Brain Fingerprinting Technology

BRAIN FINGERPRINTING TECHNOLOGY Mandar Ghate Department Of Computers, Padmabhushan Vasantdada Patil Pratisthans College Of Engineering [email  protected] com Abstract— Brain fingerprinting is a new computer-based technology to identify the perpetrator of a crime accurately and scientifically by measuring brain-wave responses to crime-relevant words or pictures presented on a computer screen. Brain fingerprinting has proven 100% accurate in over 120 tests, including tests on FBI agents, tests for a US intelligence agency and for the US navy, and tests on real-life situations including felony crimes. Brain fingerprinting was developed and patented by Dr. Lawrence Farewell in 1995. Keywords— Perpetrator, MERMER methodology. INTRODUCTION Brain Fingerprinting is based on the principle that the brain is central to all human acts. In a criminal act, there may or may not be many kinds of peripheral evidence, but the brain is always there, planning, executing and recording the crime. The fundamental difference between a perpetrator and a falsely accused, innocent person is that the perpetrator, having committed the crime, has the details of the crime stored in his brain, and the innocent suspect does not. This is what Brain Fingerprinting detects scientifically. THE SECRETS OF BRAIN FINGERPRINTING Matching evidence at the crime scene with evidence in the brain: When a crime is committed, a record is stored in the brain of the perpetrator. Brain Fingerprinting provides a means to objectively and scientifically connect evidence from the crime scene with evidence stored in the brain. (This is similar to the process of connecting DNA samples from the perpetrator with biological evidence found at the scene of the crime; only the evidence valuated by Brain Fingerprinting is evidence stored in the brain. ) Brain Fingerprinting measures electrical brain activity in response to crime-relevant words or pictures presented on a computer screen, and reveals a brain MERMER (memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response) when, and only when, the evidence stored in the brain matches the evidence from the crime scene. The MERMER includes P300 brain response and also electri cally negative component, with an onset latency of approximately 800-1200ms. Thus, the guilty can be identified and the innocent can be cleared in an accurate, scientific, objective, non-invasive, non-stressful, and non-testimonial manner. MERMER Methodology: The procedure used is similar to the Guilty Knowledge Test; a series of words, sounds or pictures are presented via computer to the subject for a fraction of second each. Each of these stimuli are organised by the test-giver to be a â€Å"Target†, â€Å"Irrelevant†, or a â€Å"Probe†. The Target stimuli are chosen to be relevant information to the tested subject, and are used to establish a baseline brain response for information that is significant to the subject being tested. The subject is instructed to press on button for targets, and another button for all other stimuli. Most of the non-Target stimuli are Irrelevant, and are totally unrelated to the situation that the subject is being tested for. The irrelevant stimuli do not elicit a MERMER, and so establish a baseline brain response for information that is significant to the subject in this context. Some of the non-target are relevant to the situation that the subject is being tested for. These stimuli, Probes, are relevant to the test, and are significant to the subject, and will elicit a MERMER, signifying that the subject has understood that stimuli to be significant. A subject lacking this information in their brain, the response to the Probe stimulus will be indistinguishable from the irrelevant stimulus. This response does not elicit a MERMER, indicating that the information is absent from their mind. THE FANTASTIC FOUR!!!! The four phases of Brain Fingerprinting: In Fingerprinting and DNA Fingerprinting, evidence recognized and collected at the crime scene, and reserved properly until a suspect is apprehended, is scientifically compared with the evidence on the person of the suspect to detect a match that would place the suspect at the crime scene. Brain Fingerprinting works similarly, except that the evidence collected both at the crime scene and on the person of the suspect (i. e. in the brain as revealed by electrical brain response) is informational evidenc e rather than physical evidence. There are four stages to Brain Fingerprinting, which are similar to the steps in Fingerprinting and DNA fingerprinting: 1. Brain Fingerprinting Crime Scene Evidence Collection; 2. Brain Fingerprinting Brain Evidence Collection; 3. Brain Fingerprinting Computer Evidence Analysis; and 4. Brain Fingerprinting Scientific Result. In the Crime Scene Evidence Collection, an expert in Brain Fingerprinting examines the crime scene and other evidence connected with the crime to identify details of the crime that would be known only to the perpetrator. The expert then conducts the Brain Evidence Collection in order to determine or not the evidence from the crime scene matches evidence stored in the brain of the suspect. In the Computer Evidence Analysis, the Brain Fingerprinting system makes a mathematical determination as to whether or not this specific evidence is stored in the brain, and computes a statistical confidence for that determination. This determination and statistical confidence constitute the Scientific Result of Brain Fingerprinting: either â€Å"information present† (â€Å"guilty†)-the details of the crime are stored in the brain of the suspect-or â€Å"information absent† (â€Å"innocent†)-the details of the crime is not stored in the brain of the suspect. THE DEVICES USED IN BRAIN FINGERPRINTING BRAIN WAVES HOW IT WORKS A Suspect is tested by looking at three kinds of information represented by different coloured lines: —–Red: information the suspect is expected to know —–Green: information not known to suspect —–Blue: information of the crime that only perpetrator would know. NOT GUILTY: Because the blue and green. Lines closely correlate, suspect does not have critical knowledge of the crime GUILTY: Because the blue and red Lines closely correlate, and suspect has ritical knowledge of the crime. INSTRUMENTAL REQUIREMENTS 1. A personal computer. 2. A data acquisition board. 3. A graphic card for driving two computers from one PC. 4. A four channel EEG amplifier system. 5. Software developed by Brain Fingerprinting lab. CASE STUDIES TERRY HARRINGTON: [->0] Dr. Lawrence Farewell conducts a Brain Fingerprinting test on Terry Harrington. For the test on Schweer’s murder at U. S in 2001, th e determination of Brain Fingerprinting was â€Å"information absent†, with a statistical confidence of 99. 99%. The information stored in Harrington’s brain did not match the scenario in which Harrington went to the crime scene and committed the murder. The determination of the Brain Fingerprinting test for alibi-relevant information was â€Å"information present†, with a confidence of 99. 99%. The information stored in Harrington’s brain did match the scenario in which Harrington was elsewhere (at a concert and with friends) at the time of the crime. JB GRINDER: [->1] Brain Fingerprinting testing was also â€Å"instrumental in obtaining a confession and guilty plea† from serial killer James B. Grinder. In August 1999, Dr. Farewell conducted a Brain Fingerprinting test on Grinder, showing that information stored in his brain matched the details of the murder of Julie Helton. Faced with a certain conviction and almost certain death sentence, Grinder then pled guilty to the rape and murder of Julie Helton in exchange for a life sentence without parole. He is currently serving that sentence and has also confessed to the murders of three other women. LIMITATIONS OF BRAIN FINGERPRINTING If, however, the suspect knows everything that the investigators know about the crime for some legitimate reason, then the test cannot be applied. There are several circumstances in which this may be the case. If the suspect acknowledges being at the scene of the crime, but claims to be a witness and not perpetrator, then the fact that he knows details about the crime would not be incriminating. There would be no reason to conduct a test, because the resulting â€Å"information present† response would simply show that the suspect knew the details of the crime-knowledge which he already admits and which he gained at the crime scene whether he was a witness or a perpetrator. Another case where Brain Fingerprinting is not applicable would be one wherein a suspect and an alleged victim-say, of an alleged sexual assault-agree on the details what was said and done, but disagree on the intent of the parties. Brain Fingerprinting detects only information, and not the intent. The fact that the suspect knows the uncontested facts of the circumstances does not tell us which party’s version of the intent is correct. Obviously, in structuring a Brain Fingerprinting test, a scientist must avoid including information that has been made public. Detecting that a suspect knows information he obtained by reading a newspaper would not be of use in a criminal investigation, and standard Brain Fingerprinting procedures eliminate all such information from the structuring of a test. Even in highly publicized cases, there are almost many details that are known to the investigators but not released to the public and these can be used as stimuli to test the subject for knowledge that he would have no way to know except by committing the crime. Brain Fingerprinting does not detect lies. It simply detects information. No questions are asked or answered during a Brain Fingerprinting test. The subject neither lies nor tells the truth during a Brain Fingerprinting test, and the outcome of the test is unaffected by whether he has lied or told the truth at any other time. The outcome of â€Å"information present† or â€Å"information absent† depends on whether the relevant information is stored in the brain, and not on what the subject says about it. Brain Fingerprinting does not determine whether a suspect is guilty or innocent of a crime. This is a legal determination to be made by a judge or jury, not a scientific determination to be made by a computer or a scientist. Brain Fingerprinting can provide scientific evidence that the judge and jury can weigh along with the other evidence in reaching their decisions regarding the crime. CONCLUSIONS Brain Fingerprinting is a revolutionary new scientific technology for solving crimes, identifying perpetrators, and exonerating innocent suspects, with a record of 100% accuracy in research with US government agencies, actual criminal cases, and other applications. The technology fulfills an urgent need for governments, law enforcement agencies, corporations, investigators, crime victims, and falsely accused innocent suspects. Additionally, if research determines that brain MERMER testing is reliable enough that it could be introduced as evidence in the court; it may be the criminal investigative tool of the future. REFERENCES [1]www. google. com[->2]. [2]www. brainfingerprint. org[->3]. [3]www. brainfingerprint. pbwiki. com[->4]. [->0] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/File:BrainFingerprintingFarwellHarringtonTest2. jpg [->1] – http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/File:BrainFingerprintingFarwellGrinder. jpg [->2] – http://www. google. com [->3] – http://www. brainfingerprint. org [->4] – http://www. brainfingerprint. pbwiki. com

