Machiavelli s Principles Of Princedom - 1449 Words

Machiavelli’s Principles of Princedom When reading The Prince by Niccolà ³ Machiavelli, one will find a vast list of ways a prince should and should not act/rule. Many of the references Machiavelli makes, expands from Europe to Egypt. The propositions in this book go back to the fifteenth century and early sixteenth century. Starting with who Machiavelli is, the purpose of this paper is to explain some of his philosophies on how an ideal prince rules and acts, along with the conditions of his time era in Florence, to get a better understanding on how Machiavelli’s Principles of Princedom are correct. Niccolà ² di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was born, May 3, 1469, in Florence, Italy. He was a diplomat for fourteen years during the Medici family s exile. â€Å"When the Medici family returned to power in 1512, Machiavelli was dismissed and briefly jailed. He then wrote The Prince, a handbook for politicians on the use of ruthless, self-serving cunning, inspiring the term Machiavellian and establishing Machiavelli as the ‘father of modern political theory’† (Biography.com Editors). In 1494 when the Medici family fell Machiavelli became a diplomat in Italy’s Florentine Republic. During this time he â€Å"earned a reputation for deviousness, enjoying shocking his associates by appearing more shameless than he truly was† (Biography.com Editors). In 1512 the Medici family came back into power, tortured, jailed, and banished Machiavelli from any political involvement in FlorenceShow MoreRelatedAdolf Hitler to Machiavellis The Prince1671 Words   |  7 PagesWhen Machiavelli wrote The Prince in the 1500s, his intentions did not apply to the twentieth century. Some very important figures of the twentieth century used basic ideals from The Prince to obtain and maintain their position in power. One of these individuals was Adolf Hitler. Hitler used numerous Machiavellian ideas to win his respective place in Germanys g overnment. The two most important Machiavellian principles that Hitler used were winning the people and how he dealt with cruelty and

Capital vs. Capitol How to Choose the Right Word

The  words  capital and capitol are homophones, meaning they sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. Capital has many definitions, referring to government, assets, and capital letters, while capitol has only one: a building housing a legislative body—plus, often, the area surrounding that building. How to Use Capital The noun capital has several definitions:  (1) a city that is a seat of government, (2) wealth in the form of money or property, and (3) a capital letter, the type of uppercase letter used at the beginning of a sentence. As an adjective, capital refers to punishment by death (as in a capital offense) or a letter of the alphabet  in the form of the capital letters A, B, C  as opposed to a, b, c. The adjective form can also mean excellent or highly important. How to Use Capitol The noun capitol refers to the building in which a legislative assembly, such as the U.S. Congress or a state legislature, does its business. Additionally, at the federal level and in many states, the neighborhood surrounding the capitol is referred to, formally or informally, as Capitol Hill. Both  words  are derived from the Latin root  caput, meaning head.  Capital  evolved from the words  capitÄ lis,  meaning of the head, for its government sense and  capitÄ le,  or wealth,  for its use to mean a benefit, financial or otherwise. Capitol  comes from  CapitÃ… lium, the name of a temple dedicated to the Roman god Jupiter that once sat on the smallest of Rome’s seven hills, Capitoline Hill. When referring to a specific capitol, such as the U.S. Capitol or the Colorado Capitol, the word should be capitalized. When referring to a generic, nonspecific seat of government, make it lowercase. Examples Here are examples of sentences that use capital and capitol correctly: The capital of Alaska is Juneau. The word here refers to the city in which the seat of government is located.The dome of the U.S. Capitol  is one of the most famous man-made landmarks in America. Here the word refers to the building, not the city.Raising sufficient capital before we start to build is a capital idea. In the first usage, capital refers to wealth; in the second, it means excellent.The district attorney still hasnt decided whether to charge the suspect with a capital offense or a lesser crime, such as manslaughter. Here capital means punishable by death. Its usage comes from the fact that death originally came by decapitation.Proper nouns begin with a capital letter. Here capital means uppercase. How to Remember the Difference There are two tricks for recalling the difference between the main definitions of the two words. One notes that the o in capitol looks like the spherical dome of the U.S. Capitol and the capitols of many state governments. All other uses are spelled capital. The other trick is to think of the o in capitol as standing for only one, referring to the fact that capitol has only one meaning. Sources Capital or Capitol? http://homepage.smc.edu/quizzes/cheney_joyce/capitalcapitol.html.

