Ainsworth Strange Situation Studies

Ainsworth Strange Situation Studies The Strange Situation procedure, developed by American psychologist Mary Ainsworth, is widely used in child development research. Much research in psychology has focused on how forms of attachment differ between infants. For example, Schaffer and Emerson (1964) discovered what appeared to be innate differences in sociability in babies; some babies preferred cuddling more than others, from very early on, before much interaction had occurred to cause such differences. It’s easy enough to know when you are attached to someone because you know how you feel when you are apart from that person, and, being an adult, you can put your feelings into words and describe how it feels. However, most attachment research is carried out using infants and young children, so psychologists have to devise subtle ways of researching attachment, involving the observational method. Using the Strange Situation procedure, many researchers have studied the development of child attachment to the mother and other caregivers. However, there continues to be much debate about the origins of the child's reaction in the Strange Situation, and about what factors influence the development of an infant's attachment relationships. The security of attachment in one- to two-year-olds was investigated by Ainsworth and Bell (1970) in the ‘_strange situation_' study, in order to determine the nature of attachment behaviours and types of attachment. Ainsworth (1970) developed an experimental procedure in order to observe the variety of attachment forms exhibited between caregivers and infants. The experiment is set up in a small room with one way glass so the behaviour of the infant can be observed. Infants were aged between 12 and 18 months. The sample comprised about 100 middle class American families. The procedure, known as the ‘_Strange Situation_’, was conducted by observing the behaviour of the caregiver and the infant in a series of seven 3-minute episodes, as follows: (1) Parent and infant alone. (2) Stranger joins parent and infant. (3) Parent leaves infant and stranger alone. (4) Parent returns and stranger leaves. (5) Parent leaves; infant left completely alone. 6) Stranger returns. (7) Parent returns and stranger leaves. Psychologist Mary Ainsworth devised an assessment technique called the Strange Situation Classification (SSC) in order to investigate how attachments might vary between children. The goal of the Strange Situation procedure was to provide an environment that would arouse in the infant both the motivation to explore and the urge to seek security. An observer (often a researcher or therapist) takes a mother and her child (usually around the age of 12 months) to an unfamiliar room containing toys. A series of eight separations and reunions are staged involving mild, but cumulative, stress for the infant. Separation in such an unfamiliar setting would also likely activate the child's attachmentsystem and allow for a direct test of its functioning. Although no single behaviour can be used to assess the quality of the infant's attachment to the caregiver, the pattern of the infant's responses to the changing situation is of interest to psychologists. The validation of the procedure and its scoring method were grounded in the naturalistic observation of the child's exploration, crying, and proximity-seeking in the home. Ainsworth's research revealed key individual differences among children, demonstrated by the child's reaction to the mother's return. Ainsworth categorised these responses into three major types: Anxious/avoidant—the child may not be distressed at the mother's departure and may avoid or turn away from her on her return; Securely attached—the child is distressed by the mother's departure and easily soothed by her on her return; Anxious/resistant—the child may stay extremely close to the mother during the first few minutes and become highly distressed at her departure. When she returns, the child will simultaneously seek both comfort and distance from the mother. The child's behaviour will be characterised by crying and reaching to be held and then attempting to leave once picked up. Strengths The strange situation classification has become the accepted methodology worldwide for measuring attachment (re: Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg, 1988) Ainsworth, M. Infancy in Uganda: Infant Care and the Growth of Love. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1967. Periodicals Spock, Benjamin. â€Å"Mommy, Don't Go! † Parenting 10, June-July 1996, pp. 86+. Weaknesses In addition, some research has shown that the same child may show different attachment behaviours on different occasions. Children's attachments may change, perhaps because of changes in the child's circumstances, so a securely attached child may appear insecurely attached if the mother becomes ill or the family circumstances change. The strange situation has also been criticised on ethica grounds. Because the child is put under stress (separation and stranger anxiety), the study has broken the ethical guideline protection of participants. The sample is biased -100 middle class American families. Therefore, it is difficult to generalise the findings outside of America and to working class families. Finally, the observational study has been criticised for having low ecological validity. Because the child is place in a strange and artificial environment, due to the the procedure of the mother and stranger following a predetermined script.

Guide to Designing Qualitative Research

Guide to Designing Qualitative Research When you are asked to design a qualitative research and write your dissertation or research study using this method, you might be confused where to start. Many students simply assume that qualitative research is based on interviews or observation, and does not need to include literature research, or theses. This is the first misconception of qualitative research methods, and there are many more to come. If you would like to be confident that your qualitative research study will be suitable for submission, and you will get great grades, you will need to understand all the requirements of research, studies, structure, and design. Read the below guide to help you understand what qualitative methods entail and how to make the most out of your research. The Role of Qualitative Research Qualitative research is usually carried out to understand the different perspectives of issues and phenomena. It is concerned about human behaviour and experiences. In many cases, it measures attitudes, therefore, the information gained cannot be quantified. Qualitative methods are usually applied in the following fields of study: Health and social care Social studies Humanities Marketing Psychology Teaching Qualitative research, in short, is a research method that focuses on findings that reflect on the complexity of a problem or issue and do not provide statistical or quantifiable information, but – instead – answer the initial research questions of the study. Qualitative research attempts to answer the questions: â€Å"what?† and â€Å"why?†, while quantitative methods focus on â€Å"how many?†. Methods of Qualitative Research There are different methods that researchers can apply to conduct qualitative studies and answer the research questions. Some of them are listed below. Direct observation This method takes into consideration the environment and setting, however, the researcher’s bias might affect the reliability of the information gained. Participant observation This approach requires the researcher to take part in the activities of the group researched and participate in their routines. This method allows a deeper understanding of the issues faced by the group, but can be costly and lengthy. Qualitative interviews There are three main types of interviews used by researchers: Informal Semi-structured Open-ended This approach allows the researcher to take into consideration the individual differences of participants and tailor the questions to their profile. The main disadvantage of qualitative interviews is that the results are hard to analyse. Focus groups This data collection method is often used to predict attitudes of groups towards an issue or product Action research This collaborative method allows the author of the study to manipulate the situation and measure the outcomes, while designing interventions for improvement. Case studies This method is usually applied when a researcher is focusing on one organisation, group, or institution and provides an in-depth analysis of phenomena based on the research question. When to Apply Qualitative Research Qualitiative research can be used when the author would like to test a hypothesis, understand the attitude of individuals or groups towards a service or product, try to develop interventions, meet the needs of a certain consumer or peer group, or capture the language used by the participants. Presenting the Results of Qualitative Research The main goal of presenting the results of the qualitative study is to answer the research questions. Therefore, the interview questions observation strategies need to be built around the research aims and objectives. When presenting the qualitative research results, the author needs to focus on answering the questions and identifying trends. As an example, when researching people’s attitudes towards a new health care service interviewed, the most important emerging themes that were mentioned by participants need to be listed and discussed in the context of the literature. To successfully present the results of the study in qualitative research, you need to: Read the answers or transcripts closely Use sequential text interpretation Take into consideration individual differences and the impact of the setting To identify trends, you might need to use coding that captures the essence of the content Structure of a Qualitative Study The best way of designing a qualitative research method is to use a research protocol. This will help create a methodology that is fit for the purpose of the study. The main parts of the research protocol are: Aims and objectives Background of the study Methods Ethical issues Resources needed to conduct the research Timescale for the research Dissemination plan / output Once the qualitative research protocol is drawn up, you need to get it approved by the supervisor before the study can take place. When structuring the final research paper, you need to have the following sections: Title Using the keywords that represent the purpose of the study, you need to create a title that sums up the content. Abstract Write the abstract after the paper is finished, to summarise the content Background and Context List the information on the topic available through theories and recent research studies, and signify the importance of carrying out the research Design and Methodology Provide the research questions, setting, research methods, epistemological commitments, and the data analysis methods Findings Present the results of the study in a structured, logical format, focusing on the research questions Discussion and Conclusion Reflect back to the research questions and literature research, to present how the results can be interpreted and used to make improvements in your field. Do You Need Help Conducting Qualitative Research? If you already have an idea of what you would like to research, and need help with developing your research questions, protocol, timeline, or choose the right research methodology for your study, you can get in touch with our friendly team at our site who will assist you with your research or dissertation. Alternatively, you can submit your question online and our professional writers will discuss your options and provide personalised answers based on your research topic and field of study.Related Articles:Different Research Methods Used in the Aviation Industry A Critical Discussion of research methods and approaches Dissertation – Different Research Strategies you can use in your dissertation Summary Reviewer Dissertation Ideas – Qualitative Review Date 2017-08-26 Reviewed Item our site – Admin Author Rating 5

Creating Corporate Advantage Essay

Most executives focus on individual elements of their resources, business, and organization without integrating all the parts into a whole. First, it is important to understand what a good corporate strategy is. According to the authors, it is not a random collection of individual building blocks, rather a fully constructed system of interdependent parts. In order for the organization to thrive, executives must actively direct decisions about resources the corporation will develop, and the business in which it will compete. During this, the executives must make sure all elements are aligned with one another. By applying the triangle of corporate strategy, the strengths of all special assets, skills and capabilities will illustrate how each element "fits. " The Resource Continuum is another model that shows the basis for corporate advantage along a continuum. This model can be applied differently to different business, as one size does not fit all. Many companies choose to integrate other businesses based on products rather than resources, and end up with a "plain vanilla" infrastructure. By following this continuum it will constrain the set of businesses to compete in while limiting th There is no one best way to design a product, make a product, manage operations, or serve customers. The â€Å"best way† depends on a firm’s objectives, resources, competencies, and context (products and customers). Firms choose to compete in different ways. A firm’s strategy defines how it will compete in the marketplace–its own best way. Strategy formulation involves (1) defining the primary task, (2) assessing core competencies, (3) determining order winners and order qualifiers, and (4) positioning the firm. The secret to effective strategy? Excel on the order winners, meet the order qualifiers, capitalize on core competencies, and maintain focus. Corporate strategy drives functional strategy. Functional strategies must be consistent with and supportive of corporate strategy. Strategic decisions in the operations function involve products and services, processes and technology, capacity and facilities, human resources, quality, sourcing, and operating systems. Policy deployment is a planning system that helps align day-to-day operating decisions with the company’s overall strategy.

