Biochemistry lab report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Biochemistry - Lab Report Example Paper chromatography is actually liquid-liquid chromatography, the paper should not be considered as solid phase, but the water molecules trapped in the cellulose of the paper form the ‘stationary’ phase. To saturate the cellulose, most paper chromatographic solvents have some amount of water in it. So the components with very high water solubility will move slower ( Parà © and Bà ©langer, 1997). Method: A 60:40 v/v acetonitrile: ammonium ethonate mobile phase is made, pH 7.2, and placed in a covered tall jar. Aqueous solutions of amino acids are spotted on the specified location (origin) on the stationary phase using a capillary and allowed to dry. The stationary phase is then put into the jar with mobile phase and allowed to run for 40 minutes. Mark the solvent front. Make sure the solvent stays well below the top edge. The stationary phase is then dried and sprayed with ninhydrin solution in the fume hood, and heated to allow the color to develop. From the Rf values (Table 1) it seems neither molecular weight nor the polarity had any significant effect on the migration. Glycine being the smallest did not travel the farthest. Looking at both, Rf and the color developed the sample X is Lysine and Y is Proline. Finger prints are seen on both the lateral sides of the paper, probably at the places used to handle the paper. They appear due to reaction between ninhydrin and the terminal amines of the lysine de-bonded from the amino acid. Also the sweat-gland secretions in the ridges of the fingers has proteins too (Sens,Simmons and Spicer, 1985). Conclusion: Paper chromatography can be used to separate amino acid from a mixture of amino acids. The migration of amino acids on the solid phase is a complex interplay between the molecular eight, shape, structure and polarity of the amino acids and their affinity towards the solid and the mobile phase. Use of ninhydrin to identify amino

Dram Job Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Dram Job - Essay Example In this regard, this paper discusses my dream job, critically highlighting the major factors and requirements of getting there. Undoubtedly, the fashion and apparel industry is a dynamic one with new trends setting in throughout the year. In this regard, I have always had an undying love for fashion and new trends primarily because my father used to buy me new clothes every time a new fashion trend set in. Additionally, I come from a strong Islamic background hat necessitate the followers to put on certain distinctive kinds of clothing. Owing to these factors, I have always aspired to work in a textile industry particularly as a high-ranking manager in order to help make clothes accessible to the human race. This is especially so after having watched certain regions in the world through the television, where adults had barely any clothes to cover their bodies. Primarily, my dream career is to set up a clothing company and run it as the CEO in Saudi Arabia. Although I am still in high school, I can clearly visualize myself managing this big textile company than manufactures a wide array of clothing. Perhaps it would be desirable if I elaborate why I prefer setting the company in Saudi Arabia. Since Saudi is my home, I prefer to operate there as the proprietor and because I am well versed with the country’s laws especially laws pertaining to business, I strongly believe that I will not face any major challenges during the startup. Besides, I have many friends back in Saudi Arabia who are very competent as far as marketing of fashion products is concerned and in this respect, their input will give my business a head start. Before I embark into any business or profession for that matter, I have to ensure that I successfully pursue and complete my studies to the university level. As part of my ambitions, I aspire to graduate from Cape Breton University (CBU) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree that will be very

Hearing Loss from Mobile Phone Use

Hearing Loss from Mobile Phone Use Discussion Mobile phones have become a part of modern life style. There has been rapid boom in the number of mobile phones in the recent decade. This rapid worldwide expansion of mobile telephones raises questions regarding possible effects of the emitted radiofrequencies on the health of the consumers. The electromagnetic waves can affect the human health ranging from increase the blood pressure, cause memory loss and induce migraines, hearing impairment to even cancer can also occur. Of all the anatomical structures, the ear is in the closest proximity to the mobile phones, hence most potential organ system to be damaged by the electromagnetic waves emitted from the mobile phones. Pure tone audiometry is a key hearing test for assessment of hearing threshold of the individual. It determines the degree of hearing loss and also type and configuration of hearing loss. Pure tone audiometry uses both air and bone conduction audiometry, the type of loss can be identified by the air-bone gap. In our study, while comparing the results of pure tone audiometry in controls (n=60) and total cases (n=60), it was found that in control group 51 individuals had normal hearing threshold, 08 had mild hearing loss and 01 had moderate hearing loss. Of the total cases, 39 had normal hearing threshold, 19 had mild hearing loss and 2 had moderate hearing loss. No individual in the cases or control group had severe or profound hearing loss. Chi square test with yates correction was applied for statistical analysis of the data, and difference was found to be significant (p value0.05). While comparing the results of distorted product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) in controls (n=60) and cases Group A (n=30), it was found that in cases group A, 19 individuals passed the test and 11 individuals failed the DPOAE test. Chi square test was applied for statistical analysis of the data, and results were not found to be significant (p value>0.05). On comparing the results of distorted product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) in controls (n=60) and cases Group B (n=30), it was found that in cases group B, 15 individuals passed the test and 15 individuals failed the DPOAE test. Chi square test was applied for statistical analysis of the data, and results were not found to be significant (p value>0.05). The European project EMFnEAR, was done to assess the harmful effects of short term electromagnetic waves emitted from UTMS mobile device over the outer hair cells. Functioning of outer hair cells was assessed by DPOAE. They concluded that short term exposure to EMFs of mobile phones does not cause measurable immediate effects on the human auditory system. Renzo R et al also conducted a similar study to assess the short term effects of mobile phone use on ear, assessed by transient evoked otoacoustic emissions and brainstem evoked audiometry response. The study parameters were similar to our study but they studied the short term effects of EMFs in contrast to our study where we tried to find the effects of long term exposure. They did not find any change in the auditory functions, before and after the short exposure to electromagnetic radiations. Ozturan et al assessed transient evoked OAE and distorted product OAE in adults exposed to 10 min telephone call using GSM mobile phones. The tests were done before and after the exposure. They concluded that otoacoustic emissions did not change after the electromagnetic waves exposure. Bamiou DE et al also reported that there was no change in the transient evoked otoacoustic emission, due to electromagnetic waves of mobile phones. S Bhagat et al, studied the effects of chronic exposure to EMF emitted from mobile phone on inner ear by using distorted product otoacoustic emissions. Individuals using mobile phones for more than 4 years were studied. It was concluded that long-term and frequent exposure to EMFs from mobile phone does not cause damage to outer hair cells of cochlea. P. Karthikeyan et al did a study on hundred students who were mobile phone users. They were divided into two groups of more than and less than two hours of mobile usage. DPAOE was done and compared to controls. Significant change in DPOAE was seen in cases, more so in group with more than two hours of cell phone usage. Alsanosi AA et al did a study to assess the immediate consequences of 60 minutes exposure to mobile phones on hearing function by determining changes in distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) and hearing threshold levels (HTLs). They concluded that sixty minutes of close exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted by a mobile phone had an immediate effect on HTL assessed by pure-tone audiogram and inner ear (assessed by DPOAE) in young human subjects. While in our study, on comparing DPOAE, we did not find any significant difference between the total cases and controls. On comparing the each sub group of cases to controls, no statistically significant difference was noted. This is in concurrence with most of the studies done in India and abroad. Though, P. Karthikeyan and Alsanosi have shown different results from those observed in our study. Though a lot of research publications are available in favour of and against the results observed in our study, but in all these studies studied the effects of electromagnetic frequencies of mobile phones on functioning of outer hair cells, but no criteria was taken as standard for comparison as different duration (in years) of exposure, different hours per day of use, and acute effect v/s chronic effects. The major limitation of epidemiological studies addressing the health effects of mobile phone use is related to exposure assessment. Also, other factors were not taken in account like exposure to noise, which is known to cause damage to outer hair cells much before any change in pure tone audiometry is seen (Anjali Desai et al, 1999) (RJ Salvi ea at, 2000). So, with all these factors nothing can be said with much certainty. Further research is needed to establish the effect of EMF on outer hair cells. The present scientific evidences are insufficient to support the belief that there will be no ill effects on human health and the present safety standards are enough to protect users from ill effects, if any. This present situation of scientific uncertainty calls for the requirement of both precautionary measures and further research. Ill effects of mobile phone use on health might be of the field of interest for future research. We conclude from our study that: mobile telephones should be used for short periods only, only for essential purposes, and unnecessary long conversation over mobile phones should be avoided.

Dying for Love in Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez E

Dying for Love in "Of Love and Other Demons" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Based on part of the XVIII century, when the prevalent times of the Spanish Inquisition dominated the powers of the society and the people was ruled by an orthodox way of thinking, Gabriel Garcia Marquez gives birth to "Of Love and Other Demons". According to The American Heritage Dictionary, Inquisition was a former Roman Catholic tribunal established to suppress heresy. The term Heresy originally meant a belief that one arrived at by oneself (Greek hairesis, "choosing for oneself"), and it is any religious doctrine opposed to the dogma of a particular church, especially a doctrine held by a person professing faith in the teachings of that church. Surrounded by many cities, such as Lima, Portobelo and Veracruz, "Of Love and Other Demons" takes place in Cartagena-Colombia, a small city on an island formed by shallow extension of the harbor, and surrounded by a 12 meters (40 ft) thick wall. This city still is a cultural relic, which nowadays preserves some of the stone-built structure s characteristic of the era. "Of Love and Other Demons" reflects how differences in cultures affect people's thoughts as well as what effects it may cause to the society when ruled by a major power. Garcia Marquez, winner of the Nobel of Literature of 1982, has a certain kind of power over the readers. He involves them in a very visual and fantastic space, where the expressiveness and dominance of the language makes the reader stay on his or her way to the end of the story. In a place such as Cartegena, a typical South American town where the popular siesta, the hammock and the huerto of los naranjos, bring up the life of the natural environment; the author relates the story ... ... personalities were shared, since in the time of inquisition, they were ruled by religious and Catholic thoughts that were nothing else that a mirror of non-free life that all citizen should follow. Both the Marquis and Bernarda die turning crazy on each corner of their lives, but the love that the Marquis tried to give once will remain alive although his daughter is not aware about it. Sierva Maria was not possessed by the demons, since at the end of the novel, Garcia Marquez specifies that she dies of love, pulling the grapes off not one by one but two by two, hardly breathing in her longing to strip the cluster of its last grape. Desperation is following her everywhere she goes within her mind, and love and demons cannot pertain to each other, cultures can. Works Cited: Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. Of Love and Other Demons. New York: Penguin Books, 1995.

