Transcendentalist Movement Essays - Transcendentalism, Lecturers

Transcendentalist Movement Transcendentalism was a literary movement in the first half of the 19th century. The philosophical theory contained such aspects as self-examination, the celebration of individualism, and the belief that the fundamental truths existed outside of human experience. Fulfillment of this search for knowledge came when one gained an acute awareness of beauty and truth, and communicated with nature to find union with the Over-Soul. When this occurred, one was cleansed of materialistic aims, and was left with a sense of self-reliance and purity. Two authors who were among the leaders of the movement were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, whose works "Nature", "Self-Reliance", and "Walden" brought America to the forefront of the transcendentalist movement. Their ideas opposed the popular materialist views of life and voiced a desire for freedom of the individual from artificial restraints. They felt that if they explored nature thoroughly, they would come to know themselves and the universal truths better. The concept of transcendentalism is clearly expressed in the essay "Nature", by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson was a leader in the movement of transcendentalism and the first American author to influence European thought. His essay "Nature" tells of how one can gain insight and spiritual cleansing simply from experiencing nature. Emerson tells of how "in the woods is perpetual youth" and "in the woods we return to reason and faith." These lines exemplify the very ideals of transcendentalism. They show the deep roots a person has in nature and how one can receive knowledge of their Over-Soul by honestly enjoying the outdoors and freeing oneself of previous evils. In the following lines, Emerson remarks: "Standing on the bare ground- my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space- all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball: I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or parcel of God." These lines display the transcendentalist belief that purity and knowledge can be obtained from a union with and understanding of nature. Emerson also relates the concept of transcendentalism to human life in his essay, "Self-Reliance." In this aptly named essay, Emerson grapples with another part of transcendentalism, the issue of "self-reliance." He sees mankind as somewhat of a coward; that people never express their true selves. Emerson claims that humans are afraid to fail; they are pleased if successful, but are never happy with where and what they are. He expresses transcendentalist ideals by saying that a true person would be a non-conformist. Emerson puts this belief into words in the following lines: "There is a time in every mans education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion.no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil." These words are the epitome of the ideals of transcendentalism- that one must celebrate the individual in order to find himself one with the universe. Another significant glimpse into the core ideals of transcendentalism was made by the distinguished author Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau lived in the home of essayist and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. His most honored and enjoyed work was the story, "Walden", which gives a forthright statement of his reasons for embracing a contemplative and decidedly transcendentalist life living on the shore of Walden Pond. In "Walden", Thoreau explains why he chose the woods: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary." Thoreau himself was quoted as saying, "In wilderness is the preservation of the world." In "Walden", the author describes the cardinal importance of nature in ones search of their soul. Thoreau chose to live in seclusion because he believed solitude was the best companion in order to know ones own self. In the essay, he felt that mankind cared too deeply for material possessions; "simplify!" he implored. Thoreau claimed that humans were "ruined by luxury and heedless expense" and that success is gained when one "advances confidently in the direction of his dreams". Thoreau stressed the importance of the individual, saying "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears

Chinese Cinema and the American Counterpart essays

Chinese Cinema and the American Counterpart essays One large difference between Chinese and American cinema is the governments' involvement with the production and releasing of a film. Generally speaking, the Chinese directors that choose to touch on sensitive subjects execute their scripts so sincerely that the government feels the need to interfere and come between the filmmaker and the audience. The films become more serious because of this censorship since they are dealing with real life issues. Conversely, in America, filmmakers tend to either poke fun at the lives of Americans or portray their leaders as noble and courageous as a form of silly propaganda. When Deng Xiaoping took over after the death of Mao Zedong, he set in motion the reopening of the Beijing Film Academy. The three top students, Chen Kaige, Zhang Yimou and Tian Zhuangzhuang, would go on to create the next wave of controversial Chinese films. Yellow Earth, directed by Chen Kaige and shot by Zhang Yimou, was one of the first movies created by this young group of filmmakers, known as the Fifth Generation. It was banned due to its portrayal of 1930's China. The movie touches on old traditions versus the new customs. Brother Gu is a soldier, sent to collect old folk songs to bring back to the troops. Giving the old bitter songs new words to sing is a metaphor for the changing of the role of women in China. Brother Gu explains to Cuiqiao how the women are allowed in combat, allowed to cut their hair, allowed to chose their husbands and generally lead less strict lives than the northern women. Brother Gu is a form of hope for Cuiqiao, as well as Hanhan. Their fa ther, elderly and old-fashioned, appreciates him in their home for his efforts, but not in the same manner as the children do. The children will live and not much will change; they will follow their ancestors' footsteps, continuing the work they have carried out their entire lives. The father says that when a boy marries, it is happiness, b...

Qualitative Interface Evaluation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Qualitative Interface Evaluation - Essay Example Since this task is important in software development, experts have agreed on eight most basic characters of a good user interface. While evaluating the interfaces in this paper it will be important to look at these characteristics because they will be the basis of over evaluation. The techniques for interface evaluation among other parameters will be looking at these characteristics. They include: 1. Clear The main aim of any interface to enable users access information and complete their tasks with a lot of ease. Have a clear interface where icons and the menus are well placed and have a clear meaning is important for a successful interface. Users should not be frustrated by the symbols or icons on the interface, one should provide a pop-up message with details of the function of that interface this makes it more clear. While pointing at that icon you may not know the function of it but a pop up message appears which explains the function. 2. Concise This means straight to the point users do not want a lot of details in the interface. While making the interface clear one should not be trapped into adding a lot of information to overload the interface. The icons or details should be short to the point. The volume icon has a scale and icons which shows the high and low volume level. Although it is not easy to keep things, clear and concise developers should strive to achieve this. Sources( http://www.usabilitypost.com) 3. Familiar A good interface is one that a new user can easily learn and be able to use from the previous interfaces. While developers strive for uniqueness in their interface one thing should be clear, the interface should be familiar to the users for them to have interest to learn and use them effectively. Naturally, users do not like new things, different environment which they will struggle to adapt. Things that are familiar or terms which one uses should be familiar to the users of the system. A system that uses icons should be keen on the ty pe of the icons they use because the context of the system is very important. The screen shot below shows the user that he/she does not need to learn more about the interface because these are the tasks that they want to accomplish using this application hence easy to use. Sources ( http://www.usabilitypost.com) 4. Responsive This means that the system interface should be fast, users like an interface that enables them to accomplish tasks within a short period. It is frustrating for users to wait longer as their requests are being loaded slowly. The user should also have feedback from the system such as the percentage of work done by the system, remaining time and completion status either failed or successful. When the program is loading for instance, a progressing bar or a spinning wheel indicates the task status. The program below shows the time elapsed, time remaining and the percentage of the task done. 5. Consistent Users will learn and advance well in their interface usage if the design system is consistent. Having a system with different interfaces for each version of the program disorients the users. The placement of the Icons, tabs and other items on the interface must be consistent. For instance Microsoft interface are consistent for its application package which enables users to easily adapt from one application to another. 6. Attractive Making an interface attractive is important because users will enjoy performing their tasks with it and probably look forward to using the

