Human Communications Essay Example for Free

Human Communications Essay Everyone has a slightly different style of communicating this is one of the things that make every individual unique. As we know communication is a two-way process and effective communication requires everyone involved to be able to express their own thoughts and messages and to understand the communication of others. In a way it is our job to ensure that we find ways of communicating language needs, preferences can be quite wide ranging, someone may require an interpreter or signer or someone else may need communication to take place in a quite environment and at a slower pace. We had a little girl who’s first language was welsh and luckily I am fluent and was able to assist her a lot in communicating with others, also we now have a parent who has partial hearing loss and I ensure that the environment is quite when we talk. When working with adults, we can ask them directly how to accommodate communication or work out for ourselves that a person cannot speak English. My twins have a friend in school who is Turkish and their mother struggles with English, we communicate by using Google translate on our mobile phones. It is also important to establish a level of formality required as not everyone wants to be called by their first name, some will prefer to make appointments rather than just â€Å"turn up†. It is also useful to be aware that written communications can be daunting for some people, a home-setting link book is a good idea, but you must check that the parents or carer’s are comfortable with reading and writing. With children it can be challenging to decide the best way to communicate, for example babies and young children will still be developing speech and so talking alone will not work. This is why we use facial expression and gestures to point at things, so that a baby or toddlers are more likely to understand what we are trying to say. We also need to learn to interpret what a baby of toddler is trying to communicate when crying or what a toddler is trying to express when gesturing to some objects.

Comparison of Male and Female Hormones

Comparison of Male and Female Hormones Gonadal sex hormones also known as steroids, hormones or androgen and estrogen receptor interaction vertebrate steroids. The consequences are mediated by nuclear receptor mechanisms and slow the genome associated membrane receptors and signaling cascades through rapid non-genomic mechanisms. The term sex hormone nearly always is synonymous with sex steroids. Produce Natural sex steroid hormones (testis or ovary, performance), liver or adrenal glands, fat, or other organizations in the conversion of other hormones. Synthesis of sex steroid hormones There are also many synthetic sex steroids. Androgen often referred to as anabolic steroids. Estrogen and progestin contraceptive use synthetic hormones. Ethinyl estradiol is a semi-synthetic estrogen. Specific compounds, partial agonist activity of steroid receptors, so act like a natural steroid hormone, cell type, medical conditions, need for steroid treatment are in use, but if the whole body systemic effects of specific steroids are the only a desirable within certain limits.Species In many cases, two kinds of male steroid hormones and estrogen, testosterone, estradiol, this is the most important human derivatives, respectively. Other that sex hormones, androgen and estrogen, because in addition to the third category include progestagen. Natural progesterone is the most important is people progestagen. In general, the male hormones male hormone of consideration, because they have a masculine influence, while estrogen and progestagens female hormone, despite the different levels of different sex, but consider. Sex hormones, including: Male hormones: anabolic steroid androstenedione dehydroepiandrosterone dihydrotestosterone testosterone Estrogen: estradiol estriol estrone Progestagens: progesterone striker progesterone Androgen Also known as the male androgen hormones or testoids, any natural or synthetic compounds is a common term, usually steroid hormone, to stimulate the male hormone receptor or a combination of the development and maintenance of male characteristics in the control of the spine. Supporting male sex organs and male secondary sexual characteristics, including development activities. Androgen was first discovered in 1936. Reduction of male hormone precursors of anabolic steroids and all estrogens, the female sex hormone. First of all, the most famous is the male hormone testosterone. Androgen ablation as an effective treatment for prostate cancer may be used. Species A subset of the male hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, 19 carbon adrenal cortex, adrenal cortex adrenal (gland closed mesh band inner district) include a synthetic steroid, steroids, steroids or earlier, the weak feature, androstenedione dehydrogenation DHEA (DHEA), the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAs S), and are also included. In addition, testosterone, male hormones, including: (DHEA) Dehydroepiandrosterone: a steroid hormone production of cholesterol in the adrenal cortex. The main precursor of natural estrogens. Also known as dehydroepiandrosterone or dehydroandrosterone. (Andros) Androstenedione: A testicular androgens, adrenal steroids produced by the ovaries. The testosterone and other hormones androstenediones digestion conversion, which is the basic structure of estrone. As an athlete or fitness supplement androstenedione use has been banned in the International Olympic Committee and other sports organizations. Androstenediol: gonadotropin secretion by steroid metabolites are considered as the main regulatory body. DHEA: A chemical classification of androgen or progesterone during the creation of derivative products, but a minor seventh strength also affected masculinising testosterone. Plasma and urine of men and women, found that approximately the same number. (DHT) in the DHT: testosterone metabolites, and a more powerful male hormone testosterone, because it more closely than the androgen receptor. It is the manufacture of the adrenal cortex. Androgen Male development The formation of testis In mammalian development, ovarian or testicular gonad to become either the first time. In humans, about 4 weeks when the embryo is beginning gonadal mesoderm in the middle of the current adjacent to the development of kidney. About 6 weeks, the testis epithelium, gender lines, including developing countries and germ cells as they migrate to the gonads. In males, certain Y chromosome genes, including early bipotential gonad to testis, especially in the SRY gene conversion, male phenotype development control. The full development of the gonadal sex of the man climbing wires. Androgen production The development of Sertoli cells, epithelial cells derived from the mesoderm cells to form sperm sex string, which will be support acts. Small population of non-epithelial cells occurs during embryonic development of human renal tubular 8 weeks. This is the Leydig cells. Soon after, they separated Leydig cells begin to produce male hormones. Androgen As a paracrine Sertoli cells of androgen hormones are necessary to support sperm production. They also constitute the development of the penis and scrotum with men (to the male fetus). Under the influence of androgens, mesonephron remnants, Wolf tube, epididymis, vas deferens and seminal vesicle development. The action of androgen is a hormone from Sertoli cells (Mullerian inhibiting hormone) MIH, the fallopian tubes and other women in the male reproductive tract in the fetal Mà ¼llerian tissue to prevent the developing fetus. MIH and testicular androgen scrotum, so that normal movement cooperation. Spermatogenesis In adolescence, androgen, LH and FSH increase in production and hollow out the wires, so that seminiferous tubules and germ cells start to differentiate into sperm. In adulthood, testosterone and FSH collaborative features to support cell to support the production of sperm. Exogenous testosterone as a male contraceptive. Use of elevated androgen can suppress androgen production by the Leydig cells LH blocks the production of endogenous androgen levels. Since the local production of high levels of male testosterone hormone no Leydig cells, seminiferous tubule degeneration can lead to infertility. For this reason, many transdermal androgen patches applied to the scrotum. Inhibition of fat deposition More men than women are usually less adipose tissue. Some recent results show that the androgen signaling pathway potential of fat cells, fat cells by blocking the normal function of a one-stop support for lipids. In addition, androgen, not estrogen, ÃŽ ±, ÃŽ ² adrenergic receptors, and low growth adrenergic receptors, leading to increased levels of adrenaline / 2 ÃŽ ± receptor negative feedback, the lack of norepinephrine and adrenaline fat / norepinephrine acting on lipolysis induced by the lack of accumulation of ÃŽ ²-receptor. Muscle More women than men usually musculoskeletal. Androgens promote the growth of skeletal muscle cells, and even an integrated way to work in a variety of skeletal muscle cells work. To convey a type of muscle cell signaling leading to hormone is myoblasts. High levels of male hormones increase the expression of androgen receptor lead. Myoblast myotube fusion is a process, is the level of androgen receptor, is generated. Brain Circulating androgen levels affect human behavior because some neurons may be sensitive to steroids. Androgen levels of people involved and the regulation of aggression. In fact, in many species composition change in brain testosterone in rats and mice have the ability, and primates, including the construction of gender. However, those who determine the potential of androgen or estrogen into changes in neural anatomy dry a bit difficult, several reports have stressed that it can change the brain structure of male hormones, so that (U.S. female hormone, estrogen or other estrogen) a group of steroid compounds, the estrus cycle in the importance of the name, and as the main female hormones, their names / (breeding period of female mammals oistros projects) + general / = gonos produce. Estrogen oral contraceptives as part of a number of estrogen replacement therapy on postmenopausal women, women in the anti-hormone replacement therapy. Like all steroid hormones, estrogen easily diffuse throughout the cell membrane. Once inside the cell, and give them a combination of regulation of estrogen receptor expression in the activation of many genes. In addition, estrogen has been shown an activation of G protein-coupled receptor GPR30. Kind Steroid Three women in the natural estrogen estrone (E1) to