Essay about Prince Sports Case Analysis

Paper about Prince Sports Case Analysis Paper about Prince Sports Case Analysis Ashley Blyth Sovereign Sports Case Analysis Advertising Principles Sovereign Sports is an athletic gear retailer that offers a wide range of items for tennis, squash, badminton, and racquetball, and oar tennis. It’s complete line of tennis items incorporate in excess of 150 racquet models, in excess of 50 tennis strings, more than 50 footwear models, and innumerable kinds of packs, attire, and different embellishments. Imagining the main curiously large, long-body racquets, the principal engineered gut tennis string, and the primary regular foot shape sneaker is something that Prince highly esteems throughout the entire existence of development in tennis. In the 21st century natural powers worked for and against Prince from multiple points of view. Social powers work for Prince because of individuals being wellbeing cognizant which brings about individuals taking an interest in physical exercises, for example, tennis. Pay and occupation assumes a job here on the grounds that tennis is known as a â€Å"rich† people sport. Mechanical powers help sovereign in a couple of various ways. Increment of innovation will make it simpler to research and produce a wide range of items. Having accessibility to explore various thoughts for new items as well as to really have the option to create them relying upon what the consumers’ needs are will be a lot simpler as innovation propels. Additionally innovation gave more outlets to advertising. This can neutralize Prince too. Having an accessible online market gives open door for customers to leave criticism and audits. One way this could neutralize Prince is if there are any dis-fulfill ed clients they can leave surveys and input for conceivable new purchasers to see, bringing about the loss of business. Numerous new customers do audit look before buying an item or administration on the web. Monetary powers depend on the economy. On the off chance that the economy is acceptable it will work in favor for Prince. On the off chance that buyers feel good in the acquisition of another item that will just bring about more buys, and more verbal promoting. Nonetheless, if the economy is terrible this will make it more outlandish for buyers to buy any tennis hardware. They will presumably manage with what they right now have. The development of tennis related items relies intensely upon the development of the tennis business all in all. There are distinctive advertising exercises that the United States can do to advance tennis playing. Each buyer wants to see the word free. Parting with free tennis exercises will start the enthusiasm of a purchaser. When an individual plays tennis just because there is a more prominent possibility they will come back to play once more. There is additionally the plan to utilize web based sites to sell the game at a limited rate. A case of a web based website that sells merchandise and enterprises at a limited rate is Groupon. Here Prince could offer either free or limited time costs for exercises, day outings, games, or gathering bundles. At the point when individuals utilize limited tennis match-ups verbal exchange will in the end spread and more individuals will discuss tennis bringing about more individuals joining the game. Media publicizing is an incredible method to focus on a particular market. Running an ad of the considerable number of masters of playing tennis, for example, an incredible type of activity, to accomplish and keep up great wellbeing. On the off chance that focusing on individuals who are pulled in to great wellbeing and keeping up it a thought is run a commercial in a wellbeing magazine, this would focus on a particular customer. There are a wide range of special initiates that Prince can use to arrive at recreational players and junior players too. Deal advancements, for example, free exercises with the acquisition of an item are thoughts for advancements. Offering free exercise administrations to get purchasers intrigued is a good thought. Since recreational players might be playing tennis for the basic reality of good exercise. In light of this they may be found in rec centers, or spas. Draping ads in these areas would be utilized a drawing device for an objective gathering. Junior players can be pulled in through

Paul Slabolepszy coming of age in the cradle of apartheid Essay Example For Students

Paul Slabolepszy: transitioning in the support of politically-sanctioned racial segregation Essay As a 12-year-old student, Paul Slabolepszy, one of South Africas most straightforward enemy of politically-sanctioned racial segregation writers, had his first experience with political dissent. Brought up in a traditionalist, rustic town and taught at an isolated Catholic all inclusive school, Slabolepszy ventured out to Johannesburg for a game with the swimming club. In transit, the transport brimming with unruly little youngsters halted close to a gathering of white ladies walking to fight the administrations isolated instruction framework. Socialists, he pondered internally, parroting the articulation he frequently heard in his old neighborhood of Wit-bank. He at that point ventured into his pack to discover a sack of oranges, which he heaved at the dissenters. It was only school-kid naughtiness at that point, however over three decades later Slabolepszy reviews the occurrence with humiliation The 45-year-old dramatist experienced childhood in what he calls the Deep South of South Africa, and a large number of his characters are culled from this scene. It wasnt until he entered the University of Cape Town that he encountered radical governmental issues. My sort of enlivening was abrupt and touchy, says Slabolepszy, who expounds on South Africas racial issues with incredible affectability and is one of only a handful scarcely any neighborhood dramatists who draws in both highly contrasting crowds. Since 1982, he has composed and arranged a play a year. Writing to fill the void A distant memory are Slabolepszys days as a conservative moderate. In the front corridor of his two-story house balance confined banners from his 16 plays. The one for Braait Laaities, a play he wrote in 1991, shows a dark man and a white lady sitting together. In Bloemfontein right-wingers shower painted |traitor over these banners, which were hung all over town, reviews Slabolepszy. His plays contain scraps and flashes of life account. He depicts things that he saw growing up among conservative Afrikaners in center South Africa where his Polish fathera previous Royal Air Force pilotworked in a copper mine. In school he needed to be a games author. He kept a journal loaded up with arbitrary episodes, which he wrote down in discourse structure. I get it has consistently been in me to compose plays, says Slabolepszy, an establishing individual from Cape Towns Space Theater with Athol Fugard and Yvonne Bryceland in 1972. As he kept on working in South Africa, Slabolepszy found thatapart from Fugardthere was a shortage of new South African plays, and started writing to fill the void. An on-screen character just as an author, he regularly acts in his own work. Slabolepszys genuine advancement came in 1982 with Saturday Night at the Palace, which he in the end performed at the Old Vic in London. The thought for Palace, which rotates around an encounter at a roadhouse burger joint, originated from a concise, first page story in a Johannesburg paper. The feature read |Bizarre Attack on Roadhouse. The article portrayed how a few white young people rode up to a cafe at 2 oclock in the first part of the day as a dark server was quitting for the day the night. They tossed a smoke canister through the window. He ran out and they beat him up. It was a minuscule article. That is all it stated, recalls Slabolepszy. Stories like that cause you to ask, |What truly happened that night? Something different more likely than not occurred. One of the few characters who in the long run met up in Palace is a dark man who lives in a remote country yet works in Johannesburg; as he gathers his sacks, he discusses what it resembles living in a major city and moving 400 miles to and fro to work. The adolescent who turns into his key enemy is a jobless white soccer player. Royal residence and his other early plays were irate works in which Slabolepszy was attempting to uncover the framework. Presently his work will in general be about compromise. He composes night and day, and at present has three plays on the burner. Its this overflowing constantly. I have such huge numbers of stories to tell, he says. There is a similar direness to his composing that there is to his discourse. .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 , .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .postImageUrl , .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .focused content territory { min-tallness: 80px; position: relative; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 , .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5:hover , .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5:visited , .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5:active { border:0!important; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .clearfix:after { content: ; show: table; clear: both; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 { show: square; progress: foundation shading 250ms; webkit-change: foundation shading 250ms; width: 100%; obscurity: 1; change: darkness 250ms; webkit-progress: haziness 250ms; foundation shading: #95A5A6; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5:active , .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5:hover { murkiness: 1; progress: mistiness 250ms; webkit-change: obscurity 250ms; foundation shading: #2C3E50; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .focused content region { width: 100%; position: rel ative; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .ctaText { outskirt base: 0 strong #fff; shading: #2980B9; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: striking; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; content embellishment: underline; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .postTitle { shading: #FFFFFF; text dimension: 16px; textual style weight: 600; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; width: 100%; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .ctaButton { foundation shading: #7F8C8D!important; shading: #2980B9; fringe: none; outskirt range: 3px; box-shadow: none; text dimension: 14px; textual style weight: intense; line-stature: 26px; moz-outskirt sweep: 3px; content adjust: focus; content improvement: none; content shadow: none; width: 80px; min-tallness: 80px; foundation: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/modules/intelly-related-posts/resources/pictures/straightforward arrow.png)no-rehash; position: outright; right: 0; top: 0; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5:hover .ctaButton { foundation shading: #34495E!impor tant; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5 .focused content { show: table; tallness: 80px; cushioning left: 18px; top: 0; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5-content { show: table-cell; edge: 0; cushioning: 0; cushioning right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-adjust: center; width: 100%; } .u30d181324fa70ab58cde7b0760b2b5d5:after { content: ; show: square; clear: both; } READ: The Persians': curved history and radical chic EssayIt is Slabolepszys discourse that recognizes him from different writers of his age. He has figured out how to catch the embodiment of both highly contrasting South African slang. He utilizes township rapa discourse that joins phrases from English, Zulu and Afrikaansthroughout his plays, especially Palace and Mooi Street Moves, his latest work. On-screen characters love to do Pauls plays, says his better half Carol, a previous ballet artist. He composes for on-screen characters. He composes the manner in which individuals talk. The words sit easily with the on-screen characters. Captivated by Eivis Slabolepszy has been labeled the following Fugard, yet he doesnt like to be contrasted and his notable comrade. He says his discourse isn't Fugardian. Fugard doesnt talk in broken sentences, in the language of the road. His discourse is general. Its accessiblelong, elegant, expressive entries. I dont care whether somebody abroad comprehends the slang in my plays. Im doing it for my nearby individuals. By the by, Slabolepszys plays have made a trip to London, Munich and the Edinburgh Festivaland this month, his American debut will come when Mooi Street Moves opens at MetroStage, a little expert performance center organization in the Washington, D.C. territory which is known locally for its Fugard creations. As the beneficiary of an award from the U.S. Data Service, Slabolepszy completed a hurricane voyage through provincial performance centers in the United States last April. Despite the fact that he had at no other time been to the States, bits of Americana (the result of watching American motion pictures) crop up consistently in his plays. Sitting at his lounge area table wearing an Elvis Presley T-shirt that he purchased at Macys in New York, slabolepszy says he wishes that he could have gone to Graceland during his ongoing excursion. His fixation on Elvis is reflected in one of Slabolepszys best plays, a years ago The Return of Elvis du Pisanie, an exclusive show about a man nearly self destruction. Its about standing up to torment, says the writer, who likewise showed up as the shows focal character. South African men are advised to cover their agony. Elvis du Pisanie is the sole overcomer of a family bloodbathhe alone evaded being executed by his dad since he was remaining outside a film house trusting that his well known namesake will show up. Asked whether he wants to ever leave South Africa, Slabolepszy answers a resonating no. We are entrapped in an issue that is so prevalentwere living on the edge constantly, says Slabolepszy. That is the reason I could just capacity in South Africa. Im keen on composing for this crowd. Its the individuals here that I know so well. Their voices are inside my head. I need to offer life to those voices and contemplations.