Asperger's Syndrome Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Asperger's Syndrome - Essay Example In this group of diseases, some individuals have normal or above normal intellectual abilities. These individuals have been termed as having high functioning autism or having Asperger's syndrome (Cumine et al., 1998). Despite high level of intelligence, these affected people will have difficulties in social reciprocations with hazardous personal interactions. The day-to-day life is fraught with problems associated with coping with change due to their patterned behaviour and need of adherence to fixed routines. Asperger's syndrome is unique in this group of disorders in that the social deficits and ritualistic and stereotyped behaviours are identical to autism. The two distinctive features in Asperger's syndrome are that these individuals have relatively normal cognitive skills and hence in the early phase, there are no language delays (Cumine et al., 2000). It is evident this is a complex brain disorder and is often viewed as a part of the autistic spectrum. The teaching staff has im portant roles to perform since the emphasis is on on-task activities. These programmes must have clear goals, which are clear to both the teachers and children (ASPIRE). These goals must be determined and modified according to the needs and capabilities of these children. The educational programmes thus need to be structured with the goal being education. It is expected that these would improve the social and academic competence of these children. Different strategies have been advised that can be accommodated by the teaching staff in these facilities. Many of them have behavioural difficulties which may hamper their learning skills. It is to be noted that traditional behavioural techniques can be adapted in such settings. Other techniques that have successfully used are peer tutoring, cooperative learning groups, social stories, and circle of friends (Dalrymple, 1995). With this background, this writer's personal affiliations may be stated to highlight the need for this assignment. Conclusion Asperger's syndrome is a pervasive autism spectrum disorder which needs to be managed by special teaching skills. Research and literature have indicated more effective strategies for teaching these affected individuals. It is clear from this assignment that effective educative strategies implemented by the teaching staff need adequate supportive attitudes. This support must begin from detailed assessments of these individuals individually. Based on these needs assessments, the teaching professionals would design teaching techniques that are specially adapted. Only these would fail to achieve the goal unless the teachers also demonstrate a change in attitude towards these children. All these must happen in a restructured environment. As evident from the literature reviewed, inclusive placements of these young children can be effective if adequate support structures are in place. Since the basic problem lies in the area of social interaction, input from normal peers in an inclusive env ironment may have immensely beneficial impact on the form of social interactions of these children. The teaching staff may play important roles in these interactions since they can carefully structure and reinforce these interactions. It is also evident that the support system for these children and their teachers is less than adequate. Data

Journal 6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Journal 6 - Essay Example The book suggests that the schools of Haiti needs revival as the government need to stop inequality practiced in school in the past. So we can see that Haiti had been having a bad social and economical status which was expected to change after earthquake related humanitarian work. The author states that being a under developed nation, Haiti’s medical infrastructure has been highly damaged and the refugee camps were only temporary relief which had many risks. The misery, causality, lack of proper medical facilities all were matter of concern in Haiti after the earthquake occurrence. He in his book does point out to the impartiality and discrimination in the country and how media and foreign agents restricted Haitian life during the disaster. He argues that the political and military should not interfere with humanitarian work as seen in Haiti. So we can see from the readings that Haiti as a disaster struck nation needs a more comprehensive strategy from their government and

