Sociology of Deviance and Crime Essay

Question: Write a social sciences essay based on a documentary or film. Explore how deviance and/or crime are presented in this text and relate your findings to the various sociological perspectives and theories studied in class. Choice of text: Easy A (2010 movie) Deviance is an unavoidable part of human nature, and as such, is a fascinating and essential social phenomenon to study. The film Easy A explores how a high school student turns to deviance in order to benefit in popularity and financially. A number of sociological theories are recognisable in this film. It demonstrates clearly the motivations behind how primary deviance leads to secondary deviance. The text raises the theories of social exclusion and marginalisation, with specific relevance to adolescent years. The teenage years are a big transition for people, as they mature from children into adults. This period is often a time of self-discovery or experimentation, as illustrated by the movie Easy A (2010). We are introduced to the protagonist, Olive, an unknown and unpopular schoolgirl. She starts to become noticed when she lies about losing her virginity, and the fibs begin to escalate. Through a number of lies and rumours, Olive gains a reputation for her false promiscuity, and this has a number of repercussions on herself and her peers. Olive’s deviant acts clearly demonstrate a number of sociological theories and perspectives. Olive initially lies about losing her virginity to her friend, but instead of revealing the truth and admitting her fabrication, she proceeds with it further and continues lying. This is a typical act of primary deviance turning into secondary deviance. The primary deviance is Olive’s initial lie, which could be exused, but it turns into secondary deviance when she accepts her label as a ‘whore’ and continues lying and accepting the rumours regarding her. This phenomenon was explored by Rosenblum (1974). Rosenblum studied the relationship between primary and secondary deviance among female prostitutes. She argued that one of women’s biggest assets is their sexuality and this is what most often leads them to deviance. The transition  from primary deviance to secondary deviance when regarding prostitution only happens when the individual accepts their ‘label’ and willingly repeats the deviant acts. The secondary deviant†¦ is a person whose life and identity are organised around the facts of deviance. (Rosenblum, 1974) This is applicable to Olive in Easy A; she begins to take pride in her reputation as a ‘whore’, and even makes money from lying about having sexual relations with fellow classmates. Her identity revolves around her acts of deviance, making it clear that she is engaging in secondary deviance. However, financial gains was not Olive’s only motivation for committing deviant acts. Social exclusion can effect an individual at any time in life, but is especially prominent in adolescent years in the schoolyard. At a time when everyone is too young to have found their true identity, each person is seeking individuality and validation from others. Teenagers often form into groups, and if someone doesn’t fit in to a group or try conforming, they can be subjected to social exclusion. Social exclusion is a valid fear of many adolescents, as Sà ¸ndergaard (2012) explained in her study. Through interviewing and observing school children, Sà ¸ndergaard found that many children have social exclusion anxiety. ‘Social exclusion anxiety’ builds on the social psychological concept of human beings as existentially dependent on social embeddedness. This point is highlighted in order to focus on the anxiety that arises when social embeddedness is jeopardised and the hope and longing to be part of a community is threatened. (Sà ¸ndergaard, 2012) Social exclusion anxiety should be considered as a potential motivation for deviance. In the case of Olive in Easy A, she isn’t a popular or noticed girl at school. However, once she starts engaging in deviant acts, she becomes noticed and even accepted. Although this isn’t her true personality, Olive feels validated – she has an identity. Therefore, social exclusion is a motivating factor for Olive to turn to deviance. However, she isn’t the only character to do so. Olive first lies about losing her virginity to her best friend, but the first real deviant act comes when she and her gay friend Brandon deceive the whole school. Olive quickly gains popularity when most of the student body witnesses, from the other side of the door, her having sex at a party with a  boy from school. Little does everyone know that it is all a ruse to get them to think that Brandon, her fake sex partner, is not gay in hopes that this very public display of sexual activity will prevent daily beatings at school and it works! (Perry et al., 2011) Being an openly gay student in high school, Brandon is subjected to torment, discrimination and marginalisation. Consistent deviance often leads to marginalisation, and gender deviance is a prime example. Brandon was beat up at school and rejected by friends. Gay individuals have long been marginalised by not receiving equal rights by law, and are habitually marginalised by the general public due to homosexuality being considered gender deviance. Taywaditep’s (2001) study suggested that due to the marginalisation gay boys received throughout their childhood and adolescence, many began to appear more gender-conforming towards adulthood to avoid marginalisation. Gender conformity is associated with social acceptance and adjustment in men more than in women, and gender deviance is much more disapproved and penalized for men than for women. (Taywaditep, 2001) Brandon seeks social acceptance and approval, so he turns to deviance to appear gender-conforming. Through his character, Easy A displays two theories about deviance; marginalisation due to gender deviance, and deviance as a result of social exclusion. Easy A is a textbook example of the motivations behind deviance. Through the medium of film, it effectively demonstrates how adolescents become compelled to commit deviant acts. Furthermore, the film is backed up by sociological theories. Primary and secondary deviance is demonstrated when Olive begins to embrace her status and deviant nature. Social exclusion is shown to be a motivational factor in Olive’s and Brandon’s choices. Brandon’s gender deviance by being gay has forced him into marginalisation. He seeks to achieve gender conformity, and as such engages alongside Olive in her deviance. Therefore, Easy A is not simply an entertaining film produced for the masses. It should be considered as an informed, accurate, visual research study into adolescent deviance. Bibliography (APA) Devine, Z. (Director). (2010). Easy A [Motion Picture]. United States of America: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Perry, C., Lauro, J.D., Cain, A., & Eigner, J. (2011). Easy A. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 23(1), 59-64. doi: 10.1080/08952833.2011.548708 Rosenblum, K.E. (1975). Female Deviance and the Female Sex Role: A Preliminary Investigation. The British Journal of Sociology, 26(2), 169-185. doi: 10.2307/589587. Sà ¸ndergaard, D.M. (2012). Bullying and social exclusion anxiety in schools. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 33(3), 355-372. doi: 10.1080/01425692.2012.662824. Taywaditep, K.J. (2001). Marginalization Among the Marginalized. Journal of Homosexuality, 42(1), 1-28. doi: 10.1300/J082v42n01_01.

