Protein Characterization by Electrophoresis

EXPERIMENT NO. 15 PROTEIN CHARACTERIZATION BY ELECTROPHORESIS Abstract The molecular weights of protein extracts were assessed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Two sets of four protein samples, standard bovine serum albumin (BSA), invertase, egg albumin, and casein, were prepared; one set containing ? -mercaptoethanol (BME) while the other did not. These were then analyzed through SDS-PAGE with 12. 5% resolving gel, prepared using 2 M Tris-HCl at pH 8. 8 and stacking gel, prepared using 0. 0625 M Tris-HCl at pH 6. . Results showed multiple bands located on the upper half of the gel, which suggested heterogeneity of the mixture and that the samples were heavy molecules. Introduction Proteins are biological macromolecules composed of one or more polypeptides, which are polymers of amino acids. Structurally diverse, these molecules also serve a myriad of functions from enzymes, which are the biological catalysts of many physiological reactions, to components that maintain the structural integrity and organization of cells (Pratt and Cornelly, 2011). Because of this, it has been a constant effort among chemists to extract and isolate proteins to determine the mechanisms by which they act and produce the results of their reactions. Further knowledge of their biological action could translate into the discovery of many resources that could facilitate humans’ and other species’ daily lives. Electrophoresis is an analytical tool through which one can examine the movement of charged molecules in an electric field. Many modern electrophoretic techniques use a polymerized gel-like matrix as a support medium. The molecules’ migration is dependent on the applied electric field, the rigid, mazelike matrix of the gel support, and their size, shape, charge, and chemical composition. The movement of a charged molecule in an electric field is given by: v=Eq? f (1) where v is the velocity of the molecule, E is the electric field magnitude, q is the net charge of the molecule, and f is a frictional coefficient dependent on mass and shape of the molecule. Hence, it is observed that under a constant electric field magnitude, the movement is dependent on the charge-to-mass ratio of the molecule. Since each molecule is expected to have unique charges and sizes, their mobility under the electric field would also be different. Gels used in electrophoresis with different pore size may be produced by using different concentrations of cross-linking agents. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) allows enhanced resolution of sample components due to separation based on molecular sieving and electrophoretic mobility. Because of the presence of a continuous network of pores in the gel, large molecules do not move easily through the medium compared to smaller ones. Two types of gels are used: the resolving and stacking gels, each having different concentrations of acrylamide and of different pH and ionic strengths. The denaturants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a detergent, and ? -mercaptoethanol (BME), a reducing agent, are frequently used in PAGE. The action of these two denaturating agents cause the production of polypeptide chains of constant charge-to-mass ratios and uniform shapes due to the SDS molecules binding with the hydrophobic regions of the denatured polypeptide and masking the native charge of the protein by its negative charge. This restriction, coupled with the fact that mobility of the SDS-protein complexes are based on molecular size, forms the basis of the electrophoretic determination of purity and molecular weight (Boyer, 1993). This experiment will utilize SDS-PAGE to assess the molecular weights of the extracted proteins invertase, albumin, and casein, along with standard bovine serum albumin. The effect of the presence of ? -mercaptoethanol was also investigated. Methodology With the glass plates clean, the gel apparatus was first set up with the comb inserted between the glass plates. It was made sure of that the set-up would not leak by allowing a little amount of distilled water to enter it, which was discarded afterwards. A mark, one centimeter below the teeth of the comb, was placed on the glass plate. The resolving gel, at 12. 5% gel, was then prepared in an Erlenmeyer flask. Using a micropipette, 1450 ? L of 40% stock acrylamide, 775 ? L of 2% stock bisacrylamide, 875 ? L of 2 M Tris-HCl at pH 8. 8, and 1500 ? L of distilled water were measured and mixed in the Erlenmeyer flask. Afterwards, 47 ? L of 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 40 ? L of freshly prepared 10% ammonium persulfate (APS) were added to the mixture. Then, ten microliters (10 ? L) of tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) was added and, after mixing it by swirling not more than three times, the mixture was poured into the gel apparatus with the aid of a micropipette up to the mark. The gel was then overlaid with a small amount of isobutanol-water mixture before it would start to harden. After the gel has completely polymerized, the isobutanol mixture was removed from the apparatus. Two pairs of two resolving gels were prepared as one pair would be used for samples containing ? mercaptoethanol and another pair for those that do not contain the said chemical. The stacking gel was prepared by taking 265 ? L of 40% stock acrylamide, 140 ? L of 2% stock bisacrylamide, 350 ? L of 0. 625 M Tris-HCl at pH 6. 8, and 940 ? L of distilled water and mixing all four in an Erlenmeyer flask. Afterwards, 25 ? L of 10% SDS and 60 ? L of 10% APS were added to the one in the flask. Immediately before the solution was added, 5 ? L of TEMED was added to it and swirled not more than three times, similar to that done with the resolving gel. This mixture was then rapidly transferred by a micropipette over the resolving gel and, after placing the comb over it, left to harden. The samples were prepared by getting 100 ? L of the protein sample, 20 ? L of distilled water, and 80 ? L of loading buffer with ? -mercaptoethanol in plastic tubes for the electrophoresis of the samples containing ? -mercaptoethanol. For those samples not containing the latter reagent, 80 ? L of the loading buffer was added. The same procedure was done for 100 ? L of bovine serum albumin. These were then placed in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes after which these were immediately immersed in an ice water bath for 3 minutes. The protein samples used were invertase, albumin, and casein. The loading buffer was prepared by mixing 2. 5 mL of 10% SDS, 2. 5 mL of 0. 625 M Tris-HCl at pH 6. 8, 2. 5 mL of 10% glycerol, and 5. 0 g of 0. 02% bromophenol blue, and diluting to 25 mL with distilled deionized water. Eight tubes were done all-in-all. The gel slabs were then placed in the gel chamber. The gel chambers were then filled with gel running buffer, making sure that the gel was completely immersed. This buffer was prepared by mixing 3. 0 g Tris base, 14. 4 g glycine and 1. 0 g SDS, and diluting to 1 L with distilled deionized water.. The set-up was then placed on a level surface. At this point, the comb was removed in one fluid motion to ensure that the wells would have straight edges. Ten microliters (10 ? L) of the samples with ? -mercaptoethanol was loaded into the wells using a micropipette. With the voltage set at 100 V and the protective electrode covering placed over the set-up, the gel was run until the dye reaches a level of 1 cm above the bottom of the gel slab. This was done again for those samples without the ? -mercaptoethanol. After the gels have been run, the gel slabs were transferred from the glass plates to a flat-bottom container where a small amount of staining solution was added until the slabs were completely immersed. This solution was prepared by mixing 50 mL of methanol, 10 mL of glacial acetic acid, and 0. 25 mg of Coomassie Brilliant Blue R250, and diluting to 100 mL with distilled deionized water. After that, the background staining was removed by several washings of destaining solution. This solution was prepared by mixing 25 mL of 95% ethanol and 5 mL of glacial acetic acid, and diluting to 100 mL with distilled deionized water. Results and Discussion Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) served as an effective tool in the characterization of protein standards and extracts because of the gel’s high resolving power for molecules up to 106 Da, accommodation of larger sized samples, an inert enough matrix with respect to the migrating entities, and physical stability of the matrix (Boyer, 1993). Polyacrylamide gels were prepared by the catalyzed and cross-linked polymerization of the acrylamide-bisacrylamide mixture. The polymerization reaction was facilitated by ammonium persulfate (APS), the polymerizing agent, due to its inherent instability and, hence, its tendency to decay and to give rise to molecules initiating these polymerization. Tetramethylethylenediamine (TEMED) was introduced to catalyze the decay of APS. Figure 1 presents the general equation for the polymerization reaction of the acrylamide-bisacrylamide mixture (Encor Biotechnology, Inc. , 2011). Figure 1. The polymerization reaction of the Acrylamide-bisacrylamide in the presence of ammonium persulfate and TEMED as the polymerizing agent and the catalyst respectively (Thermo Scientific, Inc. , 2011) Polymerization proceeded with the opening of an acrylamide double bond, allowing it to react with another acrylamide to produce a linear polyacrylamide. Cross links were generated through the incorporation of bisacrylamide into the linear polyacrylamides. Since molecular oxygen would react with the free radical sulfate ions (SO42-) thereby inhibiting polymerization, degassing was necessary. Furthermore, the tendency of molecular oxygen to react with SO42- would also be the reason why it would be necessary for PAGE gels to be poured into tubes or between glass plates instead of horizontal apparatuses. However, the degassing step was not done due to the unavailability of a degassing chamber. Isobutanol was added on top of the gel to also prevent the entry and accumulation of O2 (Encor Biotechnology, Inc. , 2011). Gel pore size is inversely proportional to the concentration of acrylamide. Therefore, to generate a broad and efficient range of protein separation, a discontinuous gel system was formulated, having a low acrylamide content on top and a high acrylamide content at the bottom. The capability of Tris-HCl to facilitate the propagation of electric current through the matrix qualified it as an appropriate loading buffer. It allowed the proteins to be drawn by the current through the sieving matrix slab (Thermo Scientific, Inc. , 2011). The polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses set-up had three important features. First, a stacking gel was cast over a resolving gel. Second, the two gel layers had different ionic strengths and pH. Third, the stacking gel had a lower acrylamide concentration and a lower pH. These conditions allowed the protein molecules to first concentrate into a tight band before entering the resolving solution. In this experiment in particular, the charge of the protein was kept uniform all throughout using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a powerful detergent that would denature the protein and would leave it evenly negatively charged. Also, ? -mercaptoethanol was added to cleave the disulfide bonds, enforcing completely disrupted secondary, tertiary, and quarternary structures. Prior to the loading of the sample, the discontinuous gel system was immersed in a glycine-Tris buffer prepared at pH 8. 8. At this pH, the two form of glycine – its Zwitterion ion and glycinate – would exist in equilibrium. H3N+CH2COO- – H2NCH2COO- + H+(2) When the voltage was turned on, the entry of buffer ions (glycinate and H+) to the stacking gel (pH 6. 8) shifted the equilibrium to the left, increasing the concentration of glycine’s Zwitterion ion, which would have a zero net charge, and therefore, would be electrophoretically immobile. Since the protein molecules would still be anionic at pH 6. , they would replace the nonmobile glycine molecules in order to keep the current running. As such, the relative mobilities of the ions in the stacking gel would be Tris base > protein sample > glycinate. Furthermore, the thin band observed in the upper gel would actually pertain to the protein molecules sandwiched between the Tris-base and the glycinate ions . The resolving gel, on the other hand, had a pH of 8. 8. When the ionic front reached it, the equilibrium of glycine species shifted to the right. The increase in pH and decrease in pore size retarded the movement of proteins and rendered the glycinate ions greater mobility. The relative rates of movement then became Tris-base > glycinate ions > protein samples. From there, it was the mass of the protein molecules that governed their mobility and thus identified them (Boyer, 1993). For qualitative analysis of results, the Coomassie brilliant blue dye (R-250), being the most popular staining reagent for the electrophoresis of protein samples, was used. Its mechanism of binding to the basic and hydrophobic groups of proteins manifested in the dull, reddish-brown to intense blue color change of the solutions. The staining method was started with the water wash of the gel cast to remove the electrophoresis buffers from the matrix. The matrix was then washed with methanol followed by glacial acetic acid to prevent the diffusion of protein bands form the matrix. The treatment with the dye followed. Lastly, destaining measures were employed to get rid of excess dye from the background gel matrix. This would allow a clear visualization of the bands that had formed (Thermo Scientific, Inc. , 2011). Figures 2 and 3 are photographs of the two gels after incubation and subjection to the dye. Figure 2. Photograph of 1st gel Figure 3. Photograph of 2nd gel In figure 2, multiple bands existed. This could suggest that the samples had other components. These could come in the form of other proteins, contaminants, or other impurities. Nonetheless, any of these possibilities suggest one thing; the sample is not pure although there are occasional times when homogeneous samples result to multiple bands due to degradation during the electrophoresis procedure (Boyer, 1993). Also, the identity of the proteins could have been determined if there were standards or â€Å"markings† to compare these bands with. However, there were none. The only information that could be extracted from the photographs could be that the proteins in the samples were heavy that they were only located on the upper half of the gel. Conclusion The separation of biomolecules according to charge, size, and shape through electrophoresis could give significant information such as the purity, molecular weight, and, hence, the identity of the biomolecule. In this experiment, the multiple bands produced in the gel set-ups suggested that the samples were heterogeneous. Their location in the gel suggested that the proteins were relatively heavy ones. To gain more valuable information rom these data, it is recommended that a set of standard solutions be also run on the gel so that they could be used as references for the identification of the proteins in the samples. Also, the protein’s exact molecular size could be determined by preparing a calibration curve from a set of standard solutions of proteins, with of course, known concentration. The curve should be a plot of the logarithm of the molecular weight of the protein versus its mobility in the gel matrix. From this curve, the molecular weight of the protein in the sample solutions could be extrapolated. References 1. Boyer, Rodney. Modern Experimental Biochemistry. Third Edition. San Francisco, USA: Benjamin/Cummings, 1993. Scribd. Web. 29 November 2011. 2. Encor Biotechnology, Inc. â€Å"SDS-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). † Encor Biotechnology, Inc. Protocols. Encor Biotechnology, Inc. , 2011. Web. 30 November 2011 < http://www. encorbio. com/protocols/SDS-PAGE. htm>. 3. Thermo Scientific, Inc. â€Å"SDS-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). † Thermo Scientific, Inc. Protein Methods Library. Thermo Scientific, Inc. , 2011. Web. 30 November 2011 < http://www. piercenet. com/browse. cfm? fldID=21518847-2D72-475F-A5B9-B236EC5B641E >.

