Body Language Cultural Or Universal Essays -

Body Language: Cultural Or Universal? Body language and various other nonverbal cues have long been recognized as being of great importance to the facilitation of communication. There has been a long running debate as to whether body language signals and their meanings are culturally determined or whether such cues are innate and thus universal. The nature versus nurture dichotomy inherent in this debate is false; one does not preclude the others influence. Rather researchers should seek to address the question how much of nonverbal communication is innate and how much is culturally defined? Are there any true universal nonverbal cues or just universal tendencies modified to suit cultural ideals and constraints? It is my proposal that of all forms of nonverbal communication the most universal is the communication of emotions through facial expression. Other channels of nonverbal communication are also of great importance in many cultures. However which channels are emphasized, what cues are considered acceptable and the symbolic meaning of the cues may vary from culture to culture. Ekman and Friesen (1969; and discussed in Ekman and Keltner, 1997) undertook an important cross-cultural study to determine how easily and accurately people from various literate Western and non-Western cultures could identify the appropriate emotion term to match photographs they were shown. The photographs were of Caucasian faces posed in certain facial expressions. The terms the subjects were given to choose from were happiness, surprise, disgust, contempt, anger, fear and sadness. The result was consistent evidence of agreement across all cultures examined. In order to rule out the possibility that exposure to mass-media had taught the subjects to recognize Caucasian facial expressions Ekman and Friesen undertook a similar study among a visually isolated culture in New Guinea (Ekman, 1972). A different methodology was used; people were shown the photographs of posed Caucasian facial expressions and were asked to make up a story about the person and the moments leading up to that image. From these stories Ekman and Friesen concluded that these subjects were able to identify the emotions accurately. The one exception was that there seemed to be some confusion between surprise and fear expressions. Similar research was undertaken by Heider and Rosch (reported in Ekman, 1972) with the intent of disproving Ekman and Friesen. However, the data gathered also supported Ekman and Friesens conclusions. A similar experiment (Argyle, 1975) compared the perception of the emotions of English, Italian and Japanese performers by subjects from these three countries. The results (reported in Argyle, 1975) were as follows: Both the English and Italian subjects could identify their own and each others emotions but had difficulty with the Japanese. The Japanese subjects were able to identify the emotions of the English and Italians better than those groups had been able to judge the Japanese. However the Japanese subjects had difficulty determining Japanese facial expressions. This would seem to indicate that the Japanese face does not express emotion in the same manner as those of other cultures. However, another experiment (Ekman and Keltner, 1997) demonstrated different results. American and Japanese subjects were observed while watching films designed to evoke fear and disgust. During part of this observation the subjects were videotaped while watching the film alone. It was presumed that during this time no social rules would restrict the subjects display of emotion. No difference existed between the American and the Japanese subjects in the display of emotion when alone. When watching the film with an authority figure (the researcher) present the Japanese were more likely than the Americans to hide negative emotions with a smile. Observation of children who were born deaf and blind show that they make the same emotional expressions (Ekman and Keltner, 1997). There is no way that these children could have learned this behaviour through sensory input. Similarly, a study involving sighted babies under six months of age has showed that they react with fear to negative faces (Segerstrale and Molnar, 1997). These infants were too young to have learned which faces had negative connotations. It would have to be an innate response. Although different cultures define when and where it is acceptable to display certain emotions (i.e. crying at a funeral may or may not be expected) and the stimulus that triggers a certain emotion may vary from culture to culture, the facial expression of emotions seems to be a universal. There may be an evolutionary advantage to this form of communication. When people are communicating they tend to mimic the faces one another make. It has been shown that making a face associated with an emotional

History and Heritage

History and Heritage The Importance of the Past Human beings inhabit a very unpredictable world. The human environment is a product of the interaction between millions of forces. In order to chart their course through an unpredictable world, human individuals and societies need some sort of guide to determine what possible consequence they take face, upon taking a certain step. The study of the past is therefore important because it is an important factor in determining present and future conduct (Lowenthal, 1998).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on History and Heritage specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another aspect of the past is its role in determining the self-image of a human individual or society. Societies cite the real or imagined beliefs and actions of their real or imagined ancestors as evidence that they are a brave, generous and just people, similarly stories about the history of rival societies are told to show them in a bad l ight as compared to one’s own society (Lowenthal, 1998). History is also a tool used to establish the validity of the current beliefs or ideas held by an individual, society or section of a society and the invalidity of the ideas and beliefs held by their ideological enemies (Lowenthal, 1998). The Reason for Disagreement in the Views and Interpretations of the Past Because the past is used as a tool to determine the present and future course of a society, it’s self image and the validity of its beliefs. It becomes a device in the hands of people who wish to chart a particular course for their society, present a particular self-image of the society and establish the validity of certain beliefs (Lowenthal, 1998). An example of this can be seen in the Enola Gay exhibit controversy at the Smithsonian Institution. The historians at the Smithsonian were came up with what they thought was an objective position on the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The exhibit depicted the horrible destruction caused by the bombing however the establishment view that the bombing of two Japanese cities was necessary in order to force the Japanese government to surrender unconditionally, was presented in the exhibit (Bird Sherwin, 1995). Other historians objected to the exhibit on the grounds that it adopted an essentially nationalist position justifying American atrocities, tried to minimize the depiction of horrible destruction and the immense loss of civilian life caused by the bombing and suppressed other facts which would reflect badly on the United States (Bird Sherwin, 1995). However, according to politicians espousing a hyper nationalistic and militaristic agenda, the exhibit was an exercise in anti-Americanism. These politicians were outraged that the museum would exhibit something that would show even the slightest criticism of the United States or the military forces of the United States. Such an exhibit might convince the population to oppose their politi cal agenda (Trescott, 1995).Advertising Looking for report on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The exhibit was also opposed by World War II veterans. They believed firmly that their side in the World War II had been purely good while their enemies were purely evil. They believed that any action undertaken by their side against the enemy was justified. The veterans also belonged to a generation in which it was not considered offensive to assert that the lives of American soldiers were worth more than those of Japanese civilians (Ringle, 1994). Suggestions that the United States may not have been purely a force of good and may have performed actions comparable to the barbarities committed by the German and Japanese enemies caused an explosive emotional reaction in the veterans. In contrast to the veterans and the nationalistic politicians, the historians belonged to an era in which intellectuals adopted distast e for American militarism following defeat in the Vietnam War. They also possessed a wider view of the world and enough knowledge of history to know that patriotism and nationalism are often rhetorical devices used disingenuously by rulers whose actions are often motivated purely by self-interest. Instead of believing, as the politicians and the veterans did, that the United States was a purely benevolent power, they recognized that the United States has often caused immense destruction in other countries (Ringle, 1994). The controversy over the Kennewick Man was another example of an historical issue which caused passionate disagreement between ideologically opposed partisans. To the leader of the Umatillas tribe, the Kennewick Man was evidence that their tribe had always lived in the Washington area and that the scientific belief that they had crossed over to the Americas from Northern Asia was not true (Geranion, 1997). The Difference between ‘Heritage History’ and O bjective Studies of the Past In the past, history was primarily written for the purpose of inducing internal solidarity and enhancing the well being of a particular nation. The writing of histories was part of the nation-building efforts of states. Histories were a selection of facts and myths designed to give a positive image to a particular nation and to vilify its enemies. The history books written in earlier centuries were often commissioned by kings and emperors for the expressed purpose of glorifying their ancestors and providing ideological support for their rule. The purpose of history was to encourage an existing population and to secure its future. History was a socially constructed narrative that Lowenthal terms ‘Heritage History’ (Lowenthal, 1998). Gradually historians have tried to increase the objectivity of history and to distinguish it from ‘heritage history’. History and heritage differ in their purposes. The purpose of history is to explor e and explain the past, recognizing its complexities and unknown aspects (Lowenthal, 1998).Advertising We will write a custom report sample on History and Heritage specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The purpose of heritage on the other hand, is to simplify the past and to come up with an interpretation of the past that may be useful in the achievement of present purposes. According to Lowenthal, the public is only interested in heritage, if narrative espoused by ‘heritage history’ departs from the facts known through objective history; it only bothers some intellectuals (Lowenthal, 1998). History and heritage also differ in the methodology employed to come up with a narrative. History depends on the use of the scientific method and the use of objective criteria to judge historical sources. Objective methodologies employed by historians in order to judge sources may include textual criticism, fingerprint matching, DNA testi ng, and carbon dating etc. Heritage pre-selects those historical sources which can be used to establish a particular narrative, regardless of their authenticity, and dismisses all other sources. Source criticism and other objective methodologies may be employed in the composition of heritage history, but only for the purpose of abandoning inconvenient sources (Lowenthal, 1998). According to Lowenthal, heritage and history are separate but linked phenomenon. Historians attempt to be impartial however it may be impossible for a historical researcher to be utterly unbiased. Therefore, it is possible that historians may come up with a narrative that includes elements of heritage, despite having an intention to come up with an authentic and impartial history. References Bird, K., Sherwin, M. (1995, July 31). Enola Gay Exhibit: The Historians Letter To The Smithsonian. Retrieved from doug-long.com: doug-long.com/letter.htm Geranion, N. (1997, September 21). The Kennewick Man crisis Arche ologists and Indians clash over a 9,300-year-old skull that could rewrite New World history. The Toronto Star . Lowenthal, D. (1998). The Heritage Crusade and the Spoils of History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Advertising Looking for report on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ringle, K. (1994, September 26). At Ground Zero; 2 Views of History Collide Over Smithsonian A-Bomb Exhibit. The Washington Post , p. a.01. Trescott, J. (1995, May 19). Senator Warns Smithsonian on Controversies. The Washington Post , p. D.06.

HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

HRM - Essay Example Strategy and HR In the case of introducing UniCall, Unibank was headed towards the right direction strategically. New entrants under established brands with innovative service are already in the market bringing with them the convenience of banking. If Unibank will not introduce Unicall, it will eventually fade into obsolescence that will undermine the bank’s existence. In short, Unicall was a business imperative to keep the business relevant in the market. What the HR was lacking is preparation for change or Change Management when it restructured itself in introducing Unicall. Change management Change is inevitable especially in a business setting. Factors like the external and internal environment precipitates the need for change and the organization has to respond to remain viable and competitive as a business entity. According to Murthy in his book Change Management, change is â€Å"to make or become different, give or begin to have a different form, dissatisfaction with o ld and belief in the new† (2007: 7). There are two factors that bring about change, the external and internal environment. ... But implementing and managing change is not easy. In the case of Unicall just like in any other oganisation, people who are accustomed to their old ways are often hesitant to change. In fact, the biggest obstacle is change is often the internal factor that comprises 81 % of the time compared to the external factors that is only 19% of the time (Murthy, 2007: 19). The labour union and employees may have resented the closing of many small local branches but the biggest impact of this change was in the performance of Unicall employees which was beset by many problems due to the new work arrangement that the spin off has brought. Such, people are a major focus in implementing change management which Unibank should have prepared before fully introducing Unicall. People are the major focus of organizational change because â€Å"it is the people who will ultimately cause the change to be a success or a failure. The implications of change on individuals are important without which we can ne ver really hope to manage large scale change effectively† (Murthy, 2007: 23). Resourcing (HR planning; recruitment; selection and flexibility) Unibank did the right thing in HR planning when it attempted to redeploy existing employees when possible, but also needed to recruit new staff to work in the national call centre. It was also mindful of the relatively high unemployment rates in the West Midlands that UniBank decided to locate UniCall just outside Birmingham. Unibank was conscious enough to realize that employees will be dislocated with the closure of many small local branches that it attempted to redeploy them to avoid economic dislocation among its

Development News Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Development News - Essay Example However, in the arena of development news there exists a deep North-South schism. Hence, the concept of development news needs to be understood and defined in a historical context. Since years, it has been evinced by the editorial authorities governing the Western media that they do not have any model editorial policies and per se they do not issue any policy directives to their correspondents (Aggarwala 180). However, any type of media is eventually aimed at a particular reader pool, and the Western media being primarily consumed by the Western readers, it would not be wrong to believe that the Western scribe cover and shape a news story, even if it originates from the underdeveloped or developing world, keeping the Western readers in mind (Aggarwala 180). Hence, any discussion or attempt aimed at understanding the concept of development news must subscribe to the ambit of the incumbent North-South divide. Ideally speaking, development news is the news that tends to cover developmen t issues affiliated to macro or macro origins, which reports, assesses and examines the impact of varied development activities and programs with regards to domestic and national development objectives and needs, the parities that exist as to how a development program is envisaged and its pragmatic outcomes, and the variance between its net impact on human welfare and what a government claims to be its achievements (Cottle 107). Yet, going by the fact that in its conceptualization and treatment, the development news does not much differ from the regular news, hence, it is open to accruing different interpretations at local and international level (Cottle 107). As already said that development news in its treatment and conceptualization does not differ much from the mainstream news, hence as is practically evident from the mainstream news, the development news can certainly evince a marked ideological and political tilt, depending on the geo-political origins of the scribes and publi shing institutions covering a development news story. Also, a natural premise flowing out from such credentials of the concept of development news is that it is always subject to a normatively influenced interpretation and criticism (Cottle 108). Generally speaking, in the past, and particularly in the contemporary age open to new media, there exist wide imbalances between the flows of information in varied parts of the world. So development news by its very nature will always stand to be a controversial concept in journalism, going by the shifting academic and political stances pertaining to the notions of ‘development’ (Cottle 108). Hence, the local and global biases that the journalists associated with the coverage of mainstream new, could also infiltrate and seep in into the coverage of development news. Once this fact is accepted that the mainstream scribes and the journalists that cover the development news are almost open to very similar biases, opinions, temptat ions and tilts, it will be apt to agree that there exist varied types of development news journalism. In journalistic context, development news pertains to investigative reporting with its focus on the international and national projects and programs initiated in the developing nations and their influence on the quality of life and socio-economic well being of the masses (Aggarwala 181). Hence, like mainstream journalism, development journalism is subject to very similar ethical and professional ideals and constraints. Development journalists like mainstream journalists need to be unbiased, factual and rational in the coverage of development news. However, this pertains to an ideal scenario. In a practical context, quite like mainstream journalism, many development journ

