The Metropolitan Museum of Art comes to Khan Academy

The Metropolitan Museum of Art comes to Khan Academy Photo: Steven Zucker In little more than a year, we’ve been very fortunate to collaborate with numerous institutions of incredible caliber and expertise, such as The British Museum, Tate, MoMA and The Getty. Their content on Khan Academy has gotten hundreds of thousands of views and we’re constantly hearing from our learners, whether they’re studying for a class or just nerding out on art and its history, how valuable the tutorials are; last year, there were 7 million visits to our art history content alone! Today we’re very excited to welcome The Metropolitan Museum of Art to Khan Academy. As life-long New Yorkers, we visit the Met at every chance we get. You could say without exaggerating that we learned how to look at art in the Met’s glorious galleries (and in fact we both wrote our very first respective museum papers on works in the Greek and Roman collection!). Today, the Met launches over 100 videos on Khan Academy featuring areas such as Extravagant Inventions, Books, Music and Literature and Devotion. In addition, The Met will also feature a game focused on the permanent collection, Beyond Battle: Arms and Armor at the Met. You’ll also notice today that we’re grouping all museums on Khan Academy on their own landing page: now you can find our museum partners (including the Asian Art Museum, the American Museum of  Natural History, Exploratorium, and the California Academy of Sciences) all in one location. We can’t wait to hear what you think. -Posted by Beth Harris and Steven Zucker

The 2008 Financial Crisis - 2117 Words

On September 15, 2008, Wall Street entered the largest financial crisis since the Great Depression. On a day that could have been called Black Monday, the Dow Jones Industrial average plummeted almost 500 points. Historically prominent investment giant Lehman Brothers filled for bankruptcy, while Bank of America bought out former powerhouse Merrill Lynch (Maloney and Lindeman 2008). The crisis enveloped the economy of the United States, as effects are still felt today. Experts still disagree about what exactly caused the greatest financial disaster since the Great Depression, but many point to the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 as a gateway to the rise of extreme laissez-faire policies that allowed Wall Street to take on incredible risk at the expense of taxpayers. In the wake of the crisis, politicians look for policies that reign in the power of Wall Street, but the fundamental relationship between economic and political power has made such regulation ineffective. The Gla ss-Steagall Act of 1933 was a direct response to the Great Depression of the 1930s. The years before the Depression were marked by robust financial growth, led by an expansion of credit through the policies of the Federal Reserve and new financial innovation, such as investment trusts (Neal and White 2012). Though these trusts were similar to a savings bank, they differed in that trusts were not regulated in which securities they could invest in and had had little government supervision. TheShow MoreRelated2008 Financial Crisis: Icelands Then Now Essay examples1558 Words   |  7 PagesCauses of the Crisis On September 15, 2008, the American bank Lehman Brothers, with holdings over 600 billion USD, filed bankruptcy. This was by far the biggest bankruptcy in U.S history and it marked the beginning and the largest financial crisis ever. How can one of the biggest banks in the world fail? How can a bankruptcy in US make someone on the other side of the world unemployed? The answer is Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs) and it all started by new innovations in the financial sector combinedRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 20081384 Words   |  6 PagesThe turmoil in the financial markets also known as the financial crisis of 2008 was considered the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Many areas of the United States suffered. The housing market plummeted and as a result of that, many evictions occurred, as well as foreclosures and unemployment. Leading up to the financial crash, most of the money that was made by investors was based on people speculating on investments li ke real estate, stocks, debt buying, and complex investmentRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 20081747 Words   |  7 PagesThe economic crisis of 2008 was one for the ages, it changed the world of investing forever. That year, the stock market crashed, bank failures and the infamous wall street bailout that can all be traced back to the subprime mortgage crisis.. The 2008 economic crisis rocked the global economy for the worst, and to this day the United States is trying to recover from the impact that the crisis had. In order to understand why exactly the banks failed people have to understand the subprime mortgageRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 20081817 Words   |  8 PagesThe financial crisis of 2008 did not arise by chance. The meltdown was precipitated by systematic striping away of the New Deal era policies of bank regulation. Most notable of these deregulatory acts was that of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999. This bill repealed the legislation which held commercial banks and investment banks separate. As the beginning of the 21 century approached many bankers clamored for an end to the policy of the â€Å"firewall† between Investment and commercial banks. Gramm-Leach-BlileyRead MoreFinancial Crisis 20085972 Words   |  24 PagesCORPORATE FINANCE THE GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS 2008 Group’s member:Nguyá »â€¦n NhÆ ° Nam (C)Phan Thu AnNguyá »â€¦n Thà ¹y DungHoà  ng Bà ¡ SÆ ¡nNgà ´ Thá »â€¹ à nh Tuyá º ¿tDate: 28/11/2014 | AbstractIn 2008 the world was fell into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of 1929-1933. Although this crisis has gone, however, its consequences for the economy of many countries is very serious, even now many nations are still struggling to escape difficulty. Just in a short period, the crisis originating from AmericaRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 2008 Essay2044 Words   |  9 PagesThe 2008 financial meltdown resulted in the most treacherous investment landscape observed since the great depression. The most notorious issue was the subprime mortgage crisis, which had a ripple effect felt through every market in the world. The banks, whose leverage rate should never have been higher than two times capitalization, surged as high as thirty to forty times market cap. With this level of exposure, any unforeseen market fluctuations could mean disaster. Lehman Brothers, the oldestRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 20081125 Words   |  5 PagesA mortgage meltdown and financial crisis of unbelievable magnitude was brewing and very few people, including politicians, the media, and the poor unsuspecting mortgage borrowers anticipated the ramifications that were about to occur. The financial crisis of 2008 was the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression; ultimately coalescing into the largest bankruptcies in world history--approximately 30 million people lost their jobs, trillions of dollars in wealth diminished, and millions ofRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 20081689 Words   |  7 PagesOur society seems to doing well since the financial crisis of 2008. The country is recovering from the Great Recession, unemployment is down and the global domestic product is up. People have jobs and are paying taxes. President Obama lowered our budget deficit and promised to make healthcare more available to all. On average, America is well on its way to recovery. But what about the people that slipped through the cracks of the financial stimulus pl an? These are the people that lost their jobsRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 2008 Essay2553 Words   |  11 PagesWhen you think of the 2008 financial crisis that affected not just the US economy, but the world as a whole, most average middle-class Americans won’t really know what triggered this economic disaster. Most will probably blame, and rightfully so, those large corporations on Wall Street. These corporations, which deal with insanely large amounts of money, will always be wary of their stocks decreasing. But they also know that 99% of the time, everything will go back to normal in the future. What theyRead MoreThe Financial Crisis Of 20082083 Words   |  9 PagesEver since the economic virus called â€Å"negative interest rates† scattered over European and later Japanese banks, our economic system has been the most unstable since the financial crisis of 2008. The virus, negative interest rates, is a concept in which the central bank charges interest in bor rowing money and holding an account. It was brought forth in efforts to increase economic growth by giving commercial banks a tax on the large amount of reserves they hold in the bank. In other words, commercial

Mentoring Programs For A Mentoring Program - 868 Words

In today’s volatile business world, it is vital for organizations to engage employees both intellectually and emotionally. Through mentoring, employees identify themselves as a vital part of the organization while creating a heightened level of ownership. Mentoring programs are of great value to any organization. In most cases, these programs are considered essential. By developing and implementing a mentoring program, the learning process for employees is accelerated. It is said that mentoring can â€Å"can accomplish things that training cannot† (Johnson). Though, developing a mentoring program is not an easy task, the benefits outweigh the challenges. A mentoring program will help alleviate high employee turnover and assist in building a pipeline of diverse employees. The development of a mentoring program begins by deciding on whether it should be a formal or informal program. On one hand, a formal mentoring program includes 1. Connection to a strategic business objective of the organization 2. Established goals 3. Measurable outcomes 4. Expert training and support 4. Direct organizational benefits and 5. Mentoring engagements lasting 9-12 months (â€Å"Business mentoring matters†, 2012). On the other hand, an informal mentoring program includes: 1. Unspecified goals 2. Unknown outcomes 3. Self-selection of mentors and mentees 4. No expert training or support 5. Long-term mentorship and 6. Indirect organizational benefits (â€Å"Business mentoring matters†, 2012). Therefore, basedShow MoreRelatedMentoring : A Integrated Mentoring Program1324 Words   |  6 PagesThe goal of mentoring in military organizations is to help junior personnel reach their full potential by having senior personnel help develop them, and pass on their prac tical expertise and professional knowledge to personnel who are committed to advancement and success (United States, 1995). A thriving mentoring program will enhance our overall professionalism and help meet the future needs of our organization. In my current job, I am charged with implementing a mentoring program where officersRead MoreMentoring For Mentoring Development Program1329 Words   |  6 Pageswe are intending to be established outside of South Carolina as the leader in mentoring solutions for all, we will be planning to extend our services globally. Our