Return-Path Essays - Path, Bounce Address, Stowe Recreation Path

Return-Path: Received: from webserv.schoolsucks.com (webserv.schoolsucks.com [207.68.73.22]) by addr4.addr.com (8.9.3/8.9.1) with ESMTP id KAA82726 for ; Mon, 22 Nov 1999 10:12:19 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from [emailprotected]) Received: from 207.68.73.223 [207.68.73.223] by webserv.schoolsucks.com (SMTPD32-5.05) id A8DB130126; Mon, 22 Nov 1999 13:18:03 -0500 From: School.Sucks To: [emailprotected] Subject: The Termpaper You Asked For Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 13:16:17 -0500 X-Mailer: Allaire ColdFusion Application Server MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: Status: Title of Paper : Communication in the Godfather Vito Corleone is one of the main characters in the movie The Godfather. Throughout the movie Vito gives numerous speeches to the men who work for him, do business with him, and ask favors of him. His style is unusual for a man with all of his power, but it is very effective. His style could be a good example to anyone who is in a management position working with subordinates as well as anyone working in sales or any other position where there is contact with potential business partners. In this paper I will be analyzing Vito's speaking style. First, I will discuss a brief history of Vito Corleone's life to put his speaking into perspective. Next I will discuss his speaking style in different situations. Finally I will look at the reactions to his speaking and his overall speaking effectiveness. Vito Corleone was born with the last name Andoline. He was born in Corleone, Sicily, in the early 1900's. When Vito was twelve-years old his family was murdered and fearing for his own life he immigrated to the United States. Young Vito did not want to be discovered so he did not give the immigration officer on Ellis Island his last name. The officer had to put some name down so the officer choose to use the town that Vito was from as his last name. After hiding out for a few years with relatives, Vito went to work in a grocery store in New York's Hell's Kitchen. At the age of eighteen, Vito married an Italian girl who had just arrived from Sicily. Vito continued to work at the grocery store until a local offshoot Mafia member made the grocery store owner give Vito's job to his nephew. Until that point Vito had never done anything illegal. Out of a job, Vito reluctantly helped a neighbor hide some illegal guns for a few dollars. Vito eventually made friends with his neighbor Peter Clemenza, and his neighbor's partner Tessio. A few weeks later Vito reluctantly agreed to high jack a truck with Clemenza and Tessio. Each of them cleared at least a thousand dollars from the heights. The local smalltime Mafia leader who had cost Vito his job heard about the truck heist. This local Mafia leader demanded a cut from the three young men. Vito, Clemenza, and Tessio were torn between paying the money that they worked so hard for, or keeping the money and becoming an enemy of the leader. Vito decided to hold out and not pay the amount the Mafia leader was asking. Clemenza and Tessio reluctantly agreed to let Vito handle the situation. Vito Corleone, after a clever discussion with the Mafia leader, used an ambush to kill the Mafia leader. Vito was still not interested in organized crime, he just had wanted to keep all of his money. Clemenza and Tessio were noticing that no new Mafia member had taken over now that the original leader had been killed. Clemenza spoke to Vito saying, "Nobody is collecting from the store owners. Nobody is collecting from the card games and gambling in the neighborhood." Tessio then said, "We could take over his customers. They would pay us." Vito shrugged, "I have no interest in such things." Slowly Vito realized that his neighbors viewed him differently now. Vito was treated as a "man of respect" by everyone now. When a widow had a problem with her landlord kicking her out, she surprising came to Vito for help. When he spoke to the landlord at the widows request, the landlord was rude and insulted that Vito would even step into his personal business. Vito remained polite and as he was leaving said, "Do me this service, eh? I won't forget it. Ask your friends in the neighborhood about me, they'll tell you I'm a man who believes in showing

Bioreactor landfills Essay Example

Bioreactor landfills Essay Example Bioreactor landfills Paper Bioreactor landfills Paper Introduction – Waste management has been one of the most important problems of the 20th century world. As the population grows, so does the waste (domestic and industrial) that goes along with it. With every used commodity there is a resulting trash that needs to be dumped in a place that is designed to process these wastes properly. The world has gone a long way, from the North American dumpsites during 6500 BC to the creation of Destructor in 1847, from efforts to recycle and to incinerate; in every turn of the year or century, people keep finding solutions as the world keep finding new problems stemming from waste management. In the age of landfills, the bioreactor landfill appears to some as the next best things since the popularization of the Three Rs, while to some, it is just another effort that will not directly answer the problems of waste management and add to the growing danger posed on public health and environmental sustainability. What is a bioreactor landfill? – The term bioreactor landfill may sound overly technical and highly scientific to an average individual, but the truth is a bioreactor landfill is simply an area where trash and other waste materials are dumped. The only difference it has from an ordinary dumpsite is that inside a bioreactor landfill, the trash and waste dumped there still undergoes scientific processes that   transforms it into something that humans can use again, in the processes keeping the earth from ending up as one big dumpsite and maximizing the potentials found in garbage and trash. There are bioreactor landfills that are aerobic – meaning they rely on the presence of air to assist the process of decomposition. There are also anaerobic bioreactor landfills, which is characterized by the absence of the role of air in the process of biodegradation. Hybrid bioreactor landfills utilize both aerobic and anaerobic methods. The idea of a bioreactor landfill was designed specifically to perform a specific task and a set of operation. Despite the fact that there are different types of configurations that characterizes a particular bioreactor landfill, the bioreactor landfill in general accomplishes similar functions and performs a similar role in the society regardless of its current location. But the differences in configuration among the different bioreactor landfill allows for a little diversification on the details of its performance and operation, which will be discussed in detail as the paper progresses, focusing on one particular configuration type of a bioreactor landfill to the next. How they work – The operation of a bioreactor landfill involves the use of two important elements water and air to allow for the acceleration of the decomposition of both domestic