Infant Short Term Memory and the Attention Span Essay

Infant Short Term Memory and the Attention Span - Essay Example The ability of carrying out various mental tasks consists of the use of cognitive functions. This developmental phase varies between infants in regard to whether they are full term infants or premature and also on what their short term memory capabilities are as well. Short-term memory in itself is a limited function even for adults, and infants in particular haven't quite mastered the skill of recalling events that happen in a short time frame (Cowan et al 1999, p. 1082). Nevertheless, in regards to attention span and some other cognitive abilities within infants, there appears to be a response to differentiating stimuli which shows that depending on what is used to gain their attention and maintain it varies from infant to infant. One study in particular was carried out on infants to gain an idea on what holds and keeps their attention span, with this one pertaining to what effects synchronized lighting has on infants (Colombo & Richman 2002, p. 475). This study showed that infants did pay attention to the timed lighting effect as their heart rate was found to increase in a pattern when the lights would flicker at specific times. This of course showed that even though infants aren't alert and wholly focused on every inanimate object that they come in contact with some of these various stimuli have a more profound affect than others. Furthermore, this one study was able to pinpoint the fact that infants seem to have the exact ability as adult people to be able to time exactly when a light simulation is going to take place, which shows that they are able to keep track of time when it is in regards to simulations of patterns. This in itself gives a positive idea of how important attention span is in infants as it is one of the key elements in contiguity learning within the early educational process (Colombo & Richman 2002, p. 477). In the past it was presumed that infants have a very short attention span but as more research has been carried out it is now being questioned just how short their attention really is. The reason this is stated is because, just like the previous test mentioned, this next study showed that babies might actually have the ability to distinguish characteristics of adding and subtracting, of course with a minute set of numbers (Wakeley et al 2000, p. 1525). When an infant is shown a display of a perceptual nature their attention span seems to be more focused, especially if the elements in the display are in the amount of three's, but no bigger amount than four. Research has shown that when cognitive researchers have added to the display or taken away the infants have been very alert to the actions and pay very close attention in what appears to be a detailed manner towards problem solving. This seemingly refutes the belief that infants attentions span is short as it is being shown that t his varies depending upon what the baby is being given to study and explore (Wakeley et al 2000, p. 1526). This type of study however did not give the same results for all infants that were included in it but even so, the majority of infants from the age range of 4 months to 9 months were very alert to the problem solving with innate objects and

Shape Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Shape Strategy - Essay Example This kind of technology helps to improve effectiveness, efficiency, productivity, cost, elasticity and service quality of the business entity. IT enabled facilities of the organization help to build up the competitive advantage of the company by providing consumers with superior services. The successful deployment and adoption of IT will enable the company to accomplish success more easily. Five specific areas where IT represents a risk to a company’s competitive advantage: The five risks that the company has to consider during the course of its business are: â€Å"the bargaining power of buyers, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of substitute products or services, and threats from new entrants† (Mishra, 2012, par. 1). Threat of Entry: The entry of new firms to an industry bring new ability and a need to gain market share that puts stress on costs, prices and the price of investment essential to compete in the market. Microeconomics justifies that profitable industries attract new competition until the downward pressure on costs has forced our all financial profit from the industries. The most obvious sign of a company deteriorating is its failure to address to IT communications, which is the foundation for the break of the efficiency of IT generally. This vulnerability most frequently manifests itself in insufficient environment management tools, unreliable? old hardware etc. The power of suppliers: Powerful suppliers play a significant part in controlling the price of their products and services by charging high cost for limited services, high costs in general, or changing costs according to different customers. Suppliers are powerful if they are capable of charging differentiated price. Leading IT risk units have performed extensive research and have reached the conclusion that organizations which proactively deal with IT risks reap the most profits and benefits. The power of buyers: IT risk most frequently occurs during the breakdo wn of the enterprise business management to help with oversight of IT in some rational governance structure. The threat of substitutes: A substitute product functions similarly to that of the organization’s products but only by a different means. Positive IT risk management creates three competitive advantages for an organization. First, there is fewer firefighting. This permits the enterprise to concentrate on more strategic and productive work. Second, the base is better prepared thus freeing personnel, resources and dollars to focus more on efforts that can increase the price of the product. Third, the project is located in a stronger location than others to charge risk and? therefore? potentially employ chances that others would think too risky. Rivalry among existing competitors: Risk both downside and upside may happen from globalization, emerging technology, data growth, vendor chain complexities, economic ebbs and flows, client expectations as well as compliance suppl ies. Five specific areas in which IT may support or promote a company’s competitive advantage. Threat of new entrants: The increased usage of Information technology globally has many sides to it? one of which makes the threat of new entrants high. Mainly the entry of new firms has been made possible from the transition of wired technology to wireless? and such related facilities. The power of suppliers: Strategic systems have been used to give new facilities to