Modern Retail On Traditional Formats Scm Applications Marketing Essay

Modern Retail On Traditional Formats Scm Applications Marketing Essay Indian retail industry has always played an important role in improving the GDP growth rate and lifestyle of the country. The industry which traditionally comprised on mom and pop stores spread hither and thither is in the revolutionary phase in the present era. The way retailing is done has come a long way with the emergence of organised or modern retail outlets. There are big players like Big Bazaar, Spencers and Vishal Mega Mart to name a few who have changed the face of retailing in India. These modern retail outlets have enormous financial and technological support as compared to the traditional and unorganised retail outlets. An attempt is made in this paper to study the evolving formats of modern retail and to know their impact on the traditional distribution partners like retailers and distributors. This paper also throws light on the supply chain management tools used by the modern retail outlets through case analysis. Impact of Modern Retail on Traditional Formats SCM Applications Abstract Indian retail industry has always played an important role in improving the GDP growth rate and lifestyle of the country. The industry which traditionally comprised on mom and pop stores spread hither and thither is in the revolutionary phase in the present era. The way retailing is done has come a long way with the emergence of organised or modern retail outlets. There are big players like Big Bazaar, Spencers and Vishal Mega Mart to name a few who have changed the face of retailing in India. These modern retail outlets have enormous financial and technological support as compared to the traditional and unorganised retail outlets. An attempt is made in this paper to study the evolving formats of modern retail and to know their impact on the traditional distribution partners like retailers and distributors. This paper also throws light on the supply chain management tools used by the modern retail outlets through case analysis. Introduction to Indian Retail Industry Indian Retail industry, the industry which stands second in terms of employment generation after agriculture is undoubtedly characterized by the widely dispersed retail outlet situated at each nook and corner whether its urban India or rural. It is the industry which is unlikely known for its unorganized formats. Paanwalas and kiranawallas, street hawkers present everywhere are the various firms operating hither and thither; and meeting the basic needs of the general public and creating a means of earning livelihood for many. In India, the retail industry is broadly divided into the organized and unorganized sectors. The total market in 2005 stood at Rs. 10,000 billion, accounting for about 9-10% of the countrys gross domestic product (GDP). Of this total market, the organized sector accounted for Rs. 350 billion (about 3.5 % of the total) of the total revenues. According to AT Kearney, the organized retailing industry is expected to cross Rs. 1000 billion revenue mark by 2010. Tradi tionally, the retail industry in India comprised of large, medium and small grocery stores and drug stores which could be categorized as unorganized retailing. Most of the organized retailing in India had recently started and was mainly concentrated in metropolitan cities. Within a short span of five years retail sector in India has witnessed great changes mainly on account of a gradual increase in the disposable incomes of the middle and upper-middle class households. In order to reap the benefit of growing economy more and more corporate houses including large real estate companies are coming into the retail business, directly or indirectly, in the form of mall and shopping center builders and managers, hence the sea change in retail sector is highly evident. Indian Organized retail Sector and the Major Players: The Industrial Policy Resolution, 1991 has given a new tool known as LPG i.e. Liberalization, Privatization, and Globalization which resulted in several structural and demographic changes of the Indian Economy. These changes marked the beginning of the new era of Retailing in India and helped the retail industry to grow. Besides this last decade has witnessed the growth of GDP at the rate of 6.6 per cent, resulting in increased income levels and higher purchasing power for the population. Though the early signs of organized retail were visible even in the 1970s when Nilgiris (food), Viveks (consumer durables) and Nallis (sarees) started their operations but the retail still had a long way to go. While these retailers gave the necessary ambience to customers, little effort was made to introduce world-class customer care practices and improve operating efficiencies. Moreover, most of these modern developments were restricted to south India, which is still regarded as a Mecca of Indian Retail. Turn around in Indian retail has taken place in various phases and the journey is still in continuation. Notable among the early entrants were players like Shoppers Stop, Pantaloon, Ebony, Foodworld, Subhiksha, etc.   Thus one can easily make out that the major players of organized retail sector in India are: Figure 1 The Study Research Problem: The aim of this paper is to study the emergence of modern retail and its impact on traditional channel partners like retailer and distributors. The research problem can be formulated in terms of following questions: What are new retail formats? What supply chain management tools are employed by modern retail? What impact these outlets will have on retailers and distributors? The provide answers to these questions, the objectives of the study are: To study the emerging retail formats To study the impact of modern retail outlets on the traditional distribution system To study the variety of SCM tools employed by the modern retail formats To analyze the role of SCM application in modern retails formats Research Methodology: To gather the required information for this study, both secondary and primary source of data was used. Active primary data was collected from the retailers and distributors in both the cities through structured personal interviews. The information other than this was collected through traditional secondary sources like journals, news articles, websites and books. The scope of the study is limited to the two cities Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, India. These cities differ in terms of their population, demographics, size and volume of business and the marketing strategies used by the non-durable and durable goods manufactures in two different cities. Further they are un-researched in this aspect. Sample profile of respondents: The data was collected from the various types of retail formats dealing in consumer non-durable and durable goods like tooth paste, soap, chocolates, cold drinks, refrigerators, mobile phones and televisions. The inclusion criterion was the availability of the products chosen for the study. Following tables describe the sample profile: Sample of Dealers/Retailers Sample Descriptors Profile of Durable Goods Dealers Profile of Non-Durable Goods Retailers Sample Size (N) 50 Retailers/Dealers 50 Retailers Area Moradabad and Delhi Moradabad and Delhi Retail Format Multi Brand Outlets, Exclusive and Dealers cum distributors General Store / Provisional store Confectionary Store, Supermarket, and Departmental Store Inclusion Criteria Availability of Products Availability of Products Table 1.1 Sample of Distributors Sample Descriptors Profile of Distributors Profile of Distributors Sample Size (N) 30 Distributors 15 Distributors Area Moradabad and Delhi Moradabad and Delhi Brands HUL-5, Godrej-3, Cadbury-4, Pepsi-4, Coke-4, ITC-5, Pillsbury-3, Nestle-2 Sony-1, LG-2, Samsung-2, Nokia-2, Motorola-2, Neelkamal-2, Supreme-2 and Whirlpool-2 Inclusion Criteria Availability of Products Availability of Products Table 1.2 Emerging Retail Formats in India India is watching resurgence of Retail sector whereby it has grown from the traditional Mom and Pop stores present here and there in the neighbourhood catering to the convenience of the consumers to the emergence of shopping centers mainly in urban centers with facilities like car parking and finally growth of modern retail formats like hyper and super markets trying to provide customer with 3 Vs- Value, Variety and Volume (Lakshmi Narayanaswamy, Mudit Sharma,). A brief description of the various modern formats of retailing emerging in India: i. Malls: Malls are an upcoming trend in retail market. They form largest share of organized retailing today. Located mainly in metro cities, in proximity to urban outskirts. Ranges from 60,000 sq ft to 7,00,000 sq ft and above. They lend an ideal shopping experience with an amalgamation of product, service and entertainment; all under a common roof. Examples include DLF City Center, The Metropolitan and Big Bazaar around Delhi, Crossroads and R-Mall in Mumbai and Spencers in Chennai are revolutionizing the way middle class Indian consumers shop. These malls have very efficient and effective supply chains which ensure product availability and tracking of the product is feasible easily. ii. Specialty Stores: A specialty store concentrates on a limited number of complementary merchandise categories and provides a high level of service in an area typically under 8,000 square feet (Levy, Michael 2006); Chains such as the Bangalore based Kids Kemp, the Mumbai books retailer Crossword, RPGs Music World and the Times Groups music chain Planet M, are focusing on specific market segments and have established themselves strongly in their sectors. Since this format has less diverse product range thus it is comparatively easy to manage supply chains. iii. Discount Stores: According to Levy and Weitz a Discount Store is a retailer that offers a broad variety of merchandise, limited service, and low prices. Discount stores offer both private labels and national brands, but these brands are typically less fashion-oriented than brands in department stores. The discount stores or factory outlets, offer discounts on the MRP through selling in bulk reaching economies of scale or excess stock left over at the season. The product category can range from a variety