7 Tips for Financial Caregivers

7 Tips for Financial Caregivers 7 Tips for Financial Caregivers 7 Tips for Financial CaregiversTaking over the finances from an elderly relative can be difficult, so here is some expert advice to help you navigate that delicate process.We recently wrote about an uncomfortable conversation you may need to have one day when you may have an elderly relative who will need you to take an active role in their finances.They may not agree that you need to take an active role in their finances, however, which is where the awkwardness of the conversation would likely come in. We already covered the best way to start that conversation and navigate it in a sensitive manner, but even if it goes well, that’s only the beginning.Being a financial caregiver can be difficult, stressful, and emotionally draining. But you can also take some satisfaction in helping someone you love to survive in their old age. Here are some tips to manage a role you may not have expected to ever take on.1. Try to be a partner.Being a financial caregiver will be less stressful for b oth you and the person you’re assisting if you don’t try to take on more control than is necessary.“The objective of parent-adult child eldercare conversations is to encourage mutually responsible partnerships,” advised Joy Loverde (@joyloverde), author of The Complete Eldercare Planner. “Partnering with, rather than parenting our parents, is the desired approach.“As long as our parents remain mentally able to make their own decisions, we must appreciate the limits of the parent-child relationship. Many adult children have learned the hard way that attempts to impose their opinions, values, and authority on their parents will begin a downward spiral in the communication process, leading to a breakdown in the relationship.“When we focus our conversation style on influencing parents to seek and accept help from others, and keep them accountable for their own choices, they can remain true to their independent ideals.”2. Get all your legal ducks in a row.Managing legal d ocuments can be confusing and stressful even when you have them all in front of you. The more documents are missing, the less manageable the task becomes.“Make sure your relative has all of their legal documents in place,” recommended Renee Fry, Co-Founder and CEO of Gentreo (@Gentreo).“For instance, you need a power of attorney to be able to make financial decisions for the person you are helping. Without one, you can not access or transfer funds or even pay medical or other bills.Make sure your older relative also has a health care proxy so important decisions can be made on care or even where care can be provided.”3. Act in their interests.Do you want to be a caregiver or a caretaker? Wait … those actually mean similar things. How is that possible? Whatever, the point is you should try to act along with the desires of the person you’re looking after.“Understand their intentions,” Holly Wolf, Director of Customer Engagement for SOLO Laboratories (@SOLO_labs) told u s. “What is it they are trying to do with their money? Is it making it last until they die? Creating a legacyâ€"for whom and why? Is it enjoying the money they have now?If you think they should be spending and they prefer to save, you need to understand their objectives.”4. Look out for scams.While you want to try and follow the elderly person’s wishes as closely as possible, the very fact that they need a financial caregiver means that they won’t always be able to make the right choices. That means you might need to act against their wishes in instances where you recognize that they’re likely being scammed.“Make sure your elderly relative is not taken advantage of by scams or criminals who are trying to trick them into writing checks, transferring money, etc.,” warned Fry. “Set limits on spending, or require your relative to ask you first if they want to write a check or take money out of the bank.”5. Keep a close watch.Looking out for scams means keeping tabs on your elder, especially if they’re doing any financial tasks online.“Monitor financial information and online usage,” urged Matt Dworetsky, president of Dworetsky Financial (@MDworetsky). “Depending on the situation, you should be involved in the financial management of your loved one.As people age and lose the ability to manage their own finances, they become more vulnerable to fraud. Many seniors fall victim to expensive online scams. Talk with your loved one about the importance of working together in this area to make sure everyone is protected.”6. Seek help.There’s no reason you should have to deal with this responsibility alone.“Have another person involved,” recommended Wolf. “All of the people I have helped (aunt/uncle, inlaws, great aunt, parent) use an accountant that is unrelated to me. That way they have another set of eyes reviewing things to be sure Im not doing anything wrong.”7. Don’t forget your own finances.In order to be a good financial careg iver, you need to have your own financial house in order.“Your financial security comes first,” advised Dworetsky. “Do not put your future and security on the line while taking care of a loved one or you will jeopardize both of your lives if a financial emergency happens and you can’t care for either of you. Make sure you are always putting money into your savings and retirement accounts.”It’s an important task you’ve taken on. Hopefully, these tips will make it an easier one. To learn more about navigating money, relationships, and aging, check out these other posts and articles from OppLoans:Tips for Managing Your Money in Old Age12 Tips for Talking About Money With Your Spouse or PartnerHow to Spot Financial Elder AbuseShould You and Your Spouse Keep Your Finances Separate?Do you have a   personal finance question youd like us to answer? Let us know! You can find us  on  Facebook  and  Twitter.  |  InstagramContributorsMatt Dworetsky, president of Dworetsky Financia l (@MDworetsky), helps clients maximize their retirement by creating personalized plans for their goals. Whether you are a federal employee, small business owner or any person looking to set up your retirement the right way, Matt will help create a legacy and plan for retirement pitfalls.Renee Fry is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gentreo (@Gentreo), an online software provider with a mission to provide affordable, accessible and easy-to-use estate planning tools for everyone.  Renee has led and helped start multiple companies, served in the Massachusetts government as head of Business and Technology and is a graduate of Harvard Business School.Joy Loverde (@joyloverde) is the author of the best-seller, The Complete Eldercare Planner (2009) and Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old? (2017). She is a mature-market consultant, keynote speaker, and media spokesperson. Visit her website at www.ElderIndustry.com.Holly Wolf  is an executive with over 30 years of experience in banking and he althcare.

The Importance Of The Civil Rights Movement - 819 Words

Katelynn Douget 9-25-17 HIST 2057-01 The Importance of the Civil Rights Movement This essay will argue that though racism is still ongoing, the Civil Rights Movement was a vital step forward to provide racial equality in America. The Civil Rights Movement did not just happen over a course of days or months, its process took nearly a century. It has never fully stopped racism, but it has definitely made the United States a more equal nation through laws. Unfortunately, personal opinions about race cannot be stopped or prevented. There were several events as well as tragedies that took place during that time. Some major events were the ratification of the 14th and 15th Amendments, the Brown vs. Board of Education case, and the†¦show more content†¦The Brown vs. Board of Education case changed public schools for the better. The case stated that separate schools for race were unconstitutional. It all started when a school in Virginia went on strike because of the overcrowding and unequal conditions in the school. à ¢â‚¬Å"Brown was regarded as a direct challenge to regional customs, traditions, and ways of life and thus provoked a massive reaction.† It allowed blacks and whites to attend the same schools and gave African American students the opportunity to have the same quality education and schools as the white students. â€Å"In the 1948-49 school year, the average investment per pupil in Atlanta public school facilities was $228.05 for blacks, $570 for whites†. That goes to show that the school conditions for blacks was unfair compared to the whites. Also the average number of blacks per classroom was well over the average number of whites in a classroom. Because of the Brown vs. Board of Education case, African Americans no longer had harsh conditions to be in at school and did not have to share one classroom amongst several grades in a crammed room. The Civil Rights Act took place in 1964. It gave new rights to all citizens. The Act abolished discrimination in all public p laces. It made it possible for whites and blacks to eat in the same restaurant and took away separateShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of The Civil Rights Movement1048 Words   |  5 PagesKatelynn Douget 10-9-17 HIST 2057-01 The Importance of the Civil Rights Movement This essay will argue that though racism is still ongoing, the Civil Rights Movement was a vital step forward to provide racial equality in America. The Civil Rights Movement did not just happen over a course of days or months, its process took nearly a century. It has never fully stopped racism, but it has definitely made the United States a more equal nation through laws. There were several events as wellRead MoreThe Importance Of The Civil Rights Movement1692 Words   |  7 Pagesand altered the history. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s was one of the most significant and important for the equality of all people and their free rights. Since the ending of slavery in 1863, there had been a continuous conflict between the races of people who lived in the United States. In addition, the Civil Rights Act was a crowd protest movement against racial segregation and discrimination in the southern United States that came to national importance during the mid-1950s. It was t oRead MoreThe Importance Of The Civil Rights Movement1054 Words   |  5 PagesThe civil rights movement come into being in the middle of the twentieth century. The push came from African Americans who did not get the same rights as the whites such as equal access to public amenities, equal chances in education, job recruitment and housing, the right to vote and freedom from racial discrimination. The movement was fighting to bring back the right of citizenship to the African Americans after its erosion by segregationist jim crow law. It further led to the reemergence of theRead MoreThe Importance of Sit-Ins to the Black Civil Rights Movement Essay1271 Words   |  6 Pages Civil disobedience was key in the pursuit of equality for African Americans during the Civil Rights Movement. Through forms of peaceful protest, African Americans were able to bring to light the socio-economic inequalities they faced and forced the government and general public to do something about it. Sit-ins, one method of practicing civil disobedience, took root in the early 1960s and quickly became a popular and effective form of peaceful protest. James Baldwin makes a veryRead MoreThe White Race And Its Heroes1623 Words   |  7 PagesPrimary Source Analysis: Cleaver, E. â€Å"The White Race and Its Heroes.† in Souls on Ice, 65-83. New York: Dell Press, 1968. Journalist, civil rights activist and criminal are some of the connotations attached to Eldridge Cleaver; a prominent figure of the radical shift in the civil rights movement during the 1960s and early 1970s. Cleaver spent a majority of his upbringing in youth reform schools and prisons within the state of California, which as evidence will show, affected greatly upon his workRead More The Civil Rights Movement Essay1071 Words   |  5 Pageslight can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. - - Martin Luther King, Jr. The Civil rights Movement helped people realize how powerful their voice can be, which changed America completely. One of those people who had a powerful voice was Martin Luther King, Jr. He was an inspiring and influential leader of the Civil Rights Movement. The quote above is just one of many inspirational comments made by Martin Luther King. The peaceful protests against racismRead MoreInterpretations Of The Civil Rights Movement1415 Words   |  6 PagesHistoriographical interpretations of the Civil Rights Movement have often been documented as a history of great men mostly focusing on black men like Dr. Martin Luther King, John Lewis, Jim Lawson, and Malcom X. As scholars of the civil rights movement, we now recognize the ways in which the prevailing forces of both patriarchy and sexism have done the work of minimizing and erasing the important contributions of women throughout the progression of human history. Whether we look to the developmentRead MoreThe Brown Decision : A Catalyst For Change Or A Strategic Misstep?1157 Words   |  5 Pagesmisstep. However, I believe that while it took Congressional action and outside social change to make this decision relevant, the Brown decision did have an impact on public policy because it set the standard for how the Court would react to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I believe that the Brown decision was not a strategic misstep, but was a catalyst for change. My argument is not too far off from Ginsberg’s; I cannot refute his argument that the Brown decision had â€Å"virtually no effect† on publicRead MoreThe American Abolitionists Book Review Essay1214 Words   |  5 PagesAbolitionists is a book that scrutinizes the movement of abolishing slavery in the United States. It examines the movement from its origin in the 18century in the course of the Civil War and the elimination of slavery in 1856. American Abolitionists book focuses on the American Abolitionists who struggled to end slavery and advocated for equal rights for all African Americans in the United States. Harrold mainly focuses his book on the abolitionist movement and the effect of slaves on its expansionRead MoreAt the Dark End of the Street by Danielle L. McGuire668 Words   |  3 PagesMost curriculums being taught to students withhold a mass amount of history. Some may do this because they feel some events do not have the same importance as other topics being taught. Such topics for example would be the rape and sexual exploitation of thousands of African American females during the time periods where racism and segregation was the norm. It is important for people to be educated about the horrific events that these women went through without justice. It is also essential because