Cosmetic Surgery Essay

Cosmetic Surgery is a widely accepted practice among men and women. You can have anything done to yourself as long as you have the money. With the advancement in today’s technology, more men and women are flocking to have expensive cosmetic procedures done. The percentage of men and women getting some type of surgery done to themselves are drastically different. Women have the highest number on the chart for having cosmetic surgery and men don’t even come close to their numbers. Men and women share the same types of surgery like: breast augmentation, liposuction, Botox and even laser hair removal. Teenagers are slowly starting to climb the charts more every year. The average age for teenagers are between 16-18 years old. Teenage girls and boys go for procedures like; microdermabrasion, chemical peels and nose jobs. Some people believe that it is immoral to have surgery to change your appearance while other people believe that it is all right to have a tattoo. What is the difference between having surgery to change a defect in your appearance and having a tattoo? There is no difference, one can be removed and the other cannot. Every year, the average American spends millions of dollars on the many different types of cosmetic procedures available. Many women would like to have surgery done to enhance the look of their bodies. Most women go through the agonizing pain of surgery for a needed boost in their self confidence. What do you see when you look in the mirror? For most women, they see imperfection and room for improvement. Often time’s people try to change themselves in order to make others happy. Cosmetic Surgery is so popular with the average American, it makes you wonder what our society will look like in 10 years. The most common surgical procedures done for women are; Breast augmentation, and Liposuction. In the year 2007, more than 399,440 women had a breast augmentation and 398,848 women had liposuction ( Mann 2007). Another type of cosmetic procedure people have done are non-surgical procedures. Non-surgical simply means aesthetics are not necessary to be used in order to have the surgery done. Hyaluronic acid treatments, and Botox were the most popular non-surgical procedures for  women. Hyaluronic is just a fancy word for skin treatments or acne treatments. Botox procedures essentially paralyze the muscles in the face to eliminate wrinkles and lines in patients by preventing the muscles from contracting (Sommerfeld 2007). The number of non-surgical procedures women have done are dramatically higher than surgical procedures simply because they are more affordable. Over 2,775,176 women have had Botox injections and over 1,448,716 have had some type of skin treatment done (Mann 2007). Not only are women wanting to change their appearance, men have also jumped on the band wagon. Men are increasingly changing the things they do not like to see. Men and women between the ages of 35 and 50 had the most cosmetic procedures in 2007, a lot of them being men because it is around the time they are going through their mid life crisis. In the earlier years, men were not as concerned about the way they looked, the way they smelled or the fact that they were going bald. With the influx of women coworkers in the job force men have become more self conscious about their looks. The better you look the more attention you receive. The two main surgical procedures men have done every year are liposuction and rhinoplasty. In the year 2008, more than 31,453 men had liposuction done on themselves to appear thinner to the opposite sex, and over 30,174 men changed their facial appearances by getting rhinoplasty done ( ASAPS 2007). The top Non-surgical procedures men have done are: Botox and Laser hair removal. Ironically, while some men are having hair removed from one part of their bodies, they are having hair transplanted to another part of their bodies. Hair transplants are another surgical procedure that is used widely among men and women. Men who are balding and have receding hair lines are having hair put back in order to look and feel younger. Over 225,099 men have received Botox injections and 309,692 men have had laser hair removal on some part of their body ( ASAPS 2007). Cosmetic Surgery is not only for adults, teenagers are jumping at every opportunity that comes along. Due to the parents having so much cosmetic surgery done, they are influencing their teenagers saying it is all right to have cosmetic surgery if you do not like the way you look. The most popular procedures for teenagers were: Laser hair removal, Microdermabrasion,  chemical peel, ear reshaping, and Rhinoplasty. Of those cosmetic procedures, 2 out of the 5 were actual surgical procedures ( Mann 2007). There is a difference between having cosmetic surgery to enhance your appearance and having cosmetic surgery to reconstruct a cleft lip, big ears and a collapsed nose. Having reconstructive surgery can benefit a child immensely simply by bringing up their self-esteem. In today’s society, some children ridicule other children who’s facial features are unattractive or physically impaired. The long-term physical and emotional phenomenon of many popular cosmetic surgeries, including implants and liposuction are unknown ( Zuckerman 2005). Teenagers are unaware of the health risks they face everyday by going tanning, smoking and drinking. Even though teenagers don’t want to accept the fact that tanning is bad for you health, they do not realize that tanning can actually lead to more cosmetic surgery not to mention skin cancer and wrinkles. Cigarettes and drinking make young adults prematurely age in their facial features making them look older than they really are causing another reason for cosmetic surgery. If they are unaware or choose not to pay attention to these risks then they are less likely to pay attention to the risks of cosmetic surgery ( Zuckerman 2005). In 2007, Americans spent more than $13.2 billion on cosmetic procedures alone. Of that $13.2 billion, $8.3 billion was spent on surgical cosmetic procedures, while $4.7 billion was spent on non-surgical procedures (Mann 2007). According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of cosmetic surgery procedures has jumped 457% since they began gathering these statistics in 1997. Over 11.7 million cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures were performed in the United States, of those procedures, 91% were performed on women. (Mann,2007). That is a whopping 10.6 million procedures done a year, an increase of 1 percent since 2006 ( Mann 2007). Before, men would stand by and let the women get all the cosmetic changes done to themselves and now they are slowly being put on the map. In fact, men had 9% of cosmetic procedures done in 2007, with the number of total procedures increasing 17 percent since 2006, to just over 1 million ( Mann 2007). Teens aging from 16 to 18 years old had less than 2% of the cosmetic surgery procedures. Either this information is not enough to be put on it’s own chart, or it is already incorporated with the men and  women. With the expense of having surgery and all the recovery time you have to take, it makes you wonder how far a person is willing to go for happiness. Some people think getting surgery is disgraceful and immoral, while others think it is all right to have a tattoo. What is the difference between having a tattoo and having a nose job? The only difference would be that, a tattoo can be removed while some of the surgical procedures people get cannot. They are for life, you cannot undo what you already did if you do not like the outcome. Every day more men and women are spending thousands of dollars fixing things they do not like about themselves. They are letting their children know that it is all right to have surgery because they are not developing fast enough, or get their nose done because it’s too big. I have nothing against the doctors that perform these surgeries, it is their job. With out these specific doctors, we would not be able to survive in the cruel world we live in today. They are here to help those of us who really need it, and help those who want it. Does having cosmetic surgery truly make you feel better about yourself, does it make you sleep better to know that you can try to look like someone your not? Does having surgery on the outside make people like you better, even though you are the same person on the inside? Either way you look at it, having cosmetic surgery only changes what you look like on the outside, and if this does not make your self-esteem higher, then your problem goes much deeper than surgery. Mann, D. (2007) Statistics on Cosmetic Surgery from ASAPS. Retrieved March 26, 2009, from http://www.yourplasticsurgeryguide.com/trends/charts-graphs.htm American Society For Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. (2009). Liposuction no longer the most popular surgical procedure according to new statistics. Retrieved March 26, 2009, from http://www.earthtimes.org/article/show/liposuction-no-longer-the-most,750221.shtml Sommerfeld, J. (2002). Liposuction Safety Concerns Assuages. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from http://www.nowfoundation.org/issues/health/whp/whp_fact1.html Zuckerman, D. (2005). Teenagers and Cosmetic Surgery. Retrieved April 10, 2009, from http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/companion.asp?compid=102&id=1

Relationship between productivity and the cost of production Essay

What is the relationship between productivity and the cost of production? The relationship between productivity and the cost of production is your cost per day or per hour compared to your productivity. By examine these two things together. The productivity which is your output for the amount of hours worked compared to the total cost of a certain item – you will be able to reach a â€Å"break even analysis† showing you how much you need to a make minus the total coast to make a certain amount of money. Why is the demand of labor a derived demand? The request for labor is derivative from the production and demand for the item that is being demanded. If the demand for a particular item increases two things usually take place – Most likely the cost of the item will increase and the demand for manufacture labor will increase soon the equilibrium price and production numbers will meet What is the relationship between productivity and the wages earned by employees where you work or at an organization with which you are familiar? Usually but not in all cases, the more an employee produces the more valuable they are because they are adding value to the company but this is not always true and example would be a sweat shop . What are some factors that determine the level of your income? Explain your answer. A person’s level of education an example will be; someone with a Master’s degree with is valued more than someone with a high school diploma. A person’s special skill set will be in high demand due to the scarcity of being able to replace them and how long it took to gain the knowledge they have, an example would be a highly skilled brain surgeon. Also the amount of danger involved in doing a certain job, there are certain jobs that are extremely dangerous and not many people are willing to do them so the demand for the person who will do it would be high, example would be cleaning the windows of the Burj Khalifa building in Dubai. Describe an example you are familiar with in which a technological innovation led to an improvement in productivity. What was the effect on the cost of doing business or activity in which this technology was employed? How did this affect the prices of related inputs? There are many technology innovations which led to improved productivity but the one that stands out most in my mind would be the cell phone. Before cellphones people had to stay in touch through either a land line or a public phone. The cell phone made the need for both of these obsolete. When cell phones first came out they were very expensive and only a select few had them, today people change cell phones due to the low cost, like they buy a new pair of sneakers. Today’s cell phones are like mini computers, they give sales men, business deals, and anyone else constant access to information and to one another, this alone raises productivity.

Difference Between Atomic Mass and Mass Number

Difference Between Atomic Mass and Mass Number There is a difference between the meanings of the chemistry terms  atomic mass and mass number. One is the average weight of an element and the other is the total number of nucleons in the atoms nucleus. Atomic mass is also known as atomic weight. Atomic mass is the weighted average mass of an atom of an element based on the relative natural abundance of that elements isotopes.The mass number is a count of the total number of protons and neutrons in an atoms nucleus. Key Takeaways: Atomic Mass Versus Mass Number The mass number is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom. It is a whole number.The atomic mass is the average number of protons and neutrons for all natural isotopes of an element. It is a decimal number.Atomic mass value sometimes change over time in publications as scientists revise the natural isotope abundance of elements. Atomic Mass and Mass Number Example Hydrogen has three natural isotopes: 1H, 2H, and 3H. Each isotope has a different mass number. 1H has 1 proton. Its mass number is 1. 2H has 1 proton and 1 neutron. Its mass number is 2. 3H has 1 proton and 2 neutrons. Its mass number is 3. 99.98% of all hydrogen is 1H 0.018% of all hydrogen is 2H 0.002% of all hydrogen is 3H Together, they give a value of atomic mass of hydrogen equal to 1.0079 g/mol. Atomic Number and Mass Number Be careful you dont confuse atomic number and mass number. While the mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons in an atom, the atomic number is only the number of protons. The atomic number is the value found associated with an element on the periodic table because it is the key to the elements identity. The only time the atomic number and mass number are the same is when you are dealing with the protium isotope of hydrogen, which consists of a single proton. When considering elements in general, remember the atomic number never changes, but because there may be multiple isotopes, the mass number may change.