Trends in Maritime Transport and Port Development in the Context of World Trade

Trends in Maritime Transport and Port Development in the Context of World Trade Carlos M. Gallegos 1. Structural changes in international trade and the evolution of maritime transport have a direct impact on port growth and expansion. Therefore, these elements and their recent characteristics must be examined, since they provide the frame of reference in which port reform in Latin America and the Caribbean has been carried out. These factors also determine future port development. A. Globalization, production, trade, and ports 2.Globalization, or the expansion of markets and hence of the economic prospects of societies, is taking place not only because of the supra-national nature of markets, but also because of the flow of foreign investment and the strategies of multinational enterprises. These multinationals today account for two-thirds of global exports of goods and services and nearly 10% of domestic sales worldwide. 3. In this environment of increasing interdependence in the wo rld, the international division of labor is changing as a result of structural changes in trade and unprecedented mobility of international capital.However, while the integration of goods and services and capital is progressing at a rapid pace, integration of the labor market is much slower. In addition, ever more sophisticated technologies are being disseminated, in a framework of spectacular streamlining in communications and telecommunications. The development of information technology has, in turn, boosted productivity and, in many cases, worker income. In general, electronic transactions and communications technology have been the necessary complement to full internalization and globalization and their major impact on production and world trade. . In mid-1999, developing countries began to recover from the 1997-1998 financial crisis in Asia, which had a severe impact on countries in Latin America. This recovery was spurred on in particular by growth in domestic demand in the Un ited States and other developed countries, low interest rates, and the Asian recovery. As a result, overall growth in gross domestic product (GDP) rose 3% (similar to growth in the developed countries). Countries are now back on the road to growth they embarked upon in 1993 that was interrupted in 1998. The global economy is projected to grow 3. % in 2000 (but only 3% in the developed countries). 5. In 1999, Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the worst economic indicators of the decade, due primarily to downturns in the Argentine and Brazilian economies. The region went into a recession (a drop on average of 0. 6% in GDP). The region’s estimated growth rate for 2000 is nearly 4%, spurred on particularly by sustained growth in recent months in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. 6. The global economic recovery in the second half of 1999 was also reflected in the upturn in world trade. World commodity exports in 1999 were valued at US$5. 6 billion — up 3. 5 % from the previous year when a negative rate of 1. 6% was posted. Export volume also grew, however at a similar rate to the previous year’s growth of 4. 5%; and for the third consecutive year, the average price of commodities fell (excluding oil). 7. World trade in services rose 2% in 1999, after last year’s sluggishness, with exported services valued at US$1. 3 billion, and there was a moderate rise in the international price of those services. 8. The regions of the world and the individual countries responded with quite varied demand and growth in their product in 1999.The situation in Latin America and the Caribbean was rather unique. 9. With the 1999 recession, the volume of Latin American and Caribbean imports fell 2% on average. However, performance in the region varied greatly by country. Imports rose 15% in Mexico, but fell 12% in the rest of the region. Similarly, the region’s exports grew 7% in 1999, but in Mexico the figure was almost double (13. 7%) . We should recall that almost 90% of Mexico’s exports (85% of which are manufactured goods) are to the US market, compared to 30% of exports from the rest of Latin America (40% of which are manufactured goods). 0. Intra-regional trade was also affected and fell considerably. The MERCOSUR countries experienced a downturn of 25% and the countries in the Andean Community, 28%. 11. Regarding the importation of services, the slowdown that began in 1998 persisted, and in 1999 there was a 9% drop on average (a 9% increase in Mexico, but a 13% drop in the remaining countries). 12. The outlook for the volume of world trade in 2000 is better; it is expected to rise 6. 5%, which is higher than the average increase in world production.Trade indicators are expected to improve in Latin America and the Caribbean, because of higher oil prices, increased investment in the region, better commodity prices and, especially, a major recovery in exports in general. 13. Foreign trade has gained ext raordinary strength and importance in the development strategies for the Latin American and Caribbean economies. Its expansion and growth is the engine of their economic growth. This is expected to continue, and what’s more the export structure is expected to be geared towards manufactured goods with high value added.Since nearly 90% of trade in this region is shipped by sea, port development is of the utmost important. B. Characteristics of maritime transport 14. Below are some of the characteristics of maritime trade traffic for containers, liquid and dry bulk cargo, and tourism (US$3. 5 billion). 15. Despite the changing, adverse conditions in production and world trade mentioned above, transport of maritime trade continued to grow in 1999, but only by 1. 3% — a slower rate than in previous years (2. 2% in 1998 and 4. 1% in 1997). This was the lowest level recorded since 1987.The volume of world trade transported on the seas was over 5. 1 billion tons, a similar fig ure to the previous year. Growth estimates for 2000 are roughly 4%, similar to 1997. 16. Containers. Use of containers has been on the rise since their introduction in 1956, and this market has the best growth outlook in the sector. As a result, high-capacity ships have been built; today more than 60 have a capacity over 5,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs). Container traffic was an estimated 190 million TEUs in 1999; of that amount the Port of Singapore moved 15. million TEUs. Studies forecast 6% annual growth in container traffic through 2005, as a result of continued expansion of the use of containers by the shipping industry in developing countries; increased trade in manufactured goods and products with a higher value added; the trend towards globalization by multinational manufacturers; and growth of megaships and the resulting rise in feeder and ferry traffic. 17. Liquid cargo. A total of 2. 159 million tons of liquid cargo was loaded in 1999, with an annual rate of change o f less than 1. 3%.Oil continues to be the main component, accounting for nearly 70% (roughly 1. 5 billion tons annually), followed by liquid gas and petrochemicals. Double-hull 300,000 ton supertankers are used the most to transport crude oil between its main axes, i. e. Asia, the United States, and Europe. 18. Dry bulk cargo. Maritime transport of trade in dry bulk cargo includes most notably: iron ore, coal, grain, bauxite/aluminium oxide, and phosphates. In 1999, together they represented 1. 233 million tons with an annual rate of change of 2. 8%; 70,000-ton bulk carriers are also important in this type of traffic.Many shipping companies build panamax ships to measure with cranes to load and unload bulk cargo, which reduces transport costs. Bulk cargo is still the largest segment of maritime transport, representing almost one fourth of total freight loaded annually. 19. Tourism. The cruise ship industry had grown and received massive investments in recent years. It is estimated t hat over 7 million persons will take a cruise this year, a similar figure to last year, and the American market is the main consumer. Recently, high-tonnage ships have been built, such as the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas, at 130,000 tons with he capacity to hold 3,115 passengers, inaugurated last November, and the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas, which has the same characteristics and began service in October 2000. Regionally, the recipient markets are most notably the Caribbean and the new market in the Southern Cone. Ports are competing to attract these passenger ships and face the challenge of having the appropriate port infrastructure in place, as well as the complementary service facilities that passengers require, such as taxis, buses, guides, and shopping centers. This is certainly a growing market in every respect, but a very competitive, capital-intensive one.C. The shipping industry: characteristics and prospects 20. The main shipping lines in the world, such a s Maersk Sealand, Evergreen, P&O Nedlloyd, Hanjin, Cosco, and many others serve the most complex, profitable routes in the world, including some in Latin America and the Caribbean. 21. The 25 most powerful shipping lines control almost 60% of container transport capacity in world trade. In addition to growing concentration of container activity in the hands of the largest, most powerful shipping lines, there is an unrelenting process of consolidation and the forging of alliances among the main shipping lines.In other words, they are growing larger every day, but have also decided to work together. The two most powerful alliances that were recently renewed are the Great Alliance (among NYK, Hapag Lloyd of Germany, the Anglo-Dutch company P&O Nedlloyd, Orient Overseas Container Lines (OOCL) of China, and the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)) and the New World Alliance (among Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) of Japan, APL/Neptuno Orient Lines (NOL) of Malaysia, and Hundai Merchant Marine (HM M) of Korea) which have focused primarily on reorganizing the main trade routes.The sphere of action of these alliances is broader, involving a global strategy and ground services. This raises questions about the ability of certain container port terminals to survive and particularly about whether or not the conditions for perfect competition are present in these markets. 22. Another characteristic of this industry is the production and servicing of mega container vessels. The number and size of postpanamax container vessels will continue to grow, which will increase the transport of containers, reduce stops in the main routes, and therefore increase the services of feeder ships.Ship capacity will continue to rise, and ports will have to adjust to their size. In 1999, over 120 postpanamax ships were operating. Maersk has ships that can transport nearly 7,000 TEUs (K and S classes) and 8,000-TEU ships are due out soon. Germanischer Lloyd is planning to operate a mega container ship o f 15,000 TEUs by 2010, when the volume of container trade is expected to be double the current figure (roughly 200 million TEUs). The ship would cover the East-West route and feed ships of 4,000 and 5,000 TEUs.This would reduce the number of port movements, but requires ports with enormous capacity. 23. Changes in container terminal operators. With the expansion of the container industry, the structure and organization of terminal operations have changed. Today there are three categories of container terminal operators: (i) port authorities that have decided to become directly involved in handling containers, such as the public ports of Singapore and the Virginia Port Authority or the private ports of Felixtowe or Freeport.However, this category has been on the decline with the emergence of port corporations; (ii) private port terminal operating companies involved in a process of concentration, including stevedoring. The 15 main operators have expanded their activities outside of th eir ports of origin, associating themselves with large stevedoring groups (e. g. PSA Corporation, Hutchinson, ECT, P&O Ports, and SSA); and (iii) the shipping lines that have decided to control and manage their own container terminals. This decision was made for two main reasons.The first was for strategic reasons, because these global transporters are involved in hub and transshipment ports and therefore need to control their operations, including docking priority and guaranteed availability of equipment for use. The second was to reduce costs, i. e. for savings, based on economies of scale and better control of terminal expenses. 24. The provision of port-to-port logistical services. As shipping lines (e. g. Maersk Logistics, Evergreen American Corporation) participate in ogistical service solutions, they absorb them or forge associations with these intermodal service providers to ensure consistent, regular service, meeting the client’s demands through the port-to-port supp ly chain. This range of logistical services, which includes the consolidation of containers, documentation services, and storage and distribution, will continue to expand and improve every day and will have a greater impact on reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. 25. Information and communications technology and electronic commerce.Port services will step up their use of computerized systems and information technology, such as the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system and the Internet. The increase in transport capacity will require immediate data on the exact location and status of cargo, as well as on all logistical and institutional aspects of port operations. In light of these requirements, all port and shipping industry sectors will continue to invest in new systems and channels of communication.The industry will be moving towards a paperless world in which all types of information are handled electronically. 