of perishable/ non perishable goods. The coverage of products in this kind of format is quite extensive and the demand fluctuation is also high thus if offers challenges in managing supply chains effectively. iv. Department Stores: Levy and Weitz defines Department stores as the retailers that carry a broad variety and deep assortment, offer some customer services, and are organized into separate departments for displaying merchandise. These are the large stores ranging from 20000-50000 sq. ft, catering to a variety of consumer needs. They can be further classified into localized departments such as clothing, toys, home, groceries, etc. Departmental Stores are expected to take over the apparel business from exclusive brand showrooms. Among these, the biggest success is K Rahejas Shoppers Stop, which started in Mumbai and now has more than seven large stores (over 30,000 sq. ft) across India and even has its own in store brand for clothes called Stop!. It is one of the most complicated retail formats catering to the most diversified set of consumer needs. It becomes very difficult to manage the inventory of so many products and brands. v. Supermarkets: As defined by Food Marketing Institute Supermarket is self-service food store with grocery, meat and produce department and minimum annual sales of 2 million. In India, there is growing number of such stores especially in metros and big cities (Anjali, Gupta 2006). These are located in or near residential high streets. These stores today contribute to 30% of all food grocery organized retail sales. Super Markets can further be classified in to mini supermarkets typically 1,000 sq ft to 2,000 sq ft and large supermarkets ranging from of 3,500 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft. having a strong focus on food grocery and personal sales. vi. Hyper Market: Combination food and drug stores average 4,600 square meters of selling space. Hyper markets are even larger, ranging between 7,400 and 20,400 square meters. The Hyper markets combines supermarket, discount and warehouse retailing principles. Its product assortment goes beyond routinely purchased goods and includes furniture, large and small appliances, clothing and many items. The basic approach is bulk display and minimum handling by stores personnel, with discounts offered to customers who are willing to carry heavy appliances and furniture out of the stores. Pantaloon Retail India Ltd. (PRIL) is now emerging as Indias first Hyper Market chain. Modeled along the lines of global Hyper Market Chains like Wal-Mart, the Big Bazaar will stock several product categories. vii. Convenience Stores: These are relatively small stores 400-2,000 sq. feet located near residential areas. They stock a limited range of high-turnover convenience products and are usually open for extended periods during the day, seven days a week. Prices are slightly higher due to the convenience premium. viii. MBOs: Multi Brand outlets, also known as Category Killers, offer several brands across a single product category. These usually do well in busy market places and Metros. Supply Chain Management Tools Employed by Modern Retail Formats: The rate at which transformation is taking place in Indian Retail Sector is unprecedented; the entire retail sector is under going sea changes. The organized retail sector is no doubt having a vast ocean of opportunities in front of it but it possesses certain challenges too. The task of an effective and efficient retailer is to satisfy the customer at the right time with the right product at the right cost, all the time. The challenges that a retail organization faces are many like: huge stock-keeping units (SKUs), seasonal variations of product lines necessitating the introduction of new SKUs, complex tax structures, the sheer geographic spread of the country, changing consumer demands, etc. This level of efficiency calls for retail automation and integrated supply chain management on the part of retailer and a retail organization has to plan to make this system work properly and try to satisfy the needs of every customer without fail. The discovery of automatic identification technologies has been a boon to retailing; they were first introduced globally in the 1960s to assist logisticians identify products in the supply chain. Following are the recent developments in the technologies to trace the goods in the supply chain: i. Barcodes Multi-dimensional barcodes: Corporations have become obsessed with driving down logistics-related costs, including transportation and warehousing. In order to facilitate the movement of goods in transit and to reduce the cost of transportation and to ease the process all most all items in a distribution centre are marked with UPC barcode. In fact, Walmarts buying office has a sign reading, If Your Product Doesnt Have a Barcode, Dont Bother to Take a Chair in Our Waiting Room. Even in India the Retailers in organized sector are beginning to barcode all their products; organizations like Foodworld (RPG Group) and Shoppers Stop (Raheja Group) have urged their vendors to supply merchandise only with standard barcodes. ii. RFID: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an early technology starting to emerge. In order to stop the pilferage of goods in over crowded retail stores this technology plays a great role. It is expected that in coming few decades, RFID will directly connect physical products to logistics systems as the only truly automatic identification technology. This technology helps to track the product and customers use pattern even post-purchase. P G currently tags (RFID) a small number of cases and pallets of products as part of a trial with Wal-Mart stores in USA. The company is focusing on the supply chain and has not even begun to think about whats going to happen to the items post-sale. iii. Retail Software: Most retailers in the organized sector in India have to use retail software in their back end and front end operations and are constantly looking to upgrade their systems as they evolve. To help this growing retail sector get the best, many Indian software companies have developed software packages to suit the different and varied requirements of these retailers. Among the few who are in. the market is Chennai-based Polaris Retail InfoTech Ltd, a subsidiary of Polaris, which has entered the market with its software, Retail Excel. Reputed organizations like Wipro Infotech, Tata Consultancy Services and NCR Technologies have created robust, retail automation software. The Chennai-based T.V. Sundaram Iyengar Sons are currently test-marketing their new point-of-sale system for small and medium retailers in grocery and other related segments. The Bangalore ­ based VMoksha Technologies has developed software for the retail segment while Pune-based Zensar Technologies has tied up with th e RPG group for retail software. The list of that developing retail software is growing by the day. There are many other packages like MS Retail, Shopper, Retail Pro, Retail Magik, etc. that help enable the fast implementation of retail automation in India available in the market. Not to mention large ERP packages like IDA, SAP Retail, BAAN, Island Pacific, etc. Analysis and Findings Impact of Modern Retail Outlets on Traditional Distribution System: The number of modern retail outlets is growing day by day. The customers show shopping preference for these outlets but the extent to which they will influence the traditional retail is uncertain. There are certain categories of products which customers prefer to shop from the modern retail outlets. While the customers still prefer neighbourhood retail stores for their daily groceries and requirements. The analysis of the data collected from traditional channel partners is: The data was collected by the traditional retailers dealing in non-durable products in Delhi and Moradabad to know the impact of modern retail on their business. It was observed that in Moradabad 70% of the retailers feel that the impact of modern retail formats will be important and they too need to work on their formats to meet the customer and companies requirement. Other 20% said it is going to have average influence on their business and it can be cope-up whereas 10% retailers were of the view that it will not have influence on their business. They also opined that they are in operation from last so many years and facilities like home delivery and credit which they provide to their customers are not provided by these new formats. While retailers in Delhi were of different opinion, 15% retailers pointed out that modern format have already influenced their business highly and their sales have decreased by 50% and other 40% said that the influence is important on their business and they need to react accordingly. Around 40% retailers said that it is having average influence whereas 5% retailers located in the residential areas said that the influence of the modern formats is unimportant for their business. Figure 2 The data collected from the durable products dealers also reveals the mixed response towards the growth of modern retail outlet. In Moradabad 70% of the dealers said the impact of modern retail will be important and they too need to work on their formats to meet the customers expectations and companies requirements. Other 30% retailers were of the view that the facilities like home delivery and credit which they provide to their customers will help in marginalizing the impact of new formats. While dealers in Delhi were of different opinion, 15% dealers pointed out that modern format have already influenced their business highly and their sales have decreased by 50%. Other 40% said that the influence is important on their business and they need to react accordingly whereas 5% retailers located in the residential areas said that the influence of the modern formats is insignificant on their business. Impact of Modern Retail on Traditional Retail Outlets 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% Highly Important Important Average Unimportant Importance Percentage Moradabad Delhi Figure 3 Apart from retailers, modern retail outlets also have influence on the distributors. It was observed from the data collected by the non-durable distributors that 70% distributors of different non-durable brands