overall focus is mentoring! What is mentoring and why is it important? By understanding mentoring and why it’s important we will be able to formulate a mentoring methodology for our mentoring development program. This is important because, not only is mentoring important here in the United States, it’s equally important in other parts ofRead MoreThe Mentoring Program At Huntsville1509 Words   |  7 Pag es RAYBEN Mentoring Blueprint Introduction The RAYBEN Mentoring Program at Huntsville, AL is a tailored program that extends the ability to inspire career development and facilitate academic growth. The key objective is to enrich both the mentor and mentee through the exchange of personal experiences, wisdom, guidance, and understanding. The immediate expansion of knowledge, skill sets, networking opportunities, and personal growth are key components to be obtained by mentees. TheRead MoreDevelopment Of A Mentoring Program863 Words   |  4 Pagesemotionally. Through mentoring, employees identify themselves as a vital part of the organization while creating a heightened level of ownership. Mentoring programs are of great value to any company. In most cases, these programs are considered essential. By developing and implementing a mentoring program, the learning process for employees is accelerated. It is said that mentoring â€Å"can accomplish things that training cannot† (Johnson). Even though, developing a men toring program is not an easy taskRead MoreThe Impact Of Mentoring On Counseling Programs1673 Words   |  7 PagesThe Impact of Mentoring on Counselors There are many different facets to counseling training programs. One of the most interesting parts of this program is mentoring. This overview of mentorship will incorporate what mentorship is, the function of the relationship during mentorship, and different roles of mentee and mentors. Additionally to that, this overview will examine how mentorship is handle in counseling programs, and when proper mentorship is given to mentee, it can lead further futureRead MoreGuide Plan for a Mentoring Program952 Words   |  4 PagesProper Guide Plan on Mentoring Program Abstract In this paper, an outline of a mentoring program is given which is addressing the issues related to Computer House, a computer retailer and service provider. The various different players associated with the firm are highlighted as well as how this mentoring program is supposed to help them. Also, key details regarding the program which includes its structuring, finances and other information are also addressed in some detail. Responding toRead MoreInvestigation Of Mentoring And Induction Program908 Words   |  4 Pagesshortage, retaining teachers, mentoring/induction in relationship to teacher job satisfaction. Darling-Hammond (2003) revealed that research shows that novice teachers usually leave after five years of teaching. The goal is to make educators understand the need for mentoring/induction program in the southern school system. Purpose of the Study The purpose of study is make sure education departments has research based data to guide the aim of mentoring/induction programs to help keep teachers inRead MoreParaprofessional Orientation And Mentoring Program Essay855 Words   |  4 PagesParaprofessional Orientation Mentoring What is currently in place? Currently, there is no paraprofessional orientation or mentoring program at the MCIU. Recently, roles filled by paraprofessional including classroom aides, one to one assistances and job coaches were contracted out to a staffing agency. The hiring agency, Staffing Plus, is charged with providing induction and training to the contracted employees. While this is done in consultation with the MCIU, the quality of professional developmentRead MoreStop The Violence Mentoring Program1863 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Mentoring refers to a relationship whereby, an experienced person gives guidance, advice, and support to the less experienced. The Stop the Violence Mentoring Program is one that seeks help young people and to show them a more excellent way. Mission Statement: Stop The Violence Mentoring Program was established in June 2013. It was designed to help at risk youth to give them an alternative place to come and receive services in school and pair them mentors that will aid them in lifeRead MoreAn Evaluation Of A Teacher Mentoring Program968 Words   |  4 Pagesmethods. It is in the school’s best interest to sure that teachers are attending collaborative teaching seminars, webinars, or classes for their professional development hours. Then when they return to the school implementation of a teacher mentoring program so that they can see how collaborative teaching is applied in a classroom setting and they can also ask questions to their mentor if they need advice. This would foster a lines of communication so that teachers can discuss among one another on

Defense Spending and the Military-Industrial Complex Free Essays

