Saturday, March 21, 2020

MUHAMMAD AZIZUL RAHMAN BIN RODUAN Essays - Zoos, Apoikozoa, Filozoa

MUHAMMAD AZIZUL RAHMAN BIN RODUAN MC 160100277 Impact of Cell Phones on People: Pros and Cons Over the years, the world has witnessed a booming number of cell phones. They are dramatically changing the way people contact, communicate, interact or socialize with each other. It is apparent that cell phone has had a profound influence on personal lives. However, not all of the impact of them could be positive nor negative, this is because the existent of these multifunctional tools have both pros and cons and the side effect is obviously made or judge based on the user itself. Recently, people who is actually living in this deep world of communication era now days belief that this communication devices has an advantage to bring significant fortune or profit to the agencies, companies and marketers, and whenever this cellular phones become popular, many of the tech user started to recognized that this incredible outstanding devices is qualified as a need for them. As developments in communication continue, cell phone devices become more advance and sophisticated. For example, cellular phones are now equipped with greater multiple functionalities, thus, making these electronic devices essential in the communication system of any businesses. Indeed, cell phones are always connected to the Internet, via a data network, mobile broadband or Wi-Fi connection. However, the very things that make cellular phones so convenient and useful are the same things that can stop user in their tracks with a dead battery. The more application and programs running in the phone, the more energy it needs to perform. Even though battery life is drain out, cell phones still consider as a source of unlimited entertainment. The things which we never thought would be present in a cellular phone are now possible. Which means cell phones have come into existence which not only helping in making calls but also help out user to stay entertained by allowing the user themselves to play games, listen to music and do lots of other stuff. Although cell phones had a bunch of possibilities to the majority of society there is also a disease came along with it, such as causing a distraction and addiction. It is true that people are now getting a numerous number of advantages from a single high tech cell phone but these communication technologies also have several negative impacts. For example, using cell phones too often could probably be harmful for human's health as it can increase the risk of brain cancer and lacking of face to face communication is also the result of using cell phones. Instead of going out or finding an alternative ways to prevent laziness, many people still prefer to stay at home and use their cell phones to connect to others "online" In conclusion, we can see how cell phone is capable changing our cultures in both good and bad ways. Even though these devices have brought people from different parts of the world closer together, it does not mean it has not alienated the people closest to us. As useful as cellular phones are, it is important to use them accordingly and not make them our lifeline to the outside world. Communication consists of verbal and non-verbal cues and this is what makes us feel close to one another and measure should be taken to ensure this does not stop. Is keeping animals in zoos acceptable? In recent years, zoos are consider as a place where animals from around the world are kept and technically animals are being forced to be taken away from their natural habitat, where there are naturally existing food sources, enemies, and placed inside of a cage that keeps out all of animals which consists of only a small percentage of the naturally occurring flora and fauna to which the animal is accustomed. With no natural predators or food sources to hunt, many animals will lose their natural instincts, which are necessary for survival. This prevents reintegration into the animal kingdom and leaves them sentenced for life in a zoo. However, there is no doubt that zoo's main goal is to ensure that these overall animals were protected from the midst of a global extinction crisis. Not only zoos play a critical role in fighting for wildlife extinction,

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Developing Branding Strategies

Developing Branding Strategies Free Online Research Papers Developing branding strategies to position a brand, even in the time of recession :: A Global Perspective. Brand strategy is aimed at influencing people’s perception of a brand in such a way that they are persuaded to act in a certain manner, e.g. buy and use the products and services offered by the brand, purchase these at higher price points, donate to a cause. In addition, most brand strategies aim to persuade people to buy, use, and donate again by offering them some form of gratifying experience. As branding is typically an activity that is undertaken in a competitive environment, the aim is also to persuade people to prefer the brand to competition. A global brand needs to provide relevant meaning and experience to people across multiple societies. To do so, the brand strategy needs to be devised that takes account of the brand’s own capabilities and competencies, the strategies of competing brands, and the outlook of consumers (including business decision makers) which has been largely formed by experiences in their respective societies. There are four broad brand strategy areas that can be employed. (1) Brand Domain. Brand domain specialists are experts in one or more of the brand domain aspects (products/services, media, distribution, solutions). A brand domain specialist tries to pre-empt or even dictate particular domain developments. This requires an intimate knowledge, not only of the technologies shaping the brand domain, but also of pertinent consumer behaviour and needs. The lifeblood of a brand domain specialist is innovation and creative use of its resources. A brand domain specialist is like a cheetah in the Serengeti preying on impala and gazelle. The cheetah is a specialist hunter with superior speed to chase, and the claws and teeth to kill these animals. The cheetah is also very familiar with the habits of its prey. It finds ways of approaching, singling out and capturing its prey. The cheetah is one of the most accomplished of hunters within the wild cat species; it catches up to 70% of prey that it hunts. (2) Brand Reputation. Brand reputation specialists use or develop specific traits of their brands to support their authenticity, credibility or reliability over and above competitors. A brand reputation specialist needs to have some kind of history, legacy or mythology. It also needs to be able to narrate these in a convincing manner, and be able to live up to the resulting reputation. A brand reputation specialist has to have a very good understanding of which stories will convince consumers that the brand is in some way superior. A brand reputation specialist is like a horse. It can be pure-bred, have a certain nobility and bearing, and exhibit qualities that can be traced back to these (e.g. grace, speed, temperament, looks). Like a horse, the brand reputation specialist can also