under consideration said that the impact of the modern retail formats on their business is going to be moderate as they are the one who supply to these formats. But other 20% said that the big modern retail outlets make purchases directly from the companies thus their will be significant impact. While other 10% feels that the impact is going to be high. Figure 4 Majority of the distributors dealing in consumer durables like Mobile Phones said that the impact of modern retail is going to be high because outlets like Big Bazaar, Subhiksha have already started procuring directly from the companies and they pass on the margins to the customers. While for products like CTVS, refrigerators and moulded furniture the impact is going to be moderate and distributors can provide better geographical coverage and inventory turnover. They also shared that may be in near future, the companies seeking advantage of reducing the distribution margin through direct supply to these outlets can lead to have moderate impact on their business. Impact of Modern Retail on Durable Goods Distributors 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Very High High Moderate Low Very Low Degree/Products Responses Mobiles T.V./Refrigerators Moulded Furniture Figure 5 Case-Study Analysis of SCM Applications in Modern Retail- (a) TANISHQ Tanishq is a division of Titan Industries Ltd, Indias largest jewelry maker. It is Indias only fine jewellery brand with a national presence, and an acknowledged leader in the branded jewellery market. Tanishq is sold exclusively through a company-controlled retail chain with over 60 boutique stores spread over 39 cities. This network is supplied and supported by a network of 32 CFAs (Clearing and Forwarding Agents). With the network of boutique stores poised to grow, the Tanishq management had to increase visibility along the supply chain, CFAs and boutiques across the country. The Tanishq team picked Wipro Infotech, Indias premier IT solutions company, to put together the solution. The Wipro Infotech team designed a web-based solution, Goldmine, to facilitate the flow of information between various distribution entities. Goldmine offers a platform for the sales, management and factory teams of Tanishq to monitor key activities and parameters along the distribution chain. It also se rves as an integration platform to pull together existing information systems in the company such as SAP/Oracle, DOS-based point-of-sales systems in boutiques, without modifications. Wipro Infotech developed the solution using the .NET framework with an ASP .NET presentation layer. Challenges addressed: The most significant supply chain management issues addressed by Tanishq are in the areas of reducing cycle time, increasing efficiencies and reducing costs in the areas of tracking movement of goods and sales indenting, order status, sales visibility, communication (reports) and exception reporting. Goods in transit: The new system provides details of goods that have been dispatched from the factory to the CFA and then to the boutiques. This functionality also enables tracking of stock return cases from the boutiques to the CFA. And from there on to the factory. This helps the organization track goods in transit and monitor loss of goods effectively if any. Indenting: The ordering of goods by the boutiques is automated. They can refer to online product catalogues and price lists before placing orders. Goldmine enables online indenting for replenishment, shop-specific indenting as well as customer-specific indenting. Such online indenting is based on norms set by the administrator for each variant. Hence, the company can enforce prudent credit norms through Goldmine at the point ­ of-sale system. Say a boutique has a great track record, selling Rs 20,000 ­25,000 worth of bangles, but not up to the Rs 50,000 level it had reached in the past, the company can set prudent indenting levels for gold for that boutique. This information is transmitted to the point-of-sale system via Goldmine and is actually enforced. Previously, under the manual system, the company had no means of systematic enforcement of such norms. . Order status: This functionality provides visibility on the status of orders placed by boutiques. This is made possible by the daily synchronization between the Oracle system at the factory and the web-based solution. Boutique users no longer have to send emails or call up anyone to find out the status of their orders. They get it at their own convenience from Goldmine. Sales visibility: With sales information flowing in from the boutique into Goldmine, visibility of sales from each boutique is improved. Management can now track the effectiveness of marketing programmes and promotions at the boutique level, according to category and price band. Bestseller information for all boutiques is currently available on demand. Communication and exception reporting: Goldmine provides a platform for dissemination of information through content uploads, bulletin boards, and so on. Information on local gold rates (the most important component of material cost), market information, promotion scheme details and product catalogues are transmitted in real time. The company has over 40,000 product variants, so this system capability is crucial. The system also provides for discussion on queries raised by users at the boutiques for producing and modifying new and existing products. Discussions between factory users and boutique users are tracked and an escalation mechanism with alerts is in place in case queries are not handled promptly. Future plans: As Goldmine builds up the supply chain database, Tanishq intends to build a data warehousing application enabled with advanced data mining using SQL server. This will facilitate the use of relevant business intelligence in real time in the boutiques during a customer touch. Market leader Tanishq will set its benchmarks in retail automation and its applications for many in the industry to follow in future. (b) SHOPPERS STOP Shoppers Stop has implemented the US-based retail ERP system JDA. JDA facilitates the integration of all retail functions in Shoppers Stop efficiently. Efficiencies in the buying process: It is JDAs merchandise management system that now performs the buying process and merchandise management control practices. Pursuant to range width and assortment plans, purchase orders are issued to suppliers through the central merchandising function. The actual delivery of stocks is then controlled on a weekly basis through the delivery authorization process mechanism. The delivery authorization number acts as a tool to control the overall inventory position. The delivery authorization is issued to vendors on a weekly basis based on the previous weeks actual sales and on the forward sales plan (forecast). The vendors then despatch the goods to the distribution centre based on the purchase order and delivery authorization. Every distribution centre gets a copy of the delivery authorization issued for the week. At the distribution centre support is provided by the warehouse management system (WMS) of JDA, which manages the warehousing function mos t efficiently. The challenges at Shoppers Stop are the spread of the 14 stores across the country in varying large sizes, ranging from 25,000 sq ft to 55,000 sq ft, the large SKU base, etc. Also, it has more than 300 suppliers who supply stocks to three distribution centres, which then redistribute merchandise to the 14 stores. Variety, colour and size of merchandise play a very important role in delivering a great shopping experience to the customer. Profitable growth: Shoppers Stop views SCM as an enabler of profitable growth; it firmly believes that ERP, if used well, can cut costs greatly by reducing cycle times and inventory levels. One of the key drivers of the profit-driven operation is the significant development in the retailer-supplier information integration in the supply chain the emergence of retailer control over the movement of suppliers goods into the retailers distribution centres. This has led to more complex relationships involving suppliers, third-party distributors and retailers through supplier-retailer collaboration where major suppliers and retailers have the opportunity to exchange timely information on consumer demand and put into practice the most appropriate product flows. SCM at Shoppers Stop: SCM at Shoppers Stop coordinates and integrates all activities associated with moving products, services and information into seamless processes linking all the partners in the chain, including the various departments, vendors, transporters and other service providers. The system facilitates perfect supply chain coordination with an able information system that controls all SCM activities. SCM at Shoppers Stop begins and ends with the customer. The guiding philosophy is to improve the organizations performance by managing constraints and uncertainties inherent in the earlier system. The focus is on using new tools and techniques. The first step in SCM is merchandise planning and sourcing. In Shoppers Stop, SCM is seen from a strategic perspective rather than just as an operational issue. Core supply chain issues such as month-end sales peaks, forecasting inaccuracy, constraint-based planning and so on continue to create problems for Indian retailers even after ERP implementation. Many organizations implemented SCM as a tool to contain costs. and identifying means for reducing pressure on margins due to competition. The mindsets of organizations underwent a transformation when they accepted to consider the use of such integrated SCM from end-to ­ end. The first step in SCM is merchandise planning and sourcing. The range width and assortment planning process is used to develop meaningful sales and space plans. The planning process starts six months before the actual beginning of the season to fill an agreed amount of footage with a product that matches customer demand. The challenge is to develop a balanced range which provides the appropriate mix of colour, price, st yling and fabric so that the customer is given the best possible choice at all times. Also on the agenda is having a mix of own-label products and brands in such a way that it aligns with the companys strategic goal of increasing own-la

