Lululemon Case Study free essay sample

Founded in 1998, lululemon has become an extremely successful company. Over the last 12 years of operation, its mission is to improve health, make a difference in all the communities it is located in, and provide guests with quality products to help them live healthy lives. Currently, lululemon still strives to make a difference in each community through the Community Legacies Program. Plans for expansion are also in effect, and its economic responsibilities are continually being met by the income generated each year. Social Responsibility is the backbone of lululemon. It presents many positive aspects for the company such as maintaining a positive image within society, however it may result in potential negative outcomes like possible profit loss. Strategically, lululemon uses non-traditional and unique marketing and business schemes. For example, lululemon relies on social activities for product promotion rather than typical ad campaigns such as print and/or television media. The next step for lululemon is to encourage people to bring families to the in-store yoga classes to better find a balance between work, family, and healthy living, together. We will write a custom essay sample on Lululemon Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Issue/Problem Statement lululemon athleticas main goal is to provide their guests with products that will help them live long and healthy lives. They ensure quality in their products, as well as recognize customer needs and adapt to meet those needs. Their goal is to demonstrate integrity and ethics in their company as well as create a positive relationship between their stores and the communities they are located in. lululemon constantly challenges itself to maintain these social bonds, ethical and social responsibility practices, while achieving their economic and financial quotas. Background Information  lululemon is a Vancouver based company with over 100 locations worldwide and is valued over $200 million dollars. The company was founded in 1998 by Chip Wilson, who started the company with the idea that his products would help improve the level of health within a community. Responding to the increased number of women participating in Yoga, lululemon has created products with new innovative fabrics and technology to fit, and feel better which helps women improve their fitness goals. They have provided a culture that provides awareness of the health benefits of doing yoga in daily life. lululemon’s mission statement is to help people live long, healthy, and fun filled lives. They focus on ensuring that their products are of the highest quality and that their store experiences are one of a kind. lululemon invests money in training to educate their staff on effective and creative ways to create a unique experience in each individual store. With deep rooted ties in each community, lululemon created the charitable giving program, where guests of each location decide which local charities they would like to support. Klululemon then chooses up to eight of these charities to be part of the program. Current Information lululemon has established their popular Community Legacies program which is a â€Å"5-year vision that is based on the belief that every person we hire, garment we create, store we open, customer we educate and yoga class we attend contributes to building a legacy in our communities. In 2009, lululemon’s net income generated about 58. 3 million dollars. Their earnings have topped the Streets consensus for seven consecutive quarters. It is also bringing U.S stores to the same level as Canadian stores. The 44 stores in Canada (35% of the total) generated 60% of revenues last year. For the year of 2010, lululemon has plans on opening 12 to 15 new stores this year; it aims to open 25 showrooms by June of the following year and 20 by August. â€Å"CFO John Currie projects a possible 300 stores in North America, with Asian expansion likely into 2012. † Data Analysis lululem on athletica has become a strong and successful company which can be measured economically, as well as by social responsibility. By being socially responsible and utilizing their strong code of ethics, lululemon has created a prestigious reputation for itself by effectively serving the interests of the customer by creating new, quality goods that helps benefit the customers’. lululemon has also fulfilled customer interests by letting them choose which charities in the community they want to support. lululemon also acts in a socially responsible manner by having in store yoga classes for customers to fulfill their mission of helping people live healthier, longer lives. Although lululemon athletica is a very strong company, it has some weaknessness. By acting in a socially responsible manor, this may cause a halt in the company’s economic increase. Profit loss may be a main consequence of investing so much money for training, hiring yoga instructors, and supporting charities. In a short-term perspective, resources such as intellectual capital, money, and time are used on educating the public about the yogi lifestyle. In the long-term, the company is able to effectively use social responsibility as a competitive advantage, as resource utilization and â€Å"waste† is a necessity to running a successful business. This is redeemed by the company’s high prices on their product, which then is redeemed by the positive and unique in-store experiences. This allows lululemon to have a strong economic and prestigious reputation, making it a successful company with a high competitive advantage compared to its opponents. Current Business Strategy and Results lululemon executes an innovative non-traditional business strategy which can be seen in the marketing strategies used. Since lululemon does not use traditional advertising techniques, it relies on running clubs and other social activities for their products to gain attention. The stores also provide free products to yoga teachers, fitness instructors and others to spread the word to people who have the same personal interests. lululemon is also known to spend money on in-store yoga classes where they can stick to their mission statement and inspire and build trust and loyalty among guests by concentrating on providing quality products, and providing a positive and memorable experience. Through this innovative marketing strategy lululemon is able to maintain a competitive advantage over other brands that create a similar product for half the price. Just like their marketing style, lululemon’s business strategy is non-traditional. Before opening a store the company opens a â€Å"showroom† where educators interact with guests through yoga and fitness classes to understand what customers in the area need the most, therefore management differs from store to store, however the results are similar; the guests have a place to be challenged, relax and achieve personal goals. Each store also creates a positive work environment for the educators creating an extremely high quality of work  life because the company cares about all of the educators’ health. An educator at a lululemon location in Toronto was shocked by how much the company cared. â€Å"Ive never before worked for a company that cares so much about my life. They genuinely want you to be proactive in your own life. At head office, employees are encouraged to display professional and personal goals on posters over their desks† Lululemon also uses a proactive strategy as it meets all of the economic, legal, ethical and discretionary responsibilities. These responsibilities are met since the company is valued at over $220 million; they operate legally; want to help people live healthier lives; and is committed to supporting charities. As a result of the strategies used, lululemon has remained to be a successful business with loyal customers because of the unique experience in every store and by giving customers what they want. Recommendations and Implementation Plan The company’s next step is to focus on providing their customers with a better lifestyle where they can find a balance between work, family and health, as it is part of their core values. This could be accomplished by expanding their in-store yoga classes from just the guests, to their entire families. This would allow lululemon to bring in more customers as more people will be involved with the in-store experience. This also would not dilute the main purpose of the business as their focus is to create healthier communities by improving balance between work, family, and life. Conclusion Through being socially responsible can lead to economic downfall, lululemon has become an extremely successful company. This is shown in how it serves the interests of the customers by providing them with quality products and how it meets its mission to help people live healthier lives by providing in store yoga classes. People also have a say in which charities they want lululemon to support, which encourages people to use their products since they will know that money will go to charities. It is evident that lululemon meets its economic and discretionary responsibilities as the company is valued at over $220 million and are still opening stores, and how they support charities in every community the company is located in. Its ethics and legal responsibilities are also met as lululemon does not partake in any unethical practices and obeys the laws set in place. The company also advocates that they will keep their promises. With lululemon entering the global market, it will continue to achieve major success by being socially responsible in any location it operates in.