Kpmg Analysis

An overview of what the company does its history and its product/service range KPMG is a multinational leading professional services firm, which deals with both audit and tax with over 10,000 partners and staff. They have achieved a vast amount of awards for both employment and health and safety, and this in turn reflects their dedication to excellence in their services. In 2008, KPMG merged with other firms in Europe, which formed KPMG Europe LLP. This therefore makes the company the largest integrated accountancy firm in Europe, with the headquarters based in Frankfurt. KMPG has a wide range of human resources, and these results in a diverse and highly skilled workforce. Furthermore, it can be seen that KPMG treat their workforce as an intangible resource, and this contributes to the firm’s competitive position. KPMG deal with three key areas: audit, tax and pensions and advisory. Their audit department deals with decision making within capital markets (KPMG, 2011 p. 1). Therefore, they provide a service to stakeholders, by ensuring that they are able to independently audit organizations. Their tax and pensions function helps individual organizations to reduce their tax burden and to ensure they meet the highest levels of compliance. Therefore, this involves key areas such as corporate reputation, pensions, and effective tax rates. Finally, they offer advisory support, which supports businesses through their business life cycle. This therefore helps and encourages firms to develop within regulatory environments. An analysis of the firm’s macro-environment Table 1: PEST analysis Political Increased governmental regulation. Increased taxes reducing consumer spending and corporate spending. Focus on environmental governance for example: environmental auditing. Economic Difficult and restrictive economic times. Businesses closing down on the UK high street. Unstable economic times, which has resulted in an increased focus on the financial sector. Social Consumer demand for CSR. Social concerns over the stability of the economy – this result, in firms such as KPMG coming under increasing scrutiny. Technological Integration of economies – the need for global expansion. Boundless economy – technology has facilitated 24-hour communication across borders. Advances in technology, which can be used to promote the detailed nature of KPMG’s services. The PEST analysis highlights a dynamic environment, which is ever changing. In particular, it can be seen that the company must utilize strategic tools to understand and deal with many of the issues presented in the PEST analysis. At present, the main difficulties facing the firm are in the economic and political environment. The economic recession has resulted in a scrutiny of the financial sector, and this in turn demands a need to offer an increasingly integral service. Furthermore, the secondary result of which has been increased regulation, which, not only affects KPMG itself but the many services it offers to its clients. An analysis of the company’s microenvironment Figure 1: Porter’s Five Forces Porter’s five Forces model is an excellent tool for understanding how powerful is a company in its particular business environment. It is very useful, because it can recognize the business’s strength in the competitive market and the possible future position will occur if the company thinks to change its plans. As a result the firm can take benefit in a condition that has power; also it can avoid any wrong steps in the future. On the other hand it can improve a situation that seems to has weaknesses. †¢Competitive rivalry: As KPMG belongs to a market that can be defined as oligopoly; the level of competition is not too high. This kind of market is controlled by the â€Å"Big Four† because they share a huge proportion of the market. Because of this the firms have the power to have high fees. †¢Power of Suppliers: The main purpose of KPMG is the provision of services. As a result of this, the major asset of the business is its own individual’s employees and members. For that reason the firm should seek to keep and extend its talents and trying to hire more qualified accountants. †¢Power of buyers: Customers are powerful in that kind of market. They can easily switch to another competitive firm because the costs of doing this aren’t too high. In addition the services provided by the â€Å"Big Four† are similar and with the same standard and this makes even easier the decision of a customer to move to a similar firm. †¢Threads of substitutes: The thread of possible substitutes in the accounting services is very small because there are not obvious substitutes of those services in the market. †¢Threats of new entrants: The market is conquered by the â€Å"Big Four† so the barricades of new entries in the market are very high. However, it is more common that small firms do not choose one of the big firms. As a result of this there is some space left for new small companies to enter the market. Table 2: SWOT Strengths 1)Asset leverage 2)High research and development focus. 3)Areas of online growth. 4)Strong management team, substantial focus on HR. )Strong brand equity 6)Strong financial position, which allows the firm to internationalize. 7)Strong European presence. 8)Competitive pricing of services. Weaknesses 1)Weak focus on real estate. 2)Vulnerability to litigations over gross negligence in audit practice. 3)Over-reliance on European market – need to understand more developing markets such as China and India (Wilson and Purushothaman, 2003 p. 19). Opportunities 1)Product and service expansion 2)Entry into emerging markets. 3)Future acquisitions. 4)Increased expenditure on infrastructure could increase demand for advisory services. Threats 1)Dynamic and competitive environment. 2)Increased regulation, resulting in a need for a throughout service. 3)Exchange rate fluctuations 4)Changes in the economic environment. 5)Global economic slowdown. The SWOT analysis indicates that the firm has strengths, which aid their position in a competitive market. Furthermore, it can be noted that the firm use such strengths to position themselves in the marketplace; in turn this promotes the resource-based view of strategy which focuses around the notion of ‘core competencies’ (Barney, 1991 p. 99). The threats outlined can be responded to by reviewing the macro environment, and the implementation of strategic tools, which may help to overcome any weaknesses. Finally, the opportunities outlined suggest that the firm should internationalize outside of Europe, this would extend the firms client base, and would allow them to tap in to developing markets such as China and India. This is in line with the BRICS study (Wilson and Purushothaman, 2003 p. 19): which, indicates that by 2050 China will be the world’s largest economy. Thus, an appreciation of the Eastern world is needed by KPMG to ensure success in the future. Evidence of an audit of key competences within the company The first key competency KPMG have is ‘reputation’ this is an intangible asset and one, which sees KPMG respected for a high caliber of services. This is the result of professional, and skilled staff, and a vast extent of knowledge, which can be applied to a vast array of business situations. Reputation is needed when offering such services which, require throughout and exact processing, for example: firms trust KPMG to handle aspects such as Tax and financial advisory, and thus often reputation is a key driver of success in this market. This is linked to the competency of professionalism, in which, strong ethical values of integrity and honesty provide the foundation for the firms work. Moreover, a key competency of the firm is their ability to develop a strong and skilled workforce. A focus on staff as an intangible resource; is something which aids the firms competitive advantage. For example: as Barney (1991 p. 99) notes: it is important that a firm have competencies which are unable to be imitated by their competitors, this in turn allows the firm to gain a strong position in the market and reduce competition. Therefore, it can be seen that the firm have a key competency of transforming the HR system to one which supports overall organizational learning, this is seen as something which supports competitive positioning (Pucik, 1988 p. 1). Accountability is a competency, which drives KPMG’s success. First and foremost, the company is operating in a dynamic, which demands transparency. Thus, the firm can be seen to take accountability for their actions, and this is something, which is supported by the firm’s organizational culture. Organizational culture is defined by Schein (2010 p. ) as ‘the shared norms and values, which are deeply rooted within an organization’. KPMG have a positive culture, which is upheld by values of customer service, customer satisfaction and the building of strong and meaningful relationships. Organizational culture can be seen as a competency, as it values can be translated into tangible resources such as increased clients, and stronger ex ternal relationships. This is linked to KPMG’s focus on making an impact, their clients expect the firm to make an impact and in turn build strong business relationships. Therefore, a strong organizational culture, which upports such values, supports the overall strategic direction of the firm. Needed in a dynamic environment, is the ability to be flexible and problem solving in an open, and innovative manner. These are two competencies which KPMG can be seen to have, in particular these are competencies which highlight how the firm has a key aim to be able to analyze complex data and reach an appropriate solution, in a manner which is simple for their clients to understand. Thus, in summary, it can be seen that the firm have an ability to translate their key, core competencies to contribute to the strategic success of the firm. The most important competencies to the firm are those, which are intangible in nature, as these are aspects, which cannot be imitated easily by their competition. In turn, such intangible resources often result in tangible results, as we can often see a link between the two. For example: higher levels of customer service are likely to result in a larger client database. A forecast of likely future prospects for the company’s market and recommendations as to how it should react to potential changes The ability of a firm to respond effectively to change is vital to the modern day organization operating in a dynamic environment. KPMG have a strong focus on their human resources, and this has resulted in the development of a workforce, which are committed to the strategic goals of the firm. Thus, as Hayes (2010 p. 12) notes a flexible workforce is needed to remain competitive, and therefore the firms reaction to any potential changes in the market is likely to be aided by their investment in their staff. KPMG’s future market is threatened by increased regulation. For example: in 2007 the company was found guilty of criminal wrong doing with regards to tax fraud (Department of Justice, 2007 p. 1). Such ethical wrongdoings damage company reputation, and this in turn is something, which is likely to affect the future of the firm. A firm such as KPMG gains a vast amount of business from reputation, and thus any damage to such may have a negative effect on their future clients. Therefore, in order to respond to increased regulation, the firm must ensure the highest ethical conduct at all times, and high levels of transparency. In addition, KPMG’s clients are faced with increased legislation regarding business reports, and thus, this promotes a need for a thorough service from the firm. Changing legislation will have a result on the firm itself, and increased expenditure is likely to be needed to ensure that all workers have the skills necessary to carry out an effective service. With regards to the external environment, developments in trends are resulting in future changes for the company. Firstly, the company is offering in a dynamic environment, and therefore is required to thrive and not just simply survive. In order to respond to competition it is important that the firm looks forward to the future, and implements a system of strategic planning. In turn, the firm should seek to provide accurate and insightful information to all of their clients, which will result in the firm adapting the finance function to enable their clients to survive during turbulent, economic times. Moreover, due to the economic climate, the needs of their consumers are changing. In order to respond to such a trend, KPMG must simplify complex business issues in a manner, which promotes a greater alignment of business processes. Many firms in a difficult, economic environment often have a short-term focus, and this is something which KPMG themselves need to steer away from, and something which they have to dis-persuade their firms from doing so. Instead, a focus on sustainable business is needed which, in turn will enable more than just reduced short-term costs. Thus, in summary the economic climate has created a difficult environment for both KPMG and their clients, and in order to survive such times and prosper in the future, the firm must position the company in a manner, which promotes success. The final trend portrayed in this section is an increased focus on corporate social responsibility. This is something which is required both from the company itself and it can be seen that KPMG’s CSR actions may influence the decisions of their clients. At present, KPMG have a strong belief that social responsibility and business success go hand in hand, and thus promote charitable donations, volunteering from their workforce and a key emphasis on the environment. In the future, a greater emphasis will be put on corporate social responsibility, and KPMG must respond to such changes by conducting environmental audits, promoting stakeholder theory, and an overall dedication to the cause. Strategy can be used to conduct external analysis, and such analysis will enable a firm such as KPMG to respond to future changes in the market. For many firms, their relevant success or failure is dependent on the ability to strategically align themselves to the external environment (Henry, 2007), and as many markets, in particular the financial market are as dynamic as ever, it is important that the firm are able to discern any trends which may later alter the firm’s strategy. As shown in this paper, the environment consists of both the macro and microenvironment, and this in turn is something, which promotes the complexity of the market. In turn, it is often thought that the competitive environment is the one, which has the most direct impact on the firm; however, it is the more external macro environment, which creates the most problematic situations for the firm, in particular, if a firm is unprepared for change. Dill (1962 p. 12) states that ‘at the one level the environment is not a very mysterious concept, it means the surroundings of the organization, and the concept becomes challenging when we try to move from its simple description to an analysis of its properties’. Thus, it is recommended that KPMG partake in environmental analysis in order to provide the companies with the opportunity to discern trends, and then from these trends create strategies, which enable the firm to best position itself. By using internal strategic capabilities such as reputation, the firm may be able to diversify into other markets, which are noted as being both less challenging and competitive. The prediction of the future is difficult, and is always uncertain due to discontinuities. However, by scanning the environment, the firm can be able to detect any weak signals, weak signals are those trends which ‘may be largely insignificant due to the fact that there impact is yet to be felt, however, the careful monitoring of such can result in the firm being better strategically adept for such uncertainties’ (Henry, 2007 p. 8: Van der Heijden, 1996). Van der Heijden (1996) notes how there are three different types of uncertainties, which all play a part in the external environment. These being: structural uncertainties, risk, and unknowable. Of these both structural uncertainties and unknowable’s are the two most difficult to comprehend, due to the fact that these are events which either cannot be imagined or do not offer any evidence of such a probability. Thus, noted in the literature, is the tool scenario planning (Schoemaker, 1995) which, can be used to deal with even the most unimaginable of events (Porter, 1998). If KPMG were able to adopt the concept of scenario planning, they would be more likely to gain a strong competitive position. Scenario planning is a tool, which can be seen to ‘stand out’ due to its ability to ‘capture a whole range of possibilities in great detail’ (Schomaker, 1995). Thus, it can be seen that scenario planning aims to overcome the under and over prediction of change, it does so by adopting a middle ground, in which, it considers both unknowable and uncertain events. Word count:2546 References Barney, JB (1991) ‘Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage’. Journal of management, 17 (1) pp. 99-120. Department of justice (2007) ‘KPMG to pay $456 million for criminal violations in relation to largest ever tax shelter fraud case’ [online]. Available from: – http://www. justice. gov/opa/pr/2005/August/05_ag_433. html [Accessed 18. 03. 11]. Dill, W. ‘The impact of environment on organizational development' In Mailick, S. and E. Van Ness (eds) Concepts and Issues in Administrative Behavior. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1962. Henry, AE (2007) ‘Understanding strategic management’. Oxford University Press: Oxford. KPMG (2011) ‘What we do’ [online]. Available from: – http://www. kpmg. com/UK/en/WhatWeDo/Pages/default. aspx [Accessed 19. 03. 11]. Porters fives forces model : Industry analysis model [online]. Available from: http://www. learnmarketing. net/porters. htm [Accessed 21. 03. 11] Porter, ME (1998) ‘On competition’. Harvard University Press: Harvard, Boston. Pucik, V (1988) ‘Strategic alliances, organizational learning, and competitive advantage: the HRM agenda’. Human resource management, 27 (1) pp. -16. Schein, EH (2010) ‘Culture and leadership’. John Wiley and Sons: London. Schoemaker, PJH (1995) ‘Scenario planning: a tool for strategic thinking’. Sloan management review, 36 (2) pp. 25-32. Van der Heijden, K. (1996), Scenarios: The Art of Strategic Conversation, Wiley, New York, NY. Wilson, Purushothaman (2003) ‘Dreaming with BRICS: the path to 2050’. Global economics paper 99, [online]. Available fr om: – http://antonioguilherme. web. br. com/artigos/Brics. pdf [Accessed 20. 03. 11].

