VMT, and the OVMT was successfully prepared. The XRD patterns and TEM images indicated that the PBTPs prepared with ultraphonic in situ polymerization had an extensive layer separation associated with the altitudinal delamination of OVMT silicate layers in the PMMA matrix, resulting in the high level of exfoliation of the clays. So, the PBTPs prepared with ultraphonic in situ polymerization had better dispersion of OVMT in PMMA than those prepared without ultraphonic in situ polymerization, leading to better mechanical properties. Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51172099, 51203134, 21476052 and 21271087), the Foundation of Enterprise-University- Research Institute Cooperation from Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China (2013B090600148), and The Science and Technology Innovation Platform Project of Foshan City (2014AG100171). References [1] Liqiang, C. Naresh, H. T. and Seong, I. W., â€Å"Effects of Modified Clay on the Morphology and Properties of PMMA/Clay Nanocomposites Synthesized byin SituPolymerization†, Macromolecules, 41/12 (2008), 4268-4274. [2] Yoon, K. K. Yeong, S. C. Ki, H. W. and In, J. C., â€Å"Synthesis of Exfoliated PS/Na−MMT Nanocomposites via Emulsion Polymerization†, Chem. Mater, 14/12 (2002), 4990-4995. [3] Hazarika, A. Devi, R. R. and Maji, T. K., â€Å"Removal of methylene blue from aqueous solutions by poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid-co-itaconic acid) hydrogels†, Polym. Bull, 68/7 (2012), 1889-1903. [4] Xaoan, F. and Syed, Q., â€Å"Synthesis of polystyrene–clay nanocomposites†, Mater. Letters, 42/1 (2000), 12-15. [5] Wang, W. S. Liang, C. K. Chen, Y. C. Su, Y. L and Chen, Y. Y. W., â€Å"Transparent and flame retardant PMMA/clay nanocomposites prepared with dual modified organoclay†, Polym. Adv. Technol, 23/3 (2012), 625-631. [6] Tong, Z. H. and Deng, Y. L., â€Å"Synthesis of Water-Based Polystyrene-Nanoclay Composite Suspension via Miniemulsion PolymerizationInd†, Eng. Chem. Res, 45/8 (2006), 2641-2645. [7] Zhao, Q. and Edward, T. S., â€Å"In Situ Polymerization of Poly(methyl methacrylate)/Clay Nano -composites in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide†, Macromolecules, 38/19 (2005), 7967-7971. [8] Yoshito, A. Jeong, J. M. and Takeshi, E., â€Å"Design of Nanocomposites by Vapor-Phase Assisted Surface Polymerization†, Macromolecules, 42/3 (2009), 768-772. [9] Cai, X. Tan, S. Z. Lin, M. S. and Liu, Y. L., â€Å"ynergistic antibacterial brilliant blue/reduced graphene oxide/quaternary phosphonium salt composite with excellent water-solubility and specific-targeting capability†, Langmuir, 27/12 (2011), 7828-7835. [10] Zeng, X. S. Cai, D. M. Lin, Z. D. Tan, S. Z. and Xu, Y. B., â€Å"Morphology, Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Phosphonium Vermiculite Filled Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Composites†, J. Appl. Polym. Sci, 126/2 (2012), 601-607. 1/9