Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Applying Ethical Theories Essay Example for Free

Applying Ethical Theories Essay Summary Plagiarism in todays â€Å"copy and paste generation† is an unremitting, complex issue that is not yet fully understood. The paper responds to this proposition with a thesis that understanding the ethical reasoning provided by students in defending plagiarism is crucial in preventing it in student populations. The reasons can provide the basis for specific action-orientated recommendations to reduce plagiarism and to design programs to encourage originality and academic honesty within the relevant educational institutions. Moreover, the authors explain that this study has broader implications, given the link between educational plagiarism and the organisation and profitability of businesses. The paper develops an ethical framework to analyse the reasons that students use when defending their plagiarism. This framework is based on previous research into the ethical reasoning of students in different contexts. The authors explain and apply six ethical theories in the paper: Deontology, Utilitarianism, Rational self-interest, Machiavellianism, Cultural relativism and Situational ethics. The paper uses content analysis methodology to implement the ethical framework described above. Consequently, the research evaluates the recorded content found in the confidential files of students found to have plagiarised work at a US university. This includes the formal process by which the students were charged with plagiarism and how they defended their actions. To ensure the research was not biased two judges were used to evaluate the reasoning. To ensure a sufficient level of inter-rater reliability, the judges evaluated 20 identical ads before being given the cases used in the study. Their results show students used all 6 ethical theories, deontology being the most common with 41.8% of using this reasoning. Variables such as â€Å"Sex, Ethnicity and GPA† had no effect on the student’s ethical reasoning. Students who used the Internet to plagiarize were more likely to resort to Situational ethics and Utilitarianism. The  paper concludes by listing a series of recommendations for each ethical theory on how to instil ethical behaviour and help prevent cases of plagiarism. Critical Analysis of the papers purpose Plagiarism and the internet Granitz and Lowey describe a new plagiarism epidemic in the paper subject to review. The analysis that they present, that plagiarism is increasing due to the ease of which information can be lifted from the internet, is justified by previous academic research. The Internet provides as huge source of information which is easily available to students for use in academic papers (Weinstein Dobkin, 2002.) Moreover, the way that information is presented and is accessible on the Internet has made plagiarism easier (Klein, 2011). Students have the opportunity to copy and compile information from a variety of sources with speed, particularly when compared with old-style plagiarism using hard copy sources. However, since the publication of the paper in 2006, it could be argued that many professors have become more tech savvy, particularly with the development of technology in electronic detection tools (Klein, 2011.) Consequently, it is less easy to sustain the argument that transgression may present an irresistible challenge to students, as technology improves and if teachers in academic institutions become more technologically adept. Applying ethical reasoning to plagiarism After a historical analysis of the development of the concept of plagiarism, the paper moves on to conclude that our modern perception of plagiarism is that it is morally reprehensible. I would critique this approach using the analysis of Morality and Ethics put forward by Klein in 2011. Granitz and Lowey do not appear to consider the extent to which the moral and ethical approach of students in academic institutions may differ from the general modern perception of plagiarism that they describe. Klein describes the research which suggests that there is ambiguity on what is perceived as plagiarism among learners. Quoting Weiss Bader (2003), [a]n example of an area of ambiguity might include peer collaboration and knowing to what extent the collaboration is considered inappropriate. Consequently, I would argue that the paper does not fully consider the extent to which the ethical  problems posed by plagiarism may be problematic because they are non-traditional and that they may not fit easily into existing and well used categorisation systems (Clegg et al., 2007). Instead, the paper seeks to apply ethical philosophies taken from different ethical contexts (albeit ideas used by students) and it maintains the general proposition that plagiarism is considered as morally wrong, without analysing this specifically in relation to students and academic institutions. Content analysis as a research methodology The paper applies a content analysis to review student files which record the formal process by which students in a large US West Coast university were charged with plagiarism and defended themselves. The article recognises the fact that students may disguise their true reasoning whilst providing the reasoning, but concludes that they are still exposing the logic that they use to defend plagiarism – and being able to counter that logic is valuable for the faculty. This problems has been considered in the business context, in which virtually every empirical inquiry of issues relevant to applied business ethics involves the asking of questions that are sensitive, embarrassing, threatening, stigmatizing, or incriminating† (Dalton and Metzger, 1992, p. 207). Furthermore, since the early 1950s researchers in organizational sciences have expressed concern that the â€Å"tendency of individuals to deny socially undesirable traits and to admit to socially desirable ones† may impair empirical studies based on questionnaires which require respondents to report on their own behaviour or attitudes (Randall and Fernandes, 1991, p. 805) Recommendations The paper outlines a basis of recommendations based on the results achieved by the content analysis. Given the above critique of the content analysis, and the limit that the context of asking sensitive or incriminating questions in a business, and I would suggest academic, context, one could critique the assumption put forward in the paper that the recommendations for each ethical theory will achieve the effect of reducing plagiarism in institutions and provide a basis for the implementation of clear academic policies. Moreover, expanding on what I have suggested above, given the critique forwarded by Weiss and Bader (2003), it could be argues that poor  public perception of plagiarism in academic institutions may make any changes difficult to implement. I would argue that a more useful critique would be to consider the reasons offered by students in a non-confrontational and stigmatizing context, which could be used to understand the specific ethical context of plagiarism and to p roduce more specific recommendations. References Clegg, Kornberger and Rhodes: 2007 Business Ethics as Practice: British Journal of Management 18: 107-122 Dalton, D. R. and M. B. Metzger: 1992, ‘Integrity Testing’ for Personnel Selection: An Unsparing Perspective’, Journal of Business Ethics Kaptein M and Schwartz S: 2008 The Effectiveness of Business Codes: A Critical Examination of Existing Studies and the Development of an Integrated Research Model, Journal of Business 77: 111-127 Klein D: 2011 Why Learners Choose Plagiarism: A Review of Literature, Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects 7 Randall, D., Fernandes, M. F. (1991): The Social Desirability Response Bias in Ethics Research. Journal ofBusiness Ethics Robertson, D.C. (1993). Empiricism in Business Ethics: Suggested Research Directions. Trevino, Linda K., ‘Ethical Decision Making in Organizations: A Person-Situation Interaction Model’, Academy of Management Review, 11(3), 1986, pp.601-617. Weinstein and Dobkin: 2002 Plagiarism in U.S. Higher Education: Estimating Internet Plagiarism Rates and Testing a Means of Deterrence, USA: Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, University of California, Berkeley, USA. Weiss, D. H., Bader, J. B. (2003) Undergraduate ethics at Homewood. Standler, R. B. (2000). Plagiarism in colleges in USA