thrive on association with celebrities. (3) Brand Affinity. Brand affinity specialists bond with consumers based on one or more of a range of affinity aspects. A brand affinity specialist needs to outperform competition in terms of building relationships with consumers. This means that a brand affinity specialist needs to have a distinct appeal to consumers, be able to communicate with them affectively, and provide an experience that reinforces the bonding process. A brand affinity specialist is like a pet dog. A dog is generally considered to be man’s best friend, due to its affection, its obedience, its loyalty, the status and the protection it provides to its owners. Different kinds of dogs will command a different form of affection. (4) Brand Recognition. Brand recognition specialists distinguish themselves from competition by raising their profiles among consumers. The brand recognition specialist either convinces consumers that it is somehow different from competition, as is the case for niche brands, or rises above the melee by becoming more well-known among consumers than competition. The latter is particularly important in categories where brands have few distinguishing features in the minds of consumers. In some cases, a brand recognition specialist needs to be able to outspend competition to gain unbeatable levels of awareness. In other cases, a brand recognition specialist needs to convince a loyal following of consumers that it is unique. A recognition specialist is like a peacock. Most of us will know little about birds, but we can recognise a peacock from a large distance. We may not know its precise qualities, but if we were to choose between birds we are more likely to plump for a peacock than for a more ordinary specimen, because of its beauty and presence. THE BRAND ENVIRONMENT A brand operates in a space that is defined by its own company or organisation, its competitors, and the societies where it operates. There are both internal and external factors that influence how a brand is finally perceived and experienced by consumers. Internal Factors Factors that are internal to a brand’s company or organisation can be categorised as being strategy-related, performance-related and stemming from the brand’s past. The strategy-related factors are those that derive from the business strategy and the marketing strategy. There is a strategy hierarchy, whereby business strategy takes the lead, guiding brand strategy. Brand strategy in its turn guides marketing strategy. The business strategy is aimed at achieving particular consumer behaviour. Only if consumers actually purchase, use (more often), pay a higher price or donate (more) will objectives of a business strategy be met. These objectives may include a larger market share, increased returns, higher margins and increased shareholder value. Brands are designed to persuade consumers to exhibit the behaviour that will make these objectives come true for the organisation. Thus the influence of business strategy upon brand strategy is direct and compelling. The marketing strategy aims to translate the brand strategy into actual products or services, with a specific price, to be sold at specific outlets, to be promoted through specific communications activities and channels, and to be supported by specific service. The influence of the marketing strategy is thus indirect in that the correct translation of the brand into the marketing mix determines whether consumers get the correct impression of the brand. The performance-related factors are dependent upon the marketing implementation, i.e. the actual production and delivery of the products and services, their accompanying messages to consumers, and the actual product or service experience. The implementation eventually determines whether consumers experience what the brand strategy set out to provide. The marketing implementation may make or break a brand at the moment that is of most importance to consumers: e.g. when they actually experience the brand through advertising, promotions, purchase, usage, and after-sales service. The factors that stem from the brand’s past are the brand’s internal legacy and its internal conventions. The brand’s internal legacy is about who have developed it, who have managed it over the years, and what the role of the brand has become for the organisation. This influences how management, staff, partners, distributors and shareholders view the brand and its future potential. It may prove difficult to change such perceptions once a brand has been slotted into a specific position. The internal conventions of an organisation are such issues as how things are typically done, support systems, what the culture is like, who has the power to decide, who has the power to frustrate decisions, the structure of the organisation, its policies, and its (other) activities. For a global brand, such influencing factors exist at central as well as at local levels. More often than not, there are tensions between central and local a s specific factors work in opposite directions, and people within the organisation have different agendas for the brand. External Factors External influences upon a brand strategy come mainly from three quarters: competition, consumers and media. These external influences will vary between the markets and societies where a brand operates. Therefore, these influences need to be determined locally. When a brand is introduced into a foreign society, it will encounter particular brand strategies that are being practiced by competitive brands. Unless competitors are very complacent, head-on confrontations with them are generally not the best way of winning the hearts and minds of consumers. It is, therefore, important to determine competitors. Brand strategies and to find ways of flanking established competition by choosing an alternative strategy. Category conventions are the unwritten rules that govern the way in which products or services are designed, advertised, distributed, serviced, priced, experienced, etc. Challenging such conventions may provide a brand with a competitive advantage. It is imperative that such a challenge has value to consumers and that they are willing to go along with the challenge. This is only the case if the particular convention is no longer rock solid. Such opportunities emerge when competition is complacent and underestimates the effects of the challenge. An example is the advent of on-line share trading, which became possible due to the combined development of the Internet and the popularisation of shareholding. Established stockbrokers failed to respond adequately to the challenge to their conventional mode of operations and thus lost a lot of their business to Charles Swab cum sues. Cultural conventions determine how people in a society interact, what they believe, how they make decisions and what meanings they attach to certain representations. Cultures are not static, but develop through intergenerational and interpersonal learning and experience. A cultural convention can be challenged if it is already losing its value to consumers and is ready to be replaced by something new. Therefore, one needs to be on the lookout for such cultural shifts. Once identified, it becomes a matter of deciding whether