Consider the challenges of the forensic recovery and examination of Essay

Consider the challenges of the forensic recovery and examination of data from mobile devices - Essay Example The capability of mobile devices has increased as a result of advance in computing ability contributed by advancement of semiconductor technology used in these devices. Due to their size and portability mobile devices have become the vessels of storing, processing and transmitting information. This remarkable development of mobile technology is origin of current security challenges. The involvement of these devices in criminal activities calls for mobile device forensics and data recovery. This paper summarizes the challenges faced in forensic recovery and examination of data from mobile devices. The scope will bring into light challenges associated while carrying forensic analysis of mobile phones and elaborate various analysis techniques. It will also depict the weaknesses of mobile forensic toolkits and procedures and the crossover between phone and computer forensics 1. Introduction Mobile devices have revolutionized communications on every group in the social structure by making connection to the internet hence global information is available at touch of a button. There are slightly above 4 billion users of mobile devices users and the use of these devices in criminal activities is quite widespread and increasing rapidly. The increased usage of mobile devices particularly the mobile phones is entirely attributed to the reduced cost, the introduction of text messaging, multimedia potentialities, custom ring tones, internet connection, and games features among others. Civil and criminal investigations in the day today life and business involve digital mobile devices forensics. These devices can be connected to crime if they are: used as a communication tool in the act of crime, means of committing crime, they contain information and a data warehouse device providing evidence. Mobile devices forensics can be defined as the science of retrieval of digital evidence from mobile devices and entails methods that show how this evidence is retrieved. Mobile devices forensics is achieved through acquiring and analysing data in devices, memory cards and SIM cards. 2. Evidence items Evidence items that can be obtained by forensically examining a mobile device include the following; Name of Service Provider and Unique Id Number that are printed on back of SIM card. International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) and can be retrieved by keying in some commands such as *#06#. Network operators give facility to dial some code for finding it Location Area Identity (LAI) which is stored inside SIM Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID) is Stored inside SIM and matches the number printed on SIM. International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), a unique id for every network subscriber and is stored inside SIM. Text messages data (SMS), contacts and call logs are stored on both the SIM and mobile device handset. Multimedia messages (MMS), images, sound, videos, WAP/Browser history, emails, calendar items and notes are all stored in mobile phone memory. Some mobile devices retain information of SIM cards used at earlier times. This feature is very limited in mobile devices. MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital

Medical Translation: Functionalist Approaches

Medical Translation: Functionalist Approaches Medical Translation: functionalist approaches Translation is used in every day life and is used in multiple fields of work. Translation is defined in the Collins Dictionary as a piece of writing or speech that has been translated into another action and as the act of translating something. The two definitions point to the two different ways translation is explained, the first as being the product produced by the translator and the second as the actual process of translation. The dictionary of Translation Studies additionally introduces sub types of translation such as literary translation, technical translation, subtitling and machine translation. . .interpreting (Hatim, Munday: 2004). The sub type I shall be discussing is medical translation. At every milestone, translation was the key to scientific progress as it unlocked for each successive inventor and discoverer the minds of predecessors who expressed their innovative thoughts in another language (Fischbach: Wright1993). Translation has been used since Hippocrates and Galen in Greek and was translated primarily into Latin and Arabic, Arabic especially in the Middle Ages. This spread knowledge to the Western world producing translations into Castilian and English. [1] Whilst medical translation shares many features with other sub types in that it involves adapting to cultural differences, using technological tools and communicating through linguistic barriers, this sub type has many specialties of its own. When translating a medical text, one must be careful to communicate the specific knowledge correctly. Factual complexity and accuracy becomes a main priority for the translator. Medical terminology, communicative situations (among specialists, in the mass media, in education, to patients, in campaigns and internationally), medical genres and medical ethics also influence the way in which translation is produced. I shall be focusing on functional approaches to translation, introducing Vermeers Skopostheorie, Reiss theory of text types and functional equivalence and lexical equivalence, applying them to the aspects of specific audiences, Latin based terms, medical English standardisations and medical texts. Functionalism is the broad term used for the many theories that approach translation using functionalist methods. It focuses on the importance of the function or functions of the target text rather than the linguistic equivalence to the source text. Texts are produced with a specific purpose or function in mind. The starting point for any translation is therefore not the linguistic surface structure of the ST, but the purpose of the TT (Nord: 1997). It also includes the notion of translation as communication. Translation is defined as a purposeful, transcultural activity whose linguistic form depends on the function or the purpose of the target text. Action, communication and cultural theories are included under the title of functionalism. Skopostheorie, translational action theory and Reiss and Vermeers general theory of translation will be discussed in further detail. The main theory within functionalist approaches is Skopostheorie, (Skopos meaning purpose in Greek) by Hans J. Vermeer. Vermeer believes that linguistics alone is not enough for translation as he believes not all problems can be solved solely through language abilities but that the prime principal determining any translation process is the purpose (Skopos) of the overall translational action (Vermeer: Nord1997). He understands translation as a human action and that all actions are intentional and purposeful behaviours. Any form of translational action, including therefore translation itself, may be conceived as an action, as the name implies. Any action has an aim, a purpose. [. . . ] The word Skopos, then, is a technical term for the aim or purpose of a translation (Vermeer1989). He also adds that these behaviours take place in situations which happen in cultures which consequently leads to the Skopostheorie being culture specific as Holz-Manttari explains in further detail. From this thought, Vermeer derives a general Skopos rule, which states: translate/interpret/speak/write in a way that enables your text/translation to function in a situation in which it is used and with the people who want to use it and precisely in the way they want it to function. This rule is designed to solve dilemmas such as free vs. faithful translation or dynamic vs. formal equivalence. Another general rule mentioned which will be discussed again later is the coherence rule which concerns the target text must be coherent to allow the intended users to understand it in their situational circumstances. Another important factor of Skopostheorie is that of the addressee which is the receiver or the audience. The translation must be directed towards them, which is why purpose and the coherence rule are so important. *** Holz-Mantarris translational action theory goes further than the Vermeer in that she completely disregards the word translation, referring to it instead as message transmitters. She describes translation as a complex action designed to achieve a particular purpose. The purpose of this theory is to create the ability to send messages across culture and language barriers by experts (translators). She also highlights the actional aspects of the translation process such as the translator, initiator, message receiver and the situational conditions in which the action (of translation) takes place. She calls this intercultural cooperation. The audience, as mentioned before, is one of the most important factors in Skopostheorie. Medic al translation requires the translator to be faithful to the client as well as the source text*** In the medical field, there are two main types of audiences: the lay audience and the expert audience. Often, when translating medical technical terms, which is very common and can cause problems, terms can be changed or borrowed in order to make sense in the target culture. Because Latin was once the lingua franca of medicine and Greek was the original language of medical text, there still exists today a great amount of Latin and Greek based words and the use of Latin and Greek suffixes and prefixes. This topic has proved difficult for translators as it challenges the Skopostheorie in that linguistic equivalence is not necessary. We see here that this is not always the case. The use of Latin words is extremely common in English; words such as pneumonia and appendicitis are very common amongst both types of audiences. When translating into romance languages and even into Germanic languages, the word tends to be equivalent to that of the English with minor spelling changes: English Spanish  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   German Pneumonia Neumonia Pneumonie Appendicitis Apendicitis Appendizitis However, in some countries such as Germany and Denmark, Latin continues to act as the lingua franca in medicine and therefore is not understood by the lay audience. They are replaced by more popularized terms in order to reach out to a larger audience: German Danish Expert:   appendizitis expert: Appendicitis Non- expert: Blinddarmentzundung non-expert: blindtarmsbetoendelse Expert: Pneumonie expert: pneumoni Non- expert: Lungenentzundung non- expert: lungebetoendelse [1] Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine, was known for his medical knowledge which Galen and Perganum expanded 400 years after. The numerous articles of Hippocrates and Galen gave way to the need of medical translation. Aulus Cornelius Celsus, otherwise known as Cicero, was the first to translate the Greek works and terms into Latin in the first century AD. With the rise of Islam in the seventh century, and the establishment of medical schools in the major cities such as Baghdad and Damascus created the need for translation of Greek medical works into Arabic. By the Middle Ages, translation from Arabic to Latin saw the spreading of information to the Western world and Christian Europe and with the colonisation of the New World and the discovering of new drugs, translations into Castilian and English were produced in the sixteenth century (Fischbach: Wright1993). In the Renaissance, Latin was the Lingua Franca creating translations between Latin and vernacular languages and b etween vernacular languages themselves (Montalt and Davies, 2007). Bill T Jones | Choreography Analysis Bill T Jones | Choreography Analysis Bill T. Jones is a startling choreographer with an exhilarating presence and charisma. His compilation of Solos includes Tea for Two, Ionization, and Chaconne. All different from each other are depictions of Jones emotions and body movements to their extremes. Giving a brief explanation to each, Tea for Two is a depiction of emotions like desire and love, while Ionization has an extreme involvement of strong music, movement, and expressions which depict violence, and finally, Chaconne is a flickering performance that displays the involvement of artistic techniques and music insinuating a certain story, or feeling. This paper is an outlook of Jones work, especially in these performances, and how each performance is an artistic representation of a certain theme. The classical song Tea for Two is what Bill T. Jones performance is based upon. It is a solo which he presents twice; once on the stairs, and next in a studio. On the other hand, as a spectator I have realized that differences in the setting may lead to a vast distinction between two performances. Firstly, Tea for Two: On the Stairs. The performance is a depiction of love, freewill, and desire. I have felt that Jones performs with his full fervor on the streets out to celebrate. Also, the lyrics sung by Blossom Dearie speak for themselves as the dancer is blissful and content about the house created for him and his lover away from the busy life of the city. As a spectator, I have felt that it is a romantic ballad dance where Jones is conveying to his audience that he is happy regarding being alone with his loved one with no one to bother them enabling them to have tea for two and enjoying it without any interruption. Also, I have realized that Jones free style of dancing reflects his freedom and peacefulness. The daylight tends to capture the essence of love and happiness, while his facial expressions are of a happy man content with his living and life. In this dance sequence, the space is fully utilized with no sets, or props to disturb the concept of freedom he is trying to convey to the audience. A very natural and clean performance, which shows what little happiness in life, along with a loved one, can do to a human being. Furthermore, moving on to Tea for Two: In the Studio. Although Jones had performed the piece twice on the same music, the difference in the setting gave the dance another feeling. I felt that Jones is not performing with the same essence, or power. Also, I believe that his performance in the studio constrained him; impeded him from moving freely, unlike his performance on the stairs where you could feel the positive energy shimmering from every movement and line Jones had made. Moreover, Do you think Ill make a soldier, every round goes higher and higher, do you want to have your freedom? are the words of Bill T. Jones which he added after his performance to the piece in the studio. To me, this altered the mood after watching the performance as Jones left the audience in deep thoughts; also, as a spectator, I did not fully understand the intention of such a quote; however, it could be that Jones is doubtful while referring to himself as a soldier, and questionable regarding acquiring his freedom as he pictures it with his loved one. Moving on to another spectacular piece by Bill T. Jones entitled Ionization. Ionization is a piece choreographed to a classic music composition by Edgar Varese, and this dance piece is an excellent synchronization of different instruments with the moves of the body. Also, as a spectator, the dance is an ionization of the human body to different beats in life and is also built on the premise of how a body moves to the most sensitive distinctions of various kinds of percussive sounds. Different instruments such as the bass and the drums are a pleasure to hear when synchronized to the soft and soothing sounds of the piano and the saxophone. Also, as a spectator, I was awakened with the African like beats, as well as, beats similar to the roaring of a lion and sirens allowing Jones to shift within the space using stronger movements according to the beat of the instruments. Furthermore, I consider this solo performance by Jones very much attention grabbing as the way he communicated with his audience through his facial expressions was outstanding; also, the way he switched swiftly from one expression to another, yet having full control to make such switches apparent was expertly done. Moreover, violence could be seen gradually in the performance from the beginning to the end from his sharp stomp like movements to his facial expressions with accordance to the music played. However, although Jones performance fully caught my attention, the music he chose for such a sequence was somehow dominating making me focus in certain parts with the music played rather than Jones while performing. Additionally, Chaconne is framed around spoken text and the music of Bachs D-Minor Partita for Solo Violin. This solo performance accompanied by Bachs D Minor Partita could be about Jones personal memories accompanied by the appearance of written text on screen about a close friend of him, or it could be dedicated to his mother. Moreover, I believe that the text is directly related to the sad and painful moves of Jones in the dance sequence. Also, the text helped me as a spectator understand the mood of the performer and comprehend the purpose of the dance sequence as it felt that Jones was somehow impersonating the person in agony, or remembering how she felt during her instant of pain, especially during the part while he was on the floor with his hand forming a heart like shape and the text appearing. Furthermore, the music, which is entirely a mix of violins, added to the softness of the performance. Although there is a huge difference between Jones four performances, I have liked Chaconne the most as I have felt that it reflects certain hidden emotions within him which he is able to only reflect through dance and hidden speech. Last but not least, it is difficult to compare between two profound choreographers such as Bill T. Jones and Merce Cunningham; however, I have admired Jones style most as to me he managed to portray original contemporary dancing and choreography. Although Merce Cunningham is a pioneer in contemporary dancing, and I am not a guru in such a field to fully express my opinion; however, that is what I have realized after watching several pieces by both choreographers. Bill T. Jones is an exquisite performer and choreographer who is able to grab hold of his audiences attention from the moment he starts dancing. Also, his ability to establish choreography with clear messages sent is an attribute which I find significant. Bill T. Jones is truly proficient in his field of expertise, and really has the ability to keep his audience engaged wherever and whenever he performs.