TOUAX company

TOUAX is a French company and is currently Europe‟s no. 1 in shipping containers and river barges, and no. 2 in modular building and freight railcars. The group provides operating leases to customers around the world, both on its own account and for third-party investors. On June 24, 2009, TOUAX announced that its capital increased by waiving preferential subscription rights but with priority for existing shareholders, launched on 18 June 2009 for a total of E17, 851,519.76 (gross) through the issue of 936,596 new shares which were subscribed in the entirely. Following partial application of the extension clause, 952,747 shares were placed or 101.72% of the issue; total proceeds were E18, 159,357.82. This rights issue has enabled the Group to strengthen its financial structure, to position itself with advantage for possible acquisitions of tangible stock, and to grasp opportunities thrown up by the crisis (purchase of shipping containers, modular buildings, river barges and railcars, for hiring out on mainly long-term leases). 370,062 new shares allotted under absolute entitlement were subscribed or 39.51% of the total number of new shares issue. Another 555,685 shares were applied for subject to cutting back in the event of over subscription, and orders for these were all filled. Another 27,000 shares had been applied for by the general public, and following partial application of the extension clause it proved possible to fill orders for all of these. All the result of the right issue, TOUAX is well placed to respond to the boom in corporate outsourcing of non-core assets, and every day provides over 5,000 customers with quick and flexible leasing solutions. TOUAX is now listed on Euronext in Paris – NYSE Euronext Compartment C (ISIN Code FR0000033003), and features in the SBF 250 Index.

Reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

Reflection paper - Essay Example When a person hears a distasteful joke, it helps the person from keeping away from focusing at their problem. Individually, I have at several instances made jokes that put down other individuals with an aim of strengthening my ego. To help in justifying my fat body that is made fun of at various social occasions, I constantly referred the thin people as skinny and at various instances mentioning the negative implications of possessing a skinny body. The joke would yield fun and as result help me to avoid focusing on my fat nature helping me to have peace of mind. It is however inappropriate to make jokes that put down other individuals. For example, consider a joke that emanates from a racial connection. The joke may yield bad blood against individuals from different races and if it is done in a working place work relations among people from different races will become destroyed (McGhee). Consequently, it is not from every person understanding that the jokes putting a person down is merely a joke as some may perceive the joke as

My leader Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

My leader - Assignment Example It turned out that the reporting sessions or the reports were deleted from the accounts by the supervisor by mistake. It had a record of more than one month of reporting of the security checks. It was a great loss of information. On the date of the audit, the supervisor came himself to check on the reports since there was no information delivered. Firstly, it was astonishing that the regional head would visit the workplace to inquire about reporting. As soon as he was informed about the mishap of loss of information, he took a proactive approach rather than becoming angry. He took control of the situation and rather asked the sub-parameter or computers from where the reports were being sent. Instead of becoming overly concerned about the mishap, the regional head took notice of the situation and found out alternative ways. He could have simply misreported the progress of the supervisor for his personal interest but he rather becomes a team leader than just being the

International competiveness and innovation Essay

International competiveness and innovation - Essay Example Globalisation is considered to be one of the most important events of the modern civilisation. It has brought major developments in the human activities as well in the thought process. This has made their thought process more liberal and innovative. People are using their innovative mind as a tool for economic and social enhancement. Innovation is a common trait among scientists and entrepreneurs who use this trait to bring social, technological and economic developments. Innovation refers to the creation of new ideas, concepts, thoughts that can be further be used for growth and developments. Primarily, innovation is categorized into two major types i.e. radical and incremental. Radical innovation involves the performance improvements of product or services and incremental innovation results in bringing improvements in production process like efficiency, cost-effectiveness etc (Urabe, Child and Kagono, 1998, p.4). Innovation is one of the core features of modern society and technolo gical improvement is a major outcome of this feature that boosts the growth of an economy. The changing technological system has influenced the entire structure of an economy. Modern technological system has led to upgradating international trade and business causing enhancement of economic parameters. Moreover, with the technological developments, many new industries have been evolving to meet the latest of population. On the other hand, the existing organisations also aim to implement latest technologies for shaping their performance for gaining an upper hand and sustainable competitive advantage in the market. Constant technological innovation has become an important criterion for social and economic development and due to this, proper awareness among the entire population is inevitable. People have to realize the importance of basic sciences as it develops a foundation for being innovative, creative and productive. R&D programs are initiated by the organisations seeking technolo gical developments and performance enhancements. 2. Collaborations and Alliances The business environment of the modern world is characterised by highly turbulent phases. With the advent of globalisation firms are increasingly trying to reach out to new consumer markets. Collaboration and alliances are largely used as a tool by business organizations to enter new markets. This strategy has largely been used by the airlines industries to form mega consortiums so as to gain strategic advantage. An example in this regard is the airline industry which has used collaborations and alliances for research and development activities. The major players in the American and European airline market which are dominating the global aerospace industry have used collaborations to enhance the level of research and development activities. In spite of the advantages of a strategy of collaboration and alliances, ‘spillover’ effects are also associated with this strategy. The ‘spillove r’ effect has largely been observed in technology intensive industry segments like biotechnology. However, the analysis of literature reveals considerable difference in the nature of ‘spillover’ in the aerospace industry with patents and licensing being the most prominent difference between the two sets of industries. Difference in demand and supply dynamics also generates considerable differences. The main sources of ‘spillovers’

Border security and how it has grown over the decades Research Paper

Border security and how it has grown over the decades - Research Paper Example Border security is becoming an important topic for America, especially after the 9/11 incident. Even though America was successful in patrolling its land and coastal boundaries, the loopholes in the security measures of the air boundaries have been revealed for the first time after the 9/11 incident. Terrorists and intruders are devising new methods to intrude into the territories of America. It is difficult for the border security forces to anticipate the movements of intruders because of the new methods opted by them to enter America. Apart from the threats of terrorists, illegal immigration is another major area of concern for the internal security of America. America’s wider border areas with Mexico and Canada are used extensively by antisocial elements to cross the borders. Even though Bush administration strengthened the measures of border patrol, still intruders are entering America with very much ease. Under these circumstances, the importance of border security forces is getting increased day by day. "Border security is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue; its an American issue†(Cooper, 2011). This paper analyses border security, its history and evolution over the years. Border security force or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the largest law enforcement workforce in America. It is securing America’s border areas including land, air and sea borders. â€Å"The Border Patrol is the mobile uniformed law enforcement arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was officially established on May 28, 1924 by an act of Congress passed in response to increasing illegal immigration† (Border Patrol Overview, History and Strategy, 2011). During the last 86 years of history, the structure and functioning of American border security forces have undergone many changes even though the core objective remains the same - patrolling the nation from intruders. Even though the official history of border

Property Law College Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Property Law College - Case Study Example Also included in the contract were tools that were in the garden shed as you did not think you would need them. However, you now still have a small yard and need some tools. These are not fixtures and you believe that you are able to take them. You and your partner move into the town house holding the property as joint tenants. Sadly your partner dies some weeks after you bought the property. The house is in contract and the townhouse does not have an island bench in the kitchen and client wishes to take the one out of the kitchen in the sold house and move it to the new one. This would mean damaging the floor. Australian law defines a fixture as: " Items such as hot water systems, built-in cupboards, bath, stove, etc" (Australian Real Estate). The common denominator with the afore -mentioned list is that the items cannot be removed from a property without causing damage. Accordingly, since the floor of the house would be damaged upon its' removal, the island bench is considered to be a fixture. When land is transferred with a house, the value of all the tenant's fixtures is now to be included in calculating the unencumbered value of land. This law reverses the Victorian Supreme Court decisions in the Vopak Terminal case (where substantial storage tanks were sold separately to another party) and the Uniqema case (2004) (but only on the issue of tenant's fixtures). Here, the seller has already contracted the sale of the house. The contract price was in part, based upon the value of the house and its' fixture. If the client wishes to depart with the island, they should either re-negotiate the contract or make a concession for the floor repairs (in the purchase price) that will result from removing the island. Additionally, the seller would be well advised to issue a credit towards the purchase price. In no events may the seller simply take the island. Fixtures, according to the Australian courts become part of the land and as a consequence, the realty, and must therefore pass to the buyer with the sale of the property. Some sort of concession must be made either at closing or before closing in order for the seller to not be in violation of his contract. II. What is the legal position in relation to the curtains A leading case in this area is Australian Provincial Assurance Co. Ltd. v. Coroneo. There the Court addressed the removal of theatre chairs, movie projection equipment and a generator seized from a theatre. The court reasoned that that if a chattel is actually fixed to land to any extent, any means other than its own weight, then prima facie it is a fixture; and the burden of proof is upon the person who asserts that it is not. If it is not otherwise fixed but is kept in position by its own weight, then prima facie it is not a fixture; and the burden of proof is upon the person who asserts that it is. Here because the buyer is looking to have the curtains, which are not actually affixed to the land to any extent, he bears the burden of proof. The test of whether a chattel is a fixture was determined by the court to be whether it had been fixed with the inten