On December 7, 1941 Japan launched a surprise attack on the United States at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This thrust America into World War II, and for the next four years it dominated nearly every aspect of American life [Bowles, 2011, 3. 7 The World at War (1941-1945)]. We will write a custom essay sample on Defense Spending and the Military-Industrial Complex or any similar topic only for you Order Now This greatly impacted Americans and had a significant impact on African Americans during this time. Although the attack on Pearl Harbor was a devastating period of time, it was a great time for African Americans to assert their independence. They fought in the war, defending their country after how they were treated. They demanded being able to have jobs that were considered â€Å"whites only†. In my belief, they deserved these rights. African Americans were treated unfairly for years and did not have rights but yet still strived to fight for their country. There is no reason why they should not have been treated fairly, if not more like heroes for how brave and noble they were. According to Bowles, â€Å"While these men were willing to die for the country, they were not eligible for many of the honors for their service. Though many deserved it, no African American could receive the Medal of Honor, the highest military award for bravery (2011, African Americans at war). This brings me to the long term effects WWII had on our country. Bill Clinton awarded men their gold’s that they deserved 50 years too late. Only one of the men was alive to even receive it. The long term effect is the regret of letting the people who were most brave, die for our country and not receive an award just because of the color of his skin. References: Bowles, M. (2011). A history of the United States since 1865 . (Ashford University ed. ) San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. How to cite Defense Spending and the Military-Industrial Complex, Papers

Speech Advantages of listening to English songs free essay sample

Good morning everyone. Im the chairperson of the English Club. Today, Im going to share a topic to all of you. But first, let me ask you two questions. Are you bored with reading, grammar and writing? Would you like to find a more fun and entertaining method to Improve your English? I believe you all will have the same answer, right? In fact, listening to English songs is a useful and interesting way to learn English. It might be one of the best ways to retain or remember vocabulary and grammar that you hear In the lyrics. Also, your pronunciation may get better. But do you know why?In the past, students learned English mainly from textbooks often this was a boring, frustrating experience that needed patience, inner motivation and perseverance to ensure language learning continued. Recently, more and more learners tend to listen to English songs as a means to Improve their English. We will write a custom essay sample on Speech: Advantages of listening to English songs or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They feel learning English In this manner is more enjoyable and relaxing. They can learn English happily with the background music. In addition, Songs expose students to a wide vocabulary related to a theme. Lyrics are not easily forgotten. You listen to them over and over again throughout your life.Once you learn them, they are going to stay with you, and you are going to review them over and over Just because you ENJOY the music, which are pleasant to listen. If you learn one song per week for a year, which would take up very little time, you will never forget those 52 songs full of new vocabulary and phrases. The variety of accents by the various singers also means that you improve your listening skills when you start paying attention to the lyrics. Once you learn a few songs, youll start gathering an immense repertoire of songs and vocal.Just the fact hat you start caring about the lyrics will activate your listening skills and listening to music in English will become an enjoyable learning exercise. Yet, songs give you perfect pronunciation models. As you learn to sing them, you are practicing your pronunciation, you are imitating native speakers, and you are learning how to speak better. The rhythm naturally leads to better pronunciation, better Intonation, and more fluency. Last but not least, listening to English songs would surely bring you a correct collocation. Collocation is the cultural context and placement of words.It is what mounds natural to native speakers. It usually doesnt have much logic to It, and Its almost Impossible to teach. It Is something thats acquired with time and contact with the language in authentic cultural contexts. Songs tell stories, and these stories teach correct collocation which you hear over again and incorporate them into your own It is no wonder that English music is becoming more and more popular nowadays. It helps us learn and improve our English. If there are so many benefits to listening to English songs, why not try start listening now? Thats all of my sharing. Thank you.

Applications of Surface Plasmon Field

Applications of Surface Plasmon Field Introduction Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (SPR) represents an optical technique that is widely used in the classification of both thin films and interfaces. The underlying principles that are synonymous with this technique are widely reported in literature. Analyses that benefit from the sensitivity of this technique are those that are regarded to as bio-active in nature.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Applications of Surface Plasmon Field-enhanced Fluorescence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At this juncture, we have a reaction pair such that one partner chemically attaches itself to the biofunctional layer and the other partner carries the surface plasmon mode while maintaining contact with the analyte. As such, as the analyte molecules leave the solution they impart a corresponding change in the refractive index. This can be scrutinized in real-time and in an operation that is label-free. In a nu tshell, a quantifiable sensor signal is generated once the analyte molecules are detected. However, one setback of this technique is that the sensor signal might go unnoticed when the analyte enrichment (density) is extremely low or its molecules are tiny to generate signals. Among the