Economic Theory and Application Essay

1. The following graph: (not able to recreate, but in the text), shows a firm with a kinked demand curve a. What assumption lies behind the shape of this demand curve? The kinked demand curve assumes that other firms will follow price decreases and will not follow price increases. For instance, in an oligopoly model, based on two demand curves that assumes that other firms will not match a firm’s price increases, but will match its price increases. The kinked demand curve model of oligopoly implies that oligopoly prices tend to be â€Å"sticky† and do not change as much as they would in other market structures given the assumptions that a firm is making about the behavior of its rival firms. Kinked demand was an initial attempt to explain sticky prices. It is an economic theory regarding oligopoly and monopolistic competition. b. Identify the firm’s profit-maximizing output and price. In Figure 9.1 in the textbook, the firm’s profit-maximizing output and price is when there is an increase in price over the average marginal cost (the difference between p1 and the point vertically down from there that cuts the MC curve) Profit maximization is the process by which a firm determines the price and output level that returns the greatest profit. There are several approaches to this definition. The total revenue total cost method relies on the fact that profit equals revenue minus cost, and the marginal revenue – marginal cost method is based on the fact that total profit in a perfectly competitive market reaches its maximum point where marginal revenue equals marginal cost. c. Use the graph to explain why the firm’s price is likely to remain the same, even if marginal costs change. If marginal costs increase or decrease within the discontinuous range of the marginal revenue curve, the point at which marginal revenue equals marginal cost will remain the same. Thus, price and output do not change, even though costs (and profits) are different. Marginal cost is the additional cost of producing an additional unit of output. Marginal cost shows the changes in costs as output changes. Total variable costs change as the level of output varies but total fixed costs are constant regardless the level of output. Therefore, total fixed costs do not influence the marginal costs of production and actually average fixed costs decreases continuously as more output is produced. Because total fixed cost is constant, average fixed cost must decline as output increases ad spreads the total fixed cost is constant over a larger number of units of output. Both average variable cost and average cost first decrease and then increase. 2. Some games of strategy are cooperative. One example is deciding which side of the road to drive on. It doesn’t matter which side it is, as long as everyone chooses the same side. Otherwise, everyone may get hurt.

Describing My Childhood Home Essays

Describing My Childhood Home Essays Describing My Childhood Home Essay Describing My Childhood Home Essay Essay Topic: Fun Home Quincy, Mass is where my childhood home stands Homes are places that people can go to for warmth, memories and comfort. My childhood home resides or stands in Quincy, MA. The home is full of comfort for me and my family. My home is your typical Cape Code style. It’s gray in color with Maroon shutters. There is a 2 car attached garage. Flowers, bushes and other landscape surround the house. The front living room window is a large bay window that allows a lot of sunlight into the home when the curtains are open. The large bay window allows you to see a lot of our neighborhood and people passing by as they are out for their daily stroll. Like all homes, my home contains a kitchen. The kitchen represents fond memories of my mom cooking large family dinners on Sundays and togetherness. One fond memory would be coming home from a ride around the neighborhood on my dirt bike and smelling the aroma of baking ham in the oven with a faint hint of freshly baked bread. Our kitchen was small, with one light on the ceiling. My mom complained a lot over the years about that one light in our kitchen. I’m not sure why, but it was never replaced to add more lighting options. Still to this day, that one light attached to the ceiling exists. The floor was covered by ceramic tile in an off white color and the walls were painted in a chocolate milk type of color. Remember, this is the 1970’s/1980’s when home decor was terrible. A large fork and spoon hung on one of our chocolate milk colored walls, as it did in many homes back then. It took a lot of time and effort to beg and plead my mom to switch out that spoon and fork for some more modern type of decor. Eventually she added some pictures that fit very well into the kitchen. Our kitchen held most of the memories of togetherness, but my room was my sanctuary. My room was upstairs along with 2 other rooms. I had the upstairs to myself since the other rooms were used as storage or for an occasional visitor. The walls in my room were a yellow in color with one wall covered in mock wood paneling. I hated that wall, I was not allowed to attach anything to it nor paint it, and I looked at it as a thorn in my side. When I was young, I spent a lot of time in my room, drawing, painting, playing my guitar and sometimes just day dreaming. As I grew older, the yellow painted walls were lined with child star pictures from magazines such as River Phoenix and Rob Lowe. My bed was a queen size bed with lots of pillows. I had a blue, white and gray comforter with matching sheets. In my world, my bed was the greatest; it was one big security blanket. I spent many days and afternoons daydreaming on my bed, along with an occasional nap or two. I had 2 windows in my room. One window I kept open a lot. I could hear and see my neighborhood street and watch for passing stray cats or even a raccoon or two. Many times I would lie on my bed and listen to the rain hitting the roof outside my window and I could smell that rain, that’s a great smell. Other nights I would fall asleep in my bed as a cool breeze flowed through my bedroom leaving the air a little crisp, but oh so comfortable. On winter days, I usually had the window closed, obvious reasons. I would lie on my bed drawing cartoon characters, listening to music, preferably Jimmy Hendrix’s or The Doors. I should have been born in the 60’s or a hippie in another life. I often fell asleep, just from being so comfortable and at peace in my room. My childhood home didn’t have much of a backyard, it was small. We had a deck that included benches and enough room to grill out and have family and friends over. My mom had lots of flower pots lining the deck and in the summer the flowers were in full bloom and you could smell them throughout the yard and if the windows were open or the patio door, the scents of the flowers would fill our house. On summer nights my friends and I would play basketball on our driveway. Some nights we would just sit around the yard and chat and make fun of each other. Laughing and joking around in the lush grass of our side yard and hoping my mom would bring us a snack. Sometimes we would even fall asleep in the 2 hammocks my dad had hung in our side yard. Swinging in the hammocks in the summer breeze listening to the quiet†¦..