Management Strategy and Policy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management Strategy and Policy - Research Paper Example UAE based Emaar Properties is a Public Joint Stock Company (PJSC) focusing on property development as well as lifestyles related services. Established in 1997, it has grown to become one of the largest property developers in the whole of Middle-East Asia. (â€Å"About Emaar†). It became a PJSC in 2007, after Dubai government garnered around 32% equity stake in Emaar, by exchanging with the sizable prime land. Although its prime focus is property development, it has over 60 companies under its wings, with each company operating in different business sectors, offering varied services including in the sectors like hospitality & leisure, shopping malls, healthcare, education and financial services. (â€Å"Board of Directors†). Apart from its main operations in UAE, EMAAR has expanded geographically doing projects and offering services in many key Asian countries like Saudi Arabia, India, Syria, Pakistan, etc., African countries like Egypt, Morocco, etc., as well as the Unit ed States and Canada. It has developed some of the globally well-known and prominent landmarks of UAE. The list includes Downtown Dubai, â€Å"the 500-acre mega-project, home of Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building which features the world’s first Armani Hotel Dubai and the world’s highest restaurant, At.mosphere† and also Dubai Mall, which is regarded as the â€Å"world’s largest shopping and entertainment destination†. (â€Å"About Emaar†). By diversifying into new sectors, it is posed to tap many opportunities in other sectors as well. Porter’s five force analysis Degree of rivalry Construction is a segmented industry implying there are many firms at various levels. EMAAR also has its rivals specifically Nakheel, ALDAR and Dubai properties etc. However, EMAAR enjoys a unique brand image as compared to its peers as it has emerged as a luxury brand. It has been associated with high quality construction catering t o higher end groups. It has created an exclusive position for itself by building the world’s tallest building called Burj Khalifa in Dubai which was completed in 2010 despite the world financial meltdown post its launch in 2008 (Oxford Business Group). Hence, the degree of rivalry is low for this group in UAE. Threat of substitutes The group has targeted high end real estate development. Hence within this segment there are usually very few substitutes as a customer is generally looking at a particular type of property and location which cannot be replaced easily. However, during economic

Value chain Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Value chain - Case Study Example Studies from a range of disciplines show that global value chains have become much more prevalent and elaborate in the past 10 to 15 years.' Global value chains now contain activities that are tightly integrated and often managed on a day-to-day basis. The globalisation of value chains is motivated by a number of factors. Continuous growth of competition in domestic and international markets forces firms to become more efficient and lower costs. One way of achieving that goal is to source inputs from more efficient producers, either domestically or internationally, and either within or outside the boundaries of the firm. Emergence of new markets and access to strategic assets that can help tap into foreign knowledge is one of the important motivations of global value chain. Notwithstanding these anticipated benefits, engaging in global value chains also involves costs and risks for firms. Increasing liberalisation of trade and decreasing costs of transport and communication have made it possible for enterprises to split up production processes into more complex parts spread to an increasing degree across national borders. The result is often that each enterprise specialises in a core area of production while other activities are outsourced to suppliers. This leads to a fragmentation of the production process, which is counterbalanced by closer integration between the enterprise and its trading partners http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/24/35/38558080.pdf (Feenstra, 1998). Trade in intermediates Global value chains allow intermediate and final production to be outsourced abroad, leading to increased trade through exports and imports, and to a rapidly growing volume of intermediate inputs being exchanged between different countries. In 2003, 54% of world manufactured imports were classified as intermediate goods which include primary goods, parts and components and semi-finished goods. Relocations of existing activities Relocation of activities overseas is also a factor of growth of international sourcing. Sometimes implying the total or partial closure of the production in the home country while at the same time creating or expanding affiliates abroad producing the same goods and services as in the host country. More often, it is about the substitution of domestic stages of production by activities performed in foreign locations, with goods and services being exported from the host country to the home country. The basic purpose of relocation of activities is to gain higher product quality, efficient assets utilization with lower cost. Outsourcing and off shoring Global value chain made possible fragmentation of the production process across various countries, which have given rise to considerable restructuring in firms including the outsourcing and off shoring of certain functions. Outsourcing typically involves the purchase of intermediate goods and services from outside specialist providers, while off shoring refers to purchases by firms of intermediate goods and services from foreign providers, or to the transfer of particular tasks within the firm to a foreign location (Figure 1). Off shoring thus includes both international outsourcing where activities are contracted out to independent third parties abroad and international in-sourcing to foreign affiliates. http://www.oecd.o

Breast Cancer Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Breast Cancer - Research Paper Example The author notes that even when similar methods are applied, the use of dissimilar strategies for examining surgical material may lead to different outcomes for the same patient. The information submitted by the writer notes that in cases of determining histological curative effects in everyday medical practice, doctors have to illustrate the methods applied in their examination criteria. The author notes that histological methods for determining therapeutic reactions and strategies for assessment of surgical materials subsequent to neoadjuvant treatment must be harmonized in the near future. The author notes that cancer prevention involves all the actions taken for the purposes of lowering the likelihood of acquiring breast cancer. Through prevention, the author notes that mortalities caused by cancer are eventually minimized. The author explains the risk elements and the protective elements that are associated with breast cancer. He notes that preventing breast cancer begins with adopting a healthy eating habit. He notes that several studies reveal that lifestyle alterations have been recorded to reduce risks of acquiring breast cancer even in the women considered high risk. He argues that a number of steps associated with keeping the body active and healthy have reduced the risks of acquiring cancer. The author notes that breast cancer is the principal causing factor of cancer associated mortalities in women below the age of 40 years especially in the countries with the highest per-capita income in the world. The writer additionally reports that even though seen to improve gradually, the rates of survival for these women are much lower as compared to women who are older. Furthermore, he reports that the young women are prone to developing more aggressive strains of the cancerous cells.  