Radford University Admissions and Acceptance Rate

Radford University Admissions and Acceptance Rate Radford University is a largely accessible school. Over 80 percent of applicants were admitted in 2016. Along with an application, students will need to send their official high school transcripts. Since the school is test-optional, applicants are not required to submit scores from the SAT or ACT, although they can submit them if they choose to. For complete information about applying, including important dates and deadlines, be sure to visit Radfords website, or contact a member of the admissions team. Campus visits are not required  but are encouraged for all interested applicants. Will you get in? Calculate your chances of getting in with this free tool from Cappex. Admissions Data (2016) Radford University Acceptance Rate: 81  percentGPA, SAT and ACT Graph for Radford AdmissionsWhat SAT numbers meanBig South Conference SAT score comparisonWhat ACT numbers meanBig South Conference ACT score comparison Radford University Description Established in 1910, Radford University is a public university whose attractive red-brick Georgian-style campus is located in Radford, Virginia, a town situated southwest of Roanoke along the Blue Ridge Mountains. Students come from 41 states and 50 countries. Radford has an 18 to 1  student / faculty ratio, and the average freshman class size is 30 students. Professional fields such as business, education, communications, and nursing are among the most popular with undergraduates. Radford has an active Greek community with 28 fraternities and sororities. In athletics, the Radford Highlanders compete in the NCAA Division I  Big South Conference. Students compete in 17 varsity sports. Popular choices include tennis, softball, volleyball, basketball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, and cross country. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 9,401  (8,453 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 43  percent male / 57 percent female96 percent full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $10,081 (in-state); $22,162 (out-of-state)Books: $1,200 (why so much?)Room and Board: $8,405Other Expenses: $2,900Total Cost: $22,586 (in-state); $34,667 Radford University Financial Aid (2015-16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 79  percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 47 percentLoans: 68 percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $8,304Loans: $7,587 Academic Programs Most Popular Majors:  Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Interdisciplinary Studies, Journalism, Nursing, Physical Education Teaching, Psychology What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Retention and Graduation Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 74  percentTransfer-out Rate: 34 percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 43 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 58  percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Golf, Tennis, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Cross CountryWomens Sports:  Tennis, Softball, Volleyball, Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer, Golf If You Like Radford University, You May Also Like These Schools: James Madison University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBridgewater College: Profile  University of Virginia: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphRoanoke College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphShenandoah University: Profile  College of William Mary: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphLiberty University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphMarymount University: Profile  University of Mary Washington: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphOld Dominion University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphFerrum College: Profile  West Virginia University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Data Source: Provided by the National Center for Educational Statistics

True and False Ranges

True and False Ranges True and False Ranges True and False Ranges By Maeve Maddox The combination fromto is often used to express a range of extremes, for example, â€Å"the prices ranged from $1 to $20.† A â€Å"true range† requires a set of objects, persons, topics, or attributes in a limited set. Here are examples of the words fromto used to express measurable ranges: McDowell Mountain Regional Park has more than 50 miles of hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails, ranging from easy to strenuous and ranging from 0.5 mile to 15.4 miles.   Childhood is the  age  span  ranging  from birth to adolescence. [Carpenter ants] are large ants ranging in size from one-quarter inch for a worker ant to up to three-quarters inch for a queen. The course in novel writing covered everything from outlining to publication. Birth injuries  range from mild to severe. A â€Å"false range† links disparate items that do not belong in any kind of mutual set. For example: The topics will range from current events in the world and community, to self-expression and topics chosen by the students.   The movie has everything from  comedy to love.   Free shipping on everything from handbags to jewelry [My list of favorites] has everything from Catholic High School Girls in Trouble to Zinc Oxide and You to A Fistful of Yen. Galileos offers everything from luscious wines to generous portions of your favorite Italian inspired food.   Festival has everything from a cake decorating to crocheted peanuts to jousting Such use of false ranges is ubiquitous. The usage rarely causes confusion in the reader, but it does reflect lazy thinking. Avoiding false ranges is easy. If you are not writing about the extremes of a set–like money or ages, or steps in a process–don’t use the word range or the phrase â€Å"everything fromto† Instead, use other words or expressions: The topics will encompass current events in the world and community, self-expression, and additional subjects chosen by the students.   The movie includes comedy and a love story.   Free shipping on all products. [My list of favorites] includes Catholic High School Girls in Trouble, Zinc Oxide and You, and A Fistful of Yen. Galileos offers luscious wines and generous portions of your favorite Italian-inspired food.   Festival features a variety of competitions that include cake decorating, peanut crocheting, and jousting. Note: The error of the false range is especially jarring when it contains more than two items: â€Å"[Joe’s Place] offers everything from  pizza to rack of lamb, to potato pancakes, to meatloaf.† 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 Style category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Idioms About Numbers55 Boxing Idioms5 Tips to Understand Hyphenated Words

Up to the thing u write Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Up to the thing u write - Essay Example Foxfire has become a hero for the people working in atrocious conditions and even puts his own life in danger when it comes to savings lives of his own group and people. Otter is fascinated by his uncle’s stories about America and wants to accompany his father and his uncle to the country. Otter thinks very highly of his uncle. His uncle talks about the social upheavals in China. He then talks about his work in America, making himself a legendary figure in China. Listening to his stories Otter thinks very highly of his uncle. He thinks that his uncle is brave and heroic to have this opportunity and to lead it. What he doesn’t realize till he steps on the land of America that his uncle was very humble to the grueling circumstances around. Uncle foxfire in fact states his acceptance of the situation in the statement above. It is so true that there are only two ways to deal with a situation at hand. Either accept the change and adapt yourself to it or change the situation as per your requirement. Initially the statement may sound heroic but as we go on reading further it is very tragic to know that the heroic spirit has bowed to the inevi tability of the situation. Only in last few chapters uncle Foxfire leaves up to the heroic spirit he has within

Analytical brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analytical brief - Essay Example Earth & Space Science professor and Quaternary Research Center director Eric Steig states that this is a fact and there is no theoretical basis that this is a natural cycle (p.5). Although there are different findings on this issue, a new study on these upswings associates with the rise of the temperature of the ocean surface. Scientists are still not in consensus on the possible cause of this issue. Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense as temperatures rise (Gore et al., An Inconvenient Truth). He presents a record of the temperature increase in correlation to the heat waves the globe experienced in the history. The data gathered prove that as the average increases, the extreme goes up as well. Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet (6 meters) with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide (Gore et al., An Inconvenient Truth). Gore argues that the melting of Greenland and Antarctica, due to rise on CO2 level cause e xtreme flooding by 2050. Although scientists believe that if Greenland and glaciers in the Antarctic melt, this will cause an increase in the sea level which will cause the low-lying areas to submerge into water. But they have different estimates on when this would happen. Some say that if the temperature rises to 3C, which is 5.4F within the next 100 years, there is a big possibility that Gore’s claim may happen (Nielsen-Gammon 22). With all the claims mentioned and data presented, how does Gore intend to combat our devastating predicament? His main point is to lower energy consumption to decrease the greenhouse gas effect by the use of Electranet. This will replace our fuel-consuming engines found in cars, factory machines and the likes. Coming from an environmental activist point of view, this will definitely help reduce our greenhouse gases that are the main cause of global warming. However, apart from some inaccuracies in his claims, Gore also fails to

Concept of Criminal Intent Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Concept of Criminal Intent - Essay Example ugh it cannot be denied that these two concepts are inevitably intertwined, the difference between the two lies in the fact that while a person may have sufficient motive to commit a crime, he or she may not be the one who actually intended to commit that particular crime (Koppenhaver, 2008). Hence, although motive, it being whatever reason whether personal or business-related that may induce a person to become involved in criminal activity, is a requirement for the commission of a crime, intent is the concrete intention of a person to commit a crime, like murder or robbery (Koppenhaver, 2008). What then is criminal intent? In order to answer this completely, it is important to first outline the various elements of a crime as it is a significant aspect of it. There are two main elements of a crime, the factual (actus reus) and mental (mens rea) that includes causation and proof of intention, respectively (Azuelos-Atias, 2007, p. 16). Actus Reus. Actus Reus or the factual element of a crime is the act of the commission of the crime itself and the events surrounding it, which includes the person’s behavior, the circumstances of the commission of the crime, and causation (Azuelos-Atias, 2007, p. 16). â€Å"The circumstances may exist prior to the committing of the act, simultaneously with it, and sometimes it may even come into existence after it† (Bein, 1995 cited in Azuelos-Atias, 2007, p. 16). Causation involves the establishment that the result, for instance brain damage due to grievious bodily harm, is connected to the act of the crime (Azuelos-Atias, 2007, p. 16). It is not enough to establish cause-in-fact of the damage as legal cause is something that needs to take into consideration the time period between the criminal act and the result, as well as foreign intervening acts (Azuelos-Atias, 2007, p. 17). For example, if the victim died one year and one day after the crime happened, which alleg edly caused the death of the said victim, the perpetrator is not

Florence County School district vs. Carter 1993 Research Paper

Florence County School district vs. Carter 1993 - Research Paper Example require better learning opportunities designed according to their needs, and they have the right to get this education from the public sector schools. These issues consequently made the Congress to pass an act in 1975 which is known as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This act assured that all the children, no matter what learning disability they have, are permitted to receive free and appropriate public education. Shannon Carter was a student in the 9th grade at Timmonsville High School in Florence County School, South Carolina. This was the time when her parents were told that their daughter would not be given education in a special education classroom, as she was suffering from dyslexia, rather she would be introduced in an Individualized Education Program (IEP) which would be in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Shannon was way behind her peers in education. When she entered high school, her reading ability was at the 5th grade level. The Individualized Education Program promised that by the end of the year she would be reading on level 5.8, as her current level was5.4, it meant that Shannon would make four months progress in reading after a complete year. This confirmed the fact that she would be left further behind her class mates. This was rather not acceptable to her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Carter. They wanted her child’s reading skills to be on the gr ade level by graduation. The Carters requested the school authorities to take more intensive and concentrated program for Shannon, but the school refused to do so. They requested the authorities a special education due process hearing. There, the parents of Shannon Carter demanded funding for Trident Academy, a school that specialized in imparting education to children with language learning disabilities. But the hearing officer did not accept the Carters request. He was sure that the IEP was the best option for the child and it was rightly designed to meet her