School Uniforms - 1506 Words

School Uniforms Help Students Make the Grade On February 24 of 1996 when President Bill Clinton made a speech at the Jackie Robinson Academy in Long Beach California he stated â€Å"This remarkable progress that you have shown in your school as a result of your school uniform policy, making it safe, more disciplined and orderly, creates teachers who focus on teaching and students who focus on their job of learning† (Bily, 2014 p.5). The school dress code debate is not new and the belief that it makes schools safer and improves learning and test scores has been in the forefront as one of the many ways to improve and promote education in our country. The school classrooms in this country are nothing like they were in the past.†¦show more content†¦Reports from The Journal of Educational Research reflect the belief that school uniforms have no direct effect on substance use, behavioral problems or attendance issues after analyzing data from the National Educational Longitudinal study of 1988. (Brunsma Rockquemore, 2001, p 92) The authors of the article go on to make a bold claim that contrary to current discourse there may be a negative effect of school uniforms on student academic achievement. This research revelation was considered breaking news in its day of discovery. It was not until two years later in 2003 that the very same scholarly journal, The Journal of Educational Research, posted an article by Ann Bodine from the University of Texas, San Antonio. This article titled â€Å"School Uniforms, Academic Achievement and Uses of Research† takes a closer look at the data from the article from two years prior. I quote her findings â€Å"In a re-examination of the author s data, I find no evidence to support their claim, whereas in my examination of the structure of argument, I discovered that the claim resulted from misleading use of sector analysis.† (Bodine, 2003 p. 67) This latest information disputes the results of the previous article in the very same journal. Oftentime research and data can be confusing and disputed. When looking at the issue of school uniforms in this country we must understand it is somewhat controversial and multifaceted. In addition to analyzing the researchShow MoreRelatedSchool Uniforms And Schools Uniform s1211 Words   |  5 PagesSchool uniforms began their revolution in private schools; they represented a unique appearance, and provided a safe environment for the students attending. Private and Catholic schools were clever enough for implementing school uniforms, because without their influence public schools would have not adapted on creating a dress code for students. By introducing school uniforms in school policies they have managed to impact students learning environment in reducing stress, changing students’ behaviorRead MoreUniforms in School726 Words   |  3 PagesThe standard issue school uniform of khaki, navy and white once exclusive to the private parochial institutions is becoming a common requirement in public schools across the nation. This trend that was first suggested for public schools in 1980 by then D. C. mayor, Marion Barry, to help diminish the social stigma of low income students has grown significantly in both numbers and reasons (Lawrence, 2013 ). In 2010, it was reported by the National Center for Education Statistics, that nearly 19% ofRead MoreSchools and Uniforms733 Words   |  3 PagesSchool Uniforms Uniforms in schools are a big debate around the world. Should we have uniforms in schools? The answer is yes because uniform help the schools. They bring to table a great deal of help because students are getting bullied, killed, and some may not have as much as other when shopping for clothes. Having uniforms bring safety to schools and what goes on after school. Why do we need uniforms? Most student have their own style, but a common argument against school uniforms is thatRead MoreSchool Uniform And School Uniforms937 Words   |  4 PagesSchool Uniform School uniforms keep students focused on their education not in their clothings. When all students are wearing the same outfit, they are less concerned about how they look and how they fit in with their peers. It’s easier for parent and students do not spend time choosing appropriate outfit for school day. It helps students can only concentrate on their schoolwork. Education is one of the big institutions for every kid that go to school. Also education is the roots that will help peopleRead MoreSchool Uniforms And Schools Uniforms819 Words   |  4 Pagesas school uniforms, many are quick to deem them as unjust and avoidable. What these individuals do not know is that, in fact, school uniforms would enhance how the learning environment functions. Surely, when schools provide their students with uniforms, they are not providing their students with dreadful apparel, they are providing their students with an opportunity to change; whether it be a chance for a student to change t heir role academically, or a chance for a student to fit in. School uniformsRead MoreSchool Uniforms1143 Words   |  5 PagesSchool uniforms make things more complicated Firstly, school is the place where all of us step in at a very tender age. In one word, life begins at school. It’s not just education but school gives us the platform to nurture our faith, emotions in such an early stage of life. The importance of making friends, working as a team- we learn all these in school. And wearing the same dress definitely brings a sense of unity among students. In every school there are students from different backgrounds butRead MoreSchool Uniforms: Yes or No?2109 Words   |  9 Pages3 March 2011 School Uniforms: A Non-Military Proposal for Swedens Students The word school uniform has negative connotations for many people. It makes them think of war, of soldier, of death, brainwashed airheads doing exactly the same as everybody else. It makes them think of reformed, collectivized groups of people with no personal identity. There are, however, reasons for the existence of the uniform; one of them being, as the name suggests, the purpose of uniting. At schools all around theRead MoreDress Codes And School Uniforms1248 Words   |  5 Pagesembarrassing than being dress coded at school? Enforcing a dress code among children is unfair because it not only discriminates against people but it destroys someone’s whole day. Dress codes and school uniforms are meant to increase student achievement and make everyone equal but instead it only hurts people. Most school dress codes are unnecessary and are sexist. Enforcing dress codes is suppose to boost student achievement but instead is racist, sexist and unnecessary. Schools should take in to considerationRead MoreShould School Uniforms For Wear Uniforms?969 Words   |  4 Pagesrequired to wear uniforms? In today’s society this is a very controversial subject across America. Many object uniforms because they feel uniforms don t allow students to have the freedom to express themselves the way they want. People feel uniforms undermine children s individuality. However, taking into consideration facts from both sides, what remains most important is the child s academics. To improve academics, schools should require all students to wear a uniform. Though uniforms may not be theRead MoreAre School Uniforms Beneficial Or Not?1098 Words   |  5 PagesAre School Uniforms Beneficial or Not? How does dressing and feeling the same as everybody else sound? Would it be enjoyable, or would it be no fun? According to Procon.org, the first recorded use of school uniforms in the United States was in 1994. In Europe around the early sixteenth century, school uniforms were made to tell the difference between poor students to the charity schools as opposed to other children. In London people thought that schools without uniforms were to be looked at as lower

The Island of Lauropia Free Essays

Secluded in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, is a place called Lauropia, a wonderful society. It is always peaceful and nothing bad ever happens on the island. The island’s air is always fresh and free of any toxins or pollution. We will write a custom essay sample on The Island of Lauropia or any similar topic only for you Order Now Temperature on the South side of Lauropia is always warm with no humidity present. On the North side of Lauropia the weather is always perfect for winter activities, the temperature is just cold enough for the snow to fall. The North side of the island is full of steep, snow-covered mountains that are perfect for skiing. On the South side of the Lauropia clean, sandy beaches cover the land. The ocean water is crystal clear and warm. Lauropia is the perfect place to live. On the island every person would be treated as an equal. No one person would think or act like they were better than someone else. There would be no racism present, all types of people would reside here and get along together. It wouldn’t matter if you were African American, Caucasian, Asian, Spanish, Mexican or any other race each and every individual would treat each other the same. Whether a person was heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual wouldn’t matter. Lauropians wouldn’t judge each other by their appearance or whom they interacted with. There would be a diverse amount of different religions that would not criticize the other religions for their beliefs. Once a month all the different religions would get together at the island community building and congregate together to discuss their viewpoints and thoughts on each faith. The Lauropians would be involved in a wide variety of sports and leisure activities all year long. This would be made possible because of the extreme temperature differences on the North and South sides of the mountain. The North side would always be cold so the citizen could go skiing and snowboarding at the Lauropian Mountain Resort. The resort would offer a wide variety of different leveled slopes for the skiers on one half of the mountain. On the other half of the mountain there would be a Snowboard Park consisting of a slopes and half pipes strictly for the snowboarders. A snow tubing park would also be available for any whom has interest in snow tubing. There would family tubes and single tubes available for use. For all the snow mobilers on Lauropia, The Lauropian Mobile Park will be open for their riding enjoyment. All these activities and more on North Lauropia will have minimal charges to take advantage of the facilities. On the warm and sunny South Lauropia, the beaches will be clean and free of charge for all citizens. The beaches would have volleyball courts open to anyone. At the piers there would be docks where people could rent Jet Ski’s, Speed Boats, Yachts, and Party Boats for their recreational pleasure. Sidewalks and paths would be on hand for Lauropians to roller blade, skateboard, ride bikes, and run, jog, or walk. Boating trips would also be available that take groups out in the middle of the ocean to scuba dive and snorkel. Throughout the whole island shopping centers, eateries, and sports complexes of all types will be accessible. Any store imaginable would exist for the Lauropians to shop for their wants and needs. The women would be in shopping heaven with the amount and variety of stores available to them. The amounts of places to eat would be incredible. They would range from places like Burger King and McDonalds, to Chi Chi’s and Lone Star, to five star restaurants. Any type of food that a person had a craving for would be accessible. Sports Complexes would be placed all over the island for Lauropians to participate in any athletic event that they enjoyed. There would be football, baseball, field hockey, softball, soccer, and lacrosse fields. Indoor and outdoor courts for tennis players would be accessible. If there were any sports that a person or group of people would want to play and the facilities were not available the Lauropian Sports Board would do their best to make them available. The Lauropian Society would always try to make the island enjoyable for each person. Schooling would be one of the most important aspects of life on the island. It will be required for all citizens to start their education at elementary school level and continue up to collegiate level. It would not be required, but if the parents wanted to start sending their children to nursery or preschool the facilities would be open for use free of charge. All schooling on the island would be free of charge because education is of great importance to the people of Lauropia. The schools would administer the best education possible. There would be a large variety colleges available for students to choose from depending on their individual or dual major. If a person decided that they did not want to finish their schooling, being banished from the island would punish them. When and if the person decides they want to come back to island to finish their education the school board will have a meeting and decide if that certain person deserves to be let back on the island. On most occasions the student will be allowed to come back. Once a person graduates from college and gets a job, if they decide they want to go back to college to further their education, the company that they work for will usually give them funding for it. Students will be required to go to school for nine months out of the year. Altogether students would be required to attend seventeen years of schooling. In order to insure that the students would be getting an excellent education the teachers would have to take a Teaching Exam every five years. If the teachers fail to complete the requirements and the written section of the test they will not be permitted to teach for one year. After the period of time is up the teacher may retake the test and if he or she passes it, they will then be allowed to teach again. Teachers would also be required to go back to college annually and take two courses to broaden their knowledge. All measures would be taken that would be necessary to maintain the finest quality of education for Lauropians. The citizens of Lauropia would be able to make up their own laws and rules. Each year the members the government would sit down and revise the laws from the years before if necessary. Each community on Lauropia would have representatives that would go around and take ideas and thoughts on how the island could be changed and run to make it better place to live. Laws would never be passed if a large number of people on the island disagreed with them. The main concern that the government would have is the Lauropians happiness. How to cite The Island of Lauropia, Papers