estradiol (E2), and (estriol E3),. Estradiol (E2) a large non-pregnant women produce estrogen in menopause, pregnancy, and estriol is the major estrogen. Institutions, through the action of these enzymes in the production of male hormones is. From menarche to menopause, estrogen is mainly 17ÃŽ ²-estradiol. Postmenopausal women estrogen estradiol exist. estradiol testosterone and androstenedione to estrogen by aromatase. estrogen is weaker than estradiol. Premarin, an estrogen commonly prescribed drugs, steroidal estrogens equilin, also equilenin, including sulfate, but because of their health risks, more genetic progynova (estradiol valerate) Estrogen hormone requirements require more frequent. Non-steroidal A series of synthetic and natural materials have been identified with estrogenic activity. synthetic substances, such as xenoestrogens are known. known as the estrogenic activity of phytoestrogens of plant products. mycoestrogens those of known fungi. Estrogen produced by different mammals, these substances are not necessarily steroids. Biosynthesis Steroid hormones, showing the pink triangle in the lower right corner to estrogen. Primary follicles in the ovaries of estrogen, luteal Fund and produced by placental growth. Luteinizing hormone (LH) to stimulate ovarian production of estrogen. Any estrogen liver, adrenal glands produce a small amount of other organizations, such as breast cancer. These secondary sources, in particular, is an important estrogen in postmenopausal women. Fat cells produce estrogen, are more likely to lead to weight loss or weight is a risk factor for infertility benefits. In women, ovarian estrogen synthesis in the beginning in the international theca cells, the synthesis of cholesterol and androstenedione. Androstenedione is a mild male hormone substances. Granulosa cells surrounding the campus, such as estrogen or estrogen, testosterone, either directly or through a rotation through the basement membrane. Conversion of testosterone estradiol, estrone, and androstenedione that aromatase in the society. Estrogen in menstrual cycles, through the highest, and level before ovulation. Function The estrogen found in men and women, they will usually significantly higher than women of childbearing age are present. Female secondary sexual characteristics such as breast growth-promoting, regulating the menstrual cycle, endometrial thickening, and other aspects of the work. In men, the effect of estrogen on reproductive sperm mature critical system control functions may need a healthy sex drive. In addition, there are many other functions, in addition to other structural changes caused by estrogen. Dental, gums, and hyperkeratinization reduce vascular permeability, increased exudation, and edema [edit]. Structure the formation of female secondary sex characteristics, and promote The slow growth of O-height accelerate the metabolism (fat burning) reduce muscle stimulation of the endometrium increase uterine growth increase in vaginal lubrication vaginal wall thickening blood vessels and skin care reduce bone resorption, increase bone formation Morphic rings the changes (endomorphic -> liquid crystal phase -> ectomorphic) protein synthesis increased hepatic production of binding proteins Settings 2,7 growth factors, circulating levels of 9,10, plasminogen antithrombin deficiency increase in platelet adhesion fat to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides low LDL, fat deposition fluid balance salt (sodium) and water retention [edit] Hormones increase in cortisol, sex hormone binding globulin gastrointestinal tract reduce bowel movement increase the bile cholesterol melanoma increase in pheomelanin, eumelanin in Cancer O support the hormone-sensitive breast cancer lung function the promotion of alveolar support (mouse, but perhaps in humans). Estrogen levels, rather than the level of sexual desire is dependent on androgen. Fetal development In mice (male hormone estrogen in the brain from the smell of which is local) to play an important role in psychological differentiation, for example, by the masculine territory, the same is not true of humans. In humans, behavioral effects of prenatal androgen masculinity (and other organizations, with the possible exception of bone) through the androgen receptor function, in particular, appear. Therefore, the study of human psychological differentiation of murine challenge model. Medical Applications Oral contraceptives FSH and LH levels of estrogen in the blood circulation to reduce the negative feedback loop, most oral contraceptives contain a synthetic estrogen and progesterone synthesis together, because a. LH response to male hormone estradiol in the main, not testosterone. Hormone replacement therapy As more and more detailed article in the hormone replacement therapy, estrogen and other hormones in postmenopausal women are discussed, in order to prevent osteoporosis and hot flushes, vaginal dryness, urinary stress incontinence, feeling of cold treatment menopausal symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, irritability, and sweating. Cervical spine, wrist fractures, and 50-70% in 3 years, the incidence and menopause, estrogen therapy increased spinal bone mineral density of women ~ 5% of 5-10 years, then decrease. Conjugated equine estrogen and further understanding of specific threats, such as the standard combination of Premarin treatment of 0.625 Ma (mg day estrogen / a) of the. There are, however, the risks associated with horses combined with estrogen therapy. Older postmenopausal womens health association (WHI) initiative, oral conjugated equine estrogen supplement some of the risk of women in the study increased the risk of blood clots was found to be associated with. WHI study of estrogen supplement, conjugated equine estrogen (Premarin and medroxyprogesterone only as a high dose of Prempro type of use). By the U.S. National Institutes of Health, a study proved that estrogen esterification health risks is not the same horse estrogen. The beneficial effects of hormone replacement therapy on serum cholesterol levels, and immediately started after menopause can reduce the incidence of heart disease, although this hypothesis has not yet been tested in randomized trials. Effects of estrogen on atherosclerosis seems to be a protective effect: it lowers LDL and triglycerides and increase high-density lipoprotein levels and endothelial vasodilation properties, coupled with anti-inflammatory ingredients. Ongoing study to determine whether the risk of estrogen use are the same for all distributions. Specifically, the different spectrum of side effects than estrogen Hormone Local applications may be oral, transdermal estrogen and not affecting coagulation, because they are directly absorbed into the systemic circulation, first through the liver metabolism of therapy. Thus, route of administration of thromboembolic disease as womens history. Estrogen for the treatment of vaginal atrophy was, hypoestrogenism hypogonadism, castration, or as a result of (primary ovarian failure), amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, and oligomenorrhea. Breastfed babies can be used to suppress estrogen. Breast Cancer About 80% of breast cancer, once established, depending on the supply of growth hormones estrogen: hormone sensitive or hormone receptor-positive cancers are called. Inhibition of estrogen production, which is a cancer in the body. Researchers recently found that the common table mushrooms may be the anti-estrogen anti-aromatase properties, and so the. Clinical trials have begun in the United States mushrooms can look at the table to prevent breast cancer in people. A recent study pointed out the importance of the study. 2009, 2018 womens eating habits, case-control study showed that women who eat mushrooms are about 50% lower incidence of breast cancer. Women who consumed the mushrooms and green tea, 90% lower incidence of breast cancer. Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer by inhibiting the production of estrogen in the body is processing. In breast cancer treatment technology, to varying degrees known as hormone therapy, hormone therapy or anti-estrogen (hormone replacement therapy to treat not to be confused). Even some foods such as soy proliferation of estrogen hormone therapy to suppress can be used as substitutes. Prostate cancer In some cases, estrogen treatment of men with prostate cancer may also be used. Miscellaneous In humans and mice, estrogen promote wound healing. For some time, due to attenuation of estrogen tall girls has been increasing. Recently, estrogen controversy Ashley growth attenuation was used as part of their treatment up to adult size of the girls living with developmental disabilities. Recently, estrogen treatment of patients suffering from bulimia as an experimental research approach is cognitive behavioral therapy, which provides standards for the treatment of bulimia cases, unless. The study suggested that estrogen may be related to hormonal imbalance in disease of the brain. Estrogen is also research showing that it is an effective drug use in the treatment of traumatic liver injury may be used. Health risks and warning labels Hyperestrogenemia (high levels of estrogen), estrogen or estrogen-like substances, the result of exogenous administration, may be or may lead to pregnancy, such as physical condition. All of these factors with increased risk of thrombosis. U.S. warning label boxed product, if not only progestagen unopposed estrogen (estrogen) therapy may increase the risk of endometrial cancer were included. Review of the data based on the WHI, January 8, 2003 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for postmenopausal women using estrogen and estrogen with all of the progesterone-related product labeling, including the heart and other risks of a new boxed warning has changed. The WHI estrogen alone would likely more than 50 years of age over 65 years old and postmenopausal women at increased risk of dementia in postmenopausal women, stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) risk of 0.625 mg of Premarin report uses the combination of horse estrogen (CEE). WHI estrogen plus progestin, the probability will be 50 years of age or older and postmenopausal women 65 years of age increased risk of dementia in postmenopausal women with myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, deep vein thrombosis form and report the threat or Prempro progestin medroxyprogesterone (MPA) of 0.625 mg and 2.5 mg of the old Eastern Europe. Cosmetic Some hair shampoo market, including estrogen and placental extract, some containing phytoestrogens. Case reports of young children, exposure to these shampoo is to develop breasts. September 