Qatar

Known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qa?ar, is an Arab emirate, in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Persian Gulf. A strait of the Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby island state of Bahrain. Qatar has been ruled as an absolute monarchy by the al-Thani family since the mid-19th century. Formerly a British protectorate noted mainly for pearling, it became independent in 1971, and has become one of the region's wealthiest states due to its enormous oil and natural gas revenues. In 1995, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani became Emir when he seized power from his father, Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, in a peaceful coup d'etat. [7] The most important positions in Qatar are held by the members of the al-Thani family, or close confidants of the al- Thani family. Beginning in 1992, Qatar has built intimate military ties with the United States, and is now the location of U. S. Central Command’s Forward Headquarters and the Combined Air Operations Center. Qatar has the world's largest per capita production and proven reserves of both oil and natural gas. In 2010, Qatar had the world's highest GDP per capita, while the economy grew by 19. 40%, the fastest in the world. The main drivers for this rapid growth are attributed to ongoing increases in production and exports of liquefied natural gas, oil, petrochemicals and related industries. Qatar has the highest human development in the Arab World after the United Arab Emirates. In 2009, Qatar was the United States’ fifth largest export market in the Middle East, trailing behind the U. A. E. , Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. With a small citizen population of less than 300,000 people, Qatar relies heavily on foreign citizens, both for its protection and generating labor demand. Qatar has attracted an estimated $100 billion in investment, with approximately $60–70 billion coming from the U. S in the energy sector. It is estimated that Qatar will invest over $120 billion in the energy sector in the next ten years

From Julius Caesar to Hamlet Essay

The comparison between Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Hamlet in terms of how implied, or latent elements and themes in one were transmitted and developed in the other can lead to unveiling the transformations Shakespeare was envisaging with the writing of Hamlet. In the Introduction to the 1987 Oxford University Press edition of Hamlet, G. R. Hibbard stated that â€Å"Hamlet was written after, but not long after, Julius Caesar, which can be dated with unusual accuracy as having been compose in the late summer of 1599† (4). From the arguments that Hibbard gives to support his argument (that there are two allusions in the text of Hamlet to Julius Caesar) we can see the strong connections between the two plays. In a way, both Julius Caesar and Hamlet represent thresholds in the development of Shakespeare’s dramatic art.   However, Hamlet moves in a different direction.   If Julius Caesar is set in a distant past and can only hint to the humanist themes in Shakespeare’s world, Hamlet shifts the tone of Shakespeare’s plays to a more private and Elizabethan center of interest. This paper argues that the themes and motifs that were merely suggested or hinted to or implied in Julius Caesar and which were elaborately developed in Hamlet   are significant in determining the specificity of Shakespeare’s later historical tragedies. The analysis of devices, motifs and themes in the two plays will illustrate this argument. The device of foregrounding is employed in Julius Caesar in the first act as a warning sign to Caesar from the Soothsayer. It is a clear and unmistakable omen of Julius Caesar’s death, especially given the drama’s historical grounding. This device is used in this play only to trigger the conflict – the death of Caesar will generate the actual drama. Because of its lack of ambiguity and its limited dramatic span, the foreshadowing in Julius Caesar does not have the same impact as it does in Hamlet. In Hamlet, the device of foreshadowing becomes a trigger for the play’s resolution and also represents the dramatic subtext which drives the whole chain of events towards the tragic end.   In Act 1 Scene 1, we witness the apparition of the ghost of Hamlet’s father. This episode is marked by the use of special imagery and allusions. Horatio gives the decisive argument in identifying the ghost with tthe murdered king. The ghost figure is clearly employed in this first act as a means of   foreshadow ing not only the conflict of the story but also its resolution: â€Å"This bodes some strange eruption to our state† (The Tragedy of Hamlet 148). The image of Fortinbras is another ominous motif by which Shakespear alludes to the later developments in the play. Moreover, the reader is given a preliminary explanation of the Medieval code of honor, by which the king’s son has to avenge his father’s death. The story of Fortinbras and his father parallels and motivates the complex relationship between Hamlet and his own father. Duty is presented as a crucial motivation, which determines the hero’s actions and even consciousness. Another element which is only suggested in Julius Caesar is the characters’ ambivalence – no character is essentially â€Å"evil† or â€Å"bad†. Brutus, before deciding to join the conspirators, condemns this act: They are the faction. O conspiracy Shamest thou to show thy dangerous brow by night, When evils are most free? O, then by day Where wilt thou find a cavern dark enough/ To mask thy monstrous visage? Seek none, conspiracy;† (Julius Caesar, Act 2 Scene 1). Brutus is therefore shown to have a moral conscience, a conscience dramatically and fatally opposing his actions. The paradox of a noble man’s evil actions might find its explanation through an analysis of Hamlet’s soliloquy at the end of the first act. Hamlet’s soliloquy and corruption in the forth scene points to a specific image idea Shakespeare had about the human mind and behavior: it appears that the seeds of evil can be ingrained in the most noble of spirits or, conversely, that goodness can be the host of evil. This feature is presented in fatalistic and deterministic terms and becomes another motivation for the tragic resolution: So, oft it chances in particular men That for some vicious mole of nature in them As, in their birth – wherein they are not guilty [†¦] Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason Or by some habit that too much o’er-leavens [†¦] Shall in the general censure take corruption From that particular fault (The Tragedy of Hamlet, 181) The chain of events leading to the fatal ending is thus linked to the dictum of â€Å"blind fate†. By foregrounding the ambivalence of human nature, Shakespeare gives a more complex perspective on his characters’ motivational resorts and transcends the limitations of a completely â€Å"good† or a completely â€Å"evil† model. In another scene, the King admits to his having murdered Hamlet’s father. He is presented as having pangs of guilt – â€Å"May one be pardoned and retain th’offence?† (The Tragedy of Hamlet, 273): O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven. It has the primal eldest curse upon’t – A brother’s murder. Pray can I not. (The Tragedy of Hamlet, 272). Cluadius’ questions show the character in a new, humanizing light, which eliminates the image of the stereotyped villain. Many of the elements that are only latent, or implied, in Julius Caesar, are to be fully found in Hamlet’s soliloquies. The motif of Brutus’ suicide, for instance, which is not fully developed in the play, becomes one of the themes of reflection in Hamlet’s soliloquies. Hamlet’s considerations on suicide, on the other hand, elaborate much on this theme. There are several acceptions which are discussed in the protagonist’s soliloquies and they are testimony to Shakespeare’s insight of the human mind: For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, [†¦] To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveler returns, puzzles the will. (The Tragedy of Hamlet, 240-241) Moreover, in another passage, Hamlet gives another interpretation of his own reluctance to commit suicide, which is presented in light of the protagonist’s fear of God and social status: The oppressor’s wrong, the proud man’s contumely, The pangs of disprized love, the law’s delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes,† (The Tragedy of Hamlet, 240). Closely linked to this theme, there is the notion of the vanity of existence which is only implied in Julius Caesar through the foregrounding of the emperors’ rise and fall and in the parallels drawn in this respect among Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony and Brutus. However, this theme is not fully problematized in the play – probably because it does not come in agreement with the historical and philosophical repertoire of Ancient Rome. In Hamlet, however, this theme becomes predominant and one of the character’s privileged objects of reflection. The â€Å"What is a man† soliloquy hints to the vanitas vanitatum of Renaissance and humanist philosophy of the finitude of man and of the ultimate insignificance of all earthly possessions. Moreover, Hamlet’s soliloquy incorporates another one of the humanist concerns, which was that of the perfectibility of man’s spirit and destiny through God-given language and thought: What is a man If his chief good and market of his time Be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more (The Tragedy of Hamlet, 298).   To conclude, this paper has illustrated the ways in which themes and motifs which were latent in Julius Caesar are given prominence in Hamlet, especially through the protagonist’s soliloquies. In a way, it is the very shift from the predominance of the oratorical speech and its dialogic character in Julius Caesar to the primacy of the soliloquy and its monological quality in Hamlet that provides the key for understanding the reasons behind the amplification of devices and themes from one play to the other. With Hamlet, Shakespeare’s historical tragedies become more intimate and, at the same time, more openly philosophical and universal.