Why Is Water Pollution An Important Issue Environmental Sciences Essay

A A A A Comprising over 70 % of the Earths surface, H2O is doubtless the most cherished natural resource that exists on our planet.A Without the apparently priceless compound comprised of H and O, life on Earth would be non-existent: it is indispensable for everything on our planet to turn and prosper.A Although we as worlds recognize this fact, we disregard it by fouling our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Subsequently, we are easy but certainly harming our planet to the point where being are deceasing at a really alarming rate.A In add-on to guiltless beings deceasing off, our imbibing H2O has become greatly affected as is our ability to utilize H2O for recreational purposes.A In order to battle H2O pollution, we must understand the jobs and go portion of the solution. POINT AND NONPOINT SOURCESAA A A Harmonizing to the American College Dictionary, pollution is defined as: A to do foul or dirty ; dirty.A Water pollution occurs when a organic structure of H2O is adversely affected due to the add-on of big sums of stuffs to the water.A When it is unfit for its intended usage, H2O is considered polluted.A Two types of H2O pollutants exist ; point beginning and nonpoint source.A Point beginnings of pollution occur when harmful substances are emitted straight into a organic structure of water.A The Exxon Valdez oil spill best illustrates a point beginning H2O pollution.A A nonpoint beginning delivers pollutants indirectly through environmental changes.A An illustration of this type of H2O pollution is when fertiliser from a field is carried into a watercourse by rain, in the signifier of run-off which in bend effects aquatic life.A The engineering exists for point beginnings of pollution to be monitored and regulated, although political factors may perplex affairs. Nonpoint beginnings are much more hard to control.A Pollution originating from nonpoint beginnings histories for a bulk of the contaminations in watercourses and lakes.AACAUSES OF POLLUTIONAAA A A A Many causes of pollution including sewerage and fertilisers contain foods such as nitrates and phosphates.A In extra degrees, foods over stimulate the growing of aquatic workss and algae.A Excessive growing of these types of beings accordingly clogs our waterways, use up dissolved O as they decompose, and block visible radiation to deeper Waterss. This, in bend, proves really harmful to aquatic beings as it affects the respiration ability or fish and other invertebrates that reside in H2O. A A A A Pollution is besides caused when silt and other suspended solids, such as dirt, washoff plowed Fieldss, building and logging sites, urban countries, and eroded river Bankss when it rains.A Under natural conditions, lakes, rivers, and other H2O organic structures undergo Eutrophication, an aging procedure that easy fills in the H2O organic structure with sediment and organic matter.A When these deposits enter assorted organic structures of H2O, fish respirationbecomes impaired, works productiveness and H2O deepness become reduced, and aquatic beings and their environments go suffocated.A Pollution in the signifier of organic stuff enters waterways in many different signifiers as sewerage, as foliages and grass cuttings, or as overflow from farm animal feedlots and pastures.A When natural bacteriums and protozoon in the H2O interrupt down this organic stuff, they begin to utilize up the O dissolved in the water.A Many types of fish and bottom-dwelling animate beings can non last when degrees of dissolved O bead below two to five parts per million.A When this occurs, it kills aquatic beings in big Numberss which leads to breaks in the nutrient concatenation. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.umich.edu/ % 7Egs265/society/image6N8.JPG Polluted River in the United Kingdom The pollution of rivers and watercourses with chemical contaminations has become one of the most crutial environmental jobs within the twentieth century. Waterborne chemical pollution come ining rivers and watercourses cause tramendous sums of devastation.AAAA A A A Pathogens are another type of pollution that turn out really harmful.A They can do many unwellnesss that range from enteric fever and dysentery to minor respiratory and tegument diseases.A Pathogens include such beings as bacteriums, viruses, and protozoan.A These pollutants enter waterways through untreated sewerage, storm drains, infected armored combat vehicles, overflow from farms, and peculiarly boats that shit sewage.A Though microscopic, these pollutants have a enormous consequence evidenced by their ability to do illness. A hypertext transfer protocol: //www.umich.edu/ % 7Egs265/society/pic5.gif ADDITIONAL FORMS OF WATER POLLUTIONAA A A A Three last signifiers of H2O pollution exist in the signifiers of crude oil, radioactive substances, and heat.A Petroleum frequently pollutes waterbodies in the signifier of oil, ensuing from oil spills.A The antecedently mentioned Exxon Valdez is an illustration of this type of H2O pollution.A These large-scale accidental discharges of crude oil are an of import cause of pollution along shore lines.A Besides the supertankers, off-shore boring operations contribute a big portion of pollution.A One estimation is that one ton of oil is spilled for every million dozenss of oil transported.A This is equal to about 0.0001 per centum. Radioactive substances are produced in the signifier of waste from atomic power workss, and from the industrial, medical, and scientific usage of radioactive materials.A Specific signifiers of waste are uranium and Th excavation and refining.A The last signifier of H2O pollution is heat.A Heat is a pollutant because increased temperatures result in the deceases of many aquatic organisms.A These lessenings in temperatures are caused when a discharge of chilling H2O by mills and power workss occurs. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.umich.edu/ % 7Egs265/society/image5BI.JPGDemonstrators Protest Drilling Oil pollution is a turning job, peculiarly devestating to coastal wildlife.A Small measures of oil spread quickly across long distances to organize deathly oil slipperinesss. In this image, demonstrators with â€Å" oil-covered † plastic animate beings protest a possible boring undertaking in Key Largo, Florida. Whether or non inadvertent spills occur during the undertaking, its impact on the delicate Marine ecosystem of the coral reefs could be lay waste toing.Ahypertext transfer protocol: //www.umich.edu/ % 7Egs265/society/imageKUS.JPGOil Spill Clean-up Workers use particular cyberspaces to clean up a California beach after an oil oiler spill. Tanker spills are an increasing environmental job because one time oil has spilled, it is virtually impossible to wholly take or incorporate it. Even little sums spread quickly across big countries of H2O. Because oil and H2O do non blend, the oil floats on the H2O and so washes up on wide sweeps of shoreline. Attempts to chemically handle or drop the oil may farther interrupt Marine and beach ecosystems. Types of H2O pollution Water pollution can come from a figure of different beginnings. If the pollution comes from a individual beginning, such as an oil spill, it is called point-source pollution. If the pollution comes from many beginnings, it is called nonpoint-source pollution. Most types of pollution affect the immediate country environing the beginning. Sometimes the pollution may impact the environment 100s of stat mis off from the beginning, such as atomic waste, this is called transboundary pollution. Surface Waterss are the natural H2O resources of the Earth. They are found on the outside of the Earth ‘s crust and include: Oceans Rivers Lakes These Waterss can go polluted in a figure of ways, and this is called surface H2O pollution. Microbiological H2O pollution is normally a natural signifier of H2O pollution caused by micro-organisms. Many types of micro-organisms live in H2O and cause fish, land animate beings and worlds to go ill. Microorganisms such as: Bacterias Viruss Protozoa Serious diseases such as cholera come from micro-organisms that live in H2O. These diseases normally affect the wellness of people in poorer states, as they do non hold the installations to handle contaminated H2O. Foods are indispensable for works growing and development. Many foods are found in effluent and fertilizers, and these can do extra weed and algae growing if big concentrations end up in H2O. This can pollute imbibing H2O and geta filters. This can be damaging to other aquatic beings as the algae usage up the O in the H2O, go forthing none for the surrounding marine life. Some pollutants do non fade out in H2O as their molecules are excessively large to blend between the H2O molecules. This stuff is called particulate affair and can frequently be a cause of H2O pollution. The suspended atoms finally settle and do a thick silt at the underside. This is harmful to marine life that lives on the floor of rivers or lakes. Biodegradable substances are frequently suspended in H2O and can do jobs by increasing the sum of anaerobiotic microorganisms nowadays. Toxic chemicals suspended in H2O can be harmful to the development and endurance of aquatic life. Causes Domestic families, industrial and agricultural patterns produce effluent that can do pollution of many lakes and rivers. Sewage is the term used for effluent that frequently contains fecal matters, urine and laundry waste. There are one million millions of people on Earth, so treating sewerage is a large precedence. Sewage disposal is a major job in developing states as many people in these countries do n't hold entree to healthful conditions and clean H2O. Untreated sewerage H2O in such countries can pollute the environment and cause diseases such as diarrhea. Sewage in developed states is carried off from the place rapidly and hygienically through sewerage pipes. Sewage is treated in H2O intervention workss and the waste is frequently disposed into the sea. Sewage is chiefly biodegradable and most of it is broken down in the environment. In developed states, sewerage frequently causes jobs when people flush chemical and pharmaceutical substances down the lavatory. When people are sick, sewerage frequently carries harmful viruses and bacteriums into the environment doing wellness jobs Industry is a immense beginning of H2O pollution, it produces pollutants that are highly harmful to people and the environment. Many industrial installations use fresh water to transport away waste from the works and into rivers, lakes and oceans. Pollutants from industrial beginnings include: Asbestos – This pollutant is a serious wellness jeopardy and carcinogenic. Asbestos fibres can be inhaled and do unwellnesss such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung malignant neoplastic disease, enteric malignant neoplastic disease and liver malignant neoplastic disease. Lead – This is a metallic component and can do wellness and environmental jobs. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is difficult to clean up one time the environment is contaminated. Lead is harmful to the wellness of many animate beings, including worlds, as it can suppress the action of bodily enzymes. Mercury – This is a metallic component and can do wellness and environmental jobs. It is a non-biodegradable substance so is difficult to clean up one time the environment is contaminated. Mercury is besides harmful to animal wellness as it can do unwellness through quicksilver toxic condition. Nitrates – The increased usage of fertilizers agencies that nitrates are more frequently being washed from the dirt and into rivers and lakes. This can do eutrophication, which can be really debatable to marine environments. Phosphates – The increased usage of fertilizers agencies that phosphates are more frequently being washed from the dirt and into rivers and lakes. This can do eutrophication, which can be really debatable to marine environments. Sulphur – This is a non-metallic substance that is harmful for marine life. Oils – Oil does non fade out in H2O, alternatively it forms a thick bed on the H2O surface. This can halt Marine workss having adequate visible radiation for photosynthesis. It is besides harmful for fish and marine birds. Petrochemicals – This is formed from gas or gasoline and can be toxic to marine life. Oceans are polluted by oil on a day-to-day footing from oil spills, everyday transportation, run-offs and dumping. Oil spills make up approximately 12 % of the oil that enters the ocean. The remainder semen from transporting travel, drains and dumping. An oil spill from a oiler is a terrible job because there is such a immense measure of oil being spilt into one topographic point. Oil spills cause a really localized job but can be ruinous to local marine wildlife such as fish, birds and sea otters. Oil can non fade out in H2O and forms a thick sludge in the H2O. This suffocates fish, gets caught in the plumes of Marine birds halting them from winging and blocks visible radiation from photosynthetic aquatic workss. Nuclear waste is produced from industrial, medical and scientific procedures that use radioactive stuff. Nuclear waste can hold damaging effects on Marine home grounds. Nuclear waste comes from a figure of beginnings: Operationss conducted by atomic power Stationss produce radioactive waste. Nuclear-fuel reprocessing workss in northern Europe are the biggest beginnings of semisynthetic atomic waste in the environing ocean. Radioactive hints from these workss have been found as far off as Greenland. Mining and refinement of U and Th are besides causes of marine atomic waste. Waste is besides produced in the atomic fuel rhythm which is used in many industrial, medical and scientific procedures. Eutrophication is when the environment becomes enriched with foods. This can be a job in marine home grounds such as lakes as it can do algal blooms. Fertilizers are frequently used in agriculture, sometimes these fertilizers run-off into nearby H2O doing an addition in alimentary degrees. This causes phytoplankton to turn and reproduce more quickly, ensuing in algal blooms. This bloom of algae disrupts normal ecosystem operation and causes many jobs. The algae may utilize up all the O in the H2O, go forthing none for other marine life. This consequences in the decease of many aquatic beings such as fish, which need the O in the H2O to populate. The bloom of algae may besides barricade sunshine from photosynthetic Marine workss under the H2O surface. Some algae even produce toxins that are harmful to higher signifiers of life. This can do jobs along the nutrient concatenation and impact any animate being that feeds on them.AAA CLASSIFYING WATER POLLUTIONAAA A A The major beginnings of H2O pollution can be classified as municipal, industrial, and agricultural.A Municipal H2O pollution consists of waste H2O from places and commercial establishments.A For many old ages, the chief end of handling municipal effluent was merely to cut down its content of suspended solids, oxygen-demanding stuffs, dissolved inorganic compounds, and harmful bacteria.A In recent old ages, nevertheless, more emphasis has been placed on bettering agencies of disposal of the solid residues from the municipal intervention processes.A The basic methods of handling municipal effluent autumn into three phases: primary intervention, including grit remotion, showing, grinding, and deposit ; secondary intervention, which entails oxidization of dissolved organic affair by agencies of utilizing biologically active sludge, which is so filtered off ; and third intervention, in which advanced biological methods of N remotion and chemical and physical methods such as farinaceous filtration and activated C soaking up are employed.A The handling and disposal of solid residues can history for 25 to 50 per centum of the capital and operational costs of a intervention plant.A The features of industrial waste Waterss can differ well both within and among industries.A The impact of industrial discharges depends non merely on their corporate features, such as biochemical O demand and the sum of suspended solids, but besides on their content of specific inorganic and organic substances. Three options are available in commanding industrial wastewater.A Control can take topographic point at the point of coevals in the works ; effluent can be pretreated for discharge to municipal intervention beginnings ; or effluent can be treated wholly at the works and either reused or discharged straight into having Waterss. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.umich.edu/ % 7Egs265/society/image90K.JPGWastewater Treatment Natural sewerage includes waste from sinks, lavatories, and industrial procedures. Treatment of the sewerage is required before it can be safely buried, used, or released back into local H2O systems. In a intervention works, the waste is passed through a series of screens, Chamberss, and chemical procedures to cut down its majority and toxicity. The three general stages of intervention are primary, secondary, and third. During primary intervention, a big per centum of the suspended solids and inorganic stuff is removed from the sewerage. The focal point of secondary intervention is cut downing organic stuff by speed uping natural biological procedures. Third intervention is necessary when the H2O will be reused ; 99 per centum of solids are removed and assorted chemical procedures are used to guarantee the H2O is as free from dross as possible.AAAA Agriculture, including commercial farm animal and domestic fowl agriculture, is the beginning of many organic and inorganic pollutants in surface Waterss and groundwater.A These contaminations include both deposit from eroding cropland and compounds of P and N that partially originate in animate being wastes and commercial fertilizers.A Animal wastes are high in O demanding stuff, N and P, and they frequently harbor infective organisms.A Wastes from commercial feeders are contained and disposed of on land ; their chief menace to natural Waterss, hence, is from overflow and leaching.A Control may affect settling basins for liquids, limited biological intervention in aerophilic or anaerobiotic lagunas, and a assortment of other methods.AALand WATERAA A A A Ninety-five per centum of all fresh H2O on Earth is ground water.A Ground H2O is found in natural stone formations.A These formations, called aquifers, are a critical natural resource with many uses.A Nationally, 53 % of the population relies on land H2O as a beginning of imbibing water.A In rural countries this figure is even higher.A Eighty one per centum of community H2O is dependent on land water.A Although the 1992 Section 305 ( B ) State Water Quality Reports indicate that, overall, the Nationis land H2O quality is good to excellent, many local countries have experienced important land H2O taint. Some illustrations are leaking belowground storage armored combat vehicles and municipal landfills.AA