Freedom Of Expression :: essays research papers

COSHE.COM : uncategorized : freedom of expression on the internet freedom of expression on the internet First and foremost, in the United States the freedom of expression is guaranteed in the first Article of Amendment to the American Constitution. It states, "Con Click Here to Search COSHE's Database Again freedom of expression on the internet First and foremost, in the United States the freedom of expression is guaranteed in the first Article of Amendment to the American Constitution. It states, "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or the press..." This is significant beyond its mere primacy in the U.S. Bill of Rights. It does not establish the freedom of expression, but rather, in recognizing its existence, guarantees it. Freedom of expression has been a part of the American way since long before the American Revolution. Alexis de Toqueville, on touring the United States over 150 years ago recognized this, writing in _Democracy in America, "The Anglo-Americans have enjoyed this liberty ever since the foundation of the Colonies..." Americans have always felt free to express their opinion. By guaranteeing both freedoms of speech and press, the American Constitution recognizes both personal and broadcast expression, clearly embracing the advancements and proliferation of communications technology. Unfortunately People leave tracks as they move through electronic networks. Whenever we do business, electronically or otherwise, the other party knows something about our preferences and activities. But when we use the new electronic vending machines and digital cash, the merchants with whom we deal can keep a detailed record that reveals much more, in aggregate,about our activities. Store and forward messaging systems can continue to store after they forward. As we all conduct more and more of our lives on the networks. It is the freedom of expression itself that moderates the impact of radical different opinions. The only fear of Internet freedom is its lack of use by the holders of contrary, yet more mainstream opinions. As the electronic frontier matures, there will be co ntinual conflicts between those who want free access to information and those who want to participate in the networks without automatically giving up all rights to control the flow of the resulting transactional data. Before we treat these conflicts as appropriate matters for a new type of "property" law, however, we should remember that almost everyone will be on both sides of any new "fence." If we approach

A research on the effects of birth order on personality family and society Essay

How Does Birth Order Affect Personality, Family, and Society? Introduction This research project will investigate birth order and how it directly affects one’s personality. This project explains why individuals behave differently within the family. According to the systems theory, families adapt in response to changes in internal and external needs and circumstances, including the development of individual family members (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). For primary research, opinions from different hierarchical perspectives will be provided through a survey. Depending on one’s position in the sibling hierarchy, personalities differ because different stages carry different roles and responsibilities. This research project will look at how each stage affects personality. Method For the primary research, a total of fifteen questions were asked to 6 people. Each of the interviewees was of different levels in the sibling hierarchy, i.e. first born, last born, the middle child, only child, and twins. In between each question, the subjects would have time to properly think about their next answer, this way results would be accurate and as substantial as possible. The first interview was conducted with a set of 20-year-old twins, this interview was the most interesting and had the most answers. The next subject was a 13-year-old girl who is the only child of her family, the interview lasted seven minutes. The third interview was conducted with a 17-year-old girl, a 14-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, they were all siblings and would represent each part of the sibling hierarchy. Topics about the personality and how it affects relationship within the home and outside of the home were discussed. The topics covered were: personality traits and parent-child relationships. Results All of the subjects were teenagers specifically because they would be experiencing the effects of their birth order currently as they are still at home with parents. One hundred percent of the interviewed subjects identified with, and agreed upon the following characteristics and stereotypes: First Borns: High achievers Perfectionists Obsessive Responsible Controlling Middle Children: Very Social Generous Diplomatic Mediators Values friendships and relationships Somewhat rebellious Last Borns: Attention seekers Outgoing Selfish Creative Humourous Discussion This study is supported by Alfred Adler’s theory of personality development. Alder was influenced and inspired by Charles Darwin’s study of genetic evolution and adaptation. Darwin’s phenomena can help explain why children tend to differentiate their personalities and carry out tasks uniquely based on their own individual approach to life in order to reduce competition and conflict. Children influence most of the relations that happen within the family, they decide for themselves the role they will play in the family, parents only help reinforce those choices (Schafer, 2015). Some might deem themselves as the â€Å"responsible one†, the â€Å"goody-two-shoes†, the â€Å"smarty pants†, the athlete, the persevering etc†¦ Alder, who is a world-renowned psychologist would suggest that children be raised or treated individually; meaning as the unique individuals that they are. The primary socialization in a child’s life is determined b y the family. The family helps you gain a sense of who you are (Holloway, 107). If a child is not raised individually, with each of their stereotyped personality traits taken into consideration, it could result in a low self-esteem, conflict and possibly distance within the family. The Theory of Ego development, founded by Jane Loevinger discusses how ego is developed in three stages (Holloway, 105). The second stage of this theory talks about people understanding and accepting their individual differences and through that, distinguishing variations in feelings and emotions that make people unique (Holloway, 105). Most parents might not understand the psychology that is behind a child’s position in the family, which is why many children especially the middle child, might complain of lessened love and misunderstanding. A parent should feel responsible for the well-being of their child, but many of them overlook the importance of understanding the essence of birth order. 2 out of 5 interviewees described their relationship with their parents as normal without any real problems. The other 3 however, agreed upon the fact that their parents do not understand them and in fact treat their siblings and them the same and bringing them up as â€Å"one person†; saying things like â€Å"Be like sibling A†, â€Å"Sibling A gets very high grades, why is it different with you?†. It is a challenge for parents to understand their children and treat them based on their different characters and psyche, which is why most parents don’t even bother. Feelings of neglect and unimportance may arise within certain children when they compare their relationships with their parents to that of their siblings. Sibling relationships are one of the most significant relationships people experience through life. They help define our early social and cognitive skills. The emotional connection and protection that comes from a sibling bond is a great life satisfaction that helps reduce levels of depression. They can teach us about conflict resolution, managing social tensions, conduct friendships and handle ourselves in group situations (http://internationalschoolparent.com/). Gender also has a role to play in birth order positions. In the case of the first-born child, oldest males are more of leaders as they tend to take charge. Oldest daughters, on the other side of the spectrum, are more aggressive and confident, sometimes bossy. â€Å"Middleborns are the Type O blood of relationships: They go with anyone,† (Schipani, 2010). Middle children tend to be good at making compromises as they would have bossy older siblings and needy younger siblings. The youngest child of the family is usuall y treasured and in many cases treated as babies for much longer than their older siblings. The youngest siblings of the family also tend to stray away from taking charge and might be seen as the shy and quiet sheep of the family. The only children of the family are usually stereotyped to be precious and would be pampered as they have all the attention on them; parents would not have to split attention and in worse cases love between siblings because there is only one child. Many say that only children are more mature for their age because of the amount of time they spend with their parents. My research showed that the 13-year-old girl interviewed who is the only child of the family, considered herself more socially aware than her peers and is very much accustomed to and satisfied with her own company. Symbolic interactionism examples that a child’s self-esteem is determined by the parent’s appraisal of the child’s worth, this occurs during the parent-child interaction. It assumes that supportive parental behavior like nurturance, approval, and love all determine a child’s inherent worth (Adkins, 2003). The child will be able to confirm that his parents accept him for who he is and see him as a competent and worthwhile person. The more the parent interact with a child using positive sentiments, the child will positively act upon not just her immediate family but the environment around her. The theory states that if parent-child relationships are spread across equally amongst all children, all the children within the family will have an equal self-esteem.    Conclusion As proven by Alfred Adler’s theory, birth order does have an effect on one’s personality. As well as individualistically, a child’s position in the family can reflect on his immediate family, meaning sibling and parent relationships as well as how they relate to the outside world. If parents don’t learn to properly care for their children individualistically, conflict and feelings of incompetence could arise within the family.    Citations Adkins, K. L. (2003, May). Predicting Self-Esteem Based on Perceived Parental Favoritism and Birth Order. In Tennessee State University Graduate Studies. Retrieved from< http://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1907&context=etd> Schafer, A. (2015, May 5). Birth Order Theory. In HUFF POST PARENTS CANADA. Retrieved from Schipani, D. (2010, May 28). How Does Birth Order Affect Relationships? In Women’s Day. Retrieved from White, James Martin., and Margaret Holloway. Families in Canada: Social Contexts, Continuities, And Changes. Toronto: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. Print. Whiteman SD, McHale SM, Soli A. Theoretical perspectives on sibling relationships. J Fam Theory Rev. 2011;3:124–139. What Does Birth Order Say About You (n.d.). In International School Parent. Retrieved from