The Mobile Communication Industry and EU Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Mobile Communication Industry and EU - Essay Example Under its new name, Vodafone Group Plc., the company begun to claim its place as one of the world's largest mobile telecommunications company with ownership interests in 26 countries across five continents and partnership networks in 33 other countries. Vodafone does not manufacture cellular phones and network equipment so it has become the largest purchaser of these products. In 2004-05, the company bought $23-billion worth of these products from third parties, including $12 billion on handsets, network equipment and IT services from all over the world The company today boasts of the Vodafone Speaking Phone which was devised to address a major EU concern about giving communication access to disabled persons. The Speaking Phone converts its screen content into speech to allow the blind to "read" text messages. This is just one of Vodafone's products and services that "democratize" access to communication technology. Right now, Vodafone is developing another project called M-PESA, which seeks to enhance the access of mobile telephony to banking. This would allow customers to borrow, transfer and pay cash through the use of SMS text messaging. Another project in the pipeline intends to include voice and data communication in its services.As for Telefonica, the company has operated in Spain for 80 years but only under the auspices of EU did it break out of its mold to expand to all Spanish and Portuguese-speaking markets which spread to17 countries in the European, African and Latin American continents. From just fixed telephony, it begun to offer broadband, mobile-cellular telephony and Internet services. By 2005, Telefonica was the world's sixth largest company in terms of market capitalization and seventh in the EuroStoxx50 ranking. It now serves 153.5 million customers worldwide, involving 16 million fixed lines, nearly 5 million data-Internet access and over 20 million mobile telephones. With over 1,5 million direct shareholders, Telefonica trades on the major national and international stock exchanges. The aggressiveness and enterprise shown by Telefonica and Vodafone are exactly the kind of business cultures the EU seeks to foster through the EU Enterprise Policy. Under this policy, EU promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and competitiveness in manufacturing and services and ensures that all business within the region compete and trade on fair and equal terms. The overall goal is to make Europe an attractive place to invest and work in. EU is all about integration and in this regard, the enterprise policy works to coordinate policies on trade, research, the internal market, employment and training, the information society, regional development and taxation, without overlooking the importance of environmental protection. Under the enterprise policy, EU also preoccupies itself with removing obstacles to competition across the board, preventing new ones from going up and limiting, improving and simplifying the process of regulation. Most of the barriers to intra-EU trade have in fact been dismantled with the imposition of product standards on public health, the consumer and the environment. The EU Enterprise P

Research report explainin a recent innovation in your area of intrest Paper

Report explainin a recent innovation in your area of intrest or expertise - Research Paper Example Google provided the platform of using android in cell phone (Jackson 6). The top ten android phone available in India are LG-G3 , Sony Xperia Z3 , HTC One M8 , Motorola Moto X , HTC One E8 , Sony Xperia Z3 (compact) , Samsung galaxy S5 , LG Nexus 5 , Oppo Find 7a , Xiaomi Mi3. Android mobile phones are the most powerful and the only big competitor of apple I phone. Android have become so powerful that it provides the customers to customize the operating system as per their requirement. The android phones are tested and checked by the digital test laboratory before it is introduced in the market. Android has undergone a lot of improvement and several updates were done to improve the operating system. It has also included new additional, features for its customers. HTC has joined hands with Google to launch the first nexus smart phones in collaboration with Google. Google have considered or announced Nexus and smart phones as their flagship product. Android possess the ability to run the operating system which leads to the changes in the default launcher. Android has facilitated the user for quick downloading, installing, removing and updating the applications from his/ her own devices (Murphy 35). Android has become a part of our life, since it operates on battery. Android is designed in such a way so that the consumption of power will be minimal. When working on the android is stopped, the operation cannot be performed but the application is open. Android has the quality of managing, storing and maintaining the memory automatically even when the memory of the device is less. It will automatically delete or remove the applications that are used rarely and it helps the user to maintain all the data automatically, sometimes the valuable application may get deleted. Open Handset Alliance is the main development and beneficial for the developers of android. Open Handset alliance allows or facilities the developer to spread

Conceptual and Practical Approaches for Assessment in Accounting Thesis

Conceptual and Practical Approaches for Assessment in Accounting - Thesis Example This essay declares that any business ventures prefer taking moderate risks. You find that before they commit their resources in any form of a business, they first assess the risks which might accrue when running their business and their ability to try and manage those risks, the benefits that they will realize after they have invested and the challenges they might come upon when running their business. Accounting information helps in solving this problem. This study will help to know how these elements of accounting also known as the flow of funds models are very vital in understanding the determinants of the economic growth and its likelihood of entering the debt driven recession. Flow of funds models and their underpinning are among the non-neo classical economic framework. This paper makes a conclusion that the finance, insurance and the real estate (FIRE) sector includes all sorts of wealth managing nonbanks firms which may include which generate credit flows. Liquidity from the FIRE sector flows to firms, households and the government as they borrow. This then facilitates fixed capital investment, production, consumption the value by which the accounting necessity can be jointly equal to the real sector incomes which are inform of profits, taxes, wages plus the financial investments and obligations (interest payments). Funds then originate in the banking parts of the FIRE sector they do circulate to the real economy or even they can return back to the FIRE sector inform of financial investments or even in the payment of debts services plus financial fees.

Observers Paradox and Ways to minimize its Impact in Collection of Essay

Observers Paradox and Ways to minimize its Impact in Collection of Live Speech Data - Essay Example Therefore, the collection of live speech data is an indispensable data collection method that makes the overarching aims of sociolinguistic study attainable. For instance, speech data helps the researcher unravel elements of the social milieu and shared perspectives that define a community. However, the awareness that the participants are under observation impacts on the way they speak and what they speak about, an effect called the Observer’s Paradox. A famed sociolinguist, William Labov, was the first to discuss the paradox in detail. Labov observed that the use of systemized observation had an impact on the way respondents made use of their sociolinguistic abilities, in a way that could profoundly distort the nature of the data collected. This, he noted, could dent the validity of the research in question. This research seeks to discuss the Observer’s Paradox in the context of collecting speech data and explore some ways in which a researcher can roll back some of it s negative effects in sociolinguistic research. INTRODUCTION Observer’s Paradox is a term attributable to the linguistic researcher, William Labov. The term describes the situation whereby the observation of an event by a researcher in a controlled experimental situation fundamentally alters the natural way in which the event occurs. This transformation, especially in sociolinguistic behavior, impedes the collection of accurate data on the subject. Consequently, the effect arouses much concern in the linguistic research community. According to Labov (1), linguistic research should aim to reveal how people talk without the influence of systematic observation, even though data is unobtainable without systematic observation (Labov, 1). Hence, Observer’s Paradox poses a challenge to sociolinguistic researchers, and ways to circumvent the hurdle are necessary to maintain the validity of research with regard to accuracy and ethical codes that govern empirical research. One of the broad aims of sociolinguistic research is to observe lin guistic elements in a community. The elements under empirical scrutiny occur normally, although they are usually unnoticeable outside the confines of systematic controlled observations (Sheffield university, 1). This necessitates the introduction of statistical research methods such as data collection through recording of live speech data. By extension, this means the introduction of a third party to the social setup within which these linguistic factors occur. The disruptions of the natural conditions that define sociolinguistic elements in a community are not dismissible, and can influence the intimate understanding of a community’s sociolinguistic landscape. Sociolinguistic studies are rarely quantifiable, therefore qualitative data collection method remains the best option for many researchers. Speech data is one of the strongest methods through which sociolinguistic data is obtainable. Unfortunately, the method of data collection is one of the major in which the effect o f Observer’s Paradox happens. Since the effect's initial observation in Labov’s seminal work on qualitative sociolinguistic work, Observer’s Paradox has attracted considerable attention from the linguistic research community (Labov, 92). Presently, the issues pertaining to the paradox and the consequential ways in which the effects of the effect are eliminable in sociolinguistic research are plentiful. This research seeks to discuss the various issues that are attributable to Observer’s Paradox, and some of the ways in which the negative attributes of the

Brand Extension Marketing Plan Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Brand Extension Marketing Plan - Research Paper Example This aims at penetrating almost 80 percent of the target market and making it convenient for customers to access the new product. The distribution strategy is that Al-Mara Crà ¨me and Soap is easily available to its target market.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Promotion: The targeted geographical market is Lavington Green Village and this requires that were use a personalized approach to promoting our product. In this case, we will use billboards at strategic points within the estate so that a large number of the target customers can learn about our new product. The promotional material will portray an image of health and genuineness. We will asses the effectiveness of the promotional strategy using the number of sales. Marketing Research  We will mainly be involved in primary marketing research with a combination of secondary research. Primary research aims at identifying our existing customers, potential customers, and the competition that we will be facing in the market for cosmetics . Secondary research will provide information such as trade associations and government reports on the general cosmetic market. Information from the two types of resources is vital in the decision making process because it is very comprehensive. Evaluation of the research information will involve an assessment of the accuracy of the decisions made and response from the market. For instance, positive feedback will indicate that the company identified the real needs of the market. Clean-So will conduct the research on its own because it is relatively cheap.

Water- soluble vitamin Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Water- soluble vitamin - Coursework Example Development of the bones is also affected and renal stones can also result due to vitamin c toxicity. Answer 2. Thiamin forms an essential component of the metabolic pathways of carbohydrates and it functions actively in the form of thiamin pyrophosphate in the metabolic processes including glycolysis, krebs cycle and the hexose monophosphate shunt. Riboflavin exists in the form of FAD and FMN and assists in energy generation from the carbohydrates, proteins as well as fats via the Krebs cycle as well as the electron transport chain. Niacin functions in the form of NAD and NADP and it is essential for up to two hundred reactions in the human body out of which the major reactions are the dehydrogenase ones. For proteins, it works for their modification following translation and for carbohydrates it assists in the reactions of glycolysis. Vitamin b6 exists mainly as pyridoxal phosphate and its main function is tin the biochemical conversion of one type of amino acid to another one. Answer 3. Beri beri which results due to thiamin deficiency is a serious condition because it affects the major systems of the body including the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system and the musculoskeletal system. Its results in an increase in heart size and in nervous system issues like convulsions. It also results in reduced tone in the muscles. Pellagra which is a deficiency disorder of niacin is also serious because it is characterized by loss of memory which may be irreversinle as well as severe disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. Skin lesions are also present and in extreme cases the patients may die. Answer 4. Vegetarians are most likely to be at risk for the b vitamin deficiency diseases. This is because animal sources contain the b vitamins and only selected plant sources contain all of these vitamins. An example is vitamin b12 which is only present in the animal food sources.   Answer 5. Dementia

Economics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 31

Economics - Essay Example This creates a surplus or supply excess as the demand for the product is low, so consumers do not have to compete for the product. Because of the fact that the product is not in high demand, and competition between consumers is low, the prices will be lowered in order to make the product more attractive to consumers. 2. Inflation affects people’s standard of living and savings in a rather negative way. Inflation is basically a term which indicates an increase in the price of goods and services. In general, inflation occurs within a market as a whole, so the entire economy tends to be impacted. Peoples standard of living is severely affected because their money does not go as far as it once did. This is especially true in an economy with high unemployment and no cost of living increases for their income. Therefore, as prices grow higher, people have to stretch their dollar for daily necessities such as groceries, water, electricity, etc. Therefore, many families have to forgo certain things that are deemed to be luxuries in order to survive, which lowers their daily standard of life. According to an article entitled, â€Å"Consequences of Inflation,† savings are affected because â€Å"inflation leads to a rise in the general price level so that money loses its value†(Riley). This means that the money in a person’s bank account is worth less due to inflation. In addition, inflation â€Å"lead(s) to negative real interest rates†(Riley). So, if a person has their money in a bank account that is supposed to gain interest, they are actually going to be losing money as the interest rates are negative. 3. A stock is defined as a security or assurance for an individual or business that allows a person or company to have a certain percentage of ownership in the profits or assets of a specific product, business, or company. The benefits associated with purchasing

Technology in the Classroom Essay Example for Free

Technology in the Classroom Essay In the article â€Å"Twitter Goes to College† by Zach Miners, the author’s main point is to show us how technology has been incorporated in the classroom, how it is being used as a way to get students involved, keep them engaged, and communicate inside and outside the classroom. However, many people fear of the harmful effects of technology usage in the classroom. Will students become too dependent on technology? Will they lose the ability to communicate with other people? Will it affect their ability to think? These were probably some of the same concerns when the phone, radio, and television were invented. In today’s society technology is everywhere. It touches almost every aspect of our lives, our homes, and even the way we communicate. Yet most schools still seem to lag far behind when it comes to incorporating technology into classrooms. Many school districts have recently begun exploring the true potential of integrating technology into the learning environment. They plan on implementing technology into their lesson plans. They hope to provide a computer to every student from third grade to twelfth grade. By doing this it will open the door for educational opportunities. If properly used, technology will help students gain the skills they need to survive in a technologically advancing world. Incorporating technology into classrooms means more than just one class that teaches basic computer skills such as typing. In order for technological integration to be successful in classrooms, it must happen across the curriculum in ways that have been proven through research. According to Edutopia.org there are â€Å"four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts.† Technology integration is effective when the use of technology is a routine. It is successful when technology supports curricular goals. Incorporating technology into classrooms is an extremely effective way to be able to model and visualize what is