Quiz Innovation Essay Example

Quiz Innovation Essay Quiz No 3Version: A Name__________________Student Number______________ 1. The globalization of markets and the importance of innovation are independent of one another. 2. Flexible manufacturing technologies have increased the importance of production economies of scale. 3. Innovation and new technology have led to longer product life cycles as better quality products are being produced. 4. The increased pace of innovation has only had a negligible effect on market segmentation and product obsolescence. 5. Slow innovation results in diminishing margins and product obsolescence. 6. Technological innovation can have a positive impact on our quality of life through improved goods and services. 7. Technology’s effects on society are always positive. 8. Technology in its purest form is not knowledge, but rather faith that things will get better. 9. Firms that charge headlong into new product development usually have short development cycles. 10. Studies have revealed that innovation is a freewheeling process that is unconstrained by rules and plans. 11. Sometimes knowing a field too well can stifle creativity. 12. The organization’s structure, routines, and incentives can thwart individual creativity, but not amplify it. 13. Sometimes paying people for suggestions undermines creativity because it focuses their shift on extrinsic motivation. 14. Though a generalist by nature, inventors are specialists in the field in which they invent. 15. Innovation often originates with those who create solutions for their own needs. 16. The qualities that make people inventive do not necessarily make them entrepreneurial. 17. We will write a custom essay sample on Quiz Innovation specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Quiz Innovation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Quiz Innovation specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Manufacturers typically create new product innovations in order to profit from the sale of the innovation to customers. 18. Firms consider their in-house RD to be their least important source of innovation, but still feel it is necessary to possess. 19. The most frequent collaborations are between firms and their customers, suppliers, and local universities. 20. A complementor is a company or individual that produces goods or services that enhance the value of another product. 21. The path a technology follows through time is termed its technology map. 22. Product innovation can enable process innovation. 23. The radicalness of an innovation is absolute. 24. Radical innovation entails changing the overall design of the system or the way that components interact with each other. 25. In order to initiate a component innovation, a firm requires knowledge about the way components link and integrate to form the whole system. 26. A technology’s S-curve of performance improvement is unrelated to its S-curve of diffusion. 27. The S-curve in technological improvement is a plot of performance against effort and money invested in that technology. 8. Until a new technology has established a degree of legitimacy, it may be difficult to attract other researchers to participate in its development. 29. Technologies always get the opportunity to reach their performance limits before being replaced by a new technology. 30. â€Å"Moore’s Law† refers to the rapidly increasing density of transistors on integrated circuits that enabled microprocessor performance to increase dramatically. This increase in density is expected to always continue at the same rate.

Heroes and Heroism in Renaissance Literature Essays

Heroes and Heroism in Renaissance Literature Essays Heroes and Heroism in Renaissance Literature Paper Heroes and Heroism in Renaissance Literature Paper Essay Topic: Dr Faustus The Romance Of Tristan The social climate of a time and the associated values and norms will determine how characters are presented as a hero and how others are not. This paper will analyses how heroes are portrayed and how heroism is defined in Renaissance literature. To do so, we will have to look back at two literary periods which influenced the Renaissance significantly, namely the classical epics and poems, and medieval literature. This is necessary as it is impossible to analyses a literary movement without acknowledging its predecessors because art movements are often a reaction to its forerunners. The classical epics, poems, narratives and plays were essential in Ancient Greece and Rome. They were the main source of entertainment and were used to educate the people in these polytheistic societies. The hero in these texts were typically from noble and wealthy descend and they were sometimes portrayed as god-like characters. During these times, people valued ideals such as courage, honor, the warrior code and the importance of preserving the family good name. For example, epic heroes will not take on a fight with a weaker foe and he will respect the honorable heroic code. The characterization and portrayal of the heroes were done in a stereotypical way. A possible reason for this could be the fact that these stories ere part of the oral tradition of telling stories which means that events, characters and plots needed to be relatively simple and easy to remember. A typical protagonist would try to achieve a goal, but would not succeed and was likely to die in the process of trying to achieve it. He or she had one main, tragic flaw which would be his downfall and therefore would lead the hero to a tragic death. As his unlucky fate approaches, the hero will often have a lengthy lamentation where the character reflects on his unfortunate fate, sorrow existence, unjust times and the will of the gods. Examples of these tragic, epic heroes can be found in tragedy plays by classical playwrights such as Sophocles and Euripides and authors such as Virgil and Homer. Characters like Oedipus, Odysseus and Antigen are typical tragic heroes. For example, Antigens tragic flaw is her pride and her unwillingness to accept the rules of the King. She is a good example of a character whose tragic story turned out to be very influential to future authors. As the Classical Era came to an end, new values from the Middle Ages were gradually making their way into literature. The culture was undergoing a change as Christianity came more prominent in society. This religious change had a significant impact on social rules and values and this had a long-lasting influence on literature. Due to the high degree of illiteracy, people relied on monks and other members of the church to write down stories. Coincidently, there were a lot of religious overtones in medieval texts. Early medieval poems such as Beowulf can be seen as transitional texts because both heathen values such as revenge, and some Christian elements such as grieve, are present in the text. Heroes in these early medieval texts could still be noninsured to be epic heroes, they share similar values and norms, but they are no longer noblemen by definition. The epic heroes are simple men, versed in the activities of common life. They are leaders not through class status or wealth or even birth, but through the excellencies of heart and mind and hands. (Norman, 27-28) Marshall Fishwife points out that there is a change in style when it comes to the values that defined the medieval hero (10). In the late medieval romances (such Tristan and Soled) special attention is paid to social, religious and moral codes. The ere wants to be successful on the battlefield but attaches importance to correct behavior at court as well, along with loyalty towards his lord, reverence for women and values such as temperance. Thus, the chivalric hero was born. The transition from the epic hero to the chivalric hero with Christian undertones did not happen overnight, and although they share similarities and values, they are also significantly different. The epic hero will often have to go through a physical combat to win his fight, a chivalric hero undergoes a moral, spiritual combat where he has to accept his ward or fate. The characterization of these heroes is quite similar to the heroes from the classical era. Although the character has flaws and needs to overcome them by going on a quest, the character is still quite medallions. The hero is rather generic in that his values are shared by most other heroes from that time. Main characters in medieval times are often easily put in the category good or bad, and the hero is by definition one of good guys. Examples of medieval heroes are Roland in the Song of Roland, Gain in Sir Gain and the Green Knight and Tristan in Tristan and Soled. In the 14th century the Renaissance started to spread throughout Europe and it changed the way people and artists approached history and art. English literature started to undergo a shift in a new direction in the 1 5th century as writers rediscovered their predecessors from the classical era along with their humanistic views on reality. The Renaissance was a pivotal period in the development towards the more individualistic and humanistic society that we know today. 2 Renaissance literature is at the same time a mixture of different elements from previous literary movements and a reaction against those movements. Much like artists from other art disciplines, authors from that period looked back at great artists from the classical times in Ancient Rome and Greece. They had a great respect for their themes, characters and literary formats such as epic narratives, poems and tragedy plays, and many of these aspects were mimicked or adapted by Renaissance writers. M. A. Did Cesar states in his article Not less but more heroic: The epic task and the Renaissance hero that heirs and rebels both, the Renaissance epic poets created formidable and interesting heroes. ( ) They modified the tradition inconsiderably, liking their poet-figures to their heroes, pulling back from the excesses of heroic energy, internalizing heroism, yet seeking to scale new heights. (69) This shows that Renaissance writers were giving a social commentary about their own society by linking it back to classic literature and by commenting on medieval values. The religious undertones from medieval literature did not disappear completely because religion and Christianity were still an important element of society. But, he Renaissance author did start to incorporate humanistic ideals and values in his texts. These new values were occasionally in contrast with the Christian values and this resulted into interesting, complex characters. Heroes in Renaissance literature can be noblemen, but they do not have to be by definition. A mixture of classical values such as courage and honor with medieval values like chivalry, endurance and patience became the norm and this introduced new views on heroism. The characterization of heroes became much more complex, process driven and realistic. Authors were no longer afraid of having a complex hero with contradictory characteristics and strange motives. The good versus bad profiles became more nuanced and the rise of humanism can be seen as a cause for this. Both epic literature and medieval texts have heroes who are rather straightforward and not that complex in their characterization, but people in the Early Modern times were interested in the minds of individuals, not the generic ideals of a stereotypical hero. To illustrate the influence of classical and medieval heroes on Renaissance heroes, we will look at several examples where these influences and changes in social climate, values and characterization can be perceived. As a first example we will turn to the man who is often considered to be the guarded of English Renaissance literature and theatre, William Shakespeare. Shakespeare has many different kinds of heroes, which forms a challenge for the reader or audience to define which characters are the true heroes and which ones are not. Henry IV part 1 has an interesting historical context as it deals with the rise of the house of Lancaster, which happened 3 approximately two centuries prior to Shakespearean time. The bard sets his play in this setting for it allows him to give a social commentary on the social and political situation of his time without offending any people in particular. When it comes to the hero of the play, it gets a little tricky. There are several possible heroes in the play who are all heroes in their own way. First of all, there is the character of Hotshot. He could be considered a thriving hero by classical, epic standards as he lives an ambitious life and strives towards glory and honor. But it is his obsession with honor and glory that will lead him to his death. This makes him a tragic character instead of a thriving, successful character. Falstaff is a another complex character in the sense that his relationship with Hal changes drastically during the play. At first he is seen as the character who brings comic relief to the play and who is the exact opposite of Hotshot. Where Hotshot is trying to achieve glory and honor, Falstaff doubts the very relevance of honor. Shakespeare is deeply ambivalent about the very possibility of heroism in the political worlds their texts portray. (Lawrence 5). Falstaff challenges the meaning and relevance of honor: Yea, but how if honor prick me off when I come on? How then? Can honor set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honor hath no skill in surgery then? No. What is honor? A word. What is that word honor? Air. (V. I. 130-134) This is contrasting the whole idea of honorable and heroic values in the epic and medieval literary tradition, which can either make Falstaff an anti-hero, or a new kind of hero. Even though he is selfish, lazy, dishonest, corrupt and unclean, he is a self- made man. He creates the myth of Falstaff through his witty usage of language. As language and puns are very important in Shakespearean plays, one could argue that he is a new kind of hero. However, when Hal becomes King, their relationship changes. Falstaff is humiliated by Harry and he even gets disowned, these series of vents turn him into a tragic hero. The real, successful hero in the play is Hal who is intelligent, witty and pragmatic. But even Hal is a complicated hero in Henry IV part 1; during the battle of Shrubbery he is seen as a warrior hero who is confident and a true prince of England. However, as the audience gets to know Hal, the audience realizes that he is not fond of life at court. He likes to mingle with the simple men on the street and to get to know them better. He befriends the lazy and unclean Falstaff and to an extent, adopts the simple way of life. But his motives are shrewd; e does this to lower other peoples expectations of him in order to emerge as a real hero when the situation comes for him to step up and be a 4 leader. In a way, he is a self-made man as well; even though he is born in a noble family, he decides to use his own intelligence and analytical skills instead of his inherited nobility to gain peoples loyalty. Important values attached to heroism are intelligence, self-creation and most importantly, honor. Hotshot idealizes it, Falstaff despises it, but Halls view on honor is less extreme. He recognizes its significance and power, but sees that it is not the only ideal to live his life by. He is willing to set aside his honor by befriending Falstaff and other odd characters to win their trust and to become more successful in the end. Did Cesar confirms the idea of Hal as a hero: Shakespearean plausible transmutation of epic, the Henries, the emerging heroic figure is not the single-minded Hotshot, who would pluck honor from the pale-faced moon, but the more restrained prince Hal. (69) Shakespeare shows that a hero is no longer the straight-forward, good person going on a quest and this is emphasized by other authors of Renaissance literature as well: he character of Doctor Faustus in Marlowe The Tragically History of the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus is a person from a high social class and he is an egoistic, foolish and selfish person, but he is also a humanist. So the reader gets a more complex character representation of the hero. Similarly, Millions characterization of Satan in Paradise Lost makes Satan a compelling character because of his ability to overcome his weakness and doubts to achieve his goal. Adam and Eve can be seen as potential moral heroes, but they are not as clear-cut as moral heroes from classical or medieval literature. They are not perfect and their curiosity and vanity are their weaknesses. M. A. Did Cesar says: Milton was by no means the first to think that the tradition was really a challenge. (58) He means that Milton was one of the authors who looked back at epic literature and adapted the conventions to a new time, a new social climate. He found a new kind of heroism within the tradition of heroes from the past. His characters are flawed, but in a more realistic way than before. Another interesting hero in the tradition of renaissance literature is Ironwork in Para Bens Ironwork; The Royal Slave, A True History. This early modern hero is important with regard to the social climate of the time where slave trading was still heavily practiced. Been introduces a new kind of hero and discusses social issues such as gender, slavery, feminism, individualism, race and religion. The hero, Ironwork, is a very ambivalent and complex character who is defined by many contradictions. He is a prince and slave trader which makes him a hero of noble descend, but he becomes a slave during the story. This means he is a prince and a slave at the same time. He is a nobleman and a rebel, aggressive and passive, a warrior and a domestic husband. Furthermore, he is a non-Christian character, but is represented in a Christ-like way. 5 Ironwork is powerful and powerless and this makes him interesting and appealing to the audience (and to the narrator). The narrator describes him with romantic language and by strangely enough, European standards. He does not seem to be like the other slaves as he has different physical characteristics, he is educated, knows many languages, etc. His face was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are, but of perfect ebony, or polished Jet. ( ) His nose was rising and Roman, instead of African and flat. His mouth the finest shaped that could be seen; far from those great turned lips which are so natural to the rest of the Negroes. The whole proportion and air of his face was so nobly and exactly formed that, bating his color, there could be nothing in nature more beautiful, agreeable, and handsome. (1139) Ironwork is described as if he were a white and European character. This description can be linked to the status of heroes in epic literature where they were considered nobles and even semi-gods. This is reinforced when he is slaying the tigers and the romantic image of him being a prince in captivity. He embodies values from epic literature such as courage, physical strength and honor, as well as medieval ideals with respect to chivalry and (pain) endurance. One could argue that Ironwork is two kinds of heroes: the first being Ironwork as a warrior-hero in his African home, the second being Ironwork as a slave in Saurian where he becomes a hero for his endurance and patience. Other elements that make Ironwork a hero are his promise to Indiana that he will never marry another woman because her soul would always be fine, and always young. (1140) and his respects toward her as an equal. Furthermore, he despises the British plantation owners and slave traders because they have no honor. He is, however, not a pacifist. He participates in war and takes 150 slaves in captivity to gift to Indiana as a symbol of his love. He considers war to be an honorable way of conquering and this is similar to epic and early-medieval heroes. This makes him a good blend of an epic and chivalric hero. Mary B. Rose describes this new kind of heroism in the following statement: Ironwork conjuncts the feminine subject position with slavery and compromised agency and presents the combination as the defining condition of heroism, multitudinously idealizing and scrutinizing the heroics of endurance. (100) 6 These examples show that the hero in Renaissance literature is characterized by the mixture of classical, medieval and humanistic ideals. The rise of individualism and humanism made the characters more complex and profiled them as individuals and less as generic, stereotypical heroes. This analysis of heroes in Renaissance literature shows that the political, social and religious contexts can never be underestimated when analyzing literature and that one should always pay attention to preceding tertiary movements when discussing a particular period because it helps us to place a literary work in the right time-frame. Works cited: Been, Para. Ironwork; The Royal Slave.

