Cartier Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Cartier - Essay Example The stimuli related to the brand that evokes various behavioural responses of the consumers are due to various features of the brand which are namely, the communications of the brand, the packaging of the products offered under the brand names and the market environment created by the brand strategies of the company (Aaker, 1996, p.47). Brand experience is of high importance to the companies in today’s market as the brand experience enjoyed by the customers creates an attachment towards preferred brands and hence, develops brand loyalty. In order to sustain business growth in the competitive markets, the companies put additional focus in including brand experience in their market strategies. By acquiring a loyal set of customer through brand experience, the companies have been able to acquire and maintain substantial market share in the industry. This piece of work includes a review of the literature on brand experience and the marketing strategies adopted by the companies in order to develop their brand experience (Aaker, 1997, p.352). The aspect of brand experience has been discussed in context to Cartier luxury brand. Literature Review The age of globalization has opened up the markets in several economies and the companies have expanded in the global markets in order to tap the potential market demand. The increase in market competition has increased the bargaining power of the customers. Over the years, the companies have observed changing trends in the customer behaviour in accepting brands from the available market options. Thus understanding the customer behaviour is important from the point of view of the companies in order to sustain their market shares. Brand experience has emerged as an important consideration for addressing the behaviour of the customers and their responses to various brands that they use in today’s competitive market. The behaviour of the customers related to brand experience depends on not one but several features o f the brand like brand personality, brand community, brand attachment, brand trust and brand love (Ariely, 1998, p.36). The brand experience could be conceptualised as the generation of feelings, sensations, emotion of the customers in response to the brand related stimuli. The concept of brand experience emerges with the classification of customer’s experience into sensory, affective, intellectual, behavioural features of the customer’s behaviour (Schmitt, Zarantonello and Brakus, 2009, p.65). The feelings generated in the customer due to the sensory stimulus refer to the customer’s response to the aesthetic features of the product. The sensory emotions within the customer are generated by the focus on beautifying the product through better packaging. The better packaging in comparison to others provides as sense of assurance and belief to the consumer. The affective component of brand experience generates different customer behaviour as a result of the underly ing belief and ideas of the customer on the particular brand. The affective behaviour of the customer is based on the direct and indirect interaction that the customer had in relation to the bran