“Hobson’s choice” by Harold Brighouse Essay

The play, â€Å"Hobson’s choice,† written by Harold Brighouse, was set during the time period when women’s rights were forbidden – not being allowed to vote for example. In doing so, Harold Brighouse combines both comedy and confliction, between all of the characters. When the curtain comes up, you see Hobson’s daughters on the stage in the shop. Maggie, who is hard working that she will succeed by perusing her wishes rather than her fathers. The audience would perhaps find this situation strange as women during the 19th century were not thought of as business women. As a result of this, tension rises as Maggie is defying the stereotype regarding women. She defies the fact that most women don’t make something of themselves. By looking at the account books, it portrays her personality as forceful, forthright and a business type woman. As Maggie examines the account book, it displays that she is intellectual as she understand maths and she straight seems to be more noticeable from her other sisters as soon as she enters the scene. She automatically seems to look superior to them. During the Victorian days, women had to abide by specific regulations. One of these regulations being that you had to obey your father as he was generally the master. There is a huge amount of debate in the play, â€Å"Hobson’s choice,† due to this certain rule. An example of differences developing due to that rule is when they are discussing what time to have dinner: â€Å"Dinner will be when I come in for it. I’m master here.† By Hobson actually announcing that he is master, he in my opinion is not only reminding his daughters that he is superior and his daughters are second best to him, but I feel that he is also reminding himself. This could be as he may be losing control over his daughters. In a sense, a debate occurs when Hobson and his three daughters are discussing marriage proposals as well. â€Å"You thought me past the marrying age. I’m not that’s all.† Here, Maggie is refusing to be put into the so called, â€Å"Shelved,† cluster that her father has positioned her in. There are a number of issues this play looks at towards subjects that even happen in today’s world – for example, alcohol issues, marriage, health and family structure. When Will Mossop is introduced to the play, Maggie is telling him how she wishes to be wed to him, however Will is already tokened – to be wed – to another, Ada Figgins, and is very reluctant to Maggie’s decision. Ada then comes into the shop, like every other day, to give Will his lunch she had made for him, but before she can even see Will, Maggie jumps in front of her and tells Ada she will be getting wed to Will instead. Ada and Maggie have a dispute towards Maggie’s words. Will tries to tell Maggie he is tokened and it will be with Ada like it was supposed to be, until Maggie is telling Ada to leave her shop and as Will will not stand up for Ada, instead tells her that the shop is Maggie’s fathers business and he is the employer, we all find out that the only reason Will is with Ada is because her mother is very controlling and Will actually fears her. Ada leaves the shop followed by Hobson walking back in. Maggie then tells her father about th e decision that had been made and he is very reluctant to listen to the ‘nonsense’ and lashes out on Will and hits him with his belt. Will is then very and tells Maggie he will wed her and her father will not be able to get in the way, followed by Will giving Maggie a kiss in front of her father! Will and Maggie have now left the shop together and are now starting their own business by opening up their own boot store. They both ask Mrs Hepworth if they can borrow a hundred pound to start up the business as she is the only one who can give the future a future. However, as this is all happening Hobson’s shop is losing a lot of their business and is going downhill, driving Hobson to turn to alcohol and always being in the Moonrakers. Will and Maggie wed followed by them seeking husbands for Maggie’s younger sisters, Alice and Vikki causing the Hobson family to be no more as Henry Hobson is so angry with his daughters and also humiliated. After Maggie and Will have wed they go back to the newlyweds house with the sisters and their new partners to have some tea and a slice of cake to celebrate the marriage. However the evening before the wedding took place Maggie had made a plan to keep Hobson out the way so he didn’t ruin it by waiting till he was at the Moonrakers and opening up a cellar door knowing he would fall into it and fall asleep as he was so drunk and unable to look after himself. When Hobson woke up the next day he found a letter on him saying he had been fined for trespassing on someone else’s land, which he showed to Maggie and everyone else when he went to her home that evening. Nearly a year later all three sisters have moved on and are now married, and also Vikki is expecting a baby on the way. Hobson has had the visit from the doctor who has figured out he is an alcoholic and a depressed man, and his only cure was his family, he prescribed him no medication but in fact for Maggie to move back in to look after him. After a lot of bickering between the sisters and Hobson to see who will look after him and move back in, Maggie agrees to ask Will for permission for them to move back in. Will agrees with no hesitation but is a bit nervous about shutting down his business. However, Hobson tries to tell him he will give Will back his old job and Maggie can have her old job back, Will however was not convinced nor was he happy about the offer. Instead they would share the business together and change the name to something that would suit both men. I feel as if Hobson’s Choice went over a lot of issues, some of which I have some personal knowledge in so I therefore found the play very interesting to read and see how others deal with the same situation. Even though I loved to read this play and I would recommend it to others, it was very hard to write about as so much was in it. It opens readers eyes to see what it was like to be brought up in the 19th century and see how life was supposed to be like. A very well written book, and also a very easy read but yet exciting play.

The life and times of rosie the riveter Movie Review

The life and times of rosie the riveter - Movie Review Example The documentary The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter is 60-minutes long and it mixes black and white newsreel footage. The director also incorporates color-filmed interviews of five women working in the defense plants during World War II including Wanita Allen, Gladys Belcher, Lyn Childs, Lola Weixel and Margaret Wright. Most importantly, the documentary offers these women’s views about the wartime propaganda relating to female defense workers of the period. The wartime experiences offered by these ‘Rosies’ clearly reflect the general mood of the women working in defense plants of the U.S. during World War II, because they belonged to different backgrounds such as Illinois, Arkansas farms, Brooklyn, and Detroit and they include three black women and two white. Therefore, The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter has been highly regarded for its life-like presentation as well as views of the condition of the women working in defense plants and this documentary fil m has been an important topic of discussion since its original release in 1980. Through the interviews with these ‘Rosies’, the audience become conscious about the unusual working conditions created by the high-pressured war production drive. The views of the women working in defense plants also help the viewers in recognizing various threats to women’s liberation during the period. â€Å"The film suggests that in the manipulation of public images of wartime women, the government, employers and media were pushing hard the traditional view of Woman as Housewife to suppress the runaway implications of women doing mens work so successfully, with the pride and camaraderie that wartime working conditions engendered.† (Davenport) As the documentary projects the women being interviewed in their present environment, the viewers get a convincing illustration of their condition during the World War II. In a

Scattering of Lamb Waves From Typical Structure Defects in Plates Essay

Scattering of Lamb Waves From Typical Structure Defects in Plates - Essay Example ure defects using piezoelectric transducer (PZT) sensors and 3-D Scanning Laser vibrometry and simulation the results by using Autodyne ANSYS is an important wildly recognized non-destructive evaluation SHM technique to locate, identify and quantify the structural damage and hence we can improve the survivability of mechanical structure. 1- The project work will be carried out first by reviewing the various research works and techniques involved in SHM including project related above mentioned non-destructive evaluation SHM technique with Autodyn ANSYS as simulation tool. The information obtained through literature review will further be used for practical work to study and investigate the various aspects of practical applications. 2- Since the practical work involved the application of 3D laser vibrometer in conjunction with Lamb wave technique to locate, identify and quantify typical structural damage like any crack, corrosion and dent, hence as next step I have to prepare test specimens. The test specimen can be a single aluminium plate having all three structural damages or three separate aluminium plates with different structural damage. For my experiment for the worse case situation, I have to prepare a single aluminium plate of 800 X 200 X 20 mm dimensions with all three defects i.e. crack, corrosion and dents as shown in following figure 1, 2 and 3 below. 3- My next step will be to fabricate the sensing devices to the specimen. Since I am using piezoelectric transducer (PZT) as sensors to Lamb wave through 3-D laser scanning hence I fabricate PZT to target