33 Writing Terms You Should Know

33 Writing Terms You Should Know 33 Writing Terms You Should Know 33 Writing Terms You Should Know By Simon Kewin As with all activities, writing fiction involves getting to grips with professional jargon. The following are some of the more common terms you may come across as you learn your craft and market your writing. POV (Point of View): the eyes through which the events of a story are seen. MC: The main character in a story. WIP (Work in progress): the thing you are currently working on. Simsub (Simultaneous submission): submitting the same piece of work to more than one magazine/publisher at the same time. Multisub (Multiple submission): sending more than one work to the same magazine/publisher at the same time. MG (Middle Grade): generally speaking, readers between 8 and 12 years old. YA (Young Adult): generally speaking, readers between 12 and 18 years old. MS/MSS: MS means manuscript. MSS is the plural, manuscripts. GL: Guidelines, describing what a publisher is interested in seeing. DL: Deadline: the cut off-date for a submission. Query Letter: A concise (one-page) pitch of an idea to an agent/publisher, to see if they are interested in reading a manuscript. Bio: Biographical details as supplied to an agent or publisher, including, for example, any previous writing credits. Slush/Slushpile: A pile, often large, of unsolicited manuscripts sent to a publisher or editor. Beta Reader: A secondary reader (after the writer) who checks a work with a view to spotting mistakes or suggesting improvements. Copy Editor: Someone who edits a manuscript for grammatical mistakes as well as spotting plot inconsistencies etc. Proof Reader: A person who checks that the proof of a work (the version ready for printing) matches the original manuscript. NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month actually fairly international these days. Participants attempt to write a complete novel in one month (November). The following are the definitions of the lengths of short stories, novels etc. employed by the Science Fiction Writers of America. Others may use different definitions. Short Story: A work under 7,500 words Novelette: A work of between 7,500 and 17,500 words Novella: A work of between 17,500 and 40,000 words Novel: A work of 40,000 words or more Flash Fiction: Very short fiction. Definitions vary, but less than 1,000 words and can be as short as 100 words or even less. Twitter Fiction : Fiction short enough to fit into a Tweet, i.e. up to 140 characters long. Finally, the following are some of the abbreviations you may come across to describe the various genres of fiction: SF: Science Fiction (or Speculative Fiction). HSF: Hard Science Fiction SSF: Soft Science Fiction F: Fantasy EF: Epic/High Fantasy DF: Dark Fantasy UF: Urban Fantasy MR: Magical Realism H: Horror GH: Gothic Horror Reference links: Science Fiction Writers of America NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Beautiful and Ugly WordsConfusing "Passed" with "Past"How to Style Legislative Terms

An Ordinary Hero

The Bruce Lee Story directed by Rob Cohen (1993) it has fghting, drama and all sorts of other intriguing things throughout the movie. The movie takes place from when he was born in 1940 to when he died in 1973. It is a true story about a legend that changed the martial arts world. It is one Chinese immigrants dream to make it big in the U. S. while making new friends and creating a family while not knowing he is going to become a legend. In the Movie Dragon you can see the understanding of being an immigrant, overcoming the impossible, and of course love is three main reasons Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a must watch movie. A hero is what we all look up to. Someone who doesnt necessary need super powers but can make other people believe and support them. As long as I can remember my hero has been Bruce Lee. When I was little all I ever thought of were is movies where he was Jumping, kicking, punching and the ever famous waaaahhhhhhh! whenever he would hit someone. When I grew older I started to realize what he stood for and what kind of person he was. He changed martial arts forever with his teaching. He thought to move like water. Bruce once said Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water my friend. (chasingthefrog) Bruce Lee coming to America at his time was hard and difficult but nothing stopped him on his way to the top. He did have hard times but he pushed through and won everyones hearts over even the ones that once ridiculed him. His mother in law who didnt want anything to do with him soon came to love him. Bruce suffered a serious back injury in a duel. Doctors told him he would never walk again. While in the hospital, he wrote a book called Tao of Jeet Kune Do, which completely changed the world of martial arts. He could not write the book so his wife rote it down while he talked But with his will to never stop trying and achieve the impossible he worked his way right out of his chair and back to his kung fu. In the movie Bruce Lee is played by an actor named Jason Scott Lee. Jason played in movies such as Jungle book and Balls of Fury. He became Bruce and showed his true attributes and style. He made me feel like he was Bruce and felt like he could do anything Bruce has done. The acting of all characters throughout the movie was phenomenal and replayed Bruces life in the best way and represented/respected his ife, values and culture well. Its full of quality actors that wont disappoint you. Being an immigrant is always tough as well as getting in a serious injury. Having to be with a completely different culture is never easy. Imagine moving to another country and having to fit in with a totally different society. I am pretty sure everyone would agree how hard that would be. And getting injured is also a very difficult thing to go through which everyone knows and understands. Being told that you will never be able to do something ever again is a lot to take in. Then to overcome all that and achieve the impossible is almost starting a whole new life. Everyone is attracted to people doing an extraordinary thing which pulls them even more into the movie. People love, love. They are attracted to love and they love watching others love. Watching love makes them want to go find love or love their special someone even harder. So if you are a boy wanting to see a movie with a lot of fghting but you have to take your girlfriend to a movie she will like. Then take her to this one because the love in this movie is amazing. Let me give a brief summary of the love throughout this movie. Bruce met his wife Linda while instructing one of his kung fu classes. They started dating while others watched and Judged how she was white and he was and Asian. They kept it a secret from her mother for a while but once they told her she said she wouldnt allow it. But that didnt stop them as they listened only to each other. Lindas mother soon came around and knows how great of a guy Bruce is. They went on to get married and have two children named Brandon (boy) and Shannon (girl). Moving from country to country and back again took a toll on the family but the love was still always there. This drama throughout the movie will keep the girl grabbed throughout the whole movie and you might even get a kiss after the movie to make a little of your own love. Now you can see in the Movie Dragon you can see the understanding of being an immigrant, overcoming the impossible, and of course love, is three main reasons Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a must watch movie. The movie Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story by Rob Cohen shows everything you could ask for in a movie. I strongly encourage everyone to watch this movie and I guarantee you wont be disappointed. It has old history throughout the movie that everyone can relate too. Tie that into to jumping, kicking, loving and culture then it all turns up to be a pretty sweet movie that everyone can enjoy. Bruce had struggles throughout his life but always overcame them. He always grabs peoples attention and makes people want to be like him or Just do whatever he does.

Business Engineering With ERP Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Business Engineering With ERP Systems - Essay Example Integration of processes means that any change in a particular field will reflect on all the related fields of the organization. In this sense each centre or branch will be connected with the other, as the same information will be available throughout. For example: a change in the inventory levels will be detected by the purchase department without delay, enabling them increase the inflow of raw materials accordingly, further leading the manufacturing department to increase production, so on and so forth. As and when an event or functions occur its consequent actions will be automatically triggered, resulting in efficient and effective handling of each task. Moreover, R/3 provides a system that provides for the storage of Static ('Master') and dynamic ('transaction') data about the organization structures, products, customers and the process to be followed. The Master Data is centrally stored and therefore shared across application modules) so as to eliminate data redundancy and to enforce data consistency and integrity. Thus, when creating transactions like a sales order, the R/3 system copies information from master data.