The Protagonist Essay Example for Free

The Protagonist Essay Have you ever picked up a book and within minutes you couldn’t put it down? Have you felt a deep connection with a character, yet at the same time; not understood why the characters do the things they do? The way we connect with our favorite characters is no accident. The author’s resolve when writing is for the reader to connect with the protagonist of their stories. I know that The author of â€Å"Circumcision† Pramoedya (Prah-MOO-dia) Ananta Toer exploits his â€Å"narrator† as his protagonist because: he is the most central character in the story, the author uses him to evoke the reader’s emotions and feelings, and the narrator goes through trials and tribulations, and creates a change in his character and transforms him in the story. I could easily tell that the narrator was the most central character in the short story â€Å"Circumcision†. With the opening of the first sentence, â€Å"I spent my evenings at the local prayer house learning to recite the Quran.† The narrator starts to speak in the first person point of view. Although this is not a clear indication of him being the central character, it does have the reader wondering. Throughout the story the author keeps repeating the words â€Å"my† and â€Å"I†, and once again that really puts emphasis on what the main character is doing and the connection with the narrator. As the author develops the narrator’s character he defines him as a young Muslim kid who seems to be between the ages of eight and thirteen. Most of the following pages of the story are all about how the narrator is going to be circumcised. The author uses the narrator to tell his story and employs the sequences of events in his plot. As the main character of the story, the narrator is built up through the craft of his author. The author uses his narrator to grab the attention of the audience and gradually build commonality with the reader. When the author makes his narrator more universal the reader can relate with the authors fictional character, and gain access to more heartfelt feelings from the reader. The author knows the character of his narrator is important, so he uses his character’s abilities to engage the reader. If the author can hook his readers, then he truly has all their emotions and they will feel the sequence of events as his character does. The protagonist according to Deblanco and Cheuse â€Å"will have desires or objectives† (84), and it is these desires and objectives in the story that engages me as I am reading. In the story, the narrator has to struggle with decisions that could impact his whole adult life and whether or not he is going to be, in his eyes, a â€Å"good Muslim†. The author has me wanting to continue reading the story to see if the narrator will go through with the circumcision. He engages me and brings me in to his scene and I feel the narrator’s pain and rejoice in his celebrations. The narrator is the author’s protagonist because a protagonist mostly overcomes adversity and grows from his situation. The narrator in the story is struggling with the choice to be circumcised or not. In the early part of the story, the narrator says â€Å"If I haven’t been circumcised was I really a good Muslim†. In order for the protagonist of a story to grow up, or transform, he must have motive and purpose. The author gives the narrator purpose and motivation when the young boy is told of all the wonderful things he will receive when he is circumcised. As the narrator is sitting in the chair, waiting for his turn at the knife, the suspense is building inside his head. He says â€Å"I was incredibly scared. I wanted to be a good Muslim, but that wasn’t enough to still my terror.† Pramoedya (Prah-MOO-dia) Ananta Toer (98). The author uses this point in his story to build up his rising action. At this point in the story the narrator is challenged with adversity and we are waiting to see what the authors’ resolution will be. As a result of the narrator undergoing the procedure, he transforms from a young boy to a young Muslim man. In conclusion, the protagonist of the short story â€Å"Circumcision† is the narrator. He is the most central character in the story. He is used to strike commonality and evoke the reader’s emotions and feelings, and the narrator grows through trials and tribulation. I hope that after reading the story and this analysis that most readers will agree.

Analysis of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria in Soil

Analysis of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria in Soil 1. INTRODUCTION Cereals are the world’s major source of food for human nutrition and rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the predominant cereal crop and represent staple diet for more than two fifth of the world population. To feed the ever increasing human population, the world’s yearly rice manufacturing to be bound by an obligation act out of 560 million tonnes to 760 million tonnes by 2020. The future increase in rice production has to come from the same or even reduced land area and the productivity yield (per ha) must be greatly enhanced by providing additional nutrient input and through effective control of phytopathogens. Blast disease of rice caused by Pyricularia oryzae is one of the most destructive fungal diseases of rice causing loss up to 90% and has a ubiquitous occurrence in almost all the rice growing countries (Mehrothra, 1980). Phosphorus has been called â€Å"the key of life† because it is directly involved in most of the life processes. Next to nitrogen it is invariably classified as one of the macronutrients and it is a key element in frequency of use as fertilizer. It serves as a primary energy source for microbial oxidation. It is a constituent substance in life processes. Soil cannot give high yields if it is deficient in phosphate. Different mechanisms have been suggested for the solubilization of inorganic phosphorus by phosphate solubilize. It is usually accepted that the important mechanism of mineral phosphate solubilization is the movement of organic acids the combination of various thing into one whole by soil microorganisms (Halder et al., 1990). Manufacturing of organic acids results in acidification of the microbial cell and its lying on the outskrits. Resultant, inorganic phosphate may be released from a mineral phosphate by proton addition for Calcium ion (Goldstein, 1994). The production of organic acids by PSB has been deep notifified. Among them, gluconic acid seems to be the most repeated occurance agent of mineral phosphate solubilization. Being an in specified microorganism is known to be involved in the solubilization of insoluble phosphates (Alexander, 1977). These phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms render insoluble phosphate into soluble group formed completely the series of acidification and chelation of some reactions. This process not only compensates for higher cost of manufacturing fertilizers in industry but also mobilizes the fertilizers added to soil (Rodriguez and Reynaldo, 1999). Therefore, many researchers have tried to increase the plant-available phosphate fraction by means of Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) such as Achromobacter sp, Agrobacterium sp, Alcaligens sp, Bacillus cereus, B. polymyxa, B. megaterium, B. subtilis, Pseudomonas striata and Xanthomonas sp and Fungi like Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, Penicillium sp. and Rhizopus sp. Several mechanisms of plant microbe interaction may participate in the association and affect plant growth, including IAA, Siderophore production and biocontrol against Pyricularia oryzae. Thus, the Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) affect the plant growth through direct promotion by producing plant growth promoting substances and through indirect promotion by acting against plant pathogenic microorganisms (Kloepper et al., 1989). Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are free living, soil borne bacteria, which enhance the growth of the plant either directly or indirectly (Kloepper et al., 1980; Glick and Ibid, 1995). The direct mechanisms involve nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, HCN production, manufacturing of phytohormones such as auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins, and lowering of ethylene concentration (Glick and Ibid, 1995; Glick et al., 1999). Bacteria belonging to the genera Azospirillum, Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, and Rhizobium as well as Alcaligenes faecalis, Enterobacter cloacae, Acetobacter diazotrophicus and Bradyrhizobium japonicum have been shown to that which is produced auxins which help in inducing plant growth increase (Patten and Glick, 2002). There are many reports on plant growth pro ­motion and yield enhancement by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) (Lugtenberg et al., 2001). The mechanisms of plant growth increase the pro ­motion by PGPR include: the ability to produce phytohormones, N2 fixation, antagonism against phytopathogens and solubilization of insoluble phosphates (Lugtenberg and Kamilova, 2009). It was also suggested that the PGPR can also prevent the deleterious effects of stresses from the environ ­ment (Paul and Nair, 2008). Composting is a biotechnological process by which different microbial communities convert organic wastes into a stabilized form. During the process, temperatures arise because of the heat released due to biological activity. These temperatures are responsible for pathogen inactivation. Composting is an aerobic process that requires O2, optimal moisture and enough free air space and C:N ratio within certain limits. The treatment by composting leads to the development of microbial populations, which causes numerous physicochemical changes within mixture. These changes could influence the metal distribution through release of heavy metals during organic matter mineralization or the metal solubilization by the decrease of pH, metal biosorption by the microbial biomass or metal complexation with the newly formed humic substances or other factors (Rahul Kumar et al., 2010). One of the most effective means of recycling any organic wastes for agricultural use is by means of composting, an accepted practice in India and elsewhere. In many cases in India, it is valuable to add nutrients to compost to increase its fertilizer value. Although, sugar industry wastes are relatively high in nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and potassium, they are generally deficient in phosphorus, iron and zinc when compared to fertilizers commonly used in India. Further, the possibility of enriching organic wastes with micronutrients like Fe and Zn, which have become critical in crop production, have been studied and their effectiveness is increased appreciably through combined application of organics with FeSO4 and ZnSO4 in addition to N, P, K fertilizers (Deepa Devi, 1992; Sennimalai, 1994). Therefore, it is appropriate to develop composting systems that are capable of converting these agroindustrial wastes into valuable organic fertilizers. Among the microbes, bacteria are the most important one for decomposing waste. Bacteria use press mud for their metabolism and finally they produce some simple and useful compounds from them which are important for soil health, plant growth and over all to keep well balance of natural ecosystem (Zaved et al., 2008). Moreover, efficien ­cy of bacterial in bioconversion or organic compounds is well documented (Petre et al., 1999; Suhaimi et al., 2012). Unfortunately, knowledge on physico-chemical and mi ­crobial diversity of bacteria on bioconversion of sugarcane press mud is limited. Therefore, this study was conducted to monitor the chemical and biological changes during composting of sugarcane press mud with cattle manure in order to get high quality stabilized product within the goal of shortening the stabilization time. The pressmud biocompost contains appreciable amount of plant nutrients viz., organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium along with traces of micronutrients viz., Zn, Fe, Cu and Mn (Banulekha, 2007). The beneficial effect of the organic matter for enhancing the soil fertility and thereby improving the crop productivity is well established (Laird et al., 2001). Objectives of the present study To collect the soil samples from ten different locations in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India. To isolate and identify the Phosphate solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Enterobacter asburiae) from collected soil samples. To screen the efficient Phosphate solubilizing bacterial isolates based on production of plant growth promoting substances. Composting of sugar mill waste (pressmud) by Phosphobacterial isolates and analysis of nutrient status of compost mixtures. To study the combined effect of efficient phosphobacterial isolates and compost mixture for the growth and yield of Paddy BPT-5804(Oryza sativa L.) Cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin become or make less indicate in the present study during the bacterial consortium based composting process. Singh and Sharma (2002) reported rapid decomposition of wheat straw with a mixture of cellulolytic fungi, Pleurotus sajor-caju, Trichoderma reesei, Aspergillus niger along with nitrogen fixing bacteria Azotobacter chroococcum. The simulated activity of bacterial consortium present in the waste substrate ability to do have characterised by intensity cellulolysis and lignolysis as advised done by Loquet et al. (1984). Hemicellulosic residue of pressmud contains a large quantity of xylans. Xylanase are enzymes that are capable of degrading xylan units yielding large quantities of monomeric xylose units. The xylanases activities during composting. The xylanase activity in all the treatments was found to be on the 30th day and thereafter a sharp decline was noticed. During 90th days maximum xylanase activity recorded in CM – 8 (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) (5.91 U ml-1 of protein) followed by CM -5 (4.93 U ml-1 of protein), CM – 6 (3.91 U ml-1 of protein), CM – 3 (3.89 U ml-1 of protein), CM – 2 (3.00 U ml-1 of protein), CM – 4 (2.92 U ml-1 of protein) and CM – 6 (2.00 U ml-1 of protein). The minimum amount of xylanase activity recorded in CM – 1 (pressmud alone) (1.82 U ml-1 of protein). The survival and microbial activity during the entire composting process was studied by estimating dehydrogenase activity. During 90th day, maximum dehydrogenase activity recorded in CM – 8 (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) (3.09 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1) followed by CM – 7 (2.95 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1), CM 6 (2.39 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1), CM – 5 (2.30 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1), CM – 4 (1.71 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1), CM – 3 (1.70 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1) and CM – 2 (1.68 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1). Lower amount of dehydrogenase activity recorded in CM – 1 (Pressmud alone) (1.00 mg formazon formed h-1 g-1). In general, percentage cellulose reduction increased thereafter decrease in the period of decomposition in press mud up to end of 90days. The initial cellulose content of pressmud was 15.75 % explained. During 90th day, maximum cellulose reduction recorded in CM – 8 (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) (3.81%) followed by CM – 5 (3.88%), CM – 6 (3.99%), CM – 7 (4.09%), CM – 3 (4.2%), CM – 2 (4.62%) and CM – 4 (4.65%). The minimum cellulose reduction recorded in CM – 1 (pressmud alone) (5.62%). Changes in reduction of hemicellulose content during composting of pressmud are studied. From the results, it was noticed that the reduction of hemicellulose content increased thereafter decreased in all treatments. During 90th day, reduction in hemicellulose content recorded in CM – 8 (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis +Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) (7.76%) followed by CM – 6 (7.85%), CM – 5 (7.90%), CM – 7 (7.92%), CM – 3 (7.95%), CM – 2 (9.22%) and CM – 4 (9.37%). Least amount of reduction in hemicellulose content recorded in CM – 1 (Pressmud alone) (13.00%). Inoculation levels were found to have significant ef ­fect on reduction in lignin content. During 90th day, reduction of lignin content in triple inoculants compost mixture recorded in CM – 8 (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis +Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) (6.10%), followed by CM – 5 (6.31), CM – 6 (6.64%), CM – 7 (6.69%), CM – 2 (6.81%), CM – 2 (7.60%) and CM – 4 (7.70%). The lowest reduction in lignin content recorded in CM – 1 (Pressmud alone) (8.24%). Faryal et al. (2006) have suggested the effects of inoculation with three thermophilic species of Bacillus on the composting activity of drainage water that passes through sewers sludge amended with black combustible mineral fly the grey soft remains as the causer or source. The bacteria population present in the compost mixtures were estimated quantitatively during the 90th day. In all the treatments the bacterial population was more in CM – 8 (29.32 Ãâ€" 106 cfu g-1) and less in CM-1 (15.00 Ãâ€" 106 cfu g-1). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on plant height of paddy var BPT – 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was measured. Among the various treatments tested, the highest plant height was recorded in the treatment T8 (75% NPK + Compost Mixture 8 + BS + BM + EA) (121 .98 cm). The least plant height was recorded in T9 (Control) (89.30 cm). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on Dry matter production of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the dry matter production was maximum in treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM+BS+BM+EA) (8.12 t ha-1). The lowest chlorophyll content was recorded in T9 (Control) (4.00 t ha-1). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on Leaf area index at flowering of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the Leaf area index at flowering was maximum in treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM+BS+BM+EA) (6.42 cm). The lowest grain yield was recorded in T9 (Control) (3.98cm). The Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on chlorophyll content of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the chlorophyll content was maximum in the treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM+BS+BM+EA) (3.09 mg/g of leaf). The lowest chlorophyll content was recorded in T9 (Control) (3.00 mg/g of leaf). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on number of tillers plant1 of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the number of tillers plant -1 was maximum in treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM+BS+BM+EA) (18.86). The treatment T1 (100% NPK) (18.52) was on par with the treatment T8. The lowest tillers plant1 was recorded in T9 (Control) (10.56). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on Number of tillers panicles hill -1 of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the Number of tillers panicles hill -1 was maximum in treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM+BS+BM+EA) (6.37). The treatment T1 (100% NPK) (6.01) was on par with the treatment T8. The minimum tillers panicles hill -1 was recorded in T9 (Control) (3.00). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on Number of filled grains panicles -1 of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the Number of filled grains panicles-1 was maximum in treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM+BS+BM+EA) (73.03). The treatment T1 (100% NPK) (72.78) was on par with the treatment T8. The lowest filled grains panicles-1 was recorded in T9 (Control) (57.24). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on Number of thousand grain weight of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the No of thousand grain weight was maximum in treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM + BS + BM + EA) (21.56). The treatment T1 (100% NPK) (21.01) was on par with T8. The minimum grain weight was recorded in T9 (Control) (14.23). The effect of Compost mixture (Pressmud + Bacillus subtilis + Bacillus megaterium + Enterobacter asburiae) and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on grain yield and straw yield of paddy var BPT 5804 (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated. Among the nine treatments tested, the grain yield and straw yield content was maximum in treatment T8 (75% NPK + CM + BS + BM + EA) (47.36), (63.76) and the treatment T1 (100% NPK) (46.88), (63.24) was on par with the treatment T8. The lowest grain yield was recorded in T9 (Control) (25.23), (49.76). The effect of Compost mixture and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on nutrients uptake (N, P K) was determined. Among the treatments tested, maximum NPK uptake was recorded in the treatment T8 (75% NPK + BS + BM + EA) (121.56 kg ha-1), (22.86 kg ha-1), (118.73 kg ha-1). The treatment T1 (100% NPK) (121.02 kg ha-1), (22.41 kg ha-1) and (118.31 kg ha-1) was on par with the treatment T8. The lowest NPK was recorded in T9 (Control) (92.85 kg ha-1), (11.77 kg ha-1) and (89.82 kg ha-1). The effect of Compost mixture and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on nutrients uptake (N, P K) was determined. Among the treatments tested, maximum NPK uptake was recorded in the treatment T8 (75% NPK + BS + BM + EA) (72.85 kg ha-1) (18.73 kg ha-1) and (81.67 kg ha-1). The treatment T1 (100% NPK) (72.43 kg ha-1), (18.51 kg ha-1) and (81.47 kg ha-1) was on par with T8. The minimum NPK was recorded in T9 (Control) (46.21 kg ha-1), (08.05 kg ha-1) and (56.12 kg ha-1) The effect of Compost mixture and Phosphate solubilizing bacteria on bacterial population was studied. Highest bacterial population was recorded in the treatment T8 (Bacteria – 36.66 Ãâ€" 106 cfu g-1 and the lowest bacterial population (19.27 Ãâ€" 106 cfu g-1).