Tibor Kalman essays

Tibor Kalman essays Tibor Kalman was born in 1949 in Budapest. At the age of eight his family moved to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. where Kalman was ridiculed for being an outsider and not knowing the English language (Haber). It was evident from the very beginning that Kalman would not fit in with all the other kids- he was different, not only in his life but in his design work as well. Kalman is best known for his design work with his New York based design firm Mthe title is there for the sake of a title. His jobs included everything and were always changing. In 1991 he closed M Long before Kalman, Colors had already been established as a magazine that dealt with controversy, and with specific issues such as sexuality, race, aids, and human rights. Kalman, as an edition to Colors, only enhanced what the magazine was already doing. Kalman brought a multi-lingual magazine that would be accessible to everyone, everywhere. Colors was not about marketing to specific classes or ethnic groups. Whoever could see one of the many intense pictures or read one of the many was thus able to appreciate the magazine. Kalman used pictures to dominate over text (Haber). With the images being the main focus of the magazines the feelings and thoughts that they conveyed were far more dramatic than that of the text. Not to rule out the importance of the ext by any means, but text requires time; it requires thought and knowledge, while images are instantaneous. The impact of the image stares right into the eyes of the reader- it leaves a lasting impression and gives a dist inct portrayal of what the designer is trying to convey while at the same time allows the mind ...

Free Essays on Bare Bodies

Bare Bodies Victoria’s Secret is an easily recognized brand. I chose to write on a Victoria’s Secret ad featuring their new line called, â€Å"Body Bare†. The ad shows a delicate, skinny, model, with her back slightly arched, gazing into the distance. Her shiny, bronze skin greatens her sensuality and specialized prowess. The dim lighting implies mystery and seduction. This ad exudes an image of pampering and sexiness. It doesn’t depict comfort, but a glamorous model in seductive attire. Lingerie advertisements are designed for women ages 15-30, who are the most likely to wear what is advertised. These are the people who read the fashion magazines in which Victoria’s Secret ads appear. Advertisers are trying to reach the group that is most image conscious. The people behind this ad and others like it have failed to grasp the female audience. This is ironic considering the fact that women are the ones that wear lingerie. Men are the target audience of ads such as this. Lingerie ads picture attractive, barley clothed women. Victoria’s Secret catalogs, runway shows, and magazine ads are all pointedly geared towards men. They specifically target men over 35. At 35 years old, most men are either married or in serious relationships. They spend money on Victoria’s Secret products for the woman in their lives. Advertisements were aired during the Super Bowl. Victoria’s Secret models were even featured in Sports Illustrated. Women are not affected by lingerie ads the way men are. In the Body Bare advertisement, the model’s matching underwear set go perfectly with her unreal eye color. The shadowing creates a slimming effect and this strikes on the nerves of female consumers. Advertisements like these embody the â€Å"perfect† woman, primarily thin, but also almost exclusively white, young, and affluent. Advertisers are not using real women to model their products. This is sending a message to average women that they are... Free Essays on Bare Bodies Free Essays on Bare Bodies Bare Bodies Victoria’s Secret is an easily recognized brand. I chose to write on a Victoria’s Secret ad featuring their new line called, â€Å"Body Bare†. The ad shows a delicate, skinny, model, with her back slightly arched, gazing into the distance. Her shiny, bronze skin greatens her sensuality and specialized prowess. The dim lighting implies mystery and seduction. This ad exudes an image of pampering and sexiness. It doesn’t depict comfort, but a glamorous model in seductive attire. Lingerie advertisements are designed for women ages 15-30, who are the most likely to wear what is advertised. These are the people who read the fashion magazines in which Victoria’s Secret ads appear. Advertisers are trying to reach the group that is most image conscious. The people behind this ad and others like it have failed to grasp the female audience. This is ironic considering the fact that women are the ones that wear lingerie. Men are the target audience of ads such as this. Lingerie ads picture attractive, barley clothed women. Victoria’s Secret catalogs, runway shows, and magazine ads are all pointedly geared towards men. They specifically target men over 35. At 35 years old, most men are either married or in serious relationships. They spend money on Victoria’s Secret products for the woman in their lives. Advertisements were aired during the Super Bowl. Victoria’s Secret models were even featured in Sports Illustrated. Women are not affected by lingerie ads the way men are. In the Body Bare advertisement, the model’s matching underwear set go perfectly with her unreal eye color. The shadowing creates a slimming effect and this strikes on the nerves of female consumers. Advertisements like these embody the â€Å"perfect† woman, primarily thin, but also almost exclusively white, young, and affluent. Advertisers are not using real women to model their products. This is sending a message to average women that they are...