techniques adopted to limit this problem is the application of a â€Å"quasi-three dimensional surface layer of a hydrogel or a polymer brush probed by surface plasmon wave leading to effective increase in binding site density† (Ford Weber, 2013). Even so, many relevant analyte concentrations go undetected. Recently, the launch of surface plasmon field-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy (SPFS) has functioned to completely eliminate this detection limit. The underlying principle adopted in this technique is that a superior electromagnetic field emanating from a surface plasmon is used in the excitation of surface-bound fluorophores (Wolfgang Neumann, 2013). As a result, the emitted fluorescenc e is eventually analyzed to reflect the behavior of the analyte. The figure below is a schematic representation of the SPFS (Stewart Thompsons, 2008). Since its inception, SPFS technique has been used to achieve a number of milestones. It has successfully been used to: trace fluorophore-labeled molecules, analyze primer extension reaction-based studies, study interfacial hybridization analysis, perform imaging of surfaces, study antibody-antigen interaction, and perform colloids studies. However, its importance is not limited to the aforementioned applications. There are still many more areas where this technique has excelled. For the sake of this review, we limit our scope to the above mentioned applications.Advertising Looking for book review on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Tracing of fluorophore-labeled molecules (Aflatoxin M1 in milk) Prior to the discovery of SPFS, the existing techniques were unable to probe miniature quantities of analytes in real-time. As a consequence, these techniques were rendered useless in analyses that required stringent measures, for instance, proteomics. Since its inception in the year 1999, SPFS has made possible these analyses giving accurate and reliable results. Apart from the conventional SPR spectroscopy probing of the thickness changes at the interface, SPFS offers â€Å"the fluorescence signal channel that can directly monitor biomolecular binding kinetics in a highly sensitive way† (Duque et al., 2012). Nonetheless, the incident fluorescence that emanate from the flourophores experience considerable quenching by metals in the order of less than 10 nm dye-to-metal distances. This limits the benefits that are achieved from the SPR field effects. Moreover, an imminent signal deviation, an undesirable effect is anticipated. This signal emanates from a combined effect of the fading â€Å"surface plasmon field and the metal-indu ced quenching† (Huang Yu, 2013). Recently, efforts have been put in place to reduce the problem posed by dye-to-metal distance. These strategies that include among others the layer-by-layer strategy are meant to optimize on the dye-to-metal allowance. For the sake of this analysis, a spatially extended matrix is adopted as a binding template vital in overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks. In order to detect aflatoxin M1 in milk, a novel biosensor that is extremely sensitive is employed. The biosensor is basically based on an already advanced SPFS courtesy â€Å"of the excitation of long range surface plasmons (LRSPs)† (Fang Bjorn, 2013). Whatever happens in the SPFS is that the flurophore-labeled elements get attached to the sensor surface. At the same time, this reaction is probed with surface plasmons (SPs) that result in fluorescence that sends signals to the detector. Like it has been mentioned before, the principle adopted utilizes the enhanced field intensity that result from the excitation of surface plasmons to amplify the ensuing fluorescence signal. In order to achieve detection effect, both the LRSP-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy and an inhibitor immunoassay ought to be merged. At this juncture, the derivative aflatoxin M1 gets localized on the surface of the sensor. As such, the antibodies that are typically antagonistic to aflatoxin M1 come in handy as recognition elements. To this end, the aflatoxin M1 can easily be detected thanks to the biosensor.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Applications of Surface Plasmon Field-enhanced Fluorescence specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Primer extension reaction-based studies The enzyme DNA polymerase is one key catalyst that has been employed by biotechnologists in the in-vitro manufacture of double-stranded DNA. These enzymes come in handy in both DNA sequencing methodologies and in PCR-based procedures vital in pin pointing the occurrence of mutation. Vitally, methodologies that employ unique enzyme functions to ascertain the â€Å"identity of a base sequence, such as DNA ligation, digestion, restriction and primer extension, are generally more sensitive to base aberrations than those based on DNA hybridization reactions alone† (Giannini et al., 2012). The current procedures are aimed at improving both the operational competence and the sensitivity limits. One of the commonly used approaches analyzes DNA microarrays by exploring the fluorescence intensities. Contemporary procedures explore the surface attachment of the reacting compounds to execute their principles that are typically real-time methods. Among these procedures include quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). These two have successfully been used to study both the RNA and DNA polymerase profiles. Basically, this procedure is more versatile visvis the previous DNA microarrays method since it pr ovides information on the enzyme kinetics. With this information one is better placed to understand the dynamics of the interaction. Even with their