and industrial waste that is dumped in a bioreactor landfill. It is important that the decomposition process is accelerated so that the waste materials are processed faster and the usable byproduct of this decomposition biogas as well as compost is produced faster and is immediately utilized, particularly for energy-generating activities. The biogas that is produced enters specialized pipelines that lead this gas towards where it can be burned and transformed into electricity. The compost material, on the other hand, is also created after biodegradable materials undergo decomposition stages and becomes ready as alternative fertilizer as well as a very suitable soil conditioner used by individuals who have gardens and plantations. Bioreactor landfills operating in US The website Bioreactors.org lists 13 different bioreactor landfills operating (save one, which is in development as indicated in the website). The most number of bioreactor landfills is found in Florida, which has four different bioreactor landfills the Alachua County Southeast Landfill, the Highlands County, the New River Regional Landfill found in Raiford and the Polk County Landfill which is found in Lakeland. Virginia is the other place with more than one bioreactor landfill site, and these are the Maplewood Landfill and King George County Landfills and the Virginia Landfill Project XL Demonstration Project. The rest features just one bioreactor landfill location; California has the Yolo County bioreactor landfill while Kentucky has the Outer Loop Landfill. In Michigan, a bioreactor landfill is found in Clare County while the Mississippi features the Plantation Oaks Bioreactor Demonstration Project, Sibley. The ACUAs Haneman Environmental Park, Egg Harbor Township is found in New Jersey while the Buncombe County Landfill Project is found in North Carolina, while the Columbia bioreactor landfill is currently under development in Missouri. The bioreactor landfill and human health One of the main issues that bioreactor landfills face is the debate over its impact on health. Those who are pushing for the use of a bioreactor landfill claims that this is particularly designed to protect the health of the people, while those who protest the creation of such technology points to the impending health risk to the public once bioreactor landfills become fully operational. Tolaymat et al (2004) noted in an article about how the bioreactor landfills contribute to the safety of the people and how these landfills protect the health of the people, pointing out to the parameters which if observed properly, will collectively ensure (that) the optimal operation of bioreactor landfills will pose minimized risk to human health and the environment (p 5). Sally Gutierrez, in a foreword note in Tolaymat et als study, noted how the EPA is geared in developing a balance between human health and the creation of technologies that can help sustain life. Gutierrez said that the office is cognizant about how pollutants affect human health and that in the minimizing of these pollutants through the use of bioreactor landfills it is contributing towards the protection of public health (p ii). The Kulangoor Anti-Dump Action Group, Incorporated (KADAG) is one of the different groups that voices opposition versus the bioreactor landfill technology and one of the reasons why they do not support such technology is because of the health risk that goes along with the creation of a bioreactor landfill. According to the group in an article posted in its website, the bioreactor landfill will cause (1) the presence of gases in the atmosphere that will adversely effect human health, from volatile organic compounds to organic sulphides to metals and (2) health risks that includes eye irritation, physical discomfort and illness due to the smell and odor, breathing problems, the presence of cancer-stimulating carcinogens, the presence of possible cases of birth defects associated with women exposed close to bioreactor landfills and the threat of a person losing his/her sense of smell over time due to the exposure of hydrogen sulphide (par 4) KADAG defining the health effect as ranging from slightly annoying to potentially fatal'(par 3). In a slide presentation, Jack Taylor added his own thoughts on the perceived health impact of bioreactor landfills (p11), citing hepatitis A and B, respiratory diseases, as well as the presence of other types of bacteria as a threat to health resulting the presence and operation of a bioreactor landfill. Taylor also identified other things that will be a threat to health, including fires and explosions resulting to burns and even fatalities, release of airborne irritants and smoke. How they benefit the environment The most important benefit the environment can get from the use of a bioreactor landfill is the lessening of the impact of waste management to the environment, especially in the age where population has grown and the density is close to reaching the level that every land area is close in proximity to human beings that the government should secure the land area for safety. In the past, waste management is not given a very serious attention because the people are situated far away from dumpsites and they cannot smell the odor of wastes and garbage and they are hardly in a position to be threatened health-wise by the manner by which the waste management is being handled by the local government. Because of this reality, the consideration for the treatment to the environment was not as focused as it is today. Simply said, the people back then hardly cares about the impact of the existing waste management to the environment; but now that people are realizing how environmental impacts are closely tied to impacts to humans, humans have started devising ways to protect the environment so that they can protect themselves in the long run. The creation of a bioreactor landfill was designed to protect both the environment and the people from the effects of waste management. It protects the environment by providing features that guarantee that harmful elements like leachate and harmful gases are trapped by the site or is manufactured and processed to make it less and less harmful and more and more useful. Bioreactor landfills protect the environment by making sure that unlike in the past, the byproducts that form inside dumpsites are contained and not allowed to be released and harm the rest of the environment. Through the use of bioreactor landfills, the environment is not in the risk of having to experience the level of environmental assault that it experienced during the pre-bioreactor landfill era. The stopping or the slowing down of the terrorizing of the environment due to waste and dump management allows the environment to recover from its previous trauma and allows it to heal itself and make the world a better place to live for the different life forms the existence of which depends on the state and health of the environment, and that includes humans. Reinhart and Townsend, in the book entitled Landfill Bioreactor Design and Operation, mentioned about how bioreactor landfills are created to minimize environmental impact (p1) that goes along with waste management