Woolworths Financial Perfomance Essays

Woolworths Financial Perfomance Essays Woolworths Financial Perfomance Essay Woolworths Financial Perfomance Essay An analysis of Woolworth financial performance over the last two financial years show that the firm are improving their figures by raising or keeping their Liquidity, Gearing, Profitability or Efficiency consistent. This analysis can help provide insights on whether it is a smart choice to buy shares in Woolworth. Looking into the firms financial performance and proposed financial strategy an interpretation can be made on the risk and reliability of investing in Woolworth. Liquidity matches with the capability of companies to deal with short-term cash acquirement. The risk involved in investing into a company with low liquidity levels is that the business may experience cash flow problems. The inability for e. G. Woolworth not being able to pay their short-term liabilities could then later result in Woolworth becoming insolvent, meaning they are unable to pay debts altogether when they fall due. If Woolworth were unable to pay these debts, this would mean they would have to borrow money, which would affect (deteriorate) their profitability levels. With lower revenue, the WOW share price will not give their investors as much turn meaning not as many people will invest in Woolworth. Based on the financial report of Woolworth, It can be seen that Woolworth liquidity levels have risen consistently made sure they avoid the problems listed above through their Multiple Earnings Streams meaning they always have a consistent cash flow. Although firmly based in the retail sectors, Woolworth has multiple income streams that allow the company overall to continue to perform. In the worst of times, people always have to eat, so combined with Woolworth discounting business model, this earnings stream should perform reasonably well no matter what happens. Woolworth also operates discount department stores, consumer electronics outlets, as well as home improvement and hardware outlets such as Big W, Dan Murphys (directors report 2013). The retail nature of the business also means mainly cash sales so they business always have a source of cash flow coming into company. Woolworth have a steady rate of liquidity meaning they shouldnt have to deal with a cash flow problem allowing their profitability levels to reach their potential and also allowing their share price to continue rising. This share is definitely reliable because the company have cured ways to avoid any liquidity problems so that shareholders can receive maximum dividends. The profitability of the business is essential in deciding whether or not to invest in shares in the business. The company has a responsibility to provide maximum profits to shareholders. Woolworth have financial priorities such as acting on their portfolio to maximize shareholder value, maintaining their track record of building new growth businesses and putting in place the enablers for a new era of growth. They focus heavily on satisfying their shareholders. The chief executive of Woolworth Grant OBrien has proposed a new financial strategy. According to his statements, Woolworth plans to open 39 new supermarkets, seven new BIG Was and 15 new Masters Home Improvement stores before the end of the financial year. (http:// growth-strategy. HTML) This means more sources of income and profits. Growth is essential because the more the business is growing, the more the value of the share will rise because of capital gains which then leads to profit for the shareholders that had the shares before the growth period that sees share prices rise. Then the business must distribute the dividends to its shareholders. From there the shareholder must assess the stability of the share to hold its high price and it becomes a case of return vs Risk. The continuous growth of the Woolworth is clearly evident. This is extremely beneficial for investors as growth is the biggest driver of stock price. From analyzing Woolworth financial performance it is evident that they have kept a steady profitability rate of 26% over the past two financial years. An additional 1. Million customers on average every week came through our doors in the quarter. This drove increases in market share and basket size in our Australian Food and Liquor business, which recorded a 4. 5 per cent increase in sales, (Chief executive Grant OBrien GM). Through the evidence of satisfactory and consistent growth Woolworth achieve, buying shares in Woolworth at the right price would be a good choice because their continuous growth always ends up in more profit for the shareholders because their share value will continue rising. Teens those funds that have been supplied by the owners (equity) and those, which have been, borrowed debt. The higher the gearing levels of a business level are meaning the more risk an investor makes when buying shares but also a greater hence of making larger amounts of profits. When observing Woolworth balance sheet statistics from 2012 to 2013 it can be seen that there has been 0. 1% deterioration in their gearing levels from 1. 6 down to 1. 5 percent (Woolworth balance sheet 12-13). These gearing levels are relatively manageable meaning that there is low risk in investing in their shares because the company maintains a steady level of growth and profits meaning there share value cannot fluctuate too much because their financial performance is almost predictable so there isnt a high level of risk when investing in their company. If Woolworth choose to raise the leverage levels they can use equity to generate funds so that the business can distribute shares amongst its shareholders (new issues, rights issues, placements, share purchase price), which will result to a constant cash flow into the business. They may choose to do this so that the company can resolve liquidity problems as the business is constantly receiving capital to pay debts as they fall due to. This can then go on to resolve profitability problems. Investing in shares with Woolworth would not be overall a major risk but you wont be making as much profit as fast. These shares are definitely good for a slow and steady profit so I would invest in Woolworth shares. In conclusion, through the analysis of Woolworth financial performance over two financial years and examining their financial strategies, I think Woolworth have definitely found ways to achieve their objective of maximizing shareholder profits because they have kept consistent and keep improving in their yearly balance sheets and income statements. They also have financial strategies in place that will always support and help the share prices to reach their full potential so that investors will chive a steady and good amount of dividends from the company so I would definitely buy shares in Woolworth.