Interest groups and Political parties Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Interest groups and Political parties - Essay Example Common good can be referred to as the goodness of an event or a phenomenon that is shared by all communities of a given society. Thus, keeping in view the roles played by interest groups and political parties, it can be stated that both the groups are conducive in working towards common good of a particular society and those elements which make up that society. However, this statement holds certain pre conditions, i.e. the interest groups are not self centered and political parties do not strive for gaining power only over all others. In other words, it is the intent behind the formation of these groups which comes into play and is considered extremely important. Motives, actions and desires yield goodness as long as the driving force behind them remains noble. Same is the case with interest groups and political parties. The reason of stating that the two set of groups are conducive in attaining or working towards the common good is that these groups provide a platform to the general public around through which people can raise their voices, share their opinions, take part in decision making process, highlight their concerns and problems and reach such decisions which are acceptable and beneficial for all. In this regard, work of Rousseau holds a special place. According to him, people should be "sovereign" and the government should only be there to implement laws. He believed that laws shall be enacted by direct democracy, which followed that each person should directly be involved in law making through a platform.

An Online Utility Bill Payment System

An Online Utility Bill Payment System Abstract With the growing number of people who are been increasing pressured for time, online utility bill payment has become a graceful solution for the consumers with busy life styles. Through online payment of utility bills, consumers are able to save time, hassle and therefore make their lives much easier. Although online utility bill payment has become one of the fastest growing trends in the world particularly in the US, in the Sri Lanka however, the progress of households adopting to online utility bill payments is rather slothful. Thus, the primary objective of this study is to analyse the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt an utility bill payment system in Sri Lanka alongside with the secondary objectives of identifying the awareness level on online bill payments systems, examining the most preferred utility bill payment options and models, and the degree of acceptance of online utility bill payment systems by the consumers and finally to analyse the future prospect with regards to online utility bill payments. Hence a survey was conducted among 50 physicians from four major hospitals in the Colombo city. According to the result obtained from this research, it was revealed that although in general all the respondents were somewhat aware about online utility bill payment systems, the younger respondents acquired a better knowledge about online utility bill payments than respondents from older age categories. Furthermore, all the respondents positively reacted and stated that it is important for all the utility companies to mark their online presence thus allow customers to conduct online transactions as it would be more convenience. Moreover, factors categorised under perceived risks and perceived benefits were found to have a considerable force on the consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. Other factors such as services and features offered by companies, individuals computer knowledge and skill, and usage of credit and debit cards were also identified and are di scussed in this research. Key Words: Online utility bill Payment system; Credit card usage; e-commerce; adoption; User intention. Chapter 1 Introduction Today the improvement of e-commerce has led to the derivation of various internet based activities. For e.g. companies are able to conduct their business activities at all hours, reaching customers in all parts of the world thus expand their customer base without geographically being limited. Whereas in customers perspective, e-commerce provides a platform on which they can easily carry out the necessary transactions at their convenience. Hence even the companies which provide utility services are boldly revolutionizing their industry thus adopting internet for e-commerce purposes (Buccigross, 2000). This allows customers to make their utility bill payments directly through utility companies websites or through a third party website such as banks, financial institutions and aggregators. Online utility bill payment is when the customer makes his or her payment transactions online for the utility services obtained from a particular company. By paying utility bills via online, consumers have the benefits of avoiding crowds, queuing, parking problems, and cutting their travelling costs and time (Ramayah et al, 2005). Hence consumers could simply get their utility bills paid with just a click of their mouse. In Sri Lanka, the payment system of utility bills is rather different to the systems established in other countries. The utility bills usually arrive by post thus the consumers must visit the payment office in order to settle the payments. As mentioned earlier, this process is usually accompanied by queuing, parking problems, and limited payment options. For example, the CEB NWS DB only accepts payments made by cash or cheques at their payment counters. These issues can be considered as a hassle for people whose jobs are of hectic and stressful nature. Many utility companies in Sri Lanka have identified this problem thus have implemented various types of payment systems in order to provide their consumers with a wider choice when it comes to their payments (refer appendix A). Online utility bill payment is one of the elite choices of payment systems that have been implemented in the contemporary world. Problem Statement What are the factors shaping and influencing an individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system? Problem Justification There is a lack of understanding as to what is really happening in the local context with regards to the adoption of new technological services related to the internet. Hence there are hardly any researches that have been carried out in order to understand the consumers view point with regards to online utility bill payment systems that have been implemented. Therefore the knowledge about consumers behaviour related to this area of study is vital for utility companies and other vendors operating in similar businesses in order to estimate the potential market available hence utilize the internet as a tool of opportunity for those companies to grow and expand their market. The study will also be essential for government utility companies (e.g. CEB) since they have not yet implemented the service of allowing the customers to pay their utility bills directly through the companies websites. The information originated from this research will enable both the government and private utility companies to identify the significance of the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt online utility bill payment systems thus develop strategies to further enhance their business activities. Objectives of the Study To determine awareness level about online utility bill payment systems by consumers. To analyse the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. To find out the most accepted online utility bill payment options and the preferred bill payment modes by consumers. To analyse the degree of acceptance of an online utility bill payment system by consumers. To examine the impending future prospect of online utility bill payment systems in Sri Lanka. Significance of the Study This study will mainly facilitate the utility companies and other vendors in Sri Lanka to identify the factors influencing the consumers intention to adopt online utility bill payment systems, in this case physicians who are residing in Colombo, a highly skilled and a valued population in the country. Therefore by understanding such factors, companies will be able to eliminate the uncertainty levels and have a clear view about the potential market for online utility bill payment in Sri Lanka. This study will further help the utility companies develop enhanced strategies regarding the payment options that are being made available to their clients. Awareness about online utility bill payment will allow consumers to acclimatize to these new technologies thus exploit the advantages of the internet. The information and data that have been collected in this study will aid the future researchers conducting researches related to consumers intention to adopt online bill payment systems in general. Scope of the Study This study was carried out to empirically investigate the factors affecting the consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. However, the survey sample of the study consisted only of physicians working in four (4) private hospitals situated within the Colombo city limits. Furthermore, the physicians were from various backgrounds thus to achieve results that are more realistic and to better signify the people that pay utility bills, the sample have to be more diversified in terms of age and geographical location (He Mykytyn, 2007), preferably homeowners who are responsible for their respective household bill payments. Chapter 2 Literature Review Online Utility Bill Payment Online utility bill payment is when the consumer makes his/her payments for the utility service(s) obtained with the use of the internet. The types of utility services are illustrated in the table below. Today, the consumers trend in making utility bill payments is increasing particularly in the developed nations Brant (2008). In the Sri Lankan context however, although the country illustrates a steady growth in terms of internet usage especially from the users in the urban areas (Sathrasinghe, 2004), this has not been escorted by a similar growth in the number of consumers making online utility bill payments. In