Monday, January 27, 2020

Transhumanism: Biotechnology and its Role in the Singularity

Transhumanism: Biotechnology and its Role in the Singularity BY SHAYMA ABUKAR ABSTRACT   Ã‚   Due to rapid advances in technology, our world is slowly progressing to the point where we may surpass human limitations. This report will aim to focus on the developments of biotechnology and its importance in the achieving this post-human state, as well as its role in reaching a hypothetical singularity. It will also follow the goals of transhumanism and the ethics related to genetic engineering. It is clear that if we are to achieve transhumanist goals, through the aid of, not just AI, but also biotechnology, life as we know will be vastly different. All research conducted for this report is secondary and data was retrieved from journals, scientific magazines and online articles[DS1]. INTRODUCTION What is transhumanism? With life becoming more and more efficient through emerging technologies, humanity is struggling to keep up with our rate of progression. Transhumanists belong to a group that believe we will one day enhance ourselves to the point of being post-human. Transhumanism can be defined as the belief or theory that the human race can evolve beyond its current physical and mental limitations, especially by means of science and technology. (Oxford Dictionary 2016). Its a movement that believes that, through genetic engineering, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, etc., humanity will progress to a point of surpassing human limitations such as death, disease and other biological frailties (McNamee and Edwards 2006). The three main goals of transhumanism are achieving super-longevity, super-intelligence, and super-wellbeing. These goals can be achieved through our rapid technological advancements. Super-longevity is becoming more and more likely with our ever advancing medicine and drug development. Through genetic engineering and genome editing, scientists are now able to cure what were once incurable diseases[DS2]. Transhumanists generally fall into two categories: strong and weak. Weak transhumanists believe that technology should be used to simply enhance humanity, whether that be intelligence, appearance, life span, etc. (Strong Transhumanism | Ethical Issues In Health Care 2014). Strong transhumanists on the other hand have the radical belief that technology should be used to develop humans to another species all together. The ideas advocated by weak transhumanists are already accepted by many in todays world, and the development of drugs and nanotechnology to help solve medical issues is already seen as ethical by a majority. Strong transhumanist goals to develop a new species entirely, on the other hand, is met with accusations that its unethical and unlikely to happen. SINGULARITY Transhumanists generally discuss the concept of the singularity, which can be defined in various ways. In the mathematical world, a singularity is the point at which a function takes an infinite value. However, in regards to technological advancement, the singularity is most commonly defined as a hypothetical moment in time when artificial intelligence and other technologies have become so advanced that humanity undergoes a dramatic and irreversible change (The Best Definition Of Singularity 2016 ). The concept of the singularity is seen as either thrilling or daunting. Whilst techno-optimists believe it is sure to happen in the near future, those skeptical of the singularity and transhumanism believe that it is either impossible, or sure to do more harm than good. In an article on The AI revolution (Urban, T 2015), Tim Urban discusses the concept of DPU (Die Progress Unit). He introduces it as a measure of how far into the future an individual would have to travel before they die of shock due to the vastly developed and technologically advanced environments (relative to their time). Bringing a man from 1750 to 2016 would expose him to technology far beyond comprehensible to someone of his time, thus shocking him to the point of death. His DPU, therefore, is achieved in merely a few hundred years. However, in order for a DPU to be achieved in 1750, the person would have to travel a lot further back, to 12,000 BC. The man from 12,000 BC would then die of shock after experiencing civilisation and the more complex architecture of 1750[DS3]. As Kevin Kelly from Wired magazine stated, all change in the last million years will be superseded by the change in the next 5 minutes. The article suggests that the rate of our advancements are staggering, and as much as AI plays an important role in reaching the singularity, genetic engineering methods and biotechnology have begun to make just as large an impact. Scientists are growing increasingly worried that genome editing is moving too fast for humanity to catch up. Biotechnology plays a key role in achieving this hypothetical event that is so often discussed amongst transhumanists, and development of this technology will allow humans to alter their genome with precision and ease. The more advanced this technology becomes, the easier it will be to effectively surpass human limitations and for life to be transformed beyond recognition. In order for this to be widely accepted, it will need to be used for medical purposes only. GENE EDITING   Ã‚   One of the ways biotechnology is advancing our bodies and developing medical methods is through gene editing or genome editing. Gene editing can be described as the process of inserting, deleting or replacing areas of DNA within an organisms genome. This is done using molecular enzymes that act as molecular scissors (Editing Our DNA With Molecular Scissors | Understanding Genetics). This technology has incredible medical applications and may be used, in the future, to cure a vast number of diseases. Other applications of biotechnology include gene therapy and genetic screening, which both help solve medical issues. DNA is a cells genetic material and consists of a sugar phosphate backbone and nitrogenous bases, and it forms a double helix structure[DS4]. These nitrogenous bases make up nucleotides which carry the genetic data (Whats A Genome?). These nucleotides make up what is known as the genome. An organisms genome contains all of its genetic data thus containing all the information needed to build and maintain that organism. By finding methods and techniques to edit and change parts of our genome, we can effectively cure genetic diseases and medical problems. In 2003, a collaborative group of international scientists completed what is known as the Human Genome Project (What Is A Genome?). Coordinated by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Energy, the project sought to sequence an entire human genome. By achieving this, it paved the way for new genetic technologies and techniques to be developed[DS5]. Scientists have previously struggled to find a method of genome editing that is safe for human use, however, the development of CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has proven that it is now possible to genetically engineer our genome without damaging our DNA (Zhang, S 2015[DS6]). CRISPR is a component of a bacterias immune system that recognises and remembers threatening areas of viruses (known as phages) in order to equip itself to defend against them is they were to attack again. It also involves an enzyme called Cas which then precisely cuts the viruss DNA and prevents it from dividing. This intelligent mechanism now allows scientists to accurately and precisely edit and cut out parts of DNA. The specific enzyme used is known as Cas9, and whilst its responsible for snipping parts of the DNA, it works to edit the genome with CRISPR, which is a collection of DNA sequences telling Cas9 where to cut. CRISPR is already being used as a possible treatment for eye diseases in animals and lung cancer in their first human trials (Le Page, M 2016). Scientists are using the technique to remove immune cells from the body, edit their DNA to make the better at killing cancer cells, then put them back. The rate at which gene editing is progressing is far beyond the expectations of many, and will continue to be developed at a staggering rate. As this progresses, the concept of the singularity begins to be more of a reality. Although CRISPRs merits currently lie within its medical applications, scientists are already figuring out ways to use it to understand the human genome and molecular biology as a whole. Another form of genome editing is TALEN (transcription activator-like effector proteins). These proteins, like CRISPR, also come from bacteria and use its adaptive immunity to edit areas of the genome. The first medical application of TALEN was on an 11-month old girl who suffered acute lymphoblastic leukemia which is a form of cancer of white blood cells. The mechanism was used to extract T cells, genetically alter them, then insert them back into the body so they can better fight against the cancerous cells (TALEN-Based Genome Editing | Thermo Fisher Scientific). ETHICAL, FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS Opinions on transhumanism and the use of biotechnology differ between varying groups of people. Some of the concerns regarding transhumanism and its goal of super-longevity is due to the possibility of over population. Whilst many believe that the medical applications of biotechnology and genetic engineering do well to extend our life spans and prevent us succumbing to diseases, there are some who fear that our world would not be able to withstand increasingly large populations of people. It would have social and financial implications. It is seen as unethical once the technology is no longer used solely for medical purposes, but to extend our life span in the absence of disease. Religious groups of people also believe that transhumanism interferes too much with human nature and what God has created. If we were to use our technology to become a new species entirely, as strong transhumanists believe will happen, then it would mean religious beliefs would be compromised, therefore many are against the ideology (Messerly, J 2015). CONCLUSION The faster we develop biotechnology, the more efficient our methods of curing diseases become and therefore, we are able to use genetic engineering methods to achieve a longer life span. As well as achieving super-longevity, biotechnology can also aid us in developing ourselves to the point of becoming post-human, which may then lead to the singularity. Whilst these techniques and developments have positive medical applications, the rate at which we are progressing is so fast, that its difficult to predict the turnout of our actions and advancements. It may lead to unethical consequences and results that favour strong transhumanists, as opposed to weak transhumanists. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to Amelia and Nuffield for arranging this placement, and thank you to Dekkel and Andre for supporting and guiding us along the way, and providing up with useful resources. REFERENCES Editing Our DNA With Molecular Scissors | Understanding Genetics. Genetics.thetech.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Messerly, John. Transhumanism And Religion. Ieet.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Strong Transhumanism | Ethical Issues In Health Care. Scholarblogs.emory.edu. N.p., 2014. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. TALEN-Based Genome Editing | Thermo Fisher Scientific. Thermofisher.com. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. The Best Definition Of Singularity. Singularitysymposium.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Urban, Tim. The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Part 1 Wait But Why. Wait But Why. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. What Is A Genome?. Genetics Home Reference. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Whats A Genome?. Genomenewsnetwork.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Zhang, Sarah. Gizmodo.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Le Page, Michael. New Scientist N.p., 2016. Mag. 1 Sep.t 2016. The new genetic lottery. New scientist N.p., 2016. Mag. 1 Sept. 2016. Does Evolution Lead To Singularity?. Singularity Weblog. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. Gene Editing. Horizondiscovery.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Sept. 2016. [DS1]Good. [DS2]Good points, but need to be support with a reference. [DS3]Good. [DS4]Source needed [DS5]This paragraph is riddled with great points, but referencing sources will give it much more credibility [DS6]Good.

Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Strabismus Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Strabismus A camera lens focuses patterns of light onto film which records the image exactly. If the lens is out of focus or partially covered, a b lurry or obscured picture will result. The film is a recording device, it does not interpret and select what it portrays. Images from a camera are objective in a very literal sense. Seeing, however, is not such a seamless process. Our eyes work similarly to a camera in that they have a lens which focuses a real image on our retina, a light sensitive sheet of cells. This retinal image is a portrayal of the world as it truly is. The image which we see, however, is not this image. By considering a normal vis ual property as well as an uncommon ocular disorder the process of formulating our visual sense will be investigated. There is a difference between the picture recorded on film and that recorded by our brains. For purposes of this paper, the term "retina l image" is used as an analogy to a photographic image (one without interpretation by the brain ). The phrase "brain image" refers to the retinal image post-brain interpretation. The brain image is the image which would be described by the person, the imag e which is thought of as seeing. This phenomena of brain interpretation is easily demonstrated by discovering one's blind spot. (A good self experiment is described at 1) The blind spot results from an area of the retina which does n ot have photoreceptor nerve cells, the optic nerve head. Yet, even without this seemingly vital information, the brain is able to supply us with a complete brain image. The brain has filled in the blind spot with an image which it believes makes sense. Ha ving explored the blind spot, one can understand that what is captured in the brain image m... ...have been ignored is forced to develop. Adult onset strabismus, however, results in double vision because the brain can not simply ignore the one image that does not make sense. This type of strabismus can not be treated with patching, as their brains have already developed a patte rn which uses both eyes to comprise the brain image. (4) (5) This exploration of strabismus has shown that the brain is a very active participant in determining our perception of the world around us. Visual informati on received by the eye is only part of the story, the brain takes these images and selects what is useful, discarding (strabismus) as well as adding (blind spot) information, thus, constructing our visual experience. Internet Sources: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/blindspot1.html http://www.hhmi.org/senses/b410.html http://www.seekwellness.com/index.htm