the challenge will be of perceived value to consumers and will provide competitive advantage. Needs conventions determine the forms in which consumer’s needs are manifested. Human needs are not universal and neither is the importance placed upon each need. However, the major differences lie in the manner in which a need is articulated or the form of a solution that is provided to a need. For example, although there is a general need for nutrition, there are considerable differences between societies with regard to which foodstuffs are acceptable for specific meals. Not to mention foods that are totally unacceptable to specific societies, as witnessed by the controversy over the consumption of dog meat during the upcoming world cup soccer finals in Korea. The media can seriously affect a brand strategy in a positive or a negative manner. In some developing countries foreign brands are promoted by the media as examples of modernity, while in others these same brands may be portrayed as the vanguards of a foreign domination. Particularly, bad news about brands can spread like wild fire across boarder, as Coke found out in Belgium, where the outsides of some bottles were contaminated with a fungicide, causing a health scare. Benefits of brand strategies Branding, once the brand is established, should create an increase in profitability and customer acquisition and retention, so there’s every reason to kick-start it early in the process as long as the products are good enough to sustain the brand promise, of course. Branding creates highly visible success stories which encourage other companies to follow suit, more enthusiastically and faster than they otherwise would. Brands are the rock stars of commerce, and create many fans, both at home and abroad. Branding creates expectations of product quality which the manufacturer has to work twice as hard to maintain: this accelerates the development of a first world-style approach to both quality control and innovation. Putting your own brand name on your products â€Å"raises the bar†. Examples of single companies in the West tend to show that the companies that understand the importance of brand early on in their growth - and practise it well and build their corporate strategy around it - are often the ones which grow fastest. Having a powerful brand - even if it is merely in strategic form, without solid customer recognition yet behind it - makes companies more powerful. They are perceived by investors, competitors, suppliers and other businesses as more valuable, and carry more weight in all kinds of negotiations. Potential value, if it is clearly reasoned and intelligently planned, is universally recognized as real value; strategy, creativity and ambition are universally recognized as indicators of potential. Building a global image If we’re talking about branding a product and the product is good, if you have the distribution and marketing, if you have the money - and it does cost money - then you can start building a global brand within a couple of years. If you are talking about the reputation of a country, it depends very much from what base you are starting. If you are starting from a strongly negative base, then I would normally say 15 to 20 years, but things are changing so fast these days that it might be 10 to 15 years. If you are a transition economy, and things are going pretty well for you anyway, it could be achieved in 5 to 10 years. In all of these cases, the brand image is never changed by spending huge amounts of money on logos, slogans and advertising campaigns but by having a good strategy and investing in change. In the end it comes down to creating a culture of innovation in the public and private sectors. The 9 characteristics of a brand A strong brand is defined and characterized by the following 9 dimensions: 1. A brand drives shareholder value 2. The brand is led by the boardroom and managed by brand marketers with an active buy-in from all stakeholders 3. The brand is a fully integrated part of the entire organisation aligned around multiple touch points 4. The brand can be valued in financial terms and must reside on the asset side of the balance sheet 5. The brand can used as collateral for financial loans and can be bought and sold as an asset 6. Customers are willing to pay a substantial and consistent price premium for the brand versus a competing product and service 7. Customers associate themselves strongly with the brand, its attributes, values and personality, and they fully buy into the concept which is often characterized by a very emotional and intangible relationship (higher customer loyalty) 8. Customers are loyal to the brand and would actively seek it and buy it despite several other reasonable and often cheaper options available (higher customer retention rate) 9. A brand is a trademark and marquee (logo, shape, colour etc) which is fiercely and pro-actively protected by the company and its legal advisors Suggestions for  Recession Proof Branding Fix the fundamentals The current conditions are a ‘wake-up call’ for marketing, forcing teams to become much more business-savvy and bottom-line focused. This is how marketing always should have been run, these fundamentals have in many cases been forgotten. Follow the money One of the most important mottos is ‘follow the money’. It is more relevant than ever today. It means cutting the bull**** and buzzwords, and being much more business savvy. Brand teams should be crystal clear about which growth drivers marketing activity will focus on, such as increasing trial or weight of purchase. It also requires more rigour than before in assessing the effectiveness of marketing activities once they are in market. Interestingly, several of the marketing directors we interviewed were building a team of in-house experts working on measuring return-on-investment (ROI), rather than relying on their advertising or media agency to do this for them. Sharpen your vision In today’s tough time you need a razor-sharp brand positioning, and crystal clear portrait of your target consumer. Clearly positioned brands have a much better chance of cutting through the clutter of price-cutting messages, and survive the threat of cheaper competition. Smart brands are sticking to their vision, but adapting their message in line with the needs of consumers to save money. Hit the right price Focusing on hitting the right price is the point. Consumers are paying more attention to prices on shelf, just as raw material costs are pushing prices up. Rise above a key price-point, and they’ll switch. Cut costs, not corners Another opportunity is marketing process efficiency. Better briefing can save valuable time, and budget. Kill the dwarves Tough times are forcing more ruthless focus. It’s time to kill the ‘dwarves’, cute but small new products that eat up valuable time and resources; or at the minimum cut their marketing support so they die a natural death. Budgets and people can they be focused on driving growth of ‘hero’ products that drive i) significant business growth and ii) desired changes in brand image. We expect to see a cull of many new launches where brands have strayed from their core business and taken on big competitors with big marketing budgets, without having a clear point