competences in analyzing DNA synthesis, they are short of monitoring nucleotide incorporation events. This is owed to the fact they fail to detect miniature corresponding mass changes. SPFS methodology comes in handy in detecting these negligible mass changes. For the sake of this report, we review a study that brings to light how SPFS was used to examine the catalytic action involved in the integration of â€Å"fluorescently labeled nucleotides into surface-attached oligonucleotides† (Dostlek Knoll, 2013). Of note, the catalyst that is involved in this study is DNA polymerase I. In SPFS, a brief electromagnetic field emanating from the surface plasmon mode and transmitting parallel to the gold-water interface enhances the excitation of surface-bound flourophores. The resonance of excitation is dependent on the refractive index of the interfacial layer. This can be enhanced by altering the angle of incident of the excitation light. At resonance, the resulting interfacial field is amplified two octaves higher than the incident light (when the interface ÃŽ » is set at 633 nm) (Tawa Knoll, 2013). The optimal strength that dies off exponentially to the surface is realized at the interface. The amplification of the evanescent field is what gives SPFS its great sensitivity, making it different from TIRF (total internal reflection fluorescence) spectroscopy.Advertising Looking for book review on natural sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More SPFS spectroscopy as applied in the interfacial hybridization analysis Advances made in the development of DNA biosensors that has enabled them exhibit unequalled sensitivity and selectivity is owed to the successes made in Human Genome Project (HGP). Some biosensors including acoustic waves, fiber optics and plasmon surface-based have successfully analyzed oligonucleotide, achieving immediate scrutiny of hybridization kinetics. Nonetheless, these techniques have failed to merit in the detection of PCR-amplified DNA. Ideally, oligonucleotides and PCR products are dissimilar analytes differing chiefly in two aspects (Knoll, 2012). First, the difference comes in the respective lengths of the bases forming them. Basically, oligonucleotides analytes that are utilized in biosensing analysis are normally less than 30 bases in length. This is dwarfed by the length of the PCR products that accommodate several kilo bases (kb). As such, this massive amount of bases coupled with complexity in sequencing has been a major hindrance in PCR product analysis. For example, some of the non-selective portions of the products may jeopardize the hybridization process by physically adhering to the surface-bound probes, exuding high background signals. Moreover, the existence of these non-selective pieces enhances the magnitude of steric hindrance which limits the effectiveness of binding of PCR products. Second, typically, PCR products are double-stranded in nature. This is a major setback that bars the recognition units from accessing the surface-bound probes. As a result, the sensitivity of the analysis is greatly reduced. For these techniques, only the end-point results are reported. As such, these techniques do not offer an in-depth analysis of the hybridization mechanism. This can only be offered by SPFS (Robelek et al., 2013). In this review, we analyze how SPFS can be used to inspect hybridization of PCR products using PNAs (peptide nucleic acids) probes. Here, the initial s tep was to clearly explain the importance of antisense strand as applied in hybridization. In this effect, three PCR products were developed and then distinguished by labeling. These included the sense, antisense and sense-antisense double strands. These were then subjected to heat denaturation process prior to a hybridization process with surface-bound PNA (at 10 mM NaOH). These were then monitored by SPFS in real-time. The results obtained showed that the sense-antisense strands exhibited a slightly higher hybridization signal visvis the sense strand. The lower signal as portrayed by the sense strand was caused by the antisense strands that elicited weak fluorescence. After denaturation process, the initially separated double strands re-associated courtesy of NaOH concentration (Kellis Poulose, 2012). Principally, higher salt concentration inhibits repulsion between denatured strands. As revealed by SPFS technique, only a few antisense strands were seen to have been bound on to t he surface during the entire hybridization process. This gives a glimpse of the importance of SPFS technique as used in monitoring hybridization process. This process deals with decimal components that require the sensitivity that is provided for by the aforementioned technique. SPFS-SPRM as used in surface imaging Simply put, surface plasmons are characterized by charge-density oscillations that occur at the boundary adjoining to media. The resonance that happens at the surface plasmons is achieved when two wave-vectors (p-polarized light and that of the surface plasmons) match. This result in a decrease in photon flux emanating from the media boundary. The fields generated â€Å"from the surface plasmons interact with the immediate media surrounding the interface, only to decay exponentially to the media, with the rate of decay depended on the media used† (Attridge et al., 2013). As it has clearly been explained by Attridge et al. (2013), SPRM (surface plasmon resonance mic roscopy) employs the activation of surface plasmons to concurrently inspect the near-superficial refractive index at several sites of a sample surface. The generated field can also be employed to activate flurophores as exhibited by SPFS or SPRF. The merits of this technique is that it displays high