Developmental Psychology Essay Example for Free

Developmental Psychology Essay 1.1. Nature – nurture Nature refers to the inherited (genetic) characteristics and tendencies that influence development. It is the abilities that are present at birth, as well as any abilities determined by genes. On the other hand, nurture is the processes caused by our environment that influences our development. Everything is learned through our interactions with our environment and as a result of our experiences. In the past, hereditary and environmental factors were considered to be operating separately from each other. It was one or the other nature (hereditary) or nurture (environment). Today it is generally agreed that hereditary and environment are both important factors; development is a combination of both. Example: Average longevity is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. To increase your chances of a long life you need to come from a family with a history of individuals who lived to a ripe age (genetic factors). Environmental factors; such as diseases, toxins, lifestyle and social class are also important factors that influence longevity. A person who makes poor lifestyle choices and live in an impoverished area will decrease his/her chances of a long life. Therefore it can be said that both nature and nurture play a role in a person living to a ripe age. 1.2. Stability – change The stability versus change concept explores how much of ones behaviour is consistent and how much is changeable over a lifespan. Simply put, we can ask whether development is best characterized by stability (for example, does a behaviour or trait such as shyness stay stable in its expression over time?) or change (could a persons degree of shyness fluctuate across the life span?). Stability at a basic level is vital for us to recognize that we are still the same person as we grow older. But we also like to believe that our characteristics are not set in stone, that we can change ourselves if we want to. Psychoanalysts believe that personality traits developed in the first 5 years predict adult personality. Change theorists argue that personalities are modified by interactions with family, experiences at school, and acculturation. Example: Costa and McCrae (1994; 1997) have investigated whether the traits that make up the five-factor model remain stable across adulthood and came to the general conclusion that personality traits remain stable after age 30. If a 30 year old woman worried excessively about whether or not her husbands salary was enough to make mortgage payments, then she also is likely to be worried about having saved enough for her childrens college tuition when she is 45 and is likely to be worried about the adequacy of her husbands pension income at age 70. Since Costa and McCrae suggest that personality traits remain stable through adulthood a high degree of neuroticism, as reflected by a consistent and excessive level of anxiety and worry, is likely to persist and find new focal points over time. However, there is evidence that change can be found in personality trait development across the adult life span. Allemand et al. (2008) found that the way people differ in their personality becomes more pronounced with older age. Furthermore, other studies (Donnellan Lucas, 2008) found that extraversion and openness decrease with age whereas agreeableness increases with age (Blanchard-Fields Cavanaugh, 2011, p. 321). 1.3. Continuity – discontinuity The continuity versus discontinuity controversy deals with the question of whether development is a gradual, smooth progression from conception to death (continuity), or a series of distinct and abrupt shifts (discontinuity). Continuity focuses on quantitative changes in number or amount, such as changes in height and weight. Discontinuity focuses on qualitative changes in kind, structure, or organization. An example of continuity is: Infants who have satisfying emotional relationships with their parents typically become children with satisfying peer relationships. And they will eventually become adults with satisfying relationships with others. An example of discontinuity: After spending most of adulthood trying to ensure the success of the next generation and to leave a legacy, older adults turn to evaluating their own lives in search of closure and a sense that what they have accomplished has been meaningful. 1.4. Universal versus context-specific development This concerns whether or not there is one path of development or several. Example: David Schmitt and colleagues (2004) investigated whether one’s attachment style may have a major influence on how one forms romantic relationships. The results showed that 79% of the cultural groups studied demonstrated secure romantic attachments, but that North American cultures tended to be dismissive and East Asian cultures tended to be high on preoccupied romantic attachment. Overall, Schmitt and colleagues concluded that although the same attachment pattern holds across most cultures, no one pattern holds across all of them. East Asian cultures in particular tend to fit a pattern in which people report that others do not get as emotionally close as the respondent would like, and that respondents find it difficult to trust others or to depend on them.