Biochemical Importance of Water

Biochemical Importance of Water Water is often referred to as the universal solvent and without there would be no life on this planet. Its involvement is extensive from cellular processes in organism to providing a habitat for life. In this essay I will examine the reason for waters properties and how its properties allow for its vast involvement. A water molecule is comprised of 2 hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom. The oxygen forms 4 sp3 hybrid orbitals resulting in a tetrahedral shape. The sp3 hybrid orbitals come about from the overlap of the 2s orbital and the 2px, 2py and 2pz orbitals of the oxygen. Two of these hybrids then overlap with the 1s orbital of the hydrogens resulting in two covalent bonds. The other orbitals are occupied by the 2 lone pairs on the oxygen. The VSEPR (valence shell electron pair repulsion) theory states that electrons repel each other and as a result of this the electrons that surround an atom spatially arrange themselves maximising the distance between one another in the effort to reduce this repulsive effect1. However, lone pairs have a greater repulsive effect than valence electrons which results in the distortion of the angle by effecting the positions of the other electrons; this property accounts for waters shape being bent rather than tetrahedral and having a bond angle of 104.5Â ° rather than a tetrahedral angle of 109.5Â °1. Waters polar nature is contingent upon the difference in the electronegativities of its atoms. Oxygen has a greater electronegativity than hydrogen resulting in oxygen having a bigger pull on the electrons than the hydrogen. The result of this is an inductive effect where the electrons in the covalent bond being drawn closer to the oxygen. As a result of the inductive effect, the oxygen has a partial negative charge (ÃŽ ´-) while the hydrogens possess a partial positive charge (ÃŽ ´+) producing a polar substance. Waters polar nature allows for the formation of hydrogen bonds between one another. The partially positive hydrogen of one atom forms a hydrogen bond with partially negative oxygen of another water molecule. The partial charges on the atoms that make up water allow it to act as a solvent for ionic or polar substances. In the case of ions, the water can break bonds between one another to form ion-dipole bonds as well as dipole-dipole bonds5. The charge of the ion attracts the opposite charge on the water and is surrounded by the solvent molecules forming either one or more hydration shells. Certain biological molecules possess both polar and non polar regions. The polar regions are said to be hydrophilic and will interact with the solvent through hydrogen bonding. The non polar regions are unable to form hydrogen bonds with the water and therefore are unable to interact with it. The water is said to have a hydrophobic effect2 upon these non polar molecules as they interfere with the hydrogen bonding between water molecules. These biological molecules position themselves so that the orientation of the hydrophilic head faces outwards into the solvent while the hydrophobic tail points inwards away from the solvent. Examples of this process would be the micelles, which position themselves so that they form globules and bilayers where they position themselves so that there are two layers of hydrophilic heads pointing outwards into the solvent on either side with the tails conjugating in between. The bond strength of hydrogen is weak comparatively, it is approximately 20 kJ mol-1 compared to 460 kJ mol-1 for the covalent bond between the oxygen and the hydrogen3. Although hydrogen bonds are weak individually they have a cumulative effect. Due to the vast number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds in water, water has a high specific heat capacity for its molecular weight (4.18 J K-1 g-1)5 meaning waters able to absorb a substantially high value for heat and as a result the temperature increase is minimal4. This is what makes water an effective temperature buffer. Water spreads the energy from the thermal increase across the entirety of its system; this is the reasoning behind why water is used by organisms to regulate their temperature. Sweat is comprised of water and salt, due