Liberation War of Bangladesh Essay

Our liberation is the greatest achievement in our national life. The War of Liberation of Bangladesh took place in the history in 1971. We had been under Pakistani rule for twenty five years. The Pakistani rulers and their vested interest group began to treat East Pakistan as a colony gof West Pakistan. Therefore, under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a violent mass movement was launched against the autocrats of the West Pakistan. Subsequently, the Awami League won a landslide victory at the election of the National Assembly of Pakistan held in December 1970. Thus Bangabandhu acquired the right to form the government of Pakistan with his absolute majority in the parliament. Despite having absolute majority, Awami League could not ascend to power due to Yahia-Bhutto conspiracy. With the plea of discussion with Bangabandhu, President Yahia Khan began to collect arms and ammunitions from West Pakistan. Having taken all preparations, Yahia flew to Rawalpindi and signed the order for Bangalee massacre. On the black night of March 25, 1971, the Pak army got down the streets of Dhaka. Bangabandhu was arrested and taken to the prison of West Pakistan. In the mean time, Bangabandhu declared the independence of Bangladesh. The War of Liberation started and the Pakistani forces cracked down upon the innocent and armless people of Bangladesh. They continued to kill innocent people and intellectuals, torture innumerable women, burn houses, loot property and damage crops. One crore of people fled away and took shelter in India. In the meantime, new government was formed at Mujibnagar and people from all walks of life started to take part in the war obeying the call and order of Bangabandhu. As a result, the Mukti Bahini was organized and trained. They started counter attack on the Pakistani forces. During the Liberation War of Bangladesh, everyone was a freedom fighter and did his best to help the Mukti Bahini. Eventually the Mukti Bahini gained strength and efficiency and kept the occupation forces in extreme embarrassment. At one stage, the Mukti Bahini and the Indian forces formed a joint command and started severe attack on the enemy in every sector compelling them to surrender. On the 16th of December, 1971 they surrendered their arms to the Joint Command at a ceremony in Dhaka. Thus after long nine months of massacre, the War of Liberation came to an end and Bangladesh achieved freedom from the barbarous Pakistanis. In fact, it was the triumph of justice over tyranny.

How to Build Writing Skills in Students With Dyslexia

How to Build Writing Skills in Students With Dyslexia When you think of the word dyslexia reading problems immediately come to mind but many students with dyslexia struggle with writing as well. Dysgraphia, or written expression disorder, impacts handwriting, the spacing of letters and sentences, omitting letters in words, the lack of punctuation and grammar when writing and difficulty organizing thoughts on paper. The following resources should help you better understand dysgraphia and work with students to improve writing skills. Understanding Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Dyslexia and dysgraphia are both neurological based learning disabilities but both have specific symptoms. Its important to learn the symptoms, types of dysgraphia, and treatment options. Dyslexia impacts writing skills in many ways. Students with dyslexia show a significant difference between what they can tell you verbally and what they are able to convey on paper. They may have trouble with spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sequencing. Some may have dysgraphia as well as dyslexia. Knowing how this learning disability affects writing can help you develop specific strategies for working to improve writing skills. Teaching Students With Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Once understood, you can make some accommodations in the classroom to help improve writing and learning in students with written expression disorder. For example, experimenting with different kinds of pens can help you find what is most comfortable for your student, and improve legibility. Written assignments completed by students with dyslexia are often filled with spelling and grammar errors, and the handwriting is sometimes illegible, causing a teacher to think the student is lazy or unmotivated. A plan of action provides a step-by-step approach for organizing thoughts and information to help make the writing process easier. when teaching writing skills to students with dyslexia. Ideas for Lesson Plans Arm yourself with specific strategies to incorporate into your daily teaching that will help you work with students with dyslexia and dysgraphia improve their writing skills. One suggestion is to put away the red pen when grading papers and use a more neutral color to avoid the student becoming discouraged when seeing all the red marks when you return an assignment. Building Sequencing Skills: From the time we are very young, we learn to complete tasks in a specific way, such as tying shoes or using long division. If we do the task out of order, the end result is often wrong or doesnt make any sense. Sequencing skills are used in writing as well, making our written information make sense to the reader. This is often an area of weakness for children with dyslexia. Students with dyslexia can frequently see the big picture but have trouble understanding the steps it takes to get there. Plan a lesson requiring students to take parts of an event or story and put them in the correct, chronological order.Journal Writing: Helps students in middle school practice writing skills by keeping a daily journal. Writing prompts are given each morning or as a homework assignment and students write a few paragraphs. Varying the writing prompts helps students practice different types of writing, for example, one prompt might require descriptive writing and one mig ht require persuasive writing. Once a week or every other week, students choose a journal entry to edit and revise. Create a Classroom Book: This lesson can be used from 1st through 8th grade and gives you the opportunity to teach social lessons as well as writing lessons. As you complete classroom books, put them in your classroom library for students to read again and again, helping them learn about and become more tolerant of one anothers differences.Writing Newspaper Articles: This project not only works on informative writing skills, but it fosters cooperation by teaching students to work together to create a classroom newspaper.Outline Writing Prompt: Teachers often give students writing prompts to help generate writing ideas, however, students with dyslexia may need additional assistance in organizing information. Provide a step-by-step guide that goes through the process of putting together an outline that organizes information.

Strangers on a Train Motifs essays

Strangers on a Train Motifs essays Alfred Hitchcocks, Strangers on a Train reinforces the duality of human nature and effectively transforms a highly improbable situation into a series of logical events, which lead to murder. Hitchcock has constructed most of the events in this particular movie around the idea of twos in regard to his film technique (crosscutting/match cuts) as well as a number of references to doubles (shoes in the opening scene) throughout Strangers on a Train. A great deal occurs in pairs in this film. These twos act as an integral part of the films plot. Furthermore, there are a number of reoccurring symbols or motifs in the film that go hand in hand with the idea of duality. In my section of this web project I am going to elaborate on a number of scenes from the film and provide evidence to support my various arguments regarding the idea of pairs. Youd like your wife killed, wouldnt you? Ill do it for you if youll kill someone for me, and since were strangers well be free of suspicion. The film, Strangers on a Train is an extremely slick, psychological thriller that succeeds in tackling blackmail, murder and issues of taboo sexuality. This film is definitely one of Alfred Hitchcocks best in that it reinforces the duality of human nature and effectively transforms a highly improbable situation into a series of logical events, which lead to murder. Hitchcock has constructed most of the events in this particular movie around the idea of twos in regard to his film technique (cross-cutting/match cuts) as well as the number of references to doubles (shoes in the opening scene) throughout Strangers on a Train. So much occurs in pairs in this film. These twos act as an integral part of the films plot. For example, Tennis star Guy Haines hates his adulterous, soon-to-be At the same time, Bruno Anthony hates his father but is afr ...

How to Create Awesome Internal Company Newsletters That Get Read

How to Create Awesome Internal Company Newsletters That Get Read Internal newsletters are important tools for keeping teams informed company-wide. This is especially true for larger organizations where teams may be in silos. Team members rely on these emails to know whats happening around the business. However, making them engaging isn’t easy. People already spend too much time in their inbox. How can you convince them to read one more email? It takes careful planning, consistent execution, and an understanding of what your coworkers want to read. Fortunately, thats exactly what this post will cover (and more). This complete step-by-step guide will turn tired internal communications into invaluable insights that make an impact. Table of Contents: Free Email Newsletter + Calendar Template What Is An Internal Newsletter? Why Do You Need a Newsletter? Determine Who Will Get Your Newsletter Planning Newsletter Content: 20 Ideas Anyone Can Use Nail Your Content Strategy How to Write the Best Newsletter Possible Newsletter Best Practices Design Examples Planning Your Distribution Frequency Measuring Impact Managing Newsletters With How to Create Awesome Internal Company Newsletters That Actually Get Read via @ What Exactly Is An Internal Newsletter? It’s an email (or printed publication) that rounds up news, announcements, and other pertinent information that’s important for staff to know. This post will focus on creating and distributing them via email. Your company’s internal news emails don’t have to look much different than one you’d send to customers. Newsletter Examples to Inspire Your Own: Invision Email Digest Example 8 Best Email Newsletter Examples of 2018 from Brafton 15 Email Newsletters We Love Getting in our Inboxes from Hubspot 8 of the Best Email Newsletter Examples to Show You How It’s Done from SendInBlue The 40 Best Newsletter Examples from Newsletter2GoNeed newsletter examples to inspire your own? Find 'em here: Why Does My Company Need a Newsletter? You might be wondering, â€Å"Shouldn’t I be spending my time marketing to customers instead?† If you’re a marketer, that sentiment is understandable. But, ignore internal communications at your own peril. There are tons of benefits behind having a well-coordinated newsletter. Here are several to consider: Keeping everyone informed on important changes. No one likes feeling out of the loop. Creating clarity between disparate teams. Showing what different teams are accomplishing cultivates understanding between groups that don’t usually work together. Putting an end to multiple, endless email threads. Instead of news being sent out piecemeal through multiple email threads, you can just send one awesome email. Encouraging social advocacy. Including things coworkers can share on social makes it easier for them to become social advocates. Ensuring important messages don’t get lost. Tools like Slack and Hipchat are great, but it can be hit-or-miss whether your messages get seen there or not. Gives staff info they can share with their friends and family. Reinforces transparency. Sharing information helps show the company cares about being open and honest. Prevents people from saying â€Å"I didn’t get the memo.† If your newsletter becomes habit-forming, they’ll always be in the know.