and decomposition and degradation processes. But are bioreactor landfills indeed are capable of minimal environmental impact or are they contributing to the deterioration of the environment through the effect and impact of its operation? Reinhart and Townsend explains that because of the design of the bioreactor landfill that enables it to accomplish its purpose, it automatically provides additional protection of the environment (p1) how? First, by making the area quickly available for more and more trash and dump because it processes waste faster than ordinary landfills and dumpsites, and second, by   providing a treatment system that makes trash usable and at the same time allows for the segregation and separation of chemicals that results from the process which can harm the environment. In laymans terms, the trash of man that enters in a bioreactor landfill is processes to become something usable for man to use, and for those that is more destructive than utilitarian, the bioreactor landfill holds inside and continuously process until it is either usable or safe, or both. Bioreactor landfills and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) The United States Environmental Protection Agency or US EPA was created in 1970 as the governments way of putting a front office that will handle all problems involving the environment. Since its creation and until today, the US EPA have shown intensive effort in providing the latest, newest and safest knowledge and technology possible so that the country can maintain the sustainability of its everyday life without doing too much damage on the environment. The US EPA is the main agency involved in the drive to make bioreactor landfills a technology that is understood and accepted by many different US communities, a tasked which the US EPA know is not easy since there are many people and groups who are against the initiatives of US EPA in the past, and there are those who are voicing strong opposition versus the implementation of the use of bioreactor landfills in the country. Because of its role in the propagation of the use of bioreactor landfills and the agency’s role in the continued development of this technology, the US EPA is the point agency that handles every detail of the work involved in bioreactor propagation and development recommendations, studies, frameworks, trainings and other activities directed to the bioreactor landfill projects. It is the US EPA’s responsibility to determine the level of safety that this new technology brings to the people and to the employees that will work directly on the site; the agency is responsible in making sure the people are well informed and well trained, and that there are continued studies that are geared at determining important information that it can use to further improve the growth of bioreactor landfill technology. Because of the costs that come along with the entry of bioreactor technology in place previously existing technology that manages waste disposal, many other individuals outside of US EPA are also taking a very serious inquiry about the real economic and social impact of the use of a bioreactor landfill. Generally, the advantages of old technology is the minimal cost of operation, something that poorer communities can manage even at the risk of being incapable in the long term t manage waste disposal effectively, as for the bioreactor landfill, the higher cost is expected to be balanced by the prospect of income-generation through the sell of methane as a fuel source, and the prospect of a much safer environment and much safer state of life of the people around it. In a study made by Xu et al, the group manifested the interest in determining the actual costs for the use of bioreactor landfill and sanitary landfill to determine which is more practical and more cost efficient. Xu pointed out that there is a challenge to the overall economic advantage that the new technology must prove under local conditions (p381) and this can only be done if there is a substantial study from which information and conclusion can be derived from.

Assignment 5 Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Assignment 5 - Thesis Example The essay explores such issues, and why MBAs shun such important sectors of the economy. There are various importance and centrality of HR departments in today’s chaotic and competitive world. For example, HR departments are tasked with the employment of both personal and group psychology for the purpose of committing workers to the attainment of organizational objectives. Similarly, it is the role of HR to strike the link between the company and the workers through retention and development of workers (Hunter 78). Alternatively, in order to keep with the current competition, HR departments assist in the decision making through constant communication with the General Management on the fundamental goals and objectives of the company. In the same aspect, there is the element of injecting inspiration in order for maintain the low worker turnover rate. Furthermore, HR ensures there is proper management and training of workers in the organizations through different ways. For example, assisting managers becoming better managers is crucial when establishing the relation ship between workers and managers. In other words, this helps in the prevention of distractions that may lower the morale of the employees. On the same scope, HR teaches the management on how the management can effectively deal with employees through prevention of unnecessary conflicts and disagreements. HR also ensures the management puts their whole focus on their roles in the organization as their fundamental centrality of meeting the goals of the company. There are several ways in which HR departments help bring a company to an early demise. For example, lack of employee development through solving their crucial problems on time may result to demoralization. In the same aspect, failure to attract to competent and skilled workers has a likelihood of leading to reduced production and productivity of the workforce. Alternatively,

Pros and Cons of Breast Cancer and Biomakers Research Paper