GHR Gene Variant Influence on Craniofacial Morphology

GHR Gene Variant Influence on Craniofacial Morphology â€Å"I526L† Growth hormone receptor gene variant and its effect on craniofacial morphology. Abstract OBJECTIVES: To investigate the influence of GHR (Growth Hormone Receptor) gene variant (I526L) on craniofacial morphology. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: The department of orthodontics, D.A.P.M.R.V.Dental College and Hospital, Bangalore, India. 30 randomly selected subjects, aged 20-30 years who were patients at D.A.P.M.R.V.Dental College Hospital, Bangalore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA was extracted from venous blood samples of all the subjects. The extracted DNA samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction, where amplification of the selected gene segments was done and later these amplified products were subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism using HpyCH4V restriction enzyme. Results were documented in specific bands with gel documentation centre. The effects of the gene variant on the 4 craniofacial morphologic parameters of anterior cranial base length, maxillary length, mandibular ramus length/height and mandibular length were obtained from lateral cephalograms and tabulated. Appropriate statistical analysis was carried out. RESULTS: The results indicated that the subjects with I526L variant of GHR gene had a significantly greater mandibular ramus height. GHR gene variant I526L could be a genetic marker for mandibular ramus height. KEY WORDS: Craniofacial morphologic parameters, Growth hormone receptor, Polymerase chain reaction, Restriction fragment length polymorphism. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The key to the determination of the etiology of malocclusion, and its treatability lies in the ability to differentiate the effect of genes and environment on the craniofacial skeleton in a particular individual. There are numerous ways in which the variant I526L could affect GHR activity. In addition to potentially causing direct changes in protein function, the variants could affect regulation of GHR, and in either case the variant could act singly or in combination with other single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The effect of these SNPs on GHR function and downstream gene expression should be clarified by further study. A study of gene polymorphisms in GHR would be useful in understanding genetic influences on craniofacial morphological determinants and helps in diagnosis and treatment in orthodontics to be delivered at a molecular level. INTRODUCTION: Growth hormone (GH) is a craniofacial morphologic determinant. Genetic influences are important in the determination of mandibular morphology, and growth hormone receptor (GHR) is believed to have an important influence on the growth of craniofacial bones. Responses to systemic GH therapy are time and site dependent in the craniofacial region, increasing growth, particularly in mandibular ramus. The growth hormone receptor gene is located on chromosome 5p13.1-p12 and is 87 Kb long, with 10 exons encoding 620 amino acids .1 Cartilage-mediated growth in the mandibular condyle is known to play an important role in the determination of growth and morphology of the mandible. GH treatment accelerates craniofacial growth, especially in the mandibular condyle where cartilage-mediated growth occurs. GH receptors have been shown to be present in the mandibular condyle.2 A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) or a gene variant or a missense mutation is a DNA sequence variation occurring when a single nucleotide A, T, C, or G in the genome differs between members of a species or between paired chromosomes in an individual.Sequence analysis showed that 6 SNPs/gene variants were identifiable in the GHR gene in Chinese population, out of which C422F, P477T, I526L, and P561T are SNPs with significant effects.1 The purpose of this study was to investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (I526L) in GHR gene and examine the relationship between GHR gene variant I526L and craniofacial morphology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 30 randomly selected subjects, aged 20-30 years who were patients at D.A.P.M.R.V.Dental College Hospital, Bangalore. After clearance from ethical committee, venous Blood samples (2ml) were obtained from the subjects with informed consent. Lateral cephalograms of these subjects obtained as a part of routine treatment protocol were used. Method of Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction fragment length polymorphism was employed to deduce the genotypes. After collection and storage of blood samples, genomic DNA was isolated and Polymerase Chain Reaction Test was performed using specific primers (rs6180). This was followed by digestion with Restriction Enzymes HpyCH4V.Cephalometric measurements were carried out on standardized lateral cephalograms using Burstone analysis norms3 to measure the craniofacial parameters of anterior cranial base length, maxillary length, mandibular ramus length/height and mandibular length. The results were computed by correlating PCR results with the cephalometric craniofacial measurement values. Statistical analysis using Z test for proportions was carried out to test the level of significance. The Statistical software namely SPSS 11.0 and Systat 8.0 were used for the analysis of the data. RESULTS: The initial PCR product of the GHR gene variant I526L was obtained for the thirty subjects. The size of this PCR product was 602bp. Photograph 1: Initial PCR Product of GHR gene variant I526L (602bp). This was then subjected to digestion with the specific restriction enzyme HpyCH4V for I526L. After digestion, the 602 bp products were completely digested in 16 subjects whereas 14 subjects showed incomplete/no digestion. So the presence of variant I526L was shown in 14 subjects and absence of variant I526L in 16 subjects. Association of the presence or absence of variant I526L with increased, normal and decreased measurements (when compared with norms) of all four craniofacial parameters were tabulated. Table 1: Table comparing the P-values of samples with presence of I526L variant with respect to normal v/s increased, normal v/s decreased and increased v/s decreased mandibular ramus length Graph 1:Presence and absence of variant I526L in samples with normal,increased and decreased ramus height. Out of the four craniofacial parameters investigated association of presence of variant with mandibular ramus height was found to be statistically significant(P=0.002,P DISCUSSION: In the Human Gene Mutation Database, 56 different GHR gene mutations, including 32 missense and nonsense mutations, have been registered.4 In a few reports concerning the effect of GHR gene mutations on craniofacial growth, Chinese Han individuals with a genomic polymorphism at codon 526 of the GHR gene had a greater mandibular ramus length. Presence of variant I526L was seen in 46.67% of the samples. This is in accordance with a study done in Chinese population which showed I526L to have the highest heterozygosity of all the variants i.e 47.6%.1 A significant association was seen with presence of I526L variant and increased ramus height. (P=0.002, 1,5 Evaluation of site specific relationship between various craniofacial morphological determinants and the variant I526L showed significant association of increased ramus height with presence of I526L and this is in accordance with the study done by Zhou et al in Chinese population.1,5 This is also in accordance with a study done on 39 cephalometric variables which are under strong genetic control which showed strong genetic correlation with the vertical parameters.6Since mandibular ramus is the only vertical parameter included in the study it is seen to have a significant correlation with the variants. Further studies with all the four SNPs i.e. C422F, P477T, P561T and I526L can be carried out for a more detailed analysis of their influence on craniofacial morphology . CONCLUSION: This study indicates that subjects with I526L variant of GHR gene had a significantly greater mandibular ramus height. Influence of I526L is site specific as presence of I526L has an influence on increasing ramus height out of the four craniofacial parameters.GHR gene variant I526L could be a genetic marker for mandibular ramus height.