What Were the Reasons for the 1905 Revolution in Russia Research Paper

What Were the Reasons for the 1905 Revolution in Russia - Research Paper Example Some 90% of the Russia people were non-landlords, and those who made up the noble class were even fewer in number. Yet these noblemen and landlords held all of the rights to political power, determination and the best parts of the land. The common people were seen as superstitious and ignorant serfs who only understood force and brutal oppression. Though Czar Alexander the II (1855-1881) attempted at reform, as seen in his Emancipation Edict of March 3, 1861, which abolished serfdom and guaranteed the right to own land, the liberty of the peasants was still out of reach. The annual sums of the government to be paid in exchange for 'ownership' of the land were oftentimes greater than the dues that the peasants had formerly paid to the serfs. Furthermore, the land of the village communities designated to the people was most likely infertile because the nobles were allowed to only give the worst parts of their estates to the people and the village communities kept village land as collec tive property, which meant that no private ownership on the part of the actual farmers was possible. With the formation of an intellectual class, industrialization which concentrated the population and revolutionary societies that could now see the discrepancy between other democratic nations, people became more aware of what kind of living standards they should be entitled to. Nicholas II (1894-1917) only fanned the flame of discontent with his dictatorial and imprudent ruling style and his German wife, Princess Alexandra, who was more than eager to guard the full autocratic power for her husband. A revolution was the only way to alter the social. Of many immediate events that spurred the revolution on, the Bloody Sunday massacre of January 22. Workers on strike, along with their families, had started out marching towards the palace as a quiet hymn singing procession. Women and children were placed at the front of the demonstrating throng in hopes of deterring violence, but after a few warning shots, Czar's soldiers shot directly at the crowd and as a result, an estimate of 1000 people died. Not only did the event demonstrate the government's ruthless indiscriminate approach in the shooting, killing the strong along with the physically weak, it also displayed the fact that protest alone can never help bring about a paradigm shift within the political structure. As shown in the film Battleship Potempkin, many of the protestors were vets from the Russo-Japanese war, who had lost limbs and became crippled for the tsar. The treatment they receive in return for such a thankless service, displayed in the shooting, sparked further d isillusionment among the mass of fighting men. It is believed that this event capsized the remaining faith the people had in the government and triggered the revolution of 1905. The massacre could not have happened in Russia, however, considering the sheer vastness of the country, without the rapid growth of a proletariat class in the industrial towns, which began in the Russian Industrialization initiated by Alexander II's.

Behavioural Aspects of Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Behavioural Aspects of Marketing - Essay Example Even in the remote, unheard of societies, all people remain consumers with diverse interests and gullibility to get influenced in their decisions. Placing the consumers in the market place and psychologically dissecting their behaviour could be a cross-subject study of psychology, marketing and advertisement results. When we take consumers individually, it is necessary to take the perception and the factors influencing it. Learning and the resultant memory that motivates further action with changed or unchanged values that cause involvement and attitudes are very important. It is necessary to remember that this research region is very young, influx and energetic. It also is being 'constantly cross-fertilised' by external perspectives belonging to various disciplines. It is interesting to know the everyday activities of people. In one of the most influential works in the field, Solomon et al have impressively provided a comprehensive and contemporary detail of the currently prevalent consumer behaviour. The arguments are lively and practical while portraying the strategic marketing issues, diverse European values etc. They also provide a peek into the multi-dimensional European lifestyle, buying habits, marketing behaviour, their relationship with the global market and the behavioural fluctuations. They wrote in the preface: "The field of consumer behaviour is, to us, the study of how the world is influenced by the action of marketers. We're fortunate enough to be teachers and researchers whose work allows us to study consumers". This consumer behavioural insight has to be applied to our Whole Foods Market. USUAL BEHAVIOUR OF CONSUMERS The advertisements are so persuasive today that it is impossible not to listen or get influenced. Marketing opportunities, to a large extent are connected with the cultural dimensions that influence the behaviour issues and concepts. This does not mean that cultural compulsions do not change at all. We have seen that even in the rigidly religious countries, where almost everything is a taboo, consumer behaviour changes, but changes with ultimate slowness. Consumers are eager to new experiences, especially in the food region, with the recent food and nutrition knowledge. Solomon et al have drawn a multi-dimensional portrait of European consumers within which they have shown the European modern family structure and how it has influenced the household decision making. They have shown the traditional influence of the culture which still holds its own in addition to the influence and compulsions of income and the social class and how they command the consumer behaviour and individual decisions. Basic model of consumer decision making might follow the traditional path of problem recognition, search for the information, evaluation of alternatives, decision of choice, evaluation after the purchase and all these are adequately influenced or dictated by the values, lifestyle, cultural and cross-cultural differences. Habit forming products, non-habit forming products that are not purchased regularly fall into two different categories and are not influenced by the same decision making process. Then comes the power of

What Were the Reasons for the 1905 Revolution in Russia Research Paper

What Were the Reasons for the 1905 Revolution in Russia - Research Paper Example Some 90% of the Russia people were non-landlords, and those who made up the noble class were even fewer in number. Yet these noblemen and landlords held all of the rights to political power, determination and the best parts of the land. The common people were seen as superstitious and ignorant serfs who only understood force and brutal oppression. Though Czar Alexander the II (1855-1881) attempted at reform, as seen in his Emancipation Edict of March 3, 1861, which abolished serfdom and guaranteed the right to own land, the liberty of the peasants was still out of reach. The annual sums of the government to be paid in exchange for 'ownership' of the land were oftentimes greater than the dues that the peasants had formerly paid to the serfs. Furthermore, the land of the village communities designated to the people was most likely infertile because the nobles were allowed to only give the worst parts of their estates to the people and the village communities kept village land as collec tive property, which meant that no private ownership on the part of the actual farmers was possible. With the formation of an intellectual class, industrialization which concentrated the population and revolutionary societies that could now see the discrepancy between other democratic nations, people became more aware of what kind of living standards they should be entitled to. Nicholas II (1894-1917) only fanned the flame of discontent with his dictatorial and imprudent ruling style and his German wife, Princess Alexandra, who was more than eager to guard the full autocratic power for her husband. A revolution was the only way to alter the social. Of many immediate events that spurred the revolution on, the Bloody Sunday massacre of January 22. Workers on strike, along with their families, had started out marching towards the palace as a quiet hymn singing procession. Women and children were placed at the front of the demonstrating throng in hopes of deterring violence, but after a few warning shots, Czar's soldiers shot directly at the crowd and as a result, an estimate of 1000 people died. Not only did the event demonstrate the government's ruthless indiscriminate approach in the shooting, killing the strong along with the physically weak, it also displayed the fact that protest alone can never help bring about a paradigm shift within the political structure. As shown in the film Battleship Potempkin, many of the protestors were vets from the Russo-Japanese war, who had lost limbs and became crippled for the tsar. The treatment they receive in return for such a thankless service, displayed in the shooting, sparked further d isillusionment among the mass of fighting men. It is believed that this event capsized the remaining faith the people had in the government and triggered the revolution of 1905. The massacre could not have happened in Russia, however, considering the sheer vastness of the country, without the rapid growth of a proletariat class in the industrial towns, which began in the Russian Industrialization initiated by Alexander II's.