9, 1993, FDAs decision, all the local application of hormone containing non-prescription drug products for human use, safe, effective and are misbranded generally recognized. With the proposed rule related to cosmetics, and concluded that natural estrogen in a new product without the approval of cosmetics made of any drug use, any cosmetic ingredients identified in their text or in his statement, a term used requirements implied hormone drugs, subject to regulatory action of this product. Also posted false labeling of drugs, including placenta extract can also be regarded as misbranded cosmetics claims that it is considered biologically active substances and other placental hormones have been removed, the material extracted if the extraction of proteins prepared. FDA proposed to identify the substance by another name than placental extract and describe its structure, more accurate, because consumers will be known as the use of certain biological activity of a treatment with placental extract Progestagen Progestagens (also shows progesterone or gestagens) are a group of hormones, including progesterone. Steroids Progestagens five main parts, estrogen, androgen, mineralocorticoids, the glucocorticoids. All the basic features of progestagens carbon skeleton is 21 pregnant skeleton (C21 in) is called. Similarly, estrogen a estrane (skeleton have C18s) and androgen, a andrane (Block C19 skeleton). Progestagens for their work (Pro has been designated as the maintenance of pregnancy, pregnancy), although the other stages of estrus and the menstrual cycle exists. A hormone progestagen and pregnant all the steroid skeleton, that is, both natural and synthetic, exogenous or synthetic hormone commonly referred to as progesterone are included. Action Other steroids, as traders Progestagens Steroid biosynthesis, the first phase of cholesterol into pregnenolone molecule (fifth). Progestagen class P5 and other members of steroid precursors, as all the other steroids, estrogen, androgen, mineralocorticoids, including glucocorticoids. Xiao Wu, a small four-, 17ÃŽ ±-hydroxy, 17ÃŽ ±-hydroxy and both endogenous middle. Therefore, all steroid production organization, adrenal gland, ovary and testis should be able to produce progestagens. In some organizations, all of the enzymes required for the final product is not located in a cell, for example, in the follicle, cholesterol, androstenedione, testosterone conversion theca cells, further into estrogen effects in granulosa cells. Some species, fetal adrenal gland, which is a small four-fifth of estrogen into the production of the placenta (see below). In humans, fetal adrenal fifth dihydroepiandrosterone production line. Progestagen production of ovarian Progesterone (P4) led all mammalian species progestagen produced by the Fund corpus luteum. Luteal cells have the necessary enzymatic conversion of cholesterol Pregnenolone (fifth), and later became a Small 4. P4 of the estrous cycle is the highest proestrus phase of the project. Progestagen produced by the placenta   progestagen production in the role of the placenta in different species. Sheep, horses and took over most of the human placental progestagen production, while other varieties remains the main source of funding luteal progestagen. In the sheep and human, small four major placental progestagen. A variety of shoes progestagens, the main 5ÃŽ ±DHP and 20ÃŽ ±5P, 60 day reasons. Luteo placental transfer of 120-150 days throughout the year. Use Family planning Main article: Hormonal contraceptives progesterone progestin pills alone or combined with oral contraceptives, contraceptive patch is the use of estrogen, birth control pills and vaginal rings. Medroxyprogesterone acetate (German-Polish Proveras) Norethisterone Enanthate and acetic acid (Noristerat) is a long-acting injection. Etonogestrol subcutaneous implants (Implanon) releases. Norplant implants and Jadelle release of levonorgestrel. levonorgestrel intrauterine system IUS  ® (Mirena) release. Antiandrogen Main article: Anti-androgen Luteinizing hormone deficiency Progestinic compounds (LH) levels, etc., in the womens and men cisgender, will reduce the testicular LH stimulation is due to the nature of anti-androgen. A common example of a progestinic cyclopropane drug is an effective anti-androgen, androgen receptor antagonist progestinic think it is more advantageous to reduce the level of LH. Progesterone withdrawal bleeding In a normal menstrual cycle, progesterone levels fall, menstruation triggers. Norethindrone (brand name Aygestin) medroxyprogesterone acetate (brand name progesterone) induced the synthesis of progesterone withdrawal bleeding, can use the [edit]. Cachexia syndrome More information: cachexia Many people who suffer from a solid malignant tumors, especially in the stomach and pancreatic cancer, progestagens to improve appetite, reduce waste can be used. Usually, they prefer to use dexamethasone in combination with other steroids. The result is a clear need for a few weeks, but still relatively extended compared to those of corticosteroids. Further, they just increase lean body mass has been recognized as a drug. Cachexia Megestrol responsible for managing the Groups lead drug. Adverse effects Adverse effects of progestagens, breast discomfort, premenstrual syndrome, menstrual cycles and weak male action breakthrough bleeding, acne, edema, weight changes, depression include changes in sexual desire. In addition, a pair of an increased risk of thrombosis.

Influence Of Gambling Activities In College Students Psychology Essay

Influence Of Gambling Activities In College Students Psychology Essay My previous experience and lively interest in this subject motivated me to select Essence of gambling and influence of gambling activities in college students as a topic for my literature review. I had been problematic gambler for two years (gaming peers promoted tendencies to gamble) at first I started it as a means of recreation, but as a result it became major activity for me. I was spending great deal of time and money on it, without taking care of family budget or private life and it initiated real financial crisis and nervousness for me. But today, I am not gaming at all; I broke a deadlock, after loosing big sum of money, so I would like to scientifically realize the process of starting and terminating gambling by me. On the other hand, in Georgia sports betting (bookmakers) and Casino games are primary gambling activities, not only adults, but teenagers also are frequent users of these venues and I consider gambling as a large national problem. Increasing number of gambling v enues (for instance: my native city Batumi looks like a big casino) and promotion of gaming directed at students makes problem even more severe and large-scale. There had been hot debates around this topic, should gambling be declared illegal? Should it be removed from urban centers? Or simply prioritized as a profitable industry which is one of the main sources of taxation revenue? I want to assess where we are, acknowledge positive and negative sides of gambling, make judgments and as a voter support conventional wisdom. Why researchers even bother to tackle this topic? Because current developments in the world and mainly in USA makes lots of things around gambling challenging to investigate, analyze and conclude. On one hand there is profitable industry, which contributes a lot to taxation revenue, economic growth and development of services in urban centers, on the other hand negative consequences it yields to society, like emotional distress, personal bankruptcy, psychological trauma, so it is interest for researchers weather benefits cover those disadvantages or not. And why college students? Because studies of other risk behaviors have reinforced the opinion, that college students are at high risk for gambling ( LaBrie A. Richard; Shaffer J. Howard; LaPlante A. Debi; Wechsler Henry (2001) Correlates of college student gambling in the United States). Researchers examine different stages of gambling, when it becomes harmful, what are motives And which individuals are more inclined to gamble to deathà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦On the whole, the increase in the prevalence of gambling has stimulated a considerable body of research. (Platz Laurie and Murray Millar (1998) Gambling in the context of other recreation activity: A quantitative comparison of casual and pathological student gamblers.) As a prospective economist first I reviewed article by Koo Jun et al Rolling the dice? Casinos, Tax revenues and the social cost of gaming, (Journal of urban affairs. Volume 29, number 4.) Do the benefits from increased taxes and job opportunities associated with gambling outweigh those personal and social costs resulted from increased number of addicted gamblers? So three main issue worked out in this research are: 1)tax revenues and economic growth supported by these funds, 2) jobs at the casinos and improved public service, 3)possible social consequences. Wagering tax rates varies between 8.5 and 45.5% in US (Nevada, New Jerseyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Illinois) and as a percent of tax revenue it is between 3.4 and 27.8% (Illinoisà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Nevada), in Detroit casinos are sixth largest employer (Source: Indiana Gaming Commission, 2006) rigid evidence to agree that this industry is special for states economic stability. Research also focused on social costs: do casinos induce higher leve ls of social problems? Is there a link between casinos and socially destructive behaviors like unemployment, bankruptcy fillings and crime rate? Direction of causality must be checked. Article tried to answer these questions by analyzing changes in Michigan, Virginia, Indiana and Ohio; in Ohio casino-style gaming is forbidden while in others not, so researchers compared outcomes relative to social problems. Quasi experiment was carried out, unemployment rates of casino and non-casino countries in Michigan between 1991 and 2003 were compared and result was that although there was a slight decrease in the unemployment rate gap, the opening of casinos did not significantly change overall levels. Similar patterns are observed in terms of bankruptcy rates and crime levels, presence of casinos had no observable incremental effect, macro factors seem to play much significant role (Koo Jun et al, 2007). This research also used regression models, designed to control differences in initial conditions between casino and non-casino counties and separate the effects of casinos on the social cost variables: crime rate, personal bankruptcy rate and unemployment, results showed that there might be some casino effects