Thomas Hart Benton Essay Example for Free

Thomas Hart Benton Essay Described by former U.S. President Harry Truman as the best painter in America, Thomas Hart Benton led a new art movement in the country in an era when modernism and abstract art were in vogue. Benton, the scion of a famous political family in Neosho, Missouri, is one of the widely recognized popular artists in the United States1.   Despite his diminutive five-feet three stature and fiery temper, Benton was a man of enormous talents for he was not just a painter; he was also a writer and a musician, and a man well versed in the issues of his time. Being the son of a lawyer and congressman, and the grandnephew of a senator, Bentons father wanted him to get involved in law or politics.   But young Benton showed early on remarkable skills in art, which his mother encouraged and supported.   Despite oppositions from his father, Benton pursued his artistic inclinations.   At a young age, he worked as a cartoonist for Joplin (Missouri) American in 1906. After that, he was sent to a military school by his father, but was later allowed to leave and study at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1907.   After two years, he left for further studies in the Academie Julien in Paris, where he met fellow North American artists like Stanton Macdonald-Wright, whose leaning towards synchromism influenced Bentons art.   While in Paris, works of Michelangelo and El Greco created lasting impact on Benton2. In Selden Rodmans Fighter and Artist article, he described Bentons life in Paris as the unhappiest in the artists career.   He didnt have an audience for his work and somehow lost the knack for making art a performance.   His mother came to Paris and brought Benton home with her, a move that proved fortunate for back in America, the artist found his art again. _____________ Mark M. Johnson, On the Road with Thomas Hart Benton: Images of a Changing America (1999): 17. Ibid, 19. Upon his return, Benton went to New York and continued painting.   He experimented and studied the arts of the old masters as well as various modern styles.   Before finding his niche in the world of art, Benton was generally considered a modernist who dabbled in modern approaches like Cezannism the use of repetitive, sensitive and exploratory brushstrokes, and Constructivism the use of industrial, angular approach with geometric abstraction3.   Among the modernist movements, he was particularly drawn towards synchromism, a painting technique that treats colors the same way a composer arranges notes in music with advancing and reducing hues.  Ã‚   This was in part through the influence of the modernist American painter, Macdonald-Wright, who Benton met in Paris and became his life-long friend. In 1919, he was employed as a draftsman for two years in the United States Navy, a move that significantly changed his style. During his navy stint, Bentons drawings and sketches were focused on realistic depictions of the work and life in shipyards4.   In his realist drawings, Benton found his medium, which he pursued with vigor throughout his life.   The Navy Art Collection has twenty-five of Thomas Hart Bentons works. After the Navy, Benton held a teaching post at New Yorks Chelsea Neighborhood Association, where he met his wife Rita Piacenza, an Italian immigrant who believed in his genius and remained with him until he died5. Bentons career shifted focus in 1924 when he went home to Missouri to reconcile with his dying father.   As a result of the talks he had with his father and other family friends, Bentons heart was filled with a desire to recapture the world he knew as a child. _____________ Greta Berman, Thomas Hart Benton. Art Journal 1990: 199 Barbara Herberholz, Thomas Hart Bentons home and studio, Arts Activities 2000: 40 Ibid, 40. 3 Regionalism Once he found the right medium for his art, Thomas Hart Benton embarked on a naturalistic and representational style of painting a school of art known today as Regionalism, a movement where the artist depicts what is around him, the things he knew and saw.   From then on, Benton branded himself an anti-modernist. As a Regionalist, Bentons subjects were often rural scenes from the Midwest whose themes were of self-preservation and hard work.   This change occurred at some point in Bentons life, but to pinpoint exactly when it happened is difficult. Benton enlarged the scope of his Regionalist art to include the working class.   The small farmer held the artists sympathy and was often portrayed in small-town scenes that speak of beauty coupled with melancholy and desperation.   According to Mark Johnson, the artist said in his autobiography that he looked on the United States as a group comprised of geographic and cultural regions with distinctive characteristics (20). Benton was unique in trying to record history through his works.   Like a historian, he wanted to capture and preserve the distinct traits of regional life in the country before technological advancements and modernization will lay claim on the America of his youth.   Benton was a visual witness at a time when the United States was transitioning from being an agricultural country to one that embraces industrialization. Bentons paintings were often done realistically in a down-to-earth style so that the ordinary people could understand their meanings; contrary to abstract art that requires in-depth analysis and interpretation.  Ã‚   He preferred for his works to be hanged in saloons for the common people to see and admire them (Johnson 20). 4 Rise to Fame Although Thomas Hart Benton became well known for his drawings, sketches, and easel paintings, it was in a different mode of expression that he attained fame and notoriety.   It was in his murals of tremendous proportions that Benton was catapulted to greatness, gaining him admirers and critics. How Benton became engrossed with murals of monumental scale can be attributed to a number of factors.   Bentons early life experiences included viewing of huge murals at federal government buildings in Washington D.C., where he spent a large part of his childhood. At some basic level, this seems to be the earliest foundation for his art6.   It could also be said that as a son of a political family, Benton had it in him to want to attract attention, a theory that is relatively weak.   When he studied art in Paris, he was once more struck by the magnificence of the works created by Michelangelo and El Greco through their tremendous size.   Through sheer size of an artwork, Benton discovered that viewers could be dazzled. Marianne Berardi discussed in an essay circumstantial and personal reasons that could have led Benson to pursue mural painting as a life long career.   One of these reasons was Bentons having read the illustrated copy of the History of the United States by J.A. Spencer, where he got the inspiration and the idea to express history through a modern language of form. But according to Berardi, the most likely reason for the artists decision to take up mural painting was the death of his father.   Benton alluded to this event in an autobiography he wrote in the years to come.   Colonel M.E. Benton became estranged from his eldest son over the latters choice of a career.   For more than a decade, they had very little communication.   Benton made peace with his ill and dying father in 1924.   Berardi cited Bentons 1938 memoir to support this. _____________ Mark M. Johnson, On the Road with Thomas Hart Benton: Images of a Changing America (1999): 19. 5 In his memoir, Benton described how the reminiscing talks he heard from his fathers friends gave him the desire to know more of the America he knew as a child and had forgotten as a result of his wanderings in the quest to gain more knowledge and experiences in life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To make up for lost time, Benton traveled around the country to make sketches of things he saw and knew.   He visited places where he traveled with his father as a child.   Bentons sketches during these travels became his raw material for his murals. Bentons name became part of mainstream art by 1932 when he was asked to do a five-part series, the Arts of Life in America7 a depiction through murals of life in Indiana that were contributed to the 1933 Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago, Illinois.   Benton wasnt paid for this work.   He only got reimbursement for his supplies.   Despite not getting paid for his labor, Benton benefited in different ways.   The murals caught the interests of people all around America due to Bentons representation of his subject using unflattering light.   Also, among his subjects was the controversial Ku Klux Klan in its finery. The murals occupied four huge wall panels and four around the ceiling8.   While the murals were about music, games, dance, and sports, they were also about regional diversity, unemployment, crime, and politics.   The murals were unveiled at the height of the Great Depression, giving them high social relevance.   In the treatment of his subjects, Benton showed informed understanding of his time.   This is not surprising given Bentons views and opinions regarding society and politics in America during that period. _____________ Greta Berman, Thomas Hart Benton. Art Journal 1990: 200 Matthew Baigell with Allen Kaufman, The Missouri Murals: Another Look at Benton, Art Journal 1977: 314-315. 6 His controversial murals cinched Bentons fame.   In fact, because of his work, he found himself in the 1934 cover page of Time magazine, first time that an artist was given such an honor.   From then on, Benton became the leading figure in the Regionalist Movement in American art. In a span of five years, from 1930 to 1935, Benton created four enormous mural paintings, usually using the egg tempera technique that produces smooth and matte surfaces. Bentons murals during this period were: America Today, commissioned in 1930 for the New School of Social Research; The Arts of Life in America, his most controversial murals for The Whitney Studio Club Mural, which was shown to the public in 1932; A Social History of Indiana, made for the State of Indianas pavilion at the 1933 Chicago Worlds Fair, and A Social History of Missouri, created between 1935 and 1936 for the House Lounge in the Missouri State Capitol Building, Jefferson City. Teaching Career The mural commission in 1935 for the House Lounge in the Missouri State, plus an art teaching position in the state decided Benton to leave the New York art scene, where heated artistic debacles abound9.  Ã‚   Thomas Hart Benton left New York, his residence for more than twenty years to take up a teaching position at the Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.   This move was probably made to reconnect with the world of his childhood, where he left many years ago.   This also gave Benton more chances of seeing rural America, which was then giving way to modernization. _____________ Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site, 27 May 27 2005, 20 Nov. 2007 http://www.mostateparks.com/benton/teachguide.htm 7 Bentons teaching career at the Art Institute ended when he was fired for making disparaging remarks about the influence of homosexuals in Kansas Citys art industry.   Despite the setback, Benton remained popular until the late 1940s when Abstract Expressionism became the new fashion and eclipsed Regionalism. After his teaching career ended, Benton gave mural painting his full attention.   He created murals in public buildings like the Missouri State Capitol and the Harry S. Truman presidential library in 1960.   The work he did for the former president became the foundation of a friendship that lasted throughout their lives. On Jan. 19, 1975, Benton was working on the mural The Sources of County music when he passed away due to a heart attack.   The great Regionalist artist died with a brush in hand at the age of 85.   His last painting hangs in Nashville, Tennessee unsigned. Paintings Bentons paintings generally display swirling bands of color, which speaks of synchromism, a technique adopted from the artists friend Macdonald-Wright, where hues of colors are parallel to the notes in harmonies.   The artists favorite paint and paint technique is egg tempera. _____________ Selden Rodman, Fighter and Artist, National Review 1989: 44-47 8 For his paintings, Bentons subjects are usually bold with strongly marked movements.   The colors or tone contrasts are often intense.   Bentons subjects are often disproportionate, making them look like caricatures.   Despite the elongation of shapes in some instances, I still see that the overall effect still looked harmonious and balanced.   The artist often uses shades of blue and yellow to create space.   Yellow sometimes gave the paintings a weathered look, and could sometimes encourage a viewer to engage in melancholia, just like the painting below. The Ballad of the Jealous Lover of Lone Green Valley, 1934, Oil Tempera Bentons painting called Persephone attracted a great deal of criticism particularly from women.   The figure probably offended some critics and many women because of the pubic hair that Benton painted for the first time.   This painting, done in 1939, marked Bentons break from his usual satiric and cartoon-like style.   The use of color is vibrant and expressive, while womanhood was depicted in a goddess-like manner. Murals Bentons murals were usually modeled using clay as a preparatory tool.   He initially overcame the difficulty of organizing a large number of figures in a linear space using vignettes.   To separate one panel from another, he used actual moldings to create boundaries for the scenes. But this technique proved cumbersome.   Benton developed a more organized visual ordering without the use of molding.   According to Berardi, Benton combined scenes by themes and utilized vertical posts to allow the eye some rest when moving across the canvas, a formal technique that Benton described fully in his Mechanics of Form Organization article.   Bentons murals that employed this solution include: American Historical Epic, The Arts of Life in America, and The Social History of Missouri. 10   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Just like in his paintings, Bentons subjects in his murals are also bold with strongly marked movements.   The colors are also strong.   In his murals, the overall composition dominates the objects to create a sense of space.   The sharp images and the caricature-like quality create memory recall even when viewed only once. Bentons works inspire only love and hate and no in-betweens.   For my part, I love Bentons work not only for the artists skill but also for their significance and historical value.   His works were not just figments of his imaginations, but were the result of extensive research and travels. Works Cited Baigell, Matthew, with Kaufman, Allen. The Missouri Murals: Another Look at Benton, Art Journal (1977): 314-315. Berardi, Marianne. Thomas Hart Benton. Traditional Fine Arts Organization, Inc. (2000). 20 Nov. 2007 http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/2aa/2aa573.htm Berman, Greta Berman. Thomas Hart Benton. Art Journal (1990): 199-201 Herberholz, Barbara. Thomas Hart Bentons home and studio. Arts Activities (2000): 40-49. Johnson, Mark M. On the Road with Thomas Hart Benton: Images of a Changing America. 1999: 17-50. Rodman, Selden. Fighter and Artist. National Review (1989): 44-47 Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site, 27 May 27 2005, 20 Nov. 2007 http://www.mostateparks.com/benton/teachguide.htm