Course work Essay Example

Course work Essay Example Course work Essay Course work Essay After considering other ponds to org at I choose Lily pond as there was little leaf litter compared to the natural ponds which made it easier to identify invertebrates in pond samples. Mayfly Nymphs are the invertebrates I choose to study as there is a generally high abundance in Lily pond therefore the changes in abundance in microcircuit can be seen more easily. Ephemerals nymph has very short life span as an adult that can last for a day or less than 30 minutes Figure 1 show the life cycle of Mayfly Nymphs. The adult Mayfly lays its eggs in the pond; the offspring enter the first stage when they hatch as Nymphs. The sub-imago stage shown in Figure 1 is the first flying stage [2] and the final stage is the adult stage in which Mayflies mate and then die. The Nymph stage last longer than the adult stage from months up to years [3]. This is because the adults do not eat and use the energy absorbed at the Nymph stage. The Mayfly Nymph shape varies according to the type of sub- species. Mayfly Nymphs have gills along their abdominal area which can be seen in Figure 2. They have three tails which can create a wave like movement allowing the Nymph to swim These are structural adaptations that enable he Mayfly Nymph to survive in a pond ecosystem. Mayfly nymph are usually vegetable feeders and many feed on algae [1]. Vegetation and algae are authors that are able to make complex molecules such as glucose through the process of photosynthesis. After loss of energy through respiration the total energy remaining is called net primary productivity. This energy is the available to herbivores such as the Mayfly Nymph. However not all of the energy will be transferred to the Mayfly as some of the plant material may not be digested Mayfly nymph have important role in the food chain which can be seen in Figure 3, as it provides a pathway for energy to be transferred across tropic levels. Figure 3 also shows some of the predators are carnivorous water beetles, Dragonfly Nymph, Water Boatman and Newts. Mayfly Nymphs in the pond live in different microcircuits. Microcircuits are smaller habitats with a larger one [5]. Figure 4 shows the different microcircuits found in a pond. The detritus is a microcircuit at the bottom c the pond where dead plants and animals are found.. Vegetation is a microcircuit that contains both Submergence and Emergent plants. Submergence vegetation is found below the surface of the water and the emergent vegetation is above the surface. Open water microcircuit can be described as an area which does not contain vegetation. The independent variable in my study was the type of microcircuit. My dependent variable was the abundance and size Of Mayfly Nymph. In my investigation will not be observing Mayfly Nymphs in the detritus microcircuit as the dependent variable was easier to compare as there is not as much dead plant material in the other microcircuit. Figure 4 shows areas I looked at during my investigation at Lily pond. Abundance of an organism is affected by both biotic and biotic factors in the ecosystem. Biotic factors are non-living part of an organisms habitat and the biotic factors are the living part [5]. Shelter is an biotic factor that can affect abundance as it may provide safety for an organism from predators; therefore they are more likely to survive and reproduce leading to a higher abundance of the organism. There is more shelter in the vegetation in the leaves of the plants so I may find a higher abundance of Mayfly Nymph there. Another reason the abundance of Mayfly Nymph may be higher in vegetation s because the vegetation provides food for the Mayfly Nymph. However there may not be any difference in abundance in open water and vegetation as Mayfly Nymphs are opportunistic generalists [2] and may eat the plant particles and leaf litter in the open water. Temperature off microcircuit also affects the abundance of Mayfly Nymphs In each microcircuit. This is because the enzyme activities of the body increases as temperature increases resulting in faster metabolic reactions and growth of an organism. The life cycle of the Nymph will be shorter at a higher temperature and they will produce faster therefore the abundance will increase. I will measure the temperature of each microcircuit in order to see if it may have significant effect on the dependent variable. However it may not have a significant effect as water has a high