Literature review of international teaching assistant issues in U.S Essay

Literature review of international teaching assistant issues in U.S. universities - Essay Example The International Teaching Assistant is a graduate student within the university whose job is to assist the professor in a given course. They have teaching duties including class preparation; they prepare quizzes; they may assist in writing examination questions for midterms and finals; they correct papers; they grade exams; and have office hours to tutor students in the class (ITA Handbook, February, 2005). It is beneficial for the U.S.A. students since they may not necessarily interact with other students beyond their ethnic group (Gravois, 2006; Academic Culture in the U.S.A. (ND)). Nathal (2005) states that, â€Å"In an ideal classroom, both the student and teacher would be enriched by the other’s cultural experiences. However; rather than being a seamless union, classrooms and labs have often become the sites of cultural collisions, marked by confusion over pronunciation, word usage and social customs†. The attitude of the American students, in general, is very negative. They claim that they do not understand the ITA and that the ITA does not understand them. This leads to communication problems to the extent that State Representative Bette Grande from Fargo, North Dakota proposed a bill â€Å"†¦to prod public institutions of higher education†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Under her bill the students have the right to withdraw from a class without academic or financial penalty if the students complained in writing that her/his instructor did not â€Å"speak English clearly and with good pronunciation† (Gravois, April, 2005). Ms. Liu who flew from Shanghai, China to Fargo was on her way to begin a Ph.D. in communication at North Dakota State. She said that during the number of battery tests she was submitted to for language proficiency, she was treated equally compared to other incoming graduate students. It was ten days later that she felt out of place when she noticed

Business Synoptic (reflective statment) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Business Synoptic (reflective statment) - Essay Example The learning outcomes are assured in business synoptic module because we get a chance of solving the problems demonstrated in the case study solely depending on our own knowledge gathered through the entire process of learning. Case study is an eminent means of reflecting various theoretical concepts learned through any module in practical situations (Monash University, 2010). The chart below provides a pictorial representation that I followed while solving the case study assignment. Firstly, I developed the methodology and then precisely, I followed those steps for arriving at a result. Most important stage of this methodology was to read the case comprehensively, again and again, so that every critical issue can be understood from the case. As a second stage, I really tried hard to identify the most crucial issues that I needed to handle for solving the case. Based on the issues identified, I formulated my strategy of researching various academic sources relevant in solving. Resear ch process along with understanding of the critical issues in the case helped me to a great extent in forming views about the main problems in the case. Based on the views formulated, reflective analysis has been made by me and concise solution has been presented. During the formulation of views about the case problem, the attendance that I made to the two workshops were of great help, the influence of which I could feel during writing solution to the case study’s questions. During solving the case, I came across a number of theories that I learned during my earlier classes. Here the integration of the knowledge became prominent for me when those were applied in the practical evidences provided in the case. The theories that I used are not many but whichever I have used were relevant to the case situation. The theories are emerging market analysis, performance analysis, corporate level strategy, mainly global strategy and multi-domestic strategy and the theory of management s tructure. Case study analysis provides the best results when sufficient strategic analytical tools are appropriately used in finding the results (Mind Tools, 2011). Figure 1 Answer to Question No: 2 It is evident that case study analysis provides us a wide scope of excelling in our areas of work, be it professional or academic. Through the module, I have developed various skills which I am sure will be beneficial in not only solving problems in my education career but also will help in gaining competitive position in the practical field (Lee & Et. Al., 2009). The following figure depicts the areas in which I have acquired skills through case study analysis. The most important skill that I gathered from the study is that of problem solving ability. The analysis demanded a lot of effort in solving the problems identified from thorough understanding of the case facts. The facts might even be wrong as I am not a perfect analyst but whatever knowledge I have in the area of strategy formu lation, I have applied in solving the problem (Raviv, 2003). The second most important skill that I acquired in the process is that of innovative thinking. Strategy demands innovation-I learnt this line during gathering education in this area and during the process of solution, I understood the real meaning of innovative thinking when I was bound to apply all my traits. This application process generated the

Phychotic Disorders in the Beautiful Mind Movie Essay

Phychotic Disorders in the Beautiful Mind Movie - Essay Example When John starts working and is called to the Pentagon to exercise his beautiful mind with a code breaking assignment, we are introduced to the next hallucination, in the shape of William Parcher, who is just out of the line of sight of all of the other workers in the Pentagon. With this hallucination come some of John’s biggest delusions as well. Parcher is insistent on the micro chipping of John for special, confidential work, shows him secret nerve centers set up in seemingly deserted buildings, and is the one who starts John into his obsessive need to search magazines and newspapers for secret codes (Scene 8). John repeatedly goes to (as we find out later) an abandoned house to gain access to the drop zone, and uses his micro chip, with it’s ever changing codes to get into the super secret location. One of the biggest delusions John has is at this time when he ‘sees’ Parcher speed up to the house, he’s been watching him, John gets into his car an d the chase ensues, complete with shots fired (Scene 12). They must be real, they’re shooting at him and they want his information. He has it so firmly in his mind that Parcher is real and his work was being used for the good of his country that he was the one hallucination that was the hardest to shake. Marcee is Charles’ niece and she is yet another hallucination that John has throughout his life. She is a sweet little girl who loves her ‘Uncle’ John and would look despairingly at him when he later tried to ignore her presence. I believe she is the comfort that John is seeking in his life; she always appears whenever he is in need of a hug or a kind word. She is the hallucination that makes John realize that perhaps it is all in his mind after all, as she never seems... This essay describes a brilliant mathematician, a gifted economist, a Carnegie Scholarship recipient, a Nobel Prize winner, a husband, father, professor, and a man struggling with paranoid schizophrenia: this is John Forbes Nash, Jr. It is stated that when we first meet John Nash in the movie "A Beautiful Mind", that was discussed and analyzed in the essay, we see that he is socially awkward, doesn’t have many friends and is obsessed with finding his ‘original idea’. As with a lot of schizophrenics, the researcher states that John Nash’s symptoms seem to peak when he is under a lot of stress. It’s not shocking, then, that in the quest for his ‘original idea’ his delusions and hallucinations start at full force. The other side of schizophrenia deals with the emotional and interpersonal deficits that the sufferer must endure. John is repeatedly shown to be socially awkward. At the mixer in the second scene, he bumbles around and comes up w ith a negative approach like â€Å"there could be a mathematical explanation for how bad your tie is† This movie is a Hollywood retelling of a real man’s life, so the researcher compares the life a schizophrenic that was shown in a movie with a reality. The researcher states that the movie differs from the real life of John Nash, Jr in some aspects, but the researcher believes that they are implying that a person can fully recover from schizophrenia. It is also concluded by the researcher that the main statement that was shown through the movie is that 'Love can conquer all'.

Outline classical theories of motivation and illustrate their Essay

Outline classical theories of motivation and illustrate their application in different business situations. Discuss their useful - Essay Example The first theory that this paper deals with is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. To reiterate, this theory is considered to be one of the most important available motivational theories and is used by many professionals in various institutions. It has a broad—and even, perhaps, a universal—appeal. It is actually a very common-sense theory in that â€Å"it suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other needs† (Cherry, K.). The depiction of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs enables easy understanding of his theory. The base of the diagram, which contains the basic needs, is broad and, as with all pyramids, comes to a point at the top. This should indicate that in relation to other levels of the pyramids, humans have more basic needs than other needs. The most basic needs are the physiological needs for water, food, warmth, air, and sleep. It can be readily seen that if an employee does not have these satisfied, that (s)he is n ot going to be motivated—and, in fact, not able—to be productive. ... The second of the five levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs are those of safety and security, which although necessary for survival are not as crucial as those of the first level. Examples of second-level security needs are shelter from the environment, safe neighbourhoods, steady employment and health insurance (ibid.). There is grass roots and political movement afoot in some areas for employers to pay their employees a living wage, the amount differing somewhat depending upon the cost of living in any given area. Minimum wages in some areas are barely sufficient to pay rent and bus fare to work. The food banks help. Businesses would be wise to consider what loyalty and quality production can be expected from employees in such situations, especially if they have a toothache but have no money nor dental insurance to have a dentist take care of the problem. Many a business manager has been heard to lament that it is impossible to find good employees today. If such managers, g ave up their lifestyle for a couple of months and tried living on the wages paid to their minimum or close-to-minimum-wage paid employees, they would, undoubtedly, have a rude awakening. Even if the employees’ physiological and security needs are met, if their social needs—the third level of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs—are, for whatever reasons, barely being met, these employees are hurting inside and, consequently, in most cases are not sufficiently motivated nor capable of giving their all to their work. The needs in level three are social needs. THEORIES OF MOTIVATION 3 According to Maslow’s theory, social needs are met through friendships; romantic

Health communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health communication - Essay Example le control attained by obtaining referral to a specialist, which directly improved recovery in those patients who felt the doctors measures to be directly pertinent to their personal distress. The close relations of patient satisfaction, treatment established, and subsequent results need extra careful thought in social studies. There exists an argument that while interpretive theoretical, frameworks have accredited a constitutive purpose to the function of communication in meaning construction not much concentration has been given to the manner in which social relations of power act as a go-between in this process of meaning creation. Ideology, nonetheless, is a helpful heuristic concept that gives a way of contextualizing the communication procedure in such power relations. Communication includes not only the procedure of generating meaning, but is also inherent to the means by which relations of power get produced and reproduced (Thomas, 2006 P. 116). The idea of ideology is presented as the abstract connection between communication and authority. The social construction is a key research standpoint in medical sociology. First, some ill health are entrenched with cultural meaning that is not directly resulting from the natural history of the condition, which shapes how society reacts to those troubled and impacts the experience of that ill health. Second, every illness has a social construction at the empirical level, based on how persons come to appreciate and survive with their sickness. Third, medical information about ill health and disease is not provided by nature but is created and developed by claims-makers and concerned parties. Social constructions provide a significant counterpoint to medicine’s mainly deterministic approaches to illness and disease, and it can assist us widen policy discussions and choices. Sharing stories are becoming a powerful tool in the health profession, which helps to combine and exchange knowledge. Sharing experiences

Explain how new products are diffused through a marketplace, and Essay

Explain how new products are diffused through a marketplace, and identify the different groups involved in the process - Essay Example In simpler words, the willingness to buy a product at a particular time is different for different people. The first ever contribution to the field was provided by Everett Rogers in 1962. He defined diffusion as ‘the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system’. The figure below provides a brief understanding of the diffusion of innovation process curve. This curve categorises people and organisations according to the willingness of the people to buy the product and adoption of the innovations. To further gain a better understanding of the various stages that have been displayed above the following sub sections will deal with the characteristics of the each of the groups. As has been noted in the figure, and as suggested by Roger, the five broad characteristics for each of the categories are as under: a) Innovators: The people who fall under this category are generally very venturesome. The people who fall into this category generally tend to be different and like to have the latest versions of all new products and are willing to be the first to experiment the new products. These people tend to be the younger population of the markets. The general characteristics of these groups are that they are highly educated, with high levels of confidence, and highly affluent financially. The fact that the groups are affluent financially, allows them to be able to test with the products and take chances. Considering the innovators of organisations, generally fall into the companies with better educated management. The reasons for these groups to adopt newer innovations is the fact of their own god track record in introducing newer products to the markets and the need to be updated with the latest in the markets. b) Early Adopters: This is the second group of people in the market. These groups do not tend to be very venturesome like the innovators.