Baleful and Baneful

Baleful and Baneful Baleful and Baneful Baleful and Baneful By Maeve Maddox A reader asks, Would you please tell me the difference between baleful and baneful. I know both adjectives relate to evil. Both of these adjectives derive from ancient Old English words. In Beowulf, a bane is a murderer. By extension, bane came to mean anything that causes destruction. In time, bane came to be a synonym for poison. The element appears in the names of several plants that have poisonous properties: henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) dogbane (Apocynum) wolfsbane (Aconitum lycoctonum) A common name for rat poison (especially white arsenic) is ratsbane. In modern usage the meaning of baneful at its strongest is pernicious; at its mildest, harmful. Here are some examples: The authors neglect the baneful effect of the gold standard in their discussion of the Great Depression and other economic periods.   The Baneful Consequences of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines He deplores the general decline of handwriting and the  baneful effect  on communication.   On the one hand, there is persuasive evidence that gender bias, gender segregation, and gender discrimination still exist and still have a baneful effect on access. The Old English word bealu (the source of bale in baleful) may be translated variously as harm, injury, ruin, evil, mischief, and wickedness. A bealu could be a wound or anything unpleasant. In modern usage, the adjective baleful is used in the sense of threatening: And as he spoke his eyes gleamed, and again that  baleful  smile passed over his face. A  baleful  star, come to cause us harm IRS Turning Its Baleful Gaze At Company Cafeterias That Churn Out Free  Food Sometimes the phrase â€Å"a baleful look† seems to be used as the equivalent of â€Å"an accusing look† or â€Å"a dirty look†: I have one-sided conversations with the dog (who at best cocks his head quizzically at me but most often  casts me a baleful look). Kevin sat on my bed  giving me baleful looks. When I called out to her, she turned and gave me what could only be described as a  baleful look.   As the reader suggests, both baneful and baleful carry connotations of evil. Some speakers do use the words interchangeably, but there’s a difference. In the following examples the word baneful (harmful) would be the clearer choice: The baleful effect of computer benchmarks upon applied mathematics, physics and chemistry. (Title of a paper by a mathematics professor). First, since the evidence suggests that computer technologies generally improve student achievement overall, and no baleful results were found, there should be more computer use by students regardless of social class or geographic location. (From an academic paper about technology and education). Bale (evil) is no longer used apart from the adjective baleful, but the word bane continues to be used as a stand-alone noun in the sense of â€Å"a person who makes another completely miserable† or â€Å"the agent or instrument of ruin or woe†: My ex-husband is the bane of my happiness. Edward Snowden continues to be the bane of U.S. government surveillance and spy operations.   Opium had in fact been the bane of the economic and social life of the Assamese people. Bradford pear one of lifes many botanical banes Fleas are the  bane of my existence. Baleful conveys menace, whereas baneful connotes definite harm. 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 Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Words for Facial Expressions"Gratitude" or "Gratefulness"?Drama vs. Melodrama

Internet usage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Internet usage - Essay Example Today, the negative impacts of increasing internet use reduce the scope of internet to a notable extent. This paper will perform a cause and effect analysis of the internet usage. Effects of internet usage According to Wilder, one of the most noticeable effects of increased internet usage is that it promotes socialization, which is a dynamic learning process whereby individuals and organizations change over time (204). Since internet influences cultural transitions, this global network significantly contributes to the pace of socialization. Since internet allows users to interact with people from various cultures, individuals obtain the opportunity to learn more about different cultural practices, norms, and beliefs. However, it is often observed that people use internet to abuse other cultures emotionally rather than to adopt from the good aspects of those cultures. Hence, sometimes internet promotes a negative socialization process due to its unfair usage. Evidently, high rate of i nternet usage has greatly benefited people to be independent as it helps people to attain knowledge without any external assistance. Today, professors do not need to provide teaching notes to students since there is a bundle of relevant information available in the internet. Although this condition may improve students’ academic efficiency, overdependence on internet would sometimes result in adverse academic results. For instance, every piece of information provided in the internet may not be correct or accurate as every person is free to post his writings or personal views on the internet. Hence, wrong or misleading information would often cause troubles to an individual’s academic career. Another positive benefit of internet is that it provides employment to millions of people. Due to the increased internet usage, the scope of internet based jobs is still increasing and this situation gives hope to a global economy struggling from the recent global recession. At som e particular levels, the negative effects of internet outweigh the internet’s positive effects. To illustrate, cyber-terrorism significantly diminishes the scope of internet. The internet based terrorist activities such as deliberate disruption of computer networks cause serious consequences in the cyber world. Professional hacker teams use computer viruses to obtain unauthorized access to an organization’s or a country’s confidential data. Under such circumstances, the victim may sustain serious damages or losses which in turn would outweigh the anticipated benefits from those data. In addition, studies point out that porn websites and other violence promoting factors in internet result in social as well as cultural disintegration. Finally, the growing popularity of social networking websites like Facebook causes time wastage, and hence the overall productivity declines. As Lukoff points out, â€Å"exposing children and youth to video games and the internet of ten does not engage their major learning style that is through their sensorimotor system, and thus have negative effects on their cognitive development† Lukoff, 104). Causes of internet usage While discussing the dramatically increasing internet browsing data, it can be undoubtedly stated that need of information is the most important factor boosting worldwide internet usage. It is clear that internet is a potential source for every kind of information under the sun. The internet meets the information needs of each and every category of people,