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Steroid Usage Essays -- Sports Athletes Steroids Essays

Steroid Usage Why do so many people use steroids when there are so many health risks and side effects? Do people take steroids because they are not aware of all the risks? Not likely, steroids have been around since the 1930’s when Nazi scientists tried to invent drugs that would make German armies more powerful (Banks, Substance Abuse in Sport: The Realities, pg. 13-21). Though steroids were considered harmful and made illegal in 1991 (Berlow, Sports Ethics). Some side affects of steroids are baldness, high blood pressure, lowered sex drive, acne, nosebleeds, liver disease, kidney disease, and many more (Williams, Drugs and Athletic Performance, pg. 88-90). It may sound ridiculous and idiotic, to those who use steroids, with all the risks involved, but the temptation and pressures in using them are sometimes unbearable. In today’s society there are many pressures to be the best athlete and to look a certain way. Nobody wants to take second place, or look scrawny and wimpy. People w ant to be the winner and want others to turn their heads to look at them when they walk into a room. The fastest and easiest way to do that is to take steroids. People take steroids to be bigger and better at sports and also improve physical appearance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s athletics, athletes are getting bigger, stronger, and faster. Whether an athlete plays high school or professional sports, it is getting harder for athletes to compete at a high level with all the competition. When an athlete is not good enough to make the team or is on a team and does not play much the athlete will do just about anything to improve themselves. Many athletes spend numerous hours practicing and lifting weights trying to get better at their sport, and still they lack what it takes to make the team or be the best. Steroids are the solution to their problems and a way to make their dreams come true. If you were offered the opportunity to lose body fat, get stronger, add more muscle within six weeks and have more motivation to work out more consistently then you do now, would not you try it? Sure it is illegal and it is unfair for all the other athletes who do it the hard way, but most do not care. Many young men are taking steroids a t a young age. Reports from the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission issued a report that steroid use increased 2.6 percent from 1997 to 1999. Also, a report from th... ...unless they take steroids. Should the athlete take steroids and be a starter, or do not take steroids and never play?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s athletics, nobody wants to watch a losing team. Whether the person plays on a team, or an individual sport. People want to see their team or favorite athlete succeed. Everyone is getting bigger and better at the sports they play. Some of the pressure that athletes receive is from the fans.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   There are many pressures in society today. Some people take steroids so they will make the team or do better in the sport they play, and others just want to look good. The rest are pressured into taking steroids from there coaches, media, and even fans. Are taking steroids worth all of the risks involved? Well, for the people who take steroids they are worth all the risks. In athletics there is no second place; either you are a winner or you are a loser, and nobody likes to be a loser. There are many reasons people use steroids. Although steroids are not safe, people continue to use them. It is not right for people to use steroids, but as long as there are pressures to win, look good, and to get bigger and stronger there will be people using steroids.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Clean Edge Razor Case