to waters high specific heat capacity it requires a lot of energy to evaporate the sweet off the body6. The thermal energy generated by the body is used to evaporate the sweat which in turn cools the body down. This principle also explains why water can exist in liquid forms and allows for the existence of oceans, lakes, etc. Waters existence as a liquid is vital to existence of life. Osmosis is the movement of water from a region of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a semi permeable membrane. If animal cells were surrounded by an aqueous environment which differs in water potential from their own it could result in cell shrinkage or bursting. In an effort to prevent this, the cells are immersed in an aqueous solution with a similar osmotic potential to that in the cell (isotonic). An example of where osmosis plays a large part in biology is in homeostasis. Water regulation in the body is controlled by the osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus of the brain. The low levels of water in the blood cause these cells to shrink due to osmosis; this causes neurosecretory cells to release the hormone ADH (anti-diuretic hormone)7. Controlling the levels of ADH controls the permeability of the collecting duct, in the liver, to water and thereby controlling the levels of water in the blood and subsequently the body. Each water molecule forms four hydrogen bonds with 4 other water molecules. Although these water molecules dont stay constantly bonded to each other, reorienting every 10-12 s 3, the extensive network of these bonds results in a large cohesive force holding water together. This is vital for the role water plays for transpiration in plants. When water evaporates and leaves through the stomata a water gradient causes the water to be pulled up the xylem. The water molecules above drag the ones below it due the bonds between them. Waters adhesive properties also play a role in this as it gives water the ability to overcome the gravitational force acting upon it through the adhesion between the water and the cell walls in the xylem. Water is used inside complex organisms to break down macromolecules into their sub units. One of the hydrogens of the water is added to one substituent while the hydroxyl group in water is added to the other sub unit. This process is therefore known as hydrolysis. This is important in terms of converting long term storage of carbohydrates, such as glycogen in the body and starch in plants, into short term carbohydrates used in metabolism. The reverse of this process is known as dehydration. When monomers come together to form polymers, the hydroxyl of one and the hydrogen of the other leave giving rise to a polymer. An example of this would be the reaction between amino acids to form proteins, the hydrogen on the amine group and the hydroxyl group of the carboxyl group on the other. Water plays a role in respiration; it cleaves a phosphate off ATP, energy currency of cells, to give ADP and energy for respiration. Waters is produced from the combining of hydrogen ions, electrons and oxygen in oxidative phosphorylation. The significance of this is, the formation of water allows the process to continue7; if water didnt form then cell death would follow. For instance, cyanide inhibits the formation of water from oxidative phosphorylation7. In photosynthesis, water replenishes the electrons lost by the reaction centre. The hydrogen ions of water pass through the channel in the stalk particle providing the energy for phosphorylation of ADP to ATP. The oxygen that is left combines with another to form O2 and is used in cellular respiration. Water contributes to buffering changes in pH in organisms. It combines with carbon dioxide to form carbonic acid. The carbonic acid dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate. All these processes are reversible in both directions. This allows it to act as a buffer. If the pH increases the carbon dioxide and water react to form carbonic acid which, in turn, dissociates to release hydrogen ions, which decrease the pH, and bicarbonate6. The reverse occurs for a decrease in pH. In conclusion, the significant processes that water is involved in are due to its polarity and its ability to form hydrogen bonds.