The Chemical Composition of Rubbing Alcohol

The Chemical Composition of Rubbing Alcohol One of the types of alcohol you can buy over the counter is rubbing alcohol, which is used for disinfection and may be applied to the skin to produce a cooling effect. Do you know the chemical composition of rubbing alcohol? It is a mixture of denatured alcohol, water, and agents added to make the alcohol unpalatable to drink. It may also include colorants. There are two common types of rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol Most rubbing alcohol is made from isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol in water. It is common to find isopropyl rubbing alcohol at concentrations from 68% alcohol in water up to 99% alcohol in water. The 70% rubbing alcohol is highly effective as a disinfectant. Additives make this alcohol bitter-tasting, to try to prevent people from drinking it. Isopropyl alcohol is toxic, in part because the body metabolizes it into acetone. Drinking this alcohol can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, central nervous system depression, organ damage, and potentially coma or death. Ethyl Alcohol Rubbing Alcohol The other type of rubbing alcohol consists of 97.5-100% denatured ethyl alcohol or ethanol with water. Ethyl alcohol is naturally less toxic than isopropyl alcohol. In fact, it is the alcohol that naturally occurs in wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages. However, the alcohol is denatured or made undrinkable in rubbing alcohol, both to control its use as an intoxicant and because the alcohol has not been purified to make it safe to drink. In fact, in the US, additives make it as toxic as isopropyl alcohol. Rubbing Alcohol in the UK In the United Kingdom, rubbing alcohol goes by the name surgical spirit. The formulation consists of a mixture of ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. Rubbing Alcohol in the US In the United States, rubbing alcohol made using ethanol must conform to Formula 23-H, which specifies it consists of 100 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol, 8 parts by volume of acetone, and 1.5 parts by volume of methyl isobutyl ketone (MSDS sheet). The remainder of the composition includes water and denaturants and may include colorants and perfume oils. Rubbing alcohol made using isopropanol is regulated to contains at least 355 mg of sucrose octaacetate (MSDS sheet) and 1.40 mg of denatonium benzoate per 100 ml volume. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol also contains water, stabilizer and may contain colorants. Rubbing Alcohol Toxicity All rubbing alcohol manufactured in the US is toxic to ingest or  inhale and can cause excessively dry skin if used often. In fact, if you read the product label, youll see there is a warning against most of the common uses of rubbing alcohol. All types of rubbing alcohol, regardless of their country of origin, are flammable. Formulations closer to 70% are less likely to catch fire than rubbing alcohol that contains a higher percentage of alcohol.

Cuture deferences and debates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Cuture deferences and debates - Essay Example Focusing on the negative effects of social media to society, there is the issue of formation of groups in websites such as facebook where people motivate each other to carry out certain activities that affect the society negatively. This is from the fact that these negative ideas are spread from one person to another through the sites and affect the society in a poor manner. Social networking also affects the society through the fact that these sites provide a place where people can meet and talk without necessarily visiting the other person. This has generated a character of laziness in this generation and thus young people do not even go out to look for employment opportunities to improve their living standards that would generally affect the society positively (Wit 43). This is from the fact that with a stable means of income, the rates of theft and armed robbery in the society goes down. Another major impact that social networking has had on society is through young children. In the contemporary world, it is quite normal to find a very young kid demonstrating his prowess in using the internet. If the parents do not show these kids appropriate values from a young age, they end up following all the activities that they see on the internet (Carr 142). A great example is a situation where a young person decides to go through tattooing of the entire body. Having tattoos is not a negative concept as long as the age is appropriate. However, having a young kid learn this from the internet may lead to him stealing from his mother or even other society members in an effort to get the money to go get a tattoo. Social networking through dating sites has also led to the end of marriages where spouses are caught cheating on each other through messages and other related means. This has affected the society negatively and without the appropriate action, the situation might escalate in the future. Despite the

Developmental Psychology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Developmental Psychology - Essay Example High-risk sexual behaviour may result from these and a combination of other factors. Unprotected sex, for instance, may lead to HIV/AIDs and other sexually transmitted diseases. An absence of any of the contraceptive methods may also lead to pregnancy for teen girls, It is estimated that one of every six sexually active teen girls becomes pregnant (Kail, 2008, p. 336). The book lists four factors that contribute to high-risk sexual behaviour. These are ignorance, illusion of invulnerability (when the adolescent feels that the sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy could not happen to her), lack of motivation (desiring to become pregnant for the wrong reasons), and lack of access (inability to secure contraceptives). Schools should be mandated to hold sexual education classes for their adolescent students. Students who get sexually promiscuous do so not solely because they have learned sex in school, but because of influences in mass media and other elements they are exposed to. In other words, sexual activity will occur with or without sex education classes. However, without knowing the biological reasons and ways of dealing with what they feel, students will be more at a loss as to how to protect themselves. What needs to be emphasized is that they should be responsible for their actions, and they have the choice to refuse to have sex even in the face of peer pressure. For sex education to be withheld from adolescents is not only irresponsible, but potentially dangerous for them. Drawing on material from the text, respond to the following questions. The text discusses the "myth" that adolescence is a time of storm and stress. This has been the popular view for many years. Discuss the authors conclusions. Do you agree with their view? What have been your own experiences regarding this issue, either yourself or as a parent? According to the authors, Kail & Cavanaugh, the rebellious teen is