Where the red fern grows by Wilson Rawls Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Where the red fern grows by Wilson Rawls - Essay Example The story is about Old Dan and Little Ann, two coonhounds bought by Billy when they were tiny puppies, how the three grow up together and help each other out on the path of life; and the life that the dogs and Billy lived with each other, and how they were always on the lookout for one another. Finally, when Old Dan dies due to injuries and Little Ann due to the grief, Billy has a revelation as he learns the true meaning of life. This paper helps to give an insight, through various examples from the book, of how Billy tried to persevere and train his dogs, and in the process, how he matured as a person himself. Thus, it helps to portray how a person must learn to accept suffering and make sacrifices before he is truly mature.   In the beginning, when Billy was a young boy, he wanted two coonhounds so badly, that he was willing to spend a good amount of time working to earn enough money in order to be able to buy them. Through a number of odd jobs, Billy is able to earn $50 to suffi ce him for the puppies. With this example, one can easily see that hard work and perseverance paid off as Billy sacrificed his time to work and earn so he could finally buy them. Furthermore, one can witness Billy working hard to train the puppies, along with his grandfather, as he taught the dogs all about racoon hunting so that they could kill enough racoons to make the family business of selling racoon fur grow and develop.

Anything related to Munich or Nuremberg Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Anything related to Munich or Nuremberg - Essay Example The city is alleged to be instituted by Benedictine, a monk, in 1158. The post administrative structure of Munich has been autonomous in leadership divisions, and consultative decisions must be made. Leaders are picked through anindependent legal system for a duration implemented by the constitution, normally four years. This was after war waged by the Americans and later revealed that supremacyis intended for the locals (Stolleis 2004). Nazis movements organised and controlled the better part of Munchin and Germany as a whole for the period of the first world war. (Kopleck 2006)explains thatthemovement formed was anextremist, who were racists and anti-communists. Its presencewas to forcepopulaces to be nationalists, rather than socialists. The associationprohibited democracy as it assumed it profited the jew. Munich through the denunciation of this association fought against it escalating to its territory.It wasbombarded with bombs and heavy loss was gathered (Kopleck 2006). However, it waslater restored andsalvaged its splendour after the close of the second world confrontation, and the resignation of Hitler. Munich is a traditionalist township, (Hendriks 1999)and has remainedgoverned byonly SDP Party since the second world hostilities, conceding just once to the opposition, CSU. The present-day mayor is Christian Ude from the SDP party, who has reigned since 2008 (Munich Sister City Association of Greater Cincinnati 2009). Munchen is celebrates historic events which has led to whittling the political structure of the contemporaryregime. The administrative and statutorysystem areadopted into command by a prevalent party which rarely loses its approval. The inhabitants are known to be very conformist and their optimal choice of leaders is determined by their choice of political party3. Its political thinking was grounded in Aristotle’s viewpoint, which stressed on morals and coherent thinking.They Maintained

INDUSTRY ANALYSIS PROJECTS Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

INDUSTRY ANALYSIS PROJECTS - Research Paper Example The scopes, opportunities and contexts of the publishing industry including the Canadian publishing industry are governed by the NAICS codes. But the advent of the internet and the increasing access of the population to the World Wide Web have blurred the geographical boundaries affecting the publishing industry. The value chain of this industry has undergone major changes and has assumed a more complex structure with the changes in the reading preferences of people as well as the changes in the teaching styles in different countries. The distribution channels of the publishing houses have also evolved with the shifting contexts of the industry. The geographical constraints of the publishing industry have been abolished and the importance of quality of publishing has become more critical for companies to survive in this industry. The publishing industry is dependent on achieving economies of scale in their operations and is dominated by the concentrated level of competition. The indu stry is in the maturity phase which needs to revamp the processes in order to prevent the saturation of the industry and create sustainability and development for the publishing industry. Innovation and balance between print and online publishing are critical factors that decide the scope of the publishing industry. The Canadian publishing industry has been facing major challenges in the changing global scenario. The powerful publishing companies in this industry being more focused on profit reaping rather than following the industry standards and have created certain obstacles in this specific industry. The domestic publishing firms are losing their importance due to the entry and dominance of the foreign publishing houses operating in the Canadian publishing sector. Other issues and boundaries faced in this industry are the achievement of economies of scale and the quick response to the shifting preferences of the consumers of the industry. The balance of power in

Staphylococcus Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Staphylococcus - Research Paper Example The different species prove to be dangerous because they show resistance towards methicillin and other potent antibiotics (Acton, 2012, pg.38). Incidence of a disease is defined as risk of contracting a disease. Hence various studies have been conducted to assess the incidence of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. There was a dramatic increase in the number of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus cases in the late 1990s in America. The strain was seen to cause infections in children who were not at risk. The children had not had recent hospitalization, surgery, injection infusion nor had they resided in a medical facility for a long time. Four fatal pediatric cases also emerged between 1996 and 1999. This raised questions. The methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus could be acquired in the community, and this also suggested that a new strain of the bacterium was present which differed from the already present strain in hospital settings (Song et al, 2013, pg. 69). The epidemiology of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus is continuously changing due to its capability to resist. This trait makes it hard to treat these infections. Hence regular surveillance studies are held to assess the status of disease. Surveillance studies from 1990s indicated an increase in the incidence of MRSA infections. The role of surveillance studies is to lower morbidity, mortality and incidence of disease (Meija et al, 2015, pg. 79). Methicillin resistance is a universal problem but is more prevalent in countries where use of antibiotics is high. American and China have the highest rate of antibiotic consumption and hence face the most cases of methicillin resistance (Tisserand, 2015, pg. 20). The normal bacterial flora of humans includes S. aureus often. Studies indicate that the organism is present in the nasal colonization of the adult population. Staphylococcus aureus

Analysing Online Consumer Shopping Motivations For Luxury Products Research Paper

Analysing Online Consumer Shopping Motivations For Luxury Products - Research Paper Example Each day more and more people take the leap to purchase online. Several organizations desire to capitalize on the growing momentum of the online revolution. According to Javadi & et. al., as compared to physical outlets, online stores possesses a number of unmatched benefits. They are much expedient than physical outlets and allow customers to save time on traveling or waiting lines. Online stores remain accessible at any time and provide customers with rich information regarding different products and services offerings. In present days, online customers possess a greater extent of control along with bargaining power in comparison with physical stores because online medium renders more interactivity between customers and product or service providers. Online shopping has shifted the balance of bargaining power in favor of the customers because it has become quite convenient for them to make comparisons and assess different alternatives without being pressurized by the sales persons. Online shopping facilitates to minimize the transaction expenses along with providing benefits for both customers and suppliers. Consumer behavior is regarded as the dynamic collaboration of thought of persons and its effect. It is determined as the procedures and the activities people involve with while searching, purchasing and evaluating products. As stated by Perez-Schafer, there are three key domains which can define purchasing behavior of consumers. Fig 1 depicts the three vital domains of consumer behavior. ur. Fig 1: Three Domains of Consumer Behaviour Source: (Perez-Schafer & et. al., 2007, p. 2) Consumer Affect and Cognition: Consumer affect denotes consumers’ feelings and emotions. Emotions are collaboration between thought and physiology. These emotions generate different feelings amid consumers such as fondness, disliking, satisfaction, pleasure and sadness among others. On the other hand, cognition commonly refers to the rationale of people. It is a mental process of understanding, assessing, planning, determining and thinking. These feelings, emotions and cognitions are related with each other and determine consumer behaviour by a considerable extent (Perez-Schafer & et. al., 2007). Consumer Behaviour: Consumer behaviour denotes physical activities of consumers which can be directly perceived and measured. Usually, different perceptions of people generate explicit behaviour amid consumers. The traditional model of purchasing procedure was usually followed by single explic it behaviour. However, in present days, the purchasing procedure involves multiple behaviours comprising interaction between thought and perception (Sukato & Elsey, 2007). Consumer Environment: Consumer environment signifies external constituents that affect purchasing behaviour. These constituents comprise physical objects such as products and outlets, longitudinal relationships such as store location and social comportments such as