Ethical Leadership Description Annotated Bibliography

Ethical Leadership Description - Annotated Bibliography Example Trevià ±o, et al (2010) considers the creation of an ethical culture in the organization is considered by as salient attribute of ethical leadership. In this regard, ethical leadership will be differentiated from hypocritical leadership and ethically neutral leadership. Bibb (2010) provided an interesting exposition of a few characteristics of ethical leaders which are antithetical to the concept of strong leadership. This will conclude the section on characteristics of ethical leaders A. Van Wart’s (2008) model of ethical and exemplary leadership asserts that â€Å"the person of good character will recognize ethical issues, reflect on ethical issues, integrate the collective good into appropriate decisions; the person with high character will also make a substantial contribution or exhibit sacrifices courage for the common moral good† (p.101). B. Van Wart (2008) described another important model of ethical leadership called the ethics-based approach causal chain which posits that â€Å"leadership styles grounded on social consciousness, self-discipline and courage [are directed towards] performance goals for the greatest common good, empowerment of followers and quality of decision; [and the realization of these goals are influenced by] †¦ the consciousness of ethical responsibilities, self-discipline and the courage of conviction† (p. 102). C. Caldwell, et al. (2002) created the model of the four umpires, which constitutes a framework for understanding a leader’s perspective better. In this model, umpires are suggested to be using Schein and Senge’s five beliefs model in contextualizing their identity. Such perspective is believed to wield a substantial influence on the ethical responsibility of leaders in each quadrant of the model.

Violence in Wuthering Heights Essay Example for Free

Violence in Wuthering Heights Essay Violence 1: Mr. Lockwood has a bad introduction to Wuthering Heights when the dogs attack him. Heathcliff warns him that they are not pets, but when Heathcliff leaves the room, Mr. Lockwood makes faces at them. When the dogs attack, Heathcliff does not hurry to help him. It is the maid who finally comes to his aid. Mr. Lockwood is not used to such treatment, and he tells Heathcliff that if hed been bitten, he would have responded by hitting the dog. After just a few moments in the house, Mr. Lockwood is moved to contemplate violence. Chapter 2 Violence 2: The snow is deep on the moors, but Heathcliff will not give Mr. Lockwood a guide home, nor does he want to let him stay at the Heights. Exasperated, Mr. Lockwood grabs Josephs lantern and decides to try and get home himself. Joseph does not care that Mr. Lockwood said he would return the lantern, and he sends his dogs to attack him. The dogs do not hurt him, but the trouble gives Mr. Lockwood a nosebleed, and the dogs do not let him alone. Heathcliff laughed at this, and only Zillah, the housemaid, came to his aid. Chapter 3 Violence 3: In Mr. Lockwoods dream, he and Joseph must listen to a preacher moralize about hundreds of sins. When Mr. Lockwood stands up to expose the preacher as a sinner himself, the preacher has the congregation attack him. Everyone, including Joseph, start to attack him with pilgrim sticks, which are meant to aid pilgrims on their travels to holy places. Violence 4: When the ghost will not let go of Mr. Lockwood, he hurts it, even though it is a child. He drags her arm on the broken glass, and the blood flows onto the bed. Later Mr. Lockwood nearly witnesses a violent attack against another Catherine. When Mrs. Heathcliff mouths off to her father-in-law, Mr. Lockwood sees her shrink back as though she expects him to hit her. It seems obvious that Heathcliff has hit her before, and he is only holding back because of Mr. Lockwoods presence. Chapter 4 Violence 5: Nelly tells Mr. Lockwood a story from Heathcliffs childhood. Mr. Earnshaw had favored him, and he was able to get whatever he wanted. When Mr. Earnshaw gave each boy a horse, Heathcliff insisted on having the prettier one. When this one got hurt, Heathcliff tried to take Hindleys horse. Heathcliff threatened to tell father about all the times Hindley beat him, and in retaliation, Hindley hit him. Heathcliff seems to want Hindley to hit him, so he will have something to hold against him. Hindley complies, hitting Heathcliff with an iron weight. He tells him to take his horse, and he hopes it kicks him.

Circumcision To Be Or Not To Be :: essays research papers

To be or not To Be? â€Å"Push! Push, I can see it crowning. Don’t stop keep pushing.† The doctor says in a deep but calming voice. â€Å"I can see it, I can see it! Here it comes!† says John with tears of excitement in his eyes, as he looks at his beautiful wife Nechelle, who is about to give birth to their first child, will it be a boy or a girl he wonders. â€Å"I see its head, one more push here it comes Oh my god it’s here, it’s a boy Yes it’s a boy! We will name him John Jr.† John shows all the signs of a man who is completely excited about having a newborn son, but the truth is that in the back of his mind there is question, a dark scary question, that John still has no answer to. â€Å" Should his son be circumcised?† To be or not to be that is really and truly the question. Before John can make a wise, educated decision he must first understand what circumcision is, why it is done, how it is done, how it affects the natural functions of the penis, and what the alternatives are. â€Å"Circumcision is a surgical procedure in which the skin covering the end of the penis (called the foreskin) is removed exposing the glans (head or tip of the penis)†(Love) The procedure is usually done on infants in the first few days of their life. A doctor does the procedure. Circumcision is an ancient and widespread practice. Some cultures as wide spread as the aborigines of Australia, to the Kazakh of Russia circumcises their male children. â€Å"An Egyptian inscription from around 4000 BC refers to the procedure. Male mummies have been found to be circumcised.† (Encyclopedia of Human Sexuality 118) According to the Old Testament god commanded Abraham to circumcise all males of his household. The religious, spiritual and emotional reasons for circumcision differ greatly from a pact with god, to showing your faithfulness to a tribe by having your son publicly undergo the procedure. But are there any medical justifications for circumcision? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in 1971 †There are no valid medical indications for circumcision in the neonatal period.† Recently however the AAP reconsidered its position. In 1989 it concluded that circumcised male infants have â€Å" potential medical benefits and advantages, after all uncircumcised males have eleven times more urinary tract infections.