Entrepreneur ship Essay Example for Free

Entrepreneur ship Essay Regardless the state of the country, one can realize that coffee is one of the most favorite products among American people. It has remained in the top positions for some decades. However, drinking coffee is not only the consumption of a product; it has become a daily activity. It is normal to hear this question when someone wants to meet up with one person: â€Å"do you want to get a coffee tomorrow and we can talk about? † Any excuse is good enough to get a cup of coffee. The beginning of the coffee industry dates back to the 1960’s, when a man named Alfreed Peet felt the inspiration to create the first gourmet coffee shop (Peet’s Coffee). That inspiration came, between other reasons, because he grew seeing his parents ‘coffee business (Peet’s Coffee). He was living in Holland and later in Indonesia. After that, he went to California where he thought he had the necessary knowledge to start his own business. By doing that, Peet started to produce a richer and more complex coffee that the available coffee at the market (Peet’s Coffee). Because of his marketing strategy, motivation through employees and resilience to fall, Alfreed Peet was one of the most innovative and creative entrepreneurs of coffee industry. Some people think that entrepreneurs are different from everyone else since they think these people were born with a special ability that nobody else has. However, these people are what they are because they learn from experience, including inconvenient experiences. Peet reached a great success because he did it. Despite this level of success, Peet can still became a better brand by introducing an aggressive advertising, worldwide expansion, and improving the pricing system. Peet had the features that best define an entrepreneur. First, he had the vision to open a shop in an unfamiliar market, the coffee market. Vision is a characteristic that most of the entrepreneurs have (Boone and Kurtz 608). Entrepreneurs do not fall depressed when people tell them that their business will not run successfully. Instead, they trust in their intuition and continue until they get what they want (Kelly and McGowen 92). Along with vision, Peet had passion about his coffee. He did not think in becoming rich or famous, but making the best coffee he could. He knew the importance of enjoying the process rather than thinking about the outcome. Moreover, he had enough motivation to start his business and offer the best product and service. This is the most important factor that one person must have to get anything in his or her life. Some people do not pay enough attention to how important the motivation is to succeed in any field. When one is motivated, it is much easier to reach any goal. Time does not seem to go by when one feels a motivational force inside him. Furthermore, the motivation makes one enjoy whatever he or she is doing. Then, along with this enjoyment, the results come without the sense of effort. â€Å"Motivation is important simply because it allows you as a leader to meet and even exceed your own organizational goals† (â€Å"importance†). However, motivation is not enough if one does not spend time working. For this reason, Peet knew that dedication was important if he wanted to be successful in the coffee industry. He did not believe in luck, but in causality. Another reason why he was a successful entrepreneur was that he wanted to see the growth of his family? s coffee business. He wanted to continue what was started decades ago. Finally, the word â€Å"commitment†. To Peet, it meant to be persistence. If he wanted his dream to become a reality, he had to overcome big obstacles. It meant never giving up and to being congruent by taking action instead of just talking. Peet? s coffee should be an admired company because of its behavior towards employees and customers. Peet? s makes an effort in having a good workplace where employees must be prepared to create the great coffee that customers like (Peet’s Coffee). It has been proven that the performance of the employees is greater when they are in a comfortable and attractive environment. Moreover, Peet knows the importance of making his employees feel well. An employer should not only think of the employees as part of the company, but should also take into consideration their opinions and complaints. â€Å"Democratic leadership ordinarily produces higher member satisfaction and morale. It also results in higher quality decisions when members have as much or more knowledge than the leader regarding a particular problem† (Sharpe). The results of a company depend on the performance of the employees. Espinosa states that an important step is â€Å"to be a positive model as a leader. You’re supposed to be a good example for your members to emulate, and a person worth respecting. † Good team work is an essential part of any job because the best results are achieved when everybody goes in the same direction. Moreover, motivation is crucial to push people to get their goals. â€Å"Democratic leaders involve members in decision making either by reaching consensus or by using parliamentary procedure. They pursue open, trusting, follower-oriented relationships† (Sharpe). The relationship between Peet and his customers has also been excellent during the time that Peet’s coffee has existed. (Peet’s Coffee). This relationship is passed from parents to their children and grandchildren and it seems to be continuing for a long time. Besides, Peet’s company has developed different economic and education programs in order to collaborate with the growth of the countries that provide beans and leaves for his coffee (Peet’s Coffee). To summarize, Alfreed puts the emphasis on being a big family who plays on the same team. Every member of the team has different tasks to do in order to reach the same goals for Peet’s coffee, which are to make a profit, offer an excellent service to the clients, and of course, to enjoy while doing it. Peet knows that the world has changed in the last decades; therefore, he has adapted to the marketing changes along these years. At the beginning of his expansion, Peet started in a local place where the coffee market was becoming more popular. At that time, the marketing concept changed and the business’ owners started to offer the goods and services that their clients demanded in a higher quality than their competitors (Boone and Kurtz 380-381). Thus, Peet wanted to get customer satisfaction more than anything else. However, times changed and Peet had to adapt if he wanted to continue being successful. Peet spread out his stores to different states of the country such as California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington (Peet’s Coffee). Moreover, the last decades are characterized by some changes in marketing. Marketers are conscious of the importance of keeping loyal customers. Boone and Kurtz say that â€Å"acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than keeping an existing customer† (380-381). For this reason, Peet not only provided his products in his stores, but he started to look for ways that customers could find his products everywhere. Customers can now buy his products in different supermarkets around the country. For example, Safeway, Super-valu and Ralphs offer his products (Peet’s Coffee). In addition, Peet has seen how technology has grown in the last years and he has created his own website. This website gives the customers the opportunity to see, compare and buy Peet’s products. This website has also a service for customers and they can ask any question related to the products which will be answered by his representatives (Peet’s Coffee). Another important marketing feature of Peet’s business is that he is not only a retailer for his customers, but he is also a wholesaler for distributors of restaurants and food services (Peet’s Coffee). Even though Peet’s coffee is famous and well-known by coffee drinkers, there are some strategies that he should use in order to expand his business. First, a better advertising marketing strategy should be utilized if he wants to become more known around the country considering most people do not know about Peet’s coffee. However, when someone tastes this coffee they should ask themselves: How come I have never heard about this coffee? Peet should then invest money in publicizing his products. For instance, an advertisement on television and in a newspaper would make people arouse curiosity about this coffee. Second, it would be a good idea to emphasize the selling in the universities. Between students it is really popular to drink coffee, especially when exams are approaching. Peet should promote specific campaigns where executive go to different universities to publicize its products. The most important thing would be to franchise Peet’s stores in different universities. By doing this, students would start to know Peet’s coffee and it would be an excellent opportunity for Peet to grow his brand. Finally, in my opinion, the best strategy would be to expand his business to other countries of the world. Peet only has stores in the United States. In this situation, he can not expand his branch more than one point. He could expand his stores to other countries of the world because people like to try new brands. Even if one brand like Starbucks is successful around the world, people will still be attracted if a good product is offered to them. If Peet’s marketing strategy has worked in the United States, there is a high probability that it may work in other countries. Peet’s coffee would be successful around the world and it would keep in people minds for ever. Works Cited Boone, Louise E., and David L. Kurtz. Contemporary Business 12th Edition. Mason: Thomson, 2006. Print. Espinosa, Jerome. â€Å"How to effectively handle union negotiations. † Helium. com Helium 06 Oct. 2010. Web. 03 February. 2012. â€Å"Importance of Motivation. † Leadership-central. com Leadership-central. com, Web. 20 Jan. 2012. Kelly, Marce. , and McGowen, Jim. BSN3. Mason: South Western Cengage Learning, 2006. Print. Peet’s Coffee and Tea. Peet’s Coffee and Tea. PCT, Web. 14 Dec. 2011. Sharpe, Dave. â€Å"Choosing Leadership Styles. † Msuextension. org Montana State University Extension, Web. 20 Jan. 2012.