26. Use of the Internet for electronic commerce is also import ant. That industry has shown impressive growth of 68% in the last year. This mode of commerce is affecting how the transport industry does business, and theories abound regarding its impact on the maritime port industry. Internet commerce was one of the topics discussed at the WTO negotiations, and the issue of taxes on e-commerce is still under study. 27.These characteristics and trends in the shipping industry are the result of the development of the world economy and globalization, resulting in demand for new standards of efficiency for maritime transport and creating new challenges for the world’s ports. D. Economic reforms and trade challenges for ports in the region 28. Macroeconomic reforms. The region has undertaken a series of macroeconomic reforms that prioritize export promotion, putting aside import substitution, which has been considered detrimental since the 1970s. 29.Important tariff reforms have been adopted that include marked drops in tariffs on finished pro ducts, and even lower levels for inputs for exportation; the adoption of fewer tariff tiers, with a single flat tariff; and the establishment of a positive, effective protection mechanism. This promotes the generation of value added, instead of punishing it. In terms of exchange rates, the various fixed exchange rates were eliminated, which were arbitrary and ignored market criteria. Real exchange rates govern currency exchange today.Tax reform has also been tackled, but not with the necessary vigor. Domestic taxes on income, assets, use, or value added are now contributing more to national public treasuries, replacing taxes on foreign trade as the main source of revenue. There is still a long road ahead for tax reform in most countries. Attracting foreign capital is another important element on the list of reforms that have sped up the growth of our economies, by helping external resources to complement low domestic savings and finance projects in new productive sectors.State refor ms complete the picture; they are an effort to redirect state leadership in the economic development process, where the state goes from being a major player, monopolist, and executor of economic activity to playing the role of a regulatory, control body that works with the private sector. State reforms also include the privatization of public agencies (ports have been in the forefront here) and other public institutions, such as customs. 30. Almost all governments in the region have made a major effort to move forward with economic liberalization, trade opening, and export promotion, allowing for major growth in the 1990s.Nonetheless the imbalance in wealth distribution, the inability of large segments of the population to overcome extreme poverty, and the still weak reforms of institutions and some branches of government are disturbing, destabilizing elements that are reflected in the serious economic malaise that many countries in the region are experiencing today. 31. FTAA 2005. The heads of government of the Hemisphere agreed at the Summits of Miami (1994) and Santiago (1998) to promote the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), in order to form a broad market stretching from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego that would be the largest international consumer arket, with 800 million inhabitants. Negotiations on customs rebates are geared towards complying with this date, and this mechanism is expected to substantially increase inter-American trade, thus intensifying the flow of hemispheric port traffic. 32. European Union. The policy of strengthening trade relations, particularly between South America and Europe, has been gaining major momentum; for example, trade negotiations with MERCOSUR are being promoted. Other plans, such as the free trade agreement between Mexico and Europe, confirm the trend towards increased trade between these two regions in the medium term. 33.Subregional integration systems. Another factor that has accelerated the flow of trade is the existence of several subregional integration systems, such as the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), MERCOSUR, the Central American Common Market (CACM), or the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). They must speed up subregional trade, but must also support the formation of the FTAA and facilitate the standardization of different trade policies. All of this will translate into increased movement in maritime and hemispheric port traffic. It is noteworthy that, at the Andean level, over 50% of commodities were shipped by sea in 1999. 4. Strengthening international trade negotiations. The World Trade Organization (WTO) tried unsuccessfully to promote a new round of trade negotiations at its Third Ministerial Conference in Seattle in November 1999. The proposed work program for the next five years consisted in negotiations on liberalizing trade in agricultural products, services, food security, electronic commerce, and other topics. Even though the differences of the developing and developed countries could not be bridged, important progress was made, indicating that a new round could be launched soon.The developed and developing countries also gave clear signs of their intent to continue with a policy of trade opening and economic liberalization, and there are no signs of a rebirth of protectionism. These indicators strengthen the foundation for the future growth and expansion of world trade. 35. Customs facilitating trade. Similarly, the World Customs Organization (WCO) is making progress in technical areas that facilitate trade, which favors the expansion of world trade in the short and medium terms.Significant progress has been made towards adopting revised standards on the origin of traded goods; the new and revised version of the Convention on Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (â€Å"Kyoto Convention†); standards for applying the Code to assess the value of goods in customs according to transaction value criteria; the ongoing amendments under the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System; and the application of new information and communications technology.All these customs instruments are essential complements for facilitating and expanding trade in our countries. E. Port actions for port development 36. Port reforms. The port sector in the region has exhibited change, but in different ways and to different degrees in each country. Generally speaking, the sector has been regulated and national port policies set, which in many cases had been absent. State monopolies in port operation and administration have been revised, by either totally or partially decentralizing port activity to local governments and/or granting the private sector concessions.Labor constraints have been overcome, and port authorities have therefore been playing a different role. This new environment is reflected in the revision of port tariffs, seeking to develop a more efficient, more flexible port system that is swifter, safer, and cheaper. The experts attending this event will more clearly and objectively illustrate how port systems operate in different countries in the Hemisphere. 37.I would like to reaffirm that, port reforms must be sped up for greater port efficiency and competitiveness, particularly in countries that have not yet done so, regardless of the ownership model the governments decide to adopt, since international trade will not wait, and the countries’ growth and development can not be put off because of undefined policy. Delaying this reform will only result in higher social costs in the medium term. While it is important to define a port system — be it public, private, or a combination of the two — it is essential to have the means and facilities or achieving levels of efficiency to be able to adapt to the requirements of world trade and compete successfully. Landlord ports are the most common arrangements in the region. That is where port authorities cease to serve as p ort operator, provide the necessary infrastructure, and grant concessions to the private sector to operate complementary services and terminals. Generally, in this situation, the central government grants financing to the sector, such as direct subsidies and credit guarantees. In general, this model promotes higher-quality service delivery. 38.The impact of ports on promoting national economic development. This is another consideration that I would like to reiterate, with a few examples of what is being done in other developing countries that have made progress in port reform. These countries have concessionaires and private terminal operators and have been adversely affected by the various financial crises. Their development strategy also depends heavily on exports. However, strategic development plans and specific recommendations are in place to strengthen the role of the port sector to ensure significant recovery of the national economy.They include: (i) operators reviewing their operating costs to eliminate unnecessary expenditures; (ii) enhancing the efficiency and productivity of port operations, particularly by shortening the time needed for container movement by crane or using more cranes for ships with higher cargo volume and employing information and communications technology in daily operations, bearing in mind the growing volume of cargo being moved and the corresponding volume of communications that must be executed; (iii) conducting more aggressive marketing campaigns to raise the volume of cargo sent directly from the country’s ports to its final destination; (iv) implementing infrastructure projects aimed at raising port capacity in the medium term; (v) conducting equipment and port facility maintenance campaigns to continue to ensure efficient operations; and (vi) continually revising the role of port authorities to cover changes in the market. In light of these reforms, their role is focused on planning and regulating port activity, fa cilitating the transport chain, controlling and supervising the activities of private enterprises by developing information systems, and promoting and working with the port community and foreign and international institutions. 39.Take into account trends and developments in the maritime industry and port operators in order to adjust port development strategies to the world challenges of this century. (i) Global port operators will continue to expand to new geographic areas and will maximize the use of technology to create worldwide port networks that can offer consistent levels of services and modes of operation. More alliances will be forged among port terminal operators to promote economies of scale and use of global capacity. (ii) Since capital investments will be high, only the most powerful enterprises with significant financial resources will remain in these alliances. iii) Port facilities will acquire new and better standards and advanced technology in order to serve mega shi ps. (iv) Container storage capacity must be improved through new systems and new facility designs. (v) There will be significant investment in communications and information technology for a world run electronically. 40. Finally, partnership for development. This mechanism will be crucial for the future of regional port activity, given the urgent need for information exchanges for decision-making in port operations on shipping companies and port operators, as well as on producing projects to be implemented jointly and meeting market requirements in general. Bilateral and multilateral cooperation must increase.The Organization of American States (OAS) has an Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) which serves as a forum for dialogue for the governments of all countries in the Americas and the port authorities, but also for port operators, shipping lines, and commercial, industrial, financial, academic, and scientific entities. Use of this mechanism is an effective, low-cost option f or strengthening hemispheric cooperation among ports in the Americas and contributing to their development. Port forums, such as those offered by the Andean Committee of Water Transport Authorities (CAATA) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), among others, work along the same lines for cooperation and to achieve port efficiency, which our government authorities must use to the fullest. 41. Conclusion. Ladies and gentlemen, my goal has been to provide you with up-to-date information on the ever-changing world of ports.What we are seeing in the world’s ports today we could never have envisioned 25 years ago, like 8,000-TEU megaships or ports with great capacity to move containers, such as the Port of Hong Kong with 16. 2 million TEUs per year. However, we often consider 25-year blocks in long-term investments in the maritime port industry. Changes in the industry in the next quarter of a century will be even more dizzying and spectacular, and our ports will have to ad apt. 42. In this globalized world and in our corner of the world where 90% of our trade goes through ports, it is the responsibility of the governments, operators, shipping companies, service providers, and workers to work together to support the development of both our ports and our economies. Let’s forge an efficient, competitive inter-American alliance for the future of our ports! CIP00106E