Hemp Legalization Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Drug Essays

Hemp Legalization THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT The purpose of this report is to show the need to reform the present marijuana/hemp law in the United States in order to make hemp available for industrial purposes. The first thing that I will do is define marijuana and hemp in order to avoid confusion. An explanation of how the present marijuana/hemp law originated will be given after that. Then I will define and describe the present law concerning marijuana and hemp. I will then define the specific aspect of the marijuana/hemp law that I feel needs to be changed. Some industrial and environmental needs will then be listed. I will then demonstrate how the industrial and environmental needs of the United States can be fulfilled. THE DEFINITIONS OF MARIJUANA AND HEMP There is a large amount of confusion about the distinction between marijuana and hemp. Hemp is an actual plant that was originally located in Asia. It can be used for many purposes. The hemp plant is most commonly used for extraction of the drug marijuana. Marijuana is a drug obtained from the flowering tops, stems, and leaves of the hemp plant. It is a drug with hallucinogenic properties that people smoke in order to get high (www.encyclopedia.com). HOW THE PRESENT MARIJUANA LAW ORIGINATED The technical name of the present law outlawing marijuana is the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. It originated in a very corrupt manner. Before the drug of marijuana was common, the hemp plant was used for industrial purposes on a small scale. The production of products with hemp was still a new process, and the process didn?t get a chance to fully develop before the hemp plant became illegal. The drug of marijuana first earned its reputation as an intoxicant in the... ...es, or they should start over and write a new law. The changes should be made because of the things that I discussed in this report: the law was passed under corrupt circumstances, the product of hemp is not being used for industrial purposes, and hemp is a very environment friendly product. Works Cited Gochmanosky, Nicole. "Hemp/Marijuana Legalization-Its Time Has Come." 27 Oct 1999. 2 pp. Available www: http://www.sandi.net Scotty J. "Legalize." 29 Nov 1999. 1 pp. Available www: http://www.legalize.com "Marijuana Tax Act of 1937." 27 Oct 1999. 1 pp. Available www: http://www.altereduniv.com "Marijuana." 27 Nov 1999. 1 pp. Available www: http://www.encyclopedia.com "Reefer Madness." 27 Oct 1999. 1 pp. Available www: http://www.dvddiscounts.com "Still Crazy After All These Years." 27 Oct 1999. 4 pp. Available www: http://www.norml.org