specific heat capacity so increase in heat may not affect the overall temperature of the pond [6]. Mayfly Nymph are sensitive to the amount of oxygen dissolved in water, this is a reason why it is sometimes used as an indicator species to see the amount of pollution of a pond will measure the amount of oxygen dissolved in each microcircuit. Again the abundance of Mayfly Nymph may be greater in the vegetation as plants photosynthesis and release oxygen as a by product therefore the concentration will be higher than in open water. Open water also has leaf litter which may have decomposing bacteria breaking it down however that use of oxygen when they respire. Planning Null hypothesis: There will be no difference In abundance of Mayfly Nymphs in Vegetation than the Open water microcircuit. Working hypothesis: The abundance of Mayfly Nymph will be greater in the Vegetation microcircuit. Risk assessment Key Likelihood score (L) unlikely to occur very rarely but only rarely sometimes Likely to occur often Severity scores (S) 1. Highly 1 . Slight inconvenience 2. May occur but 2. Minor injury requiring first aid 3. Does occur 3. Medicaid attention needed 4. Occurs 4. Major injury leading to hospitalizing 5. 5. Fatal or serious injury leading to disability Hazard and outcome Likelihood (L) severity (S) Risk (LOS) Wet soil- could slip and fall which lead to injury 3 9 Being too close to pond edge- could fall into pond. The water is deep so danger Of drowning 2 6 Water borne diseases- such as wells disease 5 The first hazard on the table can be minimized by being more careful not to spill water on the soil. There are signs around the pond such as the one shown in figure 5, which are reminder to not to be too near to the edge of the pond at all time. This will help reduce the likelihood of falling into the pond. The last hazard has a severity of 5 therefore there should be good measures taken to reduce the chance of getting Water borne disease. I have covered any cuts I had on my hands with plasters. I have also used gloves when handling pond water so that my hands are not in contact with contaminated eater. Method collected data about the abundance using the equipment in Figure 6. Method for measuring abundance of Mayfly Nymphs: I will use a stratified sample in which I will choose the locations in the pond that IS representative of my independent variable. One location will be an open water microcircuit and the other that will be a vegetation microcircuit. For each microcircuit will use the following method: will half fill a tray with pond water; this is for the invertebrates to be placed in. I will also fill two pots with pond water. After I will use a net to sweep the area of the pond to collect he invertebrates. I will ensure that I use a figure 8 movement when am sweeping to ensure that less invertebrates are lost than compared to if I sweep only in one direction. The net will then be upturned onto the tray and I will pour the content of one of the pots on to the net. This is to stop invertebrates remaining on the net. If there is any trapped inside the net will use the plastic spoon to carefully to remove them and put them in the tray. Then will use the plastic spoon to remove the Mayfly Nymphs from the tray into the other filled pot. I will count the Nymphs in the sun in order to see hem more clearly and record the results. Method for measuring control variables: To measure the pH will collect pond water from each microcircuit inside sample containers. Will dip pH strips inside each container and remove it after 5 seconds. I will then leave it for 2 minutes and Compare the results against a reference sheet such as the one shown in figure 7. Oxygen concentration of pond water will be measured using oxygen meter. However the oxygen meter was unavailable therefore resorted to using secondary data for oxygen concentration in open water and vegetation (reference tutor). The temperature of each microcircuit will be measure using a thermometer which will be dipped into the pond and waiting for around 40 seconds to be more certain Of the reading. Record the reading on the thermometer. The magnifying pot and CACM ruler shown in figure 10 will be used to measure to the size of the Mayfly Nymph. I will put some water from the pond into the pot and place one Mayfly Nymph inside. The magnifying pot has a grid on the bottom with MIM squares. The ruler will be used to measure the length of the Mayfly Nymph with aid of the squares on the magnifying pot.