Michael Porters Analysis Of Starbucks Essay -- essays research papers

Michael Porter, a Harvard Professor introduces his ideology of the Five Forces model that shapes the competition in the industry. Each force is interrelated and therefore leads into the other to show the elements directly involved in the further success or ultimate success of the firm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. throughout its existence since 1971, with its great management team, innovative style of thinking and strong will to succeed in compliance with its mission and vision statements has and continues to overcome its barriers by recognizing such strategic planning as those included in Porter’s five forces model. The model includes such components as Barriers to Entry, Supplier and Buyer Power, Threat of Substitutions, and most importantly the Industry Competitors. Starbucks throughout its existence has addressed each and every one of Porters forces with a positive edge that has greatly contributed to the success of the company. Starbucks took many risks and spent capital that it really did not have. To build a corporation based on intuition and a trip to Italy has undoubtedly paid off in the long run which is evident throughout the year that Starbucks has been in operation. Howard Schultz, CEO and founder of the company, has stuck to his con viction not to â€Å"sacrifice long-term integrity and values for short-term profit.† He knew if he played his cards right and stuck to his guns it would only be a matter of time that Starbucks would become the world largest coffee industry in the world. He wanted the company to become and international outlet for coffee consumers which not only included men and woman but also addresses the needs and wants of those of all ages and nationalities, children, students and any other category of people that have and interest in Starbucks diverse product line. With constant dedication to the company’s vision and mission statement and believing in the value of market share and name recognition and how critical they are to the success of the company, he was able to achieve his goal within a few years. During this time of course he has been able to open a total of 1,100 stores and continues to do so until this day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. continues to address the issues introduced in Porter’s Five-Force Model as such:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New Entrants (Barriers to Entry i... ...mployees). Starbucks also only acquires companies that comply with the ethical beliefs and standards set forth by the company because it is believed that this is the only way a company merger can survive or be successful in the long-term. When a foreign company does not comply with the standards set forth by them, Starbucks reacts instantaneously. An example of such an instance was in 1995 when they reacted to the neglectful treatment of the workers in Guatemala who were earning less than $3.00 a day, by enforcing a code of minimal working conditions and pay for foreign subcontractors. The company’s guidelines call for overseas suppliers to pay wages and benefits that â€Å"address the basic needs of workers and their families† and to only allow child labor when it does not interrupt required education (58-11).† Starbucks can be considered a trendsetter not only in products but also in the area of work ethics by sticking to its mission of the company and apply ing it whether working domestic or foreign. Starbucks is socially responsible and responsive to not only the issues affecting the company and the employees but also to that of the community through which they are able to exist. Michael Porters Analysis Of Starbucks Essay -- essays research papers Michael Porter, a Harvard Professor introduces his ideology of the Five Forces model that shapes the competition in the industry. Each force is interrelated and therefore leads into the other to show the elements directly involved in the further success or ultimate success of the firm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. throughout its existence since 1971, with its great management team, innovative style of thinking and strong will to succeed in compliance with its mission and vision statements has and continues to overcome its barriers by recognizing such strategic planning as those included in Porter’s five forces model. The model includes such components as Barriers to Entry, Supplier and Buyer Power, Threat of Substitutions, and most importantly the Industry Competitors. Starbucks throughout its existence has addressed each and every one of Porters forces with a positive edge that has greatly contributed to the success of the company. Starbucks took many risks and spent capital that it really did not have. To build a corporation based on intuition and a trip to Italy has undoubtedly paid off in the long run which is evident throughout the year that Starbucks has been in operation. Howard Schultz, CEO and founder of the company, has stuck to his con viction not to â€Å"sacrifice long-term integrity and values for short-term profit.† He knew if he played his cards right and stuck to his guns it would only be a matter of time that Starbucks would become the world largest coffee industry in the world. He wanted the company to become and international outlet for coffee consumers which not only included men and woman but also addresses the needs and wants of those of all ages and nationalities, children, students and any other category of people that have and interest in Starbucks diverse product line. With constant dedication to the company’s vision and mission statement and believing in the value of market share and name recognition and how critical they are to the success of the company, he was able to achieve his goal within a few years. During this time of course he has been able to open a total of 1,100 stores and continues to do so until this day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Starbucks Coffee Co. continues to address the issues introduced in Porter’s Five-Force Model as such:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New Entrants (Barriers to Entry i... ...mployees). Starbucks also only acquires companies that comply with the ethical beliefs and standards set forth by the company because it is believed that this is the only way a company merger can survive or be successful in the long-term. When a foreign company does not comply with the standards set forth by them, Starbucks reacts instantaneously. An example of such an instance was in 1995 when they reacted to the neglectful treatment of the workers in Guatemala who were earning less than $3.00 a day, by enforcing a code of minimal working conditions and pay for foreign subcontractors. The company’s guidelines call for overseas suppliers to pay wages and benefits that â€Å"address the basic needs of workers and their families† and to only allow child labor when it does not interrupt required education (58-11).† Starbucks can be considered a trendsetter not only in products but also in the area of work ethics by sticking to its mission of the company and apply ing it whether working domestic or foreign. Starbucks is socially responsible and responsive to not only the issues affecting the company and the employees but also to that of the community through which they are able to exist.