Problem Statement: Paramount has become a market leader in global consumer products; but knows that innovation is vital to continue success. Paramount has used technology to create an innovative razor, but wants to make sure that it is positioned effectively. Situation Analysis: * Customers: Male consumer products have been trending upward in the last decade. The customer segments are broken up into three areas; social/emotional, involved razor users, and uninvolved or maintenance users. Social/emotional are responsible for 39% of Nondisposable razors, Involved is for 28%, and maintenance users account for 33%.In 2009 consumers razors and replacement cartridges at a higher rate than ever before. * Competitors: Competition includes direct competition as well as substitutes for Nondisposable razors. In 2010 the three major players were Paramount, Prince, and Benet & Klein (B&K). Prince mainly focuses on super-premium products. B&K entered the Nondisposable market in 1985. There are als o new entrants which account for the rest of the market. In 2010 Paramount is expected to have a 21. 4% dollar market share. * Company: Paramount is a large consumer products company with $7 billion in gross profit in 2009.The current Nondisposable razor line has products in both the market and value customer segments. The Clean Edge Razor is the first Nondisposable razor produced by Paramount that has a technological innovation. Paramount is relying on the Clean Edge Razor to increase sales and earn more market share in the Nondisposable razor category. * Context: In 2011 the effects of a recession are becoming less drastic than in years before. Customers have more disposable income and companies have more money to spend on investments such as media/advertising and R&D. Collaborators (retailers): In 2009 food stores represented 42% of all razors and cartridges. Other distributors include drug stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and other distributors. As SKU’s increase, shelf space is increased to accommodate for all of the different products. Distributors are willing to increase shelf space because the margin on razors is high compared to other consumer products. Alternatives: Position the Clean Edge Razor as a niche product for highly involved groomers looking for a superior shaving experience. Pros * Less cannibalization. Social shavers right now aren’t interested in the Pro or Avail razor. Paramount is concerned with the overall profitability of all the razor lines. By positioning the Clean Edge Razor as a niche product, the brand equity of Pro and Avail won’t be as affected as if the Clean Edge Razor was positioned as mainstream. The current customer segment for emotional shavers is 39%. With over 1/3 of the customer segment involved with emotional razor purchases there is a decent sized market that could use the benefits of the Clean Edge Razor. * The net operating profit based on financial analysis is higher than the mainstrea m positioning strategy.There are advantages of positioning the as a niche product. Advantages * One advantage is that customers will be more involved, so they will take the time to research the product. After the consumer investigates the Clean Edge Razor, he will be able to tell that there is a clear advantage and the Clean Edge Razor is the best option. * Another possible advantage could be that Paramount could increase the size of the social/emotional market. Cons * Clean Edge Razor is losing out on potential sales because the market is much smaller. * Another con is the negative brand awareness.Even if Paramount created the greatest razor of all time, the brand wouldn’t become stronger because only people who know about razors would know that Paramount is making technological innovations. Through a niche market Paramount would need to rely on their other razors to remain relevant to the mass market. This could prove to be difficult as other companies continue to come out with new razors. Disadvantages * The investment spent on R&D to create the Clean Edge Razor was substantial; it will take longer to earn back the money spent on developing the Clean Edge Razor.Position the Clean Edge Razor to the Mass Market Pros * More people will be exposed to the product. This will lead to greater sales. This will also improve brand equity. Through this positioning strategy Paramount will have a razor in each segment. * Although not as profitable, this positioning strategy will still make a profit and build brand equity. Advantage * Paramount will be viewed as innovative and keeping up with competition. A company that is stagnant falls behind. Through marketing this razor to everyone, Paramount will be viewed as taking the next step to create the best razor.Currently Paramount isn’t working on any other innovative razors so this technology will have to be available to all different types of customers. Cons * One con is that not everyone will know how the v ibration will help prevent a better shave. There are also a lot of people who don’t need a superior razor; they are content with the razor the way it is. * Another con is that the razor will have to be priced lower than if it were a niche position due to competition. * Money spent on advertising. Based on the pro forma; it would cost roughly $12million more to advertise to the mass market.This is risky if the Clean Edge Razor doesn’t do as well as forecasted. Disadvantage * Cannibalization. Currently Pro and Avail have 22. 2% of the volume of razors sold, the largest of any pair or razors. Introducing a razor in the same market with more features will damage the sales of both the Pro and Avail. * This will also negatively impact the brand power of Paramount when the numbers are revealed and it shows that Pro and Avail are not doing as well as expected. * Based on financials this is the worst strategy to pursue. Recommendation: It is important for Paramount to grow the Clean Edge Razor as well as the Pro and Avail.I recommend that the company position the Clean Edge Razor for one year as a niche position and then position the Clean Edge Razor as a mass-market razor for everyone to use. Pros: * Through using a bit of both positioning strategies Paramount will receive the best of both worlds. One pro is less cannibalization of Pro and Avail in the first two years while consumers are adapting to the Clean Edge Razor. By the time the Clean Edge is positioned as a razor for everyone; the 39% of people who have already been exposed to the Clean Edge will be able to differentiate this razor from the Pro and Avail.The cannibalization after the first two years won’t be as severe because people will have already been exposed to the Clean Edge Razor. * A lower price when the product is positioned differently will lead to a larger share of social shavers. The social shavers that have been paying a premium price will be happy to pay less money. The othe r social shavers that don’t use the Clean Edge will be more likely to use the shaver because the price will be lower; meaning the consequence of the razor not meeting expectations will decrease. The sales will increase dramatically after the second year due to more potential customers. Based on my financial statements the net profit is slightly larger than the niche positioning strategy by itself. * Growing brand equity and positive word of mouth advertising through social shavers telling friends and family Cons: * Regardless of the positioning strategy there will still be some cannibalization. * Social shavers may see the change in positioning as a shift in quality and think that a lower price will equate to a bad razor. * The incremental net profit may be too similar to the niche positioning strategy to risk damaging brand power. Implementation Plan:On January 1, 2011 I will tell production to manufacture the Clean Edge Razor just as if we were pursuing a niche positioning strategy. We will spend the $14 Million dollars in advertising on specialty male health and fitness magazines, television shows, and radio stations. We will also be relevant on social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. There will be contests with our razors and customers will get the opportunity to spread word-of-mouth about the Clean Edge Razor. Paramount expects to make over $52 million, with most of that coming in the second year because the first year is mainly niche positioning.It is safe to say that $20-$23 million will be made in the first year. During September we will launch a new campaign positioning the razor as the everyday man’s razor with advanced technology. During this time we will also run a smaller ad campaign for the Pro and Avail marketing the razors as reliable and a staple of the razor market. This is why advertising increases overall in the combination strategy. Paramount is expecting cannibalization regardless, but using a mix of both strategies will help offset the large cannibalization from just using the mass marketing strategy.This will benefit Paramount as a company because Clean Edge Razor will be exposed to every customer segment while still trying to maintain the brand power of Pro and Avail. This strategy will benefit the brands as much as possible. Also, the financials in the Appendix support this strategy over the niche and mass marketing positioning strategies. Cannibalization is inevitable; but it is vital that customers from all segments see that Paramount is an innovative company determined to find new ways to benefit their customers. Appendix

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Analysis Of Hydrocarbon Essay