Functionalism In Psychology History Principles And Contributions Philosophy Essay

Functionalism In Psychology History Principles And Contributions Philosophy Essay This essay shows a history of functionalism, its principles and contributions. It includes four stages of psychology in the United States, development of functionalism and notable functionalists focusing on Willam James. It shows the theory of free will, habits and instincts, Jamess early years, mind-body debate, consciousness, emotions and the self. The development of self-esteem by James Williams could probably help social workers, counselors and psychologists to tackle clients who are troubled, bullied, depressed, anaroxic or suicidal. Functionalism in Psychology: History, Principles Contributions The alternative model to structuralism was known as functionalism. Founded by William James,who agreed with Edward Titchner that the study of consciousness must be the central theme of psychology. But James disagreed with structuralists search for basic elements of mind, he rather emphasized that psychologists should study how the mind functions. James published a book titled Principles of Psychology in 1890, which promoted functionalism. He agreed that consciousness is an ongoing stream, a property of the mind that continually interacts with the environment. Through this interaction, human beings learn to adapt to their environment. For him, the functions of mind were more important than the structures of mind (Hergenhahn, 2005). This paper will represent the history, principles and current contributions of functionalism. According to Sahakian (1975), thereare four stages of early United States Psychology. The pre-revolution, first stage betweenthe year 1640 1776, the using of reasoning to differentiate between God, beliefs, religion and state.Second stage between the year 1776 1886, commonsense philosophers have agreed to take feelings and senses as equal to reason. Third stage between the year 1886 1896, psychology is separated from philosophy and religion. In the final fourth stage, the publication of John Deweys article The Reflex Arc in Psychology in the year 1896 and themixture of science, apprehension for practicality, importance on individual and evolutionary theorycombined together into the school of functionalism. Functionalism was rooted in Charles Darwins theory of evolution. Evolution is based on individual differences and the survival of adaptive features. Adaptation becomes a popular approach to measuring intelligence and Individual Differences become a valued part of mental research. Unlike most other psychologists who were interested in the structure of mental activity, functionalists were interested in functions, the mental aspects of adapting to an environment. Functionalist were equally interested in individual differences of all mental activity. Functionalism started with John Lockes political theory influenced the American and French Constitutions (Hergenhahn, 2005). His views on education have contributed to the thoughts of every subsequent theorizer in the field.The mind at birth possesses no innate ideas. The mind of man is a tabula rasa or blank slate at birth, upon which is impressed many sense impressions. All knowledge proceeds through sense experience. As the mind stores up a variety of sense impressions, associations occur which provide new knowledge. The mind is consequently passive. The senses provide the mind with the materials which represent reality. These materials are not identical with the extra mental object. The material is the idea within the mind which represents the object outside the mind being received by the senses. By combining, comparing and analyzing these materials or ideas arising through sensations, we derive thoughts. Knowledge is not sense perception but intellectual perception. Functionalists like American philosopher, John Dewey who criticized reductionistic approaches to psychology and argued that experience must be understood in a naturalistic context. He applied the assumptions of functionalism in developing the field of school psychology and educational practices. As the functionalists studied the functions of consciousness, gradually their attention shifted to the learning process itself. They paid less attention to the study of consciousness and more to the environmental conditions that facilitate mental functions. William James was the most influential functionalist.He presented much of the foundation functional psychology, but he did not develop his ideas to the point of an independent school of study. He endorsed some aspects of functionalism, and considered the father of American psychology. Consistent with materialism and evolution, James believed that science opposed the existence of free will. In turn, he proposed free will to be beyond the realm of science. The nature of free will is reflected in voluntary behaviour. To control our voluntary behaviour, we must control the ideas of behaviour. Ideas of action can lead to action, or can be held back consciously.According to James, both habits and instinct are within the brain (not in the mind) and outside of free will(Hergenhahn, 2005). Habits are learned and continuous repetition could stabilize mental functions in the brain. Instincts are unlearned and they are learned patterns of reacting. Instincts are not blind and invariable and can be moulded by habit. James was initially impressed with the scientific advancements tied to both materialism and evolution, but those sciences left him disappointed and even depressed.His depression ended while reading about free will. He doubted free will was an illusion if he could voluntarily believe in free will. Voluntary belief also influenced his approach to science. His major publication was Principles of Psychology which provided a solid foundation of modern psychology in America. James attempted to cover every aspect of psychology and took twelve years to write it, and it was 1,393 pages long (published as two volumes). Principles of Psychology generally support a dualist, interactionist approach to human nature. James presents separate mind phenomena and brain phenomena, and proposes ways in which they interact.Most experimental psychologists at that time were looking for elements of consciousness.James represented the concept of a stream of consciousness. According to James, consciousness is not made up of a bunch of little pieces put together. Consciousness is personal (no need for common elements), continuous (cannot be dismantled), always changing, always selective and choosing (free will) and dealt of objects other than itself (the purpose is functional and adaptive). According to James, the self is the sum of all things which a person can call mine. Including the body and all possessions (material self), the self as it is known by others (social self) and spiritual self(Hergenhahn, 2005). Self as knower (the I, pure ego) is an ultimate vantage point, self that does the knowing and a part of you that remains constant in a changing stream of consciousness. Self-esteem is a ratio of the actual self over the potential self. Esteem could come from achievements and from lowering expectations.The classic theory of emotion in functionalism is stimulus, emotion and response; perceive object, experience emotion and respond to it. Another theory of emotion is stimulus, response and emotion; the behaviour is a functional reaction to the stimulus and the emotion is the result of the response. As a functional result, behaviours associated with how you want to feel can give you that feeling. Functionalism was an overwhelming achievement, unfortunately, it was a bsorbed into the mainstream psychology and not on its own. However, the study of functionalism and the selfresultedthe development of the study of self-esteem which helps the world till today. James had a very simple definition of self-esteem: success divided by pretension. According to James the more success we have and the lower our expectations or pretensions then the higher our self-esteem. To raise self-esteem, therefore, we have two options: lower our expectations of ourselves or increase our achievements.This theorygives us and psychologists a better understanding on howpeople react to their thoughtsand perhaps to tackle depression and maintain self-esteem. Functionalism has taught us on how to get a better understanding of the functions of the mind and perhaps this theory could be useful for psychologists, counsellors and social workers who meet with suicidal or depressed clients.