of difference and compelling value proposition. Grow the core Today’s tough times made growing the core an imperative. In most cases this core business is both the most profitable, and the one where the brand has the most authority, and so the best ability to defend itself from attack. MORE BANGS FOR YOUR BUCK Pressure on marketing budgets will only increase over the next couple of years. Boards will freeze or even cut marketing investment, despite all the studies showing that this is bad in the long run. But they’ll still expect the sales forecast to be delivered. The only way to do this is to get more bang for your marketing buck. Be brave, make waves Now is the time to work your brand idea hard to create ‘PR-able’ marketing ideas. Brave ideas that generate free publicity allow you to maximise your budget’s impact. Everything must sell Every bit of the brand (e.g. packaging, websites, secondary packaging) can be used to actively encourage existing users to use more. Packvertising How many packs a year do you sell? For many companies this runs into the millions. And that’s several million bits of free media space, or ‘packvertising’, that you can use for free. For example, packs can be used to cross-sell, as done by Pantene, using its shampoo and conditioner packs to cross-sell the brand’s new styling range. Simple, but effective as it is placing a message at exactly the moment when hair styling is done – after you wash your hair. This can even work on small packs. Fuel your fan clubs The smartest companies we talked to are using two under-utilised sales forces to help grow their brands. The first sales force is loyal users of the brand. With a bit of effort you could increase their effectiveness in spreading positive word-of-mouth about your brand, and research has shown that this can increase the efficiency of your marketing budget by 40%. Like Sunsilk has created its own fan club by the name ‘Gang of Girls’ to make the girls more brand conscious and bring a sense of self belongingness towards the product. Share the pain or entertain Many of our marketing directors highlighted the need to get closer than ever to consumers during tough times, to maintain and even strengthen their bond with the brand. The most obvious way to do this is by ‘sharing the pain’ by pro-actively helping people through the hard times, and showing you care. Low-priced brands are of course well-placed to do this. Like Mc Donald has its punch line like ‘purane zamane ke daam’. This makes the consumer think if the prices are low and its cheap to buy they would refer it to the other members of the family. Recession: A perfect time to build your brand? Sounds strange doesn’t it? But it is true! A financial downturn is the perfect time to build your brand and reinforce it with your target demographic as well as expand your audience. It may sound counter-intuitive but when people are not spending money is usually the best time to get them to learn about who you are. In a time of tight finances people are far more wary about what they spend their money on. We all do it. It is a very logical and financially responsible thing to do. However, from a business perspective that kind of thinking is the perfect mentality required for brand building. People are studying products more intensely than they normally would simply because they want to wisely spend their hard earned money. So, you as a business owner should be pumping your brand more and working harder to make your presence know. People will study your brand more intensely when they are watching their wallets. Notice sales haven’t been mentioned once. That’s because your objective should shift during a recession. You should focus more of your energy and money on building the public awareness about your product and its existence. With people focusing so intently on each and every little thing they buy you should take advantage of that mentality in your advertising and marketing plans. It is not necessary by spending more money on advertising but your approach to it should change. If you’re not involved in social networking this is the perfect time to get into it. Let people know you’re out there and you offer a fantastic product or service they can keep in mind once things get rolling. If someone sees your product and studies it more in-depth than they normally would you have a rare opportunity to gain a foothold in their conscience and become a brand they are familiar with when the financial tides turn. It is advisable new companies to launch new products and ad campaigns during financial downturns simply because people are more likely to study your product and collateral than they normally would. It most likely won’t translate to immediate sales but you will see them when people have money to spend. Don’t think you have to stop or even cut back your advertising and marketing, just take a different approach and take advantage of the mindset of the market. Research Papers on Developing Branding StrategiesA Marketing Analysis of the Fast-Food RestaurantConflict Resolution TacticsGene One the Transition from Private to PublicInternational PaperDefinition of Export QuotasCash or Card?Genetic EngineeringFalse AdvertisingDistance Learning Survival GuideGap Analysis: Lester Electronics

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Organising the classroom for ADHD pupils Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Organising the classroom for ADHD pupils - Essay Example The incident impacted on me as it gave me a chance to experience firsthand how ADHD students act in the classroom setting. The end goal of this paper is to establish ways by which the classroom can be managed to fit the needs of the ADHD student. The coaching model provides a strong foundation for the learning which needs to be established for ADHD students. This model seeks to assist students in reframing how they understand themselves as capable individuals. Coaches would set ground rules in order to secure boundaries on what students may or may not do, and the goals they can establish for themselves. These coaches also ask questions in order to help the ADHD students reflect; they also encourage problem-solving skills and provide encouragement and self-belief (Derrington, 2005). This situation involves an ADHD student who manifested the classic signs of ADHD including hyperactivity, short attention span, easy distractibility, class disruptiveness, impulsivity and inattentiveness. Due to his symptoms, he was also having difficulty keeping up with the class lessons. The importance of having to secure a conducive learning environment for him became a necessity especially when the student was falling well behind his other classmates. A plan was established in order to provide support for the student and to ensure his full and effective participation. Such support is partly based on the coaching model which accepts the importance of providing guidance and encouragement for the students in their lessons and activities. The student had one-on-one support for his daily lessons, however, this was not working well for the student as different teaching assistants were assigned to him for each subject. The different approaches of the teaching assistants made the situation even more difficult