Statement of Purpose Essay Example for Free

Statement of Purpose Essay I am excited at the prospect of pursuing a Masters in Accounting program (MAC) at North Carolina State University. I am confident that this program which integrates Accounting, Finance and Business studies is the most appropriate choice for me. Graduating from this program will enable me to carve out a career path in Accounting that I have always envisioned for myself here in the United States. My parents, who possess advance degrees in Business Administration, have been the biggest source of inspiration for me and have always encouraged me to pursue graduate level education in the United States. As a child, I was always fascinated with numbers and my interest in Math developed early in my academic career. I decided to further my interest in numbers by pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business with a minor in computer education from one of the most reputed colleges in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. I chose to do a majority of my courses in Finance and Accounting. These courses enabled me to refine my problem-solving and analytical abilities. The multitude of group projects that I undertook as a part of my finance and accounting course work enabled me to refine and strengthen my leadership and inter-personal skills. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and experience of leading two projects with teams of 3-5 members. These projects were acknowledged as the ‘best in class’ which in turn increased my self-confidence. After completion of my bachelor’s degree, I decided to broaden the scope of my knowledge and experience. I successfully completed a one year Graduate level program in Financial Management together with a 6 month co-op at one of the India offices of Bank of America. My responsibilities at Bank of America included processing home loans and auditing mortgage documents. I was fascinated by the global reach of this company which opened a world of possibilities for me. My consistent interaction with the employees in the U.S enabled me to build effective communication skills and people skills. Now, having migrated to the United States, I am excited about exploring career opportunities at Bank of America. I strongly believe that pursuing the MAC program at North Carolina State University will serve as a perfect launch pad to achieve this goal. In order to lay a strong foundation of knowledge in accounting systems prevalent in the United States, I have completed 18 hours of Certificate of Accounting Program (CAP). The 6 graduate level courses included Federal Income Tax, Auditing, Accounting Information Systems, Intermediate Accounting I II and Management Accounting. By completing these courses, I have satisfied all the pre-requisites that I require to pursue the MAC program at North Carolina State University. I am excited that my dream of pursuing graduate education and a successful career in accounting here in the United States is at the cusp of fruition, and I look forward to being a proud graduate of MAC class of 2013.