Software Architecture and Software Design - 2053 Words

1.Introduction Scenario A software design must be produced to support a number of self-service stations for a small supermarket (stand-alone, not part of a national chain). This will involve interaction with various hardware devices, the main aim is to design and evaluate a suitable architecture and at least a simple demonstration mock-up of the system should be implemented. The aims and business drivers of the project are to: †¢ Develop a self service system that is safe and usable using ASP.net †¢ Incorporate process customer payment †¢ Determine how the system will interact with various hardware devices †¢ Use the multi-tier structure for the system’s architecture 2. Overview of software architecture To date the term software architecture is not precisely defined or agreed upon due to the various conceptions and theories of the term. According to Wikipedia (2014) software architecture is the design and construction of software, it specifies the set of structures that are used to encapsulate describe a software system. Software architecture is a set of architectural design decisions, furthermore it is also specified by the set of principles and practises that are used to document and design a system, documentation is used for software architecture to capture design decisions in regards to the high level design and to allow for the reuse of design components between projects. Software architecture is concerned with the software elements that make up aShow MoreRelatedAnalysis and Design of Software Architecture6018 Words   |  25 PagesSA Analysis and Design Software Architecture (707.023) Denis Helic KMI, TU Graz Oct 19, 2011 Denis Helic (KMI, TU Graz) SA Analysis and Design Oct 19, 2011 1 / 78 Outline 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Development Process Requirements Quality Attributes Runtime QA Non-runtime QA Requirements Analysis: Example Architectural Analysis Design Architectural Views Denis Helic (KMI, TU Graz) SA Analysis and Design Oct 19, 2011 2 / 78 Development Process Methodology Diï ¬â‚¬erentRead MoreDesign Decisions For Understanding Software Architecture1003 Words   |  5 PagesSICSR SICSR SICSR Abstract: Software architecture is important because of communication among stakeholders, Design decisions for understanding software, transferable design of a system. Software architecture represents a common design of a system that most if not all of the system s stakeholders can use as a basis for mutual understanding, negotiation, agreement, and communication. Software architecture manifests the earliest design decisions about a system, and these early bindingsRead MoreScenario Based Usability Engineering And Software Architecture Based Design Essay2321 Words   |  10 PagesSummary The following analysis takes a look at scenario-based usability engineering and software architecture-based design and the effects, if any, of each given design technique on software quality attributes as defined by McCall. McCall lists the following attributes as part of a quality software product: correctness, reliability, efficiency, integrity, usability, maintainability, flexibility, testability, portability, reusability, and interoperability. These quality attributes will be used asRead MoreIntroduction To Software Architecture. Usaace. Ncoa. Ssg1220 Words   |  5 Pages INTRODUCTION TO SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE USAACE NCOA SSG Guy A. Johnson 15USLC 17-003 â€Æ' The world is becoming more and more dependent on software systems. It is difficult to find any organization today that is not reliant or dependent on complex software systems in order to function. Software systems are comprised of many components and have become increasingly complex over time. As the complexity of the software systems grew, it has introduced new design problems and challenges. ManyRead MoreBuilding Software versus Building a House Essay624 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿ Building Software versus Building a House Natty Martinez CSS/422 May 11, 2015 Annie O’Rourke Building Software versus Building a House Building software and building a house have many similarities as well as differences. There are four aspects that I found in which there are some similarities and differences. These aspects are planning, materials, design, and schedules. There are many more aspects that can be used as well as what the aspects have. Similarities InRead MoreSoftware Engineering : Design Rules For All Components935 Words   |  4 PagesIn software engineering, requirements from user met with available components, then following activities needs to be performed 1) Component Qualification: System requirements and architecture define the components that will be required. Reusable components (whether COTS or in house) are normally identified by the characteristics of their interfaces. That is, â€Å"the services that are provided, and the means by which consumers access these services† are described as part of the component interface. ButRead MoreCIS515 - Module05 Essay examples704 Words   |  3 Pages1. Describe technical architecture as a structured process and compare it to software architecture. How are the two related? In what ways does it allow us to design better systems? Technical Architecture A technical architecture is the design and documentation of a software application. Technical architecture