fact according to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (2008), the overall transactions made by consumers over the internet illustrated a declining trend. Online Utility Bill Payment Models Options There are various payment models and payment options available to the customers when it comes to paying online utility bills unlike in the traditional (or offline) method of bill payment where the customer is limited to pay by either in cash, cheque, or electronic payment at a given payment centre. There are two types of online utility bill payment models, namely direct model and indirect model. The following table describe further details on these two models. Indirect Model (Third Party) Consumers pay any biller through a third party website such as a bank or portal, or by using software that interacts with the payers bank (Flynn Bowes, 2005) Automatic Bill Settlement by American Express (American Express, 2010) HSBC Easy Bill Settlement for Utility Bills (Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) With the evolution of payment options from barter to commodity-based, to currency and coin, to card-based and, more recently, to electronic network-based systems (Mantel, 2000), modern consumers have a wider choice when it comes to paying their utility bills via online. The table 3 below illustrates various online payment options available for consumers. Table 3 Online Payment Options Online Payment Options Definition Examples (Sri Lanka) Virtual Credit cards A disposable payment card that can be used to make purchases or payments over the internet (Economy Watch, 2010). Sampath Web card (Sampath Bank, 2010) E-cheques An electronic representation of a paper cheque (Acosta, 2008). e-cheques by Union Bank (New Sri Lanka, 2009) Smart cheques by Standard charted (Standard Chartered Bank, 2008) E-Wallets A software that has been installed on the consumers desktop which automatically fills payment forms (Acosta, 2008). Sampath e-wallet (Sampath Bank, 2010) Credit Cards (VISA, MasterCard American Express) The money for purchases or payments is credited directly to the consumers bank account, allowing consumer to pay later. HSBC credit cards (Premier, Platinum, Gold, Classic) (Hong-Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) Debit Cards The money for purchases or payments is deducted directly from the consumers checking account. HSBC VISA Debit card (Hong-Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) Sampath Bank Debit card (Sampath Bank, 2010) Online bank accounts Allows users to manage their bill payments through online banking Personal banking by HSBC (Hong-Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, 2010) Payeasy by Sampath Bank (Sampath Bank, 2010) Combank Online by Commercial Bank (Commercial Bank, 2010) Literate Review on Dependent Variable Given the fact that online bill payment is one of the fastest growing consumer activities on the internet that has being accepted by the business world today (McCormick, 2005), a few published empirical studies have specifically addressed the underlying factors that could materially affect customers adoption of an online utility bill payment system (He Mykytyn, 2007). Cheung et al (2003) have stated that theories such as the TRA, the TPB and the TAM are the most dominant theories that are been used to test studies related to the online consumer behaviour. Hence out of the three theories, TAM is considered as a suitable theory to analyse the factors influencing the physicians intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system (Taylor and Todd, 1995 cited Karami, 2006). (Please refer Appendix B for further details on the theories). Literature Review on Independent Variables In order to address the problem in this study, the following independent variables were selected as suggested by many previous studies. Perceived Characteristics Perceived risk Previous findings on the impact of perceived risk on consumer behaviour have suggested that the consumers consider adopting online payment methods more risky than tradition offline methods (Palvou 2003 and Koufaris et al 2002 cited He Mykytyn, 2007). In the Sri Lankan context, the risk of online utility bill payment is relative moderate. This is complemented by the fact that there are many banking services providing secure methods for the online financial transactions. However, according to the central banks statistics (2008), the total volume of transactions decreased by 5.7%. This indicates that there is a tendency that Sri Lankan consumers are concerned about the perceived risk associated with online payments in terms of security, trust and privacy. Perceived benefits the intention of online utility bill payment can be explained by the two components of TAM; PU and PEOU. Hence according to these components, when physicians consider online utility bill payments is more useful in terms of time saving, convenience and service reliability, and it is easy to use, they should be more likely to pay their utility bills online. Previous findings by (He Mykytyn, 2007 and Ramayah et al, 2006) revealed that perceived benefits are the significant drivers of consumers intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. These findings were also consistent with previous studies on TAM (Chan Lu, 2004 cited Ramayah et al, 2006). Consumer Characteristics Consumer characteristics variables include gender, age, and nature of occupation, credit/debit card usage, attitude towards innovative payment methods, and individuals personal computer knowledge and skills. Gender Most of the previous researches on online bill payment, it is found that males are more willing to pay their bills through online than females. However, in a study by Masters (2006) it was found that the gender difference between males and females rate of internet usage among physicians are diminishing. In the Sri Lankan context, the computer literacy between males and females are 22% and 18.7% respectively (Department of Census Statistics, 2009). This indicates that the gender differences in how each perceives internet technology are blurring. Age Most studies indicates that the tendency of younger consumers intention of online bill payment is much higher than that of old consumers. This maybe mainly due to the familiarity of the internet based activities at an early stage. The circumstances in Sri Lanka are also similar; this may be mainly due to the high percentage of computer literacy in young people than older people (Department of Census Statistics, 2009). However, in the case of online utility bill payment, a study by Mantel (2000) showed that older people are more likely to pay utility bills via online than young people. General physicians/ Specialists Although most previous researches did not find a significant positive relationship between the user intention in online bill payment and education level, in study by Masters (2006) an interesting relationship between the nature of the work and internet usage was revealed. The study showed that there is a greater tendency for specialists to use the internet more than general physicians (Masters, 2006). Credit/Debit Cards Usage A study by Hayashi Klee (2003) stated that consumers who intent to use new technology have a more tendency in utilizing electronic payment methods than those who do not. Though the credit cards usage in Sri Lanka has indicated a declining trend since the recessionary months of 2008 the debit card usages have shown a considerable increase. Thus this could be assumed as a factor influencing the intention to pay utility bills via online. Attitude Attitude refers to the ones evaluation of consequences on performing a particular behaviour (Karami, 2006). Thus attitude has long been shown to influence behavioural intentions (Ajzen and Fishbein 1980 cited Pavlou and Fygenson, 2006). Computer Skills In most cases this stands as a key barrier for adoption of online transactions. Computer skills are mainly a persons ability to understand the set-up of online payments and the ability to use such online payment systems. Most of previous studies indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between individuals computer skills and intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. (Please refer appendix C for the summarised table on literature review). Chapter 3 Methodology Secondary Data Analysis Population Sample The population selected for this study comprised of registered physicians in Sri Lanka. In order to obtain the sample, multistage sampling method was used. As illustrated in the figure below, initially cluster sampling method was used to divide the population into sub categories based on geographical area and then on obtaining a list of physicians employed in private hospitals in Colombo city, stratified sampling method was used to further divide the sample into homogeneous groups based on nature of occupation, hence a simple random sample was drawn from the two combined categories. (Please refer appendix D for further details). Secondary Data Analysis The Future of Online Utility Bill Payment Systems Although the idea of online utility bill payment is quite unfamiliar to most Sri Lankan households, online utility bill payments is one of the popular method of paying utility bills, mostly in developed countries such as the US. Hence according to a survey by the NLCCDG in 2005, 75% of the US cities had already implemented a separate webs5%ite for their citizens in order to make utility bill payment (IT Facts, 2005). According to Forrester Research, it is estimated that some47 million US households will pay utility bills online at the end of year 2010, which is a 75% increase from 2004 (illustrated in the figure below). Furthermore, the survey reported that among the consumers who are below the age of 30, the interest in online utility bill payment will grow by 219% and 32% of increase among baby boomers (BCR Access, 2006). Although there are no direct surveys that has been carried out in the Sri Lankan context with regards to online utility bill payments, according to the internet world stats website, the internet users have increased significantly during the past few years hence the percentage of penetration have increased by approximately 