MILITARY SECURITY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MILITARY SECURITY - Essay Example Both these military engagements are more similar to each other than to conventional warfare; once the bases are established in a foreign nation, a guerrilla war usually ensues much similar to a local insurgency. Military security can further be categorized in respect of its needs in and outside a military base. This categorization is based on the security dynamics of defending a stronghold and escorting a moving vehicle, crowd or even protecting civilian infrastructure. Both are essential for a military force to dominate; having a secure military base is not enough for a military to be considered successful when it is being harassed by a much smaller force in hit and run attacks. Bloody, city wide, offensives often cause millions to displace. Though this helps secure the city, the consequences are not pleasant for the security in the long term. Once the population returns to the war struck region, it is easy for the insurgents to mix up in the civilian population to infiltrate. This is a significant security challenge for the military. Wadhams reports in The Cincinnati Post, in 2004, of an insurgent infiltrating a fully guarded US security base that was protected by barbed wires and blast walls at Mosul and setting of one of the deadliest explosions. Under such circumstances, security measures often keep on changing to meet the dynamic needs. Adaptability is an essential in ‘fluid situations’, 1st Sgt. Steve Valley is reported to have said in the same report. Suicide attacks change the whole nature of security dynamics as the attacker aims to kill himself in the attack. For the conventional and nuclear warfare, the security of the personnel and equipment is foreseeable but for terrorist attacks, knowing what the enemy is capable of is solely dependent upon previous encounters and intelligence. Pappalardo (2004) reports in â€Å"National Defense† about US military as bases being equipped with chemical and biological detectors as a precaution against attacks from weapons of mass destruction. Security of military bases in the current situation is much sophisticated, especially when it comes to the smaller installations; they rely on first responders and outside help unlike the major ones which have coordination with the local authorities, be it in an occupied territory or in the home country. As the requirement puts it, smaller bases are much more in number and raise the need for sufficient security for undisrupted operations so that they can continue to operate in balance with survival and mission success. Kemp (2008) lists a series of security measures used in protecting the bases in his report on base protection in Armada International. With sufficiently trained personnel, the security measures can range from deploying simple sandbags, screens to disrupt direct line of sight, barriers and fortifications to all weather sensors, patrolling systems, anti personnel mines, counter rocket and mortar systems (C-Ram) and a com mand and control system. Intruder alarms and alertness is the key to defusing any grave situations in event of an attack. Dunigan (2011) highlights the peak utilization of private military security contractors in Victory for Hire: Private Security Companies' Impact on Military Effectiveness. This takes off the load of training and recruiting from the military and allows the military to focus

The Role of Knowledge Management and Human Resource Management in Research Paper

The Role of Knowledge Management and Human Resource Management in assisting the employees' replacement process - Research Paper Example Conclusions 22 References Appendices List of Abbreviations HRM: Human Resource Management KM: Knowledge Management IC: Intellectual Capital RBV: Resource-based-view 1. Introduction: Ulrich (1998) asserted that knowledge management through intellectual capital will be the basis for direct and indirect competitive advantage for organisations; and that successful organisations will be the ones that are most adept at attracting, developing and retaining individuals who can drive global organisation that is responsive for both its customers and the burgeoning opportunities of technology. Ulrich’s perspective on knowledge management and human resources management provide a strong foundation to understand contemporary organisations’ providence in sustaining their position in the global market. This paper will discuss the Ulrich perspective in depth and to show the link between the role of both Human Recourse Management and Knowledge Management in sustaining the competitive adv antage of organisations through knowledge workers. 2. What is Intellectual Capital: Ulrich (1998) emphasizes the ability to attract, develop and retain individuals that can run organisations at global levels while exploiting technological advancements for achieving and sustaining success. This is possible by building intellectual capital, which the Business Dictionary explains as the collective knowledge of individuals in an organisation or society, which can be used to produce wealth, multiple output of physical assets, gain competitive advantage, and/or to enhance value of other types of capital including customer capital, human capital, intellectual property, and structural capital (Skiba & Dulong, 2010; p.264). Human capital constitutes the knowledge gained by employees through specific activities that result in learning and innovation (Edvinsson and Malone 1997). Overall, Nahapiet and Ghoshal (1998; p.245) regard IC as â€Å"a valuable resource and a capability for action base d in knowledge.† Moreover, they regard IC of greater value compared to other organisational assets. According to them, IC operates in two dimensions, first based on types of knowledge; secondly, levels of analysis in knowledge and knowing. From the types of knowledge perspective, its classification into tacit and explicit knowledge by Polanyi (1967) stands good in organisational contexts. Intellectual capital is the hidden value of the organisation, and closely linked to Knowledge core processes such as acquisition, codification, dissemination, development and application (Davis, 2009). Establishment of this link between Knowledge core processes and IC requires an understanding of knowledge and its management in organisational contexts. 3. Knowledge and its management: Knowledge: Distinguishing from information and data, Lang (2001) identifies knowledge as a human creation that is embodied in mind, and argues that it cannot be delivered by systems or technology. A highly accep ted and notable classification of knowledge is that of Polanyi’s (1967) tacit and explicit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is that which is captured by an individual’s mindset and manifests through their actions. This knowledge can be acquired through interpersonal interaction (Lee & Choi, 2003). Explicit knowledge forms the formal and systematic knowledge which can be shared and communicated by codifying into manuals, procedures, rules etc (Nonaka & Konno, 1998; Stenmark, 2001). Explicit knowledge can be transferred to others in simpler manner than tacit