Abstract In the analysis the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was developed for the identification of volatile compounds (hydrocarbon) in fuel. The samples was used is (kerosene, diesel, thinner and petrol) and one unknown. After the analyte was extracted by SPME in 20min, it directly injected to the GCMS with desorption time 80sec.After the analysis was done, the result was stated at table 4.1, the unknown was identified as a petrol because the hydrocarbon presence in the unknown is the same with the hydrocarbon compound in the petrol sample. Aromatic hydrocarbon was presence in both sample petrol and unknown. Alkanes hydrocarbon was presence in other sample. Objective The objectives of this experiment are to perform sample preparation by SPME and to identify the components of hydrocarbon in common fuel using SPME-GC-MS. Introduction Solid phase microextraction, a simple, effective adsorption/desorption technique, eliminates the need for solvents or complicated apparatus for concentrating volatile or nonvolatile compounds in liquid samples or headspace. SPME is compatible with analyte separation/detection by gas chromatography or HPLC, and provides linear results for wide concentrations of analytes. By controlling the polarity and thickness of the coating on the fiber, maintaining consistent sampling time, and adjusting several other extraction parameters, an analyst can ensure highly consistent, quantifiable results from low concentrations of analytes. Analyses of volatile or semivolatile organic environmental pollutants,flavor or fragrance components, and many other samples usually begin with concentrating the analytes of interest through liquid-liquid extraction, purge-and-trap, headspace, or various other techniques. These procedures typically require excessive time, complicated equipment, and/or extravagant use of organic solvents. Solid phase microextraction, or SPME,* an adsorption/desorption technique developed at the University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada), eliminates the need for solvents or complicated apparatus for concentrating volatile or nonvolatile compounds in liquid samples or headspace. SPME provides linear results over wide concentrations of analytes (1-4), is compatiblewith any packed column or capillary gas chromatograph or gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer system, and can be used with split/splitless or direct/packed injectors. An SPME/HPLC interface allows the technique to be combined with analysis by HPL C, expanding the applications for the extraction technique to detection of surfactants in water, pharmaceuticals in biological fluids, and many other analyses. An analytical process typically consists of several discrete steps: sampling, sample preparation, separation, quantification and data analysis. For example, in the analysis of semivolatile components in water, the target analytes are first extracted into an organic solvent. The resulting solution is then introduced into an analytical instrument for separation, quantification, and possible identification. Each of these steps affects the precision, accuracy and speed of the analysis. Although multi-dimensional techniques such as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) have improved separation and quantification, the preparation step is still time consuming and often uses a significant volume of organic. SPME was developed to simplify the preparation step. SPME is a microextraction technique, which means that the amount of extraction solvent is very small compared to the sample volume. As a result, exhaustive removal of analytes to the extracting phase does not occur, rather an equilibrium is reached between the sample matrix and the extracting phase. To make this approach practical, the extracting phase is permanently attached to rods made out of various materials. In most of the cases, the extracting phase is a polymeric organic  phase that is cross-linked and permanently attached to the rod. In one configuration, the rods consist of an optical fiber made of fused silica, which is chemically inert. A polymer layer is used to protect the fiber against breakage. Two common polymers used are poly (dimethylsiloxane) and polyacrylate. Poly (dimethylsiloxane) behaves as a liquid,which results in rapid extraction compared to polyacrylate, which is a solid. The silica rods have a typical diameter of 100–200 micrometers and a film thickness ranging from 10–100 microns. When the coated fiber is placed into an aqueous matrix (Figure 1), the analyte is transferred from the matrix into the coating. The extraction is considered to be complete when the analyte has reached an equilibrium distribution between the matrix and fiber coating. The equilibrium condition can be described as: n = Kfs Vf Vs Co Kfs Vf Vs when n is the amount extracted by the coating Kfs is the distribution coefficient between the fiber coating and the sample matrix, Vf is the volume of the fiber coating, Vs is the volume of the sample, and C0 is the initial concentration of analyte in the sample. FIGURE 4.1: Microextraction with SPME. SPME passively extracts organic compounds and concentrates them onto a thin, fused-silica ï ¬ ber coated with a stationary-phase material. The component in sample was identified by comparing with the mass spectra library. The quality of a component must taken 90% and above. There are three different extraction modes for SPME: I.  Direct: Fiber is placed in the water or air sample and the analytes are adsorbed onto or absorbed into the ï ¬ ber coating directly from the sample matrix. II.  Headspace: Sample of soil or water is placed in a vial. The SPME ï ¬ ber is placed in the air directly above the water or soil, and analytes partition from the sample matrix through the air to the ï ¬ ber coating. The air in the vial serves as a barrier between the SPME ï ¬ ber and the sample matrix to protect the SPME ï ¬ ber and eliminate fouling by high molecular-weight compounds and other non-volatile interferences in the sample media. III.  Membrane: uses a membrane to protect the SPME ï ¬ ber from heavily contaminated samples that may damage the ï ¬ ber. Figure 4.2: Schematic diagram of the headspace SPME apparatus. Sample: Unleaded petrol, diesel, paint thinner, kerosene and unknown. Apparatus: SPME holder with 100 ÃŽ ¼m polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) fibre. Instrument: Gas chromatograph (Agilent Technologies 5890 Series II) Equipped with HP 5971A mass selective detector and a 30m x 0.25ÃŽ ¼ x 250 ÃŽ ¼m HP 5 – MS capillary column and glass vials with septum. Procedure Instruments Set up Injector temperature : 250 oC Detector temperature : 300 oC Carrier gas flow rate : 30 ml/s Column temperature : 60 oC to 170oC at 10oC/min 1. The fiber (PDMS) was conditioned in the GC injection port at 250oC for at least 10 minutes to removed contaminations. 2. Approximately 5 mL of unleaded petrol was added in a glass vial and place the vial on a hot plate. The sample was heated to 50oC. 3. The SPME fiber was exposed to the headspace of the vial for 20 minutes and the temperature was constant at 50oC. 4. The fiber was withdraw into the needle and pulled out from the vial and immediately injected into GC-MS with desorption time 80 seconds. 5. Using the mass spectra library, the major component compound in each sample was identified using the mass spectra library. 6. Step 2 until 5 were repeated for other sample. Discussion The solid phase microextraction process is shown in Figure 4.3. 