for the student to adapt to. After the teachers and teaching assistants met and discussed the student’s case, it was suggested that there was a need to make changes in the cl assroom in order to ensure more efficient outcomes. It was suggested that the student needed to have only one teaching assistant assigned to him for his daily lessons. This would help provide consistency and discipline for his lessons and his learning. The reflective process and model which would be applied for this essay would be the Gibbs reflection style. This reflective style provides specific details on the different events surrounding the critical incident. The actions and decisions involving the incident will then be critically assessed and analyzed, applying evidence-based research in order to provide sufficient support and logic for the actions made (Jasper, 2003). This reflective model includes a description of the event, the feelings during the incident, the evaluation of the incident, an analysis of the incident, and an action plan for the incident (Jasper, 2003). A description of the incident is already provided above. In relation to the feelings encountered, I felt tha t the student needed to secure a more stable and consistent classroom environment, one where he would not have to make constant adjustments. I also felt that the student also needed to adjust to a normal classroom setting in order to help him gain the social skills of interactions with his classmates. In evaluating what was good and bad about the experience, I felt that the teaching assi

Monday, February 3, 2020

'Self-determination is irrelevant in the 21st Century'. Discuss Essay

'Self-determination is irrelevant in the 21st Century'. Discuss - Essay Example It is accordingly, protected by various international human rights bodies that ensure all people get their rights. This concept has evolved during the 20th century following secessionist movements during and after World War I and II allowing for decolonization of countries from the 1960's onwards. The start of the famous European colonization of the Americas started around 1940's following the Spanish expedition headed by Christopher Columbus5. This followed a conquest that was featured by large-scale exploration, migration and eventually colonization in order to take full advantage of the resources in those foreign countries. Rebellions were the first characteristics of the determination to self-rule that was witnessed in the mid 1770's. Because of the explicit invocations of natural law, the natural right of man and the absence of consent from the people who were being governed, people began to revolt against colonial rule6. In the United Stated Declaration of Independence, the pro motion of the notion that the will of the people is supreme made significant contributions to the aspect of self-determination. These and some other notions are what led to the acceptance of the principle of self-determination. ... These treaties both held that people had a right to freely pursue their economic and political interests following self-determination. Previously, self-determination was considered a political principle with no legal effect. But following WW2, self-determination became a legal principle and a right in International Law. And because of its adoption by several treaties and charters it received worldwide recognition under International Law. The concept of self-determination is thus still relevant because of the number of cases in the International Court of Justice that have received ruling in favor of the concept of self-determination. Self-determination has thus achieved the status of erga omnes which requires the rest of the international community to respect it. Other jurists and scholars have also argued that the principle of self-determination has acquired the status of jus cogens making it the superior rule of international law. As such, the rest of the community has the mandate t o strictly obey it at all times and in all circumstances in their relations with each other. However, the UN Charter10 had no provisions for the enforcement of the right to self-determination outside the context of decolonization. It simply provided that countries be allowed to govern themselves but it did not provide other stipulations for how this was to take place. This allowed the legal doctrine of uti possidetis juris11 to thrive. This meant that old administrative boundaries became the international boundaries without taking into consideration the linguistic, ethical and cultural boundaries that had previously existed. Despite the fact that people of one culture were torn apart by international boundaries, nations succeeded in freeing themselves from colonial rule.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Factors Affecting The Rate Of Enzymes Activity Biology Essay

Factors Affecting The Rate Of Enzymes Activity Biology Essay Enzymes are catalysts made within the human body. Catalysts naturally, lower the activation energy required for reactions. The lower the activation energy is, the faster the rate of reaction is, and therefore enzymes speed up reactions in the body by lowering the activation energy required. (Diet-Health.net) There are many factors that contribute to the rate of reaction of an enzyme. Factors include: concentration of the enzyme, temperature, pH level, concentration of the substrate, and inhibitors. This lab shows the affects these factors have on the rate of reaction between catalase, an enzyme found in potatoes, and hydrogen peroxide, the substrate. The specific enzyme that was studied during this lab was catalase. Catalase is a naturally occurring enzyme that is found in many living organisms such as plants and the human body. Catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide, a very harmful oxidizing agent for cells (Catalase). A single catalase molecule can break down millions of hydrogen peroxide molecules in a given moment. Catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide is a natural waste product which forms when the body breaks down fatty acids and converts that into energy. Hydrogen peroxide also forms when white blood cells break down and kill bacteria in the body. Catalase is also helpful in prevent the formation of carbon dioxide bubbles in the blood. Catalase can help break down other harmful chemicals in the body such as alcohol, phenol, and formaldehyde (VitaminStuff.com). As mentioned before, enzymes play a significant role in organic chemistry. Catalase is one of the most recognized enzymes found in living organisms. This lab provides the clear and understandable information of the enzyme being studied, catalase, and proves the affects of the factors that contribute to an enzymes rate of reaction. Part 1: Change in Enzyme Concentration Table 1: Enzyme concentration compositions Distance (cm) Time (s) Rate of Change (cm/s) Other observations 100 % concentration (10 mL potato juice) 8 cm 3.02 s 2.65 cm/s bubbles appeared 80 % concentration (8 mL potato juice, 2 mL distilled water) 8 cm 5.06 s 1.58 cm/s fewer bubbles than previous composition 60 % concentration (6 mL potato juice, 4 mL distilled water) 8 cm 6.28 s 1.27 cm/s fewer bubbles than previous composition 40% concentration (4 mL potato juice, 6 mL distilled