Art and Architecture of Africa-Identification of terms Assignment

Art and Architecture of Africa-Identification of terms - Assignment Example It was common with ancient Egypt. It came to use under the kingdom of pharaoh Sneferu (Crouch, 34). In architecture, zoomorphic architecture refers to architecture that, designs tend to build buildings in resemblance of animals. In other contexts, it pertains to deity or being conceived in the form of an animal. In abstract terms, it represents or uses animal forms. Bet Medhane is a name that revolves around the ability of a person to possess tools to become an original person with a highly creative approach. Therefore, it is essential in art as much as originality is. Verdite is the name given to the two types of green stones found in South Africa, which are used in curving sculptures (PALMER, 5). Ankh is also known as the key of life and was associated with ancient Egypt as a representative of eternal life. Afo-A-Komis a wooden sculpture that was curved as sacred sculpture among the Kom people one of the tribes found in Cameroon (Kostof, 46). Wattle and Daub, on the other hand, refers to a building material used in making walls. It is important in architecture as it involve woven lattice of wooden strips in making beautiful walls. A white lady is a female ghost who has been known to be seen in rural areas across the world and associated with a local tragedy (Begg, 35). It forms part of modern art in acting and stage show movies. Apedemak refe rs to a lion headed warrior god who was known as one of the gods of the Nubia among the Meroitic

Declaration of Independence Essay Example for Free

Declaration of Independence Essay Thomas Jefferson effectively uses anaphora and asyndeton to declare the separation of the British Colonies from British rule in the Declaration of Independence. The use of â€Å"We† in the Declaration of Independence represents the concrete will of the American People to take action in an effort to remedy the many grievances of the colonies against the British Crown. Thomas Jefferson incorporates the idea that the colonies were united in their cause: Independence from the British monarchy. The constant repetition of the anaphora becomes more and more serious until Jefferson declares, â€Å"We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and Hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind. † His emphasis on the fact that this document represents the will of the people to take actions immediately against King George III for denouncing their separation reinforces the colonies’ aspiration for their own independent country in the strongest way possible. As a united country, the United States is bound to have its own policy and way of government. Jefferson implies â€Å"that as Free and Independent states, they have full power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce† like any other independent state. The asyndeton stresses the contrasting ideas between a monarchial country and a democratic country; it helps to build the colonies as an ideal society in the eyes of the reader in an attempt to garner support from both the many intellectuals and politicians in Europe and the entirety of the population of the colonies. The goal was to obtain military and monetary support from abroad and loyalty at home by appealing to the readers’ sense of unity. The Declaration of Independence, a list of many grievances for independence, criticizes the British King’s imbalanced rule and policy over the American Colonies. Thomas Jefferson uses passion and logic devices to depict King George III as a corrupt leader among American Leaders and supporters. Jefferson states that the king â€Å"has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. † When Jefferson gets to this section of the declaration he lists out the many grievances of the colonials. However, he does not make a simple list. Instead, he uses repetition and extreme specificity to describe every crime committed. This not only makes the list seem longer, but also depict the King as a beast bullying his feeble victim. The over exaggeration of this line is essentially propaganda against the King, creating a common hatred of King George III among all the American people. The Declaration of Independence also logically discusses the King’s crime in the American Colonies. The King â€Å"has kept†¦standing armies without the consent of† it’s â€Å"legislatures† and â€Å"for Quartering large bodies of armed troops among† them. These logical accusations present the king as a common enemy among the American people and abroad. Jefferson appeals to both a reader’s logic and passion in vilifying King George III and fanning the flames of rebellion. He gives specific examples of the King’s crimes, while phrasing them in an extremely emotionally charged manner. A passionate idea forms when reading the declaration of independence, and it serves as the catalyst of an all out war for American Independence is the ignition of a all out war for America’s Independence.