innate human violence Essays -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Phillip Zimbardo, Solomon Asch, Stanley Milgram, and Howard Zinn were/are all gifted psychologists that strived to understand the simple complexities of conformity within an individual’s specific societal structure. Within their own specific areas of psychology, every single one of them came to one simple conclusion that allowed each of them to become the quality of psychologist that they are today, and that is the understanding that the power of the situation can be stronger than the individual. So much so, that the events which occurred in the Abu Gharib prison, were just a matter of time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dr. Phillip Zimbardo, world renowned psychologist, current professor at Stanford University, and leader of the 1971 study of the ‘Stanford Prison Experiment’ said â€Å"When you put that set of horrendous work conditions and external factors together, it creates an evil barrel†¦You could put virtually anybody in it [evil barrel] and you’re going to get this kind of behavior† (Edge). Thirty years ago, Zimbardo began a study which demonstrated the power of a certain social situation that distorted the participants’ personal identities and morality in order to understand what specifically made those personalities conform the kind of behavior that most of them, swore they could never be. quote of individual who said that he could not be mean to any living thing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another p...

The Nature of Viruses

Viruses are sub-cellular agents of infection that must utilize the cellular machinery of bacteria, plants or animals in order to reproduce. Composed of a single strand of genetic material (DNA or RNA) encased in a protein capsid, a virus is too small to be seen by standard light microscopy; indeed, most are less than one hundredth the size of a bacterium. Specific proteins on the viral capsid attach to receptors on the host cell; this attachment process is essential to viral infectivity and explains why viruses may only infect the cells of certain species or may only infect certain cells or tissues within a given host species. While the infecting virus triggers an immune response in the host, some are capable of suppressing that response by infecting and killing cells that control immunity (e. g. HIV attacks lymphocytes). In addition, while most infected cells are destroyed by viral replication, some viruses enter a latent phase within cells, reactivating in the future to produce chronic or relapsing infections. Many viruses use specific carriers (known as vectors) such as mosquitoes, ticks, bats and rodents that transmit the virus to a susceptible host while others are spread between individuals via blood contact or through respiratory, intestinal or sexual secretions. Of special concern is the fact that mutations within the viral genome may allow viruses to skip from one host (e. g. birds, swine, monkeys) to another (e. g. humans), unleashing pandemics. Many common human infections are produced by viruses; these include the common cold, influenza, mononucleosis, herpes infections (including shingles), viral hepatitis (A, B, C and others), HIV, viral gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, viral pneumonia, encephalitis, viral meningitis and viral infections of the heart, including pericarditis and myocarditis. While viruses do not respond to antibiotics, specific antiviral agents may control (though not cure) chronic disease (such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) or may modify the severity of acute infection (as in influenza and herpes infections). However, in most viral infections, treatment is, for now, purely symptomatic and supportive. On the other hand, vaccines are capable of preventing some viral infections (e. g. herpes simplex, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, Hepatitis B) or reducing the severity of an acute infection (e. g. influenza). Beyond the acute or chronic illness that they produce, some viral infections (such and Hepatitis C and certain strains of herpes simplex) are known to be precursors of malignancy. Finally, many researchers suspect that viruses play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and autoimmune disorders. ttp://naturesblog. blogspot. com/2013/01/the-nature-of-viruses. html The Nature of Viruses Viruses exist in two different states, the extracellular infectious particle or virion and the intracellular state consisting of viral nucleic acid. The capsid may be a polyhedron or a helix, or a combination of both (in some phages). Viruses are infective micro ¬o rganisms that show several differences from typical microbial cells. 1. Size. The size range of viruses is from about 20 to 300 nm. On the whole, viruses are much smaller than bacteria. Most animal viruses and all plant viruses and phages are invisible under the light microscope. 2. Simple structure. Viruses have very simple structures. The simplest viruses are nucleoprotein particles consisting of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein capsid. In this respect they differ from typical cells which arc made up) of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nuc1eicacids. The more complex viruses contain lipids and carbohydrates in addition to proteins and nucleic acids, e. g. the enveloped viruses 3. Absence of cellular structure. Viruses do not have any cytoplasm, and thus cytoplasmic organelles like mitochondria, Golgi complexes, lysosomes, ribosomes, etc. , are absent. They do not have any limiting cell membrane. They utilize the ribosomes of the host cell for protein synthesis during reproduction. 