The Existing System For Payslip Generation

The Existing System For Payslip Generation The purpose of the proposed project is to automate the Payslip generation process which replaces the traditional system of Payslip generation that used to print the employee salary details onto a paper. This project includes a single user who is authorized to initiate the application. The privileges are given only to the individual in a department who is responsible for generating the PaySlips for the employees. The application takes in the Excel Spreadsheet as input and generates an encrypted PDF PaySlip for each employee. This PDF PaySlip is mailed to the respective employee by using their mail-id which is provided in the Excel sheet. This application generates PaySlips of each employee every month. The PaySlip spreadsheet is uploaded to the system. The application uses an excel parser to read this spreadsheet. The excel parser parses the excel sheet in a row-wise fashion and generates an xml string for each row. This xml string contains the salary data of each employee. The salary data is converted into a password-protected PDF document as per a pre-defined template. These salary statements (in PDF) are emailed to respective users. The email process is logged. 1.2 Existing System: The existing System for PaySlip generation includes manual entry of the pay details of all the employees in an excel sheet and converting them to word document. Each row from the excel sheet is taken and then converted into the word document. This word document contains the Pay details of the employee. This document is printed on to a paper and then distributed to all the employees. The Existing System requires manual effort in converting the excel sheet data into the word document. The word document which contains the salary details should be generated for all the employees which in turn delays the whole process of distributing the payslips. As the paper is used in distributing the payslips this even includes the wastage of paper. This is till the part of generation of pyslips itself. When talking about distribution each and every paslip has to be signed by the authority, stamped and then folded which is placed in the envelope.this has to be distributed to all the employees near the desk has to take an acknowledgement that the employee has received by signing on paper. If the employee is not at the desk or out of station then distribution has to be postponed for that employee till he is available. That is he cant check it immediately after its been issued. Making it remotely accessible is also another aspect of it. 1.3 Proposed System: The proposed System for generating the PaySlips is a Web based Automated System for generation and distribution of PaySlips. Proposed System is efficient enough as it includes Less Manual effort. Manual effort is needed in only logging into the application and uploading the appropriate excel sheet into the application. Just a click on the upload button is sufficient, then the application itself will generate the payslips and distribute them to the respective employees mailid. Optimal performance of the application is achieved as delay is reduced in generation of Payslips with the existing system. Paper conservation is achieved, as the PaySlips are sent to the employees through mails, This makes the payslip remotely accessible 2.1 Functional Requirements Modules: Authentication/Authorization Upload File Excel Parser PDF Generation Email Module Description: Authentication/Authorization Module: This application is used to generate payslips of the employees for every month. Payslips, that depict all the salary details, is very confidential and hence this work should be carried out by an authorized person. For this purpose the user is presented with a login and is granted access to the application only after supplying a valid username and password. This needs database connectivity that stores all the details of the users who can use the application with their password. This module is implemented using Struts. As this partitions the presentation and implementation the login UI is built using Java server pages. When the user submits the user name and password the servlet gets invoked handling the process that connects to the database, verifies and accordingly an action is taken that forwards to another UI. Upload File: This module uploads the Excel spread sheet into the application in which details of all the employees are present with the present months salary details. The details of the employee includes the name, empid, designation etc .The Excel spread sheet that is needed to be uploaded should be in a specified format i.e., all the details should be in the same chronological order according to the specifications. The uploaded spread sheet will not be saved any where as the data in the Excel sheet is very confidential. This module is implemented using Struts. The File Upload UI is built using Java server pages. When the user uploads an Excel file a servlet gets invoked handling the process that directs an action. Excel Parser: This module takes the uploaded excel sheet as input and parses it in a row wise fashion, organizes the data in xml format For this a special software tool is used In this module we also retrieve the employee-id, mail-id and month for which the payslip is generated. The software tool used for parsing the Excel document is POI. This needs a POI.jar added in the library where some predefined methods are defined. The POI consists of APIs for manipulating various file formats based upon Microsofts OLE 2 Compound Document format, and Office OpenXML format, using pure Java. In short, you can read and write MS Excel files using Java. In addition, you can read and write MS Word and MS PowerPoint files using Java. POI is your Java Excel solution (for Excel 97-2007). However, we have a complete API for porting other OLE 2 Compound Document formats and welcome others to participate. OLE 2 Compound Document Format based files