but they are unimportant (Koo Jun et al, 2007). We can conclude this research that gambling does not have significant and catastrophic effects on socially destructive behavior, even recognizing direct connection between them is difficult, so there is no reason to declare it unlawful and sacrifice financial benefits of it. Now the essence of gambling must be studied. Gambling: normal adolescent activity or pathologic addiction? abstract by Selekman Janice 2008, explains essence of gaming. Gambling sometimes referred as Gaming, is defined as the practice of playing games of chance or betting in the hope of winning money or something of value, it involves risk and uncertainty (Verbeke and Kittrick-Nathan,2007) Most adolescent gamblers are considered as recreational, who gamble for the purposes of entertainment, but of the 80% gamblers 10-15% are at risk of development of a gambling problem and 3-8% are considered to be problem or pathological gamblers (Derevensky and Gupta, 2007) in adult population only 1.5% are problematic gamblers (Labrie and Shaffer). The median age for starting gambling is 11-13 years, when small amounts of money are readily accessible, when local environment accepts such behavior and rules of the game are understandable to a child and he/she plays to win money, gain status and resp ect among friends, escape stress, relieve boredom. While gambling they feel more control of the situation, more independence and self reliability (Jacobs, 2004) But at some phase recreational gambling becomes problematic, impulse-control disorders take place and can be characterized by following criteria suggested by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual: Preoccupied with gambling. Needs to gamble with increasing amounts of money. Has repeated unsuccessful efforts to control, stop gambling. Is restless or irritable. Gambles as a way of escaping from problems or of relieving a dystrophic mood. Chases ones loses. Lies to conceal the extent of involvement in gambling in gambling Has committed illegal acts such as forgery, fraud, theftà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship, job or career opportunity because of gambling. Relies on others to provide money to relieve a desperate financial situation.(American Psychiatric Association, 2000) Pathological gamblers are at increased risk for use of alcohol and drugs, they have symptoms of anxiety and depression, sudden change in mood and school performance, they sell expensive possessions and are unable to count for money (Griffiths and Wood, 2005). It is worthwhile now to scrutinize problem gambling and prediction of gambling behavior in more details. Abstract The prediction of gambling behavior and problem gambling from attitudes and perceived norms by Susan M, Moore is useful in this sense. In the study by Moore the aim was to test the Theory of Reasoned Action, central hypotheses were that attitudes and subjective norms would predict intentions and intention-behavior. Survey designed to measure gambling attitudes, subjective norms, gambling intention, gambling behavior and problem gambling was completed by 215 participants (mean age 22). Results showed that: Most respondents approved of moderate gambling and hold that some gambling should be legal, but they were against too much gambling and endorsed to set limits on gambling opportunities. Realizing figure 2 we find out that family and friends have a great impact on gamblers, and gamblers are often surrounded by gaming friends and family members, and disapproval of their behavior comes from family members not from friends (Moore M. Susan; Ohtsuka Keis 1999) As frequency of gambling behavior in the sample shows very few of the sample regularly engaged in any type of gambling, but at a low level there has been widespread engagement in gambling. Survey also showed that not all gamblers, that game more frequently than they intend, are problematic, so correlation between gambling frequency and problem gambling was, moderately high but not corresponding: (Moore M. Susan; Ohtsuka Keis) And finally with table five, there is expressed gambling intention, frequency and problem as independent variables and potential predictors are sex, age, attitudes to gambling, subjective norms, intention to gamble. Regression analyses showed intention to gamble was significantly predicted by attitudes and subjective norms: more positive attitudes greater intention to gamble. Also males, people with strong intentions and positive subjective norms are more likely to engage in this activity. (Moore M. Susan; Ohtsuka Keis, Social behavior and personality, 1999) Gambling behavior and problem gambling is partly predicted and influenced by independent factors, but is it stable or characterized by progression? It was helpful for me to answer these questions by contemplating longitudinal studies reviewed by Debi A. Laplant et al in the abstract named: Stability and progression of disordered gambling: lessons from longitudinal studies. Stability tendency for individuals to stay at one diagnostic level opposed to moving to another improved or worsened level (Laplante A Debi et al 2008). this review found out that in contrary to conventional wisdom individuals can recover from disordered gambling (contrary to persistence assumption), like the other one that holds that individuals who have gambling problems are not more likely to worsen than individuals without gambling problems (contrary to progression assumption), so this review demonstrates that disordered gambling is unstable and not persistent, that means that professional and conventional wis dom about problem gambling have no empirical support. This review by Laplante A Debi was based on 5 peer reviewed articles (Abbott et al, Defuentes-Merillas et al, Shaffeer and Hall, Slutske et al, and Winters et al) which used various time points, populations and measures of problem gambling: In the above figure level 0-1 represents no gambling or gambling without problems, level 2 subclinical gambling problems, level 3 gambling problems. Then were developed cross tabs classification of gambling courses: improving decreased number of gambling problems; worsening increased number of gambling problems; stable consistent gambling problems across all time points (there were different time points and large time span) and variable fluctuation of gambling problems without consistent direction. As this figure shows Level 3 or problem gamblers who reduced their level of severity exceeded the studies corresponding margin of error, in each study proportion of level 3 gamblers improving was greater than zero. Results are similar for Level 2 gamblers, who reduced level of severity and their number exceeded corresponding margin of error. Improving was greater than zero. (Table2, Debi A. Laplante et al) it confirms that gambling behavior is not persistent, as problem gamblers reveal tendencies of improving in each study. We can conclude that these longitudinal studies with short-term and long-term periods indicate that while healthy gambling behavior appears to be stable, individuals with gambling problems experience movement from different levels of severity of gambling disorder to other more or less severe levels. Now as we have covered main issues, structure and characteristics of gambling we should pay more attention to segment of population which is frequently involved in gambling and pathological gambling yields disastrous consequences for them. As a bottom line we can use article by Emily M. Verbeke and Karin Dittrick-Nathan-Student gambling. Gambling is an addictive behavior that is often hidden but erodes students quality of life; it has increased significantly among adolescents, who have grown up in a society where it is legal and widely accepted.(Emily M. Verbeke) As article points out problem or compulsive gambling is characterized by: increasing preoccupation with gambling, a need to bet more money more frequently, restlessness or irritability, increasing bets to make up previous losses and loss of control over gambling activity. Result of problem gambling can be low grades absenteeism, poor concentrationà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Emily M. Verbeke) (Then we will discuss this in more details). Although regulations forbid anyone under 18 to play, illegal gambling takes place out of controlled areas. There are several reasons why adolescents gamble: for recreation, to socialize, to win money, to experience thrill, to relieve depression or simply to escape from problems at home or university. Youths who have certain personality characteristics, such as extreme impulsivity, extroversion, sensation-seeking behaviors or low self-esteem may be at higher risk of developing a gambling problem and they have higher rates of depression and suicide attempts. Prevention and intervention activities must me carried out by teachers, mental health professionals, coaches, parents to communicate to students about negative effects of gambling and change a positive attitude towards gaming as a harmless behavior (Emily M. Verbeke). College students gambling behavior: when does it become harmful? by Jeremiah Weinstock et al is another useful abstract which gives us beneficial information about student gambling. 