4. No independent metabolism. Viruses cannot multiply outside a living cell. No virus has been cultivated in a cell-free medium. Viruses do not have an independent metabolism. They are metabo ¬lically inactive outside the host cell because they do not posses enzyme systems and protein synthesis machinery. Viral nucleic acid replicates by utilizing the protein synthesis machinery of the host. It codes for the synthesis of a limited number of viral proteins, including the subunits or capsomeres of the capsid, the tail protein and some enzymes concerned Viruses have only one nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA. Typical cells have both DNA and RNA. Genomes of certain with the synthesis or the release of virions. 5. Nucleic acids. RNA viruses can be transcribed into complementary DNA strands in the infected host cells, e. g. Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV). Such RNA viruses are therefore also called RNA-DNA viruses. 6. Crystallization. Many of the smaller viruses can be crystallized, and thus behave like chemicals. 7. No growth and division. Viruses do not have the power of growth and division. A fully formed virus does not increase in, size by addition of new molecules. The virus itself cannot divide. Only its genetic material (RNA or DNA) is capable of reproduction and that too only in a host cell. It will thus be seen that viruses do not show all the characteris ¬tics of typical living organisms. They, however, possess two funda ¬mental characteristics of living systems. Firstly, they contain nucleic acid as their genetic material. The nucleic acid contains instructions for the structure and function of the virus. Secondly, they can reproduce themselves, even if only by using the host cells synthesis machinery. Viral genomes The nucleic acid comprising the genome may be single-stranded or double-stranded, & in a linear, circular or segmented configuration. Single-stranded virus genomes may be: †¢ positive (+)sense, i. e. of the same polarity (nucleotide sequence) as mRNA †¢ negative (-)sense Ambisense – a mixture of the two. N/B. Virus genomes range in size from approximately 3,200 nucleotides (nt) to approximately 1. 2 million base pairs Unlike the genomes of all cells, which are composed of DNA, virus genomes may contain their genetic information encoded in either DNA or RNA. Since viruses are obligate intracellular parasites only able to replicate inside the appropriate host cells, the genome must contain information encoded in a form which can be recognized & decoded by the particular type of cell parasitized. Thus, the genetic code employed by the virus must match or at least be recognized by the host organism. Similarly, the control signals which direct the expression of virus genes must be appropriate to the host. Many of the DNA viruses of eukaryotes closely resemble their host cells in terms of the biology of their genomes: Some DNA virus genomes are complexed with cellular histones to form a chromatin-like structure inside the virus particle. http://expertscolumn. com/content/nature-viruses http://www. mcb. uct. ac. za/tutorial/virorig. html Viral evolution Viral evolution is a subfield of evolutionary biology and virology that is specifically concerned with the evolution of viruses. Many viruses, in particular RNA viruses, have short generation times and relatively high mutation rates (on the order of one point mutation or more per genome per round of replication for RNA viruses). This elevated mutation rate, when combined with natural selection, allows viruses to quickly adapt to changes in their host environment. Viral evolution is an important aspect of the epidemiology of viral diseases such as influenza (influenza virus), AIDS (HIV), and hepatitis (e. . HCV). It also causes problems in the development of successful vaccines and antiviral drugs, as resistant mutations often appear within weeks or months after the beginning of the treatment. One of the main theoretical models to study viral evolution is the quasispecies model, as the viral quasispecies. | Origins Viruses are ancient. Studies at the molecular level have revealed relationships between viruses infecting organisms from each of the three domains of life, and viral proteins that pre-date the divergence of life and thus the last universal common ancestor. 1] This indicates that viruses emerged early in the evolution of life and existed before modern cells. [2] There are three classical hypotheses on the origins of viruses: Viruses may have once been small cells that parasitised larger cells (the degeneracy hypothesis[3][4] or reduction hypothesis[5]); some viruses may have evolved from bits of DNA or RNA that â€Å"escaped† from the genes of a larger organism (the vagrancy hypothesis[6] or escape hypothesis); or viruses could have evolved from complex molecules of protein and nucleic acid at the same time as cells first appeared on earth (the virus-first hypothesis). 5] None of these hypotheses was fully accepted: the regressive hypothesis did not explain why even the smallest of cellular parasites do not resemble viruses in any way. The escape hypothesis did not explain the complex capsids and other structures on virus particles. The virus-first hypothesis was quickly dismissed because it contravened the definition of viruses, in that they require host cells. [5] Virologists are, however, beginning to reconsider and re-evaluate all three hypotheses. [7][8] http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Viral_evolution Evolution Time-line of paleoviruses in the human lineage[9] Viruses do not form fossils in the traditional sense, because they are much smaller than the grains of sedimentary rocks that fossilize plants and animals. However, the genomes of many organism contain endogenous viral elements (EVEs). These DNA sequences are the remnants of ancient virus genes and genomes that ancestrally ‘invaded' the host germline. For example, the genomes of most vertebrate species contain hundreds to thousands of sequences derived from ancient retroviruses. These sequences are a valuable source of retrospective evidence about the evolutionary history of viruses, and have given birth to the science of paleovirology. 