Principles in non- profit leadership Research Paper

Principles in non- profit leadership - Research Paper Example Successful leaders, however, are not just adepts in formulating plans that are in line with the organizational dynamics, but also implement of those plans keeping in view the social dynamics of the organization. In addition, leaders provide the necessary support, communicate effectively with employees and motivate them sufficiently to ensure successful execution of the formulated strategy (Mumford et al.). It is an undoubted fact that the birth and growth of non-profit organizations has placed new demands on leadership. According to two famous researchers, Herman and Heimovics, the role of leadership in non-profit organizations is demanding and intricate. There are many instances where the leadership is faced with the daunting task of reconciling various responsibilities and functions with organizational goals (Herman and Heimovics). Furthermore, there has been a pressing need for successful leadership in non-profit sectors lately. One fundamental aspect of leadership in non-profit organizations is that it must manage articulately the relationship between itself and the Board of Directors (Carver). Researchers have mostly viewed non-profit corporations as hierarchical structures defined by formal lines of authority. The law in some countries, such as the United States, defines the Board of Directors as having an authority superior to that of the executives and leadership (Carver). Thus, the Board explicitly lays down the rules, regulations, policies and procedures for the company, has the authority to accept or deny proposals or plans and settles the budgets, plans and other aspects of the organization. This is based on Max Weber’s model of bureaucracy whereby decision making is determined by formal lines of authority and chain of command (Carver). Research with respect to non-profit organizations suggests that the Board formulates the strategy and decisions, whereas, the leadership simply executes thos e

Analysing Online Consumer Shopping Motivations For Luxury Products Research Paper

Analysing Online Consumer Shopping Motivations For Luxury Products - Research Paper Example Each day more and more people take the leap to purchase online. Several organizations desire to capitalize on the growing momentum of the online revolution. According to Javadi & et. al., as compared to physical outlets, online stores possesses a number of unmatched benefits. They are much expedient than physical outlets and allow customers to save time on traveling or waiting lines. Online stores remain accessible at any time and provide customers with rich information regarding different products and services offerings. In present days, online customers possess a greater extent of control along with bargaining power in comparison with physical stores because online medium renders more interactivity between customers and product or service providers. Online shopping has shifted the balance of bargaining power in favor of the customers because it has become quite convenient for them to make comparisons and assess different alternatives without being pressurized by the sales persons. Online shopping facilitates to minimize the transaction expenses along with providing benefits for both customers and suppliers. Consumer behavior is regarded as the dynamic collaboration of thought of persons and its effect. It is determined as the procedures and the activities people involve with while searching, purchasing and evaluating products. As stated by Perez-Schafer, there are three key domains which can define purchasing behavior of consumers. Fig 1 depicts the three vital domains of consumer behavior. ur. Fig 1: Three Domains of Consumer Behaviour Source: (Perez-Schafer & et. al., 2007, p. 2) Consumer Affect and Cognition: Consumer affect denotes consumers’ feelings and emotions. Emotions are collaboration between thought and physiology. These emotions generate different feelings amid consumers such as fondness, disliking, satisfaction, pleasure and sadness among others. On the other hand, cognition commonly refers to the rationale of people. It is a mental process of understanding, assessing, planning, determining and thinking. These feelings, emotions and cognitions are related with each other and determine consumer behaviour by a considerable extent (Perez-Schafer & et. al., 2007). Consumer Behaviour: Consumer behaviour denotes physical activities of consumers which can be directly perceived and measured. Usually, different perceptions of people generate explicit behaviour amid consumers. The traditional model of purchasing procedure was usually followed by single explic it behaviour. However, in present days, the purchasing procedure involves multiple behaviours comprising interaction between thought and perception (Sukato & Elsey, 2007). Consumer Environment: Consumer environment signifies external constituents that affect purchasing behaviour. These constituents comprise physical objects such as products and outlets, longitudinal relationships such as store location and social comportments such as

Discrimination in the workforce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Discrimination in the workforce - Essay Example 35). In education, dissemination affects not only the staff, but also teacher-student relations and interaction. Dissemination can take the form of iintentionally harmful actions or prescribed action which limit equal opportunities or humiliate an employee. Also, Elkins (1963) and Sowell (1971) suppose that discrimination was influenced by the period of slavery and racial inequalities (Taylor 1998). Barbara Bergmann (1974) argues that dissemination is a result of the market structure which consists of skilled and non-skilled workforce. Unskilled and low-paid workforce is usually presented by black and minority employees (Taylor 1998). Discrimination and an increase in out-migration of whites from neighborhoods as larger numbers of blacks arrive are the major explanations for black-white segregation. Prejudices and discrimination is due to misunderstandings about the significance of a biological sense of "race" and racist ideas transmitted across generations and based on 'lower biolog ical quality' of African populations. The main cause of segregation and racism is the cultural superiority of "whites" based on their cultural heritage and absence of 'white' slavery. Most Africa-Americans are seen as "lower" class people in contras to "elite" class of whites (Harvey and Allard 2004). Discrimination in the workplace has deep roots. Dissemination by race was eliminated in 1863 by 13th Amendment which made slavery illegal. In 1868, 14th Amendment announced equal protection of all citizens in all states. During the first half of the XX century, black people and racial minorities experienced discriminated in wages and work conditions; they were deprived a chance to receive good education and compete with white majority (Harvey and Allard 2004). Till the middle of the XX century, women occupied clerical jobs and were not promoted to administrative positions. Actions against discrimination go back to 1941 when F. Roosevelt "encouraged minority employment by ordering defence contractors to cease discriminatory hiring" (Yates, n.d.). Further, the policy of anti-discrimination was developed by Lyndon Johnson in 1965 when he "put teeth into minority hiring rules for government contractors' (Yates, n.d.). The next amendments took place under the presidency of J. Kennedy who introduced Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) "establishing to investigate contractors' practices, impose sanctions, collect employment statistics, and ensure compliance with government regulations" (Yates, n.d.). Pre-war period (immigration act was introduced in 1924) was marked by racial prejudices and stereotyping against Asian Americans. The main areas of discrimination were family, religion, criminal justice, education and job opportunities. WWII - 1965 marked a new stage in workforce relations. During this period of time, many low class people entered educational established and found high paid jobs. In response to the growing demand for equal rights, Congress enacted major pieces of modern civil rights legislation during the 1960s that have taken the country an enormous step closer to realizing the promises of the first Reconstruction. These modern statutes, protect racial minorities against most forms of public and private discrimination in employment,