159 college students were interviewed, who also completed demographic questionnaire. Patterns of gambling behavior associated with pathological gambling gambling more than 1.2 times per month, gambling more than 2.1 hours per month, intending to wager more than 6.1% of monthly income and wagering more than 10.5% of monthly income. Pathological gambling was also associated with the combination of psychological distress, gambling frequency and a history of parental gambling problems (Jeremiah Weinstock). Pathological student gamblers report poorer academic performance and greater risk taking, like alcohol consumption, nicotine use, illicit drug use and unprotected sex, than recreational or non-gamblers (Weinstock et al). Also Weinstock et al found that 50% of students who gambled at least once a month expe rienced problems related to their gambling. In this study 160 students were participating, 18 years or older, the sample was diverse in both demographic characteristics and gambling behavior. Study showed that the most common gambling activities were cards (58.3%), slots (48.1%), sports betting (33.1%) and games of skill (26.3%). Questionnaire filled in by participants asked for GPA, monthly income, ethnicity, sex, marital status and age, also whether their parents gambled or not. Questionnaire also included other behavioral variables like Gambling frequency, duration, Gambling Plan Adherence index and episodes when amount risked exceeded amount intended to risk. On the basis of diagnostic interview participants were classified as pathological or non-pathological gamblers. As shown in table 1, pathological gamblers are significantly more likely to report a parent with a gambling problem history, a lower GPA, greater psychological distress than were non-pathological gamblers. This numbers identify several strong behavioral indicators, highlighting a behavior associated with pathological gambling: risking more than 10% of monthly income, gambling more than once a month and gambling more than 2 hours per month were related to pathological gambling status in college students. As study showed demographic variables play small role in pathological gambling status, behavioral and psychological variables are more influential and such behavioral indicators can be utilized to assess, prevent and intervene in problematic gambling behavior in college students. Pathological gambling among students is further analyzed by Randy Stinchfield in the article Problem and pathological gambling among college students. Article is divided into four sections, overview of problem and pathological gambling, risk and protective factors associated with student gambling, problem gambling screening and assessment instruments, prevention and intervention approaches. Problem gambling individuals life is disrupted by gambling, gambling takes precedence over other activities and individual experiences adverse consequences. Pathological gambling is a psychiatric diagnosis (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-American psychiatric association). Three cardinal signs of pathological gambling are: preoccupation with gambling and obtaining money with which to gamble, loss of control of ones gambling and continuation of gambling despite negative consequences such as losing large sums of money. Experimenting with gambling, regular gambling, excessive g ambling are types of student gambling. Many college student gambles, but only small percentage becomes problem gamblers (Winters, Bengston, Dorr 1998). Rates of gambling and problem gambling remained stable over time, but there was a shift from illegal games to legalized games (Winters 1995). How many college students are problem gamblers? 9.3% of men and 2.4% of women(Shaffer, Hall 1997 SOGS),other study 4.9%men 1%women(Winters, Bengston, Dorr 1998) another study 8.5%men, 1.9% women (Engwall, Hunter, Steinberg 2004). What about risk and protective factors associated with gambling? Out of all possible risks, most salient is substance use, abuse, dependence. The link between alcohol, illicit drug, and tobacco use and gambling and problem gambling are strong (Clark, 2003; Engwall 2004). Heavy alcohol use was highly predictive of problem gambling, particularly size of bets made while gambling, unanticipated withdrawal of extra money at the casino and loss of more money than could be afforded (Giacopassi 1998). In terms of gender, males are more involved in gambling that women (Kveitel and Allen, 1998) males also have higher rate of problem gambling than females (Ladoucer 1994). Ethnicity, like gender is another salient risk factor, studies have shown that African-Americans and Asian-Americans tend to gamble more then European-Americans. Other important risk factors can also be listed: students overall level of gambling activity, general gambling veracity, tendency to minimize losses, general academic performance, typical leisure or extracurricular activities and parental or guardian history of gamblingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Randy Stinchfield 2006). Now briefly discuss about pathological gambling assessment instruments. Most commonly is used the South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS), the content of SOGS includes items that inquire about spending more time or money on gambling than intended, hiding evidence of ones gambling, arguing with family members about ones gambling borrowing money. The twenty item SOGS is scored by summing the number of items endorsed, a cut score of 5 or more indicates PPG. Second item is the Gambling Behavior Interview (GBI) 76 item instrument designed to measure signs and symptoms of problem gambling. GBI is made up of eight content domains: Gambling attitudes, Gambling frequency of different games, Time and money spent gambling, gambling frequency at different venues, SOGS, DSM diagnostic criteria, Research diagnostic items and demographics.(National Collegiate Association, 2004). At the end of this article are recommendations for practitioners at colleges and universities: Monitor student gambling behavior, extent of gambling, illegal gambling and problem gambling. Develop student policies for gambling that emphasize rehabilitation not punishment. Conduct research into the cause, development, maintenance and cessation of problem gambling, with an emphasis on risk and protective factors. Develop and evaluate prevention programs and messages designed for students. Provide treatment services for students who have already developed a gambling problem. (Randy Stinfield, William Hanson, Douglas Olson, 2006). Correlates of college student gambling are worthwhile to analyze. Article named Correlates of college student gambling in the United States by Richard A. LAbrie et al gives some profitable information about it. Primary research questions which were answered: Will a nationally representative survey of gambling among college students confirm the concept that college students are at high risk for gambling problems? And will the problem behaviors and the risk factors conform to those of alcohol abuse and thereby support the persistence of a problem behavior syndrome (Richard A Labrie). Research used 2001 CAS self-administered questionnaire, which repeated standard questions used in 1993, 1997, 1999 surveys. The survey questionnaire asked, during the past school year, how often did you bet or spend money on each of the following gambling activities: Betting on professional sports, Betting on college sports, Betting on horse or dog racing, Casino gambling, Betting on the lottery or the num bers, Internet betting or gambling, Betting with a bookie, Playing cards, dice, or other games of chance. The 2001 CAS collected data from 120 colleges, 10765 students, to improve the representativeness of the sample; data were weighted to the gender, age and race/ethnicity distribution at the schools. Approximately 52% of men and 33% of women reported that they gambled, the most popular type of gambling was playing the lottery (25%), 30% reported casino gambling, 13% gambling with playing cards and dice. Gambling venues for men: lottery, playing cards, betting on sports, skill games and casino gambling, women preferred lottery, casinos, slot machines, bingo, and playing cards. Men are about 4 times more likely than women to have bet on sports and played games of skill for money, 3 times more likely to have bet on animals and twice as likely to have gambled in the stock market and played dice games (Douglas Engwall 2000). Of the students who gambled, 45% participated in only 1 type of gambling activity, the majority of student gamblers restricted their gambling to 1or 2 types (Richard A Labrie 2001). Students also answered questions about time spent on various activities in the past 30 days, these questions provided with an opportunity to evaluate the demographic and other factors that distinguished students who gambled from those who did not. Results showed that three demographic variables significantly predicted college student gambling for the total sample. Being male was the strongest demographic predictor of being a gambler, followed by being older than 20 years, and finally by having parents who had not completed the 4 year college. For men but not women, being white was a significant predictor of being a gambler, for women but not men having never been married was also significant predictor (Richard A Labrie 2001). Other covariates: those students whose families did not disapprove of drinking were more likely to gamble. Students who gamble intensely consider parties to be very important and religion and art less important. Male gamblers consider athletics to be very important. Men who lived in fraternity houses were more likely to be gamblers; having a grade average less than a B+ was more common among gamblers and also having 5 or more close friends was one of the predictors. Alcohol related behavior were the strongest risk correlates of gambling. Use of marijuana and illicit drugs also predicted gambling. Students of both sexes were more likely to be gamblers if they watched a great deal of television, spent time on a computer for non-academic reasons, studied less than 3 hours a day (Richard A Labrie 2001) The results of this nationally representative survey of gambling among college students do not indicate that students are at high risk for gambling problems, fewer college students in the 2001 CAS gambled in the last school year than adults in the last year. The CAS also found that 2.6% of students gambled frequently. Although findings reported in this article do not indicate a large national gambling problem among students, promotion of gambling could change a current situation. As we noted several times, intensive alcohol usage is most significant predictor of gambling behavior, so decision of choosing article The co-occurrence of alcohol use and gambling activities in first-year college students by Matthew P. Martens. Study written in this article was participated by 908 first-year college students, who were surveyed in 2005; research showed that alcohol use and alcohol-related risks were related to gambling frequency and peak gambling loss. National studies have indicated that approximately 40% of US students engaged in heavy episodic drinking, with men consuming more alcohol than women. In this study Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used as a measure of alcohol use. AUDIT is a 10-item measure designed to assess alcohol consumption, dependence symptoms and alcohol related risks and problems. To assess gambling behaviors, participants completed a 7-item inventory, these items were taken from the South Oaks Gambling Screen, six items as sessed gambling activities: playing cards for money, betting on horses or sports betting, playing slot machines, playing casino games, playing the lottery and playing a game of skill. The mean AUDIT score among participants was 8.61, men reported higher total scores than women (Matthew P. Martens 2005), results also showed that most played gambling activity was lottery games(55%) followed by playing cards for money(44%) and games of skill(26%), men reported gambling more frequently and having a greater peak gambling loss than