1cm length of fused silica fiber, coated with a polymer, is bonded to a stainless steel plunger and installed in a holder that looks like a modified microliter syringe. The plunger moves the fused silica fiber into and out of a hollow needle. To use the unit, the analyst draws the fiber into the needle, passes the needle through the septum that seals the sample vial, and depresses the plunger, exposing the fiber to the sample or the headspace above the sample. Organic analytes adsorb to the coating on the fiber. After adsorption equilibrium is attained, usually in 2 to 30 minutes, the fiber is drawn into the needle, and the needle is withdrawn from the sample vial. Finally, the needle is introduced into the gas chromatograph injector, where the adsorbed analytes are thermally desorbed and delivered to the GC column, or into the SPME/HPLC interface. Results compare very favorably to results for other sample preparation. Figure 4.3: Solid Phase Microextraction In SPME, equilibria are established among the concentrations of an analyte in the sample, in the headspace above the sample, and in the polymer coating on the fused silica fiber. The amount of analyte adsorbed by the fiber depends on the thickness of the polymer coating and on the distribution constant for the analyte. Extraction time is determined by the length of time required to obtain precise extractions for the analytes with the highest distribution  constants. The distribution constant generally increases with increasing molecular weight and boiling point of the analyte. Selectivity can   be altered by changing the type of polymer coating on the fiber, or the coating thickness, to match the characteristics of the analytes of interest. In general, volatile compounds require a thick coating, and a thin coating is most effective for adsorbing/desorbing semivolatile analytes. Desorption of an analyte from an SPME fiber depends on the boiling point of the analyte, the thickness of the coating on the fiber, and the temperature of the injection port. Nonpolar analytes are most effectively extracted with a nonpolar fiber coating and polar analytes are most effectively extracted with a polar coating, just as nonpolar or polar analytes are most effectively analyzed on a gas chromatography column of like polarity. In SPME however, because only 1cm of fiber is exposed to the sample matrix, the fiber coating must be either nonpolar or strongly polar in nature. The small differences in stationary phase polarity that are useful in gas chromatography (a 5% diphenylsiloxane/95% dimethylsiloxane phases versus a 100% dimethylsiloxane phase, for example) will not produce appreciable selectivity differences in SPME. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is the non- polar stationary phase that has been used in this experiment. The –R groups are all –CH3, giving a liquid that is relatively nonpolar. In general, polar fibers are used for polar analytes and nonpolar fibres for non-polar analytes. Before proceed the analysis, the sample must be heated to make the sample attach to the fibre. The fibre was put into the vial that contains the sample. The vial was heated by using the water bath at 500C this was done because if the temperature was not strictly controlled, the components of interest from t he sample that we wanted to collect will not be able to obtain. We controlled the temperature by adding cold water inside the water bath system if the temperature goes high, reduced the amount of water, and also increased the hot plate’s temperature if the temperature goes low than 500C.Before placing the fibre into the sample vial through its septum, the fibre was first injected into the injection port of the GCMS at temperature of 2500C for 10 minutes so that any interferences and contaminants can be effectively removed. By doing this, we actually want to make sure that no impurities existed on the fibre. Thus, we can be sure that we are actually  injecting pure vapor of sample’s components obtained from exposing the fibre to the headspace of the vial. After the extraction time was completed, we transferred the fibre immediately to injection port for injection purpose, as we did not want any of the components of sample that we collected to be disappeared into the surrounding. After the extraction time was completed, we transferred the fibre immediately to injection port for injection purpose, as we did not want any of the components of sample that we collected to be disappeared into the surrounding. After 80 seconds of injection, the fibre was pulled out from the injection port. The 80 seconds period is known as desorption time. The factors that effects on determining desorption times are carrier gas linear flow and temperature. These factors will influence the carryover experience on the fibre. There are several factors that effects on precision of the fibre such as condition of the fiber, GC injector (fibre positioning), desorption time, sample volume, agitation, extraction time and temperature. During the experiment, there were source of error occurred such as personal and methods error. For example, when heated, the temperature was not maintained at 50oC. Besides, the fibre was not quickly injected into the GC-MS which can cause the sample to vaporize and in the end the analytes disappear. To get the best result, ensuring the fibre and sample is heated longer and maintain the temperature at 50oC so that the compounds of sample can attached and coated to the fibre. SPME has several important advantages compared to traditional sample preparation techniques. The advantages of SPME discuss. The SPME method for semivolatile analysis consists of inserting the fiber device into the aqueous sample matrix, pushing the plunger to expose the fiber, retracting the fiber into the needle when equilibrium has been reached, and finally introducing the fiber into the analytical instrument. During desorbtion of the analyte, the polymeric phase is cleaned and therefore ready for reuse. The absence of solvent in SPME is an important feature, as it is not only environmentally friendly but makes the separation faster, which increases throughput and allows for the use of simpler instruments. Another important  feature of SPME is its small size, which is convenient for design. Another important feature of SPME is its small size, which is convenient for designing portable devices for field work. Since the amount of extracting phase is small, the equilibrium of the system is not disturbed and can therefore be studied. Very small objects can be studied with miniature fibers, such as a single flower or even a single cell. The sensitivity and limit of determination is comparable to techniques that rely on liquid extraction. Although only a small portion of analyte is extracted from the matrix, all extracted analytes are transferred to the analytical instrument. This is in contrast to liquid extractions, where the majority of analyte is transferred from a given sample to the organic phase but only a small portion (1/100 or 1/1000) of the extracted analyte is introduced to the analytical instrument. The analyte if the sample non volatile the other extraction method can achieve by placing the SPME fiber directly into the aqueous sample. Conclusion In conclusion, since hydrocarbon is volatile compound, the extraction procedure by placing the SPME fiber in the headspace above the sample can extract the analyte and directly injected to the GCMS, the components in the sample can be identified using the GCMS where we can compare the obtained spectra with the instrument’s library. From the experiment we are successfully determine the compounds that present in the thinner, kerosene, diesel and petrol. The hydrocarbons that present in unknown are similar to those in kerosene because it is quite similar in chromatography diagram.Besides, the sample are not quality so that the result that we obtain is not accurate a bit because of oftenly used. Recommendations 1. Washing the injector properly so that, no contaminate will occurred. References 1. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science 2. www.geocities.com/hpgc/chem700/spmenotes.pdf