Hand Washing in Disease Prevention

Hand Washing in Disease Prevention Introduction The most frequent way of germ spreading is by people’s hands. Most of the times germs are harmless but sometimes they can also be reason for illnesses like flu, cold and gastroenteritis. Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water is one of most important thing you can do to avoid spreading infections and it helps to protect you, your family members and people around you. Specially every health-care worker or a person who concerned in direct or indirect patient care must be care about hand hygiene and must be able to perform it properly and at the correct time. It helps to prevent health care-associated infections [2]. â€Å"CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)† has estimated that every year almost 2,000,000 patients in the USA get an infection in hospitals, and about 90,000 of these patients die as a result of their infection [1]. History of hand washing Hand washing with soap and water has been used as a measure of personal hygiene for a long time and has been generally implanted in religious and civilizing practices. However the relationship between hand washing and the spread of disease was confirmed only near 200 years ago. Ignaz Semmelweis established that hospital-acquired diseases (HAD) been transmitted through the hands of health care workers by his studies in Austria, Vienna and Oliver Wendell Holmes in Boston USA. In 1847, he was appointed as a house officer in an obstetric clinic at the University of Vienna Allgemeine Krankenhaus. He observed that maternal mortality rates, commonly reasonable to puerperal fever, were considerably higher in mentioned clinic compared with the other. He also identified that doctor as well as medical students usually went straight to the delivery suite after doing autopsies and had an unpleasant odor on their hands regardless of hand washing with soap and water earlier to entering the clinic. He introduced that â€Å"cadaverous particles† from the autopsy room, that transmitted through the hands of students and doctors to the delivery theatre caused the fever. As a result, Semmelweis suggest that hands be cleansed by a chlorinated lime solution before examine each patient and also after leaving the autopsy room. Following the administration of this measure, the mortality rate fell affectedly to 3% in the clinic remained low. Apart from providing the 1st evidence that cleansing thoroughly contaminated hands with an antiseptic agent can decrease nosocomial transmission of germs more significantly than washing hands with plain soap and water, this method includes all the essential elements for successful contamination control interference: â€Å"recognize-explain-act†. Both Holmes and Semmelweis failed to examine a sustainable change in the behavior change of their colleagues’ behavior. In particular, Semmelweis experienced great difficulties in persuading his colleagues and directors of the benefits of this method. In the light of the ethics of social marketing in the present day, his key mistake was that he introduced a system change (administration of the chlorinated lime solution) without explaining the attitudes of his collaborators. In spite of these mistakes, the Semmelweis intervention has teach us many lessons; the â€Å"recognize-explain-act† approach has driven many investiga tors. Semmelweis’s intervention is also a type of epidemiologically obsessed strategies to avoid infection. In 1980s concepts of hand hygiene in health care has been changed. The 1st national hand hygiene guidelines were in print in the 1980s. â€Å"The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) in the USA† suggested that whichever antimicrobial soap or a antiseptic agent be used for cleaning hands while leaving the rooms of patients with drug-resistant pathogens in 1996.In recent past the HICPAC guidelines issued alcohol-based hand rubbing.[3] With the time methods of hand washing and chemicals that use are change with research inventions. Normal bacterial flora of the body (1) Axilla, perineum and between the toes (2) Hand, face and trunk (3) Upper arms and legs. Skin with partial occlusion like axilla, perineum and between the toes contain more microorganisms than less occluded areas as legs, arms, and trunk The numbers of bacteria on the skin of a person remains relatively constant; Survival of the bacteria and the extent of colonization probably depend in part upon the contact of skin to a exact environment and partly due to the innate and species-specific bactericidal activity in skin. Most of the microorganisms live in the superficial layers of the stratum, corneum and the upper parts of the hair follicle. Some bacteria are located in the deeper areas of the hair follicles and are away from the reach of normal disinfection procedures. These bacteria are reservoirs for settlement after the surface of bacteria were removed. Staphylococcus epidermidis S. epidermidis is an important microorganism that lives on the skin, and in some areas it makes more than 90% of the resident aerobic flora. Staphylococcus aureus The nasal area and perineum are the most familiar sites for S. aureus colonization. S. aureus is common to the vulva. S. aureus is very often (80% -100%) to the skin of patients with certain dermatological diseases such as atopic dermatitis. Gram-negative bacteria They occupy small portion of the skin flora. Micrococci Micrococci are not as frequent as staphylococci and diphtheroids; on the other hand, they are often present in normal skin. Micrococcus luteus, is the predominant species. Diphtheroids The term refers to diphteroid, a variety of bacteria belonging to the genus Corynebacterium common in the armpit and on open skin. They like to be involved in the pathogenesis of acne. Streptococci ÃŽ ²-hemolytic streptococci, are infrequently seen on normal skin. ÃŽ ±-hemolytic streptococci, exist primarily in the mouth little spread on the skin. Nail Flora Dust particles and other foreign matter can accumulate under the nail. They can carry fungi and bacilli, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Mucor wear.[4] Transmission of pathogens by hand There are two main routs of transmission of pathogens. Airborne transmission Contact transmission Airborne transmission They can be transmitted from the respiratory tract through talking coughing sneezing, from the skin by natural cracking of skin scales, during wound dressing or bed making and by aerosols, also from equipment such as respiratory apparatus and air conditioning plants. Contact transmission The most frequent routes of transmission for infection are by direct contact spread from one to another or by indirect contact spread by unhygienic hands or equipment. Staphylococcal streptococcal sepsis, enteobacterial diarrhea Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis are examples for diseases that can be arise due to contact transmission. So hand washing is very important in preventing contact transmission of pathogens and so to avoid spreading diseases. [5] Transmission of health care-associated (HCA) pathogens from one patient to another via health care workers’ (HCWs) hands requires five sequential steps, Micro-organisms to present on the patient’s skin, or have been shed onto dead objects instantly surrounding the patient. Micro-organisms should be transferred to the hands of HCWs. Micro-organisms should be able to survive for at least few minutes on HCWs’ hands. Amount of hand washing or antisepsis of hand by the HCW should be insufficient or entirely omitted, or the substance used for hand hygiene unsuitable. The unhygienic hand or hands of the caregiver must approach into direct contact with another patient or with an object that will come into direct contact with the patient.[3] Steps of hand washing Hands can cleanse with soap, alcohol, water etc. Hand hygiene technique with alcohol-based formulation. There are 8 steps duration is nearly 20-30 seconds, 1st step Apply a full palmed amount of the product in a cupped hand, to cover all surfaces. 2nd step Rub hands palm to palm. 3rd step Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa. 4th step Palm to palm with fingers interlaced. 5th step Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked. 6th step Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa. 7th step Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa. 8th step Dry. 8 Hand Hygiene Technique with Soap and Water. It takes 40-60 seconds there are 10 steps, 1st step- Wet hands with water; apply enough soap to cover all hand surfaces. 2nd step- Rub hands palm to palm. 3rd step- Right palm over left dorsum with interlaced fingers and vice versa. 4th step- Palm to palm with fingers interlaced. 5th step- Backs of fingers to opposing palms with fingers interlocked. 6th step- Rotational rubbing of left thumb clasped in right palm and vice versa. 7th step- Rotational rubbing, backwards and forwards with clasped fingers of right hand in left palm and vice versa. 8th step-Rinse hands with water. 9th step- Dry hands thoroughly with a single use towel. 10th step- Use towel to turn off faucet. [3] Substances that used in hand washing Soap and detergents Reduce barriers to solution and increase solubility is the main action of soap and detergents. [6] Water temperature Hot, soapy water is more successful than cold, soapy water on removing the natural oils on hands which grasp soils and bacteria. [6] Antibacterial soap Antibacterial soaps have been greatly promoted to a health-conscious community. No evidence for that using recommended antiseptics or disinfectants selects for antibiotic-resistant organisms in nature. Although, antibacterial soaps contain general antibacterial chemicals such as Triclosan, which has a wide list of resistant strains of micro-organisms. [6] Solid soap Because of its reusable character, may hold bacteria acquired from previous uses. However as the micro-organisms are rinsed off with the foam, it is implausible that any bacteria are transferred to users of the soap. [6] Hand antiseptic A hand sterilizer or hand antiseptic is a non-aqua-based hand hygiene mediator. Most of them are based on isopropyl alcohol or ethanol formulate which mixed with a thickening agent such as Carbomer , or humectant such as glycerin, or foam for easiness of use and to diminish the drying result of the alcohol. [6] Alcohol-based hand sanitizers They are almost entirely ineffective against Norwalk type viruses, the most general reason for contagious gastroenteritis.[6] Ash or mud This is also a disinfecting agent. WHO suggested ash or sand as option for soap when soap is not available. [6] Importance of hand washing when to wash hands Importance of hand washing Hand washing is like a vaccine that someone can do it yourself, which consist of five simple steps (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry).Important to reduce the spread of diarrheal and respiratory illness therefore you can stay well. Habitual hand washing, mainly before and after certain activities, is one of the best ways to remove microorganisms, keep away from illnesses, and to reduce the spread of germs [1]. When to wash hands in day today life Always wash your hands before; cooking food or eating, taking or giving medicine, Inserting or removing contact lenses. [8] Also wash your hands after: preparing food, specially raw meat or poultry, changing a diaper or using the toilet, touching an animal or animal toy, leashes or waste, blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing into your hand, caring for a sick or injured person, handling trash, household or garden chemicals, or anything that could be contaminated like cleaning cloth or soiled shoes shaking hands with others. [8] When to wash hands for health care workers Beforeperforming invasive procedures like taking care of particularly susceptible patients such as those who are severely immunocompromised and newborns. [9] Before and after touching wounds traumatic, surgical or related with an invasive device. [9] Aftersituations during which microbial contamination of hands is probable to occur, especially those involving contact with mucous membranes, blood or body fluids, and body secretions or excretions ,touching dead sources that are likely to be contaminated with virulent or epidemiologically significant microorganisms; these sources contain on urine-measuring devices or secretion collecting apparatuses, taking care of an infected patient or one who is likely to be colonized with microorganisms of special clinical or epidemiologic importance, for example multiple-resistant bacteria and between contacts with different patients in high-risk units.[9] Diseases occur due to bad hand hygien Infections that may be transmitted through this route include hepatitis A, salmonellosis, shigellosis, giardiasis, enterovirus, campylobacteriosis and amebiasis. As these diseases are spread through the intake of even the little particles of fecal material, hand washing after using the toilet cannot drop be take easily. â€Å"Influenza,streptococcus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the common cold† are diseases spread through indirect contact. As these diseases can be spread indirectly by hands contaminated by respiratory discharges of infected people, illness may be reduced by washing hands after coughing or sneezing and after shaking hands with someone who has been coughing and sneezing. Microorganisms transmitted by one or more body substances such as urine, saliva or other moist body substance include cytomegalovirus, typhoid, staphylococcal organisms, and Epstein-Barr virus. These organisms may be transmitted from person to person or indirectly by contamination of food or inanimate objects such as toys. [10] Alcohol rub sanitizers kill bacteria, multi-drug resistant bacteria (MRSA and VRE), tuberculosis, and some viruses like HIV, herpes, RSV, rhinovirus, vaccinia, and fungus and stop diseases. [9] Thus, hexachlorophene and quaternary ammonium compounds are valuable for prophylaxis of staphylococcal infection but not of infection by Pseudomonas pyocyanea.[12] Antibiotics such as neomycin and bacitracin, which are rarely administered systemically, may be applied as topical antiseptics. They should be used in combinations, or mixed with synthetic agents such as chlorhexidine, in order to minimize the risk of producing resistant strains. [12] Recurrent furunculosis is usually the result of re infection from a carrier site on the patients body. Many nurses become carriers of hospital staphylococci, and the furunculosis which in some hospitals causes a good deal of minor ill-health, is often a consequence of cross-infection. [12] World hand washing day Global hand washing day is October 15. Global hand washing day is an annual global encouragement day devoted to expanding knowledge and understanding about the importance of hand washing with soap as a successful and inexpensive way to prevent diseases. It is an opening to design, test, and reproduce creative ways to encourage society to wash their hands with soap at important times. The day was founded by the Global Public-Private Partnership for Hand washing. [7] Disadvantages of hand washing There are some disadvantages of hand washing, some products that used in hand washing can be affect to generate bad effects in hand washing. Triclosan is an antibacterial agent which also has some antifungal and antiviral properties that contain in hand washing agents, researchers have found that it causes to change hormone balance in animals, also can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs and can be harmful to the immune system.[11] Sodiumlaureth Sulfate (SLS) and triclosan are two commen ingredients contain in hand washes which are responsible for most cases of contact dermatitis. The SLS is a foaming agent used in many personal care products. As well as hand washing products, it contains in shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste; potentially in shortly whatever thing that foams. A small number of people are sensitive to SLS and may lead to skin dryness or contact dermatitis. [11]

Essay --

The Effects of Concussions on the NFL For many years the NFL has been considered one of the most painful and dangerous sport played in the United States. But is it too Dangerous? The uprising number of concussions is shocking. NFL analysts survives suggest a 14 percent increase of concussions for the year 2013. Player safety rules have also been implemented into the official rule book. The three main effects that concussions have on the NFL today are big hits, big plays, and the defensive game played today. The NFL is known for its gruesome de-cleating hits on players, but the rising number of concussions has stripped players from being able to make these types of plays anymore! After the 2011 lawsuit, the NFL realized that new player safety rules had to be enforced into the NFL rule book. Rules such as no crown on crown to the helmet outside the tackle box have taken away the element of â€Å"big hits† in a football game. 1Redskin’s safety Brandon Meriwether was fined $42,000 for a helmet to helmet hit on Packer’s running back Eddie Lacey. Thank God for technology, because back in the 40’s they played football with leather a helmet. Also the NFL stated a new rule that each NFL team has to have a neurologist placed on the sideline for every official game. Jet’s player Jeremy Kerley suffered from a mind boggling week one injury. Kerley passed the mandatory concussion evaluation and soon after returns to the team. Suddenly, the following same day Jeremy was diagnosed with a concussion. I agree with the saying taking one the team, but playing with a concussion is like playing with fire. Some big hitters in the NFL are viewed as dirty players because of their bone crushing tackles. A lot of coaches like to blame big hits for the fact of... ...grams such as bigger, faster and stronger, there is no way that we can stop concussions from happening. I still watch and love football today but some part of me doesn’t think the defensive game is the same merely because of concussions. Although I think football should still be played in today society, a lot of people are viewing the game differently because of concussions. I disagree with hurting players, but some of the calls made this year dealing with tackling have made my mouth drop several times. Concussions effects on big hits, big plays, and defensive game style have changed the NFL for the worse. I understand that refs have to make what they see right calls, but in many cases players perform perfect technique and still get penalized. Although the NFL game is played at a high level, I believe concussions have taken some of the intensity away from players.