did women. Goal of this study was to examine the co-occurrence of alcohol use and gambling. Table 2 shows the correlation between AUDIT scores and gambling variables, correlation between AUDIT and gambling frequency was 0.29 indicating the co-occurrence. By assessing differences in gambling behaviors between high-risk drinkers, low risk drinkers and abstainers, analysis of results indicated that high-risk drinkers gambled significantly more often than did others and had higher peak gambling loss. The finding of this study was that alcohol-related variables (use, dependence and alcohol related risks) and gambling frequency and peak gambling loss co-occurred in a group of students: Consuming large amounts of alcohol may make it more likely that a student chooses to gamble or it could negatively affect a students gambling-related decision. Similarly students may drink more heavily when they are engaged in gambling activity. (Matthew P. Martens et al, journal of American college health 2005). As we noticed lotteries are most common form of gambling and they are readily available to students, so next article is Predictors of lottery gambling among American college students by Beverly A. Browne and Daniel J. Brown. In this study gambling behavior of 288 American college students was examined and it was found that student lottery gambling was related to having parents and friends who were lottery gamblers. Students who were frequent lottery gamblers were more likely to participate in other forms of gambling. Discriminator analyses using parental gambling, peer gambling, games played, sex and locus of control could predict frequency of lottery playing for 72% of gamblers and non-gamblers. A small body of research that addressed the relationships between gambling and personality (Reviewed by Kusyszyn, 1984) indicated that college students who gambled on lotteries were similar to non-gamblers in characteristics such as intelligence, psychoneurotic tendencies and extroversion, m ale college students who gambled were found to be more secure, masculine and happy but less socially responsible. People who believe in luck may be more likely to gamble. The personality trait of locus of control has been linked to believing in chance rather than individual control over ones destiny (Rotter, 1966; Rotter, 1972). The sample of this research consisted of 288 students, as attitudes toward gambling might vary with nationality the sample was restricted to persons from the USA. The respondents completed a self-administered questionnaire that asked about gambling practices and the gambling of parents and friends. Results showed that almost 80% of the sample had purchased lottery tickets at one time or another; only 2% reported that they were frequent lottery players and 63% as occasional players. The average age of subjects when they bought their first ticket was 17.7 years, 31% of students reported that they had played lottery illegally before the age of 18. Responses als o showed that 61% of college students played the same frequency as they did before they came to college, so college environment is not motivator of gambling. Study used discriminator analyses to determine how well a combination of variables would predict lottery playing behavior. The analyses indicated that the combination of other gambling, parental gambling, peer gambling, sex, and locus of control could predict gambling status. Most predictive variables were engaging in other gambling, parental gambling, and peer gambling. Gaming peers may promote tendencies to gamble; nevertheless other influences (time, money, knowledge) may constrain those tendencies. Review gave me a great deal of information around gambling to make conclusions, researches indicated legal gambling is not directly connected to unemployment growth, crime rate or personal bankruptcy, it is not significant influencer, so if we consider those benefits expressed in huge taxation revenues, developed services, and employment in casinos, we can find legal gambling acceptable and sometimes necessary too. Those funds received from taxation will stimulate economic growth and result in greater GDP. On the other hand, it is persons legal right to gamble, if he is above 18 years and has desire, so it would be less than democratic to abolish gaming as a purpose of evading excessive or pathological gambling. I perfectly realize negative effects and bad sides of gambling, mainly influencing adolescents and problem gamblers, as excessive gambling frequently results in disruption of private life, psychological distress, big debts, failures at jobs, universities and in relationships with relativesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ so population must be informed about it timely, and then people will make informed choice to gamble or not. Restrictions in age must be controlled strictly; juveniles under 18 years must not be allowed to gamble at all, not only in casinos but anywhere. It means that illegal gambling must be eliminated, also in schools and universities have to be conducted monitoring of student gambling behavior, prevention programs must be developed and policies should emphasize not punishment of those who became problem gamblers but rehabilitation. By looking at predictors of gambling behavior profile of prospective problem gambler can be created, people who fit this profile noticed and eliminate threat until it becomes dangerous. In some dimensions gambling has negative effects on society as a whole(social distress) so there is one view and I agree with it that gambling ventures can be removed

The Role of Loneliness in James Joyces Ulysses Essay -- Joyce Ulysses

The Role of Loneliness in James Joyce's Ulysses Have you ever had one of those days when the world seems cold and unfeeling? Where the people that surround you are far away and uncaring? Ulysses is about one of those days, and two people who are stuck within it, searching desperately for a way out. Loneliness runs like a thread through Ulysses, a novel by James Joyce. It constantly tugs at the character's minds, and drives their lives in subtle ways. Joyce drives the point home by giving a drab, grey description of the character's lives. Ulysses is set in 1904, Dublin, Ireland. Joyce's book was first published in 1922. The plot of Ulysses is fairly simple. The novel re-creates the days of two Irishmen, Leopold Bloom, the main character, and Stephen Dedalus, the son of Bloom's good friend, Simon Dedalus. The story starts with both characters waking up, and follows their lives through a single day. Stephen is a school teacher, and Leopold works as an advertizing canvasser for the local newspapers. For Stephen, it's only a partial day of school, so after receiving his pay, he goes and visits a nearby relative and then goes for a walk on the beach. Meanwhile, Leopold has woken up, and prepared breakfast for himself and his wife. After going to the butcher's and the post office, he goes to the funeral of an old friend, Paddy Dignam. After the funeral, he goes about business in town, and comes across Stephen twice. Finally, as Bloom visits a friend in the hospital, he sees Stephen, extremely drunk with a group of medical s tudents. All of them go to a pub. At the pub, they all get bombed, and Bloom takes Stephen on a drunken rampage through town. When Bloom realizes the state Stephen is in, he takes him home, and offers to let Ste... ...death of Stephen's mother is still filling his mind - during his drunken spree, Stephen actually thinks that his mother had come back to haunt him. Bloom, on the other hand, after subconsciously searching through Dublin since his son's death, has found someone to help, and be a father figure for them. Although Bloom's gesture of kindness is rejected by Stephen, Bloom has taken the first step out of the dark grip of loneliness by trying to help another. James Joyce's Ulysses is a story that conveys the drab lives of two miserable Irishmen. The setting portrayed in this book is bleak. Both characters are absorbed in their own loneliness, and lack the perspective to see beyond it. Although Ulysses may seem long and extremely confusing, Joyce creates a thorough depiction of this human condition. Works cited Joyce, James. Ulysses. New York: Random House, 1961.

Flucations In The Australian Dollar :: essays research papers

The Australian Dollar is a "Commodity Currency". A "Commodity Currency" means that its fortunes are heavily dependent on the prices of Gold, Copper, Nickel, Coal and Wool. All of these commodities are Australia’s main exports. At present, commodity prices are low, especially gold. Melbourne-based mining consultant Surbiton Associates said exports of Australian gold were in danger of declining if exploration failed to be supported and production declined as a result. The country produces about $5 billion worth of gold each year and over the past 10 years the metal has earned $42 billion in export revenue. Presently, our dollar has been the weakest in history, comparable to the United States (US) dollar. The record low occurred in early April where it sank to 47.75 US cents. Compared to the US dollar, our Australian dollar buys at present 50.81 US cents. (27 July 2001). It is unrealistic to determine what started the dollars slide or when it started. In this graph it is visible that the dollar started to drop as far back as April 1997. Although, we can never be sure that the fluctuations are actually fluctuations in the $A or those of the $US. For that reason the following figure shows the movements in the $A against the trade weighted index (TWI). As its name indicates, the trade weighted index tries to measure the value of the $A against a basket of currencies. Those currencies are chosen to reflect the weight in Australia's trade with the countries issuing the currencies in the index. At the moment, the US dollar is very strong. This is surprising considering that the American economy is not very strong. Interest rates in the US basically show the situation. Americas interest rates have seen five cuts over the last four months to where it now sits at 3.75%. This was the US governments’ way of trying to kick-start the economy through fiscal policy. This is why many economists believe the US dollar will subside, as there is no backing in the economy. The â€Å"Aussie†, as it is referred to in foreign markets, is believed to be dependent on the performance of the Japanese Yen and the new Eurodollar, with the three currencies tending to move in tandem. This is because of Australia’s importing and exporting relationship with the two other currencies. Interest Rates At the moment the interest rate in Australia sits at 5%. In resent times interest rates have been subject to three cuts.