Software Requirements Specification Essay Example for Free

Software Requirements Specification Essay 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose Online Shopping Software main purpose is to provide customers with the possibility to perform online purchases on products already on store. Customers are identified properly and are able to perform online transactions using three kind of methods: either using credit card or banking documents, but also through PayPal account. Online Customers are divided on two categories upon user account types: basic and business. Basic accounts beside other attributes contain a specific one named Fidelity which deals with the number of years the user has been joining the online shop. On the other hand is business plan which is characterized uniquely by the Volume attribute that is the total amount of transactions performed within the online shop. The customer is able to operate throughout the system after properly authenticated. He is able to create a cart and add products to it or delete them as well. Then he decides whether he might go on with the checkout operation and complete the purchase. Once the user decided upon the plan to use: basic or business, he is given the alternatives to pay through the previously mentioned methods accordingly. Once the purchase is confirmed by the customer and admitted by shop commission, customer details come into use in order to define the shipping address and other supplementary information. Customer is given the possibility to view and print some information regarding his activity on the shop. For instance he can print the number of purchases completed by him from eh beginning of the current year. He can print the status of previously performed purchases and decide whether to cancel or not a specific purchase if it is still in â€Å"Not available† status. During the process of product selection and addition to cart specifying correspond quantity the system automatically checks if the product is available within the quantity or not. In case of negative response the system generates a request to the product supplier. Stated in short terms this is the overall situation on hand. 1.2 Document Conventions Specific terminology is used throughout the specification of the system. User Profile: stands for the profile of the customer (person) opened in the software. One person can have multiple profiles using different emails. A profile can be linked to none or one account type. Person: defines an real person who has an identity defined by class attributes. A person can have multiple profiles and consequently multiple accounts. For instance a person can have a basic and a business account. Account: defines an entity that enables the user to operate throughout the system and perform purchases. It is the super class of two other classes respectively: Basic and Business which extend the super class. Payment: defines an entity that enables an account to perform a payment transaction using one of alternative methods. Purchase: defines an entity that encapsulates a purchase object. A purchase is specified by a unique number and status thus using the Status class. Cart: stands for a container that holds selected products during the session and is included by a purchase. Cart Products: as the name itself defines an entity that makes possible operations of addition, deletion, and selection of products in and from the cart. Bank Transfer: stands for a payment method when using a basic plan. Credit Card: stands for a payment method using a credit card when using a basic plan. PayPal: defines a payment method when using business plan. In this case it includes a PayPal service using a previously configured PayPal account. 1.3 Intended Audience and Reading Suggestions The system is worth using by an audience that is interested on buying online products and benefit from facilities offered in such a case. Facilities are: saving time, saving money by selecting the best offer, comfort circumstances, safety of money transactions etc 1.4 Project Scope The scope of this project is to design and develop a system that is necessary to shops when they need to operate online, sell products online. The shop can keep an electronic history of all purchases and transactions. This gives more control over the operations that the company offers. The system can be adapted to a range of shops from simple small ones to big markets. A shop can outsource the function of shipping to another external company or can handle it itself. Project scope also includes financial transactions that call for other third party services like PayPal. Project scope from customer perspective, limits the range of customers to only those who have internet connation on some form and have a bank account in hand. The aim of this project is to promote an efficient, user-friendly, time-fashionable, safe way for customers to bye and receive products without being physically at a shop thus using virtual money. 2. UML Diagrams 2.1 Use Case Diagrams Online Shop from user perspective use case Description: This use case provides the viewpoint for the whole process from user perspective. Customer sees only the necessary functions that the system must define. Actors: Online Customer Preconditions: Customer must have a bank account. Base Case: 1. Customer must log in and authenticate 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Customer must choose the type of purchase to perform Customer can view and select products Customer can perform a purchase Customer can cancel a purchase He can view additional information regarding the purchase Alternative Flows None Post conditions: Customer performs transactions based on defined accounts. Additional Info/Issues: None View Products Use Case Description: View products use case describes the whole operations a user can perform on a product currently on the store. It also describes an exceptional case when a product is not available on the quantity required. Preconditions: Customer must login and authenticate firstly Base Case: 1. Customer can view the products 2. he can select the products 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. he can add the products to cart he can define quantities on ordered products system checks whether the quantity is satisfied or not system responds to client with approving the purchase system generates an automatic order to products supplier Alternative Flows None Post conditions: Customer performs transactions based on defined accounts. Additional Info/Issues: None Make Purchase Use Case Description: This use case defines the cycle when customer makes a purchase. When deciding to perform a purchase the customer proceeds to the checkout operation and then to the payment method and according verifications. Preconditions: Customer must confirm the final form of the cart and products already in. Base Case: 1. Customer must complete with the cart 2. he is taken to the checkout step 3. he is forwarded to a payment method based on the purchase type that he decided beforehand. Alternative Flows The customer may cancel the purchase when it is in â€Å"Not Available yet† status. Post conditions: Customer performs transactions based on defined account. Additional Info/Issues: Includes third party accounts like PayPal or supporting bank documents. Payment Use Case Description: Payment use case deals with the cycle of performing a payment through on of the methods mentioned. Preconditions: Customer must authenticate and decide upon the type of purchase to commit. Base Case: 1. Customer decides on the type of method to pay using either credit card or providing bank documents in case of basic type of purchase. 2. he decides upon PayPal method to pay if he decides on business purchase type. 3. each of the methods forward the user to the corresponding sites where he can enter credit card info, or upload a document or confirm a PayPal account. Alternative Flows None Post conditions: Customer performs transactions based on defined account. Additional Info/Issues: Includes third party accounts like PayPal or supporting bank documents.

Transforming Monocots Using Agrobacterium

Transforming Monocots Using Agrobacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is said to infect dicots naturally. What are the potential obstacles in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of monocots? Discuss how did the breakthrough (success in transforming monocots using Agrobacterium) come about? (60 marks) Gene transfer using Agrobacterium is a method of transferring genes by using a carrier to insert the gene of interest into the recipient host plant cells. This technology is based on the discovery of infection tumor in the dicotyledone plants caused by a bacterium, named Agrobactertum tumerfaciens. The species Agrobacterium is a soil bacterium which is capable to infect and caused plant wound and then developed into crown galls, normally formed at the trunk of many types of dicot plants. This Agrobactereium spp. has a special DNA, which has a small ring inside the cytoplasm called Ti plasmid (tumour inducing plasmid). On the Ti plasmid, there is a DNA fragment called T-DNA (transfer DNA) which contains the gene causing crown galls development. Plant cells have genes to code for the production of auxin and cytokinin, the two plant hormones which are used as energy sources by Agrobacterium. The use of Ti plasmid in gene transfer into plants is done by replacing the gene related to plan t hormone production and the gene producing opine substance with the desirable trait gene on the T-DNA and then using the Agrobacterium to transfer the gene to the plant chromosomes. Transformation of dicotyledenous plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens has been well established and widely used but not so in the case of monocotyledonous plants. The potential obstacle in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of monocot plants includes: Agrobacterium is responsive to phenolic compounds such as acetosyringone which are produced when the plant was wounded. The released phenolic compound from the wounded plant cells will stimulate the performance of vir gene on the Ti plasmid, leading to the transferring T-DNA to the plant chromosome. Most of the dicot plants produced this phenolic compound. On the other hand, most monocot plants did not produce the compounds or produced it in a smaller quantity, therefore resulted in the low efficiency of the Agrobacterium attachment. Furthermore, the wounded cells in the monocot plants multiplied less than in dicot plants. Tissue browning and necrosis following Agrobacterium infection is still a major obstacles especially in cereals. For example in case of wheat, following Agrobacterium infection, wheat embryo and root cells may produce hydrogen peroxide, which altered cell wall decomposition and resulted in a higher level of cellular necrosis and subsequently caused cell death. However the improvement method to resolve the cell death and to improve the transformation efficiency has been demonstrated in cereals (Frame et al., 2002) Apart from necrosis, physical characteristic and genotype, other factors affected transformation efficiency are strains of Agrobacterium used, binary vector, selectable marker gene and promoter, inoculation and co-culture conditions, inoculation and co-culture medium, osmotic treatment, desiccation, Agrobacterium density and surfactants, tissue culture and regeneration medium (Cheng et al., 2004). The Agrobacterium has specificity in attaching monocot plants. Most of monocot plants with important economic value are not hosts of the Agrobacterium, therefore the transformation efficiency involving them is low (Lippincott, 1978). Explants type, quality and source also affect the transformation efficiency foe example embryogenic callus derived from mature seed of rice was reported to be the best explant for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of rice due to its active cell division (Hiei et al., 1994). The breakthrough on the transformation of monocot plants using Agrobacterium started when Hiei et al. (1994), done a research on Japonica rice. They reported a stable transformation of Japonica rice by using Agrobacterium. They reported results of evaluations using molecular and genetic analysis on the R0, R1 and R2 progenies. The LBA 4404, the super-binary vector of Agrobacterium strain was demonstrated as the most effective vector for the transformation of three Japonica cultivars tested. Their success has open up the possibility of using Agrobacterium for transforming monocot plants such as maize, barley and wheat. In 1996, Ishida et al., has done a transformation research on maize by using a similar approach as developed by Hiei et al (1994). Their transformation efficiency was further improved by the addition of silver nitrate in the culture medium. Other factors that may influence transformation efficiency were also investigated that included incubation time and co-cultivation period. Zhao et al. (2002) optimized the transformation conditions based on Ishidas protocol and it was demonstrated that maize can be transformed with high efficiency by using Agrobacterium method. The gene transfer was done by using a combination of standard binary vector with the addition of antioxidant cysteine in the co-culture medium. In the same year, other researchers included had demonstrated that elite maize cultivars could also be transformed by using Agrobacterium-medated transformation method. Soon after maize, the successful Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of wheat and barley was reported (Jones H.D, 2005, Tingay et al., 1997). Compared with rice and maize, progress with wheat and barley has been slower. Various factors that influence the transformation efficiency have been further investigated. It was reported that the use of surfactant such as Silwett L-77 and desiccation treatment during co-cultivation increased the transformation efficiency of wheat. In the case of barley, since the success of Tingay et al., (1997) in transforming barley by using Agrobacterium, a number of other researchers around the world have reported the successful production of transgenic barley plants. However majority of the successful reports of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of barley are restricted with model genotype golden promise and igri. Therefore, optimizations of parameters are required to extend the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in other elite barley cultivars. The transformation of sorghum is the least successfully manipulated. Zhao et al. (2000) developed an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for sorghum and from the research it showed that the embryos from the field had higher transformation frequency than those from the greenhouse. Other transformation of monocotyledon plant reported such as Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of turfgrasses, such as creeping bentgrass (Yu et al., 2000), Italian ryegrass (Bettany et al., 2003), and tall fescue (Wang and Ge, 2005) were also reported. Although the delivery of foreign gene into several monocot species via Agrobacterium tumefaciencs has now become a routine technique, there are still serious limitations on the used of this technology on other major monocots. In order to achieve better success in transforming monocot using Agrobacterium, many factors and conditions were being investigated, such as selection of which target tissues which are highly responsive, adjustment of gene transfer conditions to increase the possibility of Agrobacterium attachment into the cell by adding phenolic substances such acetosyringone during co-cultivation period or in co-cultivation medium, that are similar to the substance released by plant cells when they are naturally wounded, using efficient promoter gene to stimulate the expression of the gene in monocot plants and the used of super-virulent of Agrobacterium strains to increase the transformation efficiency (Cheng et al., 2004).

Grapes of Wrath Essay: Steinbecks Communist Manifesto -- Grapes Wrath

The Grapes of Wrath as a Communist Manifesto  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   Steinbeck's political views are quite evident within The Grapes of Wrath. The subject of much controversy, The Grapes of Wrath serves as a social protest and commentary. Steinbeck's views as expressed through the novel tie directly into the Marxist ideals on communism.    Perhaps the first thing Steinbeck does in The Grapes of Wrath is establish the status quo. He sets up the farmers and the banks as the two main opposing forces. "Lord and serf... in a word, oppressor and oppressed" (Marx, 1) Immediately Steinbeck sets up the very same situation Marx establishes in The Communist Manifesto complete with proletarian (farmers) and bourgeois (bankers) classes.    The Joads and the other farmers clearly represent Marx's proletariat. The entire struggle they face is that of finding work or dying on the most basic of levels. Still, they fall victim to the conditions of the Great Depression, resulting in their continued inability to procure such a job. The migrants appear strongly as " the proletariat, the modern working class... who live only so long as they find work .. who must sell themselves piecemeal ... and are consequently exposed to all the vicissitudes of competition to all the fluctuations of the market" (Marx, 4). Steinbeck and Marx find an obvious agreement over the situation and classification of the Okies, the proletarian workers.    One must also consider the role of the capitalist bankers and upper-class owners in the novel. The banks serve several purposes. First in the novel, they force the rural farmers off of their lands. Being the natural proletariat, they must take to the road in order to find a job. The upper class, as well, distribut... ...hing for a reform of the current system. Bear in mind however, that there is no way to reform a system and let it be run by a "monster." Steinbeck's complaints about capitalism stem from its very basis and allow for no reform short of revolution. The old ways have died, violence is building, and as Marx would agree, revolution is imminent. The bourgeoisie and proletariat exist exactly as Marx states, and all the conditions are shaping up for a proletarian uprising. The revolution draws nigh as Steinbeck's characters learn the principles and values on which Marx bases communism. The Marxist revolution in The Grapes of Wrath is at hand, especially as working men unite.    Works Cited Marx, Karl and Friedrich Engels. The Communist Manifesto. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. New York: Penguin Books, 1998.   