Reflecrion paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Reflecrion paper - Essay Example Despite these changes the Larry King case is an absolute tragedy that reflects that the new reality of the gay movement in America. In the past teenagers were hesitant to come out of the closet and reveal their feelings until there were matured enough to deal with society’s pressures and discriminatory forces against. At the earlier they came was late in high school or early in college. This has drastically changed due to exposure and perception of social acceptance of gays by television programming that has gay characters such as Ellen, Gossip Girl and Ugly Betty (Setoodeh, 2008). There is nothing wrong with any of these programs, but a ten year old may fall into the erroneous assumption that being openly gay at such age is a safe move when in reality can place a child in danger. Young Larry King was gunned down in classroom by another 14 year old called Brandon Mclnerney. Larry was going through some tough times such as being separated by social services from his parents due to allegations from Larry that his dad was abusing him. He was openly gay since the age of 10, but now his behavior was more erratic and even started dressing up as girl in school. The school had their hands tight up and could not do anything about the cross dressing due to hate-crime laws against gender discrimination. Larry was taunting Brandon in public because he liked him, but Brandon felt embarrassed and harassed Larry romantic motives. The situation got out of control and ended up in the tragic death of child. The second story studied Where old is still gold, not cold by David Lavoie deals with society’s perception of the elderly in a foreign nation. In this story a man travels to Malaysia and realizes after a diving class that in this part the hemisphere the fact that he is a senior citizen of 64 years old is seen by society as a reason to show greater respect to him. The elderly are seen as holders of knowledge and wisdom. The author of the story

Financial Accounting Concepts Phase 4 DB Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Financial Accounting Concepts Phase 4 DB - Essay Example In accordance with the introductory part of the report, it can well be stated that Management Information System (MIS) is a tool that assists management end users in decision making by providing/generating timely reports in a pre-defined, well documented fashion. From this definition, the key words that can be identified are: Thus implying that for routine decision making, managers are in need of some pre-defined reports that are generated by an MIS on a routine basis. Timely availability of required information is precisely what managers need today for effective decision making process. Thus, it can be well derived that MIS systems generate reports that also enhance the decision making ability of managers by means of providing quick and effective reports from the existing set of data and information. MSS or Management Support Systems were the earlier form of an MIS, where the prime target was to give information and support for the efficient decision making by managers. But the buzz word of MIS got clicked and became famous all over in the 60s. the concept of MIS, though older and much advance technologies have come into play these days, is still of much significance to organizations, mainly for the two reasons listed below: Its major emphasis is on the usage of IT by the business managers. As the true goal of a computerized IS is to support the decision making process of the management, not just data processing of the POS generated data. Its stress is towards the framework of systems that compiles and keeps organized set of IS applications. Business applications of IT should always be considered as unified and incorporated computer based information systems and not as autonomous data processing jobs. Providing information and support for management decision making by all types and levels of managers is a complex task. Such task is eased by the application of an MIS that eases the flow of

Digital technologhy plays a key role in eduction Essay

Digital technologhy plays a key role in eduction - Essay Example It is also argued that digital technology has the potential to support socio-cultural forms of not only ‘situated learning’, but also the associated perception of ‘communities of practice’ (Selwyn 2014). Some educators also argue that digital technology has the potential to support ‘progressive’ which are non-authoritarian forms of engagement in education. The progressive educational engagement include child-centred learning as well as open forms of teaching which advocates meaning making and interpretation in addition to encouraging learner autonomy as well as dispersal of power. Educational technologies are also believed to play a significant role in not only improving, but also transforming schooling (Gouseti 2014). It has the potential to transform â€Å"teaching and learning into an engaging and active process connected to real life† (Gouseti 2014, p. 37). Digital technology also prepares learners for future workplace. Despite digital technology being associated with many contributions to education, it is also evident that it can result to displacement of educational institutions. Digital technology cans also lead to the displacement of teachers in schools. Additionally, it is argued that the use of digital technology can result to partial reconfiguration of educational institutions (Selwyn 2011). Students also use digital technology inappropriately in school environments. However, it is good to know the integral role of a teacher in education as well as learning whether in technology-based or not in order to ascertain if technology use in education will lead to displacement of the teacher. Additionally, I think it is good for one to know more about ‘blended learning’. Understanding this will enable one associate role of the educational institution with use of digital technology. Armstrong, J 2014, BC High Students Punished For