Price Discrimination | Amusement Parks Essay

Introduction Consider these Amusement park pricing scenarios: ?Six Flags Discovery kingdom sells its annual season pass for $59. 99. According to its website, â€Å"Buy your Season Pass for $59. 99, just $14 more than a one-day admission. † ?Bush Gardens Dark Continent. sells its Fun Card for $95. 00. According to its website, â€Å"Pay for a Day, Get now through 2015 FREE. †, Now why would they give away an unlimited entry annual pass for an extra 25% over the single entry price? What is common in these pricing scenarios? All these businesses are practicing what economists call, â€Å"Metered Price Discriminationâ€Å", or what marketers describe as, â€Å"Customer Margin†. It all starts with, â€Å"price discrimination† – charging different customers different prices. Customers differ in the value they get from a product/service and in how much they are willing to pay for it. For each price point you set, there will be different number of customers willing to pay that price. That is your demand curve. The goal is to find the price that maximizes profit. There are many different ways to monetize the customer and Amusement parks offer us a great opportunity to examine several of them. As in the example above, Amusement Parks employ multiple price discrimination strategies when establishing ticket prices in order to increase Six Flags Season Pass Pricing Busch Gardens â€Å"Fun Card† Pricing overall attendance but make up for the lost single entry fee revenue from the subset of customers willing to pay set pricing scale at park concession stands, gift shops, diners and restaurants. This is Metered Price Discrimination – some customers get away with paying the low â€Å"entry fee† while others pay more by consuming additional services at different prices. Discrimination can take several forms and those presently employed in the amusement park industry begins with an exploration of spatial discrimination. Spatial Discrimination Amusement parks benefit greatly from their ability to isolate customers away from competitors for long periods of time. Part of the value proposition for an amusement park is the highly developed themed experience they provide. Once fully immersed in the amusement park experience the level of difficulty and inconvenience in accessing alternative providers for staples like food, drink, shopping, and accommodations, grows exponentially. Utilizing spatial discrimination, the parks have several different supply, demand and profit opportunities to exploit.? Higher than market food pricing and profits based on proximity and distance to cheaper alternative. Amusement Parks, like many other entertainment businesses can derive extremely high profits from customers on purchases of goods and services once inside the park. ?Zero competition from competitors within park confines. The experience of the park itself requires a good deal of isolation and space so the business can control the imagery, interactions, and exposure to inconsistent inputs. The space and isolation enables the parks to create their own marketplace and exclude other industry actors access to the customers in their park avoiding food, retail, services competition altogether. Once the customer is in the park you control the market and the market offerings and pricing ? Ingress and Egress marketing opportunities for personalized content like group photos on T-Shirts, Mugs etc. The parks have cameras throughout their facilities and more often than not have a kiosk standing by to sell customers personalized remembrances of the experience the park is providing. Only the park has the photo of your family on the roller coaster together. Since they own the roller coaster, they can restrict access to the best picture locations. Price discrimination takes place in that they control the supply completely. Calculate the highest price the market is willing to pay and sit back, you’ve eliminated the competition while they are in the park. Bundling One type of membership popular with both Bush Gardens and Walt Disney World customers is the add-on (up charge) for water park entry in addition to the amusement park entry at a reduced â€Å"bundled† price. Water park capacity is likely to be considerably less than the amusement park so the profit maximization point must take into account the â€Å"limited capacity† constraint. The reduced revenues from the amusement park tickets vs. full price tickets needs to be tracked so supply of the amusement/water park bundles does not, or to the best case achievable, negatively impact the supply of the water park â€Å"single park† utilization. Profit maximization can be best achieved by limiting the bundle availability to key periods during the annual calendar when excess capacity exists at the water park. Bundling will fill the gap between current utilization and current capacity at the water park while providing added perceived value to the purchase of a amusement park ticket. Peak Load Pricing. The customers of annual passes are further discriminated by those that have the capability to tailor entry dates away from peak load periods. Ex. Walt Disney World â€Å"Florida Resident† annual passes with entry restricted during the summer and holiday periods. Amusement Parks have multiple levels and types of annualized memberships based on paying a onetime fee for unlimited entry for a specified period (Typically annually) at specified times. The overall infrastructure footprint of the parks is constant. In the slower months of the year there is Busch Gardens Bundled Pricing Walt Disney World Florida Resident Pricing  an excess of capacity (or supply0 at the parks and the peak load pricing attracts park visitors at lower utilization periods of the year. (An argument can be made for inclusion in the Spatial Discrimination category and the overlap is noted here. Florida residents benefit from a price discriminator compared to out of state customers but must use the park facilities at times it benefits the park most. ) Air fares, Hotels, etc. Finally, the cross marketing partners the amusement parks team with will employ length of stay discounts, food offerings, free parking offers, service level upgrades, hotel upgrades and the like. The price discriminators are focused on the ancillary products and services typically required to in order to utilize the amusement parks. The parks will appoint official Airlines of the park, or have a preferred credit card, or as in the case of Walt Disney World several tiers of hotels. Disney owns their own hotels, all in the best locations, extensively themed to the park specifications. Disney also leases hotel locations on their land to the major hotel chains. The location is not the best, and the hotels cannot use Disney’s Theme in their decorating but they are located on Disney property with access to Disney’s higher income, more likely to spend money, customers. A third tier exists in the hotels off Disney property. Disney will offer discounted ticket prices to these hotels for their customers. Walt Disney World Package Pricing Closing Amusement Parks have well developed and sophisticated price discrimination strategies in place. They capitalize on several of the methods described in the Harvard note Economics of Product Variety. They use spacial discrimination to boost profits on food, services, and goods once the supply is controlled in the park. They use bundling to attract attendance across the multiple parks they operate in the hopes of increasing profits through the generated increase in demand the bundling creates. They use peak load pricing to entice attendees during low utilization periods as well as boost purchase of ancillary â€Å"high margin† items in the parks. And they use cross marketing strategies to team with hotels, airlines, credit cards, and others to increase demand from third tier hoteliers near the park. References HIRSCHEY, MARK; MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS 12TH EDITION, CENGAGE LEARNING, MASON OH, 2009 President and Fellows of Havard College, Price Discrimination, Havard Business Schools Publishing, Boston, MA 02163, 1993.

The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty

This is way worse than the obstacle course, thought Matt. And building a house out of newspaper. And the firewalk. This is definitely the worst pledge event yet. He twisted the toothbrush in his hand to real y get into the little niche running along the bottom of the paneling on the Vitale Society's pledge room wal s. The toothbrush came out black with ancient dirt and dangling cobwebs, and Matt grimaced in disgust. His back was already sore from hunching over. â€Å"How's it going, soldier?† Chloe asked, squatting down next to him, a dripping sponge in one hand. â€Å"Honestly, I'm not sure how scrubbing out this room is going to help us develop honor and leadership and al the stuff Ethan keeps talking about,† Matt said. â€Å"I think this might just be a way to save a couple of bucks on a cleaning service.† â€Å"Well, they say cleanliness is next to godliness,† she reminded him. Chloe laughed. He real y liked her laugh. It was sort of bubbly and silvery. Internal y, he gave himself a little eye rol . Bubbly and silvery. She had a nice laugh, was al he meant. They'd been spending a lot of time together since Christopher's death. Matt had felt like nothing could be as bad as living with al of Christopher's stuff when Christopher himself was gone, but then Chris's parents came and packed it up, gently patting Matt on the back as if he deserved some kind of sympathy when they had lost their only son. And with just empty space where Christopher's things had been, everything was a mil ion times worse. Meredith, Bonnie, and Elena had tried to comfort him. They wanted so badly for him to be okay again that he'd felt guilty he wasn't, making it harder for him to be around them. Chloe had taken to coming by the room, hanging out with him or getting him to come to the cafeteria or wherever with her, keeping him in touch with the world when he felt like locking himself away. There was something so easy about her. Elena, the only girl he'd ever loved – before now, part of him whispered – was much more work to be around. Inside, he flinched at his own disloyalty to Elena, but it was true. Now he was starting to wake up and take an interest in things again. And he kept noticing with fresh surprise the cute dimple Chloe had in her right cheek, or how shiny her curly dark hair was, or how graceful and pretty her hands were despite the fact that they were often stained with paint. So far, though, they were just friends. Maybe †¦ maybe it was time to change that. Chloe snapped her fingers in front of his face, and Matt realized he had been staring at her. â€Å"You al right, buddy?† she asked, a little frown wrinkling her forehead, and Matt had to restrain himself from kissing her right then. â€Å"Yeah, just spacing out,† he said, feeling a flush creep over his cheeks. He was smiling like a goof, he knew. â€Å"Want to help with these wal s?† â€Å"Sure, why not?† Chloe answered. â€Å"I'l soap down the wal part, and you keep doing whatever you're doing there with that little toothbrush.