Organizational Paradigms Essay - 2620 Words

ORGANIZATIONAL PARADIGMS Organizational Paradigms: Rational, Natural and Open Systems University of Phoenix Organizational Paradigms: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems What are organizations? How do we construct successful organizations? What is the most effective organizational structure or culture? Jones (2007) defines an organization as a tool individuals use to coordinate actions in an effort to achieve goals. â€Å"Organizational culture is a by-product of the interaction between employer and employee† (Baker, 2009, p.28). The culture, values and objectives of the organization are established by organizational leaders. According to Ohm (2006), â€Å"it is the set of unspoken interactions, relationships and expectations†¦show more content†¦Wal-Marts’ supply chain management system decreased time and excess costs causing it to be the envy of the industry. Natural Systems Contributions to the natural perspective of organizations came from various schools of thought. Theorist viewed organizations as social systems, in which individuals within the organization were viewed as effective contributors. The Cooperative System concept developed by Chester Barnard suggested that the contributions of individuals were integrated within organizations (Scott Davis, 2007). The belief was that motivated individuals worked collectively to achieve the defined goals of the organization. Selznick’s institutional approach, which characterized organizations as adaptive organisms, believed that environmental changes impacted organizational structure and design. Parson’s AGIL Schema was designed to be applied to social systems. The basic needs outlined in the model are adaptation, goal attainment, integration, and latency. â€Å"Parsons’s framework emphasizes a set of functional needs that all social systems must satisfy in order to su rvive† (Scott et al, 2007, p.79). Organizational leaders develop specific goals and objectives, but the overall behavior of the individuals within the organization are not guided by them. â€Å"Similarly, formal role definitions and written rules may have been developed, but all too frequently they exhibit little or no influence on the behavior of members† (Scott Davis, 2007, p. 29).Show MoreRelatedOrganizational Paradigm2960 Words   |  12 PagesOrganizational Paradigms Introduction The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the three predominant organizational paradigms; rational, natural and open systems. Each paradigm has its own unique characteristics and understanding these paradigms can best be understood through real-life examples of the paradigms in use. Before the paradigms are described and related, the term organization and organizational theory must be defined. Definitions Applying a specific definitionRead MoreAccounting Cases- Kaplan1159 Words   |  5 Pagesthe accounting system together to ensure the most beneficial decisions for a company. Question 1.2 The best combination of paradigms for the 21st century as Ferrara sees it is a combination of Paradigms C and D. This may even be amplified by adding elements of Paradigm B. Although Paradigm D is effective and efficient it is not sufficient alone. Paradigm D uses the concept of price led costing and focuses on the issue of continuous improvement but it does not take into consideration theRead MoreEffectiveness Of A Competitive Advantage1156 Words   |  5 Pagesmore recent publications, some authors have defined agility to include whole-body change of direction as well as rapid movement and direction change of limbs (Baechle, 1994; Draper Lancaster, 1985). Based on many researches done we can define organizational agility as a set of processes that allows an organization to sense changes in the internal and external environment respond efficiently and effectively in a timely and cost-effective manner, and learn from the experience to improve the competenciesRead MoreThe McDonalds Corporation: Designing and Implementing a New Organizational Paradigm3508 Words   |  14 Pagesï » ¿Designing Implementing a New Organizational Paradigm Abstract The paper proposes that McDonalds combine some of elements of their existing paradigm, with elements of Japanese organizational paradigms, and the organizational paradigm of Whole Foods Market Inc., which is called conscious capitalism. McDonalds corporation is undoubtedly, a fierce competitor and presence in the global market. They have charitable and non-profit aspects of the company, but the company needs improvement in regardsRead MoreMaking Differences Matter8932 Words   |  36 PagesA NEW PARADIGM FOR MANAGING DIVERSITY BYLINE: by David A. Thomas and Robin J. Ely; David A. Thomas is an associate professor at the Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts. Robin J. Ely is an associate professor at Columbia University s School of International and Public Affairs in New York City. Their research and teaching focus on the influence of race, gender, and ethnicity on career dynamics and organizational effectiveness. ABSTRACT: MAKING DIFFERENCES MATTER: A NEW PARADIGM FOR MANA GINGRead MoreEntrepreneurs Face When Building And Running Their Businesses4980 Words   |  20 Pagesbetween creativity and innovation that shows the organizational implications of this distinction. 4 4. What is a paradigm? How does a paradigm stifle creativity? 5 5. Work with a small group of your classmates to identify a local competitor business of Coopers that is bound by a paradigm. What impact is this paradigm having on the business? Identify the paradigm and then generate as many creative suggestions as you can that would change the paradigm. 5 6. After doing your research what do you do toRead MoreQuestions On Learning And Leadership Theories1636 Words   |  7 Pageshave caused paradigms in leadership theories (Badshah, 2012). The relationships involving the interactions between leaders and followers has been altered and transformations have occurred. For example, through the phenomena of leadership there has been changes from the viewpoint of leadership centric approach in the past to were followers today having added power, authority, and influence over their superiors (Kellerman, 2008). Additionally, leadership, in general, has had a paradigm shift whichRead MoreDavid A. Thomas and Robin J. Elys Three Paradigms of Diversity756 Words   |  4 PagesRobin J. Elys three paradigms of diversity focuses on: (1) discrimination and fairness, (2) access and legitimacy, and (3) learning and effectiveness paradigm as shown. Most people assume that workplace diversity is about increasing racial, national, gender, or class representation - in other words, recruiting and retaining more people from traditionally underrepresented identity group. [1] This is true for both discrimination and fairness and access and legitimacy paradigms. Although these twoRead MoreThe Importance Of Serving As A Naval Officer838 Words   |  4 Pagesmade. What I understand know, after reading Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1996) was that his paradigm about discipline was different from mine. In fact, our paradigms were what Kuhn (1996) describes as incommensurable. The idea of incommensurability accounts for the different way that my commander and I viewed the world (Kuhn, 1996). Our paradigms about discipline were so different that we could not even really have a conversation about it without one of us getting angryRead MoreHofstede s Five Dimensions Of Culture Essay1743 Words   |  7 Pagesto adapt to new environments in order to become competitive (E. Bueno 1999.). This period is distinguished because it considers intangibles as the main assets of the organizations (A. Brooking 1997.), among which it is possible to include the organizational culture (J. B. Barney 1986) and knowledge management (I. Nonaka and H. Takeuchi 1995.) It starts from the premise that culture is oriented toward the achievement of the objectives set by the organization (D. Denison, 2000.). Moreover, it is important

Jessie Daniel Ames. In The Early Twentieth Century, Woman

Jessie Daniel Ames In the early twentieth century, woman did not share the right to vote or share any of the privileges of white mn but worse was the status of the African American who were living in the negative climate of the south at the time. Jessie Daniel Ames was an early civil rights activist and Texas Woman suffragist who through determination and perseverance fought to acquire voting rights for women and to change the lynching laws for blacks in the south. She brought awareness and change to the minds of individuals living in a white male dominant world. Jesse Harriet Daniel was born in rural east Texas in 1883, the third out of four children, and grew up during the Indian wars in an era of widespread vigilantism (p.42). Her†¦show more content†¦In 1914 after her husband died, she and her children return to Georgetown where she went to work at the Georgetown Telephone Company, owned by her mother, also a widow. Both emerged as competent, tough-minded competitors in a male-dominated business. Without a husband, a boss, and not dependent on public opinion Ames confidence grew and she emerged as a voice for women. By the 1916’s, the Texas Equal Suffrage Association, called to arms local woman to step up and take leadership role to for the rights of woman and Ames was the first in Georgetown to answer to call. Jesse hosted the first Georgetown Suffrage meeting her house and was unanimously elected as President for the local ESA organization. From there, she broadened her efforts and begin to publish weekly newspapers columns and speak a gatherings around the state. She quickly became the third most influential woman in the state movement for woman’s right to vote. As a leader in the women’s suffrage movement Ames had many successful accomplishments. When lawmakers passed a bill that limited women time to register to vote Ames and her fellow suffragettes organized and help women to get to locations to register. Ames and her co-workers registered 3,800 women in 17 days and provided voting instructions and mock elections to prepare the women to responsibly use their new franchise. She coordinated intensive voter education to give women the skills they needed to vote. In addition, when

Caves Essay Example For Students

Caves Essay The video I reviewed was a National Geographic film called Mysteries Underground. This video was about extraordinary sites there are to see in underground caves. You traveledalong with cave explorers and got to see all the beautiful untouched natural formations such asgypsum chandeliers, gnarled calcite columns, and jewel-like lakes. It showed and talked about allthe careful proceders the cave explorers go through. It also talked about how the formationswere made over such a long time. I learned many interesting things that would never seem possible. In the worlds newmost exotic ,Lechuguilla, cave there lied water so clean and clear that the cave explorers wereforced to take all there clothes off before they swam acrossed it because the littlest dirt from anyclothing would contaminate the pureness of the water. All the cave explorers are very cautious asto what they touch or where they step because some of the crystal formations are so fragile thatthe slightest vibration from a voice or a footstep could ruin millions of years of forming. In someparts of caves there are giant and very smooth ice formations that must be slid down verycarefully because if they are not taken cautiously you will pick up to much speed while sliding andfinally hit some kind of stone wall or something. One lady was not careful enough and boy didshe pay. She was only a mile and a half or so in the cave and she broke her leg. It took almostfive days to get who to the surface of the cave wher e she could be attended to. Also I found outthat caves were much larger then I had originally thought. The largest cave now, MammothCave, is over 200 miles long. And if you are exploring a cave being miles and miles from theentrance it is very important that you be careful because if you break your leg that far from theentrance it would probably take months to get you out safely. One safety precaution I learnedwas that when the explorers are traveling through cold water they must make sure they dont gettheir upperbody wet because that will cause them to freeze and get many sicknesses that arecaused by the cold. One thing that I found interesting was that with the technology today youwould think that we would have all the caves discovered and explored. We arent close at all. Infact some caves have been being explored for years and there is still no end in sight. That justgoes to show that there is still much more to learn and discover. I would recommend this video to anyone who is fa scinated by the amazing things mothernature can create. This one hour video will give you a lifetime of information. It reminds youthat anything is possible and to keep an open mind. You would enjoy this video because it is mostof the very rare film footage ever made on some of the amazing formations. Since no other filmsor shows are out there like this one, everything they say and show you is new, so you learn agreat amount. Friedberg, L (Producer), Friedberg, L (Director). (1992). National Geographic Video:Mysteries Underground Videotape. (Available from National Geographic Society). Category: Music and Movies

nnrsatn Essays - We Beat The Street, The Three Doctors, 9, Quakers

Title: We Beat the Streets (2005) Author: Dr. Sampson Davis, George Jenkins, Rameck Hunt Genre: Action Pages: 194 Reviewer: Terrence Johnson Hook/lead: We are real people. We started out as kids in the toughest neighborhoods of Newark, New Jersey, and today we are doctors. We had to fight drugs and crime and hopelessness. We had to overcome obstacles like poverty and apathy and violence in our community. Individually we would not have succeeded, but together, we are able to make it through high school, college, and medical school. Background Info: Three friends work together fighting for one another. Born and raised together they faced police, violent enemies, gangbangers, and other delinquents. All ended up being high paid and well known doctors. Short plot summary: George is 16 years old when he says his own mother blown to bits by a drive by. He lives in New Jersey. George also was born with HIV. With the help of his two friends he has made it from a harsh life style to being a doctor. That is just one story of the three friends; who were like brothers. Quote from story: ?All I need is my friends! Everyone else has played or manipulated me. And I?m sick of it!? That was his remark before he attempted suicide; and also before his friends came to save him from suicide. My opinion: I liked the story because it shows that no matter what you go through, anything is possible with friends. Friends will have your back no matter what.

