The impact of technology on today's lifestyle Essay

The impact of technology on today's lifestyle - Essay Example Moreover, a sociological increase into the way in which technology has shifted interpersonal dynamics, relationships, and communication has been conducted by a variety of researchers and convincingly pointed to the fact that the current era of texting, instant messaging, Facebook et al has significantly decreased the amount of time that individuals spend in face-to-face communication and has moved society convincingly towards something of a more introverted nature. Although introversion in and of itself is not necessarily a poor character trait, it must be noted that the overuse and reliance upon these technological tools which have already been discussed has created a dynamic by which formerly extroverted individuals are merely introverted and carrying out a great deal of interpersonal communication that one might otherwise carry out face-to-face via the Internet or other technologically enabled means. However, communication is not the only thing that suffers from an overdependence upon technology. As will be discussed next, memory recall and the perennial knowledge that any and all information can be readily retrieved has created a situation in which memory and the ability to recall tidbits of information are placed at a much lower premium than they might have been in an era in which the likes of Google or other prominent technological means by which data can be retrieved had existed. As can be seen, there is something to be said for the amount of memory recall that individual can possess and leverage as a means of readily interjecting key understandings and tidbits of fact, data, and history into conversations and pertinent situations. However, with an overdependence upon technology has, situation in which individuals have placed this premium of memory and recall far down on the list of priorities; choosing instead to merely

Attend a Live Musical Event Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Attend a Live Musical Event - Research Paper Example Melody is a sequence of musical tones in a form that is familiar to the ear. Harmony refers to a collection of tones heard all together. Key in music is also called tonality of music. The volume of the note is known as the dynamics of the music. Timber is also known as tone color. Many dissimilar forms of sounds can be generated from the same instrument. Musical form is the group of all elements in a rational form, which involves the style of the music. The musical style selected in this topic is jazz music, which is a kind of popular music with some improvisation on melody and rhythm that originated in 1900s. â€Å"Adam Meckler is a professional trumpet player, composer and educator living in Saint Paul, MNâ€Å"(â€Å"Adammecklerbio† para.1). He plays frequently with his quintet, the Adam Meckler Quintet, and his big band, The Adam Meckler Orchestra. Adam has toured all over the world as a performer with bands. The Setting or Occasion The music is performed in one of the T win Cities where the original music is being played by modern jazz big bands, and features some of the most exciting young jazz musicians from the Twin Cities. There were so many fans assembled in the O’Gara’s Shamrock Room to come and enjoy the music of this interesting band. The city features local music events, concerts and music festivals in all the areas. The Concert Program Works on the program During the course of the concert, he played â€Å"Once upon a Sunrise,† â€Å"Skyline,† â€Å"Days of Wine and Roses,† â€Å"The World If I Could,† â€Å"The Tao of Heavy D,† â€Å"Song for BB,† â€Å"Sparkly Eyes,† and â€Å"Beautiful Beatrice.† All the performances were mind blowing. He played the â€Å"Song for BB† as a tribute to Bob Brooke Meyer who was a famous jazz musician, composer, arranger and educator and who unfortunately passed away in the previous year. Composition of Orchestra/Ensemble He has pe rformed with famous orchestras all over the world. In the concert held at St. Paul, his orchestra included an 18 piece big band consisting of maestros playing instruments such as trumpets by Zack Lozier, Tom Krochock, Sten Johnson, Noah Ophoven-Baldwin, and Cameron Kinghorn; saxophones by Jason Fabus, Nelson Devereaux, Ben Doherty, Tyler Anderson, and Angie Hirsch; drums by Pete Hennig; trombones by Keith Hilson, DJ Clovis, Mason Hemmer, Nathan Berry; bass played by Chris Bates; guitar by Evan Montgomery; and finally the keyboards by Steven Hobert. Variety of Musical Forms Composers The original compositions and arrangements of the music were done by Adam Meckler himself for some of the songs he played at the concert. Apart from this, he has also played the music composed by other musicians such as Eric Clapton (â€Å"The World If I Could†), Henry Mancini (â€Å"Days of Wine and Roses†), and Adam Meckler (â€Å"Song for BB†). The Musical Work The Musical Form Th ough the musical instrumentation is that of a traditional jazz big band, the music is influenced by modern pop, rock as well as gospel. The musical form ranges from traditional New Orleans tunes and Mardis Gras favorites to funk ‘n’ soul hits. Movements or Parts It was very interesting to see Adam Meckler and his â€Å"18 piece band† perform live on stage. They performed in great accordance with the electronic sounds of the musical instruments (â€Å"Adam Meckler Orchestra† para.1). Musical Theme and Motifs The theme of music performed by Adam Meckler is a mixture of pop and jazz style. Almost all the music is produced to make the audiences