degree of sensitivity in real-time, it amplifies the intensity of the incident field up to 80 times, and the reflected field comes in handy in suppressing unwarranted background light. Previous SPRM/SPRF â€Å"quipped with lasers in their systems display excellent qualities including narrow bandwidth and enhanced power† (Huang Yu, 2013). Nonetheless, the effectiveness of SPRM/SPRF in accomplishing imaging has greatly been hampered owing to speckle artifacts that are brought about by laser illumination. This decreases the ability of the double−system to concurrently track and identify specific regions. For the sake of eliminating the aforementioned problems, the system assem bly incorporate convectional laser pointers and acoustic transducer (anti-despeckle). Notably, dark Mylar is incorporated on the flow−cell to enhance coherence of the emitted excitation light. This further goes on to enhance synchronization of measurement at specific locations on the flow−cell. This system is meant to â€Å"demonstrate a highly cost-effective system capable of simultaneously interrogating a sample under SPRM and SPRF, thus spatially discriminating between regions on the same sample† (Fort Grà ©sillon, 2013). In a synopsis, with the above adjustments done on the double−system, the two can concurrently and successfully achieve imaging of surfaces. The entire experiment demonstrating how this is achieved is available in literature. There are available instruments in the market that can individually achieve some of the above effects. Nonetheless, the SPRM/SPRF system presents the user with an opportunity to experience all the effects in a sing le application that is highly cost-efficient. The use of SPFS spectroscopy in analysis of antibody-antigen interaction The underlying principle adopted by SPFS spectroscopy technique is that a superior electromagnetic field emanating from a surface plasmon is used to enhance the excitation of surface-bound fluorophores. Whatever gives SPFS technique an upper hand in its application in surface immunoreactions analyses is that it has the capacity to concurrently inspect both the interfacial thickness variations and the incandescence signals in real-time. In view of this application, gold surfaces were activated courtesy of an admixture of self-assembled monolayer. This functioned to expose an antigen variably over a wide scale as regards its density. At this point, specific antibody-antigen reactions were registered for the anti-antigen antibody solutions traversing over the surfaces at high velocity thanks to SFPS-based immunoassays. Initial analysis investigated the significance of the â€Å"fluorophores Cy5 and Alexa Fluor 647 in SPFS-based immunoassays† (Cai Jun, 2012). The results revealed that Cy5 portrays an excellent self-quenching behavior, which negatively influence the quantitative measurements. Moreover, angular ‘detuning’ effects witnessed when taking the in−situ measurements as regards binding kinetics was confirmed to be a major hindrance. As such, they hamper with the incandescence signals at the point where huge SPR signals are recorded. In a synopsis, as it has been explained herein, SPFS-based immunoassays were vital in the analysis of the antibody-antigen interactions. SPFS as applied in colloids For this application the literature below describes the effect of merging surface plasmons and field-enhanced spectroscopy in sensor behavior. The resonance activation of PSP components at a metal/buffer boundary in flow−cell amplifies the optical field strength relative to the incident laser light. Fresnel formula co nfirmed that indeed for a gold-water boundary, the magnitude of the resulting field is enhanced 16 folds that of the incident light (Tawa Morigaki, 2013). The resulting field comes in handy in enhancing the sensitivity for inspecting binding effects of an analyte that traverses an aqueous phase at the functionalized gold-water interface to the detection sites (Liebermann Knoll, 2012). This would happen on condition that the previously fluorescent-labeled analyte particles wonder within the locus of an exponentially decaying temporal field that is generated by the PSP mode. This also bars these analyte molecules from approaching a metal, a recipe that is important in enhancing Forster quenching as regards the emitted fluorescence (Liebermann, 2012). In order to investigate the significance of SPFS, a quantitative analysis is done to investigate both the magnitude of fluorescence and the refractive index or layer thickness. The analysis answers the aforementioned questions by invest igating the binding process of fluorescently-doped latex molecules (Sonnefraud, 2012). These molecules possess extra superficial biotin-moieties that enable them to attach to a streptavidin phase at the gold-buffer boundary. The significance of SPFS technique is also echoed by its ability to detect fluorescence intensity emanating from negligible PSP resonance. To this end, this is exhibited by biotinylated chromophore which gives considerably dilute binding (Lakowicz et al., 2013). Conclusion In a conclusion, the achievements made by SPFS in optical techniques are unequalled. Since its inception, SPFS has taken the optical technique to new heights, making analyses that initially seemed difficult a success. By simply exciting the surface-bound fluorophores courtesy of a superior electromagnetic field emanating from surface plasmons, the behavior of the analyte can be determined thanks to the emitted fluorescence. One of the merits that give SPFS an edge over other optical techniques is that it exhibits unprecedented sensitivity in real-time. To this effect, major milestones have been achieved and as such one can use this technique to investigate behaviors of tiny components at the molecular level and beyond. References Attridge, J., Daniels, P., Deacon, J., Robinsons, D. (2012). â€Å"Sensitivity enhancement of optical immunosensors by the use of a surface-plasmon resonance fluoroimmunoassay.