Free Essays on Black Rage

The word Rage can be simply defined as: violent, explosive anger. As we study the Civil Rights Movement, rage used by many Negro leaders as a catalyst of rhetorical achievement are valued even today. The writings of Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Martin Luther King exemplify the ideology behind the meaning of rage by either emphasizing its importance to the movement or its relevance as an end result. During the sixties we see examples of this and as a result many discrete audiences are influenced in a tornado-like effect where they are surrounded by the rhetoric. It is highly important to understand the idea of where Black Power and Black Pride originated from, and the ideology that blacks as human beings must demand unconditional equality. Nevertheless, this demand for equality produces a channel of rage. In his 1967 speech â€Å"The Meaning of Black Power†, Franklin Florence defines Black Power as â€Å"an active attitude†¦.† And I say tonight, freedom and justice are not gifts you must take them rise up, you mighty black people organize and take power.† It is true that Black Power was developed by a variety rhetorical rage during the Civil Rights Movement, but the question we must ask is where did it come from? Leroi Jones (Amari Baraka) states that is stems from the separatist philosophy of Garveyism. â€Å"Black Power cannot exist WITHIN white power. One or the other, there can only be one or the other. They might exist side by side as separate entities, but never in the same space. Never! They are mut ually exclusive.† The decision, according to some, has to be made as to which one will prevail. Rage, as is evident, has neither subsided nor been appeased. Nor has the momentum to overcome ceased from pressing upward against white dominance. One organization that aims to channel black rage militantly beyond the efforts of others is the Black Panther Party, whose rhetoric was generated from the ideology that ... Free Essays on Black Rage Free Essays on Black Rage The word Rage can be simply defined as: violent, explosive anger. As we study the Civil Rights Movement, rage used by many Negro leaders as a catalyst of rhetorical achievement are valued even today. The writings of Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Martin Luther King exemplify the ideology behind the meaning of rage by either emphasizing its importance to the movement or its relevance as an end result. During the sixties we see examples of this and as a result many discrete audiences are influenced in a tornado-like effect where they are surrounded by the rhetoric. It is highly important to understand the idea of where Black Power and Black Pride originated from, and the ideology that blacks as human beings must demand unconditional equality. Nevertheless, this demand for equality produces a channel of rage. In his 1967 speech â€Å"The Meaning of Black Power†, Franklin Florence defines Black Power as â€Å"an active attitude†¦.† And I say tonight, freedom and justice are not gifts you must take them rise up, you mighty black people organize and take power.† It is true that Black Power was developed by a variety rhetorical rage during the Civil Rights Movement, but the question we must ask is where did it come from? Leroi Jones (Amari Baraka) states that is stems from the separatist philosophy of Garveyism. â€Å"Black Power cannot exist WITHIN white power. One or the other, there can only be one or the other. They might exist side by side as separate entities, but never in the same space. Never! They are mut ually exclusive.† The decision, according to some, has to be made as to which one will prevail. Rage, as is evident, has neither subsided nor been appeased. Nor has the momentum to overcome ceased from pressing upward against white dominance. One organization that aims to channel black rage militantly beyond the efforts of others is the Black Panther Party, whose rhetoric was generated from the ideology that ...

How to Conjugate the Spanish Verb Oír

How to Conjugate the Spanish Verb Oà ­r Oà ­r is a common Spanish verb that typically means to hear. It is highly irregular, in part because of its use of an accent in its ending. The only other verbs that are conjugated in the same way as oà ­r are those few verbs based on oà ­r, namely desoà ­r (to ignore), entreoà ­r (to half-hear or hear indistinctly) and trasoà ­r (to mishear). Irregular forms are shown below in boldface. Translations are given as a guide and in real life may vary with context. Infinitive of Oà ­r oà ­r (to hear) Gerund of Oà ­r oyendo (hearing) Participle of Oà ­r oà ­do (heard) Present Indicative of Oà ­r yo oigo, tà º oyes, usted/à ©l/ella oye, nosotros/as oà ­mos, vosotros/as oà ­s, ustedes/ellos/ellas oyen (I hear, you hear, he hears, etc.) Preterite of Oà ­r yo oà ­, tà º oà ­ste, usted/à ©l/ella oyà ³, nosotros/as oà ­mos, vosotros/as oà ­steis, ustedes/ellos/ellas oyeron (I heard, you hears, she hears, etc.) Imperfect Indicative of Oà ­r yo oà ­a, tà º oà ­as, usted/à ©l/ella oà ­a, nosotros/as oà ­amos, vosotros/as oà ­ais, ustedes/ellos/ellas oà ­an (I used to hear, you used to hear, he used to hear, etc.) Future Indicative of Oà ­r yo oirà ©, tà º oirs, usted/à ©l/ella oir, nosotros/as oiremos, vosotros/as oirà ©is, ustedes/ellos/ellas oirn (I will hear, you will hear, he will hear, etc.) Conditional of Oà ­r yo oirà ­a, tà º oirà ­as, usted/à ©l/ella oirà ­a, nosotros/as oirà ­amos, vosotros/as oirà ­ais, ustedes/ellos/ellas oirà ­an (I would hear, you would hear, she would hear, etc.) Present Subjunctive of Oà ­r que yo oiga, que tà º oigas, que usted/à ©l/ella oiga, que nosotros/as oigamos, que vosotros/as oigis, que ustedes/ellos/ellas oigan (that I hear, that you hear, that she hear, etc.) Imperfect Subjunctive of Oà ­r que yo oyera (oyese), que tà º oyeras (oyeses), que usted/à ©l/ella oyera (oyese), que nosotros/as oyà ©ramos (oyà ©semos), que vosotros/as oyerais (oyeseis), que ustedes/ellos/ellas oyeran (oyesen) (that I hears, that you hears, that he hears, etc.) Imperative of Oà ­r oye tà º, no oigas tà º, oiga usted, oigamos nosotros/as, oà ­d vosotros/as, no oigis vosotros/as, oigan ustedes (hear, dont hear, hear, lets hear, etc.) Compound Tenses of Oà ­r The perfect tenses are made by using the appropriate form of haber and the past participle, oà ­do. The progressive tenses use estar with the gerund, oyendo. Sample Sentences Showing Conjugation of Oà ­r and Related Verbs Tenemos dos objetivos: erradicar las barreras de la discriminacià ³n que enfrentan los sordos y ofrecer empleo a los que no pueden oà ­r. (We have two goals: to eradicate the discriminatory barriers facing the deaf and to offer work to those who cannot hear. Infinitive.) Todos hemos oà ­do que  «lo que cuenta es lo que est dentro ». (Weve all heard that what counts is whats inside. Present perfect.) Desoyes todo lo que no te interesa. (Youre ignoring everything that doesnt interest you. Present indicative.) Entreoyà ³ una conversacià ³n al otro lado de la puerta. (She half-heard a conversation on the other side of the door. Preterite.) Aquella noche yo oà ­a la lluvia desde la cama y pensaba en ti. (That night I heard the rain from the bed and thought about you. Imperfect.) Es cierto que lo oirà © cada vez que pase por aquà ­. (It is certain that I will hear it every time it passes by here. Future.) Los dispositivos permiten restaurar la audicià ³n en personas que no oirà ­an de otro modo. (The devices provide for the restoration of hearing in people who wouldnt hear any other way. Conditional.)  ¡Desgraciados de los que desoigan mis palabras! (How wretched are those who mishear my words! Present subjunctive.) Yo no querà ­a que oyeras esto. (I didnt want you to hear this. Imperfect subjunctive.)  ¡Oye, oye! (Hear ye, hear ye! Imperative.)