† They worked companionably together for a while, Chloe now and then accidental y-on-purpose dripping soapy water onto the top of Matt's head. As they worked further along the paneling, the niche under the baseboard got deeper, until it was not so much a niche as a gap. Matt slid the toothbrush underneath to scrub – man, but it got grimy down there – and felt something shift. â€Å"There's something under here,† he told Chloe, pressing his hand flat against the floor and working his fingers into the gap. He slid his hands and the toothbrush around, trying to shimmy whatever was down there toward them, but he couldn't quite get a grip on it. â€Å"Look,† said Chloe after a moment, â€Å"I think the paneling might slide up here.† She wiggled the section of wood until it gave a raucous screech and she was able to work it up. â€Å"Huh,† she said, puzzled. â€Å"Wow, it's like a secret compartment. Seems like it hasn't been opened for a while, though.† Once she managed to ease the paneling up, they could see the space behind it was smal , only a foot or so in height and width and a few inches deep. It was ful of cobwebs. Inside was something rectangular, wrapped in a cloth that had probably once been white but was now gray with dust. â€Å"It's a book,† Matt said, picking it up. The grime on the outside of the cloth was thick and soft and came away on his hands. Unwrapping it, he found the book inside was clean. â€Å"Wow,† Chloe said softly. It looked old, real y old. The cover was flaking dark leather, and the edges of the pages were rough as if they'd been hand cut instead of by a machine. Tilting the book a little, Matt could see the remains of gilt that must have once been the title, but it was worn away now. Matt opened it to the middle. Inside, it was handwritten, black ink inscribing neat strong strokes. And total y indecipherable. â€Å"I think it's Latin. Maybe?† said Matt. â€Å"Do you know Latin at al ?† Chloe shook her head. Matt flipped back to the first page, and one word popped out at him. Vitale. â€Å"Maybe it's a history of the Vitale Society,† Chloe said. â€Å"Or ancient secrets of the founders. Cool! We should give it to Ethan.† â€Å"Yeah, sure,† Matt said, distracted. He turned a few more pages, and the ink changed from black to a dark brown. It looks like dried blood, he thought, and shuddered, then pushed the image away. It was just some kind of old ink, faded brown with time. One word he recognized, written three – no, four – times on the page: Mort. That meant death, didn't it? Matt traced the word with his finger, frowning. Creepy. â€Å"I'l show it to Ethan,† Chloe said, jumping up and taking the book from him. She crossed the room and interrupted Ethan's conversation with another girl. From the other side of the room, Matt watched Ethan's face break into a slow smile as he took the book. After a few minutes, Chloe returned, grinning. â€Å"Ethan was real y excited,† she said. â€Å"He said he'l tel us al about it after he gets someone to translate the book.† Matt nodded. â€Å"That's terrific,† he said, pushing the last of his unease away. This was Chloe, lively, laughing Chloe, and he would try not to think about death or blood or anything morbid around her. â€Å"Hey,† he said, pushing away the dark thoughts, focusing on the golden highlights in her dark hair. â€Å"Are you going to the party at McAl ister House tonight?† Maybe not pulled back, Elena thought, looking critical y at herself in the mirror. She tugged the barrette out of her hair and let her golden locks tumble, sleek and flat-ironed, down around her shoulders. Much better. She looked good, she noted, running her eyes dispassionately over her reflection. Her strappy short black dress accentuated her rose-petal skin and pale hair, and her dark blue eyes seemed huge. Without Stefan, though, what did it matter how she looked? She watched her own mouth tighten in the mirror as she pushed the thought away. However much she missed the feeling of Stefan's hand in hers, his lips on hers, however much she wanted to be with him, it was impossible for now. She couldn't be Katherine. And her pride wouldn't let her just mope around, either. It's not forever, she told herself grimly. Bonnie came up and threw her arm around Elena's shoulders, regarding them both in the mirror. â€Å"We clean up nice, don't we?† she asked cheerful y. â€Å"Ready to go?† â€Å"You do look amazing,† Elena said, looking at Bonnie with affection. The shorter girl was practical y glowing with excitement – eyes sparkling, smile bright, cheeks flushed, mane of red hair flying out seemingly with a life of its own – and her short blue dress and strappy high-heeled shoes were adorable. Bonnie's smile got bigger. â€Å"Let's get going,† Meredith said, al business. She was sleek and practical in jeans and a soft fitted gray shirt that matched her eyes. It was hard to know what Meredith was thinking, but Elena had overheard her murmuring to Alaric on the phone late at night. She figured that Meredith, at heart, might not be into the party either. Outside, people walked quickly in large, silent groups, glancing around nervously as they went. No one lingered, no one was alone. Meredith stopped midstride and stiffened, suddenly aware of a potential threat. Elena fol owed her gaze. She was wrong: one person lingered alone. Damon was sitting on a bench outside their dorm, his face tipped toward the sky as if he was basking in the sun despite the darkness of the evening. â€Å"What do you want, Damon?† Meredith said, warily. Her voice wasn't actual y rude – they'd gotten past that, working together this summer – but it wasn't friendly, and Elena could feel her bristling beside her. â€Å"Elena, of course,† Damon said lazily, rising and smoothly taking Elena's arm. Bonnie looked back and forth between them, puzzled. â€Å"I thought you weren't going to spend time with either of them for a while,† she said to Elena. Damon spoke quietly into Elena's ear. â€Å"It's about the Vitale Society. I've got a lead.† Elena hesitated. She hadn't told her friends about the hints she and Damon had found that the Vitale Society might be more than a myth, or that they might be connected to her parents in some way. There wasn't real y anything much to go on yet, and she didn't feel quite ready to talk about the possibility that her parents might have been mixed up in some kind of dark secret or how she felt, seeing the images of them when they were young. Making up her mind, she turned to Meredith and Bonnie. â€Å"I've got to go with Damon for a minute. It's important. I'l explain it to you guys later. See you at the party in a little bit.† Meredith frowned but nodded, and she steered Bonnie toward McAl ister House. As they went, Elena could hear Bonnie saying, â€Å"But wasn't the whole point†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Keeping his hand tucked firmly under Elena's arm, Damon led her in the opposite direction. â€Å"Where are we going?† she asked, feeling too aware of the softness of Damon's skin and the strength of his grip. â€Å"I saw a girl wearing one of those pins from the photo,† Damon answered. â€Å"I fol owed her to the library, but once she got inside, she just disappeared. I looked everywhere for her. Then, an hour later, she came out the library doors again. Remember when I said we needed to look for answers somewhere other than the library?† He smiled. â€Å"I was wrong. There's something going on in there.† â€Å"Maybe you just didn't see her?† Elena wondered aloud. â€Å"It's a big library, she could have been tucked away in a study carrel or something.† â€Å"I would have found her,† Damon said briefly. â€Å"I'm good at finding people.† His teeth shone white for a moment under the streetlights. The problem was that the library was so normal. Once they were inside, Elena looked around at the gray-carpeted floors, the beige chairs, the rows and rows of bookshelves, the buzzing fluorescent lights. It was a place to study. It didn't look like any secrets were hidden here. â€Å"Upstairs?† she suggested. They took the stairs rather than the elevator and worked their way down from the top floor. Going from floor to floor, they found †¦ nothing. People reading and taking notes. Books, books, and more books. In the basement, there was a room of vending machines and smal tables for study breaks. Nothing unexpected. Elena paused in a hal way of administrative offices near the vending machine. â€Å"We're not going to find anything,† she told Damon. His face twisted in frustration, and she added, â€Å"I believe you that there's something going on here, I do, but without any leads, we don't even know what we're looking for yet.† The door behind her, marked Research Office, opened, and Matt came out. He looked tired, and Elena felt a quick flash of guilt. After Christopher's death, she and Meredith and Bonnie had meant to stick close to Matt. But he was always busy with footbal or class and didn't seem to want them around. She realized with a shock that she hadn't talked to him in days. â€Å"Oh, hey, Elena,† Matt said, looking startled. â€Å"Are you going to the party tonight?† He greeted Damon with an awkward nod. â€Å"Mutt,† Damon acknowledged, giving a half smile, and Matt rol ed his eyes. As they chatted about the party and classes and Bonnie's new semiboyfriend, Elena cataloged her impressions of Matt. Tired, yes – his eyes were a little bloodshot, and there was grimness to his lips that hadn't been there a few weeks ago. But why did he smel so strongly of soap? It wasn't like he was particularly clean, she thought, inspecting a grubby trail tracing down Matt's cheek to his neck. It looked like something had been dripped on his head. It was almost like he had been cleaning something. Something real y dirty. Struck by a new thought, she glanced at his chest. Surely he wouldn't be wearing one of the V pins? As if aware of what she was wondering, Matt pul ed his jacket more tightly around him. â€Å"What were you doing in that office?† she asked him abruptly. â€Å"Uh.† Matt's face was blank for half a second, and then he glanced up at the door, at the sign saying Research Office. â€Å"Research, of course,† he said. â€Å"I've got to go,† he added. â€Å"I'l catch you at the party later, okay, Elena?† He had half turned away, when Elena impulsively put out her hand to catch his arm. â€Å"Where have you been, Matt?† she asked. â€Å"I've hardly seen you lately.† Matt grinned, but he didn't quite meet her eyes. â€Å"Footbal ,† he said. â€Å"Col ege bal ‘s a big deal.† He gently pul ed away from her restraining hand. â€Å"Later, Elena. Damon.† They watched him walk away, and then Damon nodded toward the door Matt had come out of. â€Å"Shal we?† he said. â€Å"Shal we what?† Elena asked, puzzled. â€Å"Oh, like that wasn't suspicious,† Damon said. He put his hand on the knob, and Elena heard the lock snap as he forced it open. Inside was a very boring room. A desk, a chair, a smal rug on the floor. Maybe a little too boring? â€Å"A research office without books? Or even a computer?† Elena asked. Damon cocked his head to one side, considering, then, with a swift movement, pul ed aside the rug. Below it was the clear outline of a trapdoor. â€Å"Bingo,† Elena breathed. She stepped forward, already bending down to try and pry it open, but Damon pul ed her back. â€Å"Whoever is using this could stil be down there,† he said. â€Å"Matt just left, and I doubt he was alone.† Matt. Whatever was going on, Matt knew about it. â€Å"Maybe I should talk to him,† Elena said. Damon frowned. â€Å"Let's wait until we know what we're dealing with,† he said. â€Å"We don't know what Matt's involvement is. This could be dangerous for you.† He had taken hold of her arm again and was pul ing her gently, steadily out of the room. â€Å"We'l come back later.† Elena let him lead her away, grappling with what he'd said. Dangerous? she thought. Surely Matt wouldn't be doing anything that would be a danger to Elena?