Streaming Media and Netflix Essay Example for Free

Streaming Media and Netflix Essay Netflixs main issue is they face increased market competition from new  entrants into their industry. In addition, Netflix suffers poor relationships with suppliers, which interferes with their ability to meet market demands leading to increased costs and the need to increase prices. This affects Netflixs ability to increase market share, and maintaining core values, resulting in declining subscribership, and declining margins. ANALYSIS COMPANY ORIGINS. Thorough analysis of Netflix begins with a discussion of the companies origins. Netflix was founded by Reed Hasting (CEO) and Marc Randolph in 1997 in Scotts Valley, California, with main headquarters now located in Los Gatos, California. The original business model was as an internet TV company providing online streaming and DVD/Blu Ray rentals shipped direct to a subscribers home. This subscription and selling service implemented in 1999, and in 2000 launched their personalized movie recommendation service CineMatch (Funding Universe, 2014). Shortly thereafter Netflix executed their IPO in 2002 with approximately 600,000 members in the US and by 2005 membership rises to 4.2 million. Perhaps most important is Netflix introduces video streaming in 2007, and later in 2008, partners with consumer electronics companies to incorporate Netflix video streaming on consumer electronic devices. Further growth is achieved in 2010 when Netflix launches internationally in Canada, Latin America, and Caribbean (Netflix Media Center, 2014). THE BLUNDER YEAR. Mid-July 2011 Netflix announces Qwikster, which was an attempt to separate online video streaming services and DVD rentals, resulting in an immediate 60% devaluation of Netflix stock and eventually to a low of $62.37 by December of that year. Ultimately, on October 10, 2011 the Qwikster proposal is scrapped by Netflix. However, the damage was already done because on July 13th their stock price was at an all time high of $304.79, and eventually bottomed out at $55.19 on December 31 of that year (Thompson, 2012). RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. Once the disaster of 2011 passed, Netflix rebounded by expanding into the Latin America and Caribbean markets. Later in 2012,  Netflix expands its international market further by becoming available in Europe that included the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Nordic countries. In addition, Netflix wins its first Primetime Emmy Engineering Award. Furthermore, in 2013, Netflix expands to the Netherlands, and debuts original programming that earns Netflix 31 primetime Emmy nominations including outstanding drama series, comedy series, and documentary or nonfiction special for _House of Cards_, _Orange is the New Black_, and _The Square_ respectively. More importantly, _House of Cards_ wins three Primetime Emmy Awards making Netflix the first internet TV network nominated, and winning, a primetime Emmy award. Furthermore, in 2014, Netflix launches in 6 new countries in Europe that included Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. Again, Netflix wins 7 creative Emmy Aw ards for _House of Cards_ and _Orange is the New Black_. Moreover, Netflix now has over 50 million global subscribers (Netflix Media Center, 2014). FINANCIAL STRENGTH. Netflixs performance has been solid, although they underperformed in the third quarter of this year, 2014, perhaps due to over forecasting which Netflix does often, creating the perception to investors and analysts that the company has underperformed (Seward, 2014). Their numbers remain strong and stock is currently valued $379.01per share (Yahoo Finance, 10/30/14). Moreover, Netflix had $4.3B in Revenues in 2013 and revenue is projected to $4.7B by year end 2014, and current ratio is 1.42 demonstrating the moderate ability to cover current liabilities, See Appendix A, Financial Sheets, Tables 1 through 6 on pages 15 through 20, for additional details of Netflixs strong financial performance. Generally speaking, all key financial statistics are trending upwards over the past five fiscal years (Market Watch, 2014). Furthermore, as of the third quarter of this year, Netflix has 53.1 million subscribers worldwide and that is forecast to climb to 57 million subscribers at year end 2014 ( Netflix Letter to Shareholders, 2014). FIVE FORCES MODEL OF COMPETITION. See Figure 1 in Appendix B, Netflix-Porters Five Forces Model, page 21, for a graphical analytic tool that summarizes the following forces. _COMPETITION AND RIVALRIES ._ Competition and rival threats remain high. Netflixs rival, for content and subscribers, is now Time Warner, who owns Home Box Office (HBO) and possesses a large subscriber base as well as original content. However, when competition involves subscribers, Amazon Prime Instant Video is becoming a direct competitor. Soon, Amazon will air original programming thus becoming a competitor for content as well (Casteele, 2014). In addition, Hulu, Apple TV, Google TV, Google owned YouTube, and CBS All Access has, or will have, original content available in the near future. Although Amazon does not have the number of subscribers that Netflix has, approximately 5 million versus 50 million plus for Netflix, both have the edge against traditional networks by using customer data instead of market research and Nielsen data for developing original content (Kleinman, 2013). Furthermore, competitors would include cable and satellite TV companies such as DirectTV, Comcast xfinity, and the movie theate rs. _SUBSTITUTES_. The threat of substitutes remains high. Products viewed as close substitutes include Hulu Plus which may also be considered a rival in some respects but exist more as a complementary product to Netflix and focuses on current run and older TV shows targeted at a younger market. Moreover, Hulu provides fewer movies compared to Netflix and forces subscribers to view commercials when streaming content. Another substitute would include Amazon Prime Instant Video (APIV) available only through a year subscription through Amazon Prime, a free two-day shipping service, and provides an extensive movie and TV library (Shanklin, W, 2014). Furthermore, Vudu is Wal-Marts offering of on-line streaming and similar to what one finds on YouTube or iTunes but providing more full length feature films (Prindle, D., 2014). Other substitutes include Google Play, RedBox Instant, and Microsofts Xbox video streaming (Shanklin, W, 2014). These substitutes are unlikely to threaten the market in excess, and Netf lixs threats remain with APIV. _NEW ENTRANTS._ The threat of new entrants is strong. In addition, there exists a strong likelihood of suppliers offering content on their own  website because of low barriers to enter the video streaming market. The TV market is increasingly moving to the on-demand online streaming model. The recent entry of Time Warners HBO, and CBS into the on-line streaming realm is a testament to new entrants. More Web based enterprises will shift or add on-line streaming content because the barriers are already low for these enterprises (Lever Estienne, 2014). In addition net neutrality rulings leave open the window of opportunity for new companies to enter the market (Selyukh, 2014). _BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS._ Bargaining power of suppliers is high. Moreover, suppliers can withhold content and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) can intentionally without quality service to Websites using large portions of bandwidth. Until a net-neutrality regulation is in place, this will remain a major issue for companies providing on-line streaming content such as Netflix (Selyukh, 2014). _BARGAINING POWER OF CONSUMERS._ Bargaining power of consumers is high because on-line video streaming is highly price elastic and consumers will migrate to the perceived better value. Therefore, there is great sensitivity to price and content. Consumers will gravitate to the best suppliers of content and a bargain price without much loyalty. Netflixs slower subscriber growth in the third quarter of this year was attributed to price increase that the company undertook recently (Sikka, 2014). In addition, the industry must contend with the distribution and use of illegal downloads and the lack of established enforcement of pirating content. Content is king and consumers demand content, and original content is even better. SWOT ANALYSIS. See Figure 2 in Appendix C, page 22, Netflix SWOT Analysis, for a graphical analytic tool that summarizes the following described strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. _STRENGTHS._ Netflix will invest a total $3 billion (US) by years end in program content to provide content and meet the diverse tastes of its more than 36 million U.S. and 14 million international online subscribers. In addition, Netflix will spend $600 million (US) on marketing and $400 million  (US) on technology upgrades. (Netflix ups ante, 2014). Moreover, Netflix possesses brand recognition and the word Netflix even becoming a verb among Internet users. Furthermore, the Netflix App has created greater accessibility and enabled subscribers to stream media on nearly all Internet enabled devices. Perhaps most important of all is Netflixs original content of award winning programs such as House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, and Hemlock Grove enhancing international growth. In addition, Netflix has signed a number of interconnection agreements with Internet Service Provider (ISPs) to ensure faster Internet speeds for subscribers (Sikka, 2014). More importantly, Netflix has positive financial ratios although profit margins remain low internationally, and continues to demonstrate outstanding stock market growth. _WEAKNESS._ One Netflixs largest weakness is their cost of content relating to the mass of licensing packages and the in-house original content production company Netflix is accumulating a large amount of debt and profit margins are low relative to the international market. Furthermore, the DVD and Bluray domestic subscriber market is declining, from 7.0 million paid subscribers at the end of the third quarter 2013 to 5.9 million subscribers at the end of the third quarter 2014 (Letter to Shareholders,.2014). Moreover, Netflix has had a history of subscriber revolt when raising subscription prices and their recent $1 increase was not having any significant impact on subscriptions, however may impact subscriptions nonetheless (Steel, 2014). The last attempt to raise monthly subscription prices left current subscribers upset and Netflix stock tumbling. In addition, Netflix accounts for about 57% of daily internet traffic (Sikka, 2014). Therefore, with net neutrality laws being struck down, Netflix will either need to assume more debt, which they will spend $1 billion (US) or the next 15 months, or cut content, which they will do the complete opposite. Perhaps most importantly, both Amazon Prime Instant Video (APIV) and Google owned YouTube have announced their own original content productions becoming a direct competitor to Netflix. _OPPORTUNITIES._ Netflixs greatest opportunity lies in International Expansion and their ability to create original content will enhance  international growth. In addition, the international opportunities will depend on Netflixs superior software apps and service created from their own global technology investment, process knowledge, data acquired from related markets, and their globally recognized brand (Netflix Long term View, 2014). Moreover, Netflixs original in-house programming should take full advantage of the many entertainment related smart devices with Internet capability. Households that have a TV or other device connected to the Internet, as of 2013, stood at 49% up from 24% in 2010 and is undoubtedly higher in 2014 (Sikka, 2014). There exist an opening for Internet TV and Netflixs exclusive in-house content will allow the company to take full advantage of that demand. _THREATS._ Because Netflix accounts for about 57% of daily Internet traffic, ISPs have lobbied to require major website traffic contributors pay for the infrastructure needed to support this heavy volume of traffic (Sikka, 2014).. Until net neutrality is resolved one way or another, this will remain a top threat for Netflix. Furthermore, competition such as Amazon Prime Internet Video (APIV), and Googles YouTube are implementing their own original content and are direct competitors to Netflix. Moreover the expense of licensing and renewing license agreements remain a threat to Netflixs ability to increase margins. However, in-house production of original content benefits the company by generating a word-of-mouth advertising and elevating the company into an Emmy award winning content producer. In addition, there exists the threat of brand loyalty as subscribers are price conscious and sensitive to price increases. ALTERNATIVES Possible alternatives range from doing nothing to focusing completely on the international market. If Netflix does nothing and continues their physical delivery of DVDs and Bluray discs will continue to cost more over time because of the need for maintain even a minimum of distribution centers for delivery to subscribers. Another alternative may be to simply pay the premium price required to acquire more and more content through expensive licensing agreements. This alternative as a stand-alone strategy and may not  provide the competitive advantage needed to attract the number of subscribers needed for desired growth. A third alternative could be to combine the purchasing of content and licensing with original content programming to attract domestic subscribers and increasing international market penetration in the video streaming market. RECOMMENDATION The recommendation made by the author is a combination of the reducing and phasing out the physical DVD delivery model combined with the purchasing of content and licensing, and using original content programming to attract domestic subscribers, and increasing international market penetration. IMPLEMENTATION Internet television is replacing linear television, at the same time that apps are replacing network channels. Thus creating the proliferation of viewing screens for streaming content. In addition, Technology is improving and more available than ever before making this technology less expensive. Furthermore, streaming is the leading source for Ultra HD 4k video, and TV everywhere provides an economic transition for existing networks. Hence, new entrants into the Internet streaming realm, including Netflix, are innovating rapidly and driving improvements (Letter to Shareholders, 2014). See Appendix D Graph 1, Netflix Market Share Bubble Graph on page 24 for a graphic representation of Netflixs market share compared to APIV and Hulu. Netflix should phase out of the physical DVD via mail service market and that will help reduce operating costs. Meanwhile, focus on Internet streaming of content, and producing original content will expand viewership and subscribers, both domestically and internationally, as well as help limit supplier control. This will help contribute to increased margins leading to increased revenue and stockholder confidence. Netflix is in a growth strategy in the international market where investment needs are high. Therefore, margins will be lower than desired expectations, and growth potential in the international market remains very high. Therefore, Netflix  should remain on this strategy. References Casteele, J. (February 24, 2014), Netflix vs HBO: Is the Rivalry as Intense as it Seems? The Motley Fool. Retrieved from: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/02/24/is-the-netflixhbo-rivalry-as-intense-as-it-seems.aspx France-Presse, A. (April 25, 2014). Netflix announces content agreements with several cable companies, RawStory.com. Retrieved from: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/netflix-announces-content-agreements-with-several-cable-companies/ Funding Universe (2014). Netflix, Inc. History, _International Directory of Company Histories_, Vol. 58. St. James Press, 2004. Retrieved from: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/netflix-inc-history/ Kleinman, A. (March 3, 2013). Netflix vs. Amazon Could Be The Cool New Rivalry, Huffington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/05/netflix-vs-amazon_n_2811454.html Kline, D. (July 26, 2014). Amazon Prime Continues to Grow Despite Price Bump, The Motley Fool. Retrieved from: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/07/26/amazon-prime-continues-to-grow-despite-price-bump.aspx Letter to Shareholders, (October 15, 2014). Netflix Corporate Website. Retrieved from: http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/NFLX/3556910032x0x786677/6974d8e9-5cb3-4009-97b1-9d4a5953a6a5/Q3_14_Letter_to_shareholders.pdf Lever, R., and Estienne, S. (October 19, 2014). Weve Hit a Watershed Moment For Streaming TV, Business Insider. Retrieved from: http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-with-new-entrants-streaming-tv-sees-waters hed-moment-2014-10 Market Watch (2014). Netflix Key Statistics, MarketWatch.com. Retrieved from: http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/nflx/profile Netflix Long term View, (October 15, 2014). Netflix Corporate Website. Retrieved from: http://ir.netflix.com/long-term-view.cfm Netflix Media Center (2014). Netflix, A brief history of the company that revolutionized watching of movies and TV shows. Retrieved from: https://pr.netflix.com/WebClient/loginPageSalesNetWorksAction.do?contentGroupId=10477 Netflix ups ante in streaming. (2014, Oct 27). _Investors Business Daily_ Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/docview/1615897570?accountid=6579 Perez, S. (April 30, 2014). Hulu, Now With 6 Million Subscribers, Will Make Some TV Episodes Free On Mobile, TechCrunch.com. Retrieved from: http://techcrunch.com/2014/04/30/hulu-now-with-6-million-subscribers-will-make-some-tv-episodes-free-on-mobile/Prindle, D. (May 13, 2014). Best Media Streaming, Digital Trends.com Website. Retrieved from: Serviceshttp://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/best-media-streaming-services/ Selyukh, A. (May 15, 2014). Amid protests, U.S. FCC proposes new net neutrality rules, Forbes. Retrieved from: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/us-usa-internet-neutrality-idUSBREA4C0SF20140515 Seward, J., (October 16, 2014). Analysts Believe Netflix Is Victim Of High Expectations, Benzinga Retrieved from: http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/14/10/4929716/analysts-believe-netflix-is-victim-of-high-expectations?utm_campaign=partner_feedutm_s ource=marketwatch.comutm_medium=partner_feedutm_content=analyst_ratings_page Shanklin, W (August 21, 2014). Netflix alternatives: These 7 services are the closest youll get, Geek.com Website. Retrieved from: http://www.geek.com/news/netflix-alternatives-these-7-services-are-the-closest-youll-get-1472327/ Sikka, P., (October 20, 2014). Analyzing the must-know business trends affecting Netflix, Market Realist. Retrieved from: http://marketrealist.com/2014/10/must-know-netflix-stock-steep-fall/ Sikka, P., (October 20, 2014). Why deals with Internet service providers are helping Netflix, Market Realist. Retrieved from: http://marketrealist.com/2014/10/must-know-netflix-stock-steep-fall/ Sikka, P., (October 20, 2014). 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Quantification of Bioactive Compounds in Mentat Tablet (MT)