The King’s Speech

The King's Speech is a 2010 British historical drama film directed by Tom Hooper and written by David Seidler. Colin Firth plays King George VI, who, to overcome his stammer, sees Lionel Logue, an unorthodox Australian speech therapist played by Geoffrey Rush. The two men become friends as they work together, and after his brother Edward VIII abdicates, the new king relies on Logue to help him make a radio broadcast at the beginning of World War II. David Seidler began reading about George VI after overcoming his own stammer during his youth and, using informed imagination, wrote about the men's relationship. Nine weeks before filming, Logue's notebooks were discovered and quotations from them were incorporated into the script. Principal photography took place in London and other locations in Britain, in December 2009 and early January 2010. The film was released in the United States on 24 December 2010 and in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2011. The King's Speech was the highest earning film for three weekends in a row at the British box office. It has been widely praised by film critics for its visual style, art direction and acting. Other commentators discussed the film's misrepresentation of the historical events it portrays, in particular the reversal of Winston Churchill's opposition to abdication. The film received many awards and nominations, mostly for Colin Firth. The film was nominated for seven Golden Globes, winning Best Actor – Drama for Firth. Furthermore, the film also nominated for fourteen BAFTAs, the most of the other films, winning seven, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Firth, and both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress for both Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, respectively. The film was also nominated for 12 Academy Awards, the most of the other films, and ended up winning four, all in the major categories including Best Picture, Best Director for Tom Hooper, Best Actor for Firth and Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler Plot. The film opens with Prince Albert, Duke of York, known to his wife and family as â€Å"Bertie† (played by Colin Firth), the second son of King George V, speaking at the close of the 1925British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium, with his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) by his side. His stammering speech visibly unsettles the thousands of listeners in the audience. The prince tries several unsuccessful treatments and gives up, until the Duchess persuades him to see Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian speech therapist in London. In their first session, Logue requests that they address each other by their Christian names, a breach of royal etiquette. At first, the Duke is reluctant to receive treatment, so Logue agrees to make a bet with him that, if the Duke keeps coming to his sessions and they prove effective, he will give him a shilling. He convinces Bertie to read Hamlet's â€Å"To be, or not to be† soliloquy, while listening to the overture from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro on headphones, so that he cannot hear himself talk. Logue records Bertie's reading on a gramophone record, but convinced that he has stammered throughout, Bertie leaves in a huff. Logue offers him the recording as a keepsake. After King George V (Michael Gambon) makes his 1934 Christmas address, he explains to his son the importance of broadcasting for the modern monarchy in a perilous international situation. Later, after a frustrating discussion with his father, Bertie plays Logue's recording and hears himself making an unbroken recitation of Shakespeare, which amazes both him and the Duchess. He returns to Logue, and they work together on muscle relaxation and breath control, while simultaneously probing the psychological roots of his stammer. The Prince reveals some of the pressures of his childhood: his strict father; the repression of his natural left-handedness; a painful treatment with metal splints for his knock-knees; a nanny who favoured his elder brother – David, the Prince of Wales, deliberately pinching Bertie at the daily presentations to their parents so he would cry and his parents would not want to see him; and the early death in 1919 of his little brotherPrince John. As the treatment progresses, the two become friends and confidants. [pic] [pic] Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter as the Duke and Duchess of York On 20 January 1936 George V dies, and David, the Prince of Wales (Guy Pearce) accedes to the throne as King Edward VIII, but he wants to marry Wallis Simpson (Eve Best), an American divorcee socialite, which would provoke a constitutional crisis. At a party in Balmoral Castle, Bertie points out that Edward cannot marry a divorced woman and retain the throne; Edward accuses his brother of a m edieval-style plot to usurp his throne, citing Albert's speech lessons as an attempt to ready himself. Bertie is tongue-tied at the accusation, and Edward resurrects his childhood taunt of â€Å"B-B-B-Bertie†. At his next session, the Prince has not forgotten the incident. In an attempt to console him, Logue insists that Bertie could be king and says the shilling of their wager should bear the Duke's head as monarch. Bertie accuses Logue of treason and, in a temper, he mocks Logue's failed acting career and humble origins, causing a rift in their friendship. When King Edward abdicates to marry, Bertie becomes King George VI. Feeling overwhelmed by his accession, the new King realises that he needs Logue's help and he and the Queen visit the Logues' residence to apologise. When the King insists that Logue be seated in the king's box during his coronation in Westminster Abbey, Dr Cosmo Gordon Lang, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Derek Jacobi), questions Logue's qualifications. This prompts another confrontation between the King and Logue, who explains he had begun by treating shell-shocked soldiers in the last war. When the King still isn't convinced about his own strengths, Logue sits in St. Edward's Chair and dismisses the Stone of Scone as a trifle, the King remonstrates with Logue for his disrespect. The King then realises that he is as capable as those before him. Upon the September 1939 declaration of war with Germany, George VI summons Logue to Buckingham Palace to prepare for his radio speech to the country. As the King and Logue move through the palace to a tiny studio, Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall) reveals to the King that he, too, had once had a speech impediment but had found a way to use it to his advantage. The King delivers his speech as if to Logue, who coaches him through every moment. As Logue watches, the King steps onto the balcony of the palace with his family, where thousands of people assembled for the speech applaud him. A final title card explains that, during the many speeches King George VI gave during World War II, Logue was always present. It is also explained that Logue and the King remained friends, and that, â€Å"King George VI made Lionel Logue a Commander of the Royal Victorian Orderin 1944. This high honour from a grateful King made Lionel part of the only order of chivalry that specifically rewards acts of personal service to the Monarch. â€Å" The King’s Speech The King's Speech is a 2010 British historical drama film directed by Tom Hooper and written by David Seidler. Colin Firth plays King George VI, who, to overcome his stammer, sees Lionel Logue, an unorthodox Australian speech therapist played by Geoffrey Rush. The two men become friends as they work together, and after his brother Edward VIII abdicates, the new king relies on Logue to help him make a radio broadcast at the beginning of World War II. David Seidler began reading about George VI after overcoming his own stammer during his youth and, using informed imagination, wrote about the men's relationship. Nine weeks before filming, Logue's notebooks were discovered and quotations from them were incorporated into the script. Principal photography took place in London and other locations in Britain, in December 2009 and early January 2010. The film was released in the United States on 24 December 2010 and in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2011. The King's Speech was the highest earning film for three weekends in a row at the British box office. It has been widely praised by film critics for its visual style, art direction and acting. Other commentators discussed the film's misrepresentation of the historical events it portrays, in particular the reversal of Winston Churchill's opposition to abdication. The film received many awards and nominations, mostly for Colin Firth. The film was nominated for seven Golden Globes, winning Best Actor – Drama for Firth. Furthermore, the film also nominated for fourteen BAFTAs, the most of the other films, winning seven, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Firth, and both Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress for both Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, respectively. The film was also nominated for 12 Academy Awards, the most of the other films, and ended up winning four, all in the major categories including Best Picture, Best Director for Tom Hooper, Best Actor for Firth and Best Original Screenplay for David Seidler Plot. The film opens with Prince Albert, Duke of York, known to his wife and family as â€Å"Bertie† (played by Colin Firth), the second son of King George V, speaking at the close of the 1925British Empire Exhibition at Wembley Stadium, with his wife Elizabeth (Helena Bonham Carter) by his side. His stammering speech visibly unsettles the thousands of listeners in the audience. The prince tries several unsuccessful treatments and gives up, until the Duchess persuades him to see Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush), an Australian speech therapist in London. In their first session, Logue requests that they address each other by their Christian names, a breach of royal etiquette. At first, the Duke is reluctant to receive treatment, so Logue agrees to make a bet with him that, if the Duke keeps coming to his sessions and they prove effective, he will give him a shilling. He convinces Bertie to read Hamlet's â€Å"To be, or not to be† soliloquy, while listening to the overture from Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro on headphones, so that he cannot hear himself talk. Logue records Bertie's reading on a gramophone record, but convinced that he has stammered throughout, Bertie leaves in a huff. Logue offers him the recording as a keepsake. After King George V (Michael Gambon) makes his 1934 Christmas address, he explains to his son the importance of broadcasting for the modern monarchy in a perilous international situation. Later, after a frustrating discussion with his father, Bertie plays Logue's recording and hears himself making an unbroken recitation of Shakespeare, which amazes both him and the Duchess. He returns to Logue, and they work together on muscle relaxation and breath control, while simultaneously probing the psychological roots of his stammer. The Prince reveals some of the pressures of his childhood: his strict father; the repression of his natural left-handedness; a painful treatment with metal splints for his knock-knees; a nanny who favoured his elder brother – David, the Prince of Wales, deliberately pinching Bertie at the daily presentations to their parents so he would cry and his parents would not want to see him; and the early death in 1919 of his little brotherPrince John. As the treatment progresses, the two become friends and confidants. [pic] [pic] Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter as the Duke and Duchess of York On 20 January 1936 George V dies, and David, the Prince of Wales (Guy Pearce) accedes to the throne as King Edward VIII, but he wants to marry Wallis Simpson (Eve Best), an American divorcee socialite, which would provoke a constitutional crisis. At a party in Balmoral Castle, Bertie points out that Edward cannot marry a divorced woman and retain the throne; Edward accuses his brother of a m edieval-style plot to usurp his throne, citing Albert's speech lessons as an attempt to ready himself. Bertie is tongue-tied at the accusation, and Edward resurrects his childhood taunt of â€Å"B-B-B-Bertie†. At his next session, the Prince has not forgotten the incident. In an attempt to console him, Logue insists that Bertie could be king and says the shilling of their wager should bear the Duke's head as monarch. Bertie accuses Logue of treason and, in a temper, he mocks Logue's failed acting career and humble origins, causing a rift in their friendship. When King Edward abdicates to marry, Bertie becomes King George VI. Feeling overwhelmed by his accession, the new King realises that he needs Logue's help and he and the Queen visit the Logues' residence to apologise. When the King insists that Logue be seated in the king's box during his coronation in Westminster Abbey, Dr Cosmo Gordon Lang, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Derek Jacobi), questions Logue's qualifications. This prompts another confrontation between the King and Logue, who explains he had begun by treating shell-shocked soldiers in the last war. When the King still isn't convinced about his own strengths, Logue sits in St. Edward's Chair and dismisses the Stone of Scone as a trifle, the King remonstrates with Logue for his disrespect. The King then realises that he is as capable as those before him. Upon the September 1939 declaration of war with Germany, George VI summons Logue to Buckingham Palace to prepare for his radio speech to the country. As the King and Logue move through the palace to a tiny studio, Winston Churchill (Timothy Spall) reveals to the King that he, too, had once had a speech impediment but had found a way to use it to his advantage. The King delivers his speech as if to Logue, who coaches him through every moment. As Logue watches, the King steps onto the balcony of the palace with his family, where thousands of people assembled for the speech applaud him. A final title card explains that, during the many speeches King George VI gave during World War II, Logue was always present. It is also explained that Logue and the King remained friends, and that, â€Å"King George VI made Lionel Logue a Commander of the Royal Victorian Orderin 1944. This high honour from a grateful King made Lionel part of the only order of chivalry that specifically rewards acts of personal service to the Monarch. â€Å"

Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics

There has been a long-standing debate whether the fate or characteristics of a particular organism or human being is dependent on the environment or its genetic makeup although scientific data collected in recent years point to the interaction between these two. According to experts in the field, the physical, chemical and behavioral properties of a person can be attributed to the interaction between the blueprint which is genetics and the test site which is the environment. Genetic makeup can be considered a blueprint wherein properties regarding growth and development of an organism is stored and copied while environment can be regarded as the actual dynamism of living and nonliving factors that surround and affect the organism. Currently, there are two controversial areas of interest related to nutrition, health and well being, the nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. These two fields involve the study of implications between nutrition, metabolism and genetic mechanisms. Proponents of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics believe that nutrition plays a vital role in the metabolic processes inside the body and that there are specific food and fluids that are appropriate for a particular genetic makeup. This paper aims to differentiate between nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics and their role in the current nutrition research. The goals, applications and implications will be likewise enumerated. In addition current researches that delve into this area will be included to better understand the future and impact of this controversial science. Goals and Implications of Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics According to Mariman (2007) one of the primary goals of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics is to pinpoint nutrient-dependent health characteristics and nutrition-dependent diseases. This revolves on the fact that certain genetic disorders are triggered by particular food or be relieved by certain supplements. These areas on important nutrient-dependent genetic conditions are the ones gaining foremost attention but there are other research fields that are equally important and can be considered part of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. An example is the search for nutritional strategies to prevent or manage overweight or obesity. The purpose is to find food types that can easily induce satiety to affected persons while providing the needed nutrients at the same time. Another example is studying mechanisms involving food fermentation by primitive organisms in the digestive tract and in an artificial condition. Such information will be enlightening regarding better and efficient digestion. The other area connected to nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics concerns food composition and performance of quality assessment by studying the interconnectivity of the proteomic and metabolic pathways that will be explained next (Burton & Stewart, 2004; Mariman, 2007). Undoubtedly, there will be a large impact on the food industry, genetics and disease research all around the world when the direct and exact mechanisms and applications of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics are laid down through scientific and intensive research (Burton & Stewart, 2004). Effects of Nutrient on the Genome, Proteome and Metabolome Nutrition is believed to be influencing the genetic and metabolic makeup of an organism in three basic levels. These are on the level of the genome, proteome and metabolome. Genome is the overall genetic blueprint of an organism. It includes all the genes and other regions of the nucleotide sequences in all the chromosomes that are transferred from the parent to the offspring. According to studies concerning nutrient and genomics, certain genes are either turned on or off by the presence, abundance or absence of a particular nutrient. Severe imbalance in nutrition adversely affects an individual due to the expression of genes that makes that individual susceptible to chronic diseases (Paturel, 2006). According to Paturel (2006), antioxidants are an example of molecular food components that can extensively affect the genome and gene expression of an individual. Certain diseases such as cancer and health conditions such as aging are believed to be associated to the lack of antioxidants in the diet of affected persons. Another very important nutrient that can severely affect the genome is folate. Folate and folic acid, which are forms of vitamin B9, play a very important role in the deoxynucleotide acid (DNA) synthesis, replication and repair. This means that absence of this said nutrient can lead to depletion of genetic material, errors in DNA replication and damage to the genome. This lack of folate in the diet can result to severe healthcare problems such as birth defects and cardiovascular disease among important genetic disorders (Meshkin & Blum, 2007). On the proteome and metabolome level, nutrition also has large impact. An example is the inability to process or digest milk proteins. This condition is attributed to lactose intolerance in persons with disruptions in intestinal enzyme needed to digest dairy products. This condition induces the body to synthesize morphine-like compounds which triggers autism and schizophrenia when absorbed by specific regions of the brain. The goal, therefore, is to design food supplements that would prevent lactose intolerance and consequently prevent autism and schizophrenia (Paturel, 2006). Differences between Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics Nutrigenomics is defined as a set of technological research and applications involving the elucidation of the mechanisms wherein the genetic program functioning in cells and tissues of an organism is supposedly influenced by the organism’s diet. Muller and Kersten (2003) defines nutrigenomics as the application in nutrition research of high throughput genomics tools by analyzing dietary signals in cells and tissues towards clarification of the impact of nutrition on homeostasis. Simply put, nutrigenomics is the merging of nutritional environment and cellular or genetic functions (Kaput & Rodriguez, 2004). Nutrigenetics, on the other hand, is the use of genetic variation data correlated with dietary health risks. Nutrigenetics is based on the assumption that there is genetic variation in human populations and that an individual’s response to nutrition is governed by various genes. Thus, nutrigeneticists claim that individuals may react differently on different diets which imply that nutrition-related disorders can be treated and prevent by modifying diet. This includes identifying those genes that are involved, the differences of these genes in every individual and the applications for health and disease in the population setting. The above definitions give a clear view of the differences between nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. Nutrigenomics looks at the whole response of the genome on particular diet or nutrition. Studies conducted under nutrigenomics use a set of individuals who are largely dissimilar in metabolic responses to particular diet. For example, research related to obesity uses those that are not susceptible to the said condition versus individuals that have obesity or chronic obesity. Using different types of nutritional setup or specific food groups, scientists aim to provide the metabolic pathways that are specific to developing obesity or resistance to such tendency. Another example is diabetes or cardiovascular disease wherein individuals who are found to have high risks on such diseases are examined on their reaction to particular diet or nutrition. Other examples of single gene traits that have large healthcare impacts are those involved in phenylketonuria and galactosemia (Kaput & Rodriquez, 2004). Nutrigenetics, on the other hand, looks on the population response to diet or nutrition. Sequence variations are detection through molecular studies. An example of such molecular tool is the study of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These changes in the nucleotide sequence of subjects can lend an explanation on the reaction of particular individuals in relation to the reaction of other individuals. Persons with this changes or SNPs may have crucial substation leading to a health care condition. For example, a cytosine-to-thymidine substitution may cause an increase in the levels of homocysteine in the plasma which increases a person’s risk of acquiring venous thromboembolic disease and neural tube defects (Subbiah, 2006). Since the two areas of research differ on the part and extent of patient characteristics, therefore the tools and applications largely vary. Nutrigenomics involve various technological implements to ascertain the expression of target genes. Nutrigenomics uses mRNA profiling, protein profiling, metabolite profiling, gene expression tests and other molecular tools. The goal is to determine the presence of a particular enzyme, protein, by-product or metabolite in the cells, tissues or system in the subjects subjected to nutrients being tested (Mariman, 2007). On the other hand, nutrigenetics requires the use of genetic polymorphism tests such as isozyme or nucleotide sequencing. The aim is to detect changes or polymorphisms in a person that is divergent from that of the population. Of important interest is placed in cases of known conditions arising from nucleotide changes such as the one mentioned above involving cytosine-to-thymidine substation which resulted to neural tube defects (Kaput & Rodriguez, 