Poetry reflexition Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Poetry reflexition - Essay Example here, the author has shown qualities of resiliency (as represented by the Sapele, tree being a sturdy and tall tree that is able to withstand strong gust of wind), and conscientiousness. As the literary piece loosens its meaning, the reader may found out the destruction whatever forces which had wreaked the environment. â€Å"This was before the sawmills†, â€Å"Forged copper scraped me a hollow body† and â€Å"The sharpest blade cut me a mouth† could only and literally mean the process of wiping out significant forested areas areas to make way for so-called development. However, the reader can consequently find out that it also meant the diminishing art, music, literature and the culture of Congolese people brought upon by the process of Westernization and assimilation. â€Å"I never learned Mangbetu language, its voiced and unvoiced trill. I speak only with a mouth carved shut.† And this was the sorry state of colonized countries in Africa which had most likely inspired the author to write the

UNIT 3 DISCUSSION BOARD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

UNIT 3 DISCUSSION BOARD - Essay Example Many argue that doing investment on stock market exchange is a profitable business but only by organization that trade large volumes of securities such as banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, pension funds, college endowment funds, etc. can win. One must not finally close doors and make some consideration by taking risk-return evaluation. The relationship between risk and return is one of the essential concepts to understand when investing—and it is  unique for every investor. While some investors may be willing to withstand a higher level of market volatility, others prefer a more conservative approach.   What is crucial to understands is your risk profile and how  it translates into a disciplined approach to investing. Risk, generally equated with the potential of an investment to generate financial loss, is a point to consider when engaging investments. Return is the usual measure of performance. As investments that offer higher potential for total return generally carry a higher potential for risk, informed investors do not simply seek to maximize returns. Instead, they focus on risk-adjusted returns, that is, the potential  returns that correspond to the level of risk with which they are comfortable. Risk tolerance is highly individual, based on a mix of subjective traits and objective circumstances. Your personal risk tolerance can be influenced by current world events, your own investment experiences—even your inherited views on saving and investing. To help you make suitable investment decisions, it is important that you work with a financial advisor who understands your ability to tolerate risk as well as the factors that affect your decisions. A financial plan is a great starting point. Your financial advisor can work with you to create a ample plan that addresses your long-term goals, while keeping in mind your short-range

Written Exercise 2 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Written Exercise 2 - Research Paper Example t argues that the government should provide more working opportunities for people, regulate businesses more aggressively, and prevent economic inequality in the society. In addition to this Occupy Wall Street Movement argues that the Capitalism employed in the market is not serving its purpose and therefore politicians should not control money. To distinguish the two we can say that Occupy Wall Street Movement is a global affair since its major influence comes from Canada and Middle East countries, which were demonstrating against world economic recession that occurred in 2011 (Reyes, 2011). Wall Street Movements are mainly organized via mails and social networks and it mainly targets the poor people in the society. The Wall Street Movement does not enjoy any support from any institution or media while the Tea party movement involves Republican politicians. The tea Party movement is about the rich people in the society such as the Koch Brothers and yet both groups still differ about the financial and economic system of American government. Tea Party involves middle age and older people while Occupy Wall Street enjoys the support of younger generation hence they use social sites as their major mean of communication. The two party movements have got two different cultural ideologies which is also another difference between the movement groups (Pfaff, 2011). The two groups differ from other political parties mainly in the way they are formed. Occupy Wall Street is not sure of its future leaders as compared to Tea Party which looks organized. Most of its members have also clinched seats in the government. The two parties also differ from other political parties in the past since they only advocate for economic changes in the government while the other political parties challenges for governance and control of power in US (Barrett, 2011). Despite the two parties looking cool and non-violent, it is important to take precautions especially due to the upcoming DRNC

Anger looking at different articles and compare and contrast Essay

Anger looking at different articles and compare and contrast - Essay Example But in this modern age and with the advancement of science, experts are viewing anger in a different perspective and are trying to understand the significance and impact it has on physical and mental health of an individual. In Jane E. Bhody’s account on â€Å"Venting anger may do more harm than good† (New York Times, March 8th, 1983) she speaks of a number of modern treatment techniques by different experts. One such, was a controversial book authored by social psychologist Dr. Carol Tavris called â€Å"Anger: The Misunderstood Emotion† (Simon and Shuster) According to her, anger is more destructive when it is expressed than when it is suppressed. But this view tends to limit the role of venting ones anger, than what is popularly practiced today. Research carried out has built a growing body of evidence that proves that though venting anger may reduce some forms of illness, it may actually enhance or contribute to others. The psychologist states that â€Å"People who are most prone to give vent to their rage, get angrier not less angry†. (Dr. Carol Tavris) The example she gives us is marital arguments where one person’s anger triggers or provokes its opponent to respond in a similar fashion. According to psychoanalyst Dr. Leo Maddow’s â€Å"get-the-anger-out† and â€Å"be honest with each other† can be quite destructive for the very fact that there is a face to face out burst of conflicting emotions. This can be disastrous especially in big companies, if workers are going to confront each other with anger; the healthy and peaceful atmosphere of the company is put on the line. Another view by a New York Psychiatrist Dr. Willard Gaylin, describes that the ventilation of anger is â€Å"a form of public littering†. (Dr. Willard Gaylin) He believes that though â€Å"happiness is held up as the main goal of life† (Gaylin) yet people alienate themselves from it. He adheres this to the technological