3% in year 2010 compared to 1.8% increase in year 2009 (internet world stats, 2010). The figure below illustrates the trend in internet users in Sri Lanka (source: internet world stats, 2010). Although the adoption of new technologies by the Sri Lankans is comparatively sluggish when compared to other Asian countries in the region, the government of Sri Lanka has taken numerous steps in order to enhance the e-commerce base activities. Hence one of the most significant episodes in the authorized regulation of e-commerce in Sri Lanka was the endorsement of the Electronic Transactions Act in 2006. This act was implemented in order to assist the commercial and financial activities by removing barriers to electronic transactions (Kariyawasam, 2008). Consequently since then many companies providing various services, especially utility services, have implemented systems that allows consumers to conduct their transactions via online. Chapter 4 Data Analysis The primary data for this study were collected through a survey based field study which consisted of thirteen questions (please refer appendix E for the questionnaire). The survey was administered to the physicians working at four major private hospitals in Colombo, namely Lanka Hospitals, Oasis Hospital, Asiri Surgical Hospital and Nawaloka Hospital. Fifty (50) questionnaires were randomly distributed among the physicians employed at all four hospitals and the responses were collected two days after the initial distribution of the survey. In total, forty four (44 i.e. 88%) physicians responded. Total of 29 items were used in this empirical study, including customer characteristics, perceived risk, perceived benefits, and merchants website and service features. To calculate the internal consistency of these items, a reliability analysis was performed by computing Cronbachs Alpha for each item. Hence all items are within the range of 0.746 (illustrated in the figure below) which is within the commonly accepted range, i.e., ÃŽÂ ± à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¥ 0.69 (He Mykytyn, 2007). According to the findings about the awareness level on online utility bill payment systems in Sri Lanka, the results indicated that in general all the respondents were moderately aware. However, when categorized according to the age, those of who were over 46 years old were only slightly aware about online utility bill payment systems, and male respondents demonstrated more knowledge on online utility bill payment systems than female respondents. 1= Never, 2= Almost never, 3= Sometimes, 4= Almost every time, 5= Every timePreferred Bill Payment Options The respondents mostly preferred to use credit and/or debit cards for their online transactions. The debit card usage frequency was higher than the credit card usage for online utility bill payments, although in general a higher number of respondents acquired a credit card. The indirect bill payment method was the most preferred among the respondents, i.e. most consumers preferred to pay their utility bills (excluding the telephone bills) through a third party website such as a bank or portal, or by using software that interacts with the payers bank (Flynn Bowes, 2005). Despite of any age differences, the consumers attitude towards online utility bill payment systems were positive. Hence most respondents thought that it is important that all companies must implement online bill payment systems as opposed to offline payment methods. Regression Analysis A regression analysis was performed using the individuals intention (UI) as the dependent variable and perceived risk (PR), perceived benefits (PB), merchants website service and features (MWSF) and computer skill (CK) as the independent variables. The Equation for this model is as follows Individuals Intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system (UI) = ÃŽÂ ²0 + ÃŽÂ ²1Perceived Risk (PR) +ÃŽÂ ²2 Perceived Benefits (PB) + ÃŽÂ ²3 Merchants Website Service Features (MWSF) + ÃŽÂ ²4 Individuals Computer Skill (CK) i.e. UIn = ÃŽÂ ²0 + ÃŽÂ ²1PRn +ÃŽÂ ²2PBn + ÃŽÂ ²3 MWSFn + ÃŽÂ ²4CKn Where ÃŽÂ ²01234 = Regression coefficients n = 1, 2, 3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ 44 Table Regression Analysis Result Dependent Variable: Individuals Intention to Adopt an Online Utility Bill Payment Option Figure Framework on Factors Affecting the Individuals Intention to Adopt an Online Utility Bill Payment System .316 .418 -.281 .238 Individuals Intention to Adopt an Online Utility Bill Payment System Individuals Computer Skill Merchants Website Service Features Perceived Benefits Perceived Risks Therefore from the findings above, it is evident that perceived risks, perceived benefits and individuals computer skill variables indicate a positive relationship with the intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system variable. The merchants website service features variable, however, indicates a negative relationship, this explains that more than the services offered by certain merchants regarding online utility bill payments, respondents were more concerned about factors such as security, trust, privacy, time, and other beneficiaries when it comes to adopting an online utility bill payment system. Chapter 5 Conclusion Recommendation The main objective of this study was to empirically investigate the factors affecting the individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system in Sri Lanka. The primary investigation on the topic identified that there are several factors influencing the adoption of online utility bill payment systems by consumers in the country. Since the country is still in its infancy of adopting online payment methods as oppose to offline payment methods, the study was conducted among physicians, a highly qualified and professional set consumers who are more likely to be in touch with new technologies. Thus the findings of this study are from a survey that consisted of 44 physicians employed at four major private hospitals in the Colombo city. The results indicated that although in general all the respondents were reasonably aware about the online utility bill payment systems that were available for them, the younger who were below the age of 30 were extremely aware about online utility bill payment systems compared to the rest of age groups. Additionally it was also found that male respondents were more aware about online payments than female respondents. The general usage of credit/debit cards and online bank accounts for the payments of utility bills was found to be relatively less. This can be also related to the finding from the secondary research which analysed that the usage of credit and debit cards has declined in Sri Lanka due to various reasons such as the economic turmoil and high interest charges applied by subsequent banks which issue the credit/ debit cards. Thus, the use of online bank accounts for the settlement of online utility bill payments showed a higher rate over credit and debit card usages. Moreover, although most respondents stated that they preferred to pay their telephone bills directly from the consequent merchants website, for other payments such water and electricity, most respondents preferred to adopt payment systems that were implemented by third party vendors such as banks. Concerning the consumers attitude towards online utility bill payment systems, majority of the respondents stated that it is important for utility service companies to mark their presences on the internet thus implement online payment systems. Interestingly, apart from the younger age group below 30, respondents between the ages 41-45 also indicated a high positive attitude towards the importance of online utility bill payment systems. Hence the survey revealed that most respondents were concerned about the credit cards frauds, security levels, and privacy when it came to making online payments. Thus these factors which fell under the variable perceived risks indicated a positive relationship with the individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. Furthermore, it was found that respondents enthusiasm to make online utility bill payments also depended on perceived benefits, which included factors such as ease of use of the system, speed, avoidance of late payments and queues, and time. This also supported as positive with the individuals intention to adopt an online utility bill payment system. Moreover, individuals computer skill which was measured using the information based on the years of computer experience and internet experience which the respondents possessed supported positive (although weak) relationship with the adoption of an online utility bill payment system. Nevertheless, the impact of merchants website service and features were not considered as an important or influential factor by the respondents to adopt an online utility bill payment system. This may be due to the lack of design and service features that are made available to the customers by the existing utility companies. In conclusion, this investigation was carried out as an extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which was initially developed by Davis in 1989 (cited in Ramayah et al., 2005); with additional variables that were assumed to affect the individuals intention to adopt online utility bill payment systems, which is a branch of e-commerce associated with online consumer behaviour. Hence according to the findings in this investigation, it could be assumed that the youthful consumers who have received a higher level of education are more aware about online bill payment systems thus are more notably agreeable to adopt online bill payment systems as a convenience way of settling utility bills. It can also be assumed that the method of online utility bill payment is not being widely accepted in Sri Lanka due to the lack in consumers confidence on security of payments, privacy issues, and their trust on particular merchants. Therefore companies must take necessary actions required to improve to consumers confidence about online bill payments and further emphasis and educate the consumers on particular benefits that will be offered to them through the utilisation of online bill payment systems.