Gay and Lesbian Issues - The Nazi Extermination of Homosexuals Essays

Gay and Lesbian Issues - The Nazi Extermination of Homosexuals The Holocaust is the greatest atrocity ever committed. Millions upon millions of people were ruthlessly tortured and executed during the infamous reign of the Third Reich. The events and conditions surrounding Adolf Hitler’s rise to power have been extensively studied by historians, sociologists, political scientists, and psychologists in the hopes of preventing this state of merciless dictatorship from ever recurring. Due to the immensity of the Nazi campaign against those of the Jewish faith, that ethnic group is most often mentioned in association with the concentration camps and exterminations of the Third Reich. However, there were many other groups who were persecuted alongside the Jews. These groups include political dissidents, criminals, gypsies, the handicapped, Jehovah’s Witnesses, emigrants, and homosexuals (Heger 32). The plight of homosexuals is, perhaps, the most overlooked aspect of the Holocaust. Of all the concentration camps, Sachsenhaussen, just nort h of Berlin, was the most important in the imprisonment and execution of homosexuals. The conditions under which all prisoners here were forced to live were absolutely inhuman, but for homosexuals it was far worse. As the one group that was despised by both the Nazis and those who were imprisoned within concentration camps, gays were persecuted with the greatest enthusiasm, and because of the taboos surrounding their lifestyle, their tragedy was left unnoticed for nearly three decades. The persecution of homosexuals at Sachsenhaussen was a natural outgrowth of the Nazi idea of the â€Å"master race† and was made possible by manipulation of German law. Homosexuals, according to Nazi propaganda, ... ...he testimonies of gay survivors from Sachsenhaussen are to teach us anything, it is that they, like the Jews and every other group exterminated by the Nazis, were victims. Their tragedy has been compounded by society’s rejection of their plight. In order to truly abolish the dangerous views of Nazism, we must first learn to accept all people as human beings, no matter what their national origin, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation may be. This must be our goal if we are to prevent the atrocities of Sachsenhaussen from ever happening again. References Feig, Konnilyn G. Hitler’s Death Camps. New York: Holmes & Meier, 1979. Heger, Heinz. The Men With the Pink Triangle. London: Gay Men’s Press, 1972. Plant, Richard. The Pink Triangle. New York: Henry Holt, 1986. Rector, Frank. The Nazi Extermination of Homosexuals. New York: Stein and Day, 1981.

Information Lifecycle Management Essay

Industries and organizations thrive on â€Å"Information†. The effective use of information so that it is aligned to meet the business demands is therefore a very crucial essential. The millions of bytes of data, requires not only effective storage but processes which handle the data right from creation and disposal after it is no longer needed. Maintenance of data in a cost effective manner is therefore a very significant activity in any organization. The answer to all the above is Information Lifecycle Management (ILM). What is ILM? Technology in combination with processes and policies to effectively manage data to suit the requirements of the organization is what is the basis of Information Lifecycle Management. ILM manages the lifespan of data required by organizations. Storage medium, security, access rights and the way data will be accessed are all part of ILM activities. ILM through its dynamic process of reassessment of data, discards data which is no longer used. A tiered architecture is often used for ILM where in data which is redundant is often moved to storage media which is more cost effective. ILM is involved in the evolution of data, changes in the data over a period of time, its importance and finally disposal of obsolete data. Most organization use business applications which are data centric. Since voluminous amount data is involved many times it so happens there is not track of the amount if information available and the way it is stored. Often time is wasted in gathering the information as it is not stored in a structured manner. It ensures that data is stored in a way that is compliant with the organization policies and can be retrieved with ease. ILM also facilitates classification of data depending upon its sensitiveness and requirements by the business users. This can be done in two ways. The first is to segregate the data depending on its business use and relevance. The second is to prevent security breaches, access rights are decided keeping in mind the policies of organizations. Archiving of data is done depending on certain criteria so that it is much easier to access the next time a requirement comes up. Value of data determines the type of storage media to be used. If the data requires regular access and is the focal point of applications then such data is better stored on media which provides faster access and has effective backup and recovery mechanism. Data which is not accessed on a regular basis can be stored in less expensive storage medium. ILM alleviates the use of tools to automate routine tasks thereby reducing time and errors. ILM also focuses on reliability and relevance of data. A good example for the need of ILM would be email archiving. Communication heavily depends on email some of which are extremely important from business point of view. Old emails are stored in individual machines or network servers. A need may arise to access information from the previous email which may not be found or be available at the time it is required. Apart from this email needs to be organized in terms of its date of creation and importance of data. IT Managers in organizations are primarily concerned about cost effectiveness of the voluminous data and also security issues. Apart from this IT managers need to classify data according to organization policies and also optimize disk storage. Massive budget is allocated by organization for purchase of storage media unaware of the fact that nearly half of the existing remains un-utilized. Operation managers are always seeking high end results and want faster , reliable data access at the right time. ILM incorporates most of the features wanted by them and makes it easier to achieve an effective data storage management. It not only stresses on effective storage of information but also ensures that it is reliable and retrieval time is minimized for data that is critical and used frequently. ILM provided by Oracle is a good example of data management tool. The Oracle 11g is compatible with ILM. It uses basic steps such as definition of the data classes, tiered storage architecture, migrating policies along with compliance details. It has interactive GUI tool known as the ILM assistant. The ILM assistant informs the user when the data has become obsolete and whether the data needs to be archived or deleted. IT also provides a preview about the cost involved in executing the above said activities along with storage requirement specifications. The security measures in the ILM assistant ensure that only authenticated users are given access to the data stores. It is a definitely a cost effective tool that can be sued to manage the lifecycle of data. ILM assistant is short allows huge amount of data to be stored and available easily while keeping the cost of storage low. Conclusion Information Lifecycle management is an important aspect of data-centric organization. Depending on the requirement of the business should appropriately select the various solutions available. Large companies such as Oracle and IBM have come with ILM tools that provide them with effective data management and risk management. ILM prevents underutilization of disk space . Disorganized data can lead to huge losses and there an effective strategic approach is required.