Pros and Cons of Breast Cancer and Biomakers - Research Paper Example Most of the tumor markers are produced by cancer cells and also normal cells, but are increased in cancerous conditions. These factors are found in tumor tissue, blood, urine and other tissues and fluids of the body in some patients with cancer. More often than not, tumor markers are proteins. (National Cancer Institute, 2012) More than 20 different tumor markers have been described and characterized and they are in clinical use (National Cancer Institute, 2012). While some are associated with only one type of cancer, others are associated with more than one type of cancer. However, there is no universal tumor marker that can detect any type of cancer. Tumor markers serve various purposes in cancer management like complementing diagnosis, prognostication, detection of recurrence, etc. However, there are certain limitations for the use of these markers. Thus, there are pros and cons to the use of tumor markers. In this essay, pros and cons of application of biomarkers or tumor markers in breast cancer management will be discussed. Application of breast cancer biomarkers The most common cancer affecting women all over the world is breast cancer and it has been estimated that about one million cases are diagnosed every year worldwide (Duffy et al, 2005). The main presenting features of the disease include lump in the breast, skin contour changes and nipple discharge. Asymptomatic cases may be picked up during routine screening tests. Definitive diagnosis is histopathology of the biopsy specimen. Several blood based biomarkers are available, but they do not have a role in the early diagnosis of the disease. For localized breast cancer, primary treatment is mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery and radiation. In invasive breast cancer, primary treatment is followed by hormone therapy or chemotherapy. These treatments have shown to reduce mortality related to breast cancer. Following primary therapy, the patients are followed up at regular intervals for surveillanc e. This includes clinical history, detailed physical examination, chest X-ray, mammography, biochemical testing and use of breast cancer markers. The intention is to detect recurrent disease at an early stage so that outcomes are better. This is one use of tumor marker. There are other uses of tumor markers in breast cancer management. Recurrent disease is common even in lymph node-negative cases and therapeutic options in such cases include exclusive hormone therapy or chemotherapy or a combination of both. Metastatic breast cancer is considered incurable and treatment is mainly palliative. Serial assessment of tumor markers is useful in to decide whether a particular treatment modality can be continues or there is a need to switch to another treatment modality. Thus, it is now clear that tumor markers are necessary for optimal management of breast cancer (Duffy et al, 2005). Pros of breast cancer biomarkers There are 2 types of tumor markers available for breast cancer and they ar e serum markers and tissue markers. Examples of serum markers useful in breast cancer include CEA, CA 15-3, polypeptide antigen or TPA, BR 27.29, tissue polypeptide specific antigen or TPS and the shed form of HER-2 (Duffy, 2006). Examples of tissue markers include urokinase plasminogen activator, HER-2, hormone receptors and plasminogen activator-1. Most of the oncological organizations in Europe, US and other countries recommend routine assay of progesterone and estrogen receptors on all newly diagnosed breast cancers to select the type of hormone therapy (Duffy, 2006). These markers are also useful to determine prognosis. HER-2 is also recommended on all newly diagnosed breast cancer cases. The main purpose of this is to determine whether the cancer is suitable for Trastuzumab (Herceptin). This test is

Online Shopping Essay Example for Free

Online Shopping Essay Online shopping or online retailing is a form of electronic commerce allowing consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet without an intermediary service. An online shop, e-shop, e-store, Internet shop, web-shop, web-store, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or shopping center. The process is called business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping. When a business buys from another business it is called business-to-business (B2B) online shopping. The largest online retailing corporations are E-Bay and Amazon.com, both of which are based in the US. History In 1990, Tim Berners-Lee created the first World Wide Web server and browser.[1] It opened for commercial use in 1991. In 1994, other advances took place, such as online banking and the opening of an online pizza shop by Pizza Hut.[1] During that same year, Netscape introduced SSL encryption of data transferred online, which has become essential for secure online shopping. Also in 1994, the German company Intershop introduced its first online shopping system. In 1995, Amazon.com launched its online shopping site, and in 1996 eBay appeared. Customers Online customers must have access to a computer and a method of payment. Generally, higher levels of education, income, and occupation of the head of the household correspond to more favorable perceptions of shopping online. Also, increased exposure to technology increases the probability of developing favorable attitudes towards new shopping channels.[2] In a December 2011 study, Equation Research found that 87% of tablet users made an online transaction with their tablet device during the early holiday shopping season. Logistics Consumers find a product of interest by visiting the website of the retailer directly or by searching among alternative vendors using a shopping search engine. Once a particular product has been found on the website of the seller, most online retailers use shopping cart software to allow the consumer to accumulate multiple items and to adjust quantities, like filling a physical shopping cart or basket in a conventional store. A checkout process follows (continuing the physical-store analogy) in which payment and delivery information is collected, if necessary. Some stores allow consumers to sign up for a permanent online account so that some or all of this information only needs to be entered once. The consumer often receives an e-mail confirmation once the transaction is complete. Less sophisticated stores may rely on consumers to phone or e-mail their orders (though credit card numbers are not accepted by e-mail, for security reasons). Payment Online shoppers commonly use a credit card to make payments. However, some systems enable users to create accounts and pay by alternative means, such as: * Billing to mobile phones and landlines[4][5] * Cash on delivery (C.O.D., offered by very few online stores) * Cheque/ Check * Debit card * Direct debit in some countries * Electronic money of various types * Gift cards * Postal money order * Wire transfer/delivery on payment * Invoice, especially popular in some markets/countries, such as Switzerland Some sites will not accept international credit cards. Some require both the purchasers billing address and shipping address to be in the same country in which the site does its business. Other sites allow customers from any country to send gifts anywhere. The financial part of a transaction might be processed in real time (for example, letting the consumer know their credit card was declined before they log off), or might be done later as part of the fulfillment process. Product delivery Once a payment has been accepted the goods or services can be delivered in the following ways. * Downloading: This is the method often used for digital media products such as software, music, movies, or images. * Drop shipping: The order is passed to the manufacturer or third-party distributor, who ships the item directly to the consumer, bypassing the retailers physical location to save time, money, and space. * In-store pick-up: The customer orders online, finds a local store using locator software and picks the product up at the closest store. This is the method often used in the bricks and clicks business model. * Printing out, provision of a code for, or