Human Resourse Management Essay -- GCSE Business Marketing Coursework

Human Resourse Management This essay will review the role of human resource management (HRM) in the strategy process. This will include the function of recruitment and training programs in HRM, the concept of strategic fit and how human resource management can lead to a competitive advantage. The manner in which an organisation’s personnel are managed has a tangible influence on the productivity of the employees, which ultimately acts upon the firm’s bottom line. Corporate success is dependent upon the integration of the human resource plan and the corporate strategic plan.It has become a widely held premise that people provide organisations with an important source of sustainable competitive advantage and that the effective management of human capital, not physical capital, may be the ultimate determinant of organisational performance (Youndt, Snell, Dean, Jr, & Lepak, 1996). The relationship between the strategic planning of an organisation’s people and the overall strategy is being increasingly recognised as one of immense importance. A growing recognition of human resources as being a company’s most important asset has, and will continue to, change the focus of strategic planning. It is no longer acceptable to exclusively plan for those assets that will appear on the balance sheet. A cohesive plan integrating human resource management and the overall strategic plan is necessary, such that the management of people is not a distinct function, but acts as a medium through which all other business strategies are implemented (Armstrong and Long, 1994: p. 42). In essence, the competitive, human resource, and structural strategies should all be linked in a systemic and dynamic fashion (Boxall, 1996: p. 61). Unfortunatel... ...y, T.E. (1993), Strategic Human Resource Management, Thomas Nelson Australia: Melbourne. Schuler, R.S., and Jackson, S.E. (1987), ‘Linking Competitive Strategies with Human Resource Management Practices’, The Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 207 - 219. Schuler, R.S., and MacMillan, I.C. (1984), ‘Gaining competitive advantage through human resource practices’, Human Resource Management, 23 (3), pp. 241 - 255. Skelton, B (1996), Flexible workforce is a business strength, Human Resource Week ‘96, The Age, pp. C10. Torraco, R.J., and Swanson, R.A. (1995), ‘The Strategic Roles of Human Resource Development’, Human Resource Planning, 18 (4), pp. 10 - 21. Youndt, M. A., Snell, S. A., Dean, Jr., J.W., & Lepak, D. P. (1996). Human resource management, manufacturing strategy, and firm performance. Academy of Management Journal, 39 (4), 836-866.

The Life And Death Of 2pac :: essays research papers

The Life and Death of 2Pac In the stifling post-boxing match Las Vegas traffic jam, a new black 1996 BMW inched along impatiently, it's gold detailing glimmering brightly under the street lights. Any attempt to catch a glimpse of the passengers within the tinted windows revealed only a distorted reflection of the chaotic, yet relatively motionless urban scene. The glass sunroof slid open and a dark figure rose partly through the opening, like a tank commander surveying the horizon for signs of the enemy. Discreetly the rear window of a nearby car rolled down as it approached, and the muzzle of a gun emerged slightly. The gun, almost indiscernible from the cavernous blackness inside the car, spewed out thirteen bullets, each one punctuated by a startling yellow flash and a reverberating crack that cut through the buzz of the traffic. In one blurred and sweeping motion the black BMW roared to life, accelerating across the traffic flow and towards the oncoming cars, retreating from the scene as the dark figure collapsed li mply back into the vehicle. This incident is not a scene from a DeNiro/Pacino mobster movie. Nor is it an episode from an Oliver Stone or Quentin Tarrantino film. In fact, it is not a scene from any movie, although the story will likely wind up as a made- for-television drama. Rather, it is the dramatic finale of the life of rapper/actor Tupac Amaru Shakur, who was shot four times during this escapade while traveling from a Mike Tyson fight to a nearby club on September 7th. He later died of the wounds, after six days of intensive care and several unsuccessful operations. Tupac Amaru, or 2Pac, as he spelled it --distinguishing him from the violent Peruvian terrorist group of the same name-- was one of today's most popular "gangsta rappers." His lyrics are usually vulgar, offensive, and explicit, and glorify the type of life that he and many other gangsta rappers lead. They depict violence, drug use, crime and sexual abuse as acceptable, and as a necessary way of life. They often go so far as to threaten the lives of rappers from rival record labels, with whom he has an East/West coast disagreement resulting in sporadic violent episodes and threat volleys. Such lyrics as Tupac wrote accurately depicted his dangerous lifestyle. Unlike some other gangsta rappers who conjure the image only for money, he actually led the "thug life", as the tattoo on his stomach describes it. He was a magnet for violence, as his police record illustrates. He served eight months out of a three year sentence for sexual assault, and was to face sentencing this

Ashlee Simpson :: essays research papers

Ashlee Simpson The name of the performer was Ashlee Simpson. The date of the concert was on Saturday January. 8th, 2005. This concert took place at The Mall of America. This was Ashlee’s first concert in Minnesota and her first time at The Mall of America.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The setting was a small stage set up at a big open area in the mall. It was a circular area. Also there were three floors you could see the stage from. This concert was not a concert that you had to buy tickets for. You could just come to The Mall of America and see Ashlee perform. So it was on a first come first serve basis. If you did not get there early enough you wouldnt get a spot to see the stage. The whole time you were there you had to stand. There were no assigned seats. So if you are not very tall, you better hope that you get a front row spot, or else you wont be able to see a thing. So with a lot of people standing around you there is a lot of people who try and get in front of you, and there is a lot of pushing and shoving. So it got a little fusturating and crowded at times. So I would defiently not recommend this kind of setting for a concert. It is just to much of a hassle with all the people around. It is much easier when you have your own seat, t hat you know is yours and no one is going to take it.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There was no program for this concert. I have been to numerous concerts like the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and the Dixie Chicks and there has never been a program for the concert. Probley because there is to many people to give programs out too. When you don’t have a program, you never know what song is going to be performed next or if there is going to be a break between songs. It really doesn’t matter to me that there was not a program, because I already knew all of Ashlee’s songs from her album and I liked them all. So I knew that whatever song she performed would be great. Ashlee’s style of music is a mixture of punk rock and pop music. She has such a unique style, that its hard to distinguish what style of music she sings.