Blind Spot Enlargement

Blind Spot Enlargement Blind Spot Enlargement in Non-Athletes Abstract Everyone has a blind spot in the visual field caused by an absence of nerves on the retinal wall where the nerve ganglia enter. Our brains correct this blind spot by filling-in the missing information so that we do not notice the blind spot in normal, daily activity. There have been a few studies conducted to determine how the brain compensates for the phenomenon. Recent studies indicate that in certain people seeking chiropractic treatment, unequal blind spots result from muscoloskeletal misalignments. This research has been controversial; however, it brings up several interesting questions. There are conditions that can damage the retina, causing blind spots in the visual field. It is generally assumed that athletes maintain a better level of general health, via exercise and a healthier diet, than those who do not engage in athletic pursuits. This study used blind spot mapping techniques of the chiropractic industry to map the blind spots of 10 athletes and 10 non-athletes. The blind spots of athletes and non-athletes showed a statistically significant difference. Introduction Every eye has a blind spot .The blind spot is the hole in the retinal wall where the nerve ganglia pass though. This area of the retina contains no photoreceptors and therefore creates a black spot in every persons vision. The gap created by the blind spot is approximately 6 degrees of the total visual field, which is a large area, relatively speaking. We do not see this area in our normal functioning because our brain has a mechanism for filling in the missing information. The information that would normally be received by the blind spot is projected onto the other eye and the brain essentially averages the image (Lou and Chen, 2003). The blind spot in physical structure and given the normal variances in human physiology, it would be expected that there would be little variation in the blind spot from person to person. However, there are certain conditions that could cause damage to the retinal wall, thus causing nerve damage to he photoreceptors, thus causing a blind spot. This damage may cause an additional blind spot in the visual field; of if damage occurs to the retina surrounding the natural blind spot, the natural blind spot could essentially be enlarged. (Windsor and Windsor, 2003; Hall, 2003; and Seddon and Kuijk, 1998). There are several factors that can effect eye health, such as nutrition and general health. It is generally assumed that athletes have an overall healthier lifestyle that n the general public. They are assumed to engage in habits that promote good health such as eating more nutritiously, exercising and maintaining a generally higher level of health than the general public. It is therefore the premise of this study that athletes would be expected to have fewer eye-related health problems and that these problems would result in fewer visual blind spots or smaller naturally occurring blind spots than in non-athletes. This study will use methods for mapping blind spots in the chiropractic field to measure the blind spots of a group of athletes and a group of nonathletes. This research will support the hypothesis that the group of nonathletes will be found to have larger blind spots due to decreased general health. Literature Review The existence of a blind spot in each eye is a naturally occurring anatomical trait and therefore has received very little academic attention in itself. There has been limited attention to the study of how our brain compensates for this phenomenon, however, once explained, it received very little attention. The blind spot can be located if a person trains their attention to it. There is a simple visual test; contained in APPENDIX I that can help a person see the blind spot in their right eye. There have been a group of chiropractors that claim that in persons with certain musculoskeletal misalignments, the blind spot in each eye is unequal. They also claim that adjusting the spine can alleviate this condition. This research will not attempt to confirm or deny these claims, but will rely on techniques derived from the practice of blind spot mapping or develop a method for testing the blind spots of a group of athletes and a group of nonathletes. No similar studies could be found, save for one study conducted by an ophthalmologist, using opthamological equipment to assess general retinal scarring in certain persons diagnosed with opthamological disease (Cai and Cavanagh, 2002). Chiropractors have developed a technique, primarily to be used as a diagnostic technique to detect what they claim is an unequal blind spot in the eyes. The claim that an enlarged blind spot can diagnose a malfunction in the brain. These studies have come under heavy criticism as there are several illogical arguments posed by them (Hall, 2003). Hall finds several areas of contention in the design of these experiments. In addition, several chiropractors claim to cure clumsiness by increasing the peripheral vision of patients. These claims are completely unfounded, as the blind spot is located in the primary visual field, not the peripheral vision. These doctors are causing confusion with the blind spot when driving that is caused by mirrors, not the eyes (Hall, 2003). These studies have very little academic credibility, however, do provide a useful tool for mapping the blind spot of the groups being studied in this research. It has been a long held concept that eating certain vegetables can improve eyesight. Recently, physicians have been prescribing leafy green vegetables to prevent a condition called macular degeneration. Other food have also been recently cited as having health benefits for the eyes such as egg yolks, orange juice, and corn (Seddon, and Kuijk, 1998). Macular degeneration causes blindness by the development of macular hole, which consists of patches of dead nerves on the retinal well, thus creating blind spots. It is generally held that athletes tend to follow a more nutritious diet than the non-athletic population. The typical athletic diet is high in carbohydrates, proteins and a balance of the necessary vegetables to maintain overall health. This improved diet has been shown to have a number of health benefits. Athletes are expected to have an improved diet and improved general health as compared to the average population. Therefore, it could be expected that there would be fewer eye problems than in the general population. One effect of this improved eye health would be the occurrence of smaller natural blind spots, due to less scarring from disease, and the occurrence of fewer extra blind spots on the retinal wall. This will be the focus of this research, to detect an improvement in eye health by measuring the size and occurrence of blind spots in a population of athletes and a population of non-athletes. Methodology The measurement instrument used in this experiment was a modified version of the blind spot mapping technique used in chiropractic practice. Extra controls from above those described in the literature were instituted to insure greater precision of measurement. The blind spot