include most Microsoft Office files such as XLS and DOC as well as MFC serialization API based file formats. Office OpenXML Format based files include the new (2007+) xml based file formats, including Microsoft office files such as XLSX, DOCX and PPTX. PDF Generation: This module creates a PDF file per employee based on pre-defined template and a randomly generated Password is used to encrypt the PDF file. This password is used by the employees to retrieve the PaySlips. The template is designed using XSL independently and values are taken from the Excel and filled into PDF using java. The PDF is encrypted using a random generated password and the password is attached to the mail. The encrypted PDF document is mailed to the employee. The software tool used for generating a PDF document is XSL-FO. XSL-FO is a language for formatting XML data . XSL-FO stands for Extensible Stylesheet Language Formatting Objects . XSL-FO is a W3C Recommendation . XSL-FO is now formally named XSL . XSL-FO is an XML-based markup language describing the formatting of XML data for output to screen, paper or other media. Styling is both about transforming and formatting information. When the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) made their first XSL Working Draft, it contained the language syntax for both transforming and formatting XML documents. Later, the XSL Working Group at W3C split the original draft into separate Recommendations. XSLT, a language for transforming XML documents . XSL or XSL-FO, a language for formatting XML documents. XPath, a language for navigating through elements and attributes in XML documents. This is more advantageous because this seperates the presentation or template of the PDF and the implementation how the data is filled in. Email Module: This Module emails the Payslips (Password protected PDF files) to the respective employee by using their mail id. The mailing details are saved in a batch log with the time and date at which the mail is sent to the employee for verification. This module sets the mail attributes like the subject, from_address, to_address and message body. Also a partial random generated password is sent in the mails which need to be personalized by the employee. This module also inserts values into the email log with the details of mailing. The Protocol used for mailing the PDF document to a particular employee is SMTP. The JavaMail API provides a platform-independent and protocol-independent framework to build mail and messaging applications.This is binded with Simple Mail Transfer Protocol for mailing. 2.2 Non-Functional Requirements Accessibility This application is easily accessible by the user who is authorized to use the system for generating PaySlips every month. Performance This system can generate PaySlips for any number of employees considering the same speed. Reliability This system is consistent and performs required functions under stated conditions. Security Unauthorized access to the system and its data is not allowed. The person who wants to access the system is authenticated against a username and password. The PaySlip mailed to the employee is also password protected. This ensures unauthorized access of the PaySlip. Usability This system enhances usability by incorporating well structured user interfaces, end-user interactions, informative error messages etc. 2.3 System Requirement Specification: Software Requirements: Language: Java/J2EE Operating system: Win 2000/XP or higher Web Server: Apache Tomcat Server Excel Parsers: POI(Poor Obfuscation Implementation) PDF Generator Tools: XSL-FO(Extensible Style sheet Language-Formatting Object) Back End: MySQL Database Hardware Requirements: Processor: P4 or higher RAM: 1 GB or higher Hard disk: 10 GB 3.1 Technical Architecture A Technical Architecture breaks down operational (business) processes into functional components and capabilities. It describes the structure and behaviour of the technology infrastructure of an enterprise, solution or system. The following diagram depicts functional components of the application. Browser Web Container (Tomcat) MySQL PaySlip Generation System The web container in detail handles the following operations as depicted in the following diagram As the web container receives the request from the browser it invokes the parser functionality and does the excel parsing row-wise and generates an xml String. The string data is used in generating the PDF. These PDFs which are generated are mailed to the respective employees by the mailer component. The entire email process is logged in a file. Once the application is deployed in the server we can access it locally or from remote using public IP or giving some domain name to the application. 3.2 Software Architecture Software architecture alludes to the overall structure of the software and the ways in which the structure provides conceptual integrity for a system. In the simplest form software architecture is the hierarchical structure of program components (modules), the manner in which these components interact and structure of data that are used by these components. The software architecture of a program or computing system is the structure or structures of the system, which comprise software components, the externally visible properties of those components, and the relationships between them. 4.1 Design Objectives: Design is the first step in the development phase of a process or system in sufficient details to permit its physical realization. Without design specifications, the design will be unguided. It is difficult to know when the process is complete and to measure the progress. Design is used to plan what information needs to be displayed and entered and how it relates to other information. Design is the only way to translate the requirements into a finished system. A well designed program will be easier to implement, distribute and maintain. 