Melatonin :: Pharmacy Neurology Sleeping Papers

Melatonin: The Myths and Facts Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland. The pineal gland is about the size of a pea and is located in the center of the brain (http://www.milatonin.com/melfaq.htm). Melatonin is secreted at night or in the dark (http://www.ceri.com/melaton.htm). It is used to regulate the sleeping cycle. It is also found to correlate with a lot of other functions and problems in the body. Because of its many uses, melatonin is being manufactured by pharmaceutical companies as a dietary supplement. People are using it to treat everything from jet lag to cancer. There have been many studies done on the effects of melatonin. The bulk of the studies have been done on the effects of melatonin on sleep and on treating jet-lag. The findings show that melatonin is proven to be an effective sleep aid and also help alleviate jet lag. Melatonin is a substance that the public is taking without being knowledgeable about its benefits, side or dosage. Many companies manufacture melatonin. There are two kinds of melatonin available, synthetic or natural. It is recommended to take the synthetic time release formula. It is the closer to the molecular make-up of melatonin and is made with pharmaceutical grade ingredients. Natural melatonin may contain animal parts through which viruses and diseases can be carried (http://www.teleport.com/~jor/#1). What is being said about melatonin Melatonin and Sleep Melatonin is used most frequently for sleeping troubles and jet-lag. By differing the amount of exposure to lightness and darkness, there is a possibility of abrupting the sleep/wake cycle. It is believed this change results from varying levels of melatonin being produced. Taking melatonin is thought to induce sleep. It is found to work best when taken between twenty to forty minutes before bedtime. Low levels of melatonin seem to impede or disrupt sleep (http://www.readysorf.es/lifeplus/ingredients/p2.html). Without rising levels of melatonin in the evening, it is difficult to fall asleep (http://www.liberty.com/home/appaloosa/mel.htm). The peak of melatonin production appears to be at 2:00 a.m. Melatonin levels rise when the sun goes down and decrease after 2:00a.m. (http://www.ceri.com/melaton.htm). By taking melatonin tablets before bedtime, one can supplement their melatonin levels, making sleep come more easily and sleeping more consistently. Melatonin and Jet Lag Melatonin is also used to relieve jet-lag. Jet lag occurs after experiencing rapid, long distance travel through different time zones. Other behaviors that produce symptoms similar to jet lag are working all night shifts, staying up all night and working multiple shifts.