Digital Encoding and Music Sharing :: Internet

Digital Encoding and Music Sharing Computers have revolutionized the world of music. Through the Internet, users can get any type of music at little to no cost. They practically eliminate the need to purchase new CD’s. This new concept is made possible through the process of digital encoding. The Internet is only a tool allow the freedom of sharing music. Mp3’s are the most popular form of encoded digital music and are the most readily available for the Internet. Most Mp3 players are played on winamp, which is available to the public. There has also been a great amount of controversy within the free sharing of Mp3’s. Mp3’s stands for Mpeg layer-3 type format media file. Mp3’s are digitally compressed songs form CD’s. The average track on a CD is proximally 50 megabytes in size. Through the process of digital compression modern software can minimize the amount of space for the same CD track to one-tenth the size, making the average Mp3 file 5 megs, losing only minimal amount of quality. The small amount of space that the Mp3 take up on the hard drive is much less than copying a .wav file from a CD. The average modem can transfer 5 Megs of information in about 10 min. It would take hours to transfer a .wav file of the same music quality. This is what makes mp3’s so popular for Internet and computer users. The average CD on the market today costs about 20 dollars. Through the uses of the Internet and Mp3 sharing communities such as Napster, Scour net, File quest, and Imesh, users can build a music library for a fraction of the cost of purchasing normal CD’s from a music store. Napster is one of the front-runners in Mp3 sharing. It works by networking your computer to every other computer that is logged onto Napster. Users can search for any song and download any song that is on any computer that is log onto the network. This program is so simple that a 10 year old can uses it. The simplicity of the program made Napster a multimillion-user program within months of it’s beginning. Napster has also made some real powerful enemies by allowing users to trade music. The music industry survives mainly on the sales of CD’s. Napster enables one person to purchase the CD, and through the use of their computer, they give the music to millions of different users.

Hsm 220 Final

Proposal to offer basic skills and vocational training programs in the community. Heather Craigen HSM 220 January 20, 2013 Although everyone certainly has a different story to tell, there seems to be a sort of toughness that resonates from those who have dropped out of school. In order to capture the attention that by all accounts is hard to keep captivated, you must put together a statement of opportunity that sparks their curiosity and peaks their interest.The dropout rate is having considerable impact on the community and there must be an intervention to put a stop to the current rate of teens that dropout instead of staying in school to empower themselves and to enlighten a city of the potential that still exists there. For those that remain stagnant in the community, it is important to set up a program that qualifies them in basic skills along with vocational training which will help them in their quest for employment in the community.Putting together a program is challenging, b ut the end result will prove well worth the effort put forth into it. The environmental factors that must be evaluated are the funding that is available and projected to be available in the years to follow. The economics of the area must be a factor as well. With businesses moving elsewhere, there must be a feasible alternative to each of the necessary components. Area demographics, community needs, and obtainable labor should be reviewed. The finance that is available must be utilized and spoken for when it comes to budgeting.In reality, the first year will be the starter year and we are looking at what it would cost per eligible student at a rate of 1,000 students and then at a rate of 2,000 students the following year. Local laws and regulations, and professional expectations must be examined and incorporated into our philosophy. We want to offer an opportunity that the entire community will grasp while doing everything that we are supposed to do. New technology as well as new pr actice models should be investigated.In order to have the success rate that I project that we will achieve, it is necessary to keep all technological advances current with the best that is financially feasible. It is better to spend more in the beginning than to have to continually update because programs are not up to speed. As we create the project, emphasis needs to be on strong management and training skills to ensure optimum success. It is important to get people in there that want to be there. Technology changes and improves daily and in order to keep up with other companies, you must keep up with the technological advances that are available to you.I feel the same about human resources. You need to evaluate the performance of all employees to give recognition (pay raise, promotion†¦) where needed and also to weed out those who are not performing as they should. There are too many qualified candidates out there that desperately want to work so there is no reason or excuse to let one slide by who is not fulfilling their duties that pertain to their job. The following is the Line Item Budget Table for Year One and the Line Item Budget Table for Year Two and subsequent years. Immediately following that is the Functional and Program Budget Table for Year One with projected students at 1,000.Operating Expenses:| Per Year| Rent | $125,000 | Utilities | $100,000 | Office supplies | $25,000 | Equipment/lease | $50,000 | Transportation and travel | $100,000 | Outside consultants | $100,000 | Overhead costs | $100,000 | Personnel expenses:| Annual Salary| Number of FTEs| Executive director | $100,000| 1| Training supervisor | $80,000| 1| Trainers | $50,000| 10| Administrative coordinator | $45,000| 1| Administrative staff | $25,000| 3| Employee-related benefit expenses @ 25% | $200,000| | Line Item Budget Table Year One Executive Director| 100,000| Training Supervisor| 80,000| Trainers| 500,000 (50,000 X 10)|Administrative Coordinator| 45,000| Administrative Staff| 75,000 (25,000 X 3)| Employee Related Business Expenses| 200,000| Rent| 125,000| Utilities| 100,000| Office Supplies| 25,000| Equipment/Lease| 50,000| Transportation and Travel| 100,000| Outside Consultants| 100,000| Overhead Costs| 100,000| Total| 1,600,000| Line Item Budget Table Year Two+ Executive Director| 100,000| Training Supervisor| 80,000| Trainers| 750,000 (75,000 X10)| Administrative Coordinator| 67,500| Administrative Staff| 111,000 (37,000 X 3)| Employee Related Business Expenses| 300,000| Rent| 187500| Utilities| 150,000| Office Supplies| 37,500|Equipment/Lease| 75,000| Transportation and Travel| 150,000| Outside Consultants| 150,000| Overhead Costs| 150,000| Total| 2,308,500| Functional and Program Budget Table Year One | Basic Skills Program (@60%)| Vocational Program (@40%)| Indirect Costs| Totals| Executive Director| | | 100,000| 100,000| Training Supervisor| | | 80,000| 80,000| Trainers| 300,000| 200,000| | 500,000| Administrative Coordinator| 27,000| 18,00 0| | 45,000| Administrative Staff| 45,000| 30,000| | 75,000| Employee Related Bussiness Expenses| 84,000| 56,000| 60,000| 200,000| Rent| 75,000| 50,000| | 125,000| Utilities| 60,000| 40,000| | 100,000|Office Supplies| 15,000| 10,000| | 25,000| Equipment/Lease| 30,000| 20,000| | 50,000| Transportation and Travel| 60,00| 40,000| | 100,000| Outside Consultants| 60,000| 40,000| | 100,000| Overhead Costs| 60,000| 40,000| | 100,000| Total| 816,000| 544,000| 240,000| 1,600,000| | | | | | The total budget need per eligible student for each program would be: Basic Skills Program: 816,000 divided by 1,000= $816per eligible student Vocational Program: 544,000 divided by 1,000= $544 per eligible student Indirect Costs: 240,000 divided by 1,000= $240 per eligible student Total Functional Budget: 1,600,000 divided by 1,000= $1600 per eligible student