mapping technique was described in Hall, 2003. It may be noted that opthamologists have a more precise technique for blind spot mapping, but that technique requires a completed degree in opthamology and requires very expensive equipment. This technology was not available for purposes of this study. The technique used was simplistic in design, yet accurate enough to obtain meaningful results. Test subjects for this study were recruited from senior members of the varsity football team and persons in the general campus population. Senior members of the varsity football team were used due to the assumption that they would be the most likely to adhere to the rules of good nutrition, exercise and general health that were required for dependent variable of this study. The control group consisted of ten general population students, who were screened by asking them if they were involved in regular exercise activity. Test subjects for the control groups were chosen who did not participate in exercise programs. An apparatus of measurement was devised. The blind spot can be visualized in the following manner. The set of spots in Appendix I can be used to find the blind spot for the right and left eye. The test was set up as in APPENDIX II with the subject sitting at a table. A box was used to rest the chin, so as to maintain a steady height. The subject was instructed to place his chin on the box and look at the screen. They were instructed to keep their head a still as possible once the test has begun. One set of dots was cut out and mounted in a piece of poster board. An identical set of dots was made for each eye. This was mounted to a board that could be moved closer and farther from the subject until the proper distance for that blind spot could be located for each subject. This was necessary, as everyones blind spot would be in a different place. The subject was told to sit on the chair and place their chin on the box and to stay as still as possible. They were told to cover the right eye and fixate on the cross, appropriate for that eye. They were not to move their head, just fixate using their eyes. An assistant would slowly move the screen farther away or closer to the subject until the subject indicated that the large dot had disappeared and the ground appeared solid white. This is where the blind spot is located. As assistant moved a sharpened pencil horizontally in front of the paper until the tip of the pen disappeared from the subject (was in the blind spot). The assistant then moved the pen horizontally across until the tip reappeared. The subject would indicate that the tip had reappeared and the assistant would mark a dot at the point of reappearance. This process was repeated in a pattern of compass points, starting from the blind spot each time. This process was repeated for the other eye using the appropriate image. This created a picture of the blind spot and the area of the blind spot could be calculated in centimeters. An example of the test results can be found in APPENDIX III. Results When the tests were completed, the average radius of the blind spots was estimated using a compass. The radius of the circle was taken as an average of the points from the center. The following raw results were found for the two groups. Results expressed in r-values of the circles. The difference between the means is 0.15. A p value of a one-tailed z-test was set at 0.5 (95% confidence) with a critical value of 1.65. The z value for these two groups was 1. This would indicate a statistically significant test result and did indicate that the blind spot radius of athletes if significantly smaller than that of non-athletes. Discussion The results for this research indicate a significant difference in the radius of the blind spot between athletes and nonathletes. This would tend to support the hypothesis that athletes have smaller blind spots than non-athletes do. It can then be theorized that these differences are due to better eye health. However, before we draw this conclusion it must be noted that the sample size in this research was extremely small for this type of study. Different results may be obtained from a larger sample size. In addition, subjects were not screened for diet, exercise, and general health. Caution must be taken in drawing broad conclusions from this research due to these factors. However, the results will be helpful in further research design. Further research should be done on the subject. A screening survey of the subjects would be helpful in isolating the dependent and independent variables. This survey would include questions on diet exercise and general health. There are several factors that may explain the results obtained. Cai and Cavanagh (2002) found that a condition called acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement syndrome (AIBSE) would cause a similar result in these patients. A swelling in the optic disc from infection can also cause an enlarged blind spot (Fletcher, 1988). A fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum causes scarring to the retina and can cause an enlarged blind spot. However, this is an unlikely cause as one must be exposed to large amounts of bird droppings to contract it (Windsor and Windsor, 2003). In order for future tests to be more conclusive, these conditions must be ruled out as a cause. In conclusion, the results of this research support the hypothesis that athletes have a smaller blind spot than non-athletes do. Although this may lead us to the conclusion that this is due to better diet and general health. This conclusion must be taken with caution. Due to the small sample size and failure to eliminate certain confounding variables, this conclusion must be made in a guarded fashion. This research will prove useful in the conduct of future research design. It was helpful in designing a simple and effective instrument of the measurement of this phenomenon. Future research should expand on these results and attempt to account for variables that were beyond the scope of this project. Works Cited Ballantyne, R. About that Squinty Eye. [Online] http://www.ballantyne.com/rjb_resume/Squinty.html accessed March 2003. Cai, R. H., Cavanagh, P. (2002). Motion interpolation of a unique feature into stimulus gaps and blind spots Journal of Vision, 2(7), 30a, http://journalofvision.org/2/7/30/ accessed March, 2003. Fletcher WA, Imes RK, Goodman D, Hoyt WF. Acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement: a big blind spot syndrome without optic disc edema. Arch Ophthalmol. 1988;106:44-49. Hall, H. Blind Spot Mapping. Chirobase.org. March 2, 2003. [Online] http://www.chirobase.org/06DD/blindspot.html March 2003. Lou, L. and Chen, J. Attention and Blind Spot Phenomenology. January, 2003. Psyche 9 (02). [Online] http://psyche.cs.monash.edu.au/v9/psyche-9-02-lou.html accessed March, 2003. Sedon, J. and Kuijk, F. Eye-Savvy Eating. Science News. August, 1998. [Online] http://www.sciencenews.org/sn_arc98/8_15_98/food.htm accessed March, 2003. Windsor, R. and Windsor, L. Common Visual Problems of Ocular Histoplasmosis Syndrome. Vision World Wide. 2002. [Online] http://www.visionww.org/drswindsor- hystoplasmosis.htm March, 2003.