Contradicting and Acquisition Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Contradicting and Acquisition - Assignment Example Appropriation does not necessarily represent cash. Instead, it represents the amount for a given purpose as stated in the appropriation act which the companies are obligated to during a given period as noted in the appropriation act. It is most important for it helps the companies spend federal funds (Warde, 2010). Difference between authorization and appropriation: The constitution usually grants its Congress the power of appropriation for agencies and federal spending. The federal programs are authorized by some Senate rules and activities of appropriation follows. Congress usually breaks the rules because the rules carry no constitutional weight or no statutory weight. The authorization-appropriation process serves as a highway in enacting federal spending. So the Congress is authorized before appropriation takes place whereby budget authority is provided to federal agencies that incur obligations and make payment out of the treasury (Gibbler, 2006). Obligations: Legal actions or responsibilities made by federal agencies at a given period. The actions may include different transactions made by them and they may include the number of orders received, services received, different contracts awarded among others. Obligation results to the amount of payment made including advances, amount of checks issued, reimbursement and net of refunds during the same period or in the future (Smith, 1976). Expenditure: It is a charge on current cash that results when agencies settle an obligation as evidenced by receipts, voucher, and invoice. Federal agencies spend authorized funds in some of the federal programs. Gross outlays are disbursement that is, cash, and fewer funds received. Net outlays involve disbursement minus reimbursement collected.  