The Da Vinci Code Chapter 98-99

CHAPTER 98 Langdon and Sophie moved slowly down the north aisle, keeping to the shadows behind the ample pillars that separated it from the open nave. Despite having traveled more than halfway down the nave, they still had no clear view of Newton's tomb. The sarcophagus was recessed in a niche, obscured from this oblique angle. â€Å"At least there's nobody over there,† Sophie whispered. Langdon nodded, relieved. The entire section of the nave near Newton's tomb was deserted. â€Å"I'll go over,† he whispered. â€Å"You should stay hidden just in case someone – â€Å" Sophie had already stepped from the shadows and was headed across the open floor. † – is watching,† Langdon sighed, hurrying to join her. Crossing the massive nave on a diagonal, Langdon and Sophie remained silent as the elaborate sepulchre revealed itself in tantalizing increments†¦ a black-marble sarcophagus†¦ a reclining statue of Newton†¦ two winged boys†¦ a huge pyramid†¦ and†¦ an enormous orb. â€Å"Did you know about that?† Sophie said, sounding startled. Langdon shook his head, also surprised.† Those look like constellations carved on it,† Sophie said. As they approached the niche, Langdon felt a slow sinking sensation. Newton's tomb was coveredwith orbs – stars, comets, planets. You seek the orb that ought be on his tomb? It could turn out to be like trying to find a missing blade of grass on a golf course. â€Å"Astronomical bodies,† Sophie said, looking concerned. â€Å"And a lot of them.† Langdon frowned. The only link between the planets and the Grail that Langdon could imagine was the pentacle of Venus, and he had already tried the password† Venus† en route to the Temple Church. Sophie moved directly to the sarcophagus, but Langdon hung back a few feet, keeping an eye on the abbey around them. â€Å"Divinity,†Sophie said, tilting her head and reading the titles of the books on which Newton was leaning. â€Å"Chronology.Opticks.Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica?† She turned tohim. â€Å"Ring any bells?† Langdon stepped closer, considering it. â€Å"Principia Mathematica, as I remember, has something to do with the gravitation pull of planets†¦ which admittedly are orbs, but it seems a little far-fetched.† â€Å"How about the signs of the zodiac?† Sophie asked, pointing to the constellations on the orb. â€Å"You were talking about Pisces and Aquarius earlier, weren't you?† The End of Days, Langdon thought. â€Å"The end of Pisces and the beginning of Aquarius was allegedly the historical marker at which the Priory planned to release the Sangreal documents to the world.† But the millennium came and went without incident, leaving historians uncertain when thetruth was coming. â€Å"It seems possible,† Sophie said,† that the Priory's plans to reveal the truth might be related to the last line of the poem.† It speaks of Rosy flesh and seeded womb.Langdon felt a shiver of potential. He had not considered the line that way before. â€Å"You told me earlier,† she said,† that the timing of the Priory's plans to unveil the truth about ‘the Rose' and her fertile womb was linked directly to the position of planets – orbs.† Langdon nodded, feeling the first faint wisps of possibility materializing. Even so, his intuition told him astronomy was not the key. The Grand Master's previous solutions had all possessed an eloquent, symbolic significance – the Mona Lisa, Madonna of the Rocks, SOFIA. This eloquence was definitely lacking in the concept of planetary orbs and the zodiac. Thus far, Jacques Sauniere had proven himself a meticulous code writer, and Langdon had to believe that his final password – those five letters that unlocked the Priory's ultimate secret – would prove to be not only symbolically fitting but also crystal clear. If this solution were anything like the others, it would be painfully obvious once it dawned. â€Å"Look!† Sophie gasped, jarring his thoughts as she grabbed his arm. From the fear in her touch Langdon sensed someone must be approaching, but when he turned to her, she was staring aghast at the top of the black marble sarcophagus. â€Å"Someone was here,† she whispered, pointing to a spot on the sarcophagus near Newton's outstretched right foot. Langdon did not understand her concern. A careless tourist had left a charcoal, grave-rubbing pencil on the sarcophagus lid near Newton's foot. It's nothing.Langdon reached out to pick it up, but as he leaned toward the sarcophagus, the light shifted on the polished black-marble slab, andLangdon froze. Suddenly, he saw why Sophie was afraid. Scrawled on the sarcophagus lid, at Newton's feet, shimmered a barely visible charcoal-pencil message: I have Teabing. Go through Chapter House, out south exit, to public garden. Langdon read the words twice, his heart pounding wildly. Sophie turned and scanned the nave. Despite the pall of trepidation that settled over him upon seeing the words, Langdon told himself this was good news. Leigh is still alive.There was another implication here too. â€Å"They don't know the password either,† he whispered. Sophie nodded. Otherwise why make their presence known?† They may want to trade Leigh for the password.† â€Å"Or it's a trap.† Langdon shook his head. â€Å"I don't think so. The garden is outside the abbey walls. A very public place.† Langdon had once visited the abbey's famous College Garden – a small fruit orchard and herb garden – left over from the days when monks grew natural pharmacological remedies here. Boasting the oldest living fruit trees in Great Britain, College Garden was a popular spot for tourists to visit without having to enter the abbey. â€Å"I think sending us outside is a show of faith. So we feel safe.† Sophie looked dubious. â€Å"You mean outside, where there are no metal detectors?† Langdon scowled. She had a point. Gazing back at the orb-filled tomb, Langdon wished he had some idea about the cryptex password†¦ something with which to negotiate. I got Leigh involved in this, and I'll do whatever it takes if there is a chance to help him. â€Å"The note says to go through the Chapter House to the south exit,† Sophie said. â€Å"Maybe from the exit we would have a view of the garden? That way we could assess the situation before we walked out there and exposed ourselves to any danger?† The idea was a good one. Langdon vaguely recalled the Chapter House as a huge octagonal hall where the original British Parliament convened in the days before the modern Parliament building existed. It had been years since he had been there, but he remembered it being out through the cloister somewhere. Taking several steps back from the tomb, Langdon peered around the choir screen to his right, across the nave to the side opposite that which they had descended. A gaping vaulted passageway stood nearby, with a large sign. THIS WAY TO: CLOISTERS DEANERY COLLEGE HALL MUSEUM PYX CHAMBER ST. FAITH'S CHAPEL CHAPTER HOUSE Langdon and Sophie were jogging as they passed beneath the sign, moving too quickly to notice the small announcement apologizing that certain areas were closed for renovations. They emerged immediately into a high-walled, open-roof courtyard through which morning rain was falling. Above them, the wind howled across the opening with a low drone, like someone blowing over the mouth of a bottle. Entering the narrow, low-hanging walkways that bordered the courtyard perimeter, Langdon felt the familiar uneasiness he always felt in enclosed spaces. These walkways were called cloisters, and Langdon noted with uneasiness that these particular cloisters lived up to their Latin ties to the word claustrophobic. Focusing his mind straight ahead toward the end of the tunnel, Langdon followed the signs for the Chapter House. The rain was spitting now, and the walkway was cold and damp with gusts of rain that blew through the lone pillared wall that was the cloister's only source of light. Another couple scurried past them the other way, hurrying to get out of the worsening weather. The cloisters looked deserted now, admittedly the abbey's least enticing section in the wind and rain. Forty yards down the east cloister, an archway materialized on their left, giving way to another hallway. Although this was the entrance they were looking for, the opening was cordoned off by a swag and an official-looking sign. CLOSED FOR RENOVATION PYX CHAMBER ST. FAITH'S CHAPEL CHAPTER HOUSE The long, deserted corridor beyond the swag was littered with scaffolding and drop cloths. Immediately beyond the swag, Langdon could see the entrances to the Pyx Chamber and St. Faith's Chapel on the right and left. The entrance to the Chapter House, however, was much farther away, at the far end of the long hallway. Even from here, Langdon could see that its heavy wooden door was wide open, and the spacious octagonal interior was bathed in a grayish natural light from the room's enormous windows that looked out on College Garden. Go through Chapter House, outsouth exit, to public garden. â€Å"We just left the east cloister,† Langdon said,† so the south exit to the garden must be through there and to the right.† Sophie was already stepping over the swag and moving forward. As they hurried down the dark corridor, the sounds of the wind and rain from the open cloister faded behind them. The Chapter House was a kind of satellite structure – a freestanding annex at the end of the long hallway to ensure the privacy of the Parliament proceedings housed there. â€Å"It looks huge,† Sophie whispered as they approached. Langdon had forgotten just how large this room was. Even from outside the entrance, he could gaze across the vast expanse of floor to the breathtaking windows on the far side of the octagon, which rose five stories to a vaulted ceiling. They would certainly have a clear view of the garden from in here. Crossing the threshold, both Langdon and Sophie found themselves having to squint. After the gloomy cloisters, the Chapter House felt like a solarium. They were a good ten feet into the room, searching the south wall, when they realized the door they had been promised was not there. They were standing in an enormous dead end. The creaking of a heavy door behind them made them turn, just as the door closed with a resounding thud and the latch fell into place. The lone man who had been standing behind the door looked calm as he aimed a small revolver at them. He was portly and was propped on a pair of aluminum crutches. For a moment Langdon thought he must be dreaming. It was Leigh Teabing. CHAPTER 99 Sir Leigh Teabing felt rueful as he gazed out over the barrel of his Medusa revolver at Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu. â€Å"My friends,† he said,† since the moment you walked into my home last night, I have done everything in my power to keep you out of harm's way. But your persistence has now put me in a difficult position.† He could see the expressions of shock and betrayal on Sophie's and Langdon's faces, and yet he was confident that soon they would both understand the chain of events that had guided the three of them to this unlikely crossroads. There is so much I have to tell you both†¦ so much you do not yet understand. â€Å"Please believe,† Teabing said, â€Å"I never had any intention of your being involved. You came to my home. You came searching for me.† â€Å"Leigh?† Langdon finally managed. â€Å"What the hell are you doing? We thought you were in trouble. We came here to help you!† â€Å"As I trusted you would,† he said. â€Å"We have much to discuss.† Langdon and Sophie seemed unable to tear their stunned gazes from the revolver aimed at them. â€Å"It is simply to ensure your full attention,† Teabing said. â€Å"If I had wanted to harm you, you would be dead by now. When you walked into my home last night, I risked everything to spare your lives. I am a man of honor, and I vowed in my deepest conscience only to sacrifice those who had betrayed the Sangreal.† â€Å"What are you talking about?† Langdon said. â€Å"Betrayed the Sangreal?† â€Å"I discovered a terrible truth,† Teabing said, sighing. â€Å"I learned why the Sangreal documents were never revealed to the world. I learned that the Priory had decided not to release the truth after all. That's why the millennium passed without any revelation, why nothing happened as we entered the End of Days.† Langdon drew a breath, about to protest. â€Å"The Priory,† Teabing continued, â€Å"was given a sacred charge to share the truth. To release the Sangreal documents when the End of Days arrived. For centuries, men like Da Vinci, Botticelli, and Newton risked everything to protect the documents and carry out that charge. And now, at the ultimate moment of truth, Jacques Sauniere changed his mind. The man honored with the greatest responsibility in Christian history eschewed his duty. He decided the time was not right.† Teabing turned to Sophie. â€Å"He failed the Grail. He failed the Priory. And he failed the memory of all the generations that had worked to make that moment possible.† â€Å"You?† Sophie declared, glancing up now, her green eyes boring into him with rage and realization. â€Å"You are the one responsible for my grandfather's murder?† Teabing scoffed. â€Å"Your grandfather and his senechaux were traitors to the Grail.† Sophie felt a fury rising from deep within. He's lying!Teabing's voice was relentless. â€Å"Your grandfather sold out to the Church. It is obvious they pressured him to keep the truth quiet.† Sophie shook her head. â€Å"The Church had no influence on my grandfather!