Article analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Article analysis - Essay Example The investigators often ask either the victim or the criminal to write statements on the incidents they witnessed or involved in. Then they analyze the linguistic and structural features present in written criminal statements for predictive value in determining the likelihood of veracity or deception (Adams & Jarvis, 2006). As the liars may adopt various strategies to conceal their lies, the investigators will have to alter their strategies in order to obtain the desired effect. While implementing the linguistic methods generally the spoken (which represent reality as a process) and written methods (which represent language as an object) are adopted to unveil veracity and deception (Picornell, 2013). A comparative study of the two articles reveals that while Adams & Jarvis’ (2006) conducted a study on deception in written witness statements with the help of specific linguistic attributes associated with credibility assessment analysis, Picornell (2012) compared the effectiveness of linguistic cues (individually and collectively) and linguistic strategies as deception predictors (Picornell, 2013). The elite part of Picornell’s study is to analyze how the unique characteristics of witness statements as textual monologue narratives influence the role of deception cues. He defines the written witness statement as, a narrative relating to an event witnessed or experienced by the individual writing the statement, and produced as a textual monologue without external intervention or influence (Picornell, 2013). He also proposes three aspects – narrative, textual, and monologue – in order to speak of the implications for deception analysis. In narrative, the witness is provided the chances to describe in writing their direct experience. These evidences are reinterpreted based on their emotional and social experiences (Picornell, 2013). In textual aspect, the fundamental differences between the spoken and the written language are evaluated. The

First Day at College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

First Day at College - Essay Example Additionally, I had to embrace the advancement in technology in U.S, which was far ahead than my native country. Having not slept much, I took a taxicab that dropped me at the gate of the college that would be my new community for the next several years. After alighting and removing the luggage, I stood still unaware of the next move. I could not help by enjoy the beauty and the elegance of everything around me. There were many students at the college some walking to classes and others proceeding to the administration block for orientation. Although it was difficult to tell the new students apart, I followed the group of students moving to the administration block. The orientation team was so welcoming and they took our details and directed us to the college hostels. That was the most nervous time of the day since I had dreaded sharing a room with an unfriendly person. However, the roommate was so welcoming and kind hearted. By the college-orientation program card, we had to take a t our round the college as a group of new students. That was the most opportune time to make friends with other students. However, it was difficult interacting with U.S natives since I had a slight problem with my spoken English. Every time I tried bringing up a conversation, the other students made fun of me for not making my point clear. Nevertheless, I took it as a chance to make fun too. I would say something absurd to make the other students laugh and thus ease the tension. In the process, I was able to create a niche in the new environment. As we went round the college, I felt as if we were on a discovery tour. With a college map in my hand, I could try pointing to the next place of visit before we reached there. It was a dream comes true. I had never been to such an exclusive place before. Everything seemed so elegant and sophisticated. On our way back to the hostels, I met a student who seemed a bit lost. He greeted me and I noticed that he had an accent of a certain tribe in my continent. The student happened to be taking the same course with me. He had been allocated a hostel neighbouring mine but had lost his way back after taking a walk around. I could hardly hide the excitement and only thought of him as an angel in this foreign land. We found a cool place to seat as we went through our timetables together. From the moment we sat there, I realised that we have so much to learn from each other, right from our background cultures, religions and past knowledge and experiences. On visiting different areas of the college, my heart felt at ease on realisation that the music club, the basketball club, debate club and the talents show club were present. I had won many accolades through participation in these clubs since childhood and now I knew that great growth was awaiting me accompanied by global ideas. The evening was crowned with orientation and by great speeches from the university chancellor and head of departments who apart from welcoming us to the college and to different faculties encouraged the art of diversity and global interactions. They said this would not only build our academic excellence, but will also contribute to personal and professional development. Having come from a conservative background with ingrained

Examine sociological explanations Essay Example for Free

Examine sociological explanations Essay There seems to be a direct link to what goes on in schools and what takes place at work. The functionalist approach to education and economy is that through socialisation education helps maintain society by introducing young people into values and beliefs such as achievement. They argue that education teaches what is needed within the world of work like numeracy and literacy skills or specific skills for particular jobs. The education system allocates people to the most appropriate jobs, which suits their abilities using examination results. Through the eyes of the functionalists this is seen to be fair because there is an equal opportunity for everyone, everyone has the chance to succeed in society on the basis of their ability. If they work hard and try hard at school then they will succeed and climb the social ladder obtaining a higher social status. They see education as turning pupils into model citizens that the most able pupils will succeed and obtain the most important jobs. Durkheim stated that education performs the function of making individuals feel they are members of a social group. This can be done through lessons such as history. He believes that school teaches pupils how to co-operate and work with others. The subjects that are taught in schools are related to skills that are required for work. The education system sifts and sorts the people according to their ability and that those who want to achieve can do so despite social class or background. Parsons thinks that the school is the first place where they are taught universal values and rules. School helps introduce a consensus; this is where everyone agrees on the same basic values. Schools challenge pupils abilities and their talents so that they can be issued into specific jobs. Davis and Moore explained that some people have greater talents than others and to ensure that society functions efficiently the most able individuals are allocated the most efficient jobs. The education system is responsible for this, targeting the people who are most able then training them for important jobs. However, some people would argue that this is far too optimistic. This idea of meritocracy is untrue does not exists. There are certain barriers that get in the way the main one being social class. An example of this is careers such as medicine and law where certain firms will not accept you if you have been to a university that was previously a polytechnic college. There is nothing wrong with these universities but certain people and groups see them as lower class and therefore less likely to employ them. This is a barrier that gets in the way. There is a lack of evidence that schools teach work specific skills, an example of this is how often does a job require you to know quotes from Shakespeare, some subjects have a limited usefulness to the world of work. The principal of having a general consensus in school is not always the case; different social groups have different sets of values. Marxists disagree with this approach stating that its main function is to maintain, legitimate and reproduce, generation after generation of inequalities transmitted through common values and beliefs. Failure and inequality is encouraged within working class people, this is taught in schools. What goes on in school is related to the world of work, the pupils are like the workers and the teachers are like the bosses. Marxists explanation of education is that it does entirely depend on intellectual ability only the pupils who conform will rise above the rest. Schools reproduce the appropriate work force with the correct attitudes for factory work. They argue that it turns working class kids into conformists workers. Marxists argue that a hidden curriculum lies within the education system that filters out working class children into working class jobs it is a passive process that gets them used to this idea of inequality and hierarchy. It makes them accept it and not challenge it this is the correspondence principal. Bowles and Gintis argue that what goes on in schools is directly related to the world of work. The organisation of school to that of work is very identical, separate school lessons mirroring separate work place tasks. The examination results and payment are the enjoyment of working and learning. Educational success and promotion at work is based on work. Again what was just said isnt always the case. Bowles and Gintis never actual got any research evidence to support their claims. Most jobs now demand people with flair, ambition and people with charisma not mindless idiots as Marxist stated. Not all schools respond in exactly the same way and not all pupils respond in exactly the same way as Bowles and Gintis suggested. Not all children are passive products of the education system it might motivate some children with the thought of ending up in a factory. Paul Willis conducted his survey in 1977 and provides internationalist approach to understand the meanings pupils. Willis identifies pro-school and anti-school subcultures. The anti school subcultures where nicked named the lads ands the pro-school subcultures were called the earoles. Willis was a neo-Marxist who stated that the lads developed strategies to cope with the boredom of school and basic routine that they would eventually end up in at work. The lads chose to and accepted themselves as failures and didnt see the point in trying so just gave up. It was not passive as Marxists first thought. Even this type of attitude created the right workforce, they were uncritical and just got on with it. Paul Willis focuses on actual working at the school. One criticism of Paul Willis work is that either the student rebelled against the system or they conformed they were never really in between and this didnt really make much sense. It was unrealistic not many people were 100% in a category they were in between and this didnt show up in Willis results. Vocational Education was introduced because when students left school and went to work they didnt really possess the appropriate skills for work or the correct attitude. Vocational education changed this and improved their working attitudes with ideas such as work experience. As part of Curriculum 2000 key skills were introduced, this was asked for by a lot of employers and it gave students a basis insight into how to use a computer. A number of other schemes were introduced for those post 16 student s who didnt want to stay on at school, the government would pay half their wages and the company that employed them would pay the other half. This was great for the company because they were getting labour for half the price and once they had got to 19 they would sack them and employ another 16 year old. The schemes led to low paid and low skilled part time employment. The main aim for the government to set this scheme up was so that when it came to Election Day it meant that the number of people who where unemployed was low. There was first an assumption that unemployment was caused by a lack of skills amongst young people. In actual fact it could be to do with lack of jobs. Cohen stated that this attitude and discipline training made the post 16 people ready to except low paid jobs. In conclusion there is no one simple explanation about the relationship between school and economy. All of the information featured is theories and beliefs based on different perspectives. Up to a certain point all of the theories are true and probable in certain situation. No one can speak for the whole of society what happens in one group might be completely different to another. I would however be incline to put my trust in to a lot of what Paul Willis says partly because of the way he carried out his study, it was very in-depth.

Fluorides Essay -- Health, Dental Access

Fluoridation: The Big Debate The issue of fluoridation has always raised big questions regarding its effectiveness, safety and usage. Some of the main pros and cons of fluoridation shall therefore be explored. Pros: Large Reach: All members of the community would have access to regular fluorides doses, regardless of income, education or dental access. It many be particularly beneficial to children, as studies have shown that they do not brush as regularly as they should. Therefore, the omission of this administration fluoride can be compensated through water fluoridation, which all children should and would drink. Advantageous for the Elderly: As you get older, one’s saliva flow would generally decrease. This would mean that the elderly have less salivary fluorides that could access, remineralise and strengthen tooth surfaces. Moreover, the elderly have decreased manual dexterity to brush effectively and reach all surfaces. Therefore, all of these issues increase the risk of root surface decay for the elderly, but fluorides would help prevent this from occurring. Evidence: Many studies have been carried out to show that fluoridation of water does have a positive impact on oral hygiene and helping to prevent dental decay. Support: The fluoridation of water is supported by large health bodies such as: The British Dental Association; The World Health Organisation; The British Medical Association; and the British Fluoridation Society. Cost Effective: The use of fluorides reduces the risk of dental caries, and so potentially saves money for a patient who otherwise would have had to have payed for fillings. Reduces the Risk of Dental Caries: A recent study has concluded that adding fluoride... ... consuming hot or cold substances.[45] 5 things required for remineralisation of tooth enamel[36] The correct minerals (containing Ca2+, PO43- and Fl- ions) must be present in one’s saliva. Carbonic acid must then be produced (naturally produced from carbon dioxide and water) and close to the minerals, so it reacts with and dissociate them into their constituent ions. This process must take place near the tooth area affected. The affected demineralised area of hydroxyapatite must be clean and accessible. Complementary shaped ions formed from the minerals can then attract to oppositely charged ions within the hydroxyapatite lattice. Carbonic acid must then reform carbon dioxide and water, which precipitates the complementary ions that were dissolved in it into the area of demineralised enamel. In this way, remineralisation of the tooth enamel has occurred.