emailing of such items as admission tickets and scrip (e.g., gift certificates and coupons). The tickets, codes, or coupons may be redeemed at the appropriate physical or online premises and their content reviewed to verify their eligility (e.g., assurances that the right of admission or use is redeemed at the correct time and place, for the correct dollar amount, and for the correct number of uses). * Shipping: The product is shipped to the customers address or that of a customer-designated third party. * Will call, lCOBO (in Care Of Box Office), or at the door pickup: The patron picks up pre-purchased tickets for an event, such as a play, sporting event, or concert, either just before the event or in advance. With the onset of the Internet and e-commerce sites, which allow customers to buy tickets online, the popularity of this service has increased. Shopping cart systems * Simple systems allow the offline administration of products and categories. The shop is then generated as HTML files and graphics that can be uploaded to a webspace.the systems do not use an online database. * A high end solution can be bought or rented as a stand-alone program or as an addition to an enterprise resource planning program. It is usually installed on the companys own webserver and may integrate into the existing supply chain so that ordering, payment, delivery, accounting and warehousing can be automated to a large extent. * Other solutions allow the user to  register and create an online shop on a portal that hosts multiple shops at the same time. * Open source shopping cart packages include advanced platforms such as Interchange, and off the shelf solutions as Avactis, osCommerce, Shopify, Magento, Zen Cart, VirtueMart, Batavi, PrestaShop, E-Junkie, Clickbank, Fetch, DPD, Pulley, BitBuffet, Dbox, PayLoadz, FastSpring, Cerizmo, Digital Content Center, byteCommerce, PHPurchase.[6] * Commercial systems such as BigCommerce can also be tailored to ones needs so the shop does not have to be created from scratch. By using a pre-existing framework, software modules for various functionalities required by a web shop can be adapted and combined. Online shopping Like many online auction websites, many websites allow small businesses to create and maintain online shops (ecommerce online shopping carts), without the complexity that involved in purchasing and developing an expensive stand-alone ecommerce software solutions. Design Customers are attracted to online shopping not only because of the high level of convenience, but also because of the broader selection, competitive pricing, and greater access to information.[7][8] Business organizations seek to offer online shopping because it is much lower cost compared to bricks and mortar stores, offers access to a world wide market, increases customer value and builds sustainable capabilities.[clarification needed] Information load Designers of online shops are concerned with the effects of information load whether consumers can be given too much information in virtual shopping environments. Information load is a product of the spatial and temporal arrangements of stimuli in the webstore.[10] Compared with conventional retail shopping, the information environment of virtual shopping is enhanced by providing additional product information such as comparative products and services as well as various alternatives and attributes of each alternative, etc.[11] Two major dimensions of information load are complexity and novelty.[12] Complexity refers to the number of different elements or features of a site, often the result of increased information diversity. Novelty involves the unexpected, suppressed, new, or unfamiliar aspects of the site. The novelty dimension may keep consumers exploring a shopping site, whereas the complexity dimension may induce impulse purchases. Consumer needs and expectations A successful webstore is not just a good looking website with dynamic technical features, listed in many search engines.[13] In addition to disseminating information, it is about building relationships and making money. Businesses often attempt to adopt online shopping techniques without understanding them and/or without a sound business model, producing webstores that support the organizations culture and brand name without satisfying consumers expectations. User-centered design is critical. Understanding the customers wants and needs and living up to promises gives the customer a reason to come back and meeting their expectations gives them a reason to stay. It is important that the website communicates to the customer that the company cares about them.[13] Customer needs and expectations are not the same for all customers. Age, gender, experience, culture are all important factors. For example, Japanese cultural norms may lead users there to feel privacy is especially critical on shopping sites and emotional involvement is highly important on financial pensions sites.[9] Users with more online experience focus more on the variables that directly influence the task, while novice users focus on understanding the information.[14] To increase online purchases, businesses must expend significant time and money to define, design, develop, test, implement, and maintain the webstore.[13] It is easier to lose a customer than to gain one and even top-rated sites will not succeed if the organization fails to practice common etiquette such as returning e-mails in a timely fashion, notifying  customers of problems, being honest, and being good stewards of the customers data.[13] Because it is important to eliminate mistakes and be more appealing to online shoppers, many webshop designers study research on consumer expectations.[15] User interface An automated online assistant, with potential to enhance user interface on shopping sites. The most important factors determining whether customers return to a site are ease of use and the presence of user-friendly features.[16] Usability testing is important for finding problems and improvements in a web site. Methods for evaluating usability include heuristic evaluation, cognitive walk through, and user testing. Each technique has its own characteristics and emphasizes different aspects of the user experience.[16] Market share E-commerce B2C product sales totaled $142.5 billion,[3] representing about 8% of retail product sales in the United States.[17] The $26 billion worth of clothes sold online represented about 13% of the domestic market,[18] and with 72% of women looking online for apparel, it has become one of the most popular cross-shopping categories.[19] Forrester Research estimates that the United States online retail industry will be worth $279 billion in 2015.[20] There were 242 million people doing online shopping in China in 2012.