9] The evolutionary history of viruses can to some extent be inferred from analysis of contemporary viral genomes. The mutation rates for many viruses have been measured, and application of a molecular clock allows dates of divergence to be inferred. [10] Viruses evolve through changes in their DNA (or RNA), some quite rapidly, and the best adapted mutants quickly outnumber their less fit counterparts. In this sense their evolution is Darwinian, just like that of their host organisms. [11] The way viruses reproduce in their host cells makes them particularly susceptible to the genetic changes that help to drive their evolution. 12] The RNA viruses are especially prone to mutations. [13] In host cells there are mechanisms for correcting mistakes when DNA replicates and these kick in whenever cells divide. [13] These important mechanisms prevent potentially lethal mutations from being passed on to offspring. But these mechanisms do not work for RNA and when an RNA virus replicates in its host cell, changes in their genes are occasionally introduced in error, some of which are lethal. One virus part icle can produce millions of progeny viruses in just one cycle of replication, therefore the production of a few â€Å"dud† viruses is not a problem. Most mutations are â€Å"silent† and do not result in any obvious changes to the progeny viruses, but others confer advantages that increase the fitness of the viruses in the environment. These could be changes to the virus particles that disguise them so they are not identified by the cells of the immune system or changes that make antiviral drugs less effective. Both of these changes occur frequently with HIV. [14] Phylogenetic tree showing the relationships of morbilliviruses of different species[15] Many viruses (for example, influenza A virus) can â€Å"shuffle† their genes with other viruses when two similar strains infect the same cell. This phenomenon is called genetic shift, and is often the cause of new and more virulent strains appearing. Other viruses change more slowly as mutations in their genes gradually accumulate over time, a process known as genetic drift. [16] Through these mechanisms new viruses are constantly emerging and present a continuing challenge to attempts to control the diseases they cause. [17][18] Most species of viruses are now known to have common ancestors, and although the â€Å"virus first† hypothesis has yet to gain full acceptance, there is little doubt that the thousands of species of modern viruses have evolved from less numerous ancient ones. 19] The morbilliviruses, for example, are a group of closely related, but distinct viruses that infect a broad range of animals. The group includes measles virus, which infects humans and primates; canine distemper virus, which infects many animals including dogs, cats, bears, weasels and hyaenas; rinderpest, which infects cattle and buffalo; and other viruses of seals, porpoises and dolphins. 20] Although it not possible to prove which of these rapidly evolving viruses is the earliest, for such a closely related group of viruses to be found in such diverse hosts suggests a possible ancient common ancestor. [21] The Nature of Viruses Viruses are sub-cellular agents of infection that must utilize the cellular machinery of bacteria, plants or animals in order to reproduce. Composed of a single strand of genetic material (DNA or RNA) encased in a protein capsid, a virus is too small to be seen by standard light microscopy; indeed, most are less than one hundredth the size of a bacterium. Specific proteins on the viral capsid attach to receptors on the host cell; this attachment process is essential to viral infectivity and explains why viruses may only infect the cells of certain species or may only infect certain cells or tissues within a given host species. While the infecting virus triggers an immune response in the host, some are capable of suppressing that response by infecting and killing cells that control immunity (e. g. HIV attacks lymphocytes). In addition, while most infected cells are destroyed by viral replication, some viruses enter a latent phase within cells, reactivating in the future to produce chronic or relapsing infections. Many viruses use specific carriers (known as vectors) such as mosquitoes, ticks, bats and rodents that transmit the virus to a susceptible host while others are spread between individuals via blood contact or through respiratory, intestinal or sexual secretions. Of special concern is the fact that mutations within the viral genome may allow viruses to skip from one host (e. g. birds, swine, monkeys) to another (e. g. humans), unleashing pandemics. Many common human infections are produced by viruses; these include the common cold, influenza, mononucleosis, herpes infections (including shingles), viral hepatitis (A, B, C and others), HIV, viral gastroenteritis, conjunctivitis, viral pneumonia, encephalitis, viral meningitis and viral infections of the heart, including pericarditis and myocarditis. While viruses do not respond to antibiotics, specific antiviral agents may control (though not cure) chronic disease (such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C) or may modify the severity of acute infection (as in influenza and herpes infections). However, in most viral infections, treatment is, for now, purely symptomatic and supportive. On the other hand, vaccines are capable of preventing some viral infections (e. g. erpes simplex, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, Hepatitis B) or reducing the severity of an acute infection (e. g. influenza). Beyond the acute or chronic illness that they produce, some viral infections (such and Hepatitis C and certain strains of herpes simplex) are known to be precursors of malignancy. Finally, many researchers suspect that viruses play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and autoimmune disorders. development of viruses (images)