Diabetes Mellitus and Erectile Dysfunctions

Diabetes Mellitus and Erectile Dysfunctions CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders which is characterized by chronic hyperglycemic condition with elevated blood glucose levels (Kohei., 2010). It may be either impaired insulin production or inability of cells to respond properly to the insulin synthesized from beta cells (Rudolf et al., 2012). There are majorly two types of diabetes- Type I or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Type II or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus.The later condition is characterized by fasting hyperglycemia along with a risk of thrombolytic and atherosclerotic disorders that mainly affect the cerebral, peripheral and coronary arterial trees (Grant., 2007). Diabetes is associated with various complications including micro vascular and macro vascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and erectile dysfunctions. 1.1.1 Type-I Diabetes (IDDM or Juvenile onset Diabetes Mellitus) Type I is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in thepancreas The ultimate lack of insulin leads to enhanced blood and urine glucose. The hallmark symptoms are polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst), polyphagia (increased hunger), and weight loss. The reason of diabetes mellitus type 1 is unknown. Type 1 diabetes can be distinguished from type 2 by autoantibody testing. TheC-peptide assay can also be used to measure endogenous insulin production. Global the number of people with DM type 1 is unknown. It is estimated that about 80,000 children developed the disease a year. Numbers of people who currently have the disease in the United States are possibly as much as three million. Rates varies from a low of 1 per 100,000 in Japan and China to 8 to 17 per 100,000 in Northern Europe and the U.S., to a high of about 35 per 100,000 in Scandinavia Caused by immune destruction of beta cells of the pancreas. Antibodies to islet cells and insulin are observed at diagnosis. Insulin secretion gradually decreases. May present at any age but most common in childhood and adolescence. Insulin by sc injection is necessary for survival. Contributing factors:- Genetic predisposition, Environmental trigger (infection or stress) 1.1.2 Type- II Diabetes (NIDDM or Adult onset Diabetes Mellitus) Type II diabetes may be caused either by insulin resistance in the liver and skeletal muscle, or enhanced glucose production in liver, or excess production of free fatty acids by fat cells and insulin deficiency. Insulin secretion diminishes with gradual beta cell failure. Reductions in blood glucose levels can be achieved with changes in food intake and also physical activity patterns. Oral medication and/or insulin injections are finally required. Contributing factors: Obesity Age (onset of puberty is associated with increased insulin resistance) Lack of physical activity Genetic predisposition Racial/ethnic background (Native American, African American Hispanic and Pacific/Asian Islander) Conditions associated with insulin resistance as in polycystic ovary syndrome 1.2 Penile Anatomy The penis composed of three bodies of erectile tissue which run in parallel; the corpus spongiosum, surrounding urethra and terminating in glans penis and the two corpora cavernosa (CC) function as blood-filled capacitors which provide structure to the erect organ (Andersson et al., 1995). The penile CC is highly organised vascular structures which are morphologically acclimatised to their function of becoming engorged of sexual arousal. The trabecular smooth muscle comprises approximately 40-50% tissue cross-sectional area, as evaluated by histomorphometric analysis (Nehra et al., 1998). There are three main arteries in penis ie, cavernosal, dorsal and bulbourethral. These three arise from a shared branch of internal pudendal artery and provide an immense anastomotic network (Tiee et al., 2010). Nowadays, there is a tendency to Role of Arginase Inhibitor and Alpha-Tocopherol in Streptozotocin Induced Sexual Impairment in Male Rats 2013-14Â  perform experiments using pudendal artery in vitro instead of cavernosal tissue to check pathophysiological aspects of ED as this artery is the vital resistance of penile engogerment during sexual stimulation. Novel research suggests that pudendal artery contributes about 70% of total penile vascular resistence (Manabe et al., 2000). The blood supply in CC is mainly fed from the penile cavernosal artery (Andersson et al., 1995) which causes corporal engorgment during erection, whereas deep dorsal artery causes glans enlargement but venous drainage is not similar to the arterial supply; there has only one deep dorsal vein which runs alongside dorsal arteries and nerves in the Buck’s fascia above the tunica albuginea which is a multilayered organized structure where emissary veins pass. The penile venous system is generally stated as a single deep dorsal vein along with a pair of dorsal arteries located between tunica albuginea and Buck’s fascia for venous drainage (Moscovici et al., 1999). The corpus spongiosu m which is erectile tissue analogous to CC but with thinner tunica albuginea. The urethra lies inside the spongiosum. The innervations of penis is both autonomic ie, sympathetic and parasympathetic and somatic ie, sensory and motor. From the neurons present in the spinal cord peripheral ganglia, the sympathetic with parasympathetic nerves merge to form cavernous nerves, which enter in CC and corpus spongiosum for affecting the neurovascular events during detumescence and tumescence (Dean et al., 2005). 1.3 Physiology of Penile Erection Penile erection involves central and peripheral pathways. Tumescence initiated after central integration and processing of visual, tactile, olfactory and imaginative stimuli. At the initial of sexual stimulation, signals are generated to peripheral tissues involved. Hence final response is mediated by coordinating spinal activity through the autonomic pathways to penis, and also in somatic pathways to perineal striated muscles. Both of the central and peripheral regulation of the PE involves several neurotransmitters, of which details are still incompletely known. Spinally, there may be a network consisting of the primary afferents from the genitals along with spinal interneurons, sympathetic, parasympathetic and (somatic) nuclei, which is capable to integrate all information. Peripherally, a balance between substances which control the degree of contraction of cavernosal smooth muscle determining the functional state of the penis (Gratzke et al., 2010). The dynamic interplay between vasoconstrictors and vasodilators within the penis establish the state of erect or flaccid. PE is determined by the pressure changes in cavernosal arterioles and sinuses. The vasculature nature of the erectile mechanism differs from most of the vascular beds as it is comprised of arterioles and hollow blood-filled sinuses, both that are lined with endothelial cells and smooth muscle (Dean et al., 2005) as previously described. During flaccidity, this tissue is tonically contracted which allow only a small amount of arterial flow regarding nutritional purposes. Partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in blood is around 35mmHg (Sattar et al., 1995). On the other hand, dilation of penile arteries is the primary event in the consequence of erection