Reunion by John Cheever :: English Literature Essays

Reunion, by John Cheever, is a story told through the eyes of a young boy, Charlie, who is recalling a meeting with his father who he hasn’t seen for more than three years. It is set in New York where Charlie’s father lives. He meets up with his father during a stop over between trains. In the first paragraph we are introduced to Charlie and his father. Charlie is very much looking forward to meeting his father who he hasn’t seen since his parents divorced three years before. â€Å"He was a stranger to me†, shows that Charlie is anxious about his upcoming meeting with his father. But he then goes on to say â€Å"But as soon as I saw him I felt he was my father†. This then implies to the reader that Charlie is a little more relaxed when he sees his father. This sentence is so powerful because of its use of the word ‘father’. The strong connotations, which are related to this word, express the relationship between the two characters. At this stage of the story we are compelled to feel a little bit sorry for Charlie who has been separated from his father. Charlie’s father is also introduced in the first paragraph. He, who is never given a name during the story, forms the image in the reader’s mind of a high-flying businessman. Cheever relays this image with the use of formal language during the communications between Charlie and his father, â€Å"His secretary wrote to say that he would meet me at the information booth at noon†. This in contrast to the less formal style of writing used when Charlie is involved, â€Å"at 12 o’clock sharp I saw him coming†. That last quote also shows that his father is punctual which strengthens the businessman stereotype we have already placed him in. Early on we are lead to believe that Charlie and his father are happy to see each other and have a good relationship with quotes such as, â€Å"I was terribly happy to see him again† and â€Å" Hi Charlie, Hi boy!† But these attitudes towards father and son are short lived. Towards the end of the first paragraph we begin to get more of an insight into what Charlie’s father is really like. The first example of this is â€Å"I’d like to take you up to my club, but it’s in the Sixties, and if you have to catch an early train I guess we’d better get something around here†.

Discontent in Great Expectations :: Free Great Expectations Essays

Discontent in Great Expectations Many people strive for things that are out of their reach. In the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens shows the themes of personal ambition and discontent with present conditions. The main character, Pip, shows early on in the story that he is unhappy with his current situation. Throughout the story he strives for the things that are beyond his reach, and is apathetic to the things that he can obtain. Pip demonstrates this by striving for Estella when he could have Biddy, and yearning to be a gentleman when he could be a blacksmith. The first way that Pip demonstrates these themes is by reaching for things that are unattainable to him. For example, Pip is in love with Estella, but he can't have her because she doesn't like him. Also Miss Havisham's man-hating ways have brushed off on her, and she wants nothing to do with Pip. Another thing that Pip strives for is to become a gentleman. He cannot become a gentleman, however, because he is just a commoner. He is very smitten, for example, with "the beautiful young lady at Miss Havisham's and she is more beautiful than anybody ever was and I admire her dreadfully and I want to be a gentleman on her account" (780). Thus, Pip wants to become a gentleman only for Estella. Another way that Pip shows his discontent with his present life is by not wanting to be a blacksmith when it would be very practical for him. Pip's brother-in-law is a blacksmith which would make it easy for him to learn the trade. Also, Miss Havisham agreed to pay for his apprenticeship, yet Pip insists that he is better than that and is upset by that fact that he is just a commoner. He states his dissatisfaction" with my home, my trade and with everything" (773). Pip also turns away Biddy when she is something that is obtainable to him. Biddy is somebody in the story that really loves Pip, yet he turns her away and uses her to get what he wants. Pip also gives the impression that he is better than Biddy when he is no less a commoner than she is.

feminaw Kate Chopins The Awakening - Edna Pontellier, A Woman Ahead of her Time :: Chopin Awakening Essays