[21] For developing countries and low-income households in developed countries, adoption of e-commerce in place of or in addition to conventional methods is limited by a lack of affordable Internet access. Advantages Convenience Online stores are usually available 24 hours a day, and many consumers have Internet access both at work and at home. Other establishments such as internet cafes and schools provide access as well. A visit to a conventional retail store requires travel and must take place during business hours. In the event of a problem with the item it is not what the consumer ordered,  or it is not what they expected—consumers are concerned with the ease with which they can return an item for the correct one or for a refund. Consumers may need to contact the retailer, visit the post office and pay return shipping, and then wait for a replacement or refund. Some online companies have more generous return policies to compensate for the traditional advantage of physical stores. For example, the online shoe retailer Zappos.com includes labels for free return shipping, and does not charge a restocking fee, even for returns which are not the result of merchant error. (Note: In the United Kingdom, online shops are prohibited from charging a restocking fee if the consumer cancels their order in accordance with the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Act 2000).[22] Information and reviews Online stores must describe products for sale with text, photos, and multimedia files, whereas in a physical retail store, the actual product and the manufacturers packaging will be available for direct inspection (which might involve a test drive, fitting, or other experimentation). Some online stores provide or link to supplemental product information, such as instructions, safety procedures, demonstrations, or manufacturer specifications. Some provide background information, advice, or how-to guides designed to help consumers decide which product to buy. Some stores even allow customers to comment or rate their items. There are also dedicated review sites that host user reviews for different products. Reviews and now blogs gives customers the option of shopping cheaper organise purchases from all over the world without having to depend on local retailers. In a conventional retail store, clerks are generally available to answer questions. Some online stores have real-time chat features, but most rely on e-mail or phone calls to handle customer questions. Price and selection One advantage of shopping online is being able to quickly seek out deals for items or services with many different vendors (though some local search engines do exist to help consumers locate products for sale in nearby  stores). Search engines, online price comparison services and discovery shopping engines can be used to look up sellers of a particular product or service. Shipping costs (if applicable) reduce the price advantage of online merchandise, though depending on the jurisdiction, a lack of sales tax may compensate for this. Shipping a small number of items, especially from another country, is much more expensive than making the larger shipments bricks-and-mortar retailers order. Some retailers (especially those selling small, high-value items like electronics) offer free shipping on sufficiently large orders. Another major advantage for retailers is the ability to rapidly switch suppliers and vendors without disrupting users shopping experience.. Disadvantages Fraud and security concerns Given the lack of ability to inspect merchandise before purchase, consumers are at higher risk of fraud on the part of the merchant than in a physical store. Merchants also risk fraudulent purchases using stolen credit cards or fraudulent repudiation of the online purchase. With a warehouse instead of a retail storefront, merchants face less risk from physical theft. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption has generally solved the problem of credit card numbers being intercepted in transit between the consumer and the merchant. However, one must still trust the merchant (and employees) not to use the credit card information subsequently for their own purchases, and not to pass the information to others. Identity theft is still a concern for consumers when hackers break into a merchants web site and steal names, addresses and credit card numbers. A number of high-profile break-ins in the 2000s has prompted some U.S. states to require disclosure to consumers when this happens. Computer security has thus become a major concern for merchants and e-commerce service providers, who deploy countermeasures such as firewalls and anti-virus software to protect their networks. Phishing is another danger, where consumers are fooled into thinking they are dealing with a reputable retailer, when they have actually been manipulated into feeding private information to a system operated by a malicious party. Denial of service attacks are a minor risk for merchants, as are server and network outages. Quality seals can be placed on the Shop web page if it has undergone an independent assessment and meets all requirements of the company issuing the seal. The purpose of these seals is to increase the confidence of the online shoppers; the existence of many different seals, or seals unfamiliar to consumers, may foil this effort to a certain extent. A number of resources offer advice on how consumers can protect themselves when using online retailer services. These include: * Sticking with known stores, or attempting to find independent consumer reviews of their experiences; also ensuring that there is comprehensive contact information on the website before using the service, and noting if the retailer has enrolled in industry oversight programs such as trust mark or trust seal. * Before buying from a new company, evaluate the website by considering issues such as: the professionalism and user-friendliness of the site; whether or not the company lists a telephone number and/or street address along with e-contact information; whether a fair and reasonable refund and return policy is clearly stated; and whether there are hidden price inflators, such as excessive shipping and handling charges. * Ensuring that the retailer has an acceptable privacy policy posted. For example note if the retailer does not explicitly state that it will not share private information with others without consent. * Ensuring that the vendor address is protected with SSL (see above) when entering credit card information. If it does the address on the credit card information entry screen will start with HTTPS. * Using strong passwords, without personal information. Another option is a pass phrase, which might be something along the lines: I shop 4 good a buy!! These are difficult to hack, and provides a variety of upper, lower, and special characters and could be site specific and easy to remember. Although the benefits of online shopping are considerable, when the process goes poorly it can create a thorny situation. A few problems that shoppers potentially face include identity theft, faulty products, and the accumulation of spyware. Whenever you purchase a product, you are going to be required to put in your credit card information and billing/shipping address. If the website is not secure a customers information can be accessible to anyone who knows how to obtain it. Most large online corporations are inventing new ways to make fraud more difficult, however, the criminals are constantly responding to these developments with new ways to manipulate the system. Even though these efforts are making it easier to protect yourself online, it is a constant fight to maintain the lead. It is advisable to be aware of the most current technology and scams out there to fully protect yourself and your finances.