The Study of Proteome

The Study of Proteome The breakthrough in the study of genomics has created a great impact for biological research. For instance, the complete genome sequencing accomplished for various model organisms such as bacteria, yeast and drosophila has been a key to understanding the diversity and functions in living system (Liebler, 2002). However, the gene products, proteins are playing crucial complex functions in sustaining the living system. Therefore, in order to acquire a clearer picture about the function of the living cells at molecular level, it is important to study the entire set of protein expressed by a genome, cell, tissue or organism throughout the cell cycle as known as proteome (Monti et al., 2005). This study of proteome is termed proteomics which is mainly focus on the identification of proteins, determination of the interaction between various proteins as a part of a larger network and outlining the 3D structures of proteins (Liu Hsu, 2004). According to Liebler (2002), the applications of proteomics comprised of mining, protein-expression profiling, protein-network mapping and mapping of protein modifications. These four principals then bring about the branches of proteomics which are the sequence and structural proteomics, expression proteomics, interaction proteomics as well as functional proteomics. i. Sequence and structural proteomics Structural proteomics is generally aimed at efficiently convert the gene sequence into 3D structural information which will then being used to facilitate the prediction of protein folding and functions afterward (Yee et al., 2002). 3D structure prediction and determination of proteins on a genome-wide scale are managed to provide substantial information in understanding the structure-function relationships of the particular proteins (Liu Hsu, 2004). The approaches commonly employed for this area of study are NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. In a study done by Yee et al. (2002), structural proteomics of small proteins based on data of 513 proteins from five microorganisms is done by using NMR spectroscopy. Small proteins are more acquiescent for structure analysis primarily due to its solubility as protein aggregation appeared to be a limitation for structural proteomics (Yee et al., 2002). NMR evaluation of proteins is performed after ran through a series of cloning, expression and purification processes. The chosen targets for NMR screening by Yee et al. (2002) were single chain polypeptides with not more than 23 kDa molecular mass. PCR was involved to amplify the targets from genomic DNA. Subsequent cloning of the target proteins into vectors was then carried out. Batch Ni2+ affinity chromatography was done for the extraction of cells (Yee et al., 2002). Varian INOVA 500- or 600-MHz spectrometer was used to attain all the 1H-15N heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) spectra and the NMRPIPE software package was utilized to processed the data (Yee et al., 2002). The HSQC spectrum is to provide a diagnostic fingerprint of a protein. Twelve of the proteins were considered to be suitable for structure determination and have their 3D structures successfully analysed which were conserved without functional annotation (Yee et al., 2002). Among them, eight out of twelve were the members of uncharacterized cluster of orthologous groups (COG) or protein superfamilies. In order to know whether a 3D structure can be predicted, the sequences were submitted to SwissModeler to be analysed based on sequence similarity. ii. Expression proteomics Human Protein Atlas (HPA) launched by Swedish researchers in 2003 is a comprehensive effort in mapping the proteins expressed in the body’s tissue and cells according to the genes documented by Human Genome Project (Marx, 2014). HPA principally looked at the spatial distribution and protein-expression patterns of human proteins as well as comparing the protein expression between cancerous and normal tissues. The expression proteomics is a focus for proteome study which targets on measurement of the up- and down-regulation of protein levels as well to explore the protein expression patterns in abnormal cells for biomedical application (Monti et al., 2005). Approaches like mass spectrometry, 2D-gel electrophoresis and protein arrays are used in expression proteomics. Mazzanti et al. (2006) as done an investigation upon the differential expression proteomics of human colon cancer to look at the operative pathway of early stages of human colon cancer and to compare with normal colon tissue. In this case, they were using 2D-gel electrophoresis to observe the differences in protein expression at various differentiation levels. After the tissues were properly collected and homogenized, Western Blot analysis was carried out to evaluate the expression levels of the proteins and followed by 2D-GE. The differences in intensity of each spot and the normalized spot volume were calculated and statistically analysed. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectroscopy analysis of tryptic peptides was performed to detect the differentially expressed samples processed by 2D-GE (Mazzanti et al., 2006). Lastly, a search through NCBI non-redundant databases and SWISSPROT was completed to identify the proteins. As a result, several proteins were found differentially expressed in colon cancer and normal tissue. Mazzanti et al. (2006) have obtained 11 and 15 proteins from healthy and cancerous tissues which were categorized according to the pathway they involved respectively. In addition, they also claimed that cancer tissues preferably utilize glycolysis due to selective repression of ÃŽ ²-subunit ATPase expression and limited substrate availability to mitochondria (Mazzanti et al., 2006). iii. Interaction proteomics Interaction proteomics emphasis on the elucidation of protein-protein interaction to which the multitude functions of proteins in association with individual components of proteome and the formation of multimeric complexes (Và ¶lkel et al., 2010). Frequently utilized approaches for interaction proteomics are like mass spectrometry (MS), affinity captured combined with mass spectrometry and yeast 2-hybrid techniques. Và ¶lkel et al. (2010) mentioned that characterize protein complexes from bacteria, yeast, mammalian cells and some multicellular organisms can be done by using tandem affinity purification-mass spectrometry (TAP-MS). TAP is functioned based on the dual purification of protein assemblies by sequential utilization of two affinity tags spaced by a TEV (tobacco etch virus) protease cleavage site (Và ¶lkel et al., 2010). TEV is a sequence-specific protease that cleaves a recognition site of seven-amino-acid (Glu-X-X-Tyr-X-Gln/Ser) which is rarely found in mammalian proteins (Berggà ¥rd et al., 2007; Và ¶lkel et al., 2010). This epitope-tagging purification strategy further improves the sample purification prior to protein identification by MS. In the first purification step, the TAP-tag protein is bound to specific column like immobilized Ig (Berggà ¥rd et al., 2007; Và ¶lkel et al., 2010). Retrieval of TAP-tag protein is done by adding TEV-proteinase. The protein complex is then immobilized by CBP (calmodium-binding peptide) of TAP tag to a second column, the calmodulin-coated beads in the second affinity step. This calcium-dependent CBP-calmodium interaction enables the elution of final protein complex for MS protein identification by means of calcium chelation (Và ¶lkel et al., 2010). The TAP purification of protein complex is independent of the availability of specific antibodies. It is used to accomplish large-scale protein interaction mapping of lower organisms and decode the smaller interactomes and signalling pathway in mammals (Và ¶lkel et al., 2010). However, this technique may not be able to identify low stoichiometric complexes, transient interactions or under-represented interactions occurred specifically in some physiological states of cells growing exponentially (Và ¶lkel et al., 2010). iv. Functional proteomics The objectives of functional proteomics are to characterize the biological function of unknown proteins, multiprotein complexes and descript the cellular mechanisms as well as signalling pathway at molecular level (Monti et al., 2005). Henning and Ilag (2003) stated that the protein functions assessment could be done based on the individual cell types and interaction of protein partners. Functional proteomics implement the concept that functional inactivation within the physiological environment of a targeted protein can be used to determine its function (Henning Ilag, 2003). Tools that are typically employed in functional proteomics include 2D-gel electrophoresis, MS, MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight) MS and affinity-based procedure. The affinity-based procedure is worked on the idea that a suitable tag of the expressed target protein can be used as a bait to fish out its partners from a cellular extract (Monti et al., 2005). Brookes et al. (2002) utilized a high-throughput two-dimensional blue-native electrophoresis in the study of functional proteomics for mitochondria and signalling pathway. As mitochondrial membrane proteins exhibit hydrophobic properties, precipitation is occurred in standard 2D gels during the first dimension isoelectric focusing. Thus, the 2D blue-native gel electrophoresis is used resolve this problem. The first dimension of 2D blue native gel electrophoresis involved the solubilization the membrane protein complexes into its native form. This is followed by the second dimension utilizing the sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-page) with its gel staining performed by employing a mixture of Coomassie blue G-250 and R-250. SDS-page is worked on denaturing the protein complexes and enables them to resolve into their component subunits (Brookes et al., 2002). A partial mitochondrial proteome map was then assembled by using MALDI-TOF MS coupled with tryptic peptide fingerprinting. This 2D blue native gel electrophoresis is found suitable for proteomic analysis of mitochondria proteins in which it could separate large amount of mitochondria proteins and large proportion of respiratory chain complexes as presented as the spots on the gel can be readily identified according to their position (Brookes et al., 2002). The functional associations between different respiratory complexes in mitochondria like cytochrome C, respiratory complexes III and IV can be interpreted from the gels. From this study, Brookes et al. (2002) suggested that the respiratory complexes are able to assemble into sub-complexes with limited functionality regardless of the presence of mtDNA encoded subunits.