water) 8 cm 7.5 s 1.07 cm/s fewer bubbles than previous composition 20% concentration (2 mL potato juice, 8 mL distilled water) 8 cm 19.65 s 0.41 cm/s no bubbles appeared Graph 1: Analysis 1: According to the observation graph 1, the major trend shows that as the concentration of the catalase, which is in the potato juice, increases there is also an increase in the rate of reaction. As the concentration of the catalase decreased, the rate of reaction also decreased. Part 2: Change in Temperature Table 2: Temperature ( °C) Distance (cm) Time (s) Rate of Reaction (cm/s) 10.0 8.00 5.85 1.38 21.0 8.00 4.83 1.66 35.0 8.00 2.99 2.68 50.0 8.00 4.21 1.90 80.0 8.00 5.52 1.45 Graph 2: Analysis 2: Observation graph 2 shows the relationship between the environmental temperature and the rate of reaction. According to the observation chart the optimal temperature was 35 °C. The optimal temperature being the temperature at which the enzyme reacted the fastest. Any temperature higher or lower than 35 °C, the catalase molecules did not react as fast. Part 3: Change in pH Level Table 3: Amount of H2O2 (mL) Amount of Distilled Water (mL) Amount of pH Buffer (mL) pH Level Vertical Distance Travelled by Filter Paper Towards Meniscus Time taken by filter paper disc to move to meniscus (s) Upward velocity of Filter Paper Disc (cm/s) 10 mL 5 mL 7 (Control) 8.15 6.6 1.23 10 mL 5 mL 2 7.98.15 16.65 0.47 10 mL 5 mL 4 8.15 7.05 1.16 10 mL 5 mL 9 8.1 10.4 0.78 10 mL 5 mL 12 7.85 8.14 0.96 Graph 3: Analysis 3: According to graph 3, the optimal value was the pH level of 7. At the pH level of 7, the rate of reaction was the fastest, any pH level higher or lower than that of 7 the enzymes rate of reaction would decrease. This relationship was much like that of the temperatures, anything above or below the optimal value the rate of reaction decreases. Part 4: Change in Substrate Concentration Table 4: Concentration of H202 of Distilled Water Trial Time of catalase to travel from the bottom of the test tube to the top (s) Distance of bottom of test tube to substrate(cm) Rate of change of the catalyzed reaction (cm/s) 15 mL of H202 3% 1 5.89 8.0 1.36 2 6.86 8.0 1.17 Total 6.38 8.0 1.27 13 mL of H202 2.6% 1 8.13 8.0 0.98 2 7.11 8.0 1.13 Total 7.62 8.0 1.01 10 mL of H202 2% 1 8.65 8.0 0.87 2 12.8 8.0 0.63 Total 10.73 8.0 0.75 7.5 mL of H202 1.5% 1 9.43 8.0 0.84 2 12.53 8.0 0.64 Total 10.98 8.0 0.74 5 mL of H202 1% 1 10.37 8.0 0.77 2 12.88 8.0 0.62 Total 12.63 8.0 0.70 Graph 4: Analysis 4: According to graph 4, as the concentration of the substrate (hydrogen peroxide) increases the rate of reaction also increases. This relationship was much like that of the change in enzyme concentration. Part 5: Addition of an Inhibitor Table 5: Experiment Number Amount of Inhibitor (copper (II) sulfate drops) Time (s) Distance (cm) Rate of change (cm/s) 1 0 4.13 8.0 1.94 2 1 4.68 8.0 1.71 3 5 5.57 8.0 1.44 4 10 6.66 8.0 1.20 5 15 8.57 8.0 0.93 Graph 5: Analysis 5: According to graph 5, as there was an increase in the drops of copper (II) sulphate (the inhibitor for this lab) there was a decrease in the rate of reaction. This was due to the fact that the copper (II) sulphate blocked the active site of the catalase. Evaluation: Conclusion For each part of the lab, there were hypothesis made in the beginning of the experiments. Each experiment was done and observed and a conclusion was reached on whether the hypothesis for the experiment made sense and was proven. Part 1: Change in Enzyme Concentration Hypothesis: If there was an increase in the concentration of the catalase, then there would be an increase in the rate of reaction. This hypothesis was proven to be true. As there was an increase in the concentration of the enzyme, the catalase, there was an increase in the rate of reaction. This was due to the fact that there were more catalase enzymes available for the substrates to bind to and soon react with. The concentration of the substrate was maintained at the naturally available concentration, there were no changes made. That meant that there were more active sites available to the substrates to bind to. The more the active sites there were, the more substrates were being reacted at the same time, therefore decreasing the time it took to fully react with all the substrate molecules. Table 2: Change in temperature Hypothesis: If the temperature of the environment surrounding the reaction increases the rate of reaction will also increase, until it reaches the optimal point, the point at which the rate of reaction will start to decrease. The hypothesis was proven to be true as well. The rate of reaction did increase until it reached the optimal point. At the optimal point (35 °C) the rate of reaction was the highest, which meant the most number of hydrogen peroxide molecules were reacting with the enzymes during the experiment at that specific temperature. In other words, the optimal point was when the enzymes worked the best. As the temperature rose, the molecules possessed more kinetic energy. The more kinetic energy there was, the more the molecules moved and collided with one another, increasing the rate of reaction, until it reached the optimal point. Once the temperature started to increase higher than 35 °C the catalase started to denature, which meant the shape of the enzyme would start to differ. The denaturing catalase decreased the rate of reaction because there werent as many healthy normal catalase molecules to maintain the rate or even increase it. Part 3: Change in pH Level Hypothesis: If the pH level of the substrate increased then the rate of reaction will also increase until an optimal pH level is reached. Anything above or below the optimal pH level the enzyme will denature. This hypothesis was also proven to be true. The optimal pH level was 7, neutral, for the catalase. This meant at pH 7, the most enzyme-substrate reactions were taking place at that specific time. Enzymes work within a small pH range, therefore pH levels tend to have a great impact on the enzyme-substrate activity (Nelson Biology 12). Any pH level above or below 7 started to denature the enzyme, slowing down the rate of reaction. Denaturing enzymes meant that the shape of the overall enzyme had changed. This meant that at the pH levels of 2, 4, 9 or 12 the shape of the active site for the substrate to bond to would change, slowing down the process. At the pH level of 7, catalases activity was the greatest. Part 4: Change in Substrate Concentration Hypothesis: If the concentration of the substrate (hydrogen peroxide) increases the rate of reaction also increases. This hypothesis was proven to be true. This relationship was much like that of the concentration of the catalase. As the concentration of the substrate increased the rate of reaction also increased because there were more hydrogen peroxide molecules available to react with the catalase. However, at one point (the point of saturation, which wasnt achieved in this lab) the rate of reaction would be constant. That meant at a given point during the experiment, all of the active sites of the catalase would be occupied with a hydrogen peroxide molecule and the rate of reaction would neither increase nor decrease. Strictly looking at the experiment observed, the rate of reaction was increasing