4.2 UML Diagrams 4.2.1 Usecase Diagram: 4.2.2 Class Diagram: 4.2.3 Sequence Diagram: 4.2.4 Collaboration Diagram: 4.2.5 Activity Diagram: 4.3 Data Flow Diagrams: Level 1 4.4 Database Design: 4.4.1 E-R Diagrams 4.4.2 Database Tables: Database Tables: 5.1 Pseudo Code Login Module Login form: public class LoginForm extends ActionForm { /**Declare two string variables that holds the username and password values entered in the form Define getter and setter methods **/ } Login Action: public class LoginAction extends Action { Public ActionForward execute(ActionMapping mapping, ActionForm actionForm, HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws Exception { /**Create an object to the login form Retrieve the username and password entered in the form and save in some variables Create an object for the implementation and call the function validate() with the retrieved username and password as arguments Savetoken() Depending on its return value forward the action to success page or failure page**/ } Login Interface: public interface LoginDAO { /**Declare th method validate(string , string)**/ } Interface Implementation: public class LoginDAOimpl extends BaseDAO implements LoginDAO { Constructor() { } Validate () { /**Declare two string variables that holds the values of the username and password from he database Get the connection to the database using the predefined method in java Retrieve the username and password from the database using a SQL query(select) Compare both username, password from form and database Return a Boolean value according to the comparision**/ } } Login.jsp: CTE Pay Slip Generation System Employee Login function validateLogin(){ if(document.loginForm.username.value!=""&& document.loginForm.password.value!="") { return true; } else { alert("Please Enter UserName and Password."); return false;} } Login UserName : Password : Copyright  © 2009 Cambridge Technology Enterprises. All rights reserved. Upload File Module: Upload form: public class UploadForm extends ActionForm { /**Define a variable file of type file Also define the getter and setter methods **/ } Upload Action: public class StrutsUploadAction extends Action { public ActionForward execute ( ActionMapping mapping, ActionForm form, HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws Exception { /** If the token is valid then Create an object for upload form to retrieve parameters like contentType, fileName, fileSize. Create an object to interface to all the method parseExcel(file) Return success Else Return failure **/ Upload.jsp CTE Pay Slip Generation System Employee Login function isFileName() { var fileName = document.forms[0].theFile.value; // uploadform is the form name if (fileName =="") { alert("Please select a file"); return false; } Else { if(fileName.substr((fileName.length)-3,fileName.length) == "xls") { document.forms[0].action = "FileUpload.do"; document.forms[0].method = "post"; document.forms[0].submit(); return true;} Else { alert("Please Upload an Excel file"); return false; }}} File Upload value= > Select File Copyright  © 2009 Cambridge Technology Enterprises. All rights reserved. window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"de6e6cfad9","applicationID":"221047987","transactionName":"bl0HMhMFDEYCWhJeWlcXMBQISwdGEFgfRBpYShEPAggHGxNRFg==","queueTime":0,"applicationTime":1,"atts":"QhoERFsfH0g=","errorBeacon":"bam.nr-data.net","agent":""} Upload interface: public interface PaySlipDAO { declare a method parseExcel() } /**Upload interface implementation(Excel Working and PDF Generation Modules **/ ) public class PaySlipDAOImpl extends BaseDAO implements PaySlipDAO { Constructor() { } public String parseExcel(String fileName) throws Exception { Define a String array str[]={sno,month,NoofDays,empid,empname,desg,Basic,HRA,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦} That defines the sequence in which Excel file should be in. /**Define a string variable that holds the root tag declare an input stream and initialize it to null now define a new input stream and initialize it to file (Excel file) initialize POIFSFileSystem to inputstream define a new HSSFworkbook get the sheet count get the sheet with count zero iterate the rows if the sheet has rows then iterate the cells from that retrieve the 4th,2nd and 21st cell values. 4-mployeeid 2-month 21-Email id For every cell value append the opening tag using the string array**/ /**According to the cell value get the value Like Numeric Formula String After adding the value append the closing tag Like wise iterate till all the cells are completed At the end append the closing root tag With this we are ready with our xml string. Using this xml string as the argument make the call to the generatPDF() Return empids of employees for whom the mail is sent and to whom the mail is not sent with a # appended in between.**/ } PDF Generation Module: public int genPDF( HSSFCell empid, HSSFCell mailid, HSSFCell monthyear, String xmlStr ) /**Set the path of the base directory to the current directory Define a file in which we save the xslt file that is used in designing the payslip Also define a PDF file with parameters like where to save(current directory),with what name(employee-id) and with what extension(.pdf) Create new instances for fop factory and fo user agent Get the random generated password which is of six characters length Now define two random numbers and retrieve th characters at that ndex in the employee id Append these two characters to the random generated password Encrypt the pdf using method PDFEncryptionParams() and set the Boolean parameters like allow print, allowCopyContent, allowEditContent, allowEditAnnotations and also the keys to encrypt configure foUserAgent as desired. Setup output. Construct fop with desired output format Setup XSLT Setup input for XSLT transformation Resulting SAX events (the generated FO) must be piped through to FOP Start XSLT transformation and FOP processing**/ /**Call the sendmail method by creating its object Save the returnvalue in a variable If that is equal to one then save that email id as sentmailid and append all other of this kind in the Excel sheet to this**/ /**If thats is equal to zero save that email id as failedmailid and append all others of this kind in the Excel sheet to this After mail is sent save that in the log using the user defined method insertIntoEmailLog (mailid, monthYear,status)**/ } private void insertIntoEmailLog(HSSFCell mailid, String monthYear, int status) { /**Get the data base connection Insert into table the values of status,month nd the mailed**/ } public static String getPassword(int n) { /**Generate n random characters may it be alphabets(upper and lower),numbers and symbols Return a string of length n characters**/ } MailService Module: public class MailService { MailService (); { } /**Define the host, transport_protocol, authentication needed, debugging needed etc.