Lymphatics Webquest

Lymphatics web quest Suggested site- www. cdc. gov, feel free to use other reliable sites as well. 1. What animal can transmit Cryptococcus? Wild birds like pigeons. 2. Can dogs and cats get Cryptococcus? Yes 3. What is the infectious agent for Bubonic Plague? Yersinia pestis 4. By how much was the world population reduced during the Plague pandemic? About 450 million to between 350 and 375 million. 5. What year (within the past 100 years) did the world experience a flu pandemic? 1918 6.What are 3 symptoms of chikungunya fever? Fever, vomiting, nausea, head ache, and joint pain. 7. What bacterium causes Lyme’s disease? Borrelia 8. What is ‘erythema migrans? ’ A rash often seen in the early stage of Lyme disease 9. Find a disease transmitted by rabbits and list 2 symptoms. Tularemia it gives you sweats and fever. 10. What are symptoms of guinea worm disease? There are usually no symptoms until about a year after infection. Before the worm comes out the person may d evelop a fever, swelling, and pain in the area. 1. How long can a guinea worm grow? Adults are about 2-3 feet long. 12. Describe lymphocytic filariasis. A parasitic disease caused by the African eye worm. The adult worm can only live in the human lymph system. 13. On what day of the year does world TB day occur? March 24th 14. How do seasonal, avian, and pandemic flu outbreaks differ? Seasonal flu follows predictable patterns. Pandemic flu is very rare. Avian flu is a virus with the potential to become a pandemic. 5. What childhood diseases does the CDC recommend children to be vaccinated against? Chickenpox, Flu, and measles 16. Find one type of cancer caused by a virus. Cervical cancer 17. What is the cause of rheumatic fever? Rheumatic fever can occur after an infection of the throat with a bacterium called streptococcus phogenes. 18. List 1 disease caused by a fungus. Histoplasmosis 19. What is a telltale symptom of whooping cough? Coughing making a whooping sound. Lymphatics Webquest Lymphatics web quest Suggested site- www. cdc. gov, feel free to use other reliable sites as well. 1. What animal can transmit Cryptococcus? Wild birds like pigeons. 2. Can dogs and cats get Cryptococcus? Yes 3. What is the infectious agent for Bubonic Plague? Yersinia pestis 4. By how much was the world population reduced during the Plague pandemic? About 450 million to between 350 and 375 million. 5. What year (within the past 100 years) did the world experience a flu pandemic? 1918 6.What are 3 symptoms of chikungunya fever? Fever, vomiting, nausea, head ache, and joint pain. 7. What bacterium causes Lyme’s disease? Borrelia 8. What is ‘erythema migrans? ’ A rash often seen in the early stage of Lyme disease 9. Find a disease transmitted by rabbits and list 2 symptoms. Tularemia it gives you sweats and fever. 10. What are symptoms of guinea worm disease? There are usually no symptoms until about a year after infection. Before the worm comes out the person may d evelop a fever, swelling, and pain in the area. 1. How long can a guinea worm grow? Adults are about 2-3 feet long. 12. Describe lymphocytic filariasis. A parasitic disease caused by the African eye worm. The adult worm can only live in the human lymph system. 13. On what day of the year does world TB day occur? March 24th 14. How do seasonal, avian, and pandemic flu outbreaks differ? Seasonal flu follows predictable patterns. Pandemic flu is very rare. Avian flu is a virus with the potential to become a pandemic. 5. What childhood diseases does the CDC recommend children to be vaccinated against? Chickenpox, Flu, and measles 16. Find one type of cancer caused by a virus. Cervical cancer 17. What is the cause of rheumatic fever? Rheumatic fever can occur after an infection of the throat with a bacterium called streptococcus phogenes. 18. List 1 disease caused by a fungus. Histoplasmosis 19. What is a telltale symptom of whooping cough? Coughing making a whooping sound.

The Evolution of Chil Custody Arrangements

The Evolution of Child Custody Arrangements Heather Gibson Southern New Hampshire University When a family splits, separates, divorces or a child is born out of wed lock for whatever reason one of the most difficult decisions to make are custody arrangements. Over the years the government has shifted its views from the child’s mother being the best fir for primary custody to â€Å"the best interest† of the child. What’s in the best interest of the child consists of both tangible and non-tangible things.The necessities include the ability to provide food, shelter and a a safe environment are important but also the stability of the parent psychologically and their mental health also begins to become part of the importance to the child. The person who has legal custody over a child is the person who makes import decisions in the child’s life. The determination of who should have custody in a child custody battle has become highly problematic over the years. M aternal preference was given as the best fit for the child. The mother was deemed more nurturing and caring as a parent.The United States held this idea for many years. In the world around them women were fighting for equal rights and in turn making men equal in the work force as well as a parent. The increase of divorces in the mid 1900’s and women going in the workforce led to the courts deciding what was in the best interest of the child rather than who was more motherly and nurturing. Another change that came about was the idea of joint custody, rather than sole custody. Today child custody can be as simple as two parents making the decision to share custody or on the opposite end the legal batter of who’s the better parent.Forensic psychologists help in informing the judge of who (unbiased) is the better parent or if joint custody would work out for the best interest of the child. They go through different competency evaluations, may visit the home or investigate further to determine custody. Although it seems women are still chosen as the better parent trend have shifted and men have a better chance at sole custody. Another evolution that has evolved is the familiarization of gay rights as parents. It is still unclear as it is emerging but it is food for thought.

The term digital technology” refers to the technology that is electronic or computer based The WritePass Journal