Quantification of Bioactive Compounds in Mentat Tablet (MT) An ultra-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of twenty-eight major bioactive compounds in Mentat tablet (MT), a complex Indian herbal medicine used in the treatment of neurological disorder and improvement of mental health. Multiple-reaction monitoring scanning was employed for quantification in positive and negative mode. The analysis was accomplished on Waters AQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column with linear gradient elution of water/formic acid (0.1%) and acetonitrile/formic acid (0.1%) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The proposed method was validated with acceptable linearity (r2, 0.9984-0.9999), precision (RSD, 0.22–2.11%), stability (RSD, 0.16–1.78%) and recovery (RSD ≠¤ 3.74 %), under optimum conditions. The limits of quantitation were low ranging from 0.28 to 3.88 ng/mL for the 28 compounds. The method was successfully applied to the simultaneous deter mination of 28 compounds in twenty batches of MT tablets. Also, hierarchical cluster analysis and principle component analysis was applied to categorize 20 samples based on characteristics of the 28 bioactive compounds. The results have indicated that this advanced method is rapid, sensitive and suitable to show the real quality of the MT composition and also capable of controlling quality of polyherbal formulations having similar markers/raw herbs. Keywords: Multiple Reaction Monitoring / Multi-Marker Quantification / UPLC-ESI-MS/MS / Hierarchical Cluster Analysis / Principle Component Analysis 1. Introduction Herbal medicines (HMs) refer to one herb or complex mixtures, which usually contains hundreds of chemically different components. Their curative effects are principally based on the synergic effect of their multi-targeting and multi-ingredient preparations [1, 2]. Consequently, quality control becomes troublesome for crude drugs. the method that employs pharmacologically active components to evaluate the quality and authenticity of the complex preparations is confronted with severe challenges. Therefore, better analytical strategies to assure their efficacy, safety, and consistency is essential and in great demand [3]. Moreover, the chemical compounds in the poly herbs in HMs products may vary depending on harvest seasons, plant origins, drying processes and other factors. Thus, it seems to be necessary to determine most of the phytochemical constituents of herbal products in order to ensure the reliability and repeatability of pharmacological and clinical research and to enhance pro duct quality control [4, 5]. Currently, selection of a single or a few specific components from a certain herbal medicine as markers for quality assessment is a widely applied strategy. However, it cannot afford sufficient quantitative information for the other medicinal compositions and cannot accurately reflect the quality of HMs products. All the HMs compositions play important roles in the therapeutic effects. Therefore, selecting multiple constituents from different medicinal herbs as evaluation markers has been gradually applied for the quality control of HMs [6, 7]. Mentat tablets (MT, commercial product) is a polyherbal medication with each tablet composed of multiple herbs extracts (listed in Table S1). Major contributed herbs are Bacopa monnieri, Centella asiaticaand Withania somnifera. MT is a unique all-natural multi-ingredient formula that promotes brain health. It improves the mental quotient, memory span, concentration ability, stress threshold and exhibit significant anti-parkinsonian activity. MT also offers protection against convulsions, which is beneficial in insomnia with its sedative and tranquilizing effects [8-10]. Chemically bacosides, saponin mixture in B. monnieri, triterpenoid glycosides in C. asiatica, steroidal lactones in W. somnifera are the major representative ingredients in MT, in comparison to others. [11-14]. Phytochemical investigations show important classes of bioactive constituents in selected plants which are as in combination of MT that are responsible for the bioactivity [15-20]. Literature survey reveals various analytical methods including thin layer chromatography (TLC) [21], high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) [22, 23], liquid chromatography (LC) [6, 24, 25], liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS) [26-29], nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) [30] for the quantitative analysis of the bioactive constituents in HMs to assess the quality of the complex preparations. To the best of our knowledge, there is no method reported for the simultaneous estimation of selected 28 multi-markers in herbals by UPLC-ESI-MS/MSand no such approach has been explored on this important drug combination for quality and consistency evaluation of this herbal preparation. Natural alteration in preparation processes and climate affects the safety and batch-to-batch uniformity of HMs products. Highly sensitive analytical methods are thus required to identify ingredients and evaluate batch-to-batch variation. Compared to conventional TLC, HPTLC, HPLC method which are less sensitive and takes longer analysis time, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode is more powerful approach. Due to its rapid separation power, low detection limit, high sensitivity, selectivity and specificity, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS offers effective detection to quantify multi-ingredients in complex sample matrices. Previous methods reported in literature only contained one or few compounds, without the consideration of other active ingredients. This paper describes for the first time a simple, accurate and reliable UPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of 28 multiple bioactive compounds from different polyherbs viz., bacoside A (mixture of bacoside A3, bacopaside II, bacopaside X and bacopasaponin C), withanolide-A, withaferin-A, asiaticoside, madecassoside, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, magnoflorine, curcumin, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, rosamarinic acid, ursolic acid, catechin, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, corilagin, chrysin and chlorogenic acid with single runtime of 10 min. This method is intended not only for quality control of commercial polyherbal formulated products but also for efficient evaluation of raw materials. The quantitative results were further analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis i.e., hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principle component analysis (PCA) to provide more information about the ch emical differences and batch-to-batch variations. Chemical Structures of all analytes and internal standards were showed in Fig 1. 2. Experimental 2.1 Reagents and materials The reference standards (purity≠¥90%) bacoside A (mixture of bacoside A3, bacopaside II, bacopaside X and bacopasaponin C) was purchased from Natural Remedies Pvt. Ltd. Apigenin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, protocatechuic acid, rosamarinic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, ursolic acid, palmatine, withanolide-A, withaferin-A, asiaticoside, madecassoside, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, catechin, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, rutin, corilagin, chrysin, gallic acid and ellagic acid were purchased from Sigma Aldrich Ltd. (St. Louis, MO, USA). Reference standards of quercetin, luteolin and internal standards (IS) andrographolide and piperine were purchased from Extrasyntheses (Genay, France). Twenty different batches of Mentat tablets produced by Himalaya Drug Company, Bangalore, India were purchased from local drug stores from different places in India (Table S2). For all solutions and dilutions, methanol, acetonitrile (LC-MS grade) and formic acid (analytical grade) were purchased from Fluka, Sigma–Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Milli-Q Ultra-pure water was obtained from a Millipore water purification system (Millipore, Milford, MA, USA). 2.2 Preparation of standard solutions and samples A stock solution containing 28 standards i.e., bacoside A (mixture of bacoside A3, bacopaside II, bacopaside X and bacopasaponin C), withanolide-A, withaferin-A, asiaticoside, madecassoside, jatrorrhizine, palmatine, magnoflorine, curcumin, gallic acid, procatechuic acid, ferulic acid, caeffic acid, ellagic acid, rosamaric acid, ursolic acid, catechin, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, corilagin, chrysin and chlorogenic acid were weighed accurately, dissolved in pure methanol.The working standard solutions were prepared by diluting the mixed standard solution with methanol to a series of concentrations within the ranges from 1 to 1000 ng/mL used for plotting the calibration curves. Meanwhile, each standard was also prepared respectively. The coating of each samples were removed completely, and the remains were smashed into powder. Pulverized sample (0.5g) was weighed precisely, and sonicated by ultrasonicator (53 KHz, Bandelin SONOREX, Berlin) using 50 ml 100% methanol at room temperature for 30 min. The extracted solution was centrifuged at 15000 rpm for 10 min, and the supernatant was filtered through a 0.22  µm syringe filter (Millex-GV, PVDF, Merck Millipore, Darmstadt, Germany) to obtained 10,000  µg/ml. The à ¯Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ltrates were diluted with methanol to final working solutions and analyzed directly by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The internal standards andrographolide for negative mode and piperine for positive mode were spiked to each working concentration of mixed standards solution and sample solution at a final concentration of 50 ng/mL (50  µL of internal standards mixture of 1000 ng/mL of each in methanol) were mixed properly. All solutions were stored at -200C until use and sonicated prior to injection. 2.3 Instrumentation and analytical conditions An Acquity ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLCTM) system consisting of an auto sampler and a binary pump (Waters, Milford, MA was used for analysis. The compounds were separated on an Acquity BEH C18 (2.1 mmÃâ€" 50 mm, 1.7 µm; Waters, Milford, MA) analytical column at a column temperature of 25à ¢- ¦C. A gradient elution was achieved using two solvents: 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water (A) and 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in acetonitrile (B) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The gradient program consisted of an initial of 5% with linear increase from 5% to 60% B over 1.85 to 7.5 min and increased from 60% B to 90% B over 8.5 min, which was maintained for 1.5 min, followed by a return to the initial condition over 2.5 min with a sample injection volume of 5 µL. The UPLC system was interfaced with hybrid linear ion trap triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer (API 4000 QTRAPâ„ ¢ MS/MS system from AB Sciex, Concord, ON, Canada) equipped with electrospray (Turbo V) ion source. The optimized parameters for positive mode were as follows: the ion spray voltage was set to 5500 V; the turbo spray temperature, 550à ¢- ¦C; nebulizer gas (gas 1), 50 psi; heater gas (gas 2), 50 psi; collision gas, medium; the curtain gas (CUR) was kept at 20 psi. Optimized parameter for negative mode were as follows: the ion spray voltage was set to −4200 V, the turbo spray temperature, 550à ¢- ¦C; nebulizer gas (gas 1), 20 psi; heater gas (gas 2), 20 psi; collision gas, medium; the curtain gas (CUR) was kept at 20 psi. Quantitative analysis was performed using multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode and its conditions were optimized for each compound during infusion. For full scan ESI-MS analysis, the spectra covered the range from m/z 100 to 1000. Analyst 1.5.1 software package (AB Sciex) used for instrument control and data acquisition. The results of the precursor ion, product ion, corresponding declustering potential (DP), entrance potential (EP), collision energy (CE), cell exit potential (CXP) were shown in Table S3. 2.4 Multivariate analysis Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) is a tool to identify relatively homogeneous groups of cases based on selected characteristics, using an algorithm that starts with each case in a separate cluster until only one is left. In the experiment, HCA of 20 batches of samples were performed, in which a method called average linkage between groups was employed and 28 markers were selected as the measurement. Similarly, Principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out based on the contents of quantified 28 bioactive compounds in 20 batches of samples. All the experiment was done using software STATISTICA 7.0. When the contents of investigated compounds were below the quantitation limit or not detected in the samples, the values of such elements were considered to be zero.