God and the Absolute Law :: Religion Theology

God and the Absolute Law This vast universe, which we understand so little of, is governed by a set of rules and principles which were laid down since the dawn of time. The universe was created by God and it is He who laid down these rules. It is also He who created time and then created life out of nothingness. While doing so, He also instructed us how to spend our lives and told us what is right and what is wrong. In other words, He told us what to do and what not to do, and we, each and everyone of us, is bound to concur and abide by these rules. Culture and race is irrelevant ; these laws are absolute and are meant for every individual. One of the laws and/or rules tells us that the human body and the soul is not our own and we have no right to harm it in any way. We do not own them since it is not us who gave them form but it is God who gave them to us for a finite period of time. We value this human life and it is our natural instinct to save ourselves from any harm. It is every man^s constant will to survive. This is a form of an absolute law which governs our every action. It cannot be called a fabrication of mankind because ever since the dawn of time, every human being has fought for his/her own survival. It is ingrained into our nature to try to protect ourselves. So it must be absolute. Theft is another aspect of life which is governed by an absolute law. God gave us life and he provides for each and everyone of us. He bestows us with what we deserve ; nothing more, nothing less. And He told us that we have no right to steal anything from anyone else because it does not belong to us and was not meant for us. This concept, that stealing some else^s property is bad, is also included in mankind^s nature. And therefore it is an absolute law. Examples of thieves and robbers do not refute the existence of the absolute law because they are just people who do not have a strong belief in themselves. They fail to realize that they have everything they deserve and that they should be thankful for what they do have. God and the Absolute Law :: Religion Theology God and the Absolute Law This vast universe, which we understand so little of, is governed by a set of rules and principles which were laid down since the dawn of time. The universe was created by God and it is He who laid down these rules. It is also He who created time and then created life out of nothingness. While doing so, He also instructed us how to spend our lives and told us what is right and what is wrong. In other words, He told us what to do and what not to do, and we, each and everyone of us, is bound to concur and abide by these rules. Culture and race is irrelevant ; these laws are absolute and are meant for every individual. One of the laws and/or rules tells us that the human body and the soul is not our own and we have no right to harm it in any way. We do not own them since it is not us who gave them form but it is God who gave them to us for a finite period of time. We value this human life and it is our natural instinct to save ourselves from any harm. It is every man^s constant will to survive. This is a form of an absolute law which governs our every action. It cannot be called a fabrication of mankind because ever since the dawn of time, every human being has fought for his/her own survival. It is ingrained into our nature to try to protect ourselves. So it must be absolute. Theft is another aspect of life which is governed by an absolute law. God gave us life and he provides for each and everyone of us. He bestows us with what we deserve ; nothing more, nothing less. And He told us that we have no right to steal anything from anyone else because it does not belong to us and was not meant for us. This concept, that stealing some else^s property is bad, is also included in mankind^s nature. And therefore it is an absolute law. Examples of thieves and robbers do not refute the existence of the absolute law because they are just people who do not have a strong belief in themselves. They fail to realize that they have everything they deserve and that they should be thankful for what they do have.