The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 Essay Example for Free

The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 Essay The law officially named, â€Å"The Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act†, was passed into law in 2002 in wake of the numerous corporate scandals that rocked our financial markets. One in particular was the Enron scandal, which before its collapse; Enron was thought of as one of the best companies in the United States. However, it failed to follow Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) from as far back as 1997 through 2001. When the company suddenly collapsed in the latter part of 2001, it lost tens of billions of dollars of its shareholders money (Jickling 2003). The controls which were supposedly in place, neither internal nor external, did not uncover the financial masquerade. Because of the many corporate and accounting scandals to astonish the U. S. marketplace and its investor, shareholders organized and protested for tougher laws that required a greater degree of corporate accountability. The act is commonly referred to as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), named after Senator Paul Sarbanes and Representative Michael Oxley, who were its main sponsors. SOX is intended to raise the bar for integrity and competence for publicly traded companies and also to promote a greater degree of accountability within these companies. The act changed corporate governance, including the responsibilities of directors and officers, the regulation of accounting firms that audit public companies, corporate reporting and enforcement. It is organized into eleven categories, called â€Å"titles†. The first being the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PACOB), second, Auditors Independence, then, Corporate Responsibility, Enhanced Financial Disclosures, Analyst Conflicts of Interest, Commission Resources and Accountability, Supporting Studies and Reports, Corporate and Criminal Fraud Accountability Document preservation (Whistle-Blower Protection), White-Collar crime penalty, Corporate Tax Returns and Corporate Fraud Accountability. Title I of the Act establishes the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). It is an independent, non-governmental board that oversees the audits of publicly traded companies. The purpose was designed to protect the interest of the investors and to promote public confidence and transparency in the independent audit process. The powers of the PCAOB are to register public accounting firms that prepare audit reports for issuers; establish auditing, quality control, ethics, independence and other standards relating to the preparation of audit reports; and conduct inspections, investigations and disciplinary proceedings of, and take enforcement action against, public accounting firms (Clearly 2003). Titles II of the act have nine sections. It sets the standard in which the auditors must remain independent to limit their conflicts of interest. Under these sections the auditors have stricter requirements of reporting, they must rotate jobs and they are not allowed to perform other services to the same company they are auditing. Also, as stated in Title I the auditing company must be registered with the PCAOB to perform acceptable audits. Title III of this act speaks to the individual responsibility of the corporate leaders. Management must certify that the financial statements do not contain any material omissions or untrue statements and those they represent fairly the financial condition of the company. And that all of the internal controls are and have been operating effectively prior to the issuance of the reports. Title IV relates most closely with the accountants and the auditing process. It details the new requirements of the financial reporting process and the certification of the effectiveness of the companys internal control process. Section 404 which requires management to assess the internal control procedures and to sign off on its effectiveness and that the procedures are being followed. Section 404 highlights the critical importance of controls related to the financial reporting function of management information systems by requiring a regular assessment of the quality of the financial reporting, because management uses this to manage operations, monitor performance, create forecast and report results to stakeholders (Peters 2012). Title V, VI and VII are designed to help build the publics confidence in the markets by promoting transparency and by providing criminal sanctions and monetary penalties to perpetrators. Title VII can be considered a reflection piece, as it looks to examine different factors and how they affect the markets. The SOX act in Title VIII obligates companies to provide a documented whistle-blower protection policy. It is a means to collect, retain and resolve claims regarding accounting, internal accounting controls and auditing matters. This system must allow for such concerns to be submitted anonymously. SOX provides protection to whistle-blowers and severe penalties to those who retaliate against them. Under this provision violators who destroy, alter, or falsify documents or retaliate against employees who report such going-on are subject to lengthy prison terms. Title IX, X and XI outline the increase penalties for white-collar crimes, such as mail and wire fraud; the requirement that the CEO is responsible for the accuracy and certifying the corporations tax return and other financial reports. The last section institutes guidelines for failure to comply as a criminal offense and gives the SEC the right to freeze monetary transactions if they suspect fraud. Before SOX, the financial world was basically governed by the Securities Laws of 1933 and the establishment of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in 1934. Corporations were only required to report the financial reports periodically to the public and the SEC. It was the publics responsibility to review the records and form an educated decision on the well-being of the company. The act also prohibited certain conduct such as insider trading and market manipulation. The exchanges, brokers, transfer agents were responsible for reporting any material changes in the holding of the companies to the SEC. However after the numerous financial scandals such as Enron, WorldCom, Adelphia to mention a few, in which the information presented to public, was fraudulent. They statements were misrepresented by millions and millions of dollars it was felt by the general public, investors and the federal government that there had to be stricter regulations to govern against such corporate behavior. SOX calls for greater accountability from everyone in charge. It implements rules and requirements from the top-down on accountability. CEO, CFO, directors must sign off on the reliability of the reports; auditors must maintain their independence and are prohibited from performing other services to the company they are auditing; managers and employees are responsible for the internal controls in their departments. And all these actions are punishable if not followed, as addressed in Title XI. Title XI provides authoritative powers for companies, its leaders, employees and/or auditors to be sued, sanctioned or criminally prosecuted if they are involved in any fraudulent behavior. It also provides the SEC the ability to seize funds and/or impose significant financial penalties for breaking the law. The most significant impact that SOX has had on the accounting world besides the increased criminal prosecution, is Section 404, which outlines the managements assessment of internal controls over financial reporting and the disclosure of such information. Internal control over financial reporting, is defined by Guy Lander, as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the companys principal executive and principal financial officers and implemented by the companys board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance for the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The independent auditor must also attest to and report on the managements assessment of the effectiveness of the companys internal control over financial reporting. Each fiscal year, companies must select audit committees to perform the assessment of internal controls. In section 404, the auditing requirements have changed drastically. Integrated within the law is now a Code of Ethics which was not there prior to the SOX act. Everyone is now accountable and required by law to do the right thing. With the implementation of SOX, the spirit of the law is being enforced. God calls us to a higher standard. We are to perform our job to best of our ability and we should maintain our integrity. No law is higher than the laws given to us by God. Management is now required to know more about the system of internal control so that he/she can make an accurate account of its effectiveness. Management must also include a written document in their end of the year managers report to attest to the effectiveness of their internal control. CEO and CFO are required to certify that the financial reports are accurate and they must discuss with the audit committee any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control in the financial reporting process. The audit committee is required to attest to the integrity of the companys financial statements; the companys compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; the qualifications and independence of the independent auditor and the performance of the companys internal audit function and independent auditor (Cleary 2003). The independent auditor has an increased responsibility to verify the financial information of the company. The audit firm must attest to the reliability of managements statement on the effectiveness of their internal control procedures and processes. The SOX act requires increased communication between the auditor and the companys audit committee. They must communication at least quarterly to discuss management, accounting and/or auditing adjustments, any difficulties or disagreements encountered, or any auditors concerns over the quality of the companys accounting practices or principles (Cleary 2003). The cost of implementing the required changes associated with SOX, Section 404, Internal Controls has had a significant effect on most small business. Auditing firms increased their fees by an average of 40% to recoup fees associated with the loss of business because of the new guidelines requiring independence. The SOX guidelines limit services allowed by auditing firms to perform for companies they are auditing. Internal costs associated with compliance jumped 62% for companies. In 2007, the SEC formed a committee to determine the impact on smaller businesses. Their guidelines were business with revenue under $100 million. The impact of compliance with section 404 internal controls were 3. 5 cents for every dollar earned (Michelson 2008). According to a SOX research study by Lord ;amp; Benoit, the average costs of complying with section 404(a) management assessment for all non-accelerated filers included in the study were $53,724(ranging from as low as $15,000 to as high as $162,000. The range of audit fee increases was from as low as $7,500 to as high as $86,000). Krishnan 2008). Armed with this information the SEC decided to admen its reporting and disclosure requirements for small businesses. In February 2008, the SEC adopted the amendments and issued the Smaller Reporting Company Regulatory Relief and Simplification to provide assistance for smaller firms (Michelson 2008). Smaller companies have received multiple extensions to become fully compliant. It was stated that more than half of all small companies say SOX has made it more diff icult to do business. They have had to make cutbacks in other areas, such as marketing, research and personnel to offset the increase in costs. Also, two-thirds of the small businesses favor a different set of guidelines for smaller companies (Swartz, 2006). Another significant impact on small businesses is the increased turnover of its board members. The new guidelines that require increased independence and conflicts of interest make it more difficult for smaller companies who have higher managerial ownership. Executive directors of companies are less likely to appointed to boards. KPMGs Audit committee took a survey and found that directors were concerned with two very important issues, the first being accountability reform and their legal exposure and the second being how management is responding to Section 404 of SOX(KPMG 2004). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is hailed as the most dramatic change and far-reaching act in the financial market place since the SEC was formed. The SOX act is here to stay and it is long overdue. There have been lists of companies and their improprieties for decades and decades that cheated others out if their fair shares. People who in charge of a companys finances and they succumbed to the temptations of greed. As humans we are fallen creatures, we need stipulations in place to keep us in check. We need laws to govern our actions. The SOX act represents a change in corporate accountability and corporate governing. Although it is still changing and adapting to the environment it has had a significant impact on the way people act. It takes into account the Spirit of the Law and not just the letter of the Law. Corporate leaders are being held to a higher standard, which is a step in the right direction. References Bedard, J. G. (2011). Detection and SEverity Classifications of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Internal Control Deficienies. The Accounting Review , 825-855. Green, E. S. (2003). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act. New York: Aspen Publishers. Jickling, M. (2003). The Enron Collapse. CRS Report for Congress . Krishnan, J. R. (2008). Cost to comply with SOX Section 404. Auditing: Journal of Practice and Theory , 169-186. KPMG Audit Committee Institute (2004), Oversight of Auditors, Audit Committee Roundtable Highlights, Spring, KPMG Audit Committee Institute, Kansas City, p. 2. Lander, G. (2004). What is Sarbanes-Oxley? New York: McGraw-Hill. Michelson, S. S. (2009). The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002: What impact has it on small business firms. Managerial Auditing Journal , 743-766. Peters, G. F. (2012). The Consequences of Information Technology Control Weaknesses on Management Information Systems. MIS Quarterly , 179-203. Spending on SOX. (2008). Journal of Accountancy , 90-93. Swartz, N. (2 008). SOX costs socks small firms. Information Management Journal , 14.