How the Elderly Is Affected by New Technology

Essay: HOW THE ELDERLY IS AFFECTED BY NEW TECHNOLOGY by V. Young Most of the elderly grandparents share frustration with new technology. They have grown up in a time when everything around them was produced, developed, or managed without the use of gadgets and gimmicks propelled by technology. Their generation was mostly hands-on while this generation is hands-off. Everyday tasks leads to frustration. When doing the laundry, there are buttons to press to get it done. The television is powered by direct tv/cable with 300-500 stations. The ceiling lights, sprinkler system, heating and air conditioner is a delicate system that requires skill to work it. Driving the car and making repairs is a tremendous task when all its working parts is generated by a complicated electronic system. The elderly sees technology as an unwelcome change just to make phone calls. They see these small, voice activated, cordless, hand held devices, with letters/numbers too small and general operations is a headache, even with the use of a magnifying glass. Most appliances are remote controlled by voice or touch. Even push a button and your coffee is made. Most elderly people lack the education in technology to be able to keep up with this rapid pace. What's worse is that they don't see how they fit into this technological world. When visiting doctors, attorneys, and other specialized personnel, the elderly may not be able to understand the terminology in these various fields. Visits are short, providing too much information to absorbed at once. Knowledge and use of computers could be an effective tool, if they had the skills necessary to use it. Society seems to ignore the elderly, forgetting that many have paved the way for this technological advancement. Elderly individuals are usually on a fixed income. Many live alone, often depending on trustworthy, skilled laborers to repair everyday household items. However, it can prove to be costly, stressful, with a sense of vulnerability, when hiring someone. This generation of young people may not understand the complex nature of technology placed on the elderly. Every senior citizen should be given an opportunity to learn the new way of life. The challenge of knowing technology gets greater, as new and innovative technology emerges each day.