Flame Tests Lab Report Essay

The purpose of this lab was to see what colors are characteristic of particular metallic ions in a flame test and use their characteristic color to identify other elements. Another purpose is to understand how fireworks work. This experiment will help one understand how a flame test is performed and that every metal has a unique bright line spectra. This means a bright line spectra can be used to identify any element. This information can be used to identify elements in space to tell whether a planet has oxygen on it or not. If one can tell if a planet has oxygen on it based on its bright line spectra, research could be done to tell if people can live on the planet or not. This would be a huge advance in science if it was possible to tell if people can live on other planets by knowing the elements on the other planets. This would solve the problem of the world becoming over-populated and would help prevent the spread of disease. Introduction- The purpose of this lab was to see what colors are characteristic of particular metallic ions in a flame test and use their characteristic color to identify other elements. Another purpose is to understand how fireworks work. A flame test is used to identify certain metals in a compound or single element.1 When an electron jumps up to a higher energy state the element is in its excited state. Elements are only in their excited for a brief moment. When the electron moves back down to a lower energy state, it emits light and produce a flame color.1 Sometimes there is more than one flame color because an electron might go from the 4s orbital then go to the 2p orbital which means two colors will be produced. Every element emits a different flame color or colors. These colors can be put on a bright line spectra which shows every color that the element produces in a flame test.1 Each element has a unique bright line spectra and thus can be identified by using its bright line spectra. When the element is in a compound, it can be burned to produce the flame. The color of the flame corresponds with each element. When there is an unknown compound, the metal can be found by using previous data from previous tests. By looking at the color you can see if it matches any previous tests and possibly find the name of the metal. Flame tests can also be used to find the color of fireworks one wants to use. By using the metal that emits the color one wants in fireworks, one can get the desired color. This experiment will be conducted using the same spatula, the same Bunsen burner, the same kind of acid and nitrate bonded to every one of the metals. It will also be conducted with everyone in the lab using safety goggles and everyone wearing closed toed shoes. There are no relevant waste concerns in this lab This experiment will show that every element has a different bright line spectra and this can be used to identify elements in space or anywhere. It will also show that flame tests can be used to make certain colored fireworks. I predict that all of the metals tested will emit different colors of light. I also predict that all of the metals will emit a color in the visible spectrum. Materials- †¢Chemical Splash Goggles †¢Well Plate †¢Marker Pen †¢Barium Nitrate (Ba(NO3)2) †¢Copper Nitrate (Cu(NO3)2) †¢Strontium Nitrate (Sr(NO3)2) †¢Lithium Nitrate (Li(NO3)) †¢Potassium Nitrate (K(NO3)) †¢Sodium Chloride (NaCl) †¢Calcium Nitrate (Ca(NO3)2) †¢Nichrome wire loop †¢Beaker, 50-ml †¢Hydrochloric Acid †¢Lab Burner †¢Wash Bottle with distilled water †¢1 Unknown Solution Experimental- The safety equipment was put on. The spatula was cleaned off to make sure there is no residue on it. The Bunsen burner was set up and the flame was adjusted to the desired height. One of the samples was put on the  spatula and the formula of the salt solution was recorded into Table 1. The spatula with the salt solution was put over the flame. The color of the flame was recorded in table 1. The spatula was put in hydrochloric acid, then put into water, and then put over the flame to burn off any residue from the salt solution. This procedure was repeated for the other seven salt solutions and the one unknown solution. The equipment was cleaned off and put away at the end of the experiment Data- Table 1: Table 2: Table 2: Test of Unknown Solution Unknown Color K(NO3) Light Orange Results and Discussion- The data in table 1 shows that every metal tested emits a different color during a flame test. This happens because every metal has a different bright line spectra. Table 2 shows that you can identify a metal in a compound by using a flame test. The metal in the compound was identified by the light orange color seen during the flame test. Table 1 proves my hypothesis to be correct. Conclusion- The purpose of this lab was to see what colors are characteristic of particular metallic ions in a flame test and use their characteristic color to identify other elements. Another purpose was to understand how fireworks work. This experiment can help to identify elements in space to help scientists know whether a planet has oxygen or not. It can also help one determine what metal to use in fireworks to portray a certain color. The experiment was conducted by burning a salt and recording the color of the flame. This experiment showed that every metal emits a different color and this proves the hypothesis to be correct, that every metal emits a different color when put into a flame. This experiment also shows that a metal can be identified by looking at the color of the flame and matching it to previous data results. This also proves my hypothesis to be correct. Table 1 and Table 2  prove both of my hypotheses to be correct. More experiments can be done with machines to find the exact wavelengths of light for every element. If the exact wavelengths can be found, it would be easier to identify elements with a flame test. Possible sources of error in this experiment were that the nichrome wire may not have been fully cleaned off every time, the color might have looked different because of other light sources, and there could have been particles in the bottom of the Bunsen burner. Acknowledgments: The author of this paper thanks Union Springs High School for use of their facilities to conduct this experiment with.

A Short Comma Quiz

A Short Comma Quiz A Short Comma Quiz A Short Comma Quiz By Mark Nichol Here are five sentences that, through poor punctuation, lead readers astray. Determine how to punctuate them correctly, and then compare your solutions with the ones in the paragraph below each example. 1. â€Å"Now there’s a formula for disaster.† As written, this statement reads like a pitch to be followed by an exclamation point (or inflected as if there is one) in a commercial or an advertisement for a new product: a disaster formula. To correctly communicate that the sentence is a commentary on an ill-advised proposal, the introductory adverb should be set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma: â€Å"Now, there’s a formula for disaster.† (Of course, in context, the latter meaning will be clear, but the comma is still required; it’s a signal that the emphasis is on there. In the pitch, the speaker would emphasize now.) 2. â€Å"United States bombs hotel killing three journalists.† This newspaper headline conjures an image of a rampaging journalist-killing hotel halted, Godzilla-style, by the intervention of US bomber planes. What it means, however, is that US forces accidentally bombed a hotel, resulting in the deaths of three journalists. This meaning is clarified by the simple insertion of a sentence separating the clauses describing cause and effect: â€Å"United States bombs hotel, killing three journalists.† 3. â€Å"The next antiwar demonstration scheduled on April 7 may take aim at companies.† By omitting commas from this sentence, the writer implies that of a series of antiwar demonstrations being sequentially scheduled on April 7, the next one may focus its attention on companies. However, â€Å"scheduled on April 7† is intended as a parenthetical statement (one that could be omitted with no loss of sense), so it must be set off by commas: â€Å"The next antiwar demonstration, scheduled on April 7, may take aim at companies.† 4. â€Å"The corporation’s waterfront plan is criticized by the deputy attorney general who says it violates land-use laws.† This sentence prompts the same misunderstanding as the previous one: the implication that multiple things (or, in this case, people) exist when the writer intends to refer to only one. The false impression that of two or more deputy attorney generals, only one has voiced the stated criticism is eliminated by insertion of a comma: â€Å"The corporation’s waterfront plan is criticized by the deputy attorney general, who says it violates land-use laws.† 5. â€Å"You’ll get a coveted window card autographed by the cast and other memorabilia.† Readers of this sentence might believe that not only the cast but also other memorabilia will autograph the coveted window card. To clarify, however, that the memorabilia will not participate in the signing (but will be provided along with the card signed by the cast), a comma must be inserted; note, too, that I’ve replaced the simple conjunction and with plus, which helps distance the closing phrase from the rest of the sentence: â€Å"You’ll get a coveted window card autographed by the cast, plus other memorabilia.† (â€Å"As well as† would serve the same function.) Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Math or Maths?Does "Mr" Take a Period?Drama vs. Melodrama