Retention Rate of First Generation College Students

A first coevals college pupil is a pupil for whom both parents or defenders have a high school instruction or less and have ne'er begun a postsecondary grade ( Inkelas, Daver, Vogt, & A ; Leonard, 2007 ) . These pupils are at a disadvantage of obtaining at least a unmarried man ‘s grade because they are a bad population for dropping out of college. At four-year establishments, first-generation college pupils have a 23 % opportunity of dropping out of school before their 2nd twelvemonth compared to 10 % of pupils whose parents held a unmarried man ‘s grade ( Tym, McMillion, Barone, & A ; Webster, 2004 ) . Controling for factors associated with non returning, such as delayed registration after high school, working full-time, low fiscal assistance, gender, race, and ethnicity, first-generation position was still a important index of a pupil go forthing before their 2nd twelvemonth ( Choy, 2001 ) . This is a societal and economical job because a huge bulk of occupations today require some kind of postsecondary instruction, whether it be a unmarried man ‘s grade or higher. Several factors are thought to act upon keeping rates in college. Troubles in cultural, psychosocial, and cognitive transitioning are the major factors ( Hertel, 2002 ; Pascarella, Pierson, Wolniak, & A ; Terenzini, 2004 ; Pike & A ; Kuh, 2005 ; Terenzini, Springer, Yaeger, Pascarella, & A ; Nora, 1996 ) . This paper discusses the function of educational intercessions in the keeping of first-generation college pupils and the best clip to implement these plans. The advantage of implementing intercessions early is thought to be the betterment of keeping rates of first-generation college pupils.Transitioning TroublesTraditional pupils are at a higher rate of achieving a grade compared to their first-generation pupil equals. Research workers questioned why this may be and sought to happen indispensable factors that play a function in the deficiency of success in first-generation college pupils. A general premise is that parental instruction is a major influence on a pupil ‘s pick t o go to college and the pupil ‘s finding to make good. The hazard of going college within the first twelvemonth, irrespective of the ground, was cited to be 71 % higher for first-generation college pupils than pupils with college-educated parents ( Ishitani, 2003 ) . Although this determination supports a higher per centum of bead outs than those of Choy ( 2001 ) and Tym et Al. ( 2004 ) , the consequences from all three surveies are comparable ; they investigated how first-generation college pupils are at least twice every bit likely to drop out of school as their traditional pupil equals. Martinez, Sher, Krull, and Wood ( 2009 ) assessed the features and experiences of pupils that are most prognostic of abrasion, or non-enrollment. They examined how different factors interact with being a first coevals pupil. This survey, with 28.7 % of the participants being first-generation pupils, hypothesized that abrasion factors both moderate and intercede the consequence of parental instruction on a pupil ‘s abrasion from college. A moderator influences the strength of the relationship between first-generation pupils and their hazard of abrasion. In this survey, GPA was found to be the lone moderator or circumstance among all the factors that made a difference ( Martinez et al. , 2009 ) . Bing a first-generation college pupil is a bigger hazard if GPA is hapless. Mediators explain how the relationship between first-generation college pupil position and hazard of abrasion occurs. ACT scores, support, and GPA each acted as go-betweens ; each of these factors was related to parental instruction every bit good as abrasion ( Martinez et al. , 2009 ) . Since go-betweens are the most influential in explicating why low parental instruction leads to a greater hazard of abrasion for first coevals pupils, this survey preludes how parental instruction can impact a first-generation college pupil ‘s passage to college culturally, psychosocially, and cognitively. Making the passage from high school to college can be hard for anyone. It is particularly hard for those pupils who are both first-generation and place as a minority race or ethnicity. Passage can be hard due to a separation from close household and friends ( Garcia, 2010 ) . These pupils may besides happen problem appreciating what the college has to offer because they typically come from households with low income and work at least parttime to pay for their instruction. Martinez et Al. ( 2009 ) found that first-generation college pupils had more scholarships and loans, but a deficiency of support from nest eggs and familial parts. It is of import to observe here that their findings contrast what was antecedently found about parental instruction being an index of abrasion. Lack of scholarship was found to be a more precise index of abrasion than lower parental instruction ( Martinez et al. , 2009 ) . One manner to extinguish the arrangement of a fiscal position label upon a pupil is through successful cultural transitioning. First-generation females and minorities populating on campus tended to be more engaged in the establishment ( Pike & A ; Kuh, 2005 ) . This determination can be slightly deceptive since most first-generation pupils tend to populate off-campus and at place. A 2nd constituent of the cultural passage is the discrepancies in an apprehension of the basic cognition of postsecondary instruction. A clear line is drawn that establishes how first-generation college pupils view college as opposed to second-generation and other traditional pupils. First-generation college pupils saw the school ‘s environment as scholarly and less as an chance for occupational readying ( Terenzini et al. , 1996 ) . These pupils see their parents as life socioeconomically stable lives without a college grade and think that they can be merely like them. Hertel ( 2002 ) points out that for traditional college pupils, parents who went to college base on balls on cognition about the college civilization. This cognition has seemed to diminish abrasion rates in college. On the other manus, some first-generation college pupils have reported that they felt like two different people- 1 at place and one at college ( Bryan & A ; Simmons, 2009 ) . These pupils are divided between household and friends back place who are minimally educated and equals who portion in the wealth of cognition gained through college. The 2nd factor explicating why first-generation college pupils typically do non prevail in postsecondary instruction is trouble in a psychosocial passage. First-generation college pupils populating off campus and working happen it hard to acquire involved in extracurricular activities and meeting with other pupils and module ( Pascarella et al. , 2004 ) . These consequences support what was found in earlier research. Second-generation college pupils were cited to hold had higher societal accommodations due to back up, more cognition about college, and had a greater focal point on college activities ( Hertel, 2002 ) . These pupils typically live on campus and are concentrating on their academe, instead than working. Populating on campus allows traditional pupils to run into with module more readily. This can transfuse ideas of handiness and support from the module. Unfortunately for first-generation college pupils, they do non see module as being concerned for pupil development and instruction ( Terenzini et al. , 1996 ) . This is troublesome because pupils who feel welcomed and can interact freely with their professors are the 1s who hold a higher involvement in the establishment and their academic success. First-generation college pupils are at a disadvantage in transitioning psychosocially and face the hazard of institutional abrasion. Cognitive transitioning for first-generation college pupils is the 3rd factor in finding the attainment of a college grade. A successful cognitive passage requires academic readying and college aspirations ( Martinez et al. , 2009 ) . Pascarella et Al. ( 2004 ) found that a first-generation college pupil ‘s academic readying could be assessed by ACT tonss, a standardised step of reading and critical thought. Martinez et Al. ( 2009 ) found that first-generation college pupils had lower ACT tonss compared to their traditional-student equals. This is merely one manner of demoing how first-generation college pupils are less prepared academically for college. First-generation pupils seem to hold a more hard clip being academically successful and have less motive to prevail in gaining a grade. Degree programs and future aspirations of first-generation college pupils varied greatly from second-generation and traditional college pupils. First-generation pupils would prefer to take easier classs instead than 1s that may suggest a challenge. Compared to their traditional equals, first-generation college pupils were more likely to take pre-professional classs and less of the humanistic disciplines and societal scientific disciplines ( Terenzini et al. , 1996 ) . Pike and Kuh ( 2005 ) farther observed this phenomenon that pupils ‘ educational aspirations improved with positive perceptual experiences of the college environment. Both perceptual experiences of the college and the environment and integrating were straight related to additions in acquisition and rational development ( Pike & A ; Kuh, 2005 ) . Pascarella et Al. ( 2004 ) noted th at first-generation college pupils made smaller additions in the highest grade they planned to obtain. This may be due to the fact that second-generation pupils may be more cognizant of the function advanced grades play in the labor-market. All of these surveies examined how of import a successful cognitive and academic passage can be for the success and possible keeping of first-generation college pupils.Educational InterventionsFirst-generation college pupils can increase their opportunities of keeping and having a grade if they are exposed to academic resources provided by the college. The intent of these resources is to assist better fix first-generation college pupils for college preparedness. College preparedness involves understanding pupil features and accomplishments within the context of college ( Byrd & A ; MacDonald, 2005 ) . Resources can include anything from run intoing with college staff, specially designed institutional plans, or a gathering topographic point for pu pils. Effective intercessions are important for the first-generation college pupil ‘s mentality. Once they are enrolled in college, they carry non merely their ain single hopes, but the aspirations of their households and communities ( Jehangir, 2010 ) . Admission into college is a milepost for first-generation pupils. Therefore, it is of import to do certain that the type of intercession utilized would be able to supply first-generation college pupils with the tools they need to graduate. The most effectual intercessions should concentrate on the pupils ‘ strengths and bing accomplishments ( Martinez et al. , 2009 ) . The first intercession theoretical account that has been shown to be effectual is the Social Cognitive Career Theory. This theoretical account was introduced after the designation of five ways that first-generation college pupils differ from their peers- deficiency of parental experience with college applications, academic and personal readying for college, grounds for traveling to college, and personality and life differences. Social Cognitive Career Theory examines the patterned advance of academic involvements in pupils and how to take the following measure and do those involvements a calling option through self-efficacy and end scene. The effectivity of this theoretical account came from the fact that it focuses on socio-cognitive concepts to explicate calling development ( Gibbons & A ; Shoffner, 2004 ) . High school counsellors would be able to utilize this technique to assist possible first-generation college pupils prior to come ining college. This resource is able to supply cognition about college to possible first-generation college pupils that they can non happen elsewhere. The following educational intercession includes living-learning communities. These communities are residential communities where pupils live together in a specific abode hall with a shared academic or thematic focal point and hold entree to academic scheduling and services ( Inkelas & A ; Weisman, 2003 ; Inkelas et al. , 2007 ; Stassen, 2003 ) . The intent of living-learning communities is to ease the academic and societal passage to college for first-generation college pupils. This theoretical account seems to be the most popular and successful among all the intercessions. Surveies have shown that first-generation college pupils who participate in living-learning communities are more likely to comprehend an easier academic and societal passage to college than those in traditional abode halls ( Inkelas & A ; Weisman, 2003 ; Inkelas et al. , 2007 ; Stassen, 2003 ) . The ground for this is that these pupils are traveling through the same experiences of larning to populate on their ain and take more duty upon themselves. The success of this intercession is found in the construct of holding first-generation college pupils live within one country of the abode halls, have entree to multiple resources, and take part in activities that require teamwork and societal interactions. Stassen ( 2003 ) observed the results of living-learning communities when he studied 477 pupils in a living-learning community and 328 pupils non in a living-learning community at a big northeasterly university. Significant differences were found between the two groups in countries of academic integrating ; nevertheless, module integrating did non better ( Stassen, 2003 ) . This can be accounted for through the existent plan construct. Its design focuses on originating equal interactions, non linking module and pupils. The popularity of living-learning plans has led to the development of different types of living-learning communities. These forte plans range from communities for awards pupils to talent promotion to curriculum-based theoretical accounts ( Inkelas & A ; Weisman, 2003 ; Stassen, 2003 ) . However, no affair which living-learning community a first-generation college pupil chooses, there has been a important positive consequence on first-semester GPA and annual keeping ( Stassen, 2003 ) . Therefore, interested pupils should make up one's mind for themselves which community seems the most fitting. It should be noted that the bulk of these consequences were observed after the first semester by cross-sectional surveies. One peculiar survey examined the effectivity of a Freshman Empowerment Program. After detecting 53 pupils placed in this plan and 53 pupils placed in a control group at the same university, Folger, Carter, and Chase ( 2004 ) found that the GPA of first-generation college pupils increased from first-semester to the second-semester and that each semester ‘s GPA every bit good as their cumulative GPA was higher than those pupils non in the plan. Inkelas et Al. ( 2007 ) point out that the impact of living-learning plans may non be well-understood until after pupils have had clip to reflect on their living-learning experiences. It would be interesting to see if first-generation college pupils ‘ keeping rate continued to be as they progressed through all four old ages of college. An effectual living-learning plan would transfuse a positive attitude on the pupils and give them the resources they need to win. A 3rd educational intercession involves an thought that gets to the bosom of the problem- low continuity among first-generation college pupils. Many research workers have approached this job in many ways ensuing in multiple solutions. Cabrera, Nora, and Castaneda ( 1993 ) wanted to cognize if unifying Tinto ‘s Student Integration Theory and Bean ‘s Student Attrition Model would break explicate first-generation college pupils ‘ continuity. The Student Integration Theory attributed abrasion to a deficiency of congruency between pupils and establishments, whereas the Student Attrition Model recognized that behavioural purposes are shaped by a procedure whereby beliefs form attitudes, and attitudes influence behavioural purposes ( Cabrera et al. , 1993 ) . The solution so becomes to hold establishments integrate encouragement and support from important others into the conceptual models analyzing pupil continuity. The foundation for research workers to analyze the function household has in the continuity of first-generation college pupils was established when Cabrera et Al. ( 1993 ) noted a positive consequence of encouragement from friends and household found on committednesss to the establishment. A smattering of ulterior surveies have systematically shown that parents, household members, and friends in the pupils ‘ old communities can supply encouragement and reenforce the pupils ‘ determination to go to and prevail throughout college ( Bryan & A ; Simmons, 2009 ; Elkins, Braxton, & A ; James, 2000 ; McCarron & A ; Inkelas, 2006 ) . McCarron and Inkelas ( 2006 ) used 3,758 pupils, half of which were first-generation college pupils, to propose that the chief forecaster of attainment for first-generation college pupils was non parental engagement ; instead, it was pupils ‘ perceptual experiences of the importance of good classs. Family members tend to act upon striplings â⠂¬Ëœ decision-making sing educational and occupational chases. This may be the ground why first-generation college pupils feel an overmastering sense of force per unit area to win in school in order to delight their households and communities ( Bryan & A ; Simmons, 2009 ) . Some of these consequences can be deceptive, nevertheless. The development of an intercession theoretical account that provides programming for first-generation college pupils and their parents may assist better keeping and graduation rates. The last intercession theoretical account examines what can be done within the college establishment itself. Braxton and McClendon ( 2001 ) believed that the duty for pupil keeping is campus-wide. Everyone from equals to faculty to disposal play a function in the keeping of first-generation college pupils. They have come up with an array of recommendations shown to positively act upon societal integrating and keeping. The first suggests that academic advisers urge their pupils to take classs from module members who receive high mark evaluations on organisation, readying, accomplishment, and lucidity. Organization and skill positively influence societal integrating and continuity. Second, administrative policies and processs should be made clear and enforced reasonably to pupils to guarantee continuity. Third, the enrollment direction should fix recruitment activities accurately portraying the establishment. This is of import because a pupil ‘s determination to go to a peculiar college falls to a great extent on their outlooks for what college life will be like. The following recommendation involves the module. Workshops and seminars should be attended by module so that they can larn how to integrate concerted and collaborative acquisition into their schoolrooms. Last, pupil orientation plans for freshman pupils provide pupils with the chance to larn everything about the school. Successful orientation plans develop chances for first-generation pupils to socially interact with their equals ( Braxton & A ; McClendon, 2001 ) . Implementing any, if non all, of these recommendations would ensue in more well-balanced pupils and a higher keeping rate due to the fact that these pupils will desire to go on larning in an establishment that is both welcoming and helpful. A major restriction of all these intercession surveies is the research workers ‘ short-run observation. For more accurate findings on the effectivity of different intercessions, research workers should be working on detecting these first-generation college pupils in their senior twelvemonth and a few old ages after graduation. This would basically corroborate the success of these intercessions. Merely holding these different educational intercessions readily available will non assist first-generation college pupils. The following measure is seeking to calculate out the best clip to implement them. Aside from the Social Cognitive Career Theory, which is designed for college-bound high-school pupils, few research workers explored the timing of intercession for pupils at hazard of going. A proposed manner of look intoing pupil abrasion is utilizing event patterning techniques when pupils are more likely to go forth their establishments ( Ishitani, 2008 ) . Departure hazards of pupils vary over clip, and pupils are at a higher hazard of going at assorted points in clip depending on their features. Knowing when pupils are more likely to go forth helps institutional forces in planing systematic intercession programs to take down the institutional abrasion rate.DrumheadFirst-generation college pupils have many factors working against them, but they can be merely every bit successf ul as their traditional equals, so long as they have entree to different educational intercessions. First-generation college pupils have to set to cultural, psychosocial, and cognitive passages. A few of the many jobs these pupils encounter include: holding a parttime occupation, separation from friends and household, discrepancies in an apprehension of the basic cognition of postsecondary instruction, hapless academic readying, and hapless interactions with equals and module. Most of first-generation college pupils ‘ clip is consumed by either going to and from school or working. Those first-generation college pupils who are fortunate plenty to populate on campus face a different quandary. Their life style at place is really different than college civilization and they feel a demand to be two different people, one at place and one at school. It seems that the underlying problem stems from being unprepared for postsecondary instruction. Fortunately, first-generation college pu pils can raise their self-esteem and be better equipped for college if they utilize any and all resources available to them through the establishment. Programs such as Social Cognitive Career Theory, living-learning communities, Freshman Empowerment Groups, and alterations within the college establishment itself will let for better societal interactions with equals and peace of head cognizing that they made the right determination and are motivated to larn, alumnus, and have a successful calling.DecisionThe handiness of many educational intercessions leaves research workers to inquire which theoretical account would be most effectual. Living-learning communities are flexible, giving each postsecondary establishment an chance to suit their different pupil populations. Living-learning communities can be designed with any peculiar group in head. Besides, this plan is really popular and used throughout many of the state ‘s colleges and universities. First-generation college pupils do non necessitate to experience like they are being singled out in these plans as opposed to run intoing separately with a counsellor or adviser. Alternatively, they are with other pupils who are sing the same troubles as they are. Last, these plans have been found to be successful in infinite surveies, a few of which were mentioned throughout this paper. The way of research now should be a comparative survey concentrating on the effectivity of living-learning communities with regard to other intercessions.