The term digital technology† refers to the technology that is electronic or computer based The term digital technology† refers to the technology that is electronic or computer based Introduction Digital marketing and communicationParadigm on Customer Loyalty and branding communications in the field of digital marketing communications E-Marketing Mix.E-product strategiesE-price strategiesE-place strategiesE-promotion strategiesConsumer online buying behavior. Online marketer’s persuasion tools and the Web experience Consumer Relationship management and ICTCRM: DEFINITION AND BENEFITS EVALUATION ICT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CRM BENEFITS References Related Introduction The term digital technology† refers to the technology that is electronic or computer based, . The field of digital technology is incessantly evolving and has dramatically changed the way of communication in a variety of arenas. Digital technology has made its mark in the technology world; everything is seemed to be inspired by it. Things had become easy and handy to maintain. It is so vast that now we have different types of digital media available that are run on different platforms but they have a common character that is they all use digital technology. Digital technology enforces an electronic media in to new world. Computer, Television, audio/video devices, I Pods, cellular phones etc. The effect of the digital media is common everywhere. , Newspapers books and magazines are also become digital. This is because of the latest facilities and features that digital technology provides to its end users. Digital marketing and communication The concept of â€Å"digital marketing† has been used more frequently and operationally, where as the theoretical understanding and comprehensive models of  Ã‚   why and how to use different digital channels are still in developing process. Urban (2004) suggests,   â€Å"The Digital marketing uses the Internet and information technology to extend and improve traditional marketing functions.† He relates all the traditional 4 P’s, and focused on both customer retention and acquisition.  Ã‚   Terms like   â€Å"interactive marketing,† â€Å"one-to-one marketing,† and â€Å"e-marketing† are close to digital marketing, but neither are they defined very precisely. Coviello et al,(2001) define e marketing as â€Å"using the Internet and other interactive technologies to link the firm with the identified or targeted customers.   They consider e- marketing as a subject of e-commerce. They focused e- marketing as managing continuous IT-enabl ed relationships with consumers by forming dialogue and interactivity (scripts). Paradigm on Customer Loyalty and branding communications in the field of digital marketing communications As described in Fig. 1 which proposes an integrative model of the effects of digital marketing communication on customer loyalty. This model consists of means of brand communication via different sources or channels.  · Moderators interactivity and personalization  · Outcomes -Perceived values and commitment,  · Customer loyalty, Mediators customer characteristics, situational factors, involvement, and relationship. By â€Å"brand communication† we refer the quality of communication between the brand and customers. It includes direct marketing, advertising, newsletters, or any other related consumer’s activity in a brand community. This complies the process of building brands and customer relationships is much more efficient than traditional media advertising as example given by Aaker and Joachimsthaler 2000, Duncan et al,1998. The presented model focused on how brand communication affecting customer loyalty. There are two main factors in building brand communication what are expected to affect customer loyalty and its frequency example, how many brand messages and content, promotional or relational. The main outcome in the model is customer loyalty is divided into behavioral example purchases and attitudinal loyalty or consumers brand attitude. For true customer loyalty to exist, a pattern of repeat purchases must be accompanied by a positive attitude ( Jakoby and Chestnut 1978). This distinguishes it from spurious loyalty, where only behavioral loyalty is detected with low relative attitudes (Dick and Basu 1994). Brand communication can also be personalized. For example, customer profiles or preferences effects the brand communication are constructed in customers minds through information so the assumption also mediating factors that affect how the loyalty effects of DMC are created. They can be used to create customized message content for different marketing segments or individual customers delivered via their chosen channels that increase the value of communication to the customer.   Identifying the content, timing, and channels are also personalized elements to look after. Brand contacts can differ interactively example customers can search the information or make inquiries, and can leave the feedback or various other activities with marketers or other customers can be processed. It leaves the positive effect on customer loyalty. Interactivity can be described as its divisions: Functions (e.g. a web contact form), Processes (e.g. that messages are contingent upon previous messages), Perceptions (how customers perceive interactivity), and time spent Brand (e.g. playing games on branded website). The effects of brand communication on customer loyalty can be verified from behavior and attitudes of the consumer: example purchases, visits, brand satisfaction attitudes, feedback forms etc E-Marketing Mix. The e-marketing mix considers the elements of presenting the marketing mix online. E-product strategies The buyer knows immediately about product features, the facts, not sales persons, consumers know what they get as the verity of choices available. The buying process is also customized for returning visitors, making repeat purchases easier. Organisations can also offer immediately ancillary products along with the main purchase. Example, the chance to buy extra printer cartridges along with your purchase of your printer online.   The product can also be customised to consumers needs. E-price strategies The Internet has made pricing very competitive. Many costs i.e. store costs, staff cost have disappeared .The Internet gives consumers the power to shop around for the best deal at a click of a button. The competition on pricing is unpredicted and global. . The online auction company www.ebay.com has grown in popularity with thousands of buyers and seller bidding daily. E-place strategies One of the biggest changes to the marketing mix is online purchasing. Consumers purchase direct from manufacturers cutting out retailers totally. The challenge for online retailers is to ensure that the product is delivered to the consumer within a reasonable time. Location is important within our place strategy. Online location can refer to where links are placed on other websites. Placing a link on www.google.com home page would generate high consumer traffic for you. Knowing your customer and knowing where they visit should help you understand where to place your online links and advertisements. E-promotion strategies Promoting products and service online is concerned with a number of issues. E-promotion includes: Having a domain name.: (A recognisable domain name is first stage towards e-promotion. Organisations such as egg.com have successfully positioned their brand on the online world. ) Banner promotions: (Placing banner advertisements on other WebPages )   Web public relations (WPR):   E-leaflets: Direct email: (It is a popular and common form of e-promotions, although slowly becoming the most hated my many consumersDirect emailing is also known as SPAM which stands for Sending Persistent Annoying eMail. (SPAM). ) Consumer online buying behavior. The consumers† buying behavior has always consider as a popular marketing issue, with broadly considered and also debated over the last decades. The principal approach, explaining fundamentals ways of customer behavior, mention the customer buying procedure as learning, information-processing and decision-making action categorized in various following steps: Identiï ¬ cation about a particular problem Search tool that contains information. Alternative evaluations. Purchasing making decision. Post-purchase behavior (Bettman, 1979; Dibb et al., 2001; Jobber, 2001; Boyd et al., 2002; Kotler, 2003;Brassington and Pettitt, 2003) To understand the mechanism of virtual online shopping and the consumer relationship behavior of the online customers is a main concern for practitioners challenging in the fast growing practical marketplace. By giving the constant expansion of using the Internet techniques in terms of user statistics, transaction volume and business infiltration to the huge amount of research attempt is not giving any kind of surprising. There is 20 per cent of Internet user in several countries who already purchase goods and services online (Taylor Nelson Sofres, 2002) while about     50 per cent of US net user frequently buying online. (Forrester Research, 2003). These kinds of development are regularly transforming e-commerce into a mainstream business activity while at the same time online customers are growing and practical vendor understand the importance and necessity for an expert and customer-oriented approach. While totally understand the needs of customers and behavior of the consumer who dealing online (Lee, 2002) while most of them â€Å" . . . continue to resist with how successfully to market and sell goods online† (Joines et al., 2003, p. 93). A very significant input in classify the rapidly growing number of investigate papers on the issue of the effective customer’s behavior is the study of Cheung et al. (2003). The ï ¬ ndings of their complete prose review are summarizing in a form that depict the major category of factors that disturbing the online consumer. Online marketer’s persuasion tools and the Web experience Next to the personal and external uncontrollable factors inï ¬â€šuencing the buying behavior, exposure of customers to the company’s marketing can affect the decision-making by providing inputs for the consumer’s black box where information is processed before the anal consumer’s decision is made (kolter, 2003). Online marketers can inï ¬â€šuence the decision making process of the virtual customers by engaging traditional, physical marketing tools but mainly by creating and delivering the proper online experience, the Web experience: a combination of online functionality, information, emotions, cues, stimuli and products/ services, in other words a complex mix of elements going beyond the 4Ps of the traditional marketing mix. The prime medium of delivering the Web experience is the corporate Web site, the interfacing platform between the ï ¬ rm and its online clients (Constantinides, 2002). Consumer Relationship management and ICT The Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is now became a strategic imperative for all company as its efficient execution be able to add to customer satisfaction, reliability and maintenance and so, in general sale and replicate purchases (Feinberg Kadam 2002, Kotorov 2002, Anton Hoeck 2002). However, though CRM is consider as one of the fastest growing management approaches thay is   adopted across many business firms (Adebanjo 2003) and mainly tourism and hospitality firms (Sigala 2003), CRM operation is not mean to always delivered the predictable results (Rigby et al. 2002), many CRM initiative have unsuccessful (Early 2002, Feinberg Kadam 2002), while Kekoe (2002) notify that almost   20% of business executive were   claimed that CRM initiative had   been damage by   consumer relationships. With a result, several organisation in the tourism sector are presently surprised their CRM funds or delay implementation of their future project (Sigala 2003a). Furthermore, th e incapacity of CRM application to carry expected profit has not just intensify the legality of earlier findings and claims about the ICT productivity paradox (Sigala 2003b), but it is also boost with current investigate, which is reflect with the huge number of study investigative the grave success factor of CRM (e.g. Cann 1998, Rigby et al. 2002, Rheault Sheridan 2002). Though, even if these studies offer personal evidence of the impact of ICT management practice on CRM effectiveness, and also there is a lack of experimental studies that may questioning the association in between CRM association and presentation aspects (Tu et al. 2001). Karimi et al. (2001) showing the full force on ICT association to perform on consumer service application, but there   is a procedure has been   unsuccessful   for   providing full   proof of the relative of these create with concert profit. CRM: DEFINITION AND BENEFITS EVALUATION CRM realization is greatly reliant on and driven by ICT tools advances (Bradshaw Brash 2001), it is broadly argued that CRM is a combination of software, hardware, processes, management commitment, and application (Sigala 2003a, Rigby et al. 2002). The ICT tools exploitation and their integration with the applications of CRM are expected to take a number of benefits such as (Krishnan et al. 1999, Fitzsimmons Fitzsimmons 1997): improved service and product quality; customer satisfaction; improved financial performance, higher productivity; and formation of barriers to entry; customer services and enhanced convenience through the initiation of new products and various other service/delivery channels. The diverse CRM tools enabling such benefits can be classified as follows (Dyche 2001, Karimi et al. 2001): operational tools for improving customer service, automating sales force, online marketing, etc; improving relationships, analytical for building data warehouses, analysing data e tc; collaborative for the creation of online communities, service personalization ;developing b2b customer exchanges, etc. Customer focused CRM applications help firms in enhancement of effectiveness and efficiency of customer service, online sales and marketing,aby automating: 1)asales forceaprocesses toareduce informationaasymmetry andadelays, and toaimprove efficiency; 2) callacentre’s andaintegrating customeradatabases to reduce staffarequirements and theatotal cost ofaownership of callacentres; 3) e-mailainteractions withacustomers to improveacustomer service andaservice efficiency andaintegrate e-mail, telephone andaweb interfaces; and 4) customer responsesaand profiles, tracking marketingacampaigns throughavarious media across a numberaof channels and managingaquote andaproposal processesafrom negotiationsato closing. Operational focusedaCRM processes benefitafirms in supply chainamanagement, orderamanagement andaservice field by: 1) usingadatabase information and supp lierapipeline processes toaforecast demandamore accuratelyaand create viableascheduling applications;a2) reducing overallaproductionacostsaby streamliningathe flow ofagoods through productionaprocesses and byaimproving informationaflow; and 3)aimproving lead time/qualityaand enabling moreacustomization at a loweracost. ICT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CRM BENEFITS ICT managementasophistication is found toasignificantly moderate the materialisation of the fullaICT business valueaand has been traditionallyaused to characterise aafirm’s evolution in itsamanagement orientation,aplanning, organisationaand control aspectsaof its ICT functiona(Karimi et al. 2001, Sigala 2003b, Tallon et al. 2000). Greater ICTamanagement sophistication is characterised by (Karimi et al. 2001):athe IT manager beingaaware of the firm’s long-termastrategic plans; theafirm’s future strategicaplans being explicitly consideredaduring ICT planning; and theaICT performanceabeing evaluated based onacontribution to the overallafirm’s objectives andanotexclusively on cost savings.aParallel, in firms withahigh ICT managementasophistication, top managementais expected to have greateraknowledge about ICT andaparticipate moreaactively in ICTaplanning.   Moreover,astudies investigatingathe ICT productivityaparadox have also revealedathat CRM benefitsâ₠¬â„¢ materialization depends onathe sophistication ofaICT management as CRM successais inhibited/facilitated by theafollowing factors: failure to developaa CRM strategy andaadopt a strategic orientationa(Cann 1998, Rigby et al. 2002, Sigala 2003a); lack of robustaimplementation approaches (Rheault Sheridan 2002, Adebanjo 2003); lack ofameasurement tools (Abbot 2001); selectionaand configuration of theaCRM tools according to businessaprocesses and strategic goals (Rheault Sheridan 2002; Adebanjo 2003); ICTaimplementation and integration (Cavaye 1995, Adebanjo 2003, Sigala 2003a); ICTamanagement (Karimi et al. 2001); and management of organisationalachange, cultural management (Corner Hinton 2002, Sigala 2003a, Fjermestad Romano 2003).   Previous research (Karimi et al. 2001, Tallon et al. 2000) has also proved thatacorporate strategic ICTagoals have a direct as well as anaindirect (by influencing the wayaorganisations plan, invest, useaand monitor ICT projects) impact onaICT be nefits. Based on this analysisathe followingahypotheses can beaproposed: H1) managers in firms with moreafocused goals for ICT will perceiveagreater CRM benefits; and H2) managers claiming higherasophistication in their ICT managementapractices will perceiveahigher CRM benefits. References Urban, Glen L. 2004. Digital Marketing Strategy: Text and Cases, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Coviello, Nicole E., Roger Milley and Barbara Marcolin. 2001. â€Å"Understanding IT-enabled Interactivity in Contemporary Marketing.† Journal of Interactive Marketing 15 (4): 18-33. Aaker, David A. and Erich Joachimsthaler. 2000. Brand Leadership. New York: The Free Press. Duncan, Tom and Sandra E. Moriarty. 1998. â€Å"A Communication-Based Marketing Model for Managing   Relationships.† Journal of Marketing 62 (April): 1-13. Jacoby, Jacob Chestnut, Robert. 1978. Brand Loyalty: Measurement and Management. New York: Wiley. Dick, Alan S. and Kunal Basu. 1994. â€Å"Customer Loyalty: Toward an Integrated Conceptual Framework†, Journal   of the Academy of Marketing Science 22 (2): 99-113 Bettman, J.R. (1979), An Information-Processing Theory of   Consumer Choice, Addison-Wesley, Glen View, IL. Dibb, S., Simkin, L., Pride, W.P. and Ferrell, O.C. (2001), Marketing Concepts and Strategies, 3rd ed., Houghton-Mifï ¬â€šin Company, Boston, MA. Boyd, H.W., Walker, O.C., Mullins, J. and Larre ´ che ´ , J-C. (2002), Marketing Management, A Strategic Decision-Making Approach, McGraw-Hill/Irwin, Columbus, OH. Kotler, P. (2003), Marketing Management, 11th ed., Prentice-Hall International Editions, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Brassington, F. and Pettitt, S. (2003), Principles of Marketing, 3rd ed., Prentice-Hall/Financial Times,Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Taylor Nelson Sofres (2002), The TNS Interactive – Global eCommerce Report,availableat;www.tnsofres.com/ ger2002/home.cfm Brassington, F. and Pettitt, S. (2003), Principles of Marketing, 3rd ed., Prentice-Hall/Financial Times,Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Forrester Research (2003), â€Å"Forrester Research projects US ecommerce to hit nearly $230 billion†, press release,   available at: www.forrester.com/ER/Press/Release/ 0,1769,823,00.html, and â€Å"Consumer technographics: the online consumer 1998 to 2003†, available at: www.forrester.com/ER/Research/Brief/Excerpt/ 0,1317,17225,00.html Lee, P-M. (2002), â€Å"Behavioral model of online purchasers in e-commerce environment†, Electronic Commerce Research, Vol. 2, pp. 75-85. Constantinides, E. (2002), â€Å"The 4S Web-marketing mix model, e-commerce research and applications†, Elsevier Science, Vol. 1 No. 1, pp. 57-76. Feinberg, R., and Kadam, R. (2002). e-CRM web service attributes as determinants of customer satisfaction with retail Web sites, International Journal of Service Industry Management, 13 (5), 432 – 451 Anton, J., and Hoeck, M. (2002). ebusiness Customer Service, The Anton Press: Santa Monica, CA Adebanjo, D. (2003). Classifying and selecting e-CRM applications: an analysis based proposal, Management Decision, 41 (6), 570 – 577 Sigala, M. (2003a). Implementing Customer Relationship Management in the hotel sector: Does ‘IT’ always matter?†, 11th European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS) â€Å"New Paradigms in Organisations, Market and Society’: UniveS. Cuore, Naples, Italy 16 – 23 June, 2003 Kekoe, L. (2002). Long live e-business: software is finding a new role in helping companies to share information effectively†, Financial Times, March 16, 14 Cann, C. (1998). Eight steps to building a B2B relationship, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, 13 ( ¾), 393 – 405 Rigby, D., Reichheld, E., Schefter, P. (2002). Avoiding the four perils of CRM, Harvard Business Review, 80 (2), 101 – 109 Rheault, D., and Sheridan, S. (2002). Reconstruct your business around the customer, The Journal of Business Strategy, 23 (2), 101 – 109 Karimi, J., Somers, T., and Gupta, Y. (2001). Impact of Information Technology Management Practices on Customer Service†, Journal of Management Information Systems, 17 (4), 125 – 158 Krishnan, M., Ramaswamy, V, Meyers, M. and Damien, P. (1999). Customer satisfaction for financial services: the role of products, services ad information technology. Management Science, 45(9), 1194 – 1209 Fitzsimmons, J. and Fitzsimmons, M. (1997). Services Management: Operations, Strategy, and Information technology. Irwin: New York. Dyche, J. (2001). The CRM handbook: a Business Guide to CRM, Addison Wiley: Boston, MA Abbott, J. (2001). Data data everywhere   and not a byte of use. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 4 (3), 182 – 192 Rheault, D., and Sheridan, S. (2002). Reconstruct your business around the customer, The Journal of Business Strategy, 23 (2), 101 – 109 Adebanjo, D. (2003). Classifying and selecting e-CRM applications: an analysis based proposal, Management Decision, 41 (6), 570 – 577 Corner, I., and Hinton, M. (2002). Customer relationship management systems: implementation risks and relationship dynamics, Qualitative Market Research: An international Journal, 5 (4), 239 – 251 Fjermestad, J., and Romano, N. (2003). Electronic customer relationship management: revisiting the general principles of usability and resistance – an integrative implementation framework, Business Process Management Journal, 9 (5), 572 – 591 Tallon, P., Kraemer, K. and Gurbaxani, V. (2000). Executives’ perceptions of the business value of information technology: a process-oriented approach, Journal of MIS, 16 (4), 145 – 173