Qualifier Words in English

Qualifier Words in English In English grammar, a  qualifier is a word or phrase  (such as very) that precedes an adjective or adverb, increasing or decreasing the quality signified by the word it modifies.   Here are some of the most common qualifiers in English (though a number of these words have other functions as well): very, quite, rather, somewhat, more, most, less, least, too, so, just, enough, indeed, still, almost, fairly, really, pretty, even, a bit, a little, a (whole) lot, a good deal, a great deal, kind of, sort of. Compare their usage with  intensifiers, which amplify what they modify and are adjectives or adverbs, and  degree adverbs, which can modify verbs and other modifiers. Some qualifiers have more limited usage contexts than others. In the third edition of English Grammar: A University Course, Angela Downing illustrates, using fairly:   Fairly  as a modifier indicates an almost large or reasonable degree of a quality (fairly accurate, fairly well-off). It can be used more easily with favourable and neutral adjectives than with strongly  unfavourable  ones, as with  fairly honest, fairly intelligent, fairly reasonable, but not  ?fairly dishonest, ?fairly foolish, ?fairly [sic] unreasonable: He seems to have a  fairly  good idea  of what he wants to do. (Routledge, 2014) Writing Advice An over-reliance on qualifiers is a sign of amateurish writing. To improve your writing, go through your text and find all the qualifiers. Take them out wherever you can. As needed, revise the sentences or sections relying heavily  on them to give more detail  and more specifics. Use better verbs in the sentences or description to show- rather than tell- whats going on. Then you wont even need the qualifiers, because the imagery or the argument will be painted much more thoroughly for the reader. Qualifiers have their place, Mignon Fogarty advises, but make sure theyre not just taking up space (Grammar Girl Presents the Ultimate Writing Guide for Students, 2011).   The famous writing book by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White has more strict advice:   Avoid the use of  qualifiers.  Rather, very, little, pretty- these are the leeches that infest the pond of prose, sucking the blood of words. The constant use of the adjective  little  (except to indicate size) is particularly debilitating; we should all try to do a little better, we should all be very watchful of this rule, for it is a rather important one, and we are pretty sure to violate it now and then. (The Elements of Style, 3rd ed. Macmillan, 1979) Qualifiers vs. Adverbs Qualifiers seem to work like adverbs- and theyll even be in the dictionary listed as such- but they differ slightly from your basic adverb.  Thomas P. Klammer and Muriel R. Schulz explained:   Traditional grammarians usually classified qualifiers as adverbs of degree, and at first glance, judging on the basis of meaning and function, this seems reasonable. Degree adverbs- like  completely, absolutely, extremely,  and  excessively- can fit into the same position as the prototype, and they have similar meanings.However, qualifiers are not true adverbs; they fail to fulfill several of the criteria for adverbs....First, qualifiers do not modify verbs....Second, with one or two exceptions, like  really  and  fairly, qualifiers do not have adverb derivational  suffixes. Third, qualifiers cannot be made  comparative  or  superlative....And fourth, qualifiers do not  intensify. (Analyzing English Grammar. Allyn and Bacon, 1992)

Personal Learning Journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Personal Learning Journal - Essay Example ce, for the tasks assigned to our group, we first determined all the realistic objectives to be achieved as recommended by Hammond, Keenye and Raiffa (2006). Through our leader, we identified the strengths and weaknesses of each team member which guided in the allocation of tasks based on the capabilities of each individual. This not only made the team more effective but also made everyone enjoy their tasks. This experience provided an opportunity for me to apply the Rational Model. Rational Decision-Making Model involves a cognitive process where each step follows a logical order from the step before. Being a cognitive process meant that we had to think through and weigh up and to compare in order to get the best possible results. The six steps in this model start with defining the problem, then identifying the decision criteria, allocating weights to the criteria, developing the alternatives, evaluating the alternatives and finally, selecting the best alternative (Eisenhardt, 1989) . However, the Rational Model assumes that the decision maker has a consistent system of preferences and is aware of all alternatives. The outcome will be completely rational and there will be no time constraints. This model clearly analyzes the experience of distribution of tasks within a group. As much as possible, our leader was well informed about all the team members because of the consultations that made him aware of the strengths and weaknesses of each member, thus helping in the easy and logical distribution of tasks. Another experience involves the forks challenge undertaken during lecture time. The game required us to model up a tall structure using forks. With a time span of 15 minutes, it was a difficult task. We conflicted on whether to build a square or triangle structure causing us to sub-divide into two smaller groups. However, after sometime, we realized that we could not come up with the tallest model without being united. Eventually, our group won, having agreed in