[20]. One of the hardest areas to deal with in online shopping is the delivery of the products. Most companies offer shipping insurance in case the product is lost or damaged; however, if the buyer opts not to purchase insurance on their products, they are generally out of luck. Some shipping companies will offer refunds or compensation for the damage, but it is up to their discretion if this will happen. It is important to realize that once the product leaves the hands of the seller, they have no responsibility (provided the product is what the buyer ordered and is in the specified condition). Lack of full cost disclosure The lack of full disclosure with regards to the total cost of purchase is one of the concerns of online shopping. While it may be easy to compare the base price of an item online, it may not be easy to see the total cost up front as additional fees such as shipping are often not be visible until the final step in the checkout process. The problem is especially evident with cross-border purchases, where the cost indicated at the final checkout screen may not include additional fees that must be paid upon delivery such as duties and brokerage. Some services such as the Canadian based Wishabi attempts to include estimates of these additional cost,[23] but nevertheless, the lack of general full cost disclosure remains a concern. Privacy Privacy of personal information is a significant issue for some consumers. Different legal jurisdictions have different laws concerning consumer privacy, and different levels of enforcement. Many consumers wish to avoid spam and telemarketing which could result from supplying contact information to an online merchant. In response, many merchants promise not to use consumer information for these purposes, or provide a mechanism to opt-out of such contacts. Many websites keep track of consumers shopping habits in order to suggest items and other websites to view. Brick-and-mortar stores also collect consumer information. Some ask for address and phone number at checkout, though consumers may refuse to provide it. Many larger stores use the address information encoded on consumers credit cards (often without their knowledge) to add them to a catalog mailing list. This information is obviously not accessible to the merchant when paying in cash. Hands-on inspection Typically, only simple pictures and or descriptions of the item are all a customer can rely on when shopping on online stores. If the customer does not have prior exposure to the items handling qualities, they will not have a full understanding of the item they are buying. However, Written and Video Reviews are readily available from consumers who have purchased similar items in the past. These can be helpful for prospective customers, but these reviews can be sometimes subjective and based on personal preferences that may not reflect end-user satisfaction once the item has been received. Because of this, many consumers have begun going to real-world stores to view a product, before purchasing online, a practice known as showrooming[24] (using the store as a showroom for the online merchant). Brick-and-mortar merchants have responded with various countermeasures. For example, Target has requested distributors give them equally low prices, or alternatively, exclusive products available at their store only.[24] Product suitability This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help  improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2012) Many successful purely virtual companies deal with digital products, (including information storage, retrieval, and modification), music, movies, office supplies, education, communication, software, photography, and financial transactions. Other successful marketers use drop shipping or affiliate marketing techniques to facilitate transactions of tangible goods without maintaining real inventory. Some non-digital products have been more successful than others for online stores. Profitable items often have a high value-to-weight ratio, they may involve embarrassing purchases, they may typically go to people in remote locations, and they may have shut-ins as their typical purchasers. Items which can fit in a standard mailbox—such as music CDs, DVDs and books—are particularly suitable for a virtual marketer. Products such as spare parts, both for consumer items like washing machines and for industrial equipment like centrifugal pumps, also seem good candidates for selling online. Retailers often need to order spare parts specially, since they typically do not stock them at consumer outlets—in such cases, e-commerce solutions in spares do not compete with retail stores, only with other ordering systems. A factor for success in this niche can consist of providing customers with exact, reliable information about which part number their particular version of a product needs, for example by providing parts lists keyed by serial number. Products less suitable for e-commerce include products that have a low value-to-weight ratio, products that have a smell, taste, or touch component, products that need trial fittings—most notably clothing—and products where colour integrity appears important. Nonetheless, some web sites have had success delivering groceries and clothing sold through the internet is big business in the U.S. Aggregation High-volume websites, such as Yahoo!, Amazon.com and eBay, offer hosting  services for online stores to all size retailers. These stores are presented within an integrated navigation framework. Collections of online stores are sometimes known as virtual shopping malls or online marketplaces. Impact of reviews on consumer behaviour One of the great benefits of online shopping is the ability to read others reviews, which could be from experts or simply fellow shoppers on one product and service. The Nielsen Company conducted a survey in March 2010 and polled more than 27,000 Internet users in 55 markets from the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East, North America and South America to look at questions such as How do consumers shop online?, What do they intend to buy?, How do they use various online shopping web pages?, and the impact of social media and other factors that come into play when consumers are trying to decide how to spend their money on which product or service. According to that research,[25] reviews on electronics (57%) such as DVD players, cell phones or PlayStations and so on, reviews on cars (45%), and reviews on software (37%) play an important role and have influence on consumers who tend to make purchases and buy online. In addition to online reviews, peer recommendations on the online shopping pages or social media play a key role[26] for online shoppers while researching future purchases of electronics, cars and travel or concert bookings.[27] On the other hand, according to the same research,[25] 40% of online shoppers indicate that they would not even buy electronics without consulting online reviews first.