Setting up a new refinery in Panama Research Paper

Setting up a new refinery in Panama - Research Paper Example A production plant processes the feedstock of a refinery. A depot, tank farm, is usually located near or at a petroleum refinery and it stores bulk of liquid products. A refinery is considered as a vital part of the downstream end of the petroleum industry. There are very important and major roles played by refineries in development of countries, regions and the world as a whole. Professionals in this field are cognizant of the reality that natural resources are scarce, the importance and desire for practices that are sustainable. They also reckon the need for social fairness in the use of these limited resources. They are therefore tasked with the leading role in designing, planning, building and securing a sustainable future. Refineries act as link between natural resources and the consumer. In their capacity, oil planners must continuously take part in multidisciplinary teams often with other professionals, such as economists, sociologists, and ecologists to address the issues and challenges of sustainable natural resource development. They should therefore advocate economic principles that recognize our environment and natural resources as capital assets. The largest chunk of Panama’s trade transactions take place in the Colon Free Trade zone, the biggest free trade zoned in the world. From the estimates of the Colon Zone Management, this trade region has accounted for 92% of Panama’s exports and 64% imports in during 2007. In 1982, Panama entered into a Bilateral Investment Treaty with the United States. This agreement has been put in place to protect the United States private investment in Panama and also help it in developing its economy. In addition, Panama and the US signed an FTA agreement in 2007 and are under implementation. The United States is by far the principal trade partner of Panama. It accounts for about a third of Panama’s imports and exports. Panama’s major trade partners according to CIA reports for 2009 are as follows: Exports Imports United States 39.2% United States 29.6% Netherlands 10.7% Costa Rica 5% Costa Rica 5.8% China 5% Sweden 5.4% Japan 4.2% The main exports from Panama are; B ananas, Coffee, Shrimp, Sugar and Clothing. The nation is highly dependent of consumer and capital goods. The trade situation has improved significantly owing to the endeavor to expand the Panama Canal that has been under construction since 2007. The project is estimated to be $5.3 billion and is expected to continue the revamping on the trade sector. The number one agricultural export- predominantly controlled by foreigners is bananas. It is followed by shrimp. Panama experienced a decline in exports of about 11% from 1997 to 1998. This was caused by quotas imposed by the EU on banana exports and that banana exports contribute a fifth of all exports. The Free Trade Zone has increased the light industry exports, manufacturing and clothing textiles. On the other hand, Panama has experienced competition from Mexico starting 1996 and has experienced stunted growth since 1998 due to protective tariffs imposed on the country. COUNTRY EXPORTS IMPORTS BALANCE United States 354 1,117 -763 S weden 62 25 37 Costa Rica 41 119 -78 Mexico 24 133 -109 Guatemala 21 62 -41 Spain 13 61 -48 Japan 12 186 -174 Colombia 9 116 -107 Ecuador 4 243 -239 Venezuela 4 222 -218 Foreign firm investment in Panama A foreign firm seeking investment in a large firm would be at an advantage