Conventional cars to electric cars

IntroductionIf we count the autos on the whole planet we will make a figure bigger than 500 million. These autos give us great freedom, but they bring some jobs excessively. They burn fossil fuels like oil so they pollute our planet and they do a major part to the planetary heating. In U.S 33 % of entire C dioxide emanations comes from the autos with internal burning engines. Most people want to hold electric autos that are fuel, efficient and cleaner than the gas guzzlers they drive today. However, these yearss, there are some jobs which are waiting for solutions like battery capacity, bear downing Stationss, new grid systems and paying systems. In this work we will analyze how can we go through from conventional autos to electric autos? hypertext transfer protocol: //www.explainthatstuff.com/electriccars.html hypertext transfer protocol: //ecobridge.org/content/g_cse.htmEnvironmental Friendly Technologies and Their NecessityEnvironmental engineerings or green engineerings assist straight with energy preservation and they help the environment by cut downing the sum of waste produced by human activities. These engineerings besides conserve natural environment and resources. Today, the universe is in danger. Everyone must confront to have an consequence on Earth. We must cognize the effects of our life manners and we should rearrange our lives harmonizing to it. The best solution is the use of environmental engineerings in our day-to-day life. In this perspective environmental footfalls divide into two classs ; as a authorities and as a individual. Governments can modulate the policies and give more importance to renewable energy. However, most of import portion is personal actions. Human history shows that ordinary people have adequate power to alter the systems like authoritiess and governments. Why ca n't we change earth ‘s fate? By safeguards that we will take, we can salvage our natural resources. For illustration ; we should give importance to recycling that we bring the use of clean energy to our lives. By utilizing solar energy and alternate fuel vehicles, including plug-in intercrossed and pure electric autos can salvage our kids ‘s hereafter. hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_technologyElectric Car IdeaElectric autos are fundamentally alternate fuel cars which use electric motor and electric power to travel. Although electric auto thought shows so fresh, electricity is one of the oldest auto propulsion methods. Yet late, they have gained more importance with planetary clime treatments. â€Å" Electric auto † by and large used for cars powered by electricity. There are some types of electric autos but they have different names such as, electric autos powered by sunshine are solar autos, and electric autos powered by gas generator are intercrossed autos. Hybrid autos with batteries that can be recharged by linking a stopper to an external electric power beginning is a plug-in intercrossed vehicle ( PHEV ) . An electric auto that obtains its power from an interior battery battalion is called a battery electric vehicle ( BEV ) . Although electric autos save natural resources and the clime, electricity as a propulsion method could non be achieved gasoline autos ‘ comfort and easiness of operation. ICE engineering has some advantages ; gasolene autos have greater scope and small refueling times and there is a immense gasolene distribution substructure to supply gasolene for autos. Besides that a gasolene auto ‘s monetary value is much cheaper than an electric auto. There are non merely electric autos ‘ disadvantages. They are more environmental, friendly and their maintaining and running costs are cheaper than ICE autos ‘ . By indispensable policy alterations and electric distribution substructure investings, in short clip ICE autos may replace with electric autos. Today, intercrossed electric autos have become the most popular signifier of electric auto, we can easy purchase a intercrossed auto with an low-cost monetary value. For case, Toyota Prius or Chevrolet Volt. Besides we can purchase a plug-in loanblend or a pure electric auto such as Tesla Roadster or Th! nk City. hypertext transfer protocol: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 30-32