gives the overall picture of the application. Usually enterprise architect who understand the business and fluent in technology provide the important bridge between MIS and business. TechnicalRead MoreSoftware System Architecture Essay1730 Words   |  7 PagesSoftware System Architecture Essay 03/04/2008 Once a business need is established, software system architecture is formulated to meet this business need. To properly formulate the software system architecture we must employ proven strategies, such as diagrams that illustrate the parts of the system and how they work together. These subsystems collaborate intelligently to support the functionality of the whole system. Project managers must be aware of the system architecture involvedRead MoreSoftware Design Of A Computer Based System1738 Words   |  7 PagesA key requirement of the software design of a computer-based system is to transform basic requirements into an architecture that describes the software s top-level structure and identifies its components. Accomplishment of this requirement is through architectural design, providing a blueprint for developing the framework of the software (Mattsson, Lundell, Lings, Fitzgerald, 2009). The establishment of the framework involves examining the software requirements d ocument and designing a modelRead MoreApplication Of Agile Software Development1663 Words   |  7 Pagesdelivery and design as go because of which many organizations are given a hand to agile and developers are doing architecture as they go into their iterations. Without proper architecture we will create silos and redundant artifacts and may lead to lack of scalability, interoperabitlity and performance. It is improve software quality and Agile enhances productivity. This paper addresses this issue and finds out a way where we can develop a software using agile and comply to the architecture required

Legal Memorandum - 911 Words

This document presents a framework for developing a legal memorandum concerned with the themes that need to be considered in the company’s decision to expand to Mexico. There are several legal and ethical areas pertinent to doing business internationally in Mexico. They derive from aspects of both the American and Mexican legal environments as outlined herein. I. Domestic Law A. The FCPA 1. The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) governs the conduct of business operations and activities by American companies engaged in international business (Mundial, 2013). Through the statutory provisions of the FCPA, companies are prohibited from soliciting unfair advantage in their activities by paying bribes or offering to pay them directly or†¦show more content†¦3. Risk factors that promote non-compliance should be understood because failure to strictly adhere to the requisite conditions may result in hefty fines and possible imprisonment. II. Legal Implications of Internationalizing to Mexico A. Implications of the Mexican Legal Environment 1. The decision to expand the business in Mexico means that the company will be subjected to the Mexican legal framework to the extent of its provisions governing international investors. 2. It is essential to understand how the company’s operations must be tailored in compliance with several aspects of Mexican Law. Critical elements that will be most implicative to the firm are corporate law, labor law, and international trade laws. 3. The Foreign Investment Law underpins Mexican corporate law regarding how it will inform the company structure, governance, taxation, and activities, such as financing that are controlled within the law’s domain. 4. Additionally, aspects of Labor Law (Mayo, 2014) will be implied in areas, such as employee benefits and trade unionism. 5. Mexico’s legal environment of the company also includes international trade treaties and the terms that define Mexico’s membership in international trade organizations, such as NAFTA. B. Advantages and Challenges 1. The legal benefits that arise due to the alignment of the country’s legal environment with the American context. 2. Another advantage to explore is the increasinglyShow MoreRelatedLegal Memorandum1467 Words   |  6 PagesFinal Written Assignment 9 Internal Legal Memorandum of Law MEMORANDUM TO: Chief Prosecuting Attorney FROM: DATE: December 4, 2010 RE: Charging Bob and Susan Tuttle of Negligent Supervision Question Presented Did Joseph Haney effectively simulate a deadly weapon and create a life-threatening environment, sufficient to satisfy the Arizona armed robbery statute, by thrusting his hand into a pocket and telling the store clerk that it was a holdup and to [l]ie still if youRead MoreLegal Memorandum Essay2796 Words   |  12 PagesMEMORANDUM To: Scott Haddock, Supervising Attorney From: Bob Barker, Super Senior Paralegal Re: Paige Turner Our file No.: 12095 Public school searches Date: June 6, 2013 I. Issues 1. The issue is whether public school officials have the authority to perform strip searches of students in suspicion of hiding illegal drugs. 2. 