Philosophical Influences: Declaration Of Independence

Philosophical Influences: Declaration Of Independence The Declaration of Independences importance matured greatly throughout history, especially the second sentence, an extensive proclamation of human rights: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. This single sentence of proclaiming human rights has been noted as one of the best-known sentences in the English language and the most potent and consequential words in American history. This passage alone has been utilized in many aspects to support the rights of various groups, as well as symbolizing for people a just and honorable standard in which the United States should endeavor. Continuing this important part of the Declaration, That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. This section of the Declaration that includes these specific words written by Thomas Jefferson were commemorated by the accomplishment of the American Revolution. However, these words were not exactly written of all originality on July 4, 1776. They were in fact not even fashioned out of Jeffersons own novelty or creativeness. It is unquestionably factual that the draft of the Declaration written by Jefferson was intuitive principally from his own perceptive ideas pertaining to government and its foundations, however, he did not assert to be the resource of insight for the ideas and thoughts he wrote on paper. Following the Revolution, and to which Jefferson admitted to, John Adams found fault in the idea that Jefferson had not written anything new for the Declaration. It was Thomas Jeffersons pen that wrote the Declaration of Independence, but who were its authors? The original Declaration was actually signed by fifty delegates to the Continental Congress, however, the document had greater influence past these signers. It is even wondered whether or not the Declaration of Independence contains original ideas. Jefferson describes it instead to be a statement of sentiments widely shared by supporters of the American Revolution. In 1825 Jefferson stated: Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the America mind, and to give to that expression the proper tone and spirit called for by the occasion. TO HENRY LEE Thomas Jefferson The Works, vol. 12 (Correspondence and Papers 1816-1826; 1905). The Online Library of Liberty. May 8, 1825. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The Declaration cannot be classified as having a single author, but more of having various influences. Thomas Jefferson, one of the principal authors of the Declaration of Independence was the third President of the United States and he was one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his encouragement of the principles of republicanism in the United States. He foresaw America as the power behind a great Empire of Liberty that would support republicanism and oppose the imperialism of the British Empire. Jefferson was attained distinction for numerous things including a horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, inventor, and founder of the University of Virginia. He was a very honored man due to all of his accomplishments. When John F. Kennedy welcomed 49 Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House-with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. Thomas Jefferson favored the individual and their individual rights over the government and big businesses. His vision for American virtue included an agricultural nation of yeoman farmers minding their own affairs. His agrarianism was contrasting to the vision of Alexander Hamiltion, who envisioned a nation of commerce and manufacturing, which Jefferson believed offered too many temptations for corruption. Jeffersons profound confidence in the individuality, uniqueness, and the potential of America made him the father of American exceptionalism. He was particularly convinced that an under-populated America could avoid what he thought to be the horrors of class-divided, industrialized Europe. Jefferson strongly believed the idea in which each individual has certain inalienable rights. This meaning, these rights exist with or without government, and man cannot create, take, or give these rights away. Jefferson is most noteworthy for enlightening the right of liberty. Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add within the limits of the law, because law is often but the tyrants will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦. Consequently, for Jefferson, although government cannot create a right to liberty, it can indeed violate it. The limit of an individuals rightful liberty is not what law says it is but is simply a matter of stopping short of prohibiting other individuals from having the same liberty. Jefferson believed a proper government to be one that not only prohibits individuals in society from infringing on the liberty of other individuals, but also restrains itself from diminishing individual liberty. His commitment to equality was articulated in his successful efforts to abolish primogeniture in Virginia, the rule by which the first born son inherited all the land. Jefferson believed that individuals have an inna te sense of morality that prescribes right from wrong when dealing with other individuals, that whether they choose to restrain themselves or not, they have an innate sense of natural rights of others. He even believed that moral sense to be reliable enough that an anarchist society could function well, provided that it was reasonably small. In several instances, he conveyed admiration for the tribal, communal way of living of Native Americans. In a letter to Colonel Carrington he said: I am convinced that those societies (as the Indians) which live without government, enjoy in their general mass an infinitely greater degree of happiness than those who live under the European governments.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.. For this reason, he did support government for the American stretch provided that it exists by consent of the governed. Immediate sources of Influence for the Declaration of Independence include Jeffersons own draft of the preamble of the Constitution of Virginia and George Masons draft of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Both ideas and phrases from both of these documents appear in the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson also looked at the English Declaration of Rights as a model of how to end the reign of an unjust king. Through this statement of natural rights Jefferson meant to release the idea that men are free by nature, are equal beings and should be free to pursue their dreams in life. This statement, however, was in disagreement with a majority of the thinking and reasoning of this time period, in that it was a ruler of a country, either king or an emperor, who passed down any rights given to the people of his kingdom. Thomas Jefferson disputed that it was nature that gave man rights, not people in power. Jefferson was exceptionally knowing of previous documents holding comparable ideas when he was writing the Declaration, including the treatise by Samuel Adams noted as Rights of the Colonists. Most of the political leaders during the Revolution had similar thoughts and ideas pertaining to the self-evident truths of the Declaration. Furthermore, the ideas articulated in the Declaration were common among many of the colonists of the period. The Declaration was vigilantly articulated for the reason of expressing the vision and thoughts of the colonists in broad-spectrum, as well for gaining their loyalty for the upcoming struggle in which they were to experience. It may be questioned how such claims were regarded by colonists in general and what the beginning of these thoughts were. In what previous documents to the Declaration were these beliefs presented as self-evident truths? In 1772, four preceding the signing of the Declaration, Samuel Adams penned a short essay known as Rights of the Colonists as Men. His words included the following: Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature. All men have a right to remain in a state of nature as long as they please; and in case of intolerable oppression, civil or religious, to leave the society they belong to, and enter into another. When men enter into society, it is by voluntary consent.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Every natural right not expressly given up, or, from the nature of a social compact, necessarily ceded, remains. All positive and civil laws should conform, as far as possible, to the law of natural reason and equity. As neither reason requires nor religion permits the contrary, every man living in or out of a state of civil society has a right peaceably and quietly to worship God according to the dictates of his conscience.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Samuel Adams wrote The Rights of the Colonists when he was at the age of 50, as an element of assemblies in Massachusetts in 1772, subsequent to the Governor having liquefied the colonys Colonial Assembly. Three hundred townspeople congregated and voted to employ a board of communication, as well as having this committee outline a proclamation of the colonists rights. The accountability for arranging the initial draft was allocated to Samuel Adams. Passages from the end result, as previously quoted, were in quintessence consumed in a document entitled the Declaration of Rights, written by the Continental Congress in 1774 and as a final point in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. One of the manipulates on Adams idea is candidly affirmed by his personal thoughts in the Rights of the Colonists pertaining to religious toleration: Insomuch that Mr. Locke has asserted and proved, beyond the possibility of contradiction on any solid ground, that such toleration ought to be extended to all whose doctrines are not subversive of society. The connection involving Adams and John Locke is established multiple times in Adams writings. In 1771, in a journal in the Boston Gazette, he commenced his prime focus with the expressions Mr. Locke, in his treatise on government. English political theorist John Locke is often cited as a primary influence on the Declaration. Many of the phrases evident in the Declaration follow closely to certain sentences in Lockes Second Treatise on Government. Lockes classical liberalism greatly influenced republicanism. Hence, to the slightest, the political attitude and beliefs of John Locke was one of the fundamentals of the Declaration of Inde pendence, and examination gives evidence for the idea that the formation of inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness owe a great deal to John Lockes Second Treatise of Government that came into print in 1690. The responsibility to Locke is exposed by the subsequent passage from his Second Treatise. The title page articulates of the second treatise, The latter is an essay concerning the true original extent and end of civil government. The commencing lines concern the Biblical Adam and to his private dominion and parental jurisdiction, prearranged to him by God, which undoubtedly inscribes the production as founded eventually on Scripture, Gods Holy and Written Word. In sections 4, 6, and 13, Locke expresses his thoughts that: (A)ll men are naturally ina state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man. A state also of equality A state of liberty, yet it is not a state of licence. The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions: for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent, and infinitely wise maker; all the servants of one sovereign master, sent into the world by his order, and about his business; they are his property, whose workmanship they are, made to last during his, not one anothers pleasure Every onemay not, unless it be to do justice on an offender, take away, or impair the life, or what tends to the preservation of the life, the liberty, health, limb, or goods of another. In prà ©cis regarding these passages that came from Lockes treatise, there is a evidently identifiable formation of the rights of life, liberty, and property that subsists. Locke overtly preserves the idea that these human rights were fundamental and elemental rights of man, certain by God the Creator. These rights are undeniable due to the fact that they are recognized as an element of the God-given law of nature, and as a result are apparent in life itself. In his recurrent employment of the phrase law of nature, Locke positioned himself in a prosperous and time-privileged custom looking through history to the Bible itself. It is undoubtedly that Locke had the idea in his head a vision that centered around the bible, of the nature of man as created by God. One of the itemized rights evident in the Declaration, pursuit of happiness, is not initiated by Locke, who made use of the word happiness merely three times in the Second Treatise, in fairly limited frameworks. Locke focused as an alternative on the rights of property. The right to pursue happiness, which is thought to be much extensive in possibility, is distinguishable through the Federalist Papers written John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton, influenced by the assumed name Publius. Ultimately, the comprehensiveness of happiness as a conception may be evident in the copious life guaranteed to man by Jesus Christ. Any one discussion pertaining to the suitable function of government may progress and advance through a glance back to the thoughts wherein our nation was established. In the Declaration of Independence, conceivably the most succinct articulation of those exact thoughts and principles may be discovered. The Declaration is perceptible in the idea that the Founders trusted in the beliefs that individual liberty, identified by the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, protected by a government constructed for that intention, gaining its justifiable power from the consent of the governed. The arrangement of the words in the Declaration is very significant. By vigilantly examining the Declaration, one may come across the idea that there is no reference of government to the point that the moral order of the world in which the Founders foresaw is presented. Their attitudes embark on a state of nature, in which no government has so far been fashioned by man. It is not until f ollowing the moral order is instituted that the political order -which is derived from this moral order-conversed. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. This very quote from the Declaration proves very important in both its order and meaning. We hold these truths to be Self-evident. In this section of the passage, as the first line, the authors allow the people to understand that reason offers the foundation of the proposal to come next. They declare the truths that are subsequent are self-evident, which provides for the idea that they are deductible by reason. This idea designates that the Founders are functioning contained by theoretical and idealistic tradition of natural rights. This perspective gives that there is a superior law of right and wrong that may be utilized to develop moral lawsà ¢Ã¢â €š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ finish talking about each line of quote and its meaning? Or talk about the drafts and popular culture? The Declaration of Independence provides for an abundance of interpretation and sources by scholarly inquiry. This formal document declared the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain by giving the colonial grievances of King George III, declaring natural rights, one of those being the right of revolution. The Declaration was originally disregarded after the American Revolution, having provided its primary intention in declaring independence. This sentence in which most Americans live by was significantly influenced by Abraham Lincoln, who thought of the Declaration as being the underpinning of his political philosophy, and encouraged the proposal that the Declaration of Independence be a proclamation of standards through which the United States Constitution should be construed. http://www.freedomworks.org/publications/the-declaration-of-independence-a-look-at-the-mean http://www.avantrex.com/essay/freetalk.html inventing America jeffersons declaration of independence garry wills the declaration of independence a study in the history of political ideas greatness to spare Effects on Happiness: A Reflection Effects on Happiness: A Reflection Happiness: Subjective Well-Being Well-being involves physical, psychological, social, economic, and environment. Subjective well-being meaning covers a wider range of concepts than just happiness (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). However, the subjective well-being also provide advice on measuring people’s experience and evaluations of particular domains of life such as satisfaction with the financial status, health status and other meaningfulness in life (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Besides that, subjective well-being includes three elements. First is life evaluation, reflective assessment on a person’s life (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Second is affect. It means a person’s feelings or emotional states (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Third element is Eudaimonia (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). It is a sense of meaning and purpose in life, or good psychological functioning. On the other hand, subjective well-being involved bottom-up theory and top -down theory. Bottom-up theory are assesses the quality of our marriage or friendship, satisfying the job, income and thereby create a summary statement of our overall ‘satisfaction’ (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Besides that, bottom-up theory perspective focus on changing the environment and situation such as, obtaining a better job, safer neighborhood and other external things to increase the happiness (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Furthermore, top-down theory describe as measured by looking at personality traits, attitudes, and cognitions (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Top-down theory perspective focus on increase the happiness should change people’s attitudes, belief, personality traits and other inner things (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Lastly, previous research also presented evidence that both top-down and bottom-up evaluations are important, but utilized indifferent situations and times in life (Compton Hoffman, 2012a).. Leisure Leisure refers to how people spend their spare time, what people to do relax, the activities in which people engage to have fun, and how people express the interest (Compton Hoffman, 2012b). In the leisure and well-being describe as positive relationship between our satisfaction with leisure and well-being (Compton Hoffman, 2012b). It is fairly clear that leisure helps people feel better about their lives (Compton Hoffman, 2012b). Therefore, everyone should find ways to amuse themselves such as sport, drawing and other activities to amuse themselves (Compton Hoffman, 2012b). In my leisure time, I prefer going to swimming, play badminton and other sports with friends. This is because I am feel relax, fun and satisfaction while I am doing sport activities. At the same time, sport activity also can bring out a lot of benefit such as improve mental health, exercise decreases disease risk, keeping fit and other benefit to me. Hence, I am preferred doing sport activity with friends in my leisure time. Besides that, I can also maintain a good relationship with friends through the playing badminton or swimming. Moreover, doing sport activities also can build up a social support to me. When I feel stressful, I can play with friends. It can help me feel relax or reduce the stressful after sport. Then, when I feel helpless, I can share my problem with friends, it can help me a lot. Lastly, I prefer going to swimming, play badminton and other sports with friends because after doing exercise, I feel satisfaction and I can focus on my academic. It can helping in my daily life and also to overcome my life challenge. Love and well-being In positive psychology, Love is one of significant ways that people pursue well-being (Compton Hoffman, 2012c). Needs for love and intimacy may be biologically innate (Compton Hoffman, 2012c). Moreover, relationship satisfaction is associated with a couple’s similarity in attitudes and values, positive personality traits, the type of attributions made to explain a partner’s behavior and healthy styles of communication (Compton Hoffman, 2012c). Besides that, relationship stability is associated with factors such as friendship, commitment, conflict management and the effects of external stressors (Compton Hoffman, 2012c). It can help people in their daily life and overcome the life challenges. When I finished my secondary school studies, I have no any goal or planning about my future. I also do not know what next steps are. Therefore, my parents’ advice is continuing studies since I do not any planning about my future. About of this, I was conflict with my parents because I do not planning continuing studies. Besides that, I also think I am not smart enough to continuing the studies. Hence, I feel some worry and angry. Moreover, this happen also hurt relationship between my parents and me. My parents and I keep some conflict and quarrel about my future. Finally, I understand what my parents’ think, what my parents’ feel. I also know what I want to do in my future. Thus, I agree and accept my parents’ advice and decide continuing studies. Positive Health Positive health is excellence in three measures. Firstly, biological markers include any measures of physiological functioning that can impact health or well-being (Compton Hoffman, 2012d). Second, subjective experiences include any measure of subjective well-being such as optimism and positive emotionally (Compton Hoffman, 2012d). Third, functional measures include assessment of how well daily activities are accomplished and behavioral signs such as occasional disability (Compton Hoffman, 2012d). The goal of positive health is to describe adaptation to challenges, toward a better quality of life (Compton Hoffman, 2012d). This process is not just coping and adaptation but positive growth. When I was young, my parents busy for working. Hence, my grandparents need take care of me. My grandparents send me go to school, bring me go out to friends’ house, shopping and other. Besides that, my grandfather teaches me a lot of things, playing with me and other. I feel happy about all of this. When my secondary school, my grandmother is pass away. My family very upset. Even My grandfather do not want go out anymore. He cannot to accept this happen. My family very worries about it. Positive health can help me overcome this problem. This is because positive psychology describe as positive growth. About this happen, I feel upset, but I understand I need to growth and accompany my grandfather to accept this happen even I feel upset too. Since I was young, my grandfather always accompany me to do a lot of things, take care of me, teaches me a lot of things. In this moment, my grandfather is helpless. Therefore, my family and I need accompany and bring positive emotion to him. So that, my grandfather can has a better life in future. Creativity and Genius Genius began to take on a meaning of special talent or ability beyond the normal range (Compton Hoffman, 2012e). Genius also describe a person who of extraordinary creativity and inventiveness (Compton Hoffman, 2012e). Besides that, those labeled as geniuses exhibited the same qualities associated with people who achieve excellence in something, person who will extremely motivation, willing to work long and hard, and absorbed in a search for deeper knowledge about their craft (Compton Hoffman, 2012e). Well-being across the Lifespan In the Well-being across the Lifespan, researchers have used three basic models to understand life changes (Compton Hoffman, 2012f). Firstly, stage or growth models postulate recognizable stages that need to addressed, roughly at different ages (Compton Hoffman, 2012f). Second, lifespan models observe the personality development as a continuous process of adjustment to challenges (Compton Hoffman, 2012f). Third, life-course models also tend to look at phase of life but emphasize the social-role demands at each phase (Compton Hoffman, 2012f). When I was young, my grandparents take care of me. This is because my parents need go out for working, but my parents will have accompanied me in every night. Hence, I feel happy in my childhood. In my primary school life, I like the sport activity. Hence, I become one of the participants which represent the school to competition with different primary school. My primary life is busy but I feel enjoy. In secondary school, my grandmother was pass away when my form 2. My family very upset about it especially my grandfather. My grandfather cannot to accept this happen and refuse to go out. However I’m feel sad, but I think I need to accompany my grandfather. This is because my grandfather very cares and teaches me a lot of things during my childhood. This happen also makes me growing and more understand/treasure my family members. In my university life, it is a busy life. Every semester, I need to complete a lot of test, assignment. Sometimes I’m feel very stressful because these all of the academic things. Luckily, I have some friends can play badminton with me. Besides that, I also enjoy swimming with my housemates during every weekend. It can help reduce my stressful from academic. Optimal Well-Being Optimal well-being describe as stated the personal growth requires choices about what particular type of person you would like to become (Compton Hoffman, 2012g). Besides that, growth never occurs in vacuum, so people must decide what kinds of person want to be and which personality traits express your unique potential(Compton Hoffman, 2012g). For example, people who often love, compassionate to other people. That people can express their own unique potential and become caring people (Compton Hoffman, 2012g). On the other hand, optimal well-being can also describe is to think about the types of people you admire, respect and which people inspire you to be a better person (Compton Hoffman, 2012g). For example, a person who watches a movie about the helping people, it may motivate that people to act on behalf of others. In my secondary school, my sibling was study in different university. My parents also pay a lot of attention to them. Besides that, I feel admire and a bit envy about it. This is because I feel my parents’ concern and caring toward them only. I feel lonely and cannot get the caring and concern from my parents. At the same time, I also can understand my sibling is always at the outside because studies. Hence, my parents will show more concern to them. In optimal well-being, I can understand what I want to be in the future. In future, I want be university students, so it can help explore my knowledge. Moreover, When I feel admire and envy my sibling, I want be university students likes my sibling. It is called own inner hero. This is because my siblings already motivate me to be university students too. Hence, optimal well-being help me to deal my challenges. Religion, Spirituality, and well-being In positive psychology, religious provides social support, healthy lifestyles and other positive thing to people (Compton Hoffman, 2012h). Besides that, people who are more religious in their behavior show better emotional well-being and actively religious people have reported markedly greater happiness and somewhat greater life satisfaction than their irreligious counterparts (Compton Hoffman, 2012h). Particularly relevant to positive psychology are studies that have found that religious or spiritual practice can increase positive emotional states such as joy, hope and other (Compton Hoffman, 2012h). Therefore, greater religiousness is significantly related to better mental health and higher subjective well-being (Compton Hoffman, 2012h). My religious is Buddhism. Religious is one of part in my life. Buddhism teaches me a lot of thing. For example, when I have some negative thinking such as want cheating in the exam, I also will think about my religion. Buddhism always mention make bad thing, you will get retribution from God. Hence, I will feel guilt and fear of retribution from God, so I will give up those bad attitudes or negative thinking. Lastly, Buddhism also teaches me need filial, love and concern to parents. In my college life, I went to Kuala Lumpur for my studies. Hence, I must go back the hometown to accompany and concern my parents during the semester break. Besides that, I also called my parents when I’m free. However, I cannot always accompany my parents, but I still show my concern, filial to my parents. Positive Institution In Positive Institution, social well-being was comprises five dimensions. Firstly, social acceptance describe as the degree to which people generally hold positive attitudes toward others (Compton Hoffman, 2012i). Second, social actualization describe as the degree to which people believe that society has the capacity to develop into a better place (Compton Hoffman, 2012i). Third, social contribution describe as how much people believe their daily activities contributes to society and how much those activities are valued by their community (Compton Hoffman, 2012a). Fourth, social coherence describes as the degree to which society is understandable, predictable and logical (Compton Hoffman, 2012i). Lastly dimension is social integration. It refers how much a person feels a part of his community as well as how much support and commonality one feels toward others (Compton Hoffman, 2012i). I went to Kuala Lumpur for continue my studies. In K.L., I was living without my family. My family cannot accompany me. I feel unsecure but I know I need to adapt and independent. Luckily, I meet some good housemate. My housemate gave me a lot of happy and concern. Hence, this hostel becomes my ‘second house’. I feel happy and enjoy in here. On the other hand, housemates and I create a swimming gang. We were going to swimming during weekend. I feel enjoy about it because swimming can create a good quality life to me. Moreover, this swimming gang also can help to maintain a good relationship between each other. When I feel stressful or helpless, my housemates also support and give me a lot of positive energy.