Issues That Impact Individuals On The Autistic Spectrum

Issues That Impact Individuals On The Autistic Spectrum The purpose of this essay is to discuss the issues that impact on individuals on the autistic spectrum with regards to assessment, intervention, support and inclusion. Autism Spectrum disorder is a complex developmental disability which affects language and communication, social interaction, and flexibility of thought and behaviour. These areas, known as the triad of impairments (Wing Gould, 1979), vary significantly between individuals and children and young people with a range of intellectual abilities can be affected. There may also be accompanying sensory issues, for example to touch, smell, noise, taste or visual stimuli. Although there are wide ranging differences, individuals on the spectrum all have some level of difficulty in social interaction, social communication and imagination. Although the prevalence of ASC is hard to establish, it was recently estimated that it affects approximately 60 in every 10,000 children (Chakrabarti Fombonne, 2005). The additional support needs of children and young people with ASC varies widely. It is possible for some individuals to achieve very well and with limited additional support can access the full curriculum. Others may require specific interventions and strategies to help them learn and develop. Early identification and assessment of a childs additional support needs in relation to ASD is important so that the planning of educational provision and parental support can be facilitated. Assessment is crucial to meeting the needs of any child and for children on the spectrum it is even more important as educational targets should be based on an accurate assessment profile. There is no standard educational assessment or approach as any strategies put in place should consider a childs individual learning style and impact of their autism as well as environmental factors, otherwise the outcome could be inadequate or even detrimental. situation Individual assessment of children with ASD should be based on careful observation and identification of areas which require further investigation. Discussion with parents is vital, as their perspectives and difficulties at home may differ considerably from that of adults in the education setting. Other professionals may be involved to augment the information gathered as collaboration is necessary for the process to develop. The analysis of this information can then be compiled to form a holistic profile. The staged intervention process to identification, assessment and review, is embedded in sound educational practice. Staff plan strategies based on assessment, apply them and review the results in terms of progress made by the child or young person. A child in my care, John, was noted at approximately 2 years of age to be non-verbal. His play was solitary and repetitive. A stage 1 Support Plan was put in place to encourage him to develop sharing, turn-taking and simple co-operative play. He was encouraged to use early communication skills, such as pointing, gesturing and any attempts at spoken language. Following further concerns regarding his lack of communication skills he was referred to a Speech Therapist and he and his mother attended Learning to Talk programme. 2 A Stage 2 Support Plan was put in place as John would only allow one adult to share his space, he would move to different areas of the nursery but resisted attempts of interaction from other adults or children in the room and his play remained solitary and restricted to his favourite toys. Using play based intervention similar to the DIR/Floortime Model (ICDL 2000), and using his interest in cars, staff encouraged John to spend a few minutes at free play sharing his toys. Eye contact was established and he pointed in order to draw attention . Advice was sought from Short Term Advice and Response Team (START), due to ongoing concerns with speech and language and social interaction. They advised putting a photo timetable in place to help John manage and predict his day. A Stage 3 Support Plan was set up and John was referred to the Pre-school Assessment Team (PRE SCAT) for input from Educational Psychology and a Preschool Language and Communication Resource. John attended this resource 3 days per week as well as nursery 2 days per week with input from an Educational Psychologist. He was then referred to the Autism team for assessment. His first spoken words appeared at 4  ½ years. John deferred entry to school for one year. His transition to school was very intensive, visiting regularly to spend time with his class teacher, support staff and to build awareness of his surroundings. John has made significant progress but continues to find changes to his routine difficult to cope with as well as an inability to initiate and sustain interaction with peers. He now attends mainstream school 2 days per week and special school 3 days per week as well as After School Care in my establishment. This outcome would have been unlikely without the support and successful collaboration of staff, other agencies and professionals. 3 The current legislative framework of The Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 requires schools to meet the needs of all children by helping parents, carers and pupils with ASD understand their strengths and challenges and put strategies in place to support their learning. All children have an equal right to access a broad and balanced curriculum with supports adapted to their needs based on continued assessment, intervention and review. Interventions should have a proven track record of success and allow ongoing evaluation in order to support the continued development of the child or young person. In research conducted by Hunt, Soto, Maier, Doering (2003), a Unified Plans of Support (UPS) team was studied. Children who had a UPS team meeting once a month to assess and re-evaluate existing plans increased in measured test scores. For a child or young person with ASD, the social curriculum is just as important as the academic curriculum. Assessment should consider social and communication skills e.g. social interaction, language and communication, self awareness, independence, play and imagination and emotional understanding. The assessment process should identify key areas for setting educational and future targets. These targets should not be solely academically based. In order to meet the needs of an individual with ASD, there needs to be a balance between purposeful self help and life skills and academic achievement.. 4 The National Autism Plan for Children (NAS, 2003) encourages multi-disciplinary assessment and proposes that family contribution including the childs developmental history and environment and observations from other settings are included. Multi-agency involvement in the assessment process is recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, as it may identify different aspects of ASD and aid accurate diagnosis.'(Assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders, SIGN 2007). Although diagnosis of an ASD is ultimately the responsibility of health professionals it is not made in isolation and information should be obtained from a wider multi-agency team including parents/carers, speech and language therapists, teachers and educational psychologists. The Psychological Service can contribute to the Getting it Right for Every Child initiative, which focuses on the needs of the child and aims to streamline processes in order to deliver appropriate services thereby helping the child or young person fulfil their full potential. Other appropriate agencies e.g. health and social work services offer advice on and assist in particular and future interventions and strategies. (Educational Psychology Assessment in Scotland, 2005). Input from a Speech Language therapist is usually necessary in order to support children and young people with difficulties in communication skills as well as issues involving eating and drinking. An occupational therapist can assist with c o-ordination and movement difficulties and self-help skill such as washing, dressing and toileting. 5 Willing participation (Henneman E.A., Lee J.L. Cohen J.I. 1995) and a high level of motivation (Molyneux 2001) are central to effective interprofessional collaboration. This involves developing, planning, monitoring and evaluating mutually agreed targets and combining the knowledge and expertise of professionals (Cook G., Gerrish K. Clarke C. 2001) to assist joint decision making based on shared professional opinions (Russell and Hymans 1999, Stapleton 1998). Unless individual practitioners are aware of the role, performance and professional boundaries of others they may not be able to make an effective contribution to any planned strategies. (Bliss J., Cowley S. While A. 2000). Following assessment, an individualised educational programme (IEP) should be developed. Most children will need specific targets and the assessment process will have identified areas of difficulty for the pupil. These can then be prioritised and tackled by setting realistic, specific targets. The IEP should be reviewed regularly and progress against previous targets monitored. There are some children whose additional support needs include one or more complex factors which are likely to continue for more than one year. If they require significant support to be provided by an education authority and one or more appropriate agencies, a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) which is a legal document, is compiled. The CSP focuses on supporting the child to benefit from set educational objectives and assists in the co-ordination of services such as education, health and social work. It should be monitored and reviewed regularly, at least every 12 months. In future, the Scottish Government wants each child to have just one plan covering all their support needs, provided by health, education and social work , in line with Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC ). 6 The physical environment can be difficult to cope with for children with ASD mainly due to sensory difficulties and problems with central coherence. ( Happà ©, F., Frith, U. 2006). It is important for children with a communication impairment to ensure that realistic adjustments are made to limit as many obstacles to learning as possible, for almost any other special need, the classroom only becomes disabling when a demand to perform a given task is made. For the child with autism, disability begins at the door. Hanbury (2007). The environment should be as tidy and free of clutter as possible to reduce the level of anxiety and confusion. Structure and consistancy can reduce stress and in some cases challenging behaviour. Difficult or challenging behaviour is not a part of an autistic spectrum disorder, but it is a common reaction of pupils with these disorders, faced with a confusing world and with limited abilities to communicate their frustrations or control other people. (Jordan Jones 1998). Individual class or group charts may be required as most children on the autistic spectrum respond well to visual timetables. A planned programme taking account of the needs of the childs sensory and processing difficulties should be undertaken as stressful situations can create challenging behaviour (Waterhouse 2000). Speech and language programmes that have been correctly prepared can help improve a childs comprehension and increase their vocabulary which in turn will enhance their social communication skills and correct problems with intonation or articulation (Howlin 1998). The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), proposes that children with ASD should be educated in as open and inclusive an environment as possible. Although this legislation is necessary and does protect a childs rights to the best education possible, it can create difficulties for teachers. 7 Classroom sizes have been reduced and employment of teachers has been cut. Inclusion laws require teachers to educate children at many different developmental stages. Children with ASD require a variety of teaching strategies in order to meet their individual needs. According to Cumine, Leach Stevenson (1998), many teachers feel they have not received training to instruct children with these kinds of learning disabilities. Strosnider, Lyon, Gartland (1997) state that teachers feel under pressure in carrying out educational plans due to lack of time to collaborate with other professionals and the shortage of special education teachers. Major gaps in training have been recognised at every level and across all sectors and services. It was estimated that half (54%) of teachers who work in this field have little (34%) or no (20%) ASD training. Obstacles cited are release of staff, lack of suitable training and funding (Scottish Government Publication 2009). There are several educational theories associated with ASD. Dr. Bryna Siegels (1996) idea of reinforcement, is that the teacher takes the time to determine a childs main interest. She can then request and reinforce the required behaviour using the object of interest as an incentive. Another teaching technique is applied behaviour analysis and discrete trial training (ABA/DTT). Siegel (2003) describes ABA/DTT as a science that studies how principles of behavioural conditioning can be applied to learning. Siegel suggests that learning can be broken down into small steps, which can be built on each other, and this ultimately will lead to the overall concept. ABA/DTT is highly recommended for children with autism. Shores (2002) research explains the difficulties ASD children have with sensory perception and how they can be helped by using ABA/DTT. It is challenging for a child with ASD to make sense of the different experiences occurring throughout the school day and by applying ABA/DTT this allows the child to focus on smaller quantities of information giving them the opportunity to complete an assignment rather than becoming overwhelmed. 8 The relationship between curriculum and social education can also cause confusion. If a child is placed in a group for project work it is possible he would be so overcome by the social aspect that he would find it extremely difficult to focus on the curriculum aspect. Strosnider, R., Lyon, C., Gartland, D. ,(1997) recognize this overlap as academic, physical and interpersonal skills are all areas of difficulty for the ASD child. Strosnider, et al., (1997) compiled The Academic, Physical and Interpersonal Inclusion Plan (API Inclusion Plan). This plan helps teachers to use brainstorming strategies for each of these areas and is particularly useful if there is no availability of a special needs teacher to collaborate with. Kluth (2003) suggests that the learning environment is itself a strategy. In constructing the best environment Kluth (2003) suggests an aspect that needs to be considered is that of sounds. He uses the familiar example of nails on a chalk board sending a chill down the spine Kluth (2003) states that to a child with ASD every day sounds can have a similar effect. Kluth (2003) promotes the importance of a teacher assessing noise levels and putting strategies in place to exclude excessive noise such as allowing the child to listen to soft music with headsets during class times or using earplugs. Children should be prepared ahead if there are to be changes in their routines, to avoid excessive anxiety. Ozonoff, et al., (2002), elaborate on the suggestion of visual signs for the ASD child. Their research claims that visual instructions and schedules help the child to feel more secure and less stressed so the mind can direct its attention to learning. All of these stress factors must be taken into consideration when assessing which strategies and interventions would be beneficial to the child or young person with ASD. According to Williams (2001), reducing stress and worry, ensuring the environment is predictable and minimizing transitions is crucial to delivering an effective education for the child with ASD. 9 Having considered the environment, other strategies require to be put into place. An approach to education widely used is the Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children program. It is referred to as TEACCH. Ozonoff, Dawson, McPartland (2002) describe this method as a way to build upon the ASD childs memory strengths as many children have the ability to remember large quantities of information on subjects they are interested in. Cumine et al., (1998) indicate that TEACCH has 4 main elements. These include modifying the physical environment, setting visual schedules for the daily activities, verbal explanation of the expectations of type and length of work and verbal and visual presentation of instructions. Strategies used are designed to address the difficulties faced by children with ASD, and be adapted to their needs. TEACCH methodology is embedded in behaviour therapy on the basis that there are underlying reasons, such as lack of understand ing of what is expected of the child or what will happen to them next or sensory under or overstimulation, for their challenging behaviour. By addressing these communication difficulties, the child will be able to express his needs and feelings by other means. In line with Dr Bryna Siegel (1996) Shevitz, Weinfeld, Jeweler, Barnes-Robinson (2003) suggest a program that achieves the concept of maximizing childrens strengths as well as increasing self esteem by using their preoccupation with a favourite item or topic of interest. Social behaviours are necessary for achieving good educational standards as well as successful playground interaction. Myles and Simpson (2001) have entitled this aspect of education The Hidden Curriculum. This includes the basic how tos of living, which are not apparent to children with ASD. Knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate conversation may be foreign to an ASD child. 10 Teachers should be prepared to educate themselves on effective strategies in order to support children with ASD in collaboration with other professionals, support staff and the wider community and agree on appropriate interventions.. Inclusive classrooms give children the opportunity to have their intellectual ability challenged and fostered and it should be the responsibility of all teachers to do whatever is necessary to help these children to achieve success. Inclusion is more than a set of strategies or practices, it is an educational orientation that embraces differences and values the uniqueness that each learner brings to the classroom. (Kluth, 2003. p. 23-24). In conclusion, the increasing focus on early identification and effective intervention is a continual challenge but every child needs to be assessed, have a plan established addressing areas of weakness, and most importantly have a teacher who believes in him and has the desire to learn, implement new strategies and work effectively in collaboration with other professionals and agencies for successful inclusion. This in turn will hopefully give the child with ASD the outcome he needs and deserves. 12 References Anderson, W., Chitwood, S., Hayden, D. (1997). Negotiating the Special Education Maze. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House, Inc. Bliss J., Cowley S. While A. (2000) Interprofessional working in palliative care in the community:a review of the literature. Journal of Interprofessional Care 14: 281-90. Chakrabarti, S. Fombonne, E. (2005), Pervasive Developmental Disorders in pre-school children: Confirmation of high prevalence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(6), 1133-1141 Cook G., Gerrish K. Clarke C. (2001) Decision-making in teams: issues arising from two UK evaluations. Journal of Interprofessional Care 15: 141-51. Cumine, V., Leach, J., Stevenson, G. (1998). Asperger Syndrome A Practical Guide For Teachers. London, England: David Fulton Publishers. Hanbury, M. (2007) Positive Behaviour Strategies to Support Children and Young People with Autism. London: Sage. Happà ©, F., Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, pp. 5-25. Henneman E.A., Lee J.L. Cohen J.I. (1995) Collaboration: a concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing 21: 103-9. Howlin P. (1998) Children with Autism and Autistic Spectrum Disorders. A Guide for Practitioners and Carers. Chichester: J. Wiley and Sons. Jordan, R. Jones, G. (1999) Meeting the Needs of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. London: David Fulton. Kluth, P. (2003). Youre Going To Love This Kid! Teaching Students with Autism in The Inclusive Classroom. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brooks Publishing Co. Molyneux J. (2001) Interprofessional teamworking: what makes teams work well? Journal ofInterprofessional Care 15: 29-35. Myles, B., Simpson, R. (2001). Understanding the Hidden Curriculum: An Essential Social Skill for Children and Youth with Asperger Syndrome. Intervention In School Clinic, 36 (5), 279-291. Ozonoff, S. PhD., Dawson, G. PhD., McPartland, J. (2002). A Parents Guide to Asperger Syndrome High-Functioning Autism. New York, NY: The Guilford Press. Russell K.M. and Hymans D. (1999) Interprofessional education for undergraduate students. Public Health Nursing 16: 254-62. 13 Shevitz, B., Weinfeld, R., Jeweler, S., Barnes-Robinson, L. (2003). Mentoring Empowers Gifted/Learning Disabled Students to Soar! Roeper Review, 26 (1), 37-48. Shore, S. (2002). Understanding the Autism Spectrum-What Teachers Need To Know. Intervention in School Clinic, 36 (5), 293-305. Siegel, B. (1996). The World of the Autistic Child. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Siegel, B. (2003). Helping Children with Autism Learn. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Stapleton S.R. (1998) Team-building: making collaborative practice work. Journal of Nurse-Midwifery 43: 12-8. Strosnider, R., Lyon, C., Gartland, D. (1997). Including Students with Disabilities into the Regular Classroom. Education, 117 (4), 611-622. Waterhouse S. (2000) A Positive Approach to Autism. London: Jessica Kingsley. Williams, K. (2001). Understanding the Student with Asperger Syndrome: Guidelines for Teachers. Intervention in School Clinic 36 (5), 287-298 Wing, L. Gould, J. (1979) Severe impairments of social interaction and associated abnormalities in children: Epidemiology and classification, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9 11-29