CHAPTER 30 Security warden Claude Grouard simmered with rage as he stood over his prostrate captive in front of the Mona Lisa.This bastard killed Jacques Sauniere! Sauniere had been like a well-loved father to Grouard and his security team. Grouard wanted nothing more than to pull the trigger and bury a bullet in Robert Langdon's back. As senior warden, Grouard was one of the few guards who actually carried a loaded weapon. He reminded himself, however, that killing Langdon would be a generous fate compared to the misery about to be communicated by Bezu Fache and the French prison system. Grouard yanked his walkie-talkie off his belt and attempted to radio for backup. All he heard was static. The additional electronic security in this chamber always wrought havoc with the guards' communications. I have to move to the doorway.Still aiming his weapon at Langdon, Grouard began backing slowly toward the entrance. On his third step, he spied something that made him stop short. What the hell is that! An inexplicable mirage was materializing near the center of the room. A silhouette. There was someone else in the room? A woman was moving through the darkness, walking briskly toward the far left wall. In front of her, a purplish beam of light swung back and forth across the floor, as if she were searching for something with a colored flashlight. â€Å"Qui est la?† Grouard demanded, feeling his adrenaline spike for a second time in the last thirty seconds. He suddenly didn't know where to aim his gun or what direction to move. â€Å"PTS,† the woman replied calmly, still scanning the floor with her light. Police Technique et Scientifique.Grouard was sweating now. I thought all the agents were gone!He now recognized the purple light as ultraviolet, consistent with a PTS team, and yet he could not understand why DCPJ would be looking for evidence in here. â€Å"Votre nom!† Grouard yelled, instinct telling him something was amiss. â€Å"Repondez!† â€Å"C'est mot,† the voice responded in calm French. â€Å"Sophie Neveu.† Somewhere in the distant recesses of Grouard's mind, the name registered. Sophie Neveu? Thatwas the name of Sauniere's granddaughter, wasn't it? She used to come in here as a little kid, but that was years ago. This couldn't possibly be her! And even if it were Sophie Neveu, that was hardly a reason to trust her; Grouard had heard the rumors of the painful falling-out between Sauniere and his granddaughter. â€Å"You know me,† the woman called. â€Å"And Robert Langdon did not kill my grandfather. Believe me.† Warden Grouard was not about to take that on faith. I need backup! Trying his walkie-talkie again, he got only static. The entrance was still a good twenty yards behind him, and Grouard began backing up slowly, choosing to leave his gun trained on the man on the floor. As Grouard inched backward, he could see the woman across the room raising her UV light and scrutinizing a large painting that hung on the far side of the Salle des Etats, directly opposite the Mona Lisa. Grouard gasped, realizing which painting it was. What in the name of God is she doing? Across the room, Sophie Neveu felt a cold sweat breaking across her forehead. Langdon was still spread-eagle on the floor. Hold on, Robert.Almost there.Knowing the guard would never actually shoot either of them, Sophie now turned her attention back to the matter at hand, scanning the entire area around one masterpiece in particular – another Da Vinci. But the UV light revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Not on the floor, on the walls, or even on the canvas itself. There must be something here! Sophie felt totally certain she had deciphered her grandfather's intentions correctly. What else could he possibly intend? The masterpiece she was examining was a five-foot-tall canvas. The bizarre scene Da Vinci had painted included an awkwardly posed Virgin Mary sitting with Baby Jesus, John the Baptist, and the Angel Uriel on a perilous outcropping of rocks. When Sophie was a little girl, no trip to the Mona Lisa had been complete without her grandfather dragging her across the room to see this second painting. Grand-pere, I'm here! But I don't see it! Behind her, Sophie could hear the guard trying to radio again for help. Think! She pictured the message scrawled on the protective glass of the Mona Lisa.So dark the con of man.The painting before her had no protective glass on which to write a message, and Sophie knew her grandfather would never have defaced this masterpiece by writing on the painting itself. She paused. At least not on the front.Her eyes shot upward, climbing the long cables that dangled from the ceiling to support the canvas. Could that be it? Grabbing the left side of the carved wood frame, she pulled it toward her. The painting was large and the backing flexed as she swung it away from the wall. Sophie slipped her head and shoulders in behind the painting and raised the black light to inspect the back. It took only seconds to realize her instinct had been wrong. The back of the painting was pale and blank. There was no purple text here, only the mottled brown backside of aging canvas and – Wait. Sophie's eyes locked on an incongruous glint of lustrous metal lodged near the bottom edge of the frame's wooden armature. The object was small, partially wedged in the slit where the canvas met the frame. A shimmering gold chain dangled off it. To Sophie's utter amazement, the chain was affixed to a familiar gold key. The broad, sculpted head was in the shape of a cross and bore an engraved seal she had not seen since she was nine years old. A fleur-de-lis with the initials P. S. In that instant, Sophie felt the ghost of her grandfather whispering in her ear. When the time comes, the key will be yours.A tightness gripped her throat as she realized that her grandfather, even in death, had kept his promise. This key opens a box, his voice was saying, where I keep many secrets. Sophie now realized that the entire purpose of tonight's word game had been this key. Her grandfather had it with him when he was killed. Not wanting it to fall into the hands of the police, he hid it behind this painting. Then he devised an ingenious treasure hunt to ensure only Sophie would find it. â€Å"Au secours!† the guard's voice yelled. Sophie snatched the key from behind the painting and slipped it deep in her pocket along with the UV penlight. Peering out from behind the canvas, she could see the guard was still trying desperately to raise someone on the walkie-talkie. He was backing toward the entrance, still aiming the gun firmly at Langdon. â€Å"Au secours!† he shouted again into his radio. Static. He can't transmit, Sophie realized, recalling that tourists with cell phones often got frustrated in here when they tried to call home to brag about seeing the Mona Lisa.The extra surveillance wiring in the walls made it virtually impossible to get a carrier unless you stepped out into the hall. The guard was backing quickly toward the exit now, and Sophie knew she had to act immediately. Gazing up at the large painting behind which she was partially ensconced, Sophie realized that Leonardo Da Vinci, for the second time tonight, was there to help. Another few meters, Grouard told himself, keeping his gun leveled. â€Å"Arretez! Ou je la detruis!† the woman's voice echoed across the room. Grouard glanced over and stopped in his tracks. â€Å"Mon dieu, non!† Through the reddish haze, he could see that the woman had actually lifted the large painting off its cables and propped it on the floor in front of her. At five feet tall, the canvas almost entirely hid her body. Grouard's first thought was to wonder why the painting's trip wires hadn't set off alarms, but of course the artwork cable sensors had yet to be reset tonight. What is she doing! When he saw it, his blood went cold. The canvas started to bulge in the middle, the fragile outlines of the Virgin Mary, Baby Jesus, and John the Baptist beginning to distort. â€Å"Non!† Grouard screamed, frozen in horror as he watched the priceless Da Vinci stretching. The woman was pushing her knee into the center of the canvas from behind!† NON!† Grouard wheeled and aimed his gun at her but instantly realized it was an empty threat. The canvas was only fabric, but it was utterly impenetrable – a six-million-dollar piece of body armor. I can't put a bullet through a Da Vinci! â€Å"Set down your gun and radio,† the woman said in calm French,† or I'll put my knee through this painting. I think you know how my grandfather would feel about that.† Grouard felt dizzy. â€Å"Please†¦ no. That's Madonna of the Rocks!† He dropped his gun and radio, raising his hands over his head. â€Å"Thank you,† the woman said. â€Å"Now do exactly as I tell you, and everything will work out fine.† Moments later, Langdon's pulse was still thundering as he ran beside Sophie down the emergency stairwell toward the ground level. Neither of them had said a word since leaving the trembling Louvre guard lying in the Salle des Etats. The guard's pistol was now clutched tightly in Langdon's hands, and he couldn't wait to get rid of it. The weapon felt heavy and dangerously foreign. Taking the stairs two at a time, Langdon wondered if Sophie had any idea how valuable a painting she had almost ruined. Her choice in art seemed eerily pertinent to tonight's adventure. The Da Vinci she had grabbed, much like the Mona Lisa, was notorious among art historians for its plethora of hidden pagan symbolism. â€Å"You chose a valuable hostage,† he said as they ran. â€Å"Madonna of the Rocks,†she replied. â€Å"But I didn't choose it, my grandfather did. He left me a little something behind the painting.† Langdon shot her a startled look. â€Å"What!? But how did you know which painting? Why Madonnaof the Rocks?† â€Å"So dark the con of man.† She flashed a triumphant smile. â€Å"I missed the first two anagrams, Robert. I wasn't about to miss the third.† CHAPTER 31 â€Å"They're dead!† Sister Sandrine stammered into the telephone in her Saint-Sulpice residence. She was leaving a message on an answering machine. â€Å"Please pick up! They're all dead!† The first three phone numbers on the list had produced terrifying results – a hysterical widow, a detective working late at a murder scene, and a somber priest consoling a bereaved family. All three contacts were dead. And now, as she called the fourth and final number – the number she was not supposed to call unless the first three could not be reached – she got an answering machine. The outgoing message offered no name but simply asked the caller to leave a message.† The floor panel has been broken!† she pleaded as she left the message. â€Å"The other three are dead!† Sister Sandrine did not know the identities of the four men she protected, but the private phonenumbers stashed beneath her bed were for use on only one condition. If that floor panel is ever broken, the faceless messenger had told her, it means the upper echelon has been breached. One of us has been mortally threatened and been forced to tell a desperate lie. Call the numbers. Warn the others. Do not fail us in this. It was a silent alarm. Foolproof in its simplicity. The plan had amazed her when she first heard it. If the identity of one brother was compromised, he could tell a lie that would start in motion a mechanism to warn the others. Tonight, however, it seemed that more than one had been compromised. â€Å"Please answer,† she whispered in fear. â€Å"Where are you?† â€Å"Hang up the phone,† a deep voice said from the doorway. Turning in terror, she saw the massive monk. He was clutching the heavy iron candle stand. Shaking, she set the phone back in the cradle. â€Å"They are dead,† the monk said. â€Å"All four of them. And they have played me for a fool. Tell me where the keystone is.† â€Å"I don't know!† Sister Sandrine said truthfully. â€Å"That secret is guarded by others.† Others who are dead! The man advanced, his white fists gripping the iron stand. â€Å"You are a sister of the Church, and yet you serve them?† â€Å"Jesus had but one true message,† Sister Sandrine said defiantly. â€Å"I cannot see that message in Opus Dei.† A sudden explosion of rage erupted behind the monk's eyes. He lunged, lashing out with the candle stand like a club. As Sister Sandrine fell, her last feeling was an overwhelming sense of foreboding. All four are dead. The precious truth is lost forever. CHAPTER 32 The security alarm on the west end of the Denon Wing sent the pigeons in the nearby Tuileries Gardens scattering as Langdon and Sophie dashed out of the bulkhead into the Paris night. As they ran across the plaza to Sophie's car, Langdon could hear police sirens wailing in the distance. â€Å"That's it there,† Sophie called, pointing to a red snub-nosed two-seater parked on the plaza. She's kidding, right? The vehicle was easily the smallest car Langdon had ever seen.† SmartCar,† she said. â€Å"A hundred kilometers to the liter.† Langdon had barely thrown himself into the passenger seat before Sophie gunned the SmartCar up and over a curb onto a gravel divider. He gripped the dash as the car shot out across a sidewalk and bounced back down over into the small rotary at Carrousel du Louvre. For an instant, Sophie seemed to consider taking the shortcut across the rotary by plowing straight ahead, through the median's perimeter hedge, and bisecting the large circle of grass in the center. â€Å"No!