**/ public int sendMail(String empId,String monthYear,String emailid,byte[] pdfBytes,String randompwd,int randomposition1,int randomposition2) { /**Set the parameters like frommail, tomail, subject, messagetext, content type etc Define a new mail session Declare a new MIMEmessage() for this mail session set the source to PDF bytes send that message as mail to the tomailid**/ } } Failure.jsp CTE Pay Slip Generation System Employee Login response.setHeader(Cache-Control,no-cache); //HTTP 1.1 response.setHeader(Pragma,no-cache); //HTTP 1.0 response.setDateHeader (Expires, 0); //prevents caching at the proxy server response.setHeader(Cache-Control,no-store); //HTTP 1.1 %> Invalid username or password Please Try Again Copyright  © 2009 Cambridge Technology Enterprises. All rights reserved. Uploadsuccess.jsp CTE Pay Slip Generation System Employee Login response.setHeader(Cache-Control,no-cache); //HTTP 1.1 response.setHeader(Pragma,no-cache); //HTTP 1.0 response.setDateHeader (Expires, 0); //prevents caching at the proxy server response.setHeader(Cache-Control,no-store); //HTTP 1.1 %> File Successfully Uploaded EMail sent to: String maildata = (String)request.getAttribute(emailEmpId); int splitCount= maildata.indexOf(#); String sentEmailIds=maildata.substring(0,splitCount); String failedEmailIds=maildata.substring(splitCount+1,maildata.length()); %> EMail failed to:

The House Of The Seven Gables Essay examples -- essays research papers

THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES The story begins as Nathaniel Hawthorne lays down the setting and describes the house of the seven-gables and the story of its creation. The house is old and overrun by moss weeds and bushes, but the greatest aspect is the gigantic tree in the front of the house that seems to grow in size as it feeds off the misery of the inhabitants and the decay of the house. The very land that the house was built on was stolen from Matthew Moule. Since Colonel Pyncheon liked the location he helped accuse Matthew Moule of witchcraft and had him hung from the gallows pole. At his death, Matthew Moule curses Colonel Pyncheon saying, 'God will give him blood to drink!" One hundred and sixty years ago, when Colonel Pyncheon opened the new seven-gabled mansion, the guests found him lying dead in his study with his face covered in blood. Now, 160 years later, the curse still haunts the household as unfortunate circumstances fall upon the Pyncheons. The claim to the vast acres in Maine still remains lost. Clifford Pyncheon was convicted for killing his uncle and is sent to prison for 30 years. The only Pyncheon left living in the house is Hepzibah, who is forced to put aside her pride and open a 1-cent shop on the first floor. The 1-cent shop in itself is a symbol if irony due to the fact that Hepzibah was once rich and now, though she is living in a mansion, she sells penny goods on the bottom floor. Townspeople come in usually just to see her work an...

Epic of Beowulf Essay - Beowulf and the Hero Myth :: Epic of Beowulf Essay

Beowulf and the Hero Myth Beowulf contains a myriad of different heroic ethical and social values. Most of these values are ingeniously rooted within, or made evident by the opposing forces of the poem. The initial opposing force arrives in the form of Grendel, a vile creature who's rampages mirror that of a modern serial killer. As the poem draws toward the conclusion, it focuses on the dragon, a creature developed by the poet to solidify the rise and fall of the archetypal hero. After Adolf Hitler failed in his artistic studies at Vienna, he began to develop what would become a reign of terror on those who were not like him. His backlash towards a society that rejected him as an artist spawned his anti-Semitic and political beliefs. The same anti-societal anger has found its way into the minds of countless other killers, both past and present. Take for example Theodore (Ted) Bundy, who in 1978, after watching students drink and dance in a college bar, witnessed "a healthy ritual of joy from which we know he forever felt exiled". Shortly thereafter, Bundy left the bar and traveled to the Chi Omega sorority house where he watched from outside, entered, and then killed two girls and wounded two others. Just as Bundy had done, Grendel watched and surveyed from the distance. He waited outside the great hall, listening to the mirth and celebration from within. He hated them. The revelers inside felt no "misery of men." They were not uninvited, outcast, and below the social class of Hrothgar's company. These feelings of inadequacy propel Grendel to slaughter those who oppress him. For "twelve winters" he smashes bodies and eats his victims, creating a bloody rampage and a dire need for a savior. The question of Grendel's origin is difficult to trace. The author remains ambiguous throughout the poem, referring to Grendel as biblical, but also suggesting that he is human. The original manuscript often refers to Grendel as "man", but man" with a long vowel meant evil, whereas "man" with a short vowel literally meant a man. It cannot be certain which pronunciation the author intended, what has been butchered in the translation, or whether this was meant to be a crafty play on words.