2004; Subbiah, 2006) Obviously, since the target areas of nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics are very different from each other, the intervention strategies or treatments should also be divergent. Whereas personally-tailored nutrition and supplements should be given to patients in nutrigenomics the nutrients or supplements to be given to nutrigenetics subjects may be less specific. For example, for those suffering from galactosemia and phenylketonuria, appropriate foods are to be given to avoid or prevent the negative effects of these health conditions (Wallace, 2006; Kaput & Rodriguez, 2007). Nutrigenetics, on the other hand, covers a large portion of the population wherein functional foods and supplements may be made available to the market for people who have the risk, as tested by polymorphism detection, of a disease or health condition such as cardiovascular disease or obesity. Supplements that lower cholesterol that adversely affects certain groups may be taken as prescribed by physicians (Meshkin & Blum, 2007; Subbiah 2006). Current Research in Nutrigenomics and Nutrigenetics Novel research on folate nutrigenomics research highlighted the importance of this vitamin in the development of humans such that absence can invariably lead to birth defects. Research by Meshkin & Blum (2007) found high association between folate and cardiovascular disease and birth defects reduction. They were also to able to find the genetic influence on folate. Studies such as this led to the review of current policies regarding one-size-fits-all government approach of folate and folic acid supplementation. Chen et al. (2007) found chromium picolinate to have anti-obesity nutrient traits since it affects body composition and reduces weight in humans. They achieved this by genotyping the dopamine D2 receptor gene using standard polymerase chain reaction techniques. Using placebo and different treatment of chromium picolinate, the authors found the significant therapeutic effect of the said nutritional compound in influencing weight loss and reduction in body fat. Their results established the need for DNA testing for this application. Heuvel (2007) conducted a research regarding the effects of pistachios on cardiovascular disease risk factors. His research included effects of pistachios on lipoproteins and lipids, apolipoproteins, insulin, blood pressure and genetic expression of various genes among other related factors. Results showed that cholesterol reduction diet with pistachios greatly improved the efficiency. In addition, increasing pistachio dose also increased the benefits in decreasing the cardiovascular disease risk on subjects. The said research was achieved by considering the different risk factors in a nutrition genomics experiment. Aside from this study, the author has other proposed experiments including the effects of walnuts on hypercholesterolemia and peanuts on cardiovascular health. Holick (2006) reiterated available and extensive evidence on the importance of vitamin D related to prevention and treatment of rickets, osteoporosis, type 1 diabetes mellitus, many common cancers and hypertension. His paper put importance on sun exposure and vitamin D supplements to avoid vitamin D deficiency and avert succumbing to various diseases which apart from the above, includes also psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease among others. Researchers from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) are currently in search for answers regarding celiac disease, a disorder wherein a person cannot tolerate a protein in wheat, rye, barley and oats called gluten. Aside from designing diet that would be beneficial for patients suffering from celiac disease, these researchers are also in the hunt for the responsible chemicals in the destruction of the function of the immune system. They are engineering enzymes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   that can neutralize or destroy immunotoxic peptides produced in affected persons by establishing the environmental and genetic aspects of the disease (NIDDK, 2007). Above advances in the nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics research are indeed fast paced and covers multiple fronts due to the large impact of their results to the food, genetics and healthcare industry. What is very noticeable is the specific focus of each research team on particular areas in individual disease or disorder. Their studies are more focused because the causes already been identified by the involved pathways or gened. This is due to the fact that causes have been pinpointed to the key genes or pathways involved. For example, folate, chromium picolinate and vitamin D in the enumerated researches above have been isolated by workers in these fields. One noticeable pattern, however, is the prominence of nutrigenomics over nutrigenetics. There are more research activities being conducted tackling the effect of nutrition on the genome reaction. More gene expression, metabolic pathways and proteomic analyses are being performed than genetic diversity tests in relation to nutrition. In other words, the approach of nutrition genomics is currently more adapted to personalized diet design since this can be considered a quick fix. However, the trend is not towards the dominant use of nutrigenomics. Instead, there is a need for nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics to be used in combination. This is because nutrigenomics can put solutions on the gene, protein and metabolic level of the disease but those that are suffering from various disorders are not isolated or few. There are large proportions in the population who are affected by diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obesity, diabetes or celiac disease and each patient is unique and groups in every population are also deemed to be unique in their own genetic makeup. Since nutrigenomics can be used to develop quick-fix diet but not in a population level. This is where nutrigenetics should come in. In summary, nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics are two differing fields of modern nutrition and health science with a very large impact on the food and healthcare industry. Nutrigenomics aims to help individuals overcome disorders or disease by identifying key genes, proteins and metabolic pathways and providing appropriate diet or supplements while nutrigenetics tackles the variations in populations related to diet and nutrition dependent disease or disorders. Current researches delve into the specific effects of food and nutrition to the risks and development of known disorders such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, birth defects and many others. Although there have been more work being conducted in nutrigenomics, combination with nutrigenetics is seen to have more beneficial results for patients and other people that are at risk to the said healthcare problems. Works Cited Burton, H. and A. Stewart. (2004). Nutrigenomics. The Nuffield Trust. Available from: www.leatherheadfood.com/nutrigenomics/nutrigenomics07.pdf [18 November 2007] Chen, T., Blum, K., Kaats, G., et al. (2007). Chromium picolinate (CrP) a putative anti-obesity nutrient induces changes in body composition as a function of the Taq1 dopamine D2 receptor polymorphisms in a randomized double-blind placebo controlled study. Gene Ther. Mol. Biol. (11) :161-170. Available from www.dnasoa.com/2006/pdf/cpp.pdf [17 November 2007] Holick, M.F. (2006). High prevalence of vitamin D inadequacy and implications for health. Mayo Clin. Proc. 81(3). Available from   [17 November 2007] Kaput, J. and R. Rodriguez. (2004). Nutritional genomics: the next frontier in the postgenomic era. Physiol. Genomics (16): 166-177. Available from physiolgenomics.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/16/2/166 [17 November 2007] Kaput, J., Perlina, A., Hatipoglu, B., Bartholomew, A. and Y. Nikolsky. (2007). Nutriggenomics: concepts and applications to pharmacogenomics and clinical medicine. Pharmacogenomics 8 (4). Available from: www.genego.com/PubFTP/PharmacogenomicsKaput.pdf [18 November 2007] Mariman. E..C. (2007). Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics. Research Institute NUTRIM. Maastricht University Department of Human Biology. Available from:   [18 November 2007] Meshkin, B and K. Blum. (2007). Folate nutrigenetics: A convergence of dietary folate metabolism, folic acid supplementation, and folate antagonist   pharmacogenetics. Drug Metabolism Letters. (2): 55-60. Available from: www.bentham.org/dml/samples/dml1-1/Blum.pdf [18 November 2007] Muller M, Kersten S. (2003). Nutrigenomics: goals and strategies. Nat Rev Genet. 4(4):315-22. NIDKK. (2007). Celiac disease. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. National Institutes of Health. Available from: digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ ddiseases/pubs/celiac/ [18 November 2007] Paturel, A. (2006). Does your diet fit your genes? IDEA Fitness Journal. Available from: www.dswfitness.com/docs/2006IDEANutrition1.pdf [18 November 2007] Subbiah, M.T. (2006). Nutrigenetics and nutraceuticals: the next wave riding on personalized medicine. Translational Research. Available from: www.mdl-labs.com/documents/Nutrigenetics.pdf [18 November 2007] Vanden Heuvel, J.P. (2007). Regulation of gene expression by nuclear receptors: Role in toxicology, chemoprevention and nutrition. Penn State University Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences. Available from  [17 November 2007] Wallace, H. (2006). Your diet tailored to your genes: Preventing diseases or misleading marketing? GeneWatch UK. Available from:[19 November 2007]   