The 3 Biggest Changes to Revolutionize Trucking

The 3 Biggest Changes to Revolutionize Trucking The waves of innovation hitting every industry on the planet certainly aren’t missing truckers on the road- check out these changes rounded up by the experts at EveryTruckJob.com and make sure you and your rig aren’t falling behind the times! 1. Going MobileNew apps for hourly driving logs, route mapping, inventory tracking, and dispatcher communication make being on the road more streamlined and connected than ever. Going paperless (or reducing the amount of physical documents you need) by fitting  your paperwork on a device in your pocket will save you time, make record-keeping tidier, and keep your supervisor in the loops.2. Anti-Collision SoftwareThis may not be as easy to put on your truck as downloading a tracker from the app store, but new software (like Bendix Wingman) that alerts drivers to a potential collision is saving lives, keeping insurance costs down, and reducing repairs. Routes are becoming safer and faster, each and every day.3. Integration of Socia l MediaDrivers now have an opportunity to check in with family and friends, notify other drivers about traffic accidents, or give delivery updates on the fly thanks to social media integration. You can use Twitter to pass on safety alerts, share food or mechanic recommendations, or even connect with prospective clients! Just make sure you’re not tweeting and driving- no RT is that important.A tech-savvy driver can be an indispensable asset for any company trying to keep up with the speedy pace of the technological revolution. Stay on top of the resources available to you in the era of smart technology and you’ll have a competitive edge that’s hard to beat!How The Trucking Industry is Rapidly ChangingRead More at www.everytruckjob.com

Moral Obligation and Legal Duty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Moral Obligation and Legal Duty - Essay Example â€Å"A civilized society's first line of defense is not the law, police and courts but customs, traditions and moral values. Behavioral norms, mostly transmitted by example, word of mouth and religious teachings, represent a body of wisdom distilled over the ages through experience and trial and error†2. Laws are primarily meant to safeguard the moral values of the nation, but this itself raises a number of challenges for the law-making agencies given the morals of a society alter with time depending upon the demands of the time. Coleridge said, â€Å"It would not be correct to say that every moral obligation involves a legal duty; but every legal duty is founded on a moral obligation. A legal common law duty is nothing else than the enforcing by law of that which is a moral obligation without legal enforcement†3. This paper reviews the English medical laws other than the law of clinical negligence with an intent to evaluate whether the extent to which the enforcers of these laws see a moral obligation to their duties. For this, the issues discussed include abortion and euthanasia. If they do so, that would mean that their legal duties are founded on moral obligations. In the last, the recent development of the law of human rights is commented upon from the standpoint of the very issue. Different theories of abortion have emerged over the years. Many people claim that abortion is morally justified since it is a legal procedure. â€Å"There is a subtle type of argumentation here that basically is saying that if it is legal, it is moral; and if it is legal and moral, then it is immoral to oppose it†4. A woman who involves herself in sex voluntarily and without the use of contraceptives, she in a way signs a bond with the fetus. â€Å"A contract entails the demonstrated existence of a reasonably (and reasonable) free will. If the fulfillment of the obligations in a contract between individuals could be life-threatening – it is fair an d safe to assume that no rational free will was involved†5. But a pregnancy happens as a result of rape or forced sex, it is morally feasible to terminate it since the mother never entered the contract willingly, thus rendering it invalid. This in turn justifies all measures taken to terminate the pregnancy before it reaches the stage when doing so would threaten the life of the mother. Judith Jarvis Thomson considers abortion impermissible but not on the grounds that most anti-abortionists base their claims on6 Abortion is not wrong because fetus is a human being and has a right to live, but it is impermissible because a woman carrying her pregnancy to term displays good samaritanism. From a moral standpoint, a woman that carries pregnancy to term generously takes care of the fetus by undergoing pain and labor while the fetus has the needs but not the rights but a woman, who terminates the pregnancy does not show this generosity and accordingly, does not take care of the need s of the fetus. â€Å"It is not the case that abortion violates the requirements of morality, therefore, but rather that continuing to incur the burdens involved in pregnancy goes beyond them†7. A woman’s ethical obligation to the fetus is inevitable irrespective of whether the abortion is legalized or not in a certain country8. One woman’s decision to terminate the pregnancy has a number of social implications, which challenges the perception that it is only

Innovative Solutions Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Innovative Solutions - Annotated Bibliography Example Thus, based on the provided case scenario, wherein NHS faced difficulties in procuring high-speed internet services, the approach of BIM might prove to be an appropriate technological solution for this health service company. This solution might aid the company to mitigate such difficulty in the form of making effective virtual design and promoting facility management. This article elaborates about the necessary requirements of network energy along with the growing trend of carbon footprints in recent years. It also deals with the new network technologies, which is green network technologies to achieve the real assignment, which relates with innovation solution. This article also deals with the influence of green network technologies over next generation wire line network. This technology will enhance the performance of workforce and operational activities. The impact of the same is also observed on the economy as well as environment. The reason for selecting this article also is that the advanced technology is linked with the innovation solution for the European projects. The main objective of the article is to design innovative solution for wired network infrastructure. In relation to the case scenario provided, green technologies may act as the other technological solution for NHS that would support this company to transmit huge imaging files b y following a wired network infrastructure. This infrastructure is usually identified to frame certain design elements that aid in transmitting valuable and relevant files in the form of undergoing through diverse networks. The article deals with the usages of different types of technologies such as digital technologies. It also deals with the concept of world’s technological capacity and discusses the concepts such as the application of this technology in the life of the people. The article provides innovative solution to

Discusses the current state-of-the-art in an area of electrical Research Paper

Discusses the current state-of-the-art in an area of electrical engineering and computer science that you are interested - Research Paper Example nd mobile software, however, every mobile application has specific mobile software that defines its characteristics and requirements depending on the data processing need at hand. Generally, with the availability of the Internet, intranet or any other respective communication links, mobile devices enable a user to take a computer and all crucial files, folders, and software out into the field and to work as if he/she were in the office (Masco et al, 17). Mobile computing relies on the principle of mobile voice communication whose technology has been recently extended to include the ability for one to send and receive data across cellular networks. A number of hardware that support mobile computing are available and include mobile devices and device components like Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), Smartphone, tablet computers, ultra-mobile PCs, and wearable computers to name but a few (Mascolo et al, 19). With these devices, there is efficiency in communication and for business people who are constantly on the move, the concept of mobile computing serves to solve the problem of mobility through the transmission of data from remote locations. The dominant technology in the mobile data communication market today that enables mobile computing is the Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), though; a number of alternative technologies are available such as the Circuit Switched Cellular, Specialized Mobile Radio, and Wireless Data Networks. The basic principle of the CDPD technology is the usage of idle time that is available in between existing signals sent across the cellular networks. This technology usually comes with the advantage of low cost of data transmission since the idle time is not chargeable. Fixed users are provided with a fixed physical link to the CDPD network allowing them to connect to the network while mobile users connect to the network using a packet-switched system. In case the CDPD facilities do not exist, this technology utilizes the concept of