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She and Mr. Green have already had several arguments concerning child support arrangements for their children Kelly Green, age 14, and Moss Green, age 10. Mrs. Green thinks that it would be best for the children if she and Mr. Green had joint custody of the children. Along with this,Read MoreLegal System Identification, Comparison, and Analysis Internal Memorandum2482 Words   |  10 PagesLegal System Identification, Comparison, and Analysis Internal Memorandum Introduction Two potential lawsuits regarding the development of the infrastructure to the subdivision may be present. An infrastructure includes power, utility, cable, gas lines, and sewer pipes. The impending lawsuits imply the construction of the infrastructure will block access to a current utility easement therefore, denying the use of the easement by the city or the adjacent property owner. The city has warned saidRead MoreA Company or a Corporation Is an ‘Artificial Person’ Created by Law1739 Words   |  7 Pagesexistence. The law in creating legal persons always does so by personifying some real thing. The legal entity[1] known as the company. Corporate constitution In the world in almost every jurisdiction a company must have a corporate constitution, which defines the existence of the company and regulates the structure and control of the company. By convention, most common law jurisdictions divide the corporate constitution into two separate documents: i) The Memorandum of Association (in some countriesRead MoreHow Clinics Can Be Integrated Into The Curriculum827 Words   |  4 Pagesgive students a foundation of experience that could be refined in the first clinical course. For example, in the first semester, students would perform an initial client interview, conduct book and electronic research, and draft a predictive memorandum, client letter, and complaint. At the beginning of the second semester of the first year, a select group of high performing students would be chosen to participate in Law Center I, and assignments would be consistent with the assignments completedRead MoreLaw in Malaysia2893 Words   |  12 PagesTable of content 1.0 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..1 2.1 Legal effect of Memorandum and Article of Association†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦1 - 2 2.0 Memorandum of Association†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...2 - 3 3.2 Doctrine of Ultra Vires†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...†¦...3 - 4 3.0 Article of Association†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦4 - 5 4.0 Australian Corporation Law 1961†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦....†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦5 - 6 5.0 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 6.0 Bibliography†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦...†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.7

Buddha’s Brain Free Essays

[in the SPOTLIGHT] Richard J. Davidson and Antoine Lutz Buddha’s Brain: Neuroplasticity and Meditation I n a recent visit to the United States, the Dalai Lama gave a speech at the Society for Neuroscience’s annual meeting in Washington, D. C. We will write a custom essay sample on Buddha’s Brain or any similar topic only for you Order Now Over the past several years, he has helped recruit Tibetan Buddhist monks for— and directly encouraged—research on the brain and meditation in the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior at the University of WisconsinMadison. The findings from studies in this unusual sample, as well as related research efforts, suggest that over the course of meditating for tens of thousands of hours, the long-term practitioners had actually altered the structure and function of their brains. In this article we discuss neuroplasticity, which encompasses such alterations, and the findings from these studies. Further, we comment on the associated signal processing (SP) challenges, the current status, and how SP can contribute to advancing these studies. WHAT IS NEUROPLASTICITY? The term neuroplasticity is used to describe the brain changes that occur in response to experience. There are many different mechanisms of neuroplasticity, ranging from the growth of new connections to the creation of new neurons. When the framework of neuroplasticity is applied to meditation, we suggest that the mental training of meditation is fundamentally no different than other forms of skill acquisition that can induce plastic changes in the brain [1], [2]. WHAT IS MEDITATION? The term meditation refers to a broad variety of practices, ranging from techDigital Object Identifier 10. 109/MSP. 2007. 910429 niques designed to promote relaxation to exercises, performed with a more farreaching goal such as a heightened sense of well-being. It is thus essential to be specific about the type of meditation practice under investigation. In [3], meditation was conceptualized as a family of complex emotional and attentional regulatory strategies developed for various ends, including the c ultivation of well-being Buddhist Vipassan? and Mah? mudr? , a a a and are also implicated in many popular secular interventions that draw on Buddhist practices. FINDINGS OF BRAIN CHANGES IN MEDITATION In what follows, we summarize the changes in the brain that occur during each of these styles of meditation practice. Such changes include alterations in patterns of brain function assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), changes in the cortical evoked response to visual stimuli that reflect the impact of meditation on attention, and alterations in amplitude and synchrony of highfrequency oscillations that probably play an important role in connectivity among widespread circuitry in the brain. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP The experiments described below that measure hemodynamic changes with fMRI require a high-field-strength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner equipped with the appropriate pulse sequences to acquire data rapidly and with the necessary fiber optic stimulus delivery devices so that visual stimuli can be presented to the subject while he or she lays in the bore of the magnet. For the studies that measure brain electrical activity, a high-density recording system with between 64 and 256 electrodes on the scalp surface is used. FA MEDITATION A recent study [4] used fMRI to interrogate the neural correlates of FA (continued on page 172) THE TERM NEUROPLASTICITY IS USED TO DESCRIBE THE BRAIN CHANGES THAT OCCUR IN RESPONSE TO EXPERIENCE. and emotional balance. Here we focus on two common styles of meditation, i. e. , focused attention (FA) meditation and open monitoring (OM) meditation. FA meditation entails voluntarily focusing attention on a chosen object in a sustained fashion. OM meditation involves nonreactively monitoring the content of experience from moment to moment, primarily as a means to recognize the nature of emotional and cognitive patterns. OM meditation initially involves the use of FA training to calm the mind and reduce distractions, but as FA advances, the cultivation of the monitoring skill per se becomes the main focus of practice. The aim is to reach a state in which no explicit focus on a specific object is retained; instead, one remains only in the monitoring state, attentive moment by moment to anything that occurs in experience. These two common styles of meditation are often combined, whether in a single session or over the course of a practitioner’s training. These styles are found with some variation in several meditation systems, including the 1053-5888/08/$25. 00 ©2008IEEE IEEE SIGNAL PROCESSING MAGAZINE [176] SEPTEMBER 2007 [in the SPOTLIGHT] y=4 continued from page 176 % T2 Accuracy: Times2 Versus 1 50 40 30 20 10 0 ? 10 Novices Time1 Practitioners PZ P3b to T1 420-440 ms 0 10 1,000 F-Values ms Novices Practitioners r=? 0. 68, p=. 001 Amygdala 0. 2 0. 1 0 ? 0. 1 ? 0. 2 10 20 30 (a) V 20 ? 20 20 ? 20 20 ? 20 20 ? 20 20 ? 20 20 ? 20 (d) 40 50 r=? 0. 64 Time2 +5? V ? 5? V ? 200 Blink No-Blink T1 T2 ?5 ? 4 ? 3 ? 2 ? 1 0 1 2 3? V T1-Elicited P3b Amplitude: Time2 Versus 1 (c) (b) F3 Fc5 Cp5 F4 Fc6 Cp6 V2 500 300 100 0 Blocks 50 Resting State 100 Meditative State (e) 150 Time (s) % 100 45 0 Controls % 100 45 * * % 80 Practitioners * * * * * 40 0 Ongoing Initial Baseline Baseline (g) Meditation State * Controls Practitioners * * 0 * 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (f) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 [FIG1] Neuroimaging and neurodynamical correlates of FA and OM meditations. (a) Relationship between degree of meditation training (in years) and hemodynamic response in the amygdala (in blue) to distractor sounds during FA meditation in long-term Buddhist practitioners. Individual responses in the right amygdala are plotted (adapted from [4]). (b) The reduction in P3b amplitude (a brain-potential index of resource allocation) to the first of two target stimuli (T1 and T2) presented in a rapid stream of distracter stimuli after three months of intensive Vipassan? meditation [5]. (c) Generally, the greater the reduction in brain-resource allocation to T1 was a over time, the better able an individual became at accurately identifying T2 (adapted from [5] ). d)–(e) Example of high-amplitude gamma activity during a form of OM meditation, nonreferential compassion meditation, in long-term Buddhist practitioners [6]. (e) Time course of gamma (25–42 Hz) activity power over the electrodes displayed in (d) during four blocks computed in a 20-s sliding window every 2 s and then averaged over electrodes. (f) Intra-individual analysis of the ratio of gamma to slow oscillations (4–13 Hz) averaged across all electrodes during compassion medita tion. g) The significant interaction between group (practitioner, control) and state (initial baseline, ongoing baseline, and meditation state) for this ratio. meditation in experts and novices. The study compared FA meditation on an external visual point to a rest condition during which participants do not use meditation and are simply instructed to adopt a neutral baseline state. The meditation condition was associated with activation in multiple brain regions implicated in monitoring (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), engaging attention (visual cortex), and attentional orienting (e. g. , the uperior frontal sulcus, the supplementary motor area, and the intraparietal sulcus). Although this meditation-related activation pattern was generally stronger for long-term practitioners compared to IEEE SIGNAL PROCESSING MAGAZINE [172] JANUARY 2008 novices, activity in many brain areas involved in FA meditation showed an inverted u-shaped curve for both classes of subjects. Whereas expert me ditators with an average of 19,000 practice hours showed stronger activation in these areas than the novices, expert meditators with an average of 44,000 practice hours showed less activation. This inverted u-shaped function resembles the learning curve associated with skill acquisition in other domains of expertise, such as language acquisition. The findings support the idea that, after extensive