Effects of Theatre Arts on Emotional Intelligence

Effects of Theatre Arts on Emotional Intelligence This study has attempted to examine the impact that an individuals involvement in Theatre Arts has on his or her Emotional Intelligence (EI). The hypothesis in the present research is thus, there is a positive relationship between ones involvement in theatre arts and their emotional intelligence. Participants of this study were residents of Bangalore city, India (N=80). The scale which was employed in this research to administer on the sample was the Emotional Intelligence Scale, developed by Anukool Hyde, Sanjyot Pethe and Upinder Dhar. The findings of the study were such that individuals who have been active participants of theatre arts had a higher EI (M=138.67) than those individuals who were not exposed to the theatre arts (M=129.65). These results indicate that exposure to, participation in and the understanding of the theatre arts is highly useful in emotional, and hence mental well-being. EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND THEATRE ARTS Emotional intelligence (EI) is defined by Cooper and Sawaf (1997) as the ability to sense, understand and effectively apply the power and acumen of emotions as a source of human energy, information, connection and influence. It comprises of the power to perceive accurately, evaluate and express emotions; the ability to comprehend emotions and emotional knowledge and intellectual growth. It also is characterized by- self awareness, mood management, self motivation, empathy, managing relationships. The most extensively recognized definition of emotional intelligence, is that given by Peter Salovey and John D. Mayer, who have been leading researchers in the field, and is defined as the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor ones own and others feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide ones thinking and actions (1990). What popularized the study of emotional intelligence is the publication of Golemans bestselling Emotional Intelligence in 1995. This model introduced by Daniel Goleman places its focus on leadership performance guided by a large collection of competencies and skills by means of emotional intelligence (Goleman, 1988). Golemans model demarcates four main EI constructs, namely, self-awareness, which is the ability to construe ones emotions and understand their influence while using intuitions and instincts to direct decisions; self-management, that which has to do with controlling ones emotions and impulses and adjusting in new situations; social awareness, the ability to discern, comprehend, and respond to others emotions; and relationship management, the ability to motivate, influence, and develop others while dealing with difficult situations (Bradberry, Travis and Greaves, Jean, 2009). The origins of this subject can be traced back to Darwins work on the importance of emotional expression for survival (Bar-On, 2006). In The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals (1872), Darwin put forth that human emotional expressions have an adaptive and survival value, and that this feature has its consequences in its evolution. However, he posited that there are some human reactions which are not of significant survival value now, but were in the past, and that this, coupled with a similarity of emotional expression among all human beings suggests a common descent from an earlier pre-human ancestor (Encyclopaedia of Psychology, n.d.). In the twentieth century, publications began appearing with the work of Edward Thorndike on social intelligence in 1920, which described the skill of understanding and managing other people (Bar-On, 2006). Many of these early studies focused on describing, defining and assessing socially competent behaviour (Chapin, 1942; Doll, 1935; Moss Hunt, 1927; Moss et al., 1927; Thorndike, 1920). This was then followed by studies on the influence of non-intellectual factors on intelligent behaviour, by D Wechsler (as cited in Bar-On, 2006) and the concept of multiple intelligences as put forth by Howard Gardner in 1983 (Smith M.K., 2002). In the recent years the study of emotional intelligence has escalated. Research includes areas ranging from emotional intelligence and its relationship with work place and social competencies to its influence on a healthy and productive life as such (Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, http://www.eiconsortium.org/about_us.htm) . For example, emotional intelligence has become increasingly popular as a measure for identifying potentially effective leaders, and as a tool for developing effective leadership skills (Palmer, Walls, Burgess, Stough, Leadership and Organization Development Journal, 2001). In the study mentioned, emotional intelligence correlated with several components of transformational leadership suggesting that it may be an important component of effective leadership. In particular emotional intelligence may account for how effective leaders monitor and respond to subordinates and make them feel at work. Further in a study conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership, in the USA, individual scores as obtained by a multi-rater feedback tool called Benchmarks were compared to self-reported emotional intelligence as measured by the BarOn EQ-I, and the findings were that key leadership skills and perspectives are related to aspects of emotional intelligence and the absence of emotional intelli gence was related to career derailment (Leadership Skills and Emotional Intelligence, Center for Creative Leadership, http://www.ccl.org/leadership/pdf/assessments/skills_intelligence.pdf, 2003). The study of emotional intelligence has been of high momentum in the field of healthcare as well. In the year 2000, study conducted by Joseph Cairochi, Frank P. Deane and Stephen Anderson, Department of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Australia, hypothesized that EI would make a unique contribution to understanding the relationship between stress and three important mental health variables, depression, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. This was a cross-sectional study where university students were required to evaluate their life-stress, objective and self-reported emotional intelligence, and mental health. One of the findings revealed that stress was associated with greater suicidal ideation among those low in managing others emotions (MOE). MOE was shown to be statistically different from other relevant measures, suggesting that EI is highly essential in understanding the link between stress and mental health. Emotional Intelligence and Alexithymia- Alexithymia- literally without words for emotions, in Greek- was a term originally coined by psychotherapist Peter Sifneos in 1973 in order to describe a state of deficiency in understanding, processing or describing emotions (Bar-On Parker, 2000, p40-59, Taylor ,1997, p28-31). Alexithymia is defined by many factors, such as, difficulty identifying feelings and distinguishing between feelings and the bodily sensations of emotional arousal; difficulty describing feelings to other people; constricted imaginal processes, as evidenced by a paucity of fantasies; a stimulus-bound, externally oriented cognitive style. (Taylor,1997, p29). Logically, one would expect an inverse relation between the constructs of alexithymia and emotional intelligence. This expectation has been supported in the literature. Schutte et al (1998) found that in a sample consisting of University students, a self-report measure of emotional intelligence (the Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test) was significantly inversely correlated with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, which was used as the standard measure for alexithymia . Research with larger community samples has particularly found significant associations. For example, Parker, Taylor, and Bagby (2001) found a strong negative correlation between the Emotion Quotient Inventory and the TAS in a sample of 734 community members (Stys, Brown, 2004, A Review of the Emotional Intelligence- Literature and Implications for Corrections, 28). According to Johanna Vanderpol (n.d.)- author, speaker, coach and workshop provider in emotional intelligence and emotional well-being, Canada- art and play, which are forms of emotional expression, are the essential ways in which individuals, especially young children, expand their abilities and master their environment, further stating that emotional expression is but a part of developing emotional intelligence. One such study presented a series of experiential exercises designed to use visual arts and poetry in classroom settings to increase students awareness and recognition of emotion-two key components of emotional intelligence (Morris, Urbanski, Fuller, 2005). In a study titled Emotional Intelligence and the Performing Arts: Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries, an experiential training program that employed the Ability Model of emotional intelligence (Salovey and Mayer, 1990, 1997) was combined with performing arts and drama therapy to create a workshop program, whose aim was to increase the awareness of the role of emotions in working life, and provided interactive learning opportunities to engage with complicated emotional dilemmas arising from their leadership roles. Survey results from the workshops and a focus-group at three months follow-up revealed that participants used the learning experience of the workshop to address and resolve specific leadership challenges in their role (Rauk er, Skinner, Bett, 2009). The current study attempts to show a relationship between emotional intelligence and ones involvement in the Theatre Arts. Theatre, or Drama, as it is more commonly known, is the most integrative of all the arts: it can and often does, include singing, dancing, painting, sculpture, storytelling, puppetry, music, poetry and of course, the art of acting (Snow, DAmico, Tanguay, 2003, p73). Also it has been of wide contention that there is an innate healing function in theatre which goes all the way back to its origins in human culture (Bates, 1988; Emunah, 1994; McNiff, 1988; Pendzik, 1988; Snow, 1996). A wide range of study has been done on the influence of drama on psychological well being and the role it plays in psychotherapy, hence giving rise to the concept of Drama Therapy. Drama therapy is one of the several expressive or creative art therapies among which are art therapy, dance/movement therapy, music therapy, poetry therapy and psychodrama, concerning the therapist and the cli ent who attempt to evaluate their life experiences as they engage in a largely creative process, in this case through the media of drama and theatre (Landy, 2006, p135). One such drama therapy technique that has been studied is Dramatic Resonances. This method is based on the creative responses that participants offer from within dramatic reality to an input posed from outside dramatic reality (Pendzik, 2008, p217). Further, therapeutic theatre has been a growing field and which is an approach that involves