Airtread Case Writeup Essay

1. Ms. Zhang wanted to keep things simple by assuming a stock purchase using the maximum amount of leverage available to conduct the merger, and she assumed that the acquisition debt could consist of a single tranche amortizing monthly over 10 years, but with bullet payment to bring AirThread’s leverage ratios in line with those of the industry. So from 2008 to 2012, the D/E ratio of AirThread would change continuously until the bullet payment is paid, so we expect to use APV valutation method from 2008 to 2012, since it is more efficient to adjust the PV of FCF than to figure out the annual WACC. From 2013, the D/E ratio of AirThread would be in line with the industry, indicating the company will rebalance its D/E ratio, so we expect to use WACC method from then on to value AirThread. 2. Before we calculate the discount rate, we need to make the following assumptions: a. Since Ms. Zhang wanted to keep things simple by assuming a stock purchase using the maximum amount of leverage available and a debt to value ratio not exceeding 50%, so we calculate the initial D/E=100% which is the maximum leverage for AirThread under this scenario. b. AirThread neither rebalanced its capital structure during 2008 and 2012, nor did it keep its debt at a fixed level. It repays its debt monthly. However, the amount of debt repaid before the end of 2012 is small compared with the total amount of debt and the total bullet payment. So when we calculate debt cost of capital from 2008 to 2012, we assume that the debt maintains at a fixed amount till the end of 2012 and the periodic payments will not have effect on the debt cost of capital. In order to use APV method to value the company from 2008 to 2012, we need to figure out the unlevered cost of asset-R(U) and cost of debt at initialization-R(D08-12) to discount the FCF back to 2007. According to Rubinstein & Ross the interest rate of the bond should be 5.5% at the initial leverage, so RD08-12=5.5%. And we expect to use the market multiples to estimate RU. We can calculate Beta(D08-12) at the initial leverage by using CAPM model. So Beta(D08-12)=1.25%/5%=0.25, at D/E=100%. However, when the capital structure of AirThread is in line with the industry, the D/E ratio is approximately 40.1%, which is less than 100%, indicating less risk in debt after 2012 when the company was in line with the industry leverage. So we assume that AirThread’s debt beta after 2012-Beta(D12-)=0.125, also we can get equity beta-Beta(E12-)=1.00 from the market multiples. Since the D/E=40.1% in market multiples, we can get Beta(U)= 0.125*40.1%/(1+40.1%)+1*1/(1+40.1%)=0.75, R(U)=(5.5%-1.25%)+0.75*5%=8%. Finally we can use R(U) to discount the FCF and use R(D08-12) to discount the interest tax shield. A detail list of inputs can be found in Sheet1. In terms of the terminal value, the discount rate=WACC-G. G is the growth rate in perpetuity, which cannot exceed the long term growth rate of US economy. The WACC is the weighted cost of capital when AirThreat keeps rebalancing the capital structure in line with the industry, the assumptions are very different from what we have made when calculating the discount rate from 2008 to 2012. So we cannot use the same discount rate to value the terminal value. 3. Compute the unlevered free cash flow and the interest tax shields from 2008 to 2012 based on estimates provided in Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 6. Based on the data provided by the case we can calculate estimated FCF which can be found in Sheet2. In calculating the ITS, we think only the interest payment can be used to calculate the ITS instead of the total payment each year. The calculation of ITS can be found in Sheet3. Free Cash Flow = EBITÃâ€"(1-tax rate) + Depreciation & Amortization – change in Net Working Capital – Capital Expenditure EBIT = Revenue – Operating Expense – COGS – SG&A – Depreciation & Amortization Among the inputs listed above, only changes in Net Working Capital is not projected with explicit figures, and assumptions concerning net working capital accounts and important related notes are listed in Sheet4.Based on our above sheets can calculation, we can arrive at the results. (in million dollar) | 2008| 2009| 2010| 2011| 2012| Free Cash Flow| 227.07| 347.38| 319.73| 326.04| 322.24| Interest Tax Shield| 80| 73| 66| 59| 56| 4. A company’s long-term growth rate is a function of return on capital and reinvestment rate, and should not exceed long-term macro economy growth rate. The return on capital represents the investment return and the reinvestment rate represents the proportional amount of capital reinvested to fulfill future growth of the company. So a better to estimate the long term growth rate is to return on capital multiplied by reinvestment rate. So, g=return on capitalÃâ€"reinvestment rate. A detailed disaggregation of this function can be fond in Function 1 in appendix. We need the long term growth rate of AirThread when its capital structure is in line with the industry and reflect the most recent performance after the merger event. So it is better to estimate the long term growth rate by using the 2012 year end projected financial statements. As we have computed the Δ NWC in Q3 and got other necessary inputs from the exhibits in case material, the only unknown data is the Total Assets of 2012. To project this number in 2012, we need to use the formula of Asset Turnover ratio. Asset Turnover ratio = Total revenue/ Total asset The total revenue of 2012, combining the Service Revenue and Equipment Revenue of 2012 in Exhibit 1, should be 6806.50. Then we compute the average growth rate of the Asset Turnover Ratio based on Table 2 and use the result to estimate the Asset Turnover Ratio of 2012, which is 1.58. Now we can estimate the total asset of 2012 with the Asset Turnover Ratio of 1.58. Total asset= 6806.50/ 1.58≈4311.1(in million). With the total asset of 2012, we can calculate the long-term growth rate=2.61%. The inputs and detailed result is list in Sheet5. Based on the 30-year GDP data of U.S (Dec.1976-Dec 2007), average nominal GDP growth rate is 7.3%, average real GDP growth rate is 3.3%, and inflation growth rate is 0.9%, so projected Future Growth Rate of AirThread should be between 0.9% and 7.3%, which support our estimate result of 2.61%. 5. A company’s total assets can be expressed as the sum of operating assets and interest tax shield assets. Under the assumptions that from 2008 to 2012 the total debt is fixed and in perpetuity the company keeps rebalancing the leverage ratio to be in line with the industry, we should use unlevered discount rate (Ru) to discount the FCF back to 2007. Terminal Value of FCF in perpetuity is estimated with the long-term growth rate calculated in Q4 and unlevered discount rate calculated in Q3: Terminal Value at 2012=FCF2012Ãâ€"(1+g)Ru=322.24Ãâ€"(1+2.61%)8%-2.61%=6,134.52 (million dollar) Value of operating assets=15FCFt(1+Ru)t+Terminal Value(1+Ru)5=5,176.58 (million dollar)

Toy Recall