Cardiac Muscle Structure and Function

Cardiac Muscle Structure and Function The structure of cardiac muscle The capacity for cells to utilize biochemical energy to generate both mechanical force and movement of the human body is a dominant feature found in muscle cells. There exist three distinct categories of muscle tissue, each differing by specific structural and functional properties. These categories include smooth muscles, skeletal muscles and cardiac muscles. Smooth muscles are involuntarily contracting, non-striated muscles that surround the inside walls of hollow organs such as the urinary bladder, reproductive organs, and both the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts. Its contraction enables and regulates the progression of liquid content, such as food, urine and blood, along the internal passageways. Skeletal muscles are voluntarily contracting, striated muscles that attach to bones of the skeleton. The contraction of skeletal muscle is primarily responsible for the movement of the skeleton, but also has roles in heat production and protection of internal organs. Cardiac musc les are an involuntarily contracting, striated muscle found exclusively in the walls of the heart, more specifically in the myocardium. Contraction of cardiac muscles propel oxygenated blood into the circulatory system to deliver oxygen to the body, as well as regulates blood pressure (Martini et al., 2009). Cardiac muscle tissue is composed of a network of individual cardiac muscle cells, called cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes are small in size, averaging 10-20ÃŽ ¼m in diameter and 50-100ÃŽ ¼m in length, have a single centrally positioned nucleus and connect to adjacent cells in a branched manner through specialized sites known as intercalated discs (Martini et al., 2009). Two structures that are found within the intercalated discs are  desmosomes and gap junctions. Desmosomes are specialized structures involved in cell-to-cell adhesion and gap junctions are intercellular channels that connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells, allowing the free passage of molecules, ions and electrical signals. Within the cytoplasm of striated muscle cells are long, cylindrical organelles termed myofibrils. With a diameter of 1 to 2ÃŽ ¼m and numbering between hundreds to thousands in a cell, myofibrils are enveloped and grouped together by connective tissue called the fasciculus, which forms bundles of myofibrils that spans the length of the cell (Widmaier et al., 2006). Individual myofibrils can be further divided into two types of contractile filaments: thin filaments and thick filaments. These filaments are composed primarily of actin and myosin proteins, respectfully. The thin and thick filaments are aligned in a manner where they form repeating structural units along the length of the myofibril. Among these structures is the sarcomere, which is a Ca2+-dependent contractile unit responsible for muscle contraction and relaxation (Widmaier et al., 2006). An increase in cytoplasmic Ca2+ influx causes the thin and thick filaments to overlap each other, causing a shortening of the sarcomere, leading to a muscle contraction. Alternatively, a decrease in cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels causes the thin and thick filaments to pull away from each other, leading to relaxation of the myofilaments. The specific arrangement of the thin and thick myofilaments is responsible for the striated appearance of both skeletal and cardiac muscle tissue. Electrical stimuli, called action potentials, are required for striated muscle cell contraction. In skeletal muscles, action potentials are derived from neurons in the brain and spinal cord that transmits the signal through the nervous system and innervates muscle fibers, causing contraction. However, unlike skeletal muscles, the contraction of cardiac muscles occurs without neural stimulation, a property called automaticity (Martini et al., 2009). This is because the heart contains pacemaker cells, which are specialized cells that have no contractile function; rather having the ability to initiate and conduct action potentials to neighboring cardiomyocytes. The cardiac action potential propagates across cardiomyocytes through gap junctions, allowing the cells to contract in tandem, which enables the heart to contract as one muscle. Cells which have pacemaker activity constitute 1% of cardiac muscle cells, whereas the other 99% are contractile cells (Sherwood, 2006). The conversion of an electrical stimulus into a mechanical response is performed through a physiological process known as the excitation-contracting coupling or the ECC. This phenomenon has a critical role in muscle cells as it allows a propagating action potential to cause shortening of the sarcomere, leading to muscle cell contraction. When action potentials are produced by pacemaker cells, they conduct across the heart by traveling along the length of the myofibril on the muscle sarcolemma. An action potential will transmit on the sarcolemma until it reaches a transverse-tubule (T-tubule). T-tubules are defined as deep invaginations into the sarcolemma that contact the cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), an organelle that functions as a Ca2+ storing body. Upon penetrating the T-tubules, the action potential will cause a depolarization of the membrane voltage potential, leading to an increased influx of Ca2+ into the cytoplasm. Resting within the T-tubules are many ion tr ansporters such voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels and Na+ / Ca2+ exchangers (D. Bers, 2002). These Ca2+-transporters are opened/activated when stimulated by action potentials, prompting the entry of extracellular Ca2+ into specific microdomains in the cytosol (Berridge, 2006). An elevation of cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels will trigger the opening of ryanodine receptors (RyR), which are intracellular Ca2+ channels present on the membrane of the SR, allowing stored Ca2+ to exit the SR and enter the cytosol. The mechanism of how Ca2+ ions triggers Ca2+ release from the SR was identified by several groups in the 1960s, and appropriately termed Ca2+-induced- Ca2+-release (Endo et al., 1968; Ford et al., 1968). An overall increase in intracellular Ca2+ level causes Ca2+ to bind and cause a conformational change in Troponin C, a protein present on actin filaments. This conformational change causes a displacement of Tropomyosin, which prevents the interaction of myosin protein with actin filaments, thereby allowing myosin to contact actin, which promotes sarcomeric contraction. Alternatively, Ca2+ sequestration from myofilaments and cytoplasmic depletion prompts a relaxation of the sarcomere. Such a decrease of cytoplasmic Ca2+ occurs by either by re-entering the lumen of organelles, such as the SR and mitochondria, or cellular export by Ca2+ pumps and Na+/ Ca2+ exchangers on the sarcolemma (D. Bers, 2002). The efficiency of muscle contraction is partly depicted by the type of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) that the cell expresses. MyHC are enzymes, found on the head of myosin proteins, which catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP. The rate at which MyHC can hydrolyze ATP ultimately depicts the speed at which the myofilaments contract, as well as the overall energy efficiency of that cell. In cardiomyocytes, two types of MyHC proteins are expressed: ÃŽ ±-MyHC and ÃŽ ²-MyHC. The following table represents the distinguishing features of the cells that express either ÃŽ ±-MyHC or ÃŽ ²-MyHC: Similar to skeletal muscles, cardiomyocytes are categorized into two distinct classes, based on the type of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) that is expressed. Those who predominantly express ÃŽ ±-MyHC are found in adult hearts, contract in a more energy inefficient manner and are quicker to fatigue. In contrast, cardiomyocytes that express more ÃŽ ²-MyHC are present in developing hearts, have a more energy efficient contraction and are more resistant to fatigue. Cardiovascular diseases and pathological cardiac hypertrophy Cardiovascular diseases are disorders that prevent the proper function of the heart and blood vessels, causing abnormalities of the cardiovascular system, which lead to defects in the brain, kidneys, lungs and other parts of the body (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2009). According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases accounted for 29% of global deaths in 2004, making it the leading cause of death in the world (World Health Organization, 2009). Furthermore, with an aging population, the number of patients diagnosed with heart disease in America is expected to double within the next 30 years, from 5 million to 10 million (Hobbs, 2004). In Canada, this disease was responsible for 31% (or >70,000) of total deaths in 2005 (Statistics Canada, 2009). Amongst the numerous categories of cardiovascular diseases, heart failure is the most prevalent, with the fastest spreading rate and the highest mortality rate over the past decade (Heineke et al., 2006). Heart failure is defined by defects in cardiomyocyte structure, function, rhythm or conduction, which prevents the heart to pump adequate amounts of oxygenated blood and nutrients to meet the bodys demands (McMurray et al., 2005). Individuals living with a failing heart suffer from severe coughing, shortness of breath and edema, leading to a decreased tolerance to exercise and an overall diminishment in physical and mental health. As the disease progresses, patients may develop further pathophysiologies due to detrimental effects on the function of vital organs, ultimately resulting in death. A common abnormality that precedes heart failure is the pathological enlargement of the heart, a condition known as cardiac hypertrophy. Cardiac hypertrophy is induced by the release of hormones, cytokines, chemokines and peptide growth factors, which act on cardiomyocytes in an endocrine, paracrine and autocrine manner (Heineke et al., 2006). The release of these factors occurs in response to increased cardiac workload, myocardial injury or defects in the contractibility of cardiomyocytes (J. Molkentin, 2000). The initial stage leading to cardiac hypertrophy is increased size and cell volume of cardiomyocytes in order to sustain the increased cardiac output demanded by the hypertrophied heart. Such a process is referred to as compensatory hypertrophy. At later stages of cardiac hypertrophy, the hypertrophied heart can no longer keep up with the increased workload, which subjects patients to heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death (Berenji et al., 2005). It should be noted physiological cardiac hypertrophy, which occurs during pregnancy, adolescence growth and aerobic training, does not share the same detrimental consequences on cardiomyocytes as pathophysiological heart growth (Oakley, 2001). A characteristic of pathologically hypertrophied hearts is cardiomyocyte disarray, which is a disorder of heart cells. Misaligned cardiomyocytes prompts a disruption in the conduction of action potentials across cells, leading to compromised intracellular Ca2+ kinetics and decreased shortening of the sarcomere, which ultimately compromises the contractions of the heart. The molecular signaling pathways, responsible for cardiac hypertrophy, are being extensively studied by researchers with the hopes of developing therapies to treat cardiac hypertrophy. Calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway The availability of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) in mammalian cells is critical for their existence and proper function. In addition to its role in muscle cell electrophysiology and contraction, Ca2+ acts as a secondary messenger in many signal transduction pathways, involved in physiological processes such as fertilization, memory, apoptosis, membrane trafficking and cell division (D. M. Bers, 2008). Furthermore, at the molecular level, Ca2+ has been implicated in regulation of gene transcription, DNA replication, DNA repair and both protein synthesis and degradation. A common question in muscle cell biology is that, with its numerous downstream targets, how does Ca2+ specify and activate a particular signaling pathway. It is generally understood that Ca2+ influxes into the cytoplasm through Ca2+ transporters on the sarcolemma as waves of Ca2+. In the 1990s, researchers have identified that depending on the amplitude and frequency at which Ca2+ waves penetrate the cell, different Ca2+-dependent signaling pathways are activated, which also affects gene expression and cell differentiation (Berridge, 1997; Dolmetsch et al., 1997; Dolmetsch et al., 1998). However, the exact molecular mechanisms in which specific Ca2+-dependent pathways in contracting cardiomyocytes are regulated remains disputed due to the highly specialized rhythmic cycling of Ca2+ involved in the hearts ECC. Molkentins group have postulated the existence of Ca2+ microdomains in the cytoplasm, which are relatively independent of the Ca2+ involved in the ECC. Within these microdomains , Ca2+ is locally regulated and can activate protein signaling pathways in that particular region (Houser et al., 2008). Many proteins that require Ca2+ to be active cannot readily bind Ca2+, thus use Calmodulin (CaM), a high affinity Ca2+-binding protein, as a Ca2+ sensor and signal transducer. Expressed in all eukaryotic cells, CaM is a 17kDa protein composed of four EF-hand motifs, each capable of binding a single Ca2+ ion. The affinity to which Ca2+ binds CaM depends on changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. When cytoplasmic Ca2+ level are low, CaM exists in a closed conformation, where the EF-hand motifs are packed together, hiding the Ca2+ binding sites. Alternatively, when intracellular Ca2+ level are high, Ca2+ ions bind to the EF hand motifs on CaM, causing a conformational change that allow Ca2+ to bind more readily to the other motifs, allowing CaM to attain an open configuration (Chin et al., 2000). Because CaM is a small, flexible molecule with numerous targets, such conformational changes are required to expose specific hydrophobic regions on each domain, which allow the Ca2+-CaM c omplex to bind and activate specific proteins (Al-Shanti et al., 2009). One of the most recognized signaling pathways that require the Ca2+-CaM complex to be activated is the Calcineurin Nuclear Factor of Activated T-Cells cascade. Calcineurin (Cn), also referred to as protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B), is a Ca2+-dependent serine/threonine phosphatase that was first discovered in 1979 as a CaM binding protein in brain extracts (Klee et al., 1979). Further research by Schreibers group identified that Cn played a prominent role in the immune system, where the addition of immunosuppressive drugs, cyclosporine A (CsA) and FK506, decreased Cns activity (Liu et al., 1991). Cn is ubiquitously expressed in all cells and the gene that encodes the Cn protein is conserved from yeast to mammals, suggesting a common mode of regulation (Al-Shanti et al., 2009; Rusnak et al., 2000). Once active, Cn can de-phosphorylate a number of transcription factors such as myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NFÃŽ ºB) and nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) (Alzuherri et al., 2003; Blaeser et al., 2000; Jain et al., 1993; Michel et al., 2004). In addition to transcription factors, Cn has been identified as a direct regulator of the pro-apoptotic factor, Bcl-2 (Wang et al., 1999). The most characterized downstream target of Cn is the family of NFAT transcription factors. In the heart, the role of the Cn-NFAT signaling pathway in mediating pathological cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo has been extensively studied (Bueno et al., 2002; De Windt et al., 2001; Hill et al., 2002; Molkentin et al., 1998; Sussman et al., 1998; Zou et al., 2001). Once de-phosphorylated, NFAT transcription factors translocate to the nucleus and dimerize with other transcription factors to re-activate cardiac fetal genes, leadin g to hypertrophy of the adult heart. The structure of Calcineurin Human Cn was first crystallized in 1995 by the Villafranca group (Kissinger et al., 1995). Although it shares