How to be a pilot Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How to be a pilot - Speech or Presentation Example Student Pilot: a person who learns how to fly under the direct supervision of another pilot (Hurst, 2013). Sport Pilot: a person who is only allowed to fly â€Å"light sport aircraft† Recreational Pilot: a person who is only allowed to fly aircraft of up to 180 horsepower and up to 4 seats. Such pilots are only allowed to fly during daylight hours unless unaccompanied by another certified pilot (Bjerke & Malott, 2011). Finally, a private pilot is the stage just before commercial pilot in which an individual is allowed to fly aircraft of over 4 seats and including engines much more powerful than 180 horsepower. However, in this stage, the pilot is still not allowed to accept any form of compensation for their services; thereby creating a type of restriction for the final stage of aircraft pilots; the commercial airline pilot. Each successive level of qualification allows for an individual pilot to accrue further hours and gain the skills necessary to become a more well trained pilot prior to moving on to the next stage of training and certification. The process of becoming a private pilot does not necessarily mean that the individual learner is somehow constrained to flying small planes. Rather, the private pilot certification allows for an individual to fly any plane regardless of size and regardless of the overall number of passengers that it is capable of carrying. The only restriction comes with regards to the fact that such a pilot is not able to accrue any level of profit from this activity; thereby increasing the need for further certification in order to ensure that the commercial airline pilot is as well trained and fully nuanced in the art of air travel as is possible. Naturally, any of these training mechanisms in and of themselves does not guarantee a particular result. Rather, they are intended as a means of successive levels to ensure that the individual pilot has completed the necessary training and is fully capable of ensuring that the nee ds of their crew and passengers are met Beyond the main classifications that have thus far been discussed, flight training and certification also hinges upon instrumentation certification and types of aircraft certification. These exist due to the vast differentials in knowledge that are required to adequately fly many of the technologically advanced aircraft within the current market. Whereas in years past it may have been simple to attain a level of flight certification and instrumentation/aircraft knowledge, the current era is one in which many different aircraft are produced around the globe and something of an innate lack of standardization exists. As a direct function of this, it is necessary for individuals to ensure that they are certified in the type of aircraft they will be flying and have had a level of experience with regards to reading and deciphering the instrumentation panels that these different aircraft represent. In addition to these requirements that have been dis cussed, pilots are also required to engage in regular knowledge tests that prove the current validity of the skill sets they have learned in the past. By engaging in such ongoing training, the FAA and other administrative bodies are able to regulate and manage those individuals that continue to possess pilot’s licenses. Moreover, within the process of gaining such certifications, hands on flight training is only one aspect of the process. As such, the individual

Bacteriocins and Their Impact on Our Lives and Agriculture Article

Bacteriocins and Their Impact on Our Lives and Agriculture - Article Example Andre Gratia was the first to uncover the inhibition property of bacteriocins in a compound he named colicin v, which was released by a virulent strain of E.coli bacteria. In 1954, Pierre Frederic uncovered the genetic determinates of colicin, as a conjugation transmissible element that is similar to the F factor. Since then a host of bacteriocins have been discovered, and our understanding of the usefulness of bacteriocins moves forward (Scienceray, 2012). Bacteriocins Bacteriocins are a constituent of the wide array of microbial defense systems. All bacteria produce bacteriocins (Riley & Chavan, 2007). These bacteriocins are proteinaceous compounds, which are lethal to bacteria other than the releasing strain. The spectrum of antibacterial activity can vary from narrow spectrum, with confined inhibition of closely related bacterial species or broad to include several of the other bacterial species (Joerger, 2003). Bacteriocins from gram positive bacteria are associated with the bro ader range of antibacterial range of activity. While initial studies were focused on colicins from E-coli and the bacteriocins from other gram negative bacteria, the current focus of studies on bacteriocins is on the bacteriocins from the gram positive bacteria, as they are assumed to have more application in humans and in foods and other products (Chen & Hoover, 2003). At first glance there may be a tendency to classify the bacteriocins as an extension of the traditional peptide antibiotics, because they are synthesized peptides. Yet, they are different, and it is in the essence of this difference that their utility lies. Unlike peptide antibiotics, which are synthesized by enzymes bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized peptides. In addition, while typical antibiotics are active against a broad range of bacteria, bacteriocins have a narrow range of activity within its own bacteria species or closely related bacteria species. Furthermore, there is an important and unique differenc e in the potency. Within its narrow range of antibacterial activity it is potent in nanomolar concentrations, while in the case of antibiotics a much higher concentration is required for potent antibiotic activity. Though the initial origins and studies on bacteriocins pertain to those produced by gram negative bacteria, the current research on bacteriocins focuses more on the bacteriocins produced by gram positive bacteria, because of the greater potential utility seen in them. Any evaluation of bacteriocins produced by gram positive bacteria is best undertaken by studying them as two groups, namely the heat-stable lantibiotics and the nonmodified heat-stable bacteriocins (Nes, 2011). Bacteriocins from the gram positive lactobacillus are the most investigated group of bacteriocins. Class – I of these bacteriocins consist of the lantibiotics, which are heat stable. They comprise of post-transitionally modified peptides, having multiple rings, bridged by lanthiones or methylla nthionine residues (Zendo & Sonomoto, 2011). Class I bacteriocins are further