as the substrate concentration was increasing because there were more substrates available to react with an enzyme at a specific time. Part 5: Addition of an Inhibitor Hypothesis: If the addition of an inhibitor increased then that means the rate of reaction would decrease. This hypothesis was also proven correct. The copper (II) sulphate acted as an inhibitor for the experiment. When added, the copper (II) sulphate attached itself to the active site of the catalase molecules, causing the rate of reaction to decrease. The copper (II) sulphate was meant to block the active site, which it did successfully, hence the decrease in the rate of reaction. This meant, the more copper (II) sulphate was added the lower the rate of reaction would be. This is because this inhibitor stalls the reaction time because there are less reactions taking place at that moment in time, due to the fact that the active sites are blocked off from the hydrogen peroxide molecules. Evaluation: Sources of Error Throughout this lab there were many errors made that were uncontrolled and/or unaccounted for. These errors were not human errors, which were tried to be reduced to the minimal if not none. Some sources of error included: the test tube measurements, errors regarding the filter paper disc and the inconsistent concentration of the catalase. The test tubes were meant to be all the same shape and hold the same amount. However this was not the case for every single test tube. To the human eyes the amount in the test tube might look the same but in reality the amount might vary. This is due to the fact that the test tubes from the inside do not all have the same shape, after all test tubes are human made and there is a chance of major human error during that process as well. The test tubes not being consistent meant that there was room for error in measurements. Even though the volume of the catalase and the hydrogen peroxide were measured out precisely, the measurements that were made using a ruler were not. This was due to the fact that the test tubes were not all the same, and that the human eye is not precise in analyzing such measurements. This meant there were countless errors throughout the lab. For many processes the filter paper disc, which was dipped in the potato juice, did not always sink to the bottom of the test tube. Even with the help of forceps and plastic pipettes, which were used to aid the filter paper disc to the bottom of the test tube, the filter paper disc did not reach the bottom. This was because the catalase that was absorbed into the filter paper disc automatically started reacting with the hydrogen peroxide. They were very inconsistent, some filter paper discs took a longer time to be pushed to the bottom and others simply sank, and since time was a major aspect to the lab this caused many errors. Catalase concentration was also a source of error. There were many potatoes that were ground and made into potato juice for the purpose of this lab. Naturally, they would carry different concentration of catalase because of the different ways they were grown. There might be a potato that had many nutrients while it was still maturing in the field and a potato that barely got any nutrients. The concentration of the catalase used in one part of the lab would be higher or lower than the concentration of the catalase used in another part because of the different potatoes used. This affected the lab because, like observed before, the higher the concentration of the catalase the higher the rate of reaction there will be. In the future, if only one potato was ground and made into potato juice would help control this aspect of the lab. These were only three main errors observed during this lab. There were many more, regarding the separate sections of the lab. Evaluation: Next Steps Throughout this lab there were many procedures that could have been done differently or to a different point. Another lab could have been carried out with another natural enzyme which could have been comparable to the factors and affects of catalase. Also, the saturation level was undiscovered for the enzyme (in terms of concentration, and the inhibitors). Both are procedures that could have been carried to obtain a better understanding of enzymes. Another miniature lab would have been helpful if done, because then the factors and the affects these factors had on the rate of reactions could have been compared for a better understanding. There is another naturally occurring enzyme that shares characteristics with catalase. This enzyme is called amylase. Amylase is a catalyst that hydrolysis polysaccharides starch into disaccharide maltose. Amylase can be found in the saliva, produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas. If amylase is added to starch solution, the starch will soon break down to form maltose (Enzyme Lab). Both catalase and amylase are natural occurring enzymes found in the human body and they are great for comparison with one another. If the same lab was done with amylase this lab would help others understand a little more in the similarities and differences between enzymes. One other suggestion would be to carry out the experiments to the full potential. After reading and studying enzymes, it is clear that there are saturation points for the substrate concentration and the affects of an inhibitor (Nelson Biology 12). Saturation points refer to the point at which there is no increase or decrease in the rate of reaction between the catalase and hydrogen peroxide. The experiment that required the increase in the substrate concentration could have been (and should have been) carried out until the point of saturation was observed. This is when the rate of reaction stays at a constant because all the active sites are occupied by hydrogen peroxide molecules and no other reactions can occur. This could have also been possible with the inhibitor part of the lab. At one point no reactions would occur because the inhibitors would have been blocking all the possible active sites for the hydrogen peroxide to react with. This is also referred to as a saturation point . If these saturation points were observed, there wouldve been a better understanding of the affects the different factors had on the enzyme. For future labs, both these processes should be considered, if not acted upon. With both processes there is the availability to further the understanding of enzymes and their capabilities in living organisms. Work Cited CATALASE -ANTIOXIDANT BENEFITS, INFORMATION ON SUPPLEMENTS, ARTICLES, LINKS, NEWS, ADVICE. VITAMINSTUFF A RESOURCE FOR VITAMINS, HERBS, ANTIOXIDANTS, AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Catalase An Extraordinary Enzyme. Catalase Home Page (Index page for http://www.catalase.com). N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Enzyme Lab Ex. 4. Welcome to Eve. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Enzymes Enzyme Biological Catalysts Diet and Health.net. Diet and Health.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Protein Digestion: A Trip Through the Gut. Oracle ThinkQuest Library . N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . Substrate definition from Biology-Online.org. Life Science Reference Biology Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . catalase: Definition from Answers.com. Answers.com: Wiki QA combined with free online dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedias. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. . The innocence in this world has become extinct Though, my purity still stands because my status is distinct. I have been refusing to give the green light Continually declining every invite It  Ã‚  holds all the respect   Its just not enough to relinquish in an hour Once it is gone, its gone forever Its just not worth it to me One of my worst enemies is Regret All the hurt and all the pain is hard to forget I dont want to be a statistic So when it comes to sex, we speak of different linguistics. I must add that my mind is pessimistic. What if something goes wrong? What if its sadistic They always ask me if Im clean. Give it up baby, youre already seventeen Sounds like a kid to me   I dont know what the fuck you mean. Im just not you, one who lets lust consume Seems like everyone lost it already In this I must say, My standards must be met for it to be given away. That man better love me to death I better be the reason for his every breath Baby dont you see the ring on that right fist Because I dare that man to run off with my virginity

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Higher Education, and American Society

After thoroughly reading â€Å"Race, Higher Education, and American Society,† I felt genuinely enlightened. As cliche as that sounds, the article left me with a better understanding of what causes our society to function like it does. But on a deeper level I felt somewhat ashamed of the extreme close-mindedness that seems to run rampant throughout our nation. The argument that stood out the most, and was the most interesting to me was â€Å"The conclusion of most of us is that â€Å"race† does not exist as a biological phenomenon. ut rather that it is socially and culturally constructed† (pg, 216). I wholeheartedly agree and support this argument, it's not that society finds the different pigment of one's skin taboo, but more the various stereotypes one is in a sense â€Å"branded† with by society. The author later explains that for the most part this form of discrimination is somewhat subliminal, in that no one would deliberately admit to it. Moses goes into deeper analysis by saying that stereotypes are based upon people associating certain â€Å"innate characteristics† to specific groups of people. Furthermore I share the feeling of the author of how sad it is that we live in a society that is so â€Å"preconditioned† to the idea of fixed racial categories. I've noticed a pattern in history that makes up our country, it is riddled with persecution, but despite this it seems we've learned nothing. I find it embarrassing that we could once be so ignorant to think that fellow human beings could be inferior based solely on the color of their skin and the location in which they reside. Although this was not mentioned in the article nor have I read it anywhere else, my hypothesis would be that darker skin pigments are a dominant evolutionary trait. For those that live close to and around the equator the darker skin is a defense to constant exposure to a sun that is in a sense â€Å"closer† than it is in the northern hemisphere. The best evidence in support of the above mentioned argument provided within in the article is early and extremely conventional belief that â€Å"some people cannot learn†. What this is saying essentially is certain minorities have inferior brain capacity and therefore can't be taught. This concept itself was most easily seen in our own Constitution, being that people of color, poor white men, and women were not considered to be citizens. Even close to two hundred years later, there was still virtually no educational and social mobility for minorities. Its that sad cliche of â€Å"the rich get richer while the poor remain poor†. The author also explains how certain elements perpetuate the homogenization of elite universities, such as â€Å"grades and test scores constitute merit† (pg. 17). This in addition to the endless cycle that makes up inner-city education: the schools lack resources and the desire to prepare these children, giving them a disadvantage when taking standardized tests and more specifically when trying to be admitted into a institution of higher learning. In conclusion, it is evident from the information within this article that stereotypes and racism are still found in America, and those who perpetuate them by encouraging homo-geniousness are merely trying to keep the rich†¦ rich.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Background on Stress

INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF STUDY Work Related stress is a major cause of employee’s low productivity in an organisation. Encarta dictionary defines stress as strain felt by somebody mentally, physically, emotionally which may cause symptoms as raised blood pressure and depression. It is important to recognise and address properly job-related stress because it badly affects the employee’s mental and physiological health. As there is so many resources for employees to perform excellent in their jobs but there are also some factors that hinder their performance. These factors lead to their performance negatively.Newman and Behr (1979) defined job stress as ‘a situation wherein job-related factors interact with the worker to change his or her psychological and or psychological condition such that the person is forced to deviate from normal functioning. Some reasons for stress at the workplace could be; inability to meet the demand of the job, building and maintaining an amiable relationship with colleagues, management of subordinate staff, imparting knowledge to others and taking works from them, excessive work pressure to meet deadlines, inability to be creative, change of job, sexual harassment.These kind of work related stress results in poor performance by members of the organization. Attison (2002) says stress is a major factor in up to 80% of all work-related injuries and 40% of workplace turnovers. Despite tremendous advancement in science and technology and availability of various sources of luxury, majority of the workers in Ghana seem to be experiencing moderate to high degree of psychological stress in various spheres of their lives.Job related-stress is also a serious cause of mental health and health-related injuries. David and Cooper (1981) discovered that workplace stress has been increasingly quoted as the main cause of accidents, job dissatisfaction and other psychological illnesses like heart attack, alcoholism and hypertension . WORK RELATED STRESS Well-designed, organised and managed work is good for us but when insufficient attention to job design, work organisation and management has taken place, it can result in Work related stress.Work related stress develops because a person is unable to cope with the demands being placed on them. Stress, including work related stress, can be a significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as more errors. Stress can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work related stress is widespread and is not confined to particular sectors, jobs or industries.