Harley Davidson Company Essay

Harley Davidson Inc is a company that has been in existence for over 100 years. The company is made up of several other subsidiary companies such as the Harley Davidson Motor Company, Harley Davidson Financial Services and Buell Motorcycle Company. These companies work together in the motorcycle industry with the motor cycle companies dealing with the production and marketing of the motorcycles while the financial services deals with providing financial services to the customers and dealers of the company. Harley Davidson Company has undergone various challenges in its internal and external environment such as the World War I and II, the Great Depression and other internal challenges such as the labor strikes and change in ownership. An analysis of the company portrays several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that the company faces. The company can use the findings of this analysis to develop a grand strategy that can help the company survive the future. The various stakeholders of the company are mostly the customers, the suppliers, dealers, employees, the shareholders and the management of the company. These are the people that are affected by the activities of the company and that also have expectations from the company. The company’s financial performance has been improving during the current financial year due to the restructuring changes that are ongoing. It has reported profits in its operations and also an increase in sales. The strategic issues that the company is facing have also challenged its performance. The shifts in the customers’ tastes and preferences for example have affected the sales of the company’s motorcycles. A grand strategy that focuses on growth through an increase in marketing and an improvement of the company’s product and manufacturing processes can help the company survive the current environment. 1.0 Introduction Companies strive to excel in all manner of situations and overcome the challenges that they face in order to succeed and become competitive. Harley Davidson Inc is once such company. It has been surviving for about 107 years since it was founded in 1903 (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The company has its headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was founded by three brothers Arthur, Walter and William Davidson together with a partner, William Harley. The company consists of several subsidiary companies which operate in three continents. The companies include Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC) which deals with the production of motor vehicles together with Buell Motorcycle Company (Buell) (Harley-Davidson, 2010). Harley-Davidson Inc also includes Harley Davidson Financial Services (HDFS) which provides financial services to the dealers and customers of HDMC’s products. It also provides insurance policies and programs to the companies and its customers. HDMC sells motorcycles, together with the accessories and spare parts which it also produces. Harley-Davidson is also involved in other activities such as racing and in the production of bicycles and motor vehicles. The company which has been in existence for years now has survived several political and economical challenges such as the World War 1, the Great Depression, the World War 2 and other company trials such as labor strikes and change in ownership. Despite the many challenges it has undergone over its existence the company has been able to survive. The company’s sales have gone off severally, its quality has also been affected but it has been able to regain both the sales and the quality of its products. It has remained tough in the manufacturing of motorcycles and this has made its brands the most sought after all over the world (Davidson, Thompson, & Barger, 2006). The company has also faced competition from other companies based in the U.S and in other countries such as Japan but it has been able to retain and maintain its market share. Further more; the founders of the company were named American heroes through their innovation with the company receiving several awards for its involvement in the two World Wars and other racing events (United States Department of Labor, n.d). This paper discusses Harley Davidson Company providing a SWOT analysis of the company, a description of its internal and external environment, a financial assessment of the organization as well as summarizing the major strategic issues that have faced the company. It also discusses the next grand strategy that the company can undertake in the future to improve its performance. 2.0 Harley Davidson 2.1 History William Harley, Arthur Davidson and Walter Davidson pooled their resources in 1903 to produce their first practical motorcycle (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The three men were assisted by William A. Davidson on a part time basis and by 1905 they had produced eight machines and they hired their first employee then. William Davidson quit his job in 1907 at the Milwaukee Road railroad and joined the Motor Company (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The Harley Davidson Company was later incorporated in September 1907 with the stock of the firm being split into 4 among the four founders.   At that time the staff of the company had more than doubled from 18 employees in 1906. The size of the company had also doubled by then and dealer recruitment had begun targeting the New England Region. In 1908, the company was able to sell its first motorcycle for police duty in Detroit Police Department and a year later they started motorcycles spare parts. In 1912, the company started building its six storey headquarters at Juneau Avenue in Milwaukee (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The building would also become its main factory with a separate parts and accessories department. During the same year the company made its first sales outside the U.S when it started exporting motorcycles to Japan. Its dealership network also grew to become over 200 dealers. A few years later, the company formed a racing department with Engineer William S. Harley who was assisted by William Ottaway. It also started publishing its first magazine, The Enthusiast which became the first motorcycle magazine all over the world (Harley-Davidson, n.d). In 1917, when the World War I started, the company was asked by the military to produce motorcycles to be used during the war. The company produced over 20,000 motorcycles to be used specifically by the military for the war (Speed Ace, n.d). The involvement of the company in producing motorcycles for the military enabled it to survive the war. By 1920 the company had become the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world due to the number of motorcycles it produced and the size of its facilities. It was operating in over 67 countries and had over 2000 dealers all over the world (Harley-Davidson, n.d). In the year 1941 when the World War II started, the company suspended the production of civilian motorcycles and started producing more military motorcycles (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The company also developed specific models for the army and in 1943; the company received the first of its 4 Army –Navy Awards for its excellent performance while producing motorcycles for the army. The company had produced over 60,000 models for military use (Harley-Davidson, n.d). When the war ended, the company wasting no time it resumed the production of civilian motorcycles. In the year 1952, the company was charged with restrictive practices after they applied to the US Tariff Commission for a 40% tax to be imposed on the imported motorcycles (Speed Ace, n.d). In 1953, as the company was celebrating its 50th anniversary, an attractive logo was developed that would depict the engine that had brought the company that far (Harley-Davidson , n.d). During the same year, Hendee Manufacturing Company, the Indian Motorcycle Company in the U.S, went out of business leaving Harley Davidson as the sole U.S motorcycle manufacturer over the next 46 years. The year 1969 was not a great year for the company as the American Machine and Foundry (AMF) acquired the Motor Company and made some changes that affected the company for years to come (Masker, 2007). AMF worked to streamline the production activities of the company and reduced the workforce in a bid to reduce the costs of the company. These changes were beneficial to the company in the short term but they became very damaging to the future of the business and in its long term. The reduction in the workforce led to a labor strike that affected the performance of the company. Furthermore the changes that had been done led to a reduction in the quality of the motorcycles that were produced over the years. The sales of the company were affected and the company almost went bankrupt. It was during this time that the Japanese manufacturers caught up with the company with their better quality, technology and increased stock. The regime by AMF lasted until 1981 when the company was bought back by 13 senior executives who were led by Vaughn Beals and Willie G. Davidson. The group bought the company for about $80 million and they were they able to set up the company to its load of recovery (Masker, 2007). Soon after in 1986 the company was listed in the American Stock Exchange and started to trade publicly in the year 1969. A year later the company was listed in the New York Stock Exchange and it petitioned the International Trade Commission to terminate a five year tariff on heavy weight motor cycles. This was seen as a major step for the company as it boldly stated it was in a position to compete fairly in the market. In 1993 the company celebrated its 90th anniversary with over 100,000 people parading their motorcycles in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The company also purchased a minority interest in Buell Motorcycle Company which was manufacturing American sport motorcycles. In 1998 the company opened a new assembly facility that was to be the first of its kind outside the United States. The facility was opened in Manaus Brazil when the company was celebrating its 95th Anniversary and at the same time it bought the remaining interests in Buell Motorcycle Company of 49% (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The company has continued to expand its production facilities in Milwaukee, Tomahawk, Wisconsin, and New York and in Pennsylvania (Davidson, Thompson, & Barger, 2006). The company has also been developing more products and improving its products with the latest technology. The company has also developed a Harley Davidson Museum which showcases the motorcycles that the company has developed over the years and other historical items that the company has maintained in its archives. The museum building cost the company over $75 million and is situated in Milwaukee (Rovito, 2006). 2.2 SWOT Analysis The SWOT analysis is a framework that is used to audit an organization and its external environment. The results of the analysis help in the planning of any strategic decisions towards the future of the company. The analysis involves identifying the internal and external factors that favor the organization and that also form an unfavorable environment (Stahl & Grigsby, 1997). The strengths of the company include those attributes that help the company to achieve its objectives while the weaknesses are the internal attributes that derail the achievement of the company’s objective and that also harm the company. The opportunities that are in the external environment include conditions that help the company to achieve the objectives. The threats on the other hand, include the conditions that are in the external environment and that challenge the company and affect it in a way that it may not be in a position to achieve its objectives. (a)  Ã‚   Strengths The Harley Davidson Company has several strengths that make it very competitive and profitable. The company has been in existence for over 100 years, and during this time it has established brand loyalty with its customers for its products. This is the major strength of the company as the products of the company are viewed as a culture and not just products. Most of the customers of the company are male and are in the middle-aged age bracket. They normally use the motorcycles for recreational purposes rather than for transport. The main qualities that the customers look for in the company’s product are the brand quality and the style. The company is able to provide these qualities and hence maintain its customers. The computer switching costs are high and once a customer buys a product from the company, they get trapped in buying more of the company’s products. The complementary products that come with the motorcycles also encourage the consumer loyalty. Once a customer purchases a Harley motorcycle, they proceed to buy accessories such as jackets and bandanas from the company. The company has also expanded its operations in different regions within the United States and also in other countries outside the United States. Some of the production plants are located in areas such as York, Kansas City, Tomahawk, and Milwaukee among others (Harley-Davidson, Inc., 2009). The different manufacturing plants have helped in reducing the costs especially in transport. The company has also diversified its activities and acquired several companies in different industries. The company acquired Buell Motorcycle Company which was also in the production of Motorcycles in East Troy, Wisconsin (Wheelen & Hunger, 2002 ). It also acquired the company Eagle Mark in 1995 which was providing financial services to manufacturers of leisure products as well as their dealers and customers. The company acquired Eagle Mark so that it would provide retail financing to its customers, insurance and contracts for servicing. Eagle Mark Company has also been offering planning services on behalf of the North American Dealers in motorcycle floor planning. The two companies have been working together complementing each others activities. The diversification of the company in the motorcycles, related products and the financial services has helped the company to diverse its risks in the industry and in business. Over the years the company has maintained strong relationships with its suppliers. The strong relationship with the suppliers has given the company access to resources that it needs in its production processes as well as the design and development of its products. It has then been able to increase the quality of its goods and improve the features of the brands in a bid to remain competitive. The production process is also reduced in terms of time as the suppliers are able to deliver the suppliers on time reducing the lead time. This leads to a reduction in costs and saves time for the company. The company operates its business in three continents and in various countries all over the world. However it has not been able to increase its foreign sales which are mostly carried out outside the U.S. (b)  Ã‚   Weaknesses The major weaknesses that the company has experienced within its internal operations include the weak marketing strategies that it has applied especially in its foreign markets. The company has experienced low foreign sales over the years as compared to its competitors. In 2009, the international sales only made up 33% of the total unit sales of the company (Pravda.Ru, 2009). The number of dealers in international markets are also very few and this has contributed partly to the low market sales of the company’s products as most of the customers in the market can not access the company’s products through this dealers. The labor conflicts that the company has experienced in some of its plants over the years have been affecting the performance of the company. Dissatisfied workers of the company have held strikes that have contributed to losses for the company as it has had to shut down the production plants during these times. The company has also had to lay off workers during the strikes in a bid to cut down its operation costs as a result of the strikes in other production plants. The labor conflicts have also reduced the investor confidence in the company as the prices of the company’s shares have been affected. (c)  Ã‚  Ã‚   Opportunities The external environment of the company has several opportunities that can benefit the company and improve its performance and market share. The shifts in the trends in the customers’ preferences and tastes in the market are producing an opportunity that the company can exploit to its advantage. The customers’ preferences and tastes have changed especially among the young and hip crowd of customers who the company was once targeting as its sole customers. These customers have shifted their preferences to sporty motorcycles for their recreational purposes. Harley-Davidson Company does not engage in the production of sporty motorcycles; however the increased demand for these kinds of motorcycles is providing an opportunity for the company to develop them and target this new market. The company can grab this opportunity and develop these sporty motorcycles and hence gain from the high demand. The need to restructure the company’s business structure after the company’s subsidiaries have experienced a decrease in performance is providing an opportunity for the company to concentrate in its brands and grow. The new structure of the company will ensure that all the resources of the product are put into good use to help develop the company and expand its operations into other markets. The company will also be able to focus on the development of the products and also develop new products that can help increases the market share in different parts of the world. (d)  Ã‚   Threats The company has faced several threats in the market that have undermined its performance. One of the major threats that the company has faced include the competition in the market. The company has faced a lot of competition from other international companies and manufacturers especially in the heavy weight motorcycles market. Some of the major competitors include Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda among others. The increased competition has led to decreased sales of the company’s products especially in the foreign markets. The competition between these companies is based on the price, quality, and features of the products, the preferences of customers and the reliability of the products among other factors. The switching costs for the manufacturers in the industry are also quite low. With the increased growth in demand and the potential of the market, new competitors are entering the market and increasing the competition. The existence of substitute goods such as cars for transport and other recreational activities has also threatened the existence of the company and the sales. Consumers have a wide variety of products to substitute the motorcycles with and the increase of competitors is also leading to an increase in more brands in the market. This poses a big threat to the future of the company in the market of its products. The changes in customers’ demographics are also threatening the business in terms of sales. The percentage of males who have been purchasing the company’s products especially the motorcycles is declining. The percentages of women who are purchasing the products are however increasing. During the years 2003 and 2004 the percentage of sales that were purchased by men made up 89% with the rest being female. While in the years 2005 and 2007, the percentages had reduced to 88% among the male customers and 12% among the female customers (Harley-Davidson, n.d). The ages of the customers who have been purchasing the products of the company have also been increasing. By 2008 the median age of the customers had risen to 47 from 45 in the year 2004.