† Teabing laughed coldly. â€Å"My dear, the Church has two thousand years of experience pressuring those who threaten to unveil its lies. Since the days of Constantine, the Church has successfully hidden the truth about Mary Magdalene and Jesus. We should not be surprised that now, once again, they have found a way to keep the world in the dark. The Church may no longer employ crusaders to slaughter non-believers, but their influence is no less persuasive. No less insidious.† He paused, as if to punctuate his next point. â€Å"Miss Neveu, for some time now your grandfather has wanted to tell you the truth about your family.† Sophie was stunned. â€Å"How could you know that?† â€Å"My methods are immaterial. The important thing for you to grasp right now is this.† He took a deep breath. â€Å"The deaths of your mother, father, grandmother, and brother were not accidental.† The words sent Sophie's emotions reeling. She opened her mouth to speak but was unable. Langdon shook his head. â€Å"What are you saying?† â€Å"Robert, it explains everything. All the pieces fit. History repeats itself. The Church has a precedent of murder when it comes to silencing the Sangreal. With the End of Days imminent, killing the Grand Master's loved ones sent a very clear message. Be quiet, or you and Sophie are next.† â€Å"It was a car accident,† Sophie stammered, feeling the childhood pain welling inside her. â€Å"An accident!† â€Å"Bedtime stories to protect your innocence,† Teabing said. â€Å"Consider that only two family members went untouched – the Priory's Grand Master and his lone granddaughter – the perfect pair to provide the Church with control over the brotherhood. I can only imagine the terror the Church wielded over your grandfather these past years, threatening to kill you if he dared release the Sangreal secret, threatening to finish the job they started unless Sauniere influenced the Priory to reconsider its ancient vow.† â€Å"Leigh,† Langdon argued, now visibly riled, â€Å"certainly you have no proof that the Church had anything to do with those deaths, or that it influenced the Priory's decision to remain silent.† â€Å"Proof?† Teabing fired back. â€Å"You want proof the Priory was influenced? The new millennium has arrived, and yet the world remains ignorant! Is that not proof enough?† In the echoes of Teabing's words, Sophie heard another voice speaking. Sophie, I must tell you the truth about your family.She realized she was trembling. Could this possibly be that truth her grandfather had wanted to tell her? That her family had been murdered? What did she truly know about the crash that took her family? Only sketchy details. Even the stories in the newspaper had been vague. An accident? Bedtime stories? Sophie flashed suddenly on her grandfather's over protectiveness, how he never liked to leave her alone when she was young. Even when Sophie was grown and away at university, she had the sense her grandfather was watching over. She wondered if there had been Priory members in the shadows throughout her entire life, looking after her. â€Å"You suspected he was being manipulated,† Langdon said, glaring with disbelief at Teabing. â€Å"So you murdered him?† â€Å"I did not pull the trigger,† Teabing said. â€Å"Sauniere was dead years ago, when the Church stole his family from him. He was compromised. Now he is free of that pain, released from the shame caused by his inability to carry out his sacred duty. Consider the alternative. Something had to be done. Shall the world be ignorant forever? Shall the Church be allowed to cement its lies into our history books for all eternity? Shall the Church be permitted to influence indefinitely with murder and extortion? No, something needed to be done! And now we are poised to carry out Sauniere's legacy and right a terrible wrong.† He paused. â€Å"The three of us. Together.† Sophie felt only incredulity. â€Å"How could you possibly believe that we would help you?† â€Å"Because, my dear, you are the reason the Priory failed to release the documents. Your grandfather's love for you prevented him from challenging the Church. His fear of reprisal against his only remaining family crippled him. He never had a chance to explain the truth because you rejected him, tying his hands, making him wait. Now you owe the world the truth. You owe it to the memory of your grandfather.† Robert Langdon had given up trying to get his bearings. Despite the torrent of questions running through his mind, he knew only one thing mattered now – getting Sophie out of here alive. All the guilt Langdon had mistakenly felt earlier for involving Teabing had now been transferred to Sophie. I took her to Chateau Villette. I am responsible. Langdon could not fathom that Leigh Teabing would be capable of killing them in cold blood herein the Chapter House, and yet Teabing certainly had been involved in killing others during his misguided quest. Langdon had the uneasy feeling that gunshots in this secluded, thick-walled chamber would go unheard, especially in this rain. And Leigh just admitted his guilt to us. Langdon glanced at Sophie, who looked shaken. The Church murdered Sophie's family to silence the Priory? Langdon felt certain the modern Church did not murder people. There had to be some other explanation.† Let Sophie leave,† Langdon declared, staring at Leigh. â€Å"You and I should discuss this alone.† Teabing gave an unnatural laugh. â€Å"I'm afraid that is one show of faith I cannot afford. I can, however, offer you this.† He propped himself fully on his crutches, gracelessly keeping the gunaimed at Sophie, and removed the keystone from his pocket. He swayed a bit as he held it out for Langdon. â€Å"A token of trust, Robert.† Robert felt wary and didn't move. Leigh is giving the keystone back to us? â€Å"Take it,† Teabing said, thrusting it awkwardly toward Langdon. Langdon could imagine only one reason Teabing would give it back. â€Å"You opened it already. You removed the map.† Teabing was shaking his head. â€Å"Robert, if I had solved the keystone, I would have disappeared to find the Grail myself and kept you uninvolved. No, I do not know the answer. And I can admit that freely. A true knight learns humility in the face of the Grail. He learns to obey the signs placed before him. When I saw you enter the abbey, I understood. You were here for a reason. To help. I am not looking for singular glory here. I serve a far greater master than my own pride. The Truth. Mankind deserves to know that truth. The Grail found us all, and now she is begging to be revealed. We must work together.† Despite Teabing's pleas for cooperation and trust, his gun remained trained on Sophie as Langdon stepped forward and accepted the cold marble cylinder. The vinegar inside gurgled as Langdon grasped it and stepped backward. The dials were still in random order, and the cryptex remained locked. Langdon eyed Teabing. â€Å"How do you know I won't smash it right now?† Teabing's laugh was an eerie chortle. â€Å"I should have realized your threat to break it in the Temple Church was an empty one. Robert Langdon would never break the keystone. You are an historian, Robert. You are holding the key to two thousand years of history – the lost key to the Sangreal. You can feel the souls of all the knights burned at the stake to protect her secret. Would you have them die in vain? No, you will vindicate them. You will join the ranks of the great men you admire – Da Vinci, Botticelli, Newton – each of whom would have been honored to be in your shoes right now. The contents of the keystone are crying out to us. Longing to be set free. The time has come. Destiny has led us to this moment.† â€Å"I cannot help you, Leigh. I have no idea how to open this. I only saw Newton's tomb for a moment. And even if I knew the password†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Langdon paused, realizing he had said too much. â€Å"You would not tell me?† Teabing sighed. â€Å"I am disappointed and surprised, Robert, that you do not appreciate the extent to which you are in my debt. My task would have been far simpler had Remy and I eliminated you both when you walked into Chateau Villette. Instead I risked everything to take the nobler course.† â€Å"This is noble?† Langdon demanded, eyeing the gun. â€Å"Sauniere's fault,† Teabing said. â€Å"He and his senechaux lied to Silas. Otherwise, I would have obtained the keystone without complication. How was I to imagine the Grand Master would go to such ends to deceive me and bequeath the keystone to an estranged granddaughter?† Teabing looked at Sophie with disdain. â€Å"Someone so unqualified to hold this knowledge that she required a symbologist baby-sitter.† Teabing glanced back at Langdon. â€Å"Fortunately, Robert, your involvement turned out to be my saving grace. Rather than the keystone remaining locked in the depository bank forever, you extracted it and walked into my home.† Where else would I run? Langdon thought. The community of Grail historians is small, and Teabing and I have a history together. Teabing now looked smug. â€Å"When I learned Sauniere left you a dying message, I had a pretty good idea you were holding valuable Priory information. Whether it was the keystone itself, or information on where to find it, I was not sure. But with the police on your heels, I had a sneaking suspicion you might arrive on my doorstep.† Langdon glared. â€Å"And if we had not?† â€Å"I was formulating a plan to extend you a helping hand. One way or another, the keystone was coming to Chateau Villette. The fact that you delivered it into my waiting hands only serves as proof that my cause is just.† â€Å"What!† Langdon was appalled. â€Å"Silas was supposed to break in and steal the keystone from you in Chateau Villette – thus removing you from the equation without hurting you, and exonerating me from any suspicion of complicity. However, when I saw the intricacy of Sauniere's codes, I decided to include you both in my quest a bit longer. I could have Silas steal the keystone later, once I knew enough to carry on alone.† â€Å"The Temple Church,† Sophie said, her tone awash with betrayal. Light begins to dawn, Teabing thought. The Temple Church was the perfect location to steal the keystone from Robert and Sophie, and its apparent relevance to the poem made it a plausible decoy. Remy's orders had been clear – stay out of sight while Silas recovers the keystone. Unfortunately, Langdon's threat to smash the keystone on the chapel floor had caused Remy to panic. If only Remy had not revealed himself, Teabing thought ruefully, recalling his own mock kidnapping. Remy was the sole link to me, and he showed his face! Fortunately, Silas remained unaware of Teabing's true identity and was easily fooled into taking him from the church and then watching naively as Remy pretended to tie their hostage in the back of the limousine. With the soundproof divider raised, Teabing was able to phone Silas in the front seat, use the fake French accent of the Teacher, and direct Silas to go straight to Opus Dei. A simple anonymous tip to the police was all it would take to remove Silas from the picture. One loose end tied up. The other loose end was harder. Remy. Teabing struggled deeply with the decision, but in the end Remy had proven himself a liability. Every Grail quest requires sacrifice.The cleanest solution had been staring Teabing in the face from the limousine's wet bar – a flask, some cognac, and a can of peanuts. The powder at the bottom of the can would be more than enough to trigger Remy's deadly allergy. When Remy parked the limo on Horse Guards Parade, Teabing climbed out of the back, walked to the side passenger door, and sat in the front next to Remy. Minutes later, Teabing got out of the car, climbed into the rear again, cleaned up the evidence, and finally emerged to carry out the final phase of his mission. Westminster Abbey had been a short walk, and although Teabing's leg braces, crutches, and gun had set off the metal detector, the rent-a-cops never knew what to do. Do we ask him to remove his braces and crawl through? Do we frisk his deformed body? Teabing presented the flustered guards a far easier solution – an embossed card identifying him as Knight of the Realm. The poor fellows practically tripped over one another ushering him in. Now, eyeing the bewildered Langdon and Neveu, Teabing resisted the urge to reveal how he had brilliantly implicated Opus Dei in the plot that would soon bring about the demise of the entire Church. That would have to wait. Right now there was work to do. â€Å"Mes amis,†Teabing declared in flawless French,† vous ne trouvez pas le Saint-Graal, c'est leSaint-Graal qui vous trouve.† He smiled. â€Å"Our paths together could not be more clear. The Grail has found us.† Silence. He spoke to them in a whisper now. â€Å"Listen. Can you hear it? The Grail is speaking to us across the centuries. She is begging to be saved from the Priory's folly. I implore you both to recognize this opportunity. There could not possibly be three more capable people assembled at this moment to break the final code and open the cryptex.† Teabing paused, his eyes alight. â€Å"We need to swear an oath together. A pledge of faith to one another. A knight's allegiance to uncover the truth and make it known.† Sophie stared deep into Teabing's eyes and spoke in a steely tone. â€Å"I will never swear an oath with my grandfather's murderer. Except an oath that I will see you go to prison.† Teabing's heart turned grave, then resolute. â€Å"I am sorry you feel that way, mademoiselle.† He turned and aimed the gun at Langdon. â€Å"And you, Robert? Are you with me, or against me?†