FA meditation training, minimal effort is necessary to sustain attentional focus. Expert meditators also showed less activation than novices in the amygdala during FA meditation in response to emotional sounds. Activation in this affective region correlated negatively with hours of practice in life, as shown in Figure 1(a). This finding may support the idea that advanced levels of concentration are associated with a significant decrease in emotionally reactive behaviors that are incompatible with stability of concentration. Collectively, these findings support the view that attention is a trainable skill that can be enhanced through the mental practice of FA meditation. OM MEDITATION Another study [5] recently examined the idea that OM meditation decreases elaborative stimulus processing in a longitudinal study using scalprecorded brain potentials and performance in an attentional blink task. The consequence of decreased elaborative stimulus processing is that the subject is able to better attend moment-to-moment to the stream of stimuli to which they are exposed and less likely to â€Å"get stuck† on any one stimulus. The attentional blink phenomenon illustrates that the information processing capacity of the brain is limited. More specifically, when two targets T1 and T2, embedded in a rapid stream of events, are presented in close temporal proximity, the second target is often not seen. This deficit is believed to result from competition between the two targets for limited attentional resources, i. e. , when many resources are devoted to T1 processing, too few may be available for subsequent T2 processing. The study in [5] found that three months of intensive training in Vipassan? meditation (a common style of a OM meditation) reduced brain-resource allocation to the first target, as reflected in a smaller T1-elicited P3b, a brainpotential index of resource allocation. This is illustrated in Figure 1(b), which shows the reduction in P3b amplitude. In this figure, the scalp-recorded brain potentials from electrode Pz, time-locked to T1 onset as a function of T2 accuracy [detected (no-blink) vesus not detected (blink)], time (before or after three months), and group (practitioners versus novices) are shown. The scalp map shows electrode sites where this three-way interaction was significant between 420 and 440 ms. The reduction in brain-resource allocation to T1 was associated with a smaller attentional blink to T2, as shown in Figure 1(c). As participants were not engaged in formal meditation during task performance, these results provide support for the idea that one long-term effect of OM meditation may be reduction in the propensity to â€Å"get stuck† on a target as reflected in less elaborate stimulus processing and the development of efficient mechanisms to engage and then disengage from target stimuli in response to task demands. Previous studies [6] of high-amplitude pattern of gamma synchrony in expert meditators during an emotional version of OM meditation support the idea that the state of OM may be best understood in terms of a succession of dynamic global states. Compared to a group of novices, the adept practitioners self-induced higher amplitude sustained electroencephalography (EEG) gamma-band oscillations and long-distance phase synchrony, in particular over lateral fronto-parietal electrodes, while meditating. Importantly, this pattern of gamma oscillations was also sig- nificantly more pronounced in the baseline state of the long-term practitioners compared with controls, suggesting a transformation in the default mode of the practitioners as shown in Figure 1(g). Although the precise mechanisms are not clear, such synchronizations of oscillatory neural discharges may play a crucial role in the constitution of transient networks that integrate distributed neural processes into highly ordered cognitive and affective functions. An example of high-amplitude gamma activity during a form of OM meditation, nonreferential compassion meditation, in long-term Buddhist practitioners [6] is shown in Figure 1(d) and (e). The intra-individual analysis of the ratio of gamma to slow oscillations (4–13 Hz) averaged across all electrodes during compassion meditation is illustrated in Figure 1(f). The abscissa represents the subject numbers, the ordinate represents the difference in the mean ratio between the initial state and meditative state, and the black and red stars indicate that this increase is greater than two and three times, respectively, the baseline standard deviation. The significant interaction between group (practitioner, control) and state (initial baseline, ongoing baseline, and meditation state) for this ratio is shown in Figure 1(g). The relative gamma increase during meditation was higher in the postmeditation session. In the initial baseline, the relative gamma was already higher for the practitioners than the controls and correlated with the length of the long-term practitioners’ meditation training through life (adapted from [6]). SP CHALLENGES While SP has a unique opportunity to contribute to this novel effort to chart the manner in which the brain may be transformed through the mental practice of meditation, there are several associated challenges. Among these challenges are the characterization of different signatures of brain function that distinguish among different meditation practices, IEEE SIGNAL PROCESSING MAGAZINE [173] JANUARY 2008 [in the SPOTLIGHT] continued the parsing of variance in brain activity that may be due to changes in peripheral physiology such as respiration, and the simultaneous measurement of electrical and hemodynamic signals to harness the best temporal and spatial resolution possible. IMPACT ON BRAINCOMPUTER INTERFACES One of the interesting implications of the research on meditation and brain function is that meditation might help to reduce â€Å"neural noise† and so enhance signal-to-noise ratios in certain types of tasks. In contexts where brain-computer interfaces are being developed that are based upon electrical recordings of brain function, training in meditation may facilitate more rapid learning. This idea warrants systematic evaluation in the future. FUTURE WORK Ongoing and future work focuses on a few distinct directions. One of the crucial areas requiring attention is the characterization of changes in connectivity among the various brain circuits that are engaged by these practices. The development of new methods to probe different aspects of connectivity (both structural and functional) will be extremely valuable in furthering this line of inquiry. The goal of such work is to better understand how different circuits are integrated during meditation to produce the behavioral and mental changes that are said to occur as a result of such practices, including the promotion of increased well-being. AUTHORS Richard J. Davidson (rjdavids@wisc. edu) is a director and Antoine Lutz (alutz@wisc. edu) is an associate scientist, both with the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, University of Wisconsin-Madison. REFERENCES [1] A. Berger, O. Kofman, U. Livneh, and A. Henik, â€Å"Multidisciplinary perspectives on attention and the development of self-regulation,† Prog. Neurobiol. , vol. 82, no. 5, pp. 256–286, 2007. [2] R. A. Poldrack, â€Å"Neural systems for perceptual skill learning,† Behav. Cognit. Neurosc. Rev. , vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 76–83, 2002. [3] A. Lutz, J. P. Dunne, and R. J. Davidson, â€Å"Meditation and the neuroscience of consciousness: An introduction,† in The Cambridge Handbook of Consciousness, P. D. Zelazo and E. Thompson, Eds. Cambridge, U. K. : Cambridge Univ. Press, in press. [4] J. A. Brefczynski-Lewis, A. Lutz, H. S. Schaefer, D. B. Levinson, and R. J. Davidson, â€Å"Neural correlates of attentional expertise in long-term meditation practitioners,† Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. , vol. 104, no. 7, pp. 11483–11488. [5] H. A. Slagter, A. Lutz, L. L. Greischar, A. D. Francis, S. Nieuwenhuis, J. M. Davis, and R. J. Davidson, â€Å"Mental training affects use of limited brain resources,† PLoS Biol. , vol. 5, no. 6, pp. e13800010008, 2007. [6] A. Lutz, L. Greischar, N. B. Rawlings, M. Ricard, and R. J. Davidson, â€Å"Long-term meditators self-induce high-amplitude synchrony during mental practice,† Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. , vol. 101, no. 46, pp. 16369–16373, 2004. [SP] I N D I A N A U N I V E R S I T Y †¢ P U R D U E U N I V E R S I T Y †¢ F O R T WAY N E FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION RESEARCH Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) Department of Engineering invites applications and nominations for the position of Founding Director of the Center of Excellence in Wireless Communication Research. Candidates must possess a recognized national reputation for research excellence in the field of wireless communication. Master’s degree required; possession of an earned doctorate in electrical engineering or its equivalent is highly desired. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong history of applied research, industry collaboration, and experience in Department of Defense-funded projects. The initial appointment will be for a period of three years with the option for subsequent renewal based upon performance. IPFW is a regional campus of both Indiana University and Purdue University and is the largest university in northeast Indiana. Serving more than 12,000 students and offering more than 180 degree options, IPFW is a comprehensive university with a strong tradition of service to and collaboration with the region. The Department of Engineering offers B. S. degrees in electrical, computer, civil, and mechanical engineering. The M. S. egree in engineering with concentrations in electrical, mechanical, computer, and systems engineering will be launched during the 2007-2008 school year. The department presently includes 16 full-time faculty members and has approximately 300 undergraduate students. The Founding Director of the Center of Excellence in Wireless Communication Research shall have the following responsibilities: †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Establish the Center of Excellence in Wireless Communication Research, emphasizing the practical application of wireless technology for the needs of the regional defense industry. Expand collaboration with industry through sponsored research. Establish a wireless laboratory to support courses in wireless communication. Develop a series of undergraduate courses that would lead to an undergraduate certificate in wireless communication. Develop and teach courses for the Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) – electrical engineering concentration – that would lead to a graduate certificate in wireless