a therapeutic development of a play and its presentation in front of an audience (Pendzik, 2008). It is defined as the therapeutic development of a play in which the roles are established with therapeutic goals in mind; the whole process of play production is, in fact, a form of group psychotherapy; it is all facilitated by a therapist skilled in drama; and finally the play must be performed for a public audience (Snow, DAmico, Tanguay, 2003, p73). However, according to Robert J. Landy, though the field of drama therapy has been growing by the numbers, university-based training programs in the USA are inadequate (Landy, 2006). This trend could be an indicator of a potential consequent decline in the study of this field. This paper aims to encourage a positive shift from such a trend and bring about a focus on an increasing awareness and attestation of the constructive relationship between Drama and emotional intelligence. Considering the significant research that has gone into the relationship between emotional well-being and the theatre arts, largely in the West, this study attempts to investigate the prevalence of a positive relationship between a thorough involvement in the Theatre Arts and emotional intelligence, among individuals residing in a theatre-active city in India. The study is conducted by means of a questionnaire that is based on the Emotional Intelligence Scale, as completed by a total of 120 individuals, all of whom reside in Bangalore, India, a city acclaimed for its active involvement in the theatre arts. Methodology Participants The study was conducted by means of a standardized questionnaire, viz. the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), as completed by a total of 80 individuals, all of whom reside in Bangalore, India, a city acclaimed for its active involvement in the theatre arts. Of these 80 individuals, 40 belong to the control group. This group consists of individuals who have not been exposed to the theatre arts. Of these 40 individuals, 20 belong to the age group of 20-25 years (M age-group= 21.5) while the rest belong to the age group of 30-35 years (M age-group= 32). The experimental group consists of 40 individuals who have been active members of theatre associations across the city. Of these 40 individuals, 20 belong to an age group of 30-35 years (M age-group=32.5); while the rest belong to an age-group of 20-25 years (M age-group=21.5). Ethical concerns were met with, as the participants were informed of the purpose of the study, were made to sign a consent form before participating in the study and were assured of confidentiality. Materials The questionnaire used was a standardized Emotional Intelligence Scale developed by Anukool Hyde, Upender Dhar Sanjyot Pethe, in the year 2001, published by Vedant Publications, Lucknow and consisted of 34 questions based on the Likert scale, in a way that the participant was asked to respond to each statement-question by choosing one of the five options- Strongle Agree, Agree, Uncertain, Disagree, Strongly Disagree. Design This study fundamentally deals with two variables which are involvement in the theatre arts and emotional intelligence, the dependent variable being emotional intelligence and the independent variable being involvement in theatre arts. Of the 80 individuals, 40 belonged to the control group, consisting of individuals who have not been exposed to the theatre arts. The experimental group consists of 40 individuals who have been active members of theatre associations across the city. Of these 40 individuals, 20 belong to an age group of 30-35years and have had experience in one or more of the various aspects of theatre such as acting, directing, story-telling, music, etc for a minimum of 10 plays; while the rest belong to an age-group of 20-25 years and have similarly participated in a minimum of 5 plays so far. This division of age groups was employed with an aim to represent a growth in the groups emotional intelligence. Procedure The experimental group was obtained at an auditioning program held by Evam, a leading dramatics association in Bangalore, when 40 individuals, some who were auditioning and some organizing, were approached to on a one to one basis, and made to fill out the EIS questionnaire each. Demographic details as their age, sex and experience in theatre were taken. The control group consisted of randomly selected individuals who reside Bangalore, and have had no experience of involvement in the theatre arts. They were similarly made to fill out the EIS, along with their respective corresponding details. The entire study was conducted in one city in an attempt to maintain a certain consistency in obtaining the results, and minimising any potential disparity. Results With the raw scores obtained, the statistical analysis that followed included finding out the mean, standard deviation, standard error of the difference between the means of two samples and employing of a non-parametric test as the Mann-Whitney U test. In the results obtained for the Mann-Whitney U test, the z values of sampling distribution of U an U, 2 and 5.68 respectively, were found to be significant at both 0.05 and 0.01 levels. The average mean for the experimental group was 138.67, and for the control group was 129.65. For the experimental group, the value of standard deviation was found to be 8.83. For the control group, the SD obtained was 1.11. In determining the significance of the difference between the two means of the two groups, the standard error obtained was 2.10, for which the z value was found to be 4.29. Thus, the computed z value was found to be significant at both 1% and 5% significance levels. Further, the Mann-Whitney U test was employed to the subgroups under the experimental group in order to show a positive relation between the two. While the z value obtained for U was found to be 1.48, implying insignificant at 0.05 and 0.01 significance levels, the z value obtained for U was 7.85, which meant significant at both 0.05 as well as 0.01 significance levels. Discussion This paper has attempted fundamentally to study the symbiotic relationship between ones involvement in the theatre arts and their emotional intelligence, and how, with time and experience, an increasing involvement in the same renders one to develop greater EI, which in turn implies an increased accuracy in perceiving, appraising, managing and expressing emotions. As Cooper and Sawaf demonstrated in 1997, the characteristic manifests of a high EI include self-awareness, mood management, self motivation, empathy and managing relationships. Thus, through investigating the levels of emotional intelligence of the participating individuals, and inquiring into their experience in the theatre arts, the researcher has arrived at findings which show a positive relationship between the two variables. From examining the results obtained, some of the deductions are, that young adults who involve in the theatre arts as drama (acting), music, story-telling, and direction, tend to have a high emoti onal intelligence as compared to young adults who do not engage in any of the theatre arts; and that with time and experience these individuals could possibly have a propensity to a consistent growth in their EI, again, as compared to individuals of their age, who have had no inclination towards the theatre arts. These two findings could further imply that these individuals would be likely to have more rewarding, productive and successful lives. One more supposition which could be drawn from the results of this study is that these individuals could be liable to do better coping with the stress and setbacks, implying a lowered risk of heart disease, anxiety attacks, psychological distress, sleep problems, high blood pressure, poor immune function, alcoholism, etc (Mikolajczack, Luminet, Menil, 2006; Hunt, Evans, 2002; Trinidad, Johnson, 2000). However, there are some probable challenges that can be posed to these conclusions. The entire study was based in one single city, and the cha llenge in this case is that the theatre-culture may vary from city to city, just as from theatre-group to theatre-group. Therefore, generalizing the results would have to be limited only to the city where the study was conducted. Further, the study did not consider the role gender could play in the relationship between ones EI and their involvement in the theatre arts, as there was no categorization of the two sexes while conducting the study. This could, in fact, entail future experiment on whether gender plays a role in the development of EI, by way of thorough involvement in the theatre arts. Additionally, the researcher has considered the theatre arts as a whole, comprising of its various aspects such as acting, music, story-telling, and direction. The participants of the study belonging to these categories were distributed unequally. Thus, the results obtained in the study are required to be considered generically and cannot be taken into account categorically. Probably, furthe r research could be carried out to study the individual aspects, such as acting, alone, for example, and studying the aspects relationship with the participants emotional intelligence. One possible source of error and an intervening variable could have been the environment of administering the test and the mental set of the participant while filling out the questionnaire. It must be noted that the study was conducted at an auditioning program of a theatre group and that most of the participants of the study had only just finished their turn at the audition. It can be assumed that the mental set of the participant at this stage, could have possibly affected his or her responses in the test. In other words, the participants perception of his or her own performance at the audition, which could either have been positive and affirmative or negative and uncertain of his or her chances to be successful in the attempted task, is likely to have influenced the responses he or she provided in the Emotional Intelligence Scale. A possible remedy for this, to neutralize the effects of the performance at the audition, could be that the researcher could provide the participant with a time-gap of approximately half an hour, following which, the test could be administered, assuming that consequently, the participant is less likely to be influenced by the audition-performance while responding to the given test. In conclusion, this study has successfully investigated the issue it primarily aimed to, and in spite of the potential challenges faced in the deduction of its findings, it has proved the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between ones involvement in the theatre arts and their emotional intelligence. The findings of the study entail further research in the vast area of psychological health and the creative arts, of which the theatre arts are an integral part, especially in India, as the current study was conducted with an aim to bring about an awareness in the Indian society, of the great advantages of the theatre arts and its positive relationship with psychological well-being.