Ethics on Surrogate Mothers Essay

Sometimes couples who cannot conceive a baby by themselves choose to use a surrogate mother, where another woman carries their child. One way of surrogacy is when a woman who’s unable to carry a baby to term, but is otherwise fertile, has her embryos transplanted to the surrogate mother. The eggs might be fertilized by the biological father or by artificial insemination if the male has fertility issues. In other cases, a surrogate mother is in fact the biological mother of the child as her very own eggs are used to create the embryo. In certain states, such as Arkansas and Delaware, surrogacy is illegal. Even in states where surrogacy is allowed, it can be quite a complicated process for the non-biological mother to be named as the parent, particularly in cases when the surrogate is the biological mother. The surrogate must sign away her maternal rights so the intended mother can adopt the child. If the sperm of the adoptive mother’s husband was used to fertilize the egg, the biological father is named on the child’s birth certificate. Many states require a legal contract be drafted between the couple and the surrogate and her spouse or partner detailing all arrangements concerning the pregnancy and birth. The parties involved with a surrogacy contract should seek the advice of legal counsel to be sure that pertinent issues are addressed and that the contract is in compliance with state and local laws involving surrogacy and adoption. Sometimes a surrogate mother changes her mind and refuses to give up her child. However, in states where surrogacy is allowed, the biological mother usually doesn’t win custody or visitation rights. Typically, the surrogate and the parents sign an agreement to avoid this from happening. Nonetheless, there’s always the possibility that the surrogate mother might win her case. Many surrogacy agreements state what the surrogate can and cannot do while pregnant. But ultimately, the parents should trust the surrogate mom to do what’s in the best interests of the baby. Issues may develop whenever a surrogate breaches the agreement by smoking, abusing drugs or consuming} alcohol while pregnant. As with any pregnancy there’s always the possibility for medical or obstetrical troubles, which may hurt the baby or the surrogate mother. For starters, there’s the chance of transmission of contagious disease to the surrogate when another woman’s eggs are transplanted into the surrogate. Because of this, both biological parents should be prescreened. In case a surrogate develops problems in the beginning that put her life at an increased risk, she may want to end the pregnancy. Another issue that may arise is if health practitioners discover learn that the fetus has possible birth defects and other health concerns. In that situation, the parents may choose they cannot continue with the surrogacy. This generates all sorts of legal issues, especially when the sperm is from a donor or eggs other than the surrogate’s were used for pregnancy. The problem then becomes who gets to determine whether to proceed with the pregnancy. Even though some people see surrogacy as baby-selling and look down on a female who is a surrogate, in recent years surrogacy has become more of a recognized practice. However the ethical issue remains concerning whether a female who’s being paid for her surrogacy is exploiting infertile couples and entering the agreement for money. Others begin to see the infertile couple as exploiting the surrogate’s body and taking advantage of a female who needs money. Another issue, a couple that would adopt a child would be rigorously screened and be assessed to their suitability. This would not be the case with surrogacy. Some people who would be restricted from adopting could avoid this process by using a surrogate. One of the key issues is with regards to surrogacy is it is impossible to determine the risks involved in the surrogacy process. A surrogate needs to be informed of the potential risks to her health and the possible psychological trauma she can suffer. There should a moral requirement for all parties involved to consider the welfare of the child born into any agreement. However, surrogacy raises the debate of people’s â€Å"right† to have children. If we refuse the option of surrogacy, are we discriminating against the infertile? The first recorded case of surrogacy in the United States was in 1976. Noel Keane, a lawyer, arranged the first surrogacy agreement between a surrogate mother and the intended parents. This mother was not compensated financially. Afterwards, Keane went on to create the Infertility Center, which arranged hundreds of surrogacy agreements every year . However despite the numerous ethical issues at stake, statistics show that there has been an increase in the numbers of women who become surrogates. From 2004-2008 the number of infants born to gestational surrogates had doubled. The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology reported from 738 infants born to over 1,400 from surrogate births. However, the amount of surrogacies annually is likely to be more, as many fertility centers don’t report to SART. Additionally, there are couples who enter private agreements with a surrogate where agencies aren’t involved. References Pacific Connection Fertility Services: Surrogacy Yale — New Haven Teachers Institute: Ethical Problems Surrounding Surrogate Motherhood Dr Rebecca Gibbs, North East Essex PCT, Surrogacy, January 2008. http://www.northeastessexpct.nhs.uk/public_29_01_2008/surrogacy-policy.pdf