communication. Develop and offer credit and non-credit professional development experiences for regional employees. Participate in IEEE 802. X standards development. Coordinate and host conferences on the application of wireless technology with an emphasis on defense applications and emerging commercial wireless technologies. This position offers a unique opportunity to build a Center of Excellence in Wireless Communication Research and to significantly expand industry-university collaborative research in the fields of wireless networks. IPFW offers a competitive salary and benefits package and an excellent work environment. Fort Wayne is the second largest city in Indiana and is located within several hours of Chicago, Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Indianapolis. It boasts affordable housing, a low cost of living and a safe environment in which to raise a family. The region is home to seven major defense contractors employing over 1,800 engineers working in the fields of wireless communication, sensor networks, C4, network-centric systems, and defense products. Applicants with extensive industrial rather than university career experience will be given serious consideration and are strongly encouraged to apply. Candidates demonstrating extensive contact networks within the business and governmental sectors will be preferred. To apply for this position, please visit our Web site at www. ipfw. obs. Applicants should submit a cover letter addressing wireless communication and DoD knowledge and experience, resume/vita, statement of research and teaching experience, and the names and contact information for at least three references. The committee will begin review of applications immediately and the search will remain open until the position is fi lled. For additional information regarding IPFW and the Department of Engineering please visit the Web sites at: www. engr. ipfw. edu and www. ipfw. edu. ,3): LV DQ (TXDO 2SSRUWXQLW(TXDO $FFHVV$IILUPDWLYH $FWLRQ (PSORHU IEEE SIGNAL PROCESSING MAGAZINE [174] JANUARY 2008 How to cite Buddha’s Brain, Papers

Hawthornes The Blithedale Romance Ideology as Woman free essay sample

An analysis and description of the themes and characters. An examination of Hawthornes `The Blithedale Romance`. The author analyzes the two main themes in the novel: transcendentalism and materialism and how they are depicted in the two main characters, Zenobia and Priscilla. `Readers of The Blithedale Romance would do well to keep the motif of layered identity uppermost in their minds when examining the back story of this novel. For example, despite his entreaties not to see Blithedale as Brook Farm, it appears folly not to do so. There are just too many parallels. There is too much of Hawthorne in Coverdale for the reader not to draw another connection there. However, Hawthorne applies even more complex layered ideological identities to his two main female characters, Zenobia and Priscilla. The former, with her assumed name, epitomizes the various tenets of Transcendentalism, whilst the veiled Priscilla represents Materialism. Thus an exploration of the two characters provides the reader with an exploration of Hawthornes attitude towards both Transcendentalism and the Materialist society in which he lived. We will write a custom essay sample on Hawthornes The Blithedale Romance: Ideology as Woman or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page `

Free Speech Versus Censorship

Question: How do you feel this issue fits in with the "world" wide Web? Should free speech be considered when it comes to postings that are filled with hate speech? Answer: Freedom of speech is the primary right of every U.S. citizen. However, the extent of this freedom is restricted to minimize issues related to discrimination in any form, child and youth abuse, hate speeches and so on. The same has to be applied to the most widely used communication technology, The Internet (Molnr, 2015). The need of censorship especially in the World Wide Web is high as anything posted on the internet, would travel around the world. Freedom of speech would not require censorship if individuals posting information are socially responsible. One would not mock a physically handicapped person as that would be insensitive. The same attitude has to be adapted when posting over the internet as people around the world have different beliefs and cultures and posting negative information would be abusing the freedom of speech. Hate speech is a direct misuse of the freedom of speech as negative and offensive information would be passed around the world (Waldron, 2012). When fre e speech is directed towards a race or religion negatively, the chances of a mass revolt is high. Hate speeches have tendency to rise violent behavior in the offended community, which may seek justice through aggressive retort. Sexting and pornography on the other hand have to be age restricted as they may affect the personality of a child. The content of abusive and rape porn has to be eliminated as the same may increase rape culture (Makin, 2015). References Makin, D. A., Morczek, A. L. (2015). The Dark Side of Internet Searches: A Macro Level Assessment of Rape Culture. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 9(1), 1. Molnr, P. (2015). Free Speech and Censorship Around the Globe. Central European University Press. Waldron, J. (2012). The harm in hate speech. Harvard University Press.