ACT Science Reasoning Test Information

ACT Science Reasoning Test Information    ACT Science Reasoning. It sounds scary, right? Combining reasoning and science all in one lengthy ACT test section? What sort of monster decided to come up with a test like that? Before you run screaming for the nearest bridge, consider reading the following explanation about what you are really going to encounter on the ACT Science Reasoning section. And yes, it is more conquerable than you can imagine. And before you read the ACT Science Tricks that can help you get the score you want, you should know whats  on  the test first. So keep reading! ACT Science Reasoning Basics If you have read ACT 101, then you already know the following information. But just in case you havent had a chance to take a peek, here are the basics about the science (and often most feared) section of the ACT: 40 multiple-choice questionsYoull read either six or seven passages35 minutes to answer all 40 questionsCan earn you between 1 and 36 points on the overall score (the average is about a 20)Youll also get three scores based on the reporting categories below, which are listed as percentages correct.   ACT Science Reasoning Reporting Categories/Skills ​The ACT wants to provide colleges with information related to the  types  of content in which you shine, so on your score report, youll see the following categories with the number of questions asked in that category along with the percent correct you earned on each type.    Interpretation of Data (approximately 18 - 22 questions): Manipulate and analyze data presented in graphs, tables and diagrams. For instance, youll need to be able to do things like recognize trends, translate table data to graphic data, reason mathematically, interpolate and extrapolate.   Scientific Investigation (approximately 8 - 12 questions): Understand experimental tools and design like identifying variables and controls, and compare, extend and change experiments to make predictions.   Evalutation of Models, Inferences, and Experimental Results (approximately 10 - 14 questions): Judge the validity of a scientific information, make conclusions and predictions like figuring out which scientific explanation is best supported by new findings, etc.  Ã‚   ACT Science Reasoning Content Before you get all worried, dont sweat it! You do not have to have some sort of advanced degree in any of the areas listed below in order to score well on this exam. Not all of this content will be tested. The ACT test-makers will merely pull passages from the following areas. Plus, the test is about scientific reasoning, so even if you don’t remember a few content details, you will still probably be able to figure out the answers to many of the questions in these fields. None require rote memorization. All require that you use your brain and logical reasoning to figure out the questions in the following fields: Biology: biology, botany, zoology, microbiology, ecology, genetics, and evolution Chemistry: atomic theory, inorganic chemical reactions, chemical bonding, reaction rates, solutions, equilibriums, gas laws, electrochemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and properties and states of matter Physics: mechanics, energy, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, fluids, solids, and light waves Earth/Space Sciences: geology, meteorology, oceanography, astronomy, and environmental sciences ACT Science Reasoning Passages All the questions on the Science Reasoning Test will contain some data given to you in graphs, charts, tables or paragraphs, along with an explanation of what to do with the data. The questions are broken down into 6 or 7 different passages with approximately 5 - 7 questions each: Approximately 3 Data Representation passages with ~4 -  5 questions each: Tests knowledge of graphs, scatterplots, and interpretation of info in tables, diagrams, and figures. Approximately 3  Research Summaries passages with  ~6   -  8  questions each: Tests your ability to interpret results from given experiments. 1 Conflicting Viewpoints passage with ~6 - 8  questions: Gives you two or three different viewpoints on some sort of observable phenomenon and asks you to understand differences and similarities in the hypotheses. ACT Scores and the Science Reasoning Section Obviously, you want this score to be fantastic, so your overall ACT score will be, too. Here are some helpful hints to get your closer to that 36 and farther away from that 0. Read the questions before you read the charts in Data Representation. The Data Representation sections contain very little actual writing. So, before you slog through the charts, read the questions first. In many cases, youll be able to answer the questions by just looking at one chart exclusively. Mark up the text. Physically underline, cross-out, and circle things that stand out to you as you read. Some of the text is going to be pretty heavy, so you’ll want to dissect it as you go to make the most sense of it. Paraphrase the questions. Before you read the answers, put those questions into words you would use if you can’t understand what they’re asking. Cover the answers. Keep your hand over the answers while you read the question. Then, make a wild stab at answering before you uncover your choices. You may just find a paraphrase of your own answer in one of the choices, and odds are, it’s the right choice. There it is – the ACT Science Reasoning section in brief. Good luck! More strategies to improve your ACT score!