Chestnut Blight and American Chestnut Trees Essay -- Ecology Conservat

Chestnut Blight and American Chestnut Trees Since the early 1900's a disease known as Chestnut Blight has infected many American Chestnut trees and causing their removal from forests. A greater look at the history of this fungus as well as the mechanisms of action will allow us to learn on how to preserve the American chestnut. At one point, the American chestnut was virtually eliminated. With the help of government acts and conservation agencies, the American chestnut is slowly growing back in population. Two methods of restoration of the chestnut include a hybridization and the use of hypovirulant strains. This issue shows a variety of interest from ecologists to those in the timber industry who cannot lumber Asian species of chestnut primarily because of their size. In the 1880's a harmful fungus known as blight, inhabited the United States from imported Japanese chestnut trees. Blight quickly spread, killing chestnuts and chinquapins, which is another species of chestnut that produces 1 nut per bur. In 1904, Chestnut blight appeared infecting trees in New York City and spread at a rate of 20-50 miles per year. By 1906, W.A. Murrill reported that this disease is known to occur in New Jersey, Maryland, District of Columbia, and Virginia. In 1912, the Planet Quarantine Act was passed to reduce the chances of plant deterioration or devastation prevention. Chestnut Blight or Chestnut Bark Disease was originally found in 1904 and within 50 years, it spread across the eastern United States, from Maine to Georgia and as far west as the edge of Michigan. By 1950, the American chestnut was essentially eliminated as a forest tree. In 1972, importation from Italy gave a biological control in which a virus helped prevent the blight f... ...thesis does, however, lack experimental evidence of any kind. The American chestnut which was once almost eliminated from existence in the late 1950's has once again emerged thanks to conservation efforts. Chestnut blight, a deadly fungus, has the ability to kill chestnut trees. However, some chestnut species in Asia have resistance to blight. As a result, a method of conservation has been through hybridizing American species with Asian species. Another method of conservation has been through hypovirulence strains in the infection is reduced. Independently, this hypovirulence method may be a reason why some American chestnuts are surviving despite being infested with chestnut blight. This issue remains important to both the timber industry, although that isn't why chestnuts are being restored, and certain ecological organizations including the Nature Conservancy.

Culture: Influence In Everyday Life Essay

Culture is a way of life for people, and it helps construct the foundation for people’s values, beliefs, and choices in life. Culture makes societies unique, making it an essential element in influencing our everyday lives. As it’s carried from generation to generation, people will adapt to new technology and changes, but the principals remain the same. There is no doubt that my culture has influenced me in making almost every decision in my life so far, underlying what I’ve been taught and the values I’ve been raised with. It is also important to be able to recognize and respect other cultures, and not believe one’s own culture is more valuable or superior than the rest. Sometimes issues of racism occur when people are unable to connect culturally with others. Being tolerant and understanding what other cultures value is the key for successful acceptance of one another. I was born in the California, but my parents and generation before them were all born in Mexico, which makes me Hispanic. The principles and knowledge past down to me from a very early age begin with family and manners, and that is pretty much very universal with all Hispanic families. Having good etiquette, especially with people outside your family is very important. Being respectful of one’s surroundings and with what is not yours is part of showing others that you’re a respectful individual, and also part of being a liked individual. The general idea is to give out respect in order to receive respect back from others. I have applied that idea to every event in my life, like going to a job interview and even when arguing with somebody. Having table manners is also a part of good etiquette, which includes knowing when and how to greet people, being polite and such. Many times the whole family is judged by how just one member behaves. Family in Hispanic cultures is very close, they have Bar B Q’s or birthday parties very often, and it’s all part of having the opportunity to see the tios, tias, or cousins that are not seen very often. Family greeting are lengthy; hugging, kissing, and touching are not uncommon, and phone contacts or visitations are very popular. Being raised with family values is an influential element not only on deciding what is best for me, but for the family also. Making decisions may involve knowing how it will affect the family; for example,  peer pressure could have made me fall into drugs, but in my case, when family views are valued, drug addict was not the best label for me or the best image for family, so a different route was chosen. Always wanting the best for the family involves making the family look good and possibly helping it in the future, for me, going to college is part of it. Religion and god has also been a part of what I’ve learned and valued. Most of the Hispanic cultures value religion to a great extent, making it a daily ritual to thank and pray to god for what we have or do not have. The culture that I’ve been exposed to has gone through many changes due to the technological advances and country differences. But the fundamentals have been passed down to me. Even though the religious practices may not be followed as strictly as prior generations, my religious believes are still greatly influenced by what I’ve seen, heard, and interacted with since I can remember. One topic that is very controversial and has a lot to do with people’s culture has to do with how much and to what extent is life valued; for example, stem cell research and abortion. Usually people base their side of the argument with what they’ve grown up to believe in. A pregnant woman will have a hard time deciding to have an abortion when her values are impeding her to make such decisions. In the same manner, people do not see stem cell research with scientific eyes, or better yet, they just do not care. They only see the life involved and their belief that life is a very valuable gift. Sometimes culture involves a set of rules that are universally understood and followed by the whole group. My culture does not influence me to a great extend as far as what I wear or what I eat. But other cultures, like the Amish, do have certain rules to follow making them have few choices in life. Being able to understand other cultures like the Amish, begins with knowing about the tradition, faith, and experiences of these culture groups. The things that I like or do not like will always be affected by my culture. Whether it be food, customs, or ideas, my mentality and judgment upon them has already been set. People with no culture have a tough time getting along, yet alone having successful lives. This is simply because they do not know right from wrong or what is expected from him or her as a worker, wife, husband, or any other societal character. Being able to embrace and accept the beliefs, norms, and values of other cultures is a must for cultural diversity to exist in any place, in this world.