Analysis Of Nigel Driffield Research Study Essay

Nigel Driffield has made a research on the impact in indirect employment due to inflow of foreign direct investments [FDI] in U. K. In his research paper, the author has examined the effect of local employment associated with foreign inward investment in UK. According to author, a foreign manufacturer who has entered into UK will naturally have a slight edge over the existing manufacturers as they may have enhanced productivity technology as compared to domestic sector. Further, in his study, the author revealed that FDI not only created market disequilibrium in the UK’s domestic sector but also created an employment substitution of 20 percent of all the jobs generated due to FDI. It is to be noted that since 1980, UK is the largest recipient of FDI in European Union. [EU]. Between 1984 and 1991, it attracted about 42 percent of total Japanese investment in EU and about 21 percent of all US FDI since 1987. FDI comprises about one fifth of total investment in UK industry. For instance, since 1987, UK received about 220 billion by way of inflow as FDI. According to Nigel Driffield, FDI has created about 15% of all employment in UK manufacturing sector and it has appended over 23 per cent of all value –added. (Driffield 1999) Since there is a decline in employment in UK manufacturing sector from 1980, UK has encouraged FDI flow into its country. It is to be noted that FDI flow will be advantageous to a country’s economy as it will create employment , technology transfer , increase in productivity and increase in exports and as a result ,an overall increase in country’s gross domestic product [GDP] . Thus, free flow of FDI will create both direct and indirect employment opportunities in a country. It is to be observed that empirical studies carried over by Young et al [1994] , Neven and Siotis [1993], Dunning [1988] on the impact of FDI has found out that FDI flow has its impact on employment generation and regional development. Further, it enhanced allocative efficiency in the economy and also improved the balance of trade and exports of the recipient country . Dunning [1988] in his eclectic theory, Dunning have observed that FDI will bring new or superior product or some firm specific advantage. David Lyons [1991] has concluded that FDI brings productivity advantage and he estimated that productivity advantage is at least 20 percent more than that of domestic sector. Further, Blomstrorm [1989] and Haddad and Harrison [1993] found that FDI has resulted in operation of new plant and thus resulted in advanced technology transfer to the host country. [Dunning, J. H. & Narula, R 1996). However, Nigel Driffield has pondered that as far as UK is concerned, no empirical study has attempted to find out the extent to which flow of inward investment may have a detrimental impact on U. K industry especially in the manufacturing firms with a distinct productivity advantage. The author is of the opinion that it is pertinent to study how FDI in UK has affected the employment position of UK-owned manufacturing companies. Since the foreign manufacturer in UK has productivity advantage, it is claimed by Davies and Lyons[1992 ]that such foreign manufacturing companies will normally pay wages above the industry standard and according to Driffield [1996], there was wage differential up to 7 per cent in UK. (Driffield 1999) According to Nigel Driffield, if there is penetration by foreign manufacturers in a country, it will result in prevalence of high-wage paying, high-productivity firms and hence, ex ante, it will increase wages in domestic sector. To avoid a rise in employee turnover, local firms are compelled to pay more wages to keep employees in high spirit. This will have cyclic effect of increase in wage cost and reduction in employment opportunities. Hence, Nigel comes to a conclusion that a foreign investor with productive advantage will be prepared to pay above-average salary and hence there will be a reduction in domestic employment. According to Nigel, FDI flow in UK will have the following impact: o A decline in employment in the UK-owned sector. o An increase in domestic wage. Thus, UK firms which are compelled to pay increased wages may initiate labour / capital substitution in an effort to enhance productivity factor. However, these initiatives may result in reduction in employment and again, ex ante raises labour productivity. It is to be noted that degree of increase in labour productivity may negate any loss in UK employment over the long run. Nigel Driffield is of the view to study impact of FDI in UK, variables like employment, labour productivity and wages in the domestic sector of UK economy has to be taken into account. According to Marginson [1984], Blanch flower [1986] and Stewart [1991], to arrive at the rate of change of wage equation, one has to include industry specific variables like the proportion of women employees in an industry, monopoly power of the product, research & development expenses and five-firm concentration ratio. (Driffield 1999) According to Nigel Driffield, if FDI directly causes a decline in domestic sales and in domestic employment, then it will be referred by variable [SALE]. In case, if there is employment substitution, then it will be picked by negative coefficient on the foreign employment. [EMPF]. If there is factor substitution, then it will be measured by coefficient on capital investment. [CAPITAL] variables. On the basis of above assumption, Nigel Driffield has developed equation to test these hypotheses. With the help of these equations, it is easy to study the following. ? The degree to which manufacturing jobs generated by foreign companies in UK is able to create changes in the labour market for manual labour. ? To find out how FDI will increase the industry –level wages and minimize employment. Nigel Driffield has tested these hypotheses in two separate time periods from 1986 to 1989 and from 1989 to 1992. It is to be noted that the first period i. e. 1986 to 1989 observeed a key growth in manufacturing immediately following recession of the early part of the 1980’s. The second period, i. e. 1989 to 1992 witnessed a continued decline in employment and manufacturing output. Further, in these above periods, there had been a major increase in the foreign share of manufacturing in UK. Nigel Driffield has revealed in his research that during first period the FDI has pushed up the domestic wage and also caused employment substitution away from the domestic sector. (Driffield 1999) Nigel Driffield study also reveals that there is correlation between flow of FDI and decrease in employment and it also creates an employment substitution of 20 per cent which is equivalent to roughly 5 per cent of the net fall in UK manufacturing employment over the period. Nigel also tired to prove that FDI flow will enhance productivity through factor substitution. He finally concludes that it is not probable to recognize any material deviation between the sales / employment ratio changes for the above mentioned time periods and hence flow of FDI has little effect on domestic capital intensity. He also finds that though there was a slight fall in employment in the above mentioned periods due to flow of FDI in UK, this cannot be attributed to factor substitution.

Why Lance Armstrong Was Shunned

Lance Armstrong’s D Even good people get shunned every once in a while. Lance Armstrong is a perfect example of this. Even though he had done much good in his life, and he had been though a lot, people still shunned him. Lance Armstrong would scarlet letter tear a D for drugs, just like Hester Prynne had to wear the scarlet letter A for her adultery. From the years 1999 to 2005, Lance Armstrong used Performance- Enhancing drugs. During this time period he had won the Tour de France 7 times, which cause controversy in the biking world.Because of his use of drugs, the USADA, U. S. Against Drugs Agency, decided to recently press charges in June of 2012. Lance Armstrong was not just shunned by the Media, but also by his team-mates. It was said that while the USADA was pressing charges against him, five of his former teammates were planning on testifying against him. Lance Armstrong was shunned by the biking community as a whole also. Recently, in 2012, the International Cycling Un ion has declared that he has been stripped of all his Tour titles, as long as all of his awards he won from 1999 to 2005.They also stated that he is no longer able to participate in the sport for life. Lance Armstrong and Hester Prynne can relate through their shunning. They were both shunned by their so called friends. As Lance was betrayed by his team mates, Hester was betrayed by people she called her friend and by the rest of the society. Another was that the two can relate is because they both accept their wrong-doing. Lance accepted his reticule about being not able to compete anymore, as Hester did her punishment of having to wear the A.Just as Hester has to wear the A for eternity, Lance is not able to participate in his passion for the rest of his life, therefore they are both sentenced to their punishment forever. Even though what Lance did was bad, he did not deserve such a severe punishment, just as Hester does not deserve hers. Even though what they both did was frowned upon in their society, having to deal with the punishment for eternity is wrong. Lance Armstrong only deserves to wear his D for a little while, not forever.