Agriculture in the Uae Essay

Agriculture in the UAE Lying in the heart of the world’s arid zone, the UAE has little rainfall and one would expect it to be a barren place. Barren places there certainly are, but the process of desertification has very largely been arrested in the country. It is now possible to see forests, fields of grass and wheat where once there were only desert sands and winds. The UAE has a long tradition of agriculture in its oases where crops have been grown for 5000 years. Underground water was chandelled to palm groves and small fields and the technique is still used today. Since the formation of the UAE in 1971, this small scale traditional farming has been complemented by investment that has seen thousands of hectares being cultivated. In the past 25 years, the country’s population has increased ten-fold and agricultural production has kept pace with this growth. The country is self-sufficient in salad crops and poultry for much of the year and even exports crops to markets in Europe. Most of the UAE’s agricultural production comes from four areas: from in and around Al Ain, from a narrow but fertile strip along the east coast, from the oasis of Dhaid east of Sharjah and from the gravel plains in Ras al Khaimah. According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, agricultural production stands at over Dh 2 billion per year. An average crop season yields over 600,000 tons of crops such as tomatoes, cucumbers, aubergines, lettuce, cabbage and animal feed. Studies have shown that much of the country’s soil can be cultivated provided there is water and as a result, there has been an extensive programme to drill water wells. The government will prepare land for local farmers which they are then given free along with seeds, machinery and advice on pest control. There is also government-funded research on different crops to see how they adapt to the local climate. In an attempt to conserve and use as much water as possible in as many ways as possible, the government has embarked on a three-part programme designed to make the most advantageous use of this scarce resource. First, farmers are given advice on how to reduce their consumption of water, mainly through trickle irrigation. Desalinated water as well as recycled and purified sewage effluent is used. Second, with the help of the United States Geological Survey, the government is searching for ew aquifers and monitoring current rates of extraction. Third and last, to prevent the waste of valuable rainwater, retention dams have been constructed in many areas. These store the water until it can be used for irrigation. Tens of millions of gallons of rainwater are being retained by the dams already built throughout the Emirates. In the long run, of course, it is realized that desalinated water will provide the bulk of agricultural water. There is more to agriculture than simply growing crops. One area that has seen dramatic growth is the keeping of poultry for meat and eggs. The same is true of dairy products. Herds of imported cattle have adapted to the climate and are now producing milk, cheese and yogurt for the local market. The presence of trees and gardens in the UAE is always noticed and commented upon by visitors. Over 10 million trees have been planted plus more than 18 million palm trees. In all the cities and towns of the UAE, there have been beautification campaigns with the creation of parks and gardens for the local people. Any householder, even those in flats, can get free plants from the Municipality under a programme that distributes thousands of plants annually. Besides the greening of the cities and towns there has also been a massive programme in the desert and it is here that most of the trees have been planted. Flying over the desert, one now sees great patches of green where formerly there was only sand. All kinds of arid region plants, both local and imported, have been planted and as they grow to maturity, their roots reach down to the natural water supply. When this happens, they will be able to survive with little care and attention. The face of the land and the environment too have been changed. Wildlife flourishes as do native plants and animals. The UAE was never purely and simply a desert. Today it has become a place where greenery can be seen in both urban and rural areas. Twenty years of dedicated commitment have made the point that the process of desertification is reversible. And given time and money, that is exactly what has happened and is continuing to happen.

the Crucible Compare and Contrast Essays

Scarlet Letter/the Crucible Compare and Contrast Essays Scarlet Letter/the Crucible Compare and Contrast Paper Scarlet Letter/the Crucible Compare and Contrast Paper Essay Topic: The Crucible The Scarlet Letter Compare and Contrast: The Scarlet Letter The Crucible The two main characters; Hester Prynne and Abigail Williams of The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, respectively, are very similar in the ways they both commit sin in their societies. However, there are differences between the two. Both women committed the sin of adultery but that was Hester’s single sin, Abigail had sin of lust, envy, wrath, and greed none of which are comparable to Hester’s. Hester protected the man she loved and took her blame to make sure his name in the town did not go rotten, while Abigail dragged her own friends into the web of lies she created and but not only her own name under the name of witchcraft but also the ones she loved and loved her. Hester was repentant of her sin by wearing her scarlet letter but Abigail went to no end to attempt to clear her name of the unwholesome crime she had carried out. Abigail’s reluctance to admit to what she did made it all the harder for the people of her town to find forgiveness in her. Guilt, it consumes both souls of Arthur Dimmesdale and John Proctor from The Scarlet Letter and The Crucible, respectively. It weighs them down and keeps dragging them into the darkness of their own mind until they have nothing left. Dimmesdale and Proctor were both sufferers of their sin of adultery; Dimmesdale’s internal suffering however was unlike Proctor’s vengeance. Abigail used witchcraft to make rid of Proctor’s wife, Elizabeth, Abigail being Proctor’s â€Å"secret lover† she was envious of his wife. After the guilt of committing such a sin and the will to be faithful to his wife, the guilt started to weigh Proctor down just as it had to Dimmesdale. Both the guilt of Dimmesdale and Proctor was symbolic; this was the price they had to pay for their sin. They had to be beaten down by their own guild internally to see the realization of what they have done. Dimmesdale always loved Hester and he would have ran away with her if it wasn’t for his unhopeful outlook on his life. The fate of Dimmesdale and Proctor differed in the ways of what they wanted to do with their life after the women so desperately wanted to hide away. Proctor denied Abigail from the start, telling her that he only wanted to continue his life farming with his wife. Both Dimmesdale and Proctor dealt with guild as their punishment but their differences on what they wanted for themselves showed who was strong and who was weak.