Choctaw Indians

The tribe of Choctaw Indians was originally located in the southeastern part of the Mississippi, southwestern Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia. This name for this tribe of Indians is attributed to various sources, some of these are the Spanish word chato which means flat because the Choctaw used to flatten the foreheads of their male infants and Haccha, a name of the Pearl River with which these people were associated . These people believe that they originated from â€Å"Ninah Waya†, which is a sacred hill located near Nozapter, Mississippi.The name â€Å"Ninah Waya† means â€Å"Productive Mountain† and is often referred to as â€Å"The Mother Mound†. The â€Å"emergence myth† is a part of Choctaw history. These Indians are supposed to have belonged to the Muskhogean linguistic family. Initially they existed as very large groups, but were significantly reduced in numbers due to infected foreigners who spread a number of epidemic diseases amongst thes e hapless Indians. The other tribes in this linguistic family are Creeks, Chickasaws, Seminoles and Apalachi .In comparison to the Chickasaw and the Creek who were their age old enemies, the Choctaws were more democratic and less warlike. The Choctaws lived in wattle-and-daub homes. These homes had walls consisting of pole frames covered with mud and bark and a thatched roof. They were agrarian in general and in this aspect were unsurpassed in the entire Southeastern part of the U. S, and used simple tools to cultivate corn, beans, sweet potatoes, and tobacco.They were so proficient in this activity that they were in the enviable position of possessing surplus food which they bartered in order to obtain goods that they did not have. Moreover, they utilized blowguns, bows and arrows, spears and traps to hunt animals for food and pelts. Their trading capacity was so great that they traded on a very large scale with other tribes and in order to communicate with their customers they dev eloped a simple trade language. In order to transport merchandise and animals hunted by them they used dugout canoes.The Choctaws were fond of sport and it occupied an important part of their culture. Their variety of lacrosse, which was very popular amongst the eastern tribes was a very rough game played with a stick. This game was used to promote social gatherings, bring about settlement of disputes and to train the participants for warfare. The number of participants in this game would be in the hundreds and all sorts of violence like biting, belabouring and kicking were permitted. Not surprisingly, the participants would suffer serious and sometimes fatal injuries.The outcome of this game had so much importance attached to it that Choctaw priests used to offer prayers in order to have an effect on the result of the game . The Choctaws took to riding horses and using them as pack animals with the advent of the Europeans in the 16th century. They developed their own specialized ho rse breeds and raised cattle. The 18th and 19th centuries were witness to the forced migration of the Choctaws farther and farther west in order to circumvent clashes with the European settlers.Initially they allied with the French later on they worked as spies for the Americans in the American Revolution, which lasted from 1775 to 1783, and reported the activities of the British. In the War of 1812 they allied with the U. S and fought under General Andrew Jackson and they also fought against the Creek in the Creek War that lasted from 1813 to 1814. The universal belief was that the land occupied by the Indians had gold in it, accordingly President Jackson brought about legislation that required relocation of the Southeast Indian tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River.The first victims of this inhuman deed were the loyal Choctaws, who were made to shift their location to the Indian Territory, which is in Oklahoma under the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Accordingly, as per the p rovisions of the 1830, Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek the Choctaw nations was forcibly relocated to South-eastern Oklahoma. The years from 1831 to 1834 saw these hapless Choctaws being subjected to a series of forced marches westward, which proved fatal for many of their numbers who succumbed to disease, hunger, exposure and attacks by bandits.Around twenty thousand Choctaws were shifted and only seven thousand survived this arduous journey notorious as the â€Å"The Trail of Tears†. The greed of the settlers was gratified to some extent by the year 1842 as most of the Choctaw lands had become the property of the settlers. Oklahoma, was chosen by the Choctaws as their promised land, because it was for the most part empty and was considered to be useless for any other purpose. However, this place proved to be very fertile and was utilized by them as an agricultural haven. The surviving Choctaws built a new city based on their agricultural genius.In the Indian Territory the Cho ctaw, the Creek, Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Seminole were collectively known as the Five Civilized Tribes, because they had organized governments with written constitutions and due to the fact that they had established public schools and newspapers. The Choctaw joined forces with the Confederacy during the American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. Due to the ever increasing influx of non-Indian settlers, the Choctaws were unable to retain their lands, even in Oklahoma, where they had been ruthlessly relocated.Ironically, Oklahoma is a term invented by the Choctaw leader Allen Wright to connote red people and was initially used to denote the western half of the Indian Territory. The number of persons who identified themselves as Choctaw in the U. S. census of 2000 was approximately 87,000 and a further 71,000 identified themselves as having Choctaw blood. Federal trust lands are held by the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in the vicinity of Durant. Furthermore, the Mississippi Ban d of Choctaw Indians’ reservation is located near the Pearl River.Some Choctaw groups reside in Louisiana and what should be of encouragement to these hapless people, there has been a revival of traditional customs and unity between these groups since the 1950s . Women have traditionally been objects of veneration in the Choctaw culture. This honour has been accorded to them due their being the head of every family household and due to their being the caretakers of children and elders in the family. In legends these tribes are considered to be vegetarians and one of the Cherokee legends describes this epoch as the beginning of equality and mutual helpfulness between humans, plants and animals.Initially all three lived in harmony, however, with the passage of time, man became destructive and started to kill and eat some of the animals and in retaliation some of the animals invented diseases to limit the human population. True generosity was exhibited by only the plants, which provided not only food to man, but also medicine to cure these diseases . The historical evolution of the Choctaw makes one aware of their efforts in respect of economic development and the strong Tribal government which has resulted from such development.In the past, the Choctaw people had undergone several hardships like health problems and reliance upon the federal government for the bare necessities of life. However, subsequent to the year 1945, the situation has improved drastically and the strong tribal governmental leadership and appropriate planning have made the Choctaw people self reliant. With the improvement in employment and educational opportunities, availability of better housing and healthcare facilities a resurgence of the Choctaw community and their cultural arts has transpired and this has brought about betterment in their standard of living.The language of the Choctaws and their native culture are no longer threatened with extinction as they had been saved and st rengthened due to their efforts. At present Choctaw community can be considered to be a successful community. This is due to the fact that they not only preserved their culture but did so in the face of great adversity. The Choctaw Indian Reservation is spread across 35,000 acres of Tribal lands, which are located in ten counties of the Mississippi. The federal government is responsible for safeguarding these lands.These sites are Pearl River, Red Water, Bogue Chitto, Standing Pine, Tucker, Conehatta and Bogue Homa. The Tribal government is headquartered in Pearl River and is the largest of these lands. The Choctaws enjoy several traditional cultural activities in addition to those provided by modern society. Their artistic output comprises of hand woven baskets made from Mississippi swamp cane, beadwork, etc. They are also famous for their dances, cooking and sewing traditional apparel. In the modern world they are active in almost all fields of scientific and commercial endeavour. In contrast to the past, when they had been relegated to the background, these people can be assumed to have become a part of the fast paced and exciting American way of life. These people are highly creative and gifted and some of their special events, which enable them to congregate as a Choctaw community in order to commemorate their tribal traditions, are the annual Choctaw Indian Fair held in the month of July in the Choctaw Indian Reservation and the spring festivals of the Choctaw communities . Works Cited Page Ferguson, Bob.Choctaw Chronology. Retrieved from http://www. choctaw. org/history/chronology. htm on October 6, 2006 Rita Laws, WAS THE AMERICAN ABORIGINAL DIET VEGETARIAN? , retrieved from www. animalvoices. org/aboriginal. htm. on 06. 10. 2006. Retrieved from http://www. choctaw. org/culture/welcome. htm on 06. 10. 2006. Team Sports. Choctaw. Retrieved from http://www. cradleboard. org/cnat/resource/choctaw. htm on October 8, 2006 Waldman, Carl. â€Å"Choctaw. † Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2006 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2005.

Stag Moose - Facts and Figures

Stag Moose - Facts and Figures Name: Stag Moose; also known as Cervalces scotti Habitat: Swamps and woodlands of North America Historical Epoch: Pleistocene-Modern (2 million-10,000 years ago) Size and Weight: About eight feet long and 1,500 pounds Diet: Grass Distinguishing Characteristics: Large size; thin legs; elaborate antlers on the males About the Stag Moose The Stag Moose (which is sometimes hyphenated and capitalized differently, as the Stag-moose) wasnt technically a moose, but an overgrown, moose-like deer of Pleistocene North America equipped with unusually long, skinny legs, a head reminiscent of an elk, and elaborate, branched antlers (on the males) matched only by its fellow prehistoric ungulates Eucladoceros and the Irish Elk. The first Stag Moose fossil was discovered in 1805 by William Clark, of Lewis and Clark fame, at Big Bone Lick in Kentucky;Â   a second specimen was unearthed in New Jersey (of all places) in 1885, by William Barryman Scott (hence the Stag-Mooses species name, Cervalces scotti); and since then various individuals have been unearthed in states suchas Iowa and Ohio. (See a slideshow of 10 Recently Extinct Game Animals) Like its namesake, the Stag Moose led a very moose-like lifestylewhich, if you dont happen to be familiar with mooses, entailed wandering swamps, marshes and tidelands in search of tasty vegetation and keeping a close eye out for predators (such as the Saber-Toothed Tiger and the Dire Wolf, which also inhabited Pleistocene North America). As for the most distinctive characteristic of Cervalces scotti, its enormous, branching horns, those were clearly a sexually selected characteristic: the males of the herd locked antlers during mating season, and the winners earned the right to procreate with females (thus ensuring a new crop of big-antlered males, and so on down through the generations). Like its fellow plant-eating megafauna mammals of the last Ice Ageincluding the Woolly Rhino, the Woolly Mammoth, and the Giant Beaverthe Stag Moose was hunted by early humans, at the same time as its population was restricted by inexorable climate change and the loss of its natural pasture. However, the proximate cause of the Stag Mooses demise, 10,000 years ago, was probably the arrival in North America of the true moose (Alces alces), from eastern Eurasia via the Bering Land Bridge in Alaska. Alces alces, apparently, was better at being a moose than the Stag Moose, and its slightly smaller size helped it to subsist on rapidly dwindling amounts of vegetation.