A Woman Ahead of her Time in The Awakening  Ã‚   When she published The Awakening in 1899, Kate Chopin startled her public with a frank portrayal of a woman’s social, sexual, and spiritual awakening. Because it told its particular truth without judgment or censure, the public disapproved. The idea of a true autonomy for women, or, more astounding yet a single sexual standard for men and women — was too much to imagine. Kate Chopin’s presentation of the awakening of her heroine, Edna Pontellier, her unblinking recognition that respectable women did indeed have sexual feelings proved too strong for many who read her novel. Love and passion, marriage and independence, freedom and restraint these are themes realized in this story. When Edna Pontellier, the heroine of The Awakening announces â€Å"I would give up the unessential; I would give my money, I would give my life for my children; but I wouldn’t give myself† she is addressing the crucial issue of winning of a self, and the keeping of it. But when Edna Pontellier, raised in Presbyterian propriety and a mother of two sons, responds to another Alcà ©e, Chopin, the public thought, had gone too far. â€Å"I am no longer one of Mr. Pontellier’s possessions to dispose of or not† she tells the young man she loves: â€Å"I give myself where I choose. † Twenty-eight, comfortable in a marriage to an older man involved with his business life in New Orleans, Edna has never settled into the selfless maternal mold of the other women who summer at Grand Isle to escape the disease and heat of the city. She begins a journey of self-discovery that leads to several awakenings: to her separateness as a â€Å"solitary soul,† to the pleasures of â€Å"swimming far out† in the seductive sensuously appealing sea, to the passions revealed in music, to her own desire to create art, to a romantic attachment to a young man, to living on her own, to sexual desire. Robert, the beloved, honorably removes himself to escape entanglement; Alcà ©e, a recognized womanizer and rake, elicits the sexual response. Chopin creates a circle of symbolic characters about her heroine: a devoted wife, an embittered spinster musician, a dour and disapproving father, an understanding doctor, empty headed pleasure seekers. Edna veers between realistic apprai sal of her place in the world and romantic longing for Robert, between enjoying the sensual pleasures with Alcà ©e and practically removing herself from her husband’s control.

Serial Dilution Homework

Serial Dilution Homework Problems Name:_Vidya Punati_____________________ Section #:__36_______________________ 1. In the image above, the final dilution is 1:____1X10^-8___________________. 2. You make six 2-fold serial dilutions of a solution. Your final dilution will be 1:_64_________. 3. You dilute 1 ml of an unknown sample of bacteria to 1 x 10-6 and plate out 100? l onto a Petri dish. The next day you count 64 colonies.The number of viable bacteria in the original sample was a. 6. 4 x 107 cells/ml b. 6. 4 x 108 cells/ml c. 6. 4 x 109 cells/ml d. 6. 4 x 1010 cells/ml 4. A 1 ml sample of bacteria was diluted to 10-6 and 100? l was plated on the Petri dish at right. What was the approximate concentration of the original sample? 8 x 10^7 bacteria per mL. | | 5. What are two reasons serial dilution is a useful technique for counting populations of bacteria? ) When there are a lot of bacteria, it is hard to count undiluted colonies accurately because there could be hundreds of them. Serial dilution is a useful technique because the colonies are counted twice with different people and the average number of colonies is reported as the number of bacteria present in the sample after multiplying the dilution factor. 2) If the number of bacteria in the samples is high, colonies of bacteria are likely to cover the whole plate so that one cannot count any colonies at all.

Legal Underpinnings of Business Law Essay

The key to limiting liability exposure is to realize where your company might be vulnerable. It is important to be able to recognize possible situations that make a company vulnerable. Knowing all possible significant aspects of any liability associated to the type of business an owner wants to participate in is vital. A business owner should always understand and have working knowledge of all laws that apply to your business to prevent liabilities. Personal Business Venture My future personal business venture would a clothing line for curvy women. As a curvy woman, it is very difficult to find non-geometric, non-tent like, flower patterned, ugly business and casual clothing. The best business organizational form for this business would be an LLC. LLC’s are easy to set up. Chose a business name that incorporates LLC, file an article of organization, create an operating agreement, obtain licenses and permits, hire employees, and finally open the doors. I would have variety of partners from textiles, designers, clothing producers, managers, and finally marketing specialists. The personal liability exposure would be minimal. With an LLC if I messed up the partners would not be responsible. The consequences are not as bad is if I was in a corporation. The LLC is more flexible. The positives are less record keeping and more profit sharing. The state would have some say into my company so I would have to keep up with guidance regularly. The negative of this company is that once a member leaves, the entire company must complete their duties and responsibilities and then dissolve. Another down fall is that self-employment tax contributions towards Medicare and Social Security. â€Å"The net income of the LLC is subject to this tax. The federal government does not recognize LLC as a business entity for taxation purposes, all LLCs must file as a corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship tax return. Certain LLCs are automatically classified and taxed as a corporation by federal tax law. †