Competition Law Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Competition Law - Assignment Example It may be a gadget, technology or pill that would be a panacea to aches and pains. Another strategy is to take over existing business entities or corporate organizations that already possess the technology or business process by way of undertaking1, agreement2 or concentration3, either through merger or acquisition4. It may be undertaken to save a fledgling business or employed by business entities of equal capital assets to further strengthen its holdings and enhance its market viability or simply because it is cheaper to buy the rival company than to compete with it in the open market. One particular study that will be tackled in this paper is the cross-licensing, bundling or tying strategy that increases the role if not the dominance of a commercial organization. Thus this strategy warrants the close scrutiny of the European Commission to protect the interest of the European Market. The European Union advocates not only single market5 but open and free enterprise as well. Business entities or corporations have the discretion or liberty to acquire or join forces with other entities by virtue of agreements, undertaking or concentration but this right is not absolute. It is subject to certain conditions such that it must not prevent, restrict and distort competition6 and more importantly, it should not create, strengthen or abuse dominant position7. The primary objective of competition is to serve the general welfare of the consumers however the growing number of agreements, undertakings, mergers and/or acquisitions had the opposite effect since the main concern of businesses or corporations are increased profits and its bottom-line as well as to protect proprietary rights. The consumers were not protected from corporate greed and adventurism since there were no clear cut policies, standards or measures to regulate or control agreements, undertakings, mergers or acquisitions including collusive or abuse of dominant position by invoking exclusive rights over pat ents or intellectual properties. However, the enactment of Treaty of the Functioning European Union8 and its predecessor, the Treaty Establishing the European Union9 conferred upon competition authorities the jurisdiction not only to scrutinize undertakings within the EU but to ensure competition in the European market is not distorted. It is likewise authorized to determine the economic viability and practicability of the undertakings. It is also within the purview of the competition authorities to conduct due diligence to assess if the intellectual property rights over a product or information technology would significantly impede effective competition and strengthens or abuses dominance. It is empowered to conduct an inquiry to assess whether competition is still functioning effectively and the same is beneficial to the public in general. The TFEU was further supplemented by other regulatory measures such as Merger Control10, Individual11 and Block12 Exemptions and other Regulati ons which target specific industries or sectors. The task of this paper is to determine based on

The artistic value of Red Harvest Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The artistic value of Red Harvest - Essay Example This paper aims to evaluate the artistic value attached to the novel â€Å"Red Harvest†. In literature, the artistic value lies in the language used to express the story in the form of diction and syntax, and in the form of the setting or the mood that is created by the writer through the setting and the characters. It is necessary, however, that the language and the mood are in accordance with the genre and the story or message of the novel or other such work of literature, otherwise the aesthetic value might seem misplaced or even absent. This realization is important when considering a novel like the â€Å"Red Harvest† by Dashiell Hammett. The pertinent novel is of the detective genre, written at a time when the critics had begun to despair over the prevalent techniques used to write such novels (Malmgren). They had established that the novels written then were not doing justice to the detective genre as they were not set in a realistic world with a realistic plot (M almgren). Red Harvest, however, changed the minds of the critics, and is termed as one of the best novels written in the English language (Malmgren). Indeed, it laid the foundations for the stereotypical characters, plot, and setting that one encounters in the novels of this genre today (Marling). The highly professional, emotionally detached, self-righteous detective (Malmgren) stems from the character of the Continental Operative in Red Harvest; a world ruled by thugs and gangsters and infected with vice is reminiscent of the world created by Hammett in this novel (Marling). To do justice to such a story, it is imperative that the treatment of the novel should be bare, minimalist, cold, and crude; otherwise, the writer would fail to hit the point across to the readers, and the treatment and story would not be in synch. It has already been established in this paper that the aesthetic sense or the artistic value of a work of literature should be viewed in the context of the story, a nd not separately and removed from the context. To this end, it can be determined that Red Harvest is highly artistic in its treatment to the subject matter, as it does complete justice to the setting and the mood of the novel, and creates an atmosphere that is at once awe-inspiring and abhorrent in its nature. It is easy to comprehend why the treatment could be abhorrent; it lacks all forms of humanity, morals, and ethics, and is utterly hopeless and despairing (Malmgren). The characters are vile and treacherous, and the plot is highly gruesome and brutal. There is rampant and mad bloodletting (Malmgren), reaching absurdity, and at times it becomes difficult to see how such an environment could be linked to the real world. However, this same trait of the novel is awe-inspiring. The writer has successfully managed to use his language skills to create such an ambience, and to evoke feelings of morbidity, alarm, and suspense in the readers. Without such a treatment, the novel would ha ve seemed ridiculous. And this precisely, is the artistic value of the novel. Artistic value is not necessarily always appealing, sweet, and homey, as is art. And it is not imperative for it to be so, either. However, what is imperative is that it should be in accordance with the nature and the meaning of the piece of art, otherwise, it would counter the intended perception. At times, this synchronization between the work of art and the aesthetic sen