The 7 Base Units of the Metric System

The 7 Base Units of the Metric System The metric system is a framework of units of measurement that has grown from its 1874 birth in a diplomatic treaty to the more modern General Conference on Weights and Measures, or CGPM (Conferà ©rence Gà ©nà ©rale des Poids et Measures). The modern system is properly called the International System of Units, or SI, an abbreviation from the French Le Systà ¨me International dUnità ©s. Today, most people use the names metric and SI interchangeably. The 7 Base Metric Units The metric system is the main system of measurement units used in science. Each unit is considered to be dimensionally independent of the others. These dimensions are measurements of length, mass, time, electric current, temperature, amount of a substance, and luminous intensity. Here are definitions of the seven base units: Length: Meter (m) The meter is the metric unit of length. Its defined as the length of the path light travels in a vacuum during 1/299,792,458 of a second.Mass: Kilogram (kg) The kilogram is the metric unit of mass. Its the mass of the international prototype of the kilogram: a standard platinum/iridium 1 kg mass housed near Paris at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM).Time: Second (s) The basic unit of time is the second. The second is defined as the duration of 9,192,631,770 oscillations of radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of cesium-133.Electric current: Ampere (A) The basic unit of electric current is the ampere. The ampere is defined as the constant current that, if maintained in two infinitely long straight parallel conductors with a negligible circular cross-section and placed 1 m apart in a vacuum, would produce a force between the conductors equal to 2 x 10-7 newtons per meter of length.Temperature: Kelvin (K) The Kelvin is the unit of thermodynamic temperature. It is the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water. The Kelvin scale is an absolute scale, so there is no degree.​ Amount of a Substance: Mole (mol) The mole is defined as the amount of a substance that contains as many entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kilograms of carbon-12. When the mole unit is used, the entities must be specified. For example, the entities may be atoms, molecules, ions, electrons, cows, houses, or anything else.Luminous Intensity: candela (cd) The unit of luminous intensity, or light, is the candela. The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source emitting monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 x 1012 hertz with radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian. These definitions are actually methods to realize the unit. Each realization was created with a unique, sound theoretical base to generate reproducible and accurate results. Other Important Metric Units In addition to the seven base units, other metric units are commonly used: Liter (L) While the metric unit of volume is the cubic meter, m3, the most commonly used unit is the liter. A liter is equal in volume to one cubic decimeter, dm 3, which is a cube that is 0.1 m on each side.Angstrom (Ã…) One angstrom equals 10-8 cm or 10-10 m. Named for Anders Jonas Ã…ngstrom, the unit is used to measure the chemical bond length and electromagnetic radiation wavelength.Cubic centimeter (cm3) A cubic centimeter is a common unit  used to measure solid volume. The corresponding unit for liquid volume is the milliliter (mL), which is equal to one cubic centimeter.

Personal statement for applying to the University for a masters

For applying to the University for a masters program - Personal Statement Example Business, despite being about give and take, when you trim away all the extra bits, follows certain rules of conduct. This may be dictated by social, cultural, political or geographical influences, or by the nature and type of business itself. My first and foremost priority is to familiarize myself with the different ways of conducting business around the globe. My application to the Masters in International Business program, here at Hult University, is me putting that plan into action. I enjoy interacting with people from diverse cultural backgrounds as well as learning about their customs and practices. I have observed that good people skills alone cannot open the doors to financial success for my business. There is a need for a solid educational foundation alongside a good repertoire with people for a business to be run successfully. The knowledge gained from Hult University, coupled with my people skills, should equip me with the tools needed to excel at international business. O nce the program is over I wish to gain a couple of years’ experience to put into practice what I have learned. The practical experience is probably what my family lacked in expanding and diversifying our business. With the practical experience I gain after the program, I shall be able to increase my insight as to how businesses are run effectively and successfully.

Martin Luthers Protestant Breakthrough Its Political, Social and Essay

Martin Luthers Protestant Breakthrough Its Political, Social and Economic Impact - Essay Example It was a republication of the gospel. He made the Bible the people's book in church, school, and house (Schaff 7:xxx). As a German monk, theologian, teacher, preacher and university Professor, Martin Luther became not only the Father of Protestant revolution but also a man to reckon with. He even transcripted and transliterated the Greek Bible in common German language. For instance: Luther added the word "alone" to Romans 3:28 controversially so that it read: "thus, we hold, then, that man is justified without the works of the law to do, alone through faith" (Luther http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Bible). Lutheran gospel, and could read a little German, studied it with the greatest avidity as the fountain of all truth. Some committed it to memory, and carried it about in their bosom. In a few months such people deemed themselves so learned that they were not ashamed to dispute about faith and the gospel not only with Catholic laymen, but even with priests and monks and doctors of divinity (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther). Martin Luther changed the course of Western civilization through his interpretation of Bible and humanitarian consideration. He did not agree to Roman Catholic Bible especially when the Church was becoming a place to merchandising of religion and rituals in Europe at that time. People started loving Christ instead of fearing. For Martin Luther:A man is abundantly and sufficiently justified by faith inwardly, in his spirit, and so has all that he needs, except insofar as this faith and these riches must grow from day to day even to the future life (Hillerbrand 16). Luther argued that the Bible, not the Pope, was the central means to determine God's word. This was a view that was certain to raise eyebrows in Rome. Also, Luther maintained that justification, or salvation, was granted by faith alone; good works and the sacraments were not necessary in order to be saved (Hillerbrand 20). The protest against the Church was not entirely new. In England, there had been similar protests in the 14th century; although these had been crushed. Luther gained a lot of support for his ideas because many people were unhappy with the Pope and the Church. Martin Luther despite all his sufferings all through his crusade of love for Christ, wrote 95 Theses known as "The Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences" in 1517. These Theses further enhanced Lutherism or the protest against unjust claims made by Church officials including the Pope. And thus, emerged the Protestant aspect of the Church, first, in entire Europe and then in the world on a much wider scale. Luther's Protestant beliefs spread like a jungle's fire for they hit the hearts and minds of the people straightway. In spite of vehement criticism, no one could really stop Luther's faith and people oriented assertions and interpretations. The then Pope declared Luther a drunken bugger. It is a well known fact that Pope Leo X3 even ordered a Professor of theology to write and produce a volume against Protestant views of Martin Luther. Yet, the kings and princes and the people of Europe and the world supported and adopted views