Question Paper Essays

Question Paper Essays Question Paper Essay Question Paper Essay CASE STUDY : 3 International Case : The Restructuring of Daimler-Benz In a 1996 address to stockholders and friends of Daimler-Benz, CEO Jurgen Schrempp reviewed the position of the diversified company. He started by saying 1995 was a dramatic year in the history of Daimler-Benz. It was also a year that the board of management made a major break with the past. Daimler-Benz, with more than 300,000 employees worldwide, consisted of four major groups: The first, by far the biggest and most successful group, was Mercedes-Benz with about 200,000 employees. It is best known for its passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The second was the AEG Daimler-Benz industries in the business of rail systems, microelectronics, heavy diesel engines, energy systems technology, and automation. The third was the Aerospace Group in the business of aircraft (the company has a more than one-third interest in the Airbus consortium), space systems, defense and civil systems, and propulsion systems. Finally, there was the Inter Services Group consisting of systemshaus, financial services, insurance brokerage, trading, marketing services, mobile communications services, and real estate management. Daimler-Benz went through various development phases. From 1985 to 1990, it diversified into aerospace and electrical engineering. The aim was to become an integrated high-tech group. This diversification was further consolidated in the next phase that extended from 1990 to 1995. Under the leadership of Schrempp, the core business was redefined and the strategy refocused. A 1995-96 portfolio review showed the need for refocusing on what the company could do best. Top management reevaluated its strategies and its core businesses based on economic criteria and the strategic fit of the various activities. It became clear that the companys strengths were in car manufacturing, the truck business, and the railroad sector. Mercedes Benz, for example, had a strong competitive position with its cars and trucks in Europe, North America, and Latin America. Vans were also relatively strong in Europe, and buses had a good competitive position in Latin America. Based on this analysis, the strategies for potential growth were through globalization and the development of new product segments. In 1996, top management reassessed the companys position and its 1995 unsatisfactory results from its operations. It was discovered that the company was exposed to currency fluctuations that affected profitability. The companys image was also blurred because of the ventures into many different kinds of industries. The management board decided to cut its losses and chart a new direction for the company, with greater emphasis on profitability. The organization structure was tightened and certain businesses were divested. In fact, policy decision from an earlier period were reversed. The unprofitable AEG Group and the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker did not receive financial support. Since both the Dutch government and Daimler-Benz withdrew support, Fokker filed for bankruptcy. Although these and other drastic decisions helped reduce the 1995 financial losses, the companys goal was not to emphasize maximizing short-term profitability but to work toward medium- and long-term profitability. A number of other managerial decisions were made to achieve the ambitious goals of reducing costs and improving profitability. Employees close to the operations were empowered to make decisions necessary to carry out their tasks. The organization structure was simplified and decentralized so that organizational units could respond faster to environmental changes. Moreover, the new organization structure was designed to promote an entrepreneurial spirit. Control was exercised through a goal-driven, performance-based reward system. At the same time, the new structure was designed to promote cooperation. In 1997, the board of management restructured and integrated the Mercedes-Benz Group into Daimler-Benz. Consequently, Mercedes-Benzs chief, Helmut Werner, who had been given credit for a successful model policy, resigned from the company. Questions: 1) What is your assessment of Daimler-Benzs operations in many different fields? 2) Should the various groups operate autonomously? What kinds of activities should be centralized? 3) Daimler-Benz is best known for its Mercedes-Benz cars. Why do you think Daimler bought AEG in the first place and why did it venture into the Aerospace and Inter Services businesses? 4) Given the apparent mistakes in acquiring non-automotive businesses, what should Jurgen Schrempp do now?