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Internet Censorship Essay - 994 Words

All I wanted to do was shop for new shoes online, but instead I was staring at a webpage packed with lewd photographs. I was only 14. I certainly was not looking to be directed to such a vulgar website; however, much to my dismay, I had simply mistyped the URL to a popular sporting goods store and found myself face-to-face with something I was much too young to see. Unfortunately, this happens all too often. A staggering amount of young children are accessing pornographic material online, whether they want to or not. In this day in age where just about everything is regulated in one fashion or another, many are calling for the censorship of Internet pornography. While some say it is a necessity when it comes to the industry, others†¦show more content†¦This is the foundation of the conservative debate in favor of censorship. Many believe that it is government’s role to protect us from harm (West). As long as the government is protecting the well being of socie ty, censorship of Internet pornography appears to be a legitimate means to an end. It would seem to many that this is a solid foundation for their argument. So, following this lead, the Communications Decency Act of 1996 was imposed, a law â€Å"making it a crime to display ‘indecent’ material on-line† (Net Mania). This law would essentially put measures in place to protect individuals from unwanted pornographic encounters online. Problem solved, right? Wrong. Just a short time later this very law was overturned, and to that I say thank goodness. My stance on censorship of the Internet may surprise some, considering my all too graphic teenage experience with the Internet. However, I am a firm believer in the First Amendment. The Communications Decency Act of 1996 was an honest attempt at a solution. Unfortunately, it was also unlawful. Which, therein, lays the basis for the liberal argument against censorship. Trying to censor Internet pornography would be a clear violation of our rights under the First Amendment, namely, freedom of speech. Not only that, but I see very little need for government intervention at all. â€Å"Legal moralism† is a nice concept, don’tShow MoreRelatedCensorship And Censorship Of The Internet985 Words   |  4 Pagesissue of Censorship of the Internet in America has become a trending topic. The internet has been commonly censored to comply with the Digital Millennium Rights Act, but in rece nt times our government has been requesting more aggressive censorship in order to provide a safer cyberspace. If the American government began to censor the internet, the restriction will result in suppression of freedom of the press, hindering freedom of speech, and reduce the plethora of information on the internet. 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The recent increase in discussion on the act of censorshipRead MoreThe Censorship Of Internet Censorship3057 Words   |  13 Pages Internet Censorship Student’s Name: Institution Name: Internet Censorship Internet censorship refers to the suppression and control of what people can access, publish, or view on the cyberspace (Reynolds, 2014). It may be done by regimes or private firms at the command of the government. It can be a government’s initiative is or carried out by regulators. Organizations and individuals may practice self-censorship for religious, business or moral reasons to comply with societal normsRead More Internet Censorship Essay1726 Words   |  7 PagesInternet Censorship The freedom of speech that was possible on the Internet could now be subjected to governmental approvals. For example, China is attempting to restrict political expression, in the name of security and social stability. It requires users of the Internet and electronic mail (e-mail) to register, so that it may monitor their activities. In the United Kingdom, state secrets and personal attacks are off limits on the Internet. Laws are strict and the government is extremely interestedRead MoreInternet Censorship Essay886 Words   |  4 PagesInternet Censorship Presently, it seems that the Internet is playing a very important role in everyones daily life. This multipurpose network has many different functions useful for everyday work and entertainment. Due to the freedom of the Internet various debates and protests have come to disagree with its open form of communication. Because of the misuse of the internet many people believe that there should be some kind of internet censorship, while others are against internet censorshipRead More Censorship and the Internet Essay1213 Words   |  5 Pagesinformation available on the internet many people believe that some of this information should be censored by the United States Government. Whos to say what should be accessible and what should not? Where does it start and stop? Does internet censorship make a nation a safer place to live? There are many countries that don’t allow the use of the internet at all and some countries only censor what they don’t want their citizens to know. Daniel Calingaert said â€Å"The internet has provided greater space

Friday, January 3, 2020

Best Picture Oscar Winners at the Academy Awards

Since its inception, the Academy Awards has honored one film each year, calling it the Best Picture. The announcement of the Best Picture Oscar winner is often the highlight of an Academy Awards ceremony. Below is a list of every single Best Picture Oscar award winner.   * Please note that the years listed below are the years the films were created, i.e. the Academy Award ceremony that honored these films were held in the spring of the following year. The Best Picture Oscar Winners 1927-28 Wings1928-29 Broadway Melody1929-30 All Quiet on the Western Front1930-31 Cimarron1931-32 Grand Hotel1932-33 Cavalcade1934 It Happened One Night1935 Mutiny on the Bounty1936 The Great Ziegfeld1937 The Life of Emile Zola1938 You Cant Take It With You1939 Gone With the Wind1940 Rebecca1941 How Green Was My Valley1942 Mrs. Miniver1943 Casablanca1944 Going My Way1945 The Lost Weekend1946 The Best Years of Our Lives1947 Gentlemens Agreement1948 Hamlet1949 All the Kings Men1950 All About Eve1951 An American in Paris1952 The Greatest Show on Earth1953 From Here to Eternity1954 On the Waterfront1955 Marty1956 Around the World in 80 Days1957 The Bridge on the River Kwai1958 Gigi1959 Ben-Hur1960 The Apartment1961 West Side Story1962 Lawrence of Arabia1963 Tom Jones1964 My Fair Lady1965 The Sound of Music1966 A Man for All Seasons1967 In the Heat of the Night1968 Oliver!1969 Midnight Cowboy1970 Patton1971 The French Connection1972 The Godfather1973 The Sting1974 The Godfather Part II197 5 One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest1976 Rocky1977 Annie Hall1978 The Deer Hunter1979 Kramer vs. Kramer1980 Ordinary People1981 Chariots of Fire1982 Gandhi1983 Terms of Endearment1984 Amadeus1985 Out of Africa1986 Platoon1987 The Last Emperor1988 Rain Man1989 Driving Miss Daisy1990 Dances With Wolves1991 The Silence of the Lambs1992 Unforgiven1993 Schindlers List1994 Forrest Gump1995 Braveheart1996 The English Patient1997 Titanic1998 Shakespeare in Love1999 American Beauty2000 Gladiator2001 A Beautiful Mind2002 Chicago2003 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King2004 Million Dollar Baby2005 Crash2006 The Departed2007 No Country for Old Men2008 Slumdog Millionaire2009 The Hurt Locker2010  The Kings Speech2011  The Artist2012  Argo2013  12 Years a Slave2014  Birdman2015 Spotlight2016 Moonlight2017