† Langdon shouted, knowing the hedges around Carrousel du Louvre were there to hide the perilous chasm in the center – La Pyramide Inversee – the upside-down pyramid skylight he had seen earlier from inside the museum. It was large enough to swallow their Smart-Car in a single gulp. Fortunately, Sophie decided on the more conventional route, jamming the wheel hard to the right, circling properly until she exited, cut left, and swung into the northbound lane, accelerating toward Rue de Rivoli. The two-tone police sirens blared louder behind them, and Langdon could see the lights now in his side view mirror. The SmartCar engine whined in protest as Sophie urged it faster away from the Louvre. Fifty yards ahead, the traffic light at Rivoli turned red. Sophie cursed under her breath and kept racing toward it. Langdon felt his muscles tighten. â€Å"Sophie?† Slowing only slightly as they reached the intersection, Sophie flicked her headlights and stole a quick glance both ways before flooring the accelerator again and carving a sharp left turn through the empty intersection onto Rivoli. Accelerating west for a quarter of a mile, Sophie banked to the right around a wide rotary. Soon they were shooting out the other side onto the wide avenue of Champs-Elysees. As they straightened out, Langdon turned in his seat, craning his neck to look out the rear window toward the Louvre. The police did not seem to be chasing them. The sea of blue lights was assembling at the museum. His heartbeat finally slowing, Langdon turned back around. â€Å"That was interesting.† Sophie didn't seem to hear. Her eyes remained fixed ahead down the long thoroughfare of Champs-Elysees, the two-mile stretch of posh storefronts that was often called the Fifth Avenue of Paris. The embassy was only about a mile away, and Langdon settled into his seat. So dark the con of man.Sophie's quick thinking had been impressive. Madonna of the Rocks. Sophie had said her grandfather left her something behind the painting. A final message? Langdon could not help but marvel over Sauniere's brilliant hiding place; Madonna of the Rocks was yet another fitting link in the evening's chain of interconnected symbolism. Sauniere, it seemed, at every turn, was reinforcing his fondness for the dark and mischievous side of Leonardo Da Vinci. Da Vinci's original commission for Madonna of the Rocks had come from an organization known as the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception, which needed a painting for the centerpiece of an altar triptych in their church of San Francesco in Milan. The nuns gave Leonardo specific dimensions, and the desired theme for the painting – the Virgin Mary, baby John the Baptist, Uriel, and Baby Jesus sheltering in a cave. Although Da Vinci did as they requested, when he delivered the work, the group reacted with horror. He had filled the painting with explosive and disturbing details. The painting showed a blue-robed Virgin Mary sitting with her arm around an infant child, presumably Baby Jesus. Opposite Mary sat Uriel, also with an infant, presumably baby John the Baptist. Oddly, though, rather than the usual Jesus-blessing-John scenario, it was baby John who was blessing Jesus†¦ and Jesus was submitting to his authority! More troubling still, Mary was holding one hand high above the head of infant John and making a decidedly threatening gesture – her fingers looking like eagle's talons, gripping an invisible head. Finally, the most obvious and frightening image: Just below Mary's curled fingers, Uriel was making a cutting gesture with his hand – as if slicing the neck of the invisible head gripped by Mary's claw-like hand. Langdon's students were always amused to learn that Da Vinci eventually mollified the confraternity by painting them a second,† watered-down† version of Madonna of the Rocks in which everyone was arranged in a more orthodox manner. The second version now hung in London's National Gallery under the name Virgin of the Rocks, although Langdon still preferred the Louvre's more intriguing original. As Sophie gunned the car up Champs-Elysees, Langdon said,† The painting. What was behind it?† Her eyes remained on the road. â€Å"I'll show you once we're safely inside the embassy.† â€Å"You'll show it to me?† Langdon was surprised. â€Å"He left you a physical object?† Sophie gave a curt nod. â€Å"Embossed with a fleur-de-lis and the initials P. S.† Langdon couldn't believe his ears. We're going to make it, Sophie thought as she swung the SmartCar's wheel to the right, cutting sharply past the luxurious Hà ´tel de Crillon into Paris's tree-lined diplomatic neighborhood. The embassy was less than a mile away now. She was finally feeling like she could breathe normally again. Even as she drove, Sophie's mind remained locked on the key in her pocket, her memories of seeing it many years ago, the gold head shaped as an equal-armed cross, the triangular shaft, the indentations, the embossed flowery seal, and the letters P. S. Although the key barely had entered Sophie's thoughts through the years, her work in the intelligence community had taught her plenty about security, and now the key's peculiar tooling no longer looked so mystifying. A laser-tooled varying matrix.Impossible to duplicate.Rather than teeth that moved tumblers, this key's complex series of laser-burned pockmarks was examined by an electric eye. If the eye determined that the hexagonal pockmarks were correctly spaced, arranged, and rotated, then the lock would open. Sophie could not begin to imagine what a key like this opened, but she sensed Robert would be able to tell her. After all, he had described the key's embossed seal without ever seeing it. The cruciform on top implied the key belonged to some kind of Christian organization, and yet Sophie knew of no churches that used laser-tooled varying matrix keys. Besides, my grandfather was no Christian†¦ . Sophie had witnessed proof of that ten years ago. Ironically, it had been another key – a far more normal one – that had revealed his true nature to her. The afternoon had been warm when she landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport and hailed a taxi home. Grand-pere will be so surprised to see me, she thought. Returning from graduate school in Britain for spring break a few days early, Sophie couldn't wait to see him and tell him all about the encryption methods she was studying. When she arrived at their Paris home, however, her grandfather was not there. Disappointed, she knew he had not been expecting her and was probably working at the Louvre. But it's Saturday afternoon, she realized. He seldom worked on weekends. On weekends, he usually – Grinning, Sophie ran out to the garage. Sure enough, his car was gone. It was the weekend. Jacques Sauniere despised city driving and owned a car for one destination only – his vacation chateau in Normandy, north of Paris. Sophie, after months in the congestion of London, was eager for the smells of nature and to start her vacation right away. It was still early evening, and she decided to leave immediately and surprise him. Borrowing a friend's car, Sophie drove north, winding into the deserted moon-swept hills near Creully. She arrived just after ten o'clock, turning down the long private driveway toward her grandfather's retreat. The access road was over a mile long, and she was halfway down it before she could start to see the house through the trees – a mammoth, old stone chateau nestled in the woods on the side of a hill. Sophie had half expected to find her grandfather asleep at this hour and was excited to see the house twinkling with lights. Her delight turned to surprise, however, when she arrived to find the driveway filled with parked cars – Mercedeses, BMWs, Audis, and a Rolls-Royce. Sophie stared a moment and then burst out laughing. My grand-pere, the famous recluse! Jacques Sauniere, it seemed, was far less reclusive than he liked to pretend. Clearly he was hosting a party while Sophie was away at school, and from the looks of the automobiles, some of Paris's most influential people were in attendance. Eager to surprise him, she hurried to the front door. When she got there, though, she found it locked. She knocked. Nobody answered. Puzzled, she walked around and tried the back door. It too was locked. No answer. Confused, she stood a moment and listened. The only sound she heard was the cool Normandy air letting out a low moan as it swirled through the valley. No music. No voices. Nothing. In the silence of the woods, Sophie hurried to the side of the house and clambered up on a woodpile, pressing her face to the living room window. What she saw inside made no sense at all. â€Å"Nobody's here!† The entire first floor looked deserted. Where are all the people? Heart racing, Sophie ran to the woodshed and got the spare key her grandfather kept hidden under the kindling box. She ran to the front door and let herself in. As she stepped into the deserted foyer, the control panel for the security system started blinking red – a warning that the entrant had ten seconds to type the proper code before the security alarms went off. He has the alarm on during a party? Sophie quickly typed the code and deactivated the system. Entering, she found the entire house uninhabited. Upstairs too. As she descended again to the deserted living room, she stood a moment in the silence, wondering what could possibly be happening. It was then that Sophie heard it. Muffled voices. And they seemed to be coming from underneath her. Sophie could not imagine. Crouching, she put her ear to the floor and listened. Yes, the sound was definitely coming from below. The voices seemed to be singing, or†¦ chanting? She was frightened. Almost more eerie than the sound itself was the realization that this house did not even have a basement. At least none I've ever seen. Turning now and scanning the living room, Sophie's eyes fell to the only object in the entire house that seemed out of place – her grandfather's favorite antique, a sprawling Aubusson tapestry. It usually hung on the east wall beside the fireplace, but tonight it had been pulled aside on its brass rod, exposing the wall behind it. Walking toward the bare wooden wall, Sophie sensed the chanting getting louder. Hesitant, she leaned her ear against the wood. The voices were clearer now. People were definitely chanting†¦ intoning words Sophie could not discern. The space behind this wall is hollow! Feeling around the edge of the panels, Sophie found a recessed finger hold. It was discreetly crafted. A sliding door.Heart pounding, she placed her finger in the slot and pulled it. With noiseless precision, the heavy wall slid sideways. From out of the darkness beyond, the voices echoed up. Sophie slipped through the door and found herself on a rough-hewn stone staircase that spiraled downward. She'd been coming to this house since she was a child and yet had no idea this staircase even existed! As she descended, the air grew cooler. The voices clearer. She heard men and women now. Her line of sight was limited by the spiral of the staircase, but the last step was now rounding into view. Beyond it, she could see a small patch of the basement floor – stone, illuminated by the flickering orange blaze of firelight. Holding her breath, Sophie inched down another few steps and crouched down to look. It took her several seconds to process what she was seeing. The room was a grotto – a coarse chamber that appeared to have been hollowed from the granite of the hillside. The only light came from torches on the walls. In the glow of the flames, thirty or so people stood in a circle in the center of the room. I'm dreaming, Sophie told herself. A dream. What else could this be? Everyone in the room was wearing a mask. The women were dressed in white gossamer gowns and golden shoes. Their masks were white, and in their hands they carried golden orbs. The men wore long black tunics, and their masks were black. They looked like pieces in a giant chess set. Everyone in the circle rocked back and forth and chanted in reverence to something on the floor before them†¦ something Sophie could not see. The chanting grew steady again. Accelerating. Thundering now. Faster. The participants took a step inward and knelt. In that instant, Sophie could finally see what they all were witnessing. Even as she staggered back in horror, she felt the image searing itself into her memory forever. Overtaken by nausea, Sophie spun, clutching at the stone walls as she clambered back up the stairs. Pulling the door closed, she fled the deserted house, and drove in a tearful stupor back to Paris. That night, with her life shattered by disillusionment and betrayal, she packed her belongings and left her home. On the dining room table, she left a note. I WAS THERE. DON'T TRY TO FIND ME. Beside the note, she laid the old spare key from the chateau's woodshed. â€Å"Sophie! Langdon's voice intruded. â€Å"Stop! Stop!† Emerging from the memory, Sophie slammed on the brakes, skidding to a halt. â€Å"What? What happened?!† Langdon pointed down the long street before them. When she saw it, Sophie's blood went cold. A hundred yards ahead, the intersection was blocked by a couple of DCPJ police cars, parked askew, their purpose obvious. They've sealed off AvenueGabriel! Langdon gave a grim sigh. â€Å"I take it the embassy is off-limits this evening?† Down the street, the two DCPJ officers who stood beside their cars were now staring in their direction, apparently curious about the headlights that had halted so abruptly up the street from them. Okay, Sophie, turn around very slowly. Putting the SmartCar in reverse, she performed a composed three-point turn and reversed her direction. As she drove away, she heard the sound of squealing tires behind them. Sirens blared to life. Cursing, Sophie slammed down the accelerator.