Stocks Essay -- Business, Investment, Portfolio Information

In this study, we would measure an investor’s experience as closely as possible. Therefore, in a portfolio formation, we assume an investor who follows reported insiders trading information and at the end of each month, he forms his portfolio by including all stocks that have been traded by insiders in the same month. After that he gives equal weights to each stock in his portfolio. He keeps each stock in his portfolio for X months following insiders’ trades. Furthermore, he rebalances his portfolio every month to drop all stocks that have completed X months in the portfolio and add all stocks that have been just executed. For example, if X equals to three, the portfolio of January 2008 includes all stocks with insiders’ trades in November 2007, December 2007 or January 2008. There is higher change for multiple observations on the same firm in the portfolio that occur within X months of the initial observation, for example, an insider buys stocks of firm B in January 1, 2007 and another insider buys stock of firm B in March 1, 2007. Hence, in the March 2007 portfolio, firm B will have double weight in the portfolio compared to other firms. To overcome this problem, we would consider a number of firms in a portfolio not a number of trades. By following a number of firms in the portfolio, we would provide equal weights to each company, not each trade. The measurement of performance of the portfolio A central empirical issue to measure the performance of any portfolio condition on any event is to control all other factors that may produce excess returns except a particular event. Therefore, we require a model that seems to capture much of the cross-sectional variance in average stock returns. (Fama and French, 1998). We... ...ion model would be ã€â€"IAbã€â€"_bt-ã€â€"TAã€â€"_bt=ÃŽ ±_ +ÃŽ ²(R_(m,t)-R_(f,t) )+ÃŽ ¨Ã£â‚¬â€"SMBã€â€"_t+ã€â€"ÃŽ ³HMLã€â€"_t+ÃŽ »Ã£â‚¬â€"MOMã€â€"_t+ ÃŽ µ_t (7) In similar way, to test the extent to which insiders’ sell of intangible assets companies earn less profit than those in tangible assets, we would follow equation (8). In the equation (8), the dependent variable is the difference between the calendar –time portfolio return of tangible assets and intangible assets(ã€â€"TAã€â€"_s-ã€â€"IAã€â€"_s). For example, for Jun 2007 month portfolio, ã€â€"IAã€â€"_s, is equal weighted average return for all intangible assets companies whose insiders were net buyers between January 2007 and Jun 2007 , over ã€â€"TAã€â€"_s is equal weighted average return for all tangible assets companies whose insiders were net sellers between January 2007 and Jun 2007. The regression model would be ã€â€"IAã€â€"_st-ã€â€"TAã€â€"_st=ÃŽ ±_ +ÃŽ ²(R_(m,t)-R_ft )+ÃŽ ¨Ã£â‚¬â€"SMBã€â€"_t+ã€â€"ÃŽ ³HMLã€â€"_t+ÃŽ »Ã£â‚¬â€"MOMã€â€"_t+ ÃŽ µ_t (8)