similar sequence homology to other serine/threonine protein phosphatases, PP1 and PP2A, the structure of Cn was found to be unque due to its dependence on Ca2+ for optimal activity (Griffith et al., 1995; Kincaid et al., 1988; Klee et al., 1988). From its structure, it was discovered that Cn exists as a heterodimeric protein, consisting of two subunits: the 59kDa catalytic subunit, calcineurin A (CnA), and the 19kDa regulatory subunit, calcineurin B (CnB) (Kissinger et al., 1995). The structure of CnA consists of two domains: a catalytic region which is found on the N-terminal and the regulatory domain which is present on the C-terminal region (Al-Shanti et al., 2009). The regulatory domain of CnA consists of three sub-domains: a CnB binding domain), a CaM binding domain) and an autoinhibitory domain (AI) as depicted in Figure 1.4 (Ke et al., 2003; Klee et al., 1998). Alternatively, the structure of CnB shares a 35% sequence identity to CaM and contains four EF-hand motifs, allowing it to bind Ca2+ ions in a similar mechanism as CaM (Klee et al., 1988; Kretsinger et al., 1973). In non-stimulated muscle cells, Cn is present in its inactive conformation, in the cytoplasm, where the autoinhibitory domain sterically blocks CnAs catalytic domain, rendering the phosphatase inactive. Upon stimulation, cytoplasmic Ca2+ will bind CnB, causing a conformational change, which exposes the CaM binding domain on CnA. Once the Ca2+-CaM complex docks onto its respective binding domain, another conformation change occurs which displaces the autoinhibitory domain from the catalytic domain, enabling the enzyme to be active. The crystal structure of full length human Cn was solved with a resolution of 2.1Ç º. The globular structure of CnA consists of 521 residues, where residues 14-342 form the catalytic domain and residues 343-373 form the CnB binding helical domain (Kissinger et al., 1995). Residues 374-468 and 487-521 are not visible in the crystal structure because they are presumed to exist in a random conformation(Ke et al., 2003). The AI domain is represented by a segment of 18 residues (Ser469-Arg486) that lie over the substrate-binding cleft on the C-terminus of CnA. The AI domain consists of two conserved short ÃŽ ±-helical domains, with five additional residues in its extended form. The residues of the AI domain that have the strongest interactions with the substrate-binding cleft of CnA were identified as Glu481-Arg-Met-Pro484, where Glu481 hydrogen-bonds with water molecules bound to the dimetal site in Cns active site (Kissinger et al., 1995). Residues 343-373 form an extended amphipathic ÃŽ ±-helical region that interacts with hydrophobic residues within the CnB binding cleft. In mammals, CnA is encoded by three genes (CnAÃŽ ±, CnAÃŽ ², CnAÃŽ ³) and CnB by two genes (CnB1, CnB2). Yet in the heart, only CnAÃŽ ±, CnAÃŽ ² and CnB1 are expressed (J. Molkentin, 2000). NFAT proteins NFAT transcription factors were first identified by the Crabtree group where, similar to Cn, NFAT played an important role in the regulation of early T-cell activation genes (Shaw et al., 1988). Since its discovery, researchers have provided evidence that the role of NFAT proteins was not restricted to T-cells, having been implicated in the central nervous system, blood vessels, heart, kidney, bone, skeletal muscle and haematopoietic stem cells (Crabtree et al., 2002; Graef et al., 2001; Hogan et al., 2003; Kiani et al., 2004; Macian, 2005). NFAT proteins are part of the Rel-family of transcription factors. The molecular mass of NFAT ranges from 70-200kDa, which is due to alternative splicing of genes resulting in varying protein sizes and differential phosphorylation states (van Rooij et al., 2002). The primary structure of NFAT consists of a moderately conserved N-homology region (NHR), a conserved Rel-homology region (RHR) and a non-conserved C-terminal domain (CTD). Firstly, the NHR (residues 1-407) contains a transactivation domain (TAD), a Cn docking site, a nuclear localization signal (NLS), a nuclear export signal (NES), serine-rich regions (SRR) and Ser-Pro-X-X-repeating motifs (SP), where X denotes any amino acid. The TAD is required for NFAT to bind the promoter region of genes to initiate transcriptional events. The Cn docking domain contains a SPRIEIT sequence, a variant of PxIxIT, which allows Cn to bind to NFAT and de-phosphorylate serine residues, mediating the nuclear shuttling of NFAT. Secondly, the RHR (residues 408-677), which is conserved among all Rel proteins, confers to a shared DNA binding specificity (L. Chen et al., 1998). The C-terminus of the RHR contains a DNA binding motif, which permit Rel-proteins to bind the 5-GGAAA-3 consensus sequence (Rao, 1994). The N-terminus of the RHR contains a domain that allows NFAT to interact with other transcription factors in the nucleus. Such molecular partners include the leucine zipper protein activator protein-1 (Fos, Jun), the Zn-finger protein GATA-4, the MADS box protein MEF2 and many others (L. Chen et al., 1998; Crabtree et al., 2002; Hogan et al., 2003; Molkentin et al., 1998). Lastly, although the exact role of the CTD (residues 678-928) remains ill defined, due to the differences in the length of the CTD between NFAT isoforms, it is possible that the CTD is responsible for the different transcriptional activity of the NFAT isoforms, as shown by several groups (Calabria et al., 2009; Rinne et al., 2010). NFAT transcription factors are ubiquitously expressed and consists of five isoforms: NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3, NFATc4 and NFAT5 (also known as tonicity-responsive enhancer-binding protein or TonEBP) (Mancini et al., 2009). Of the five NFAT proteins, only NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3 and NFATc4 are regulated by Ca2+-Cn signaling and are have known roles in skeletal and cardiac muscles (Calabria et al., 2009; van Rooij et al., 2002). NFAT5 cannot interact with Cn due to the absence of a SPRIEIT domain and is therefore insensitive to Ca2+-Cn signaling (Lopez-Rodriguez et al., 1999). Rather, NFAT5 is regulated by osmotic stress and is known to control the expression of cytokines, such as tumor-necrosis factor (TNF) and lymphotoxin-ÃŽ ², in lymphocytes (Lopez-Rodriguez et al., 2001; Macian, 2005). Due to its insensitivity of Cn and unclear roles in muscle cells, for the remainder of this thesis, the focus will be on the Ca2+-Cn regulated NFAT isoforms: NFATc1, NFATc2, NFATc3 and NFATc4. The cellular localization of NFAT proteins depend on the phosphorylation state of approximately 14 serine residues on the NHR. Okamura et al. identified that of these residues, 13 phosphoserines are targeted by Cn and are located in motifs SRR1, SP2 and SP3 (Macian, 2005; Okamura et al., 2000). Upon de-phosphorylation, the NLS sequence of NFAT is exposed and the NES is masked, prompting nuclear entry. NFAT kinases are regulators of NFAT transcription factors, which can interact with NFAT and reversibly phosphorylate the same serine residues that are targeted by Cn. Known NFAT kinases include casein kinase-1 (CK-1), glycogen-synthase 3ÃŽ ² (GSK3-ÃŽ ²), p38 and JUN-N-terminal kinase (JNK) (Beals, Sheridan et al., 1997; Chow et al., 1997; Gomez del Arco et al., 2000; Zhu et al., 1998). Upon re-phosphorylation, the NES sequence is re-exposed whereas the NLS sequence is hidden, prompting cytoplasmic retention of NFAT (Okamura et al., 2000). These kinases can either be classified as mainte nance kinases, which phosphorylate NFAT in the cytosol to prevent nuclear import or export kinases, which target NFAT in the nucleus to promote nuclear export. Each kinase can phosphorylates serine residues on specific motifs. CK-1 acts as both an export and maintenance kinase on SRR1 of NFATc2 (Okamura et al., 2004). GSK3-ÃŽ ² functions as an export kinase on both SP2 and SP3 of NFATc1 and SP2 on NFATc2 (Beals, Clipstone et al., 1997; Macian, 2005). The mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) family consists of p38, JNK and extracellular-regulate-signal kinases (ERK) and can phosphorylate the first serine of SRR1 on different NFAT isoforms. JNK phosphorylates NFATc1, whereas p38 targets NFATc2 (Chow et al., 1997; Gomez del Arco et al., 2000). CK1 may be responsible for phosphorylating the remaining serines on SRR1 (Macian, 2005). Although a cell may have the potential to translate different NFAT isoforms, depending on which NFAT kinase is expressed, only certain NFATs may be nuclea r localized. Cn-NFAT signaling in cardiac hypertrophy Cn-NFAT signaling is described as a multifunctional regulator, where its function depends on the cell type in which this pathway is active. In the brain, Cn-NFAT signaling mediates numerous processes, which include memory, brain strokes, ischemic injury, Parkinson and Alzheimers disease and the regulation of the cAMP-response-element binding protein (CREB) (Shibasaki et al., 2002). In the lungs, Cn-NFAT signaling has been implicated in the perinatal lung maturation and function, and regulating genes involved in the homeostasis of pulmonary surfactant, which is required for proper breathing (Dave et al., 2006). In skeletal muscles, this pathway is required for functional-overload induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy and for mediating skeletal muscle-fiber type conversions from fast muscle fiber type to slow muscle fiber type (Dunn et al., 1999; Michel et al., 2004). In the cardiovascular system, Cn is required for the early development of the heart, specifically the cardiac septum and valves (de la Pompa et al., 1998; Ranger et al., 1998). During heart disease, Cn-NFAT signaling promotes the reactivation of cardiac fetal genes, which are responsible for cardiac growth during development. The reactivation of these genes in the adult heart is responsible for the pathological growth of the heart, and not physiological growth (Wilkins et al., 2004). In 1998, Molkentin et al. first reported the novel role that Cn-NFAT signaling played in mediating pathological cardiac hypertrophy (Molkentin et al., 1998). Among the major findings of this report was that Cn-induced the de-phosphorylation of NFATc4, prompting its nuclear entry and allowed NFATc4 to interact with the GATA-4 transcription factor, leading to cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, cultured cardiomyocytes, treated with Cn inhibitors CsA and FK-506 immunosuppressive drugs, blocked chemical-induced cardiac hypertrophy. To support their in vitro findings, transgenic mice that expressed a cardiac-specific constitutively active form of CnA were generated. The hearts of CnA overexpressing transgenic mice, compared to the hearts of wild-type counterparts, displayed a 2-to-3 fold increase in heart weight-to-body weight ratio, a thickening of the left ventricular wall and intraventicular septum, a 2-fold increase in cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes and extensive fibrosis. Furth ermore, CnA overexpressing mice had a greater increased susceptibility to sudden death, mimicking the effects of heart failure in humans. Upon treatment with the Cn inhibitor, CsA, the hearts of CnA transgenic mice returned to normal size. Many genes and proteins that are re-employed in response to heart disease have prominent functions in embryonic and fetal heart development. For example, cardiac fetal genes are active during the physiological growth in developing hearts. This family of genes consists of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), ÃŽ ±-myosin heavy chain (ÃŽ ±-MHC), ÃŽ ²-myosin heavy chain (ÃŽ ²-MHC), and many others (Oka et al., 2007). When the heart has fully matured into an adult heart, the expression of these genes becomes dormant. During heart disease, hypertrophic stimuli re-activate the expression of these genes in the adult heart, which enables the heart to grow to a pathological state. One of the most studied transcription factor that interacts with NFAT to initiate cardiac hypertrophy are GATA proteins. GATA transcription factors consist of two conserved zinc fingers that are required to bind to the consensus DNA sequence 5-(A/T)GATA(A/G)-3, as well as domains that allow GATA to interact with transcriptional cofactors (Ko et al., 1993; Merika et al., 1993; Oka et al., 2007). Of the six members of the GATA family (GATA-1 to GATA-6), GATA-4, GATA-5 and GATA-6 are expressed in the heart (J. D. Molkentin, 2000). Among the GATA proteins expressed in the heart, GATA-4 has been associated with embryonic cardiogenesis, such as heart tube formation, and pathological growth of the adult heart (Molkentin et al., 1997; Pikkarainen et al., 2004). In addition, GATA-4 is a known regulator of the expression of cardiac structural genes during development. GATA-4 gene targeted mice were embryonic lethal at E7-9.5 due to structural and functional defects of the heart (Molkentin et al., 1997). Alternatively, cultured cardiomyocytes overexpression of GATA-4 caused a 2-fold increase in cell surface area, whereas GATA-4 overexpressing transgenic mice lead to increased heart-weight-to-body weight ratio, cardiomyopathy features of the cells and upregulation in the expression of cardiac fetal genes (Liang, De Windt et al., 2001). The regulation of GATA-4 occurs post-translationally, where such modifications affect its DNA binding ability, transcriptional activity and cellular localization. A number of chemical stimuli that induce cardiac hypertrophy have been associated with the phosphorylation of GATA-4, which increases both its DNA binding and transcriptional activity (Oka et al., 2007; Pikkarainen et al., 2004). Molkentins group identified that phosphorylation of Ser105 on GATA-4 by the ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK was responsible for GATA-4 increased DNA binding affinity and transactivation during heart failure (Charron et al., 2001; Liang, Wiese et al., 2001). Another kinase that targets GATA-4 is GSK3-ÃŽ ², a known negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy (Haq et al., 2000). GSK3-ÃŽ ²-mediated phosphorylation of GATA-4 prompts its export from the nucleus, rescuing Cn-mediated cardiac hypertrophy (Morisco et al., 2001). A second family of transcription factor that is re-activated during heart disease is the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2). There are four members of the MEF2 family expressed in vertebrates: MEF2A, MEF2B, MEF2C and MEF2D. MEF2 proteins can either homodimerize or heterodimerize with other transcription factors such as NFAT and GATA, which can then bind to the DNA sequence 5-CTA(A/T)4TAG-3 to carry out transcriptional events (Blaeser et al., 2000; McKinsey et al., 2002; Morin et al., 2000; Oka et al., 2007). Although the MEF2 proteins are expressed in most cell types, their transcriptional activity is restricted to the immune system, neurons and contractile muscle cells (Akazawa et al., 2003). In the heart, MEF2 have critical roles in cardiac differentiation. MEF2C null mice were embryonic lethal, due to cardiac looping defects, an absence of a right ventricle and a downregulation of cardiac structural genes (Bi et al., 1999; Lin et al., 1997; Oka et al., 2007). The majority of MEF2A null mice died 2-10 days after birth because of defects in conduction and architecture of the heart. Surviving MEF2A null mice displayed reduced mitochondrial content and a less efficient conductive system. (Naya et al., 2002). In addition, transgenic mice that express a dominant negative MEF2 died shortly after birth because of cardiomyocyte hypoplasia, thinning of the ventricular walls and heart chamber dilation (Kolodziejczyk et al., 1999; Oka et al., 2007). A greater workload imposed on the heart, a phenotype of cardiac hypertrophy, has been associated with increased MEF2-DNA binding (Molkentin et al., 1993; Nadruz et al., 2003). In cultured cardiomyocytes, adenoviral-mediated overexpression of MEF2A or MEF2C caused sarcomeric degeneration and cell elongation, both of which indicate cardiac dilatation. The hearts of transgenic mice overexpressing MEF2A or MEF2C were subject to contractile defects, ventricular dilation and were more readily hypertrophied when pressure overload stimulation was induced. However, when cells of the transgenic hearts were isolated, rather than having a greater cross-sectional area, the cardiomyocytes were more elliptical in shape, suggesting that MEF2 did not d