Serum Urate Concentrations and the Risk of Hyperuricemia

Serum Urate Concentrations and the Risk of Hyperuricemia Common UCP2 variants contribute to serum urate concentrations and the risk of hyperuricemia Luyu Yang, Zheng Dong, Jingru zhou, Yanyun Ma, Weilin Pu, Dongbao Zhao, Hongjun He, Hengdong Ji, Yajun Yang, Xiaofeng Wang, Xia Xu, Yafei Pang, Hejian Zou,  Li Jin,  Chengde Yang*, Jiucun Wang* *Corresponding author These authors equally contributed to this study.   Abstract Elevated serum urate, which is regulated at multiple levels including genetic variants, is a risk factor for gout and other metabolic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between UCP2 variants and serum urate as well as hyperuricemia in a Chinese population. In total, 4332 individuals were genotyped for two common UCP2 variants, -866G/A and Ala55Val. These loci were not associated either serum urate level or with a risk of hyperuricemia in the total group of subjects. However, in females, -866G/A and Ala55Val were associated with a lower serum urate (P = 0.006 and 0.014à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã…’seperately) and played a protective role against hyperuricemia (OR = 0.80, P = 0.018; OR = 0.79, P = 0.016). These associations were not observed in the males. After further stratification, the two loci were associated with serum urate in overweight, but not underweight females. The haplotype A-T (-866G/A-Ala55Val) was a protective factor for hyperuricemia in the female subgroup (OR = 0.80, P=0.017). This present study identified a novel gene, UCP2, that influences the serum urate concentration and the risk of hyperuricemia, and the degree of association varies with gender and BMI levels.   Introduction Uric acid is the final product of purine oxidation in humans. Elevated serum urate, or hyperuricemia, has long been recognized as an independent risk factor for gout [1-2]. There is a renewed interest in hyperuricemia and its association with a number of other clinical disorders including hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney diseases, and abdominal obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, which are often subsumed under the term metabolic syndrome [3]. Serum urate is balanced between uric acid production in the liver and its disposal via the kidney and gut [4]. The occurrence of hyperuricemia could be caused by disruptions in any part of this metabolic process. Both genetic and environmental factors, such as gender and body mass index (BMI), have a strong effect on the risk of hyperuricemia [3]. Among those factors, the attribution of genetic factors is estimated to be as high as 73% [5]. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified 28 loci associated with serum urate concentration [6]. However, only approximately 7% of the variation in serum urate concentration could be explained by those reported loci, suggesting the missing heritability remained to be explored [6]. Human uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are mitochondrial transporters present in the inner membrane of mitochondria [7]. UCPs are capable of uncoupling ATP production from mitochondrial respiration by causing proton leak and preventing mitochondrial hyperpolarization and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [8]. Among the five identified UCPs, UCP2 is widely expressed in almost all mammalian tissues including white adipose tissue, liver, kidney, pancreatic islets, macrophages and retinal endothelial cells, indicating its involvement in a variety of physiologic or pathologic events [9-12]. Two of the most common polymorphisms of this gene, -866G/A (rs659366) in the promoter and Ala55Val (rs660339) in codon 55, were identified as being associated with different phenotypes [7, 12], including obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particle size, coronary incidence and other metabolic disorders [9-10, 13-21]. Given the involvement of UCP2 and hyperuricemia in a variety of metabolic disorders, we selected the two common loci -866G/A and Ala55Val to explore the association between genetic UCP2 variants and hyperuricemia in a Chinese population, offering a new diagnostic or therapeutic target for hyperuricemia. Results There was no  association between SNPs and serum urate The two loci were proven in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (-866G/A: P = 0.990; Ala55Val: P = 0.690). For -866G/A, AA, AG, and GG genotypes accounted for 21.6%, 49.9%, and 28.6% of hyperuricemic patients, respectively; in healthy controls, the distribution was 21.2%, 49.6%, and 29.3%, respectively. As shown in Table 1, the -866G/A polymorphism was not found to be associated with serum urate (AA/GG: Beta = -0.008, P = 0.644; AG/GG:Beta = -0.012, P = 0.474) or with the risk of hyperuricemia (AA/GG: OR = 1.05, P = 0.603; AG/GG:OR = 1.03, P = 0.667). For Ala55Val, the TT, TC, and CC genotype distribution was 21.5%, 50.5% and 28.0% in hyperuricemic patients, respectively, and the distribution was 21.5%, 49.8% and 28.6% in healthy controls, respectively. No association was observed between Ala55Val polymorphism and serum urate (TT/CC: Beta = -0.013, P = 0.460; TC/CC:Beta = -0.017, P = 0.324). There was no difference in the distribution of the genotypes or alleles among hyperuricemic patients a nd healthy controls (TT/CC: OR = 1.02, P = 0.824; TC/CC:OR = 1.04, P = 0.652). Therefore, no statistically solid evidence supported the genetic effect of -866G/A and Ala55Val on serum urate or the risk of hyperuricemia in the total group of subjects. UCP2 variants were associated withserum urate andhyperuricemia in female subgroups As shown in Table 1, we stratified all subjects into male and female subgroups to further explore the gender-related genetic effects of the two polymorphisms. In the male subgroups, there were no significant associations between the two loci and serum urate or the risk of hyperuricemia (all P > 0.025). However, some nominal significant associations were found between -866G/A and the hyperuricemia risk (genotype AA: OR = 1.26, P = 0.038; allele A: OR = 1.12, P = 0.035), indicating a possible risky effect of the -866G/A variant on hyperuricemia incidence in males. A significant association was found between SNPs and serum urate and hyperuricemia in the female subgroups. The -866G/A genotypes were associated with a lower serum urate (AA/GG: Beta = -0.078, P = 0.015; AG/GG: Beta = -0.104, P = 0.001) and a decreased risk of hyperuricemia (AG/GG: OR = 0.71, P = 0.025). The subjects carrying allele A had a lower serum urate and a decreased risk of hyperuricemia (A/G: Beta = -0.054, P = 0.006; OR = 0.80, P = 0.018). For Ala55Val, genotype TT carriers showed a lower serum urate (TT/CC: Beta = -0.075, P = 0.022) and a decreased risk of hyperuricemia (TT/CC: OR = 0.64, P = 0.020). Genotype TC carriers only had a lower serum urate (TC/CC: Beta = -0.082, P = 0.012) but no decreased risk of hyperuricemia (TC/CC: OR = 0.77, P = 0.093). Allele T was associated with a lower serum urate (T/C: Beta = -0.049, P = 0.016) and a decreased risk of hyperuricemia (T/C: OR = 0.79, P = 0.016). Further analysis of associationin females  with different BMI levels Further analysis was performed regarding the genetic effect of UCP2 variants on serum urate and the risk of hyperuricemia among females with different BMI levels (Table 2). The majority of the females enrolled were stratified into normal- or overweight group (Table 2). In the underweight subgroup, whose sample size was limited after stratification, no significant association was observed between the two loci and serum urate or hyperuricemia risk (all P > 0.025, Table 2). In the normal weight subgroup, -866G/A genotype AA+AG carriers were associated with a lower serum urate (AA+AG/GG: Beta = -0.095, P = 0.022) but not with a decreased risk of hyperuricemia (AA+AG/GG: OR = 0.65, P = 0.076). However, the Ala55Val genotypes or alleles showed no statistical association with serum urate (TT+TC/CC: Beta = -0.070, P = 0.091; T/C: Beta = -0.047, P = 0.106) or hyperuricemia (TT+TC/CC: OR = 0.72, P = 0.173; T/C: OR = 0.72, P = 0.051). In the overweight subgroup, the genotypes of both loci were associated a lower serum urate (AA+AG/GG: Beta = -0.138, P = 0.001; TT+TC/CC: Beta = -0.130, P = 0.003) and a significant, or at least marginal, decreased risk of hyperuricemia (AA+AG/GG: OR = 0.62, P = 0.015; TT+TC/CC: OR = 0.74, P = 0.027). However, the alleles of the loci were associated with a lower serum urate level (A/G: Beta = -0.072, P = 0.019; T/C: Beta = -0.072, P = 0.019) but not with a decreased risk of hyperuricemia (A/G: OR = 0.75, P = 0.036; T/C: OR = 0.74, P = 0.027). Our results suggested a stronger effect of UCP2 variants on overweight females than on normal weight females (Table 2). Association between haplotypes and risk of hyperuricemia As listed in Table 3, the haplotypes of the two loci were estimated in the total group of subjects and after stratification by gender. The -866G/A and Ala55Val variants were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D = 0.974, r2 = 0.936). The wild type haplotype G-C (-866G/A-Ala55Val) was applied as the reference one. Haplotype A-T made up for the most frequent one, while single mutation at -866G/A or Ala55Val each accounted for less than 1 percent (Table 3). In the total group of subjects, no haplotypes were correlated with susceptibility of hyperuricemia. In the female subgroups, haplotype A-T (-866G/A-Ala55Val) was associated with a decreased risk of hyperuricemia; however, this association was null in males. No further significant associations between hyperuricemia and other two rare haplotypes were found in our study, partly due to the limited size of the rare haplotypes carriers (Table 3). These results correlated with the association between genotypes or alleles and hyperuricemia (Ta ble 1). Discussion Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is present in the inner mitochondrial membrane and mainly decreases the ATP level and ROS produced by electron transport; therefore, UCP2 is involved in a board range of pathological processes. In the present study, we first focused on the relationship between UCP2 variants and serum urate and hyperuricemia, potentially examining the scope of the loci related to hyperuricemia. The present study revealed no association between the two polymorphisms of UCP2 and serum urate or hyperuricemia in the total group of subjects. However, because serum urate is extensively influenced by gender differences, we stratified the total group of subjects and determined that -866G/A and Ala55Val were associated with serum urate and hyperuricemia in females [25-26]. Females with the -866G/A genotype AA+AG or allele A had lower serum urate and a decreased risk of hyperuricemia, indicating a protective role of -866G/A for hyperuricemia in females. The -866G/A variant is a functional polymorphism located in the promoter region and putatively changes the transcription factor binding sites [7]. The wild type G allele in -866G/A was associated with lower UCP2 mRNA expression [19, 27]. Increased UCP2 mRNA expression from the A allele was translated into an increased amount of UCP2 protein, with corresponding induced proton leak, decreased ATP/ADP ratio and enhanced elimination of ROS [10, 19]. Hypermethylation in the promoter region could affect the binding of transcripation factors, causing aberrant gene expression. Consistent with our expectations, we found a typical CpG