Mattel is multinational toy company that has been beleaguered by problems involving massive toy recall. Indeed, the company has been announcing product recalls and providing details about them since 1998. In 2007, wooden toys were ordered recalled by the state Department of Consumer Protection because the toys were found to have high lead content. Moreover, the excessive amount of lead found in the toys was considered violations of the federal prohibition on the use of lead paint on children’s toys (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2007). Apparently, the toy was already sold in several stores. Thus, the Department of Consumer Protection instructed customers to return the purchased items to stores for a cash refund (Krechevsky, 2007). Mattel is taking a beating with the repeated product recalls of Chinese-made toys, due to excessive levels of magnet and lead content. The staggering number alone of the toys recalled, coupled with the frequency and short duration in between recalls, is sure to cause damage to the company’s credibility and financial performance (Microsoft, 2008). Reports would show that in the previous year, Mattel recalled 1.5 million Fisher-Price infant toys to be sold all over the world. A few weeks later, Mattel announced another recall order of 9 million toys, such as Polly Pocket dolls, â€Å"Cars† movie souvenir products, and Barbie dolls. Other popular toys that are included in the toy recall are Tanner play sets and action figures of Batman and One Piece Triple Slash Zolo Roronoa action figures. These toys, which were all manufactured in China, are feared for having lead-paint and small magnets that could be swallowed (Microsoft, 2008). Several injuries related to the recalled toys had been reported in the United States, which include the death of one child and the surgery of 19 children since 2003, as a result of the swallowing of little magnets found in the toys. Children who swallow more than one magnet are in danger of intestinal perforation, blockage, or infection caused by the magnet’s attachment to each other. Intestinal perforation requires surgery, and could be fatal (Microsoft, 2008). On the other hand, the high levels of lead content in China-made toys present a different risk. It is not necessarily dangerous for children’s toys to have lead paint. However, there is a limit to the lead content of toys because there should only be a maximum of 0.6 percent of lead that is accessible to users. Children who are exposed to more than 0.6 percent of lead could ingest the toxic substance (Microsoft, 2008). These frequent and massive toy recalls would create a huge dent on the company’s credibility among consumers, specifically parents. This would easily translate into huge losses in terms of profit. Thus, Mattel is trying very hard to convince parents not to lose trust in the company. The company is undertaking campaigns such as full page ads at popular newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times, in order to convince parents that they should still be trusted to provide entertaining and safe toys for children (Microsoft, 2008). Officials of the company say that they started investigating as soon as they learned of potential problems with the toys in late July of the previous year. Bob Eckert, the chief executive of Mattel, declared in a press conference that the company is exerting effort to beef up its oversight and testing procedures in its production processes. Thus, they expect to recall more toys to protect the public. Testing in the high levels as the company is currently doing, it cannot be guaranteed that there would be no more recalls this year. In order to help consumers who may have concerns and questions about toy recalls, Mattel set up an online site where such concerns could be ventilated (Microsoft, 2008). The company’s response to the toy recalls is to counteract the damage done. Thus, they spent resources in printing huge and expensive ads in popular newspapers in order to reach out to their primary consumers, or the parents. They try to convince parents that their foremost priority is the safety of the consumers’ children, and the toy recalls are steps in the right direction towards protecting children. Mattel’s lack of objection, and instead, full cooperation and support for the toy recalls shows that the company is taking full responsibility for the situation, and that they are not shirking from their responsibility to the consumers. The company’s actions send a strong message that they know that something is wrong, but they are doing all that are necessary to address the problem. Moreover, the establishment of a hotline and a website that would provide relevant information to all concerned is a responsible initiative that shows how serious Mattel is in helping out consumers. In the given situation, Mattel could not have handled the situation in a better manner. An irresponsible manager would try to keep the controversy under wraps in order to avoid humiliation and damage to the company’s reputation. However, it is better to address the issue head-on in order for the company to maintain the customers’ trust and confidence. If I were an official for Mattel, I would put more vigor to the campaign and marketing of Mattel products. I would not stop at newspaper advertisements and appeal to the intellect of parents; rather, I would again tap into the interests of children so that they would want Mattel’s products. This way, parents would feel pressure from children to reconsider Mattel as a toy producer. Before Mattel took a definite course of action, it was possible that they considered to keep the controversy a secret. They could have taken a risk in not recalling products and simply hope that no injury would result. They could have chosen to be irresponsible. However, such alternative action would have resulted in more damage in the credibility of the company. If such act were discovered, it would make the company appear greedy and selfish, without regard for the health and safety of its consumers. Therefore, Mattel’s strategy of coming out in the open, supporting the recalls, and providing support to consumers, is the best strategy possible in the given circumstances. References Customer Expectations. The Business Information Revolution, 65-77. Retrieved   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   February 8, 2008, from jsessum.com/samples/WP-enterpulse.pdf Krechevsky, D. (2007). State recalls robot toy due to lead levels. American-  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Republican Inc. Retrieved February 8, 2006 Mattel Inc. (2007). Product Recalls. Retrieved February 8, 2008, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://service.mattel.com/us/recall.asp Microsoft. (2008). Mattel issues new massive China toy recall. Retrieved February 8,    2008, from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20254745/ U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (2007). Fisher Price Recalls Go Diego Go   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Boat Toys Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard. Retrieved February 8, 2008