island in the UCP2 promoter region, which included the locus of the -866G/A variant, using information from the University of California-Santa Cruz (UCSC; Santa Cruz, CA, USA) database (http://genome.ucsc.edu/cgi-bin/hgGateway). We believe the UCP2 promoter variant -866G/A could shape this CpG island and protect the UCP2 promoter region from DNA methylation, unco vering a novel underlying mechanism that determines -866G/A increases UCP2 transcription. Uric acid accumulation is caused by the acceleration of ATP degradation to AMP, a precursor of uric acid, and UCP2 could decrease the ATP level and lower redundant AMP for uric acid formation [7, 28]. Moreover, an elevation of serum urate concentration occurs as a physiologic response to increased oxidative stress [31]. Because the ROS level could be down-regulated by UCP2, a counter-regulatory increase of serum urate as an antioxidant defense is less urgent. Therefore, the -866G/A variant in the promoter region might serve as a protective factor through a higher UCP2 mRNA level and increased translation of the UCP2 protein, which might regulate ROS and modify the ATP/ADP ratio. The other locus, Ala55Val, is a missense variant in exon 4 and is associated with an altered degree of uncoupling [7]. In our study, a protective effect for hyperuricemia and lower serum urate were observed in genotype TT and allele T in the female subgroups. However, the genetic effect of the Ala55Val variant was less clear. Several researchers identified an association of Ala55Val with the BMI level and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), with controversial conclusions within cohorts, and few functional studies were performed [14, 32-33]. Similar to -866G/A, the protective role of the Ala55Val variant for hyperuricemia might also be attributed to altered UCP2 transcription. In the male subgroups, a less statistically significant but possible effect of -866G/A and Ala55Val was observed for hyperuricemia risk and higher serum urate. Similar gender-associated genetic effects of UCP2 variants were more or less observed for diseases other than hyperuricemia [7]. For example, Heidema et al. suggested a genetic effect of UCP2 on weight gain was regulated through different mechanism in males and females [34]. Lee, et al. demonstrated that the association between UCP2 variants and BMI was more apparent among female subjects [35]. Cheurfa et al. confirmed the association of UCP2 variants with coronary artery diseases in males but not females [36]. In the present study, we found UCP2 variants -866G/A and Ala55Val had a stronger effect on females with hyperuricemia. One possible explanation for the gender-associated genetic effects of UCP2 might be a regulation role of sex hormones such as estrogen. Estrogen was reported to repress UCP2 in a breast cancer cell line and papillary thyroid cancer cells [37-38]. Taken together, these results suggest the UCP2 protein level was down-regulated by estrogen in females but reversed by the variants of -866G/A and Ala55Val, providing a plausible explanation for the specific protective effects of UCP2 variants on females [37]. Genetic effects on hyperuricemia and obesity have been widely recognized [3]. In the present study, we found that -866G/A and Ala55Val were associated with lower serum urate and a decreased risk of hyperuricemia in overweight, but not underweight, females (Table 2). The relative small sample size might limit the correlation analysis in the underweight group. However, we did observe females with higher BMI level were more likely to benefit from the protective genetic effect of -866G/A and Ala55Val, where the association was significant between the two SNPs and serum urate level of risk of hyperuricemia. In the contrast, among the normal weight females, -866G/A, but not Ala55Val, showed a significant association with a low risk of hyperuricemia, indicating a less contribution from the protective effect of UCP2 variants than seen in overweight females. It was also implied from our results that the [tw1]functional à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬â„¢866G>A promoter variant displayed a stronger effect. The interactions between obesity, uric acid and UCP2 were complicated. BMI has long been viewed as an essential factor influencing uric acid [3]. UCP2 transcription was activated by fatty acids [16]. A recent meta-analysis revealed that UCP2 -866G/A and Ala55Val are associated with a risk of obesity [32]. Subtle intermediary obesity related phenotypes such as elevated triglycerides, total cholesterol concentrations, increased the risk of dyslipidemia and circulating leptin levels were also observed to be correlated with UCP2 variants [40]. Based on these results, we assumed lipid metabolism material such as fatty acids participated in and enhanced the genetic effect of UCP2 variants on serum urate regulation, explaining the stronger genetic effect of UCP2 variants on females with higher BMI levels observed in the present study. The -866G/A and Ala55Val variants were in strong linkage disequilibrium (D = 0.974, r2 = 0.936). The haplotype frequency analysis revealed that variants of the two loci were more in co-variant haplotype A-T (-866G/A-Ala55Val) compared with the single variant forms of G-T or A-C (Table 3). Haplotype A-T was associated with a decreased risk of hyperuricemia only in females, which was consistent with the genotype or alleles results. However, the small size of the two rare haplotypes might limit the power of association analysis with hyperuricemia risk to a certain extent. The susceptibility of hyperuricemia in the two rare haplotype carriers required validation in a larger cohort. Conclusion The present study identified a novel gene, UCP2, with two loci, -866G/A and Ala55Val; this gene influenced the serum urate concentrations and the risk of hyperuricemia in females. The associations of those loci were affected by gender and BMI. This study supported the potential involvement of this gene in the prevention, prediction and treatment of hyperuricemia. Materials and methods Experimental design A total of 4332 subjects were enrolled from the Taizhou Longitudinal Study [22] and included 1387 hyperuricemic patients and 2945 healthy controls. The associations of common UCP2 variants with serum urate and hyperuricemia were tested by linear regression and logistic regression with or without gender stratification, respectively. A body mass index (BMI) subgroup was also used for further analysis. Participants All subjects were enrolled from Taizhou Longitudinal Study [22], of which 1387 individuals had serum urate level over 7 mg/dl and were treated as hyperuricemic patients, and 2945 individuals had normal serum urate (à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‚ ¤ 7 mg/dl) and were treated as healthy controls [23]. The subjects were divided into subgroups (underweight: BMI à ¯Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¼ 18.5; normal weight: 18.50 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ £ BMI Genetic analysis Genetic analysis was carried out in accordance with the written informed consent and guideline offered by the Ethical Committees of the School of Life Science of Fudan University. For genetic analysis, peripheral blood was collected from all the individuals included in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood using the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini kit (QIAGEN, Germany) and was stored at -20à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™. The DNA concentration and quality (including optical density (OD) 260/280 and 260/230 measurements) were determined using a Nanodrop Lite spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Genotyping of -866G/A and Ala55Val in UCP2 were performed by SNPscan according to the manufacturers instructions. Statistical analysis The clinical characteristics were presented as the mean à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ± SD. Students t-test was used to test for a significant difference in the mean age, BMI and serum urate between hyperuricemic patients and healthy controls. The chi-square test was used to describe the gender distribution difference between hyperuricemic patients and healthy controls. The chi-square test was used to test Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) of the two loci. We conducted a logistic regression analysis to calculate adjusted odd ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and P-values to describe the distribution of -866G/A and Ala55Val adjusted for age and gender between hyperuricemic patients and healthy controls. A linear regression was performed to calculate Beta and P-values to estimate the effect on serum urate in different genotypes and alleles. Genotype GG, allele G of -866G/A and genotype CC, allele C of Ala55Val were used as references, respectively. Stratification into subgroups was performed on the basis of gender and different BMI values for further analysis. Haplotype frequencies between the hyperuricemic patients and controls were estimated by OR (95% CI) and chi-square test. The haplotype of the most frequent (-866G/A-Ala55Val, G-C) was used as the reference. A 2-sided P-value less than 0.025 was considered statistically significant after multiple correlation by Bonferroni method. The PHASE program (V2.1) was used for haplotype frequencies estimation, and SPSS 19.0 was used for the statistical analysis. References 1. Choi HK, Mount DB, Reginato AM. Pathogenesis of gout. Ann Intern Med 2005;143(7):499-516. 2.  Weaver AL. Epidemiology of gout. Cleve Clin J Med 2008;75 Suppl 5:S9-12. 3.  Billiet L, Doaty S, Katz JD, Velasquez MT. Review of hyperuricemia as new marker for metabolic syndrome. ISRN Rheumatol 2014;2014:852954. 4.  Hediger MA, Johnson RJ, Miyazaki H, Endou H. Molecular physiology of urate transport. Physiology (Bethesda) 2005;20:125-33. 5.  Kolz M, Johnson T, Sanna S, Teumer A, Vitart V, Perola M, et al.. Meta-analysis of 28,141 individuals identifies common variants within five new loci that influence uric acid concentrations. PLoS Genet 2009;5(6):e1000504. 6.  Kà ¶ttgen A, Albrecht E, Teumer A, Vitart V, Krumsiek J, Hundertmark C, et al.. Genome-wide association analyses identify 18 new loci associated with serum urate concentrations. Nature Genetics 2012;45(2):145-154. 7.  Donadelli M, Dando I, Fiorini C, Palmieri M. UCP2, a mitochondrial protein regulated at multiple levels. In; 2014. p. 1171-90. 8.  Azzu V, Jastroch M, Divakaruni AS, Brand MD. The regulation and turnover of mitochondrial uncoupling proteins. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) Bioenergetics 2010;1797(6-7):785-791. 9.  Dalgaard LT, Andersen G, Larsen LH, Sorensen TI, Andersen T, Drivsholm T, et al.. Mutational analysis of the UCP2 core promoter and relationships of variants with   obesity. Obes Res 2003;11(11):1420-7. 10. Dalgaard LT. Genetic Variance in Uncoupling Protein 2 in Relation to Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Related Metabolic Traits: Focus on the Functional -866G>A Promoter Variant (rs659366). J Obes 2011;2011:340241. 11. Rousset S, Mozo J, Dujardin G, Emre Y, Masscheleyn S, Ricquier D, et al.. UCP2 is a mitochondrial transporter with an unusual very short half-life. FEBS Lett 2007;581(3):479-82. 12. 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The computations involved in this study were supported by Fudan University High-End Computing Center. Author contributions statement