† Biosens. Bioelectron, 6 (3), 201–214. Cai, W. Jun, Y. (2012). â€Å"Plasmonics for extreme light concentration and manipulation.† Nat. Mater, 9 (3), 193–204. Dostlek, J., Knoll, W. (2013). â€Å"Biosensors based on surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy.† Biointerphases, 3 (3), 12–22. Duque, L., Menges, B., Borros, S., Fà ¶rch, R. (2012). Biomacromolecules. Sydney, Australia: IDP Education Australia. Fang, Y., Bjorn, P.(2013). Attomolar Sensitivity in Bioassays Based on Surface Plasmon Fluorescence Spectroscopy . J. AM. CHEM. SOC., 9 (126), 29-30. Ford, G., Weber, W. (2013). â€Å"Electromagnetic interactions of molecules with metal surfaces.† Phys. Rep., 113 (4), 195–287. Fort, E., Grà ©sillon, S. (2013). â€Å"Surface enhanced fluorescence.† J. Phys. D Appl. Phys., 41(1), 1-13. Giannini, V., Fernndez-Domà ­nguez, A., Sonnefraud, Y., Roschuk, R. (2012). â€Å"Controlling light localization and light-matter interactions with nanoplasmonics.† Small, 6 (22), 2498–2507. Huang, B., Yu, F. (2013). Surface plasmon resonance imaging using a high numerical aperture microscope objective. Anal. Chem., 79 (1), 2979–2983. Kellis, T., Poulose, J. (2012). Surface plasmon resonance/surface plasmon enhanced fluorescence: An optical technique for the detection of multicomponent macromolecular adsorption at the solid/liquid interface. Langmuir, 18 (1), 6319– 6323. Knoll, W. (2012). Interfaces and thin films as seen by bound electromagnetic waves. Annua l Review of Physical Chemistry, 49, 569–638. Lakowicz, J., Chowdhury, M., Szmacinski, H., Fu, Y. (2013) â€Å"Plasmoncontrolled fluorescence: a new paradigm in fluorescence spectroscopy.† Chem. Rev., 133 (10), 1308–1346. Liebermann, T Knoll, W. (2012). â€Å"Surface-plasmon field-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy,† Colloids Surf. A Physicochem. Eng. Asp., 171 (3), 115–130. Liebermann, T. (2012). Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochem. Eng. Aspects 171, (1), 115–130. Robelek, R., Niu, L., Schmid, E. L., Knoll, W. (2013). Multiplexed hybridization detection of quantum dot-conjugated DNA sequences using surface plasmon enhanced fluorescence microscopy and spectrometry. Anal. Chem., 76, 6160– 6165. Sonnefraud, Y. (2012). Surface-plasmon field-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy. Colloids and Surfaces. Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 171, 115– 130. Stewart, M., Thompsons, B. (2013). â€Å"Nanostructured plasmonic sensors ,† Chem. Rev., 108 (2), 494–521. Tawa, K., Knoll, W. (2013). Mismatching base-pair dependence of the kinetics of DNA-DNA hybridization studied by surface plasmon fluorescence spectroscopy. Nucleic Acids Research, 32, 2372–2377. Tawa, K., Morigaki, K. (2013). Substrate-supported phospholipid membranes studied by surface plasmon resonance and surface plasmon fluorescence spectroscopy. Biophys. J., 89 (1), 2750–2758. Wolfgang, K., Neumann, T. (2013). Principles and applications of surface plasmons field-enhanced spectroscopy. New York, NY: New York University Press.

ACT Advice Top 5 Tips on Preparing for the Test

ACT Advice Top 5 Tips on Preparing for the Test SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you’re looking for a concise, effective list of the bestACT advice, you’ve found it. Sometimes too much information can do more harm than good - in this post, I’ll lay out the five most importantthings you should do in order to do well on the ACT. Let's get to it! Tip #1:Figure Out Your Pain Points If you're gearing up to study for (and take) the ACT, you'll want to focus onimproving your weakest skills. So what are the biggest, most common problem areas that students have when preparing for the exam? 1. Content The ACT isn't a one-subject test - in order to do well, you'll have to prepare for the English, Math, Reading, and Science sections (not to mention the optional Writing section). If you're weak in a particular subject area in school, for example, you may see a weaker performance in the corresponding ACT section. 2. Timing The ACT isdivided into strictly timed sections, meaning you have less time to both complete questions and check your work. You may know everything you need to know, but still have issues with completing sections within the allottedtime limit. 3. Strategy Many standardized tests (the ACT included) list confusing or even misleading questions and/or answer choices. You may lose points (even if you know the relevant material) on tricky questions like this. To do well on the ACT, you'll, of course, need to think aboutall three major problem areas. You'll want to spend time thinking critically, though, about which of these areas are your major "pain points" - areas that are leading to the greatest loss of points. The best way to do this is to workthrough official ACT practicematerial. Once you've gone through a few practice sections (or, ideally, a whole ACT practice test) under realistic timing conditions, you can get a better idea of where you should focus your efforts. Get started by checking out our guide to reflecting on your ACT practice tests. Tip #2:Make a Study Plan Once you figure out what you need to practice most, your next step should be to lay out a time-sensitive and weakness-sensitive study plan. What I mean by this is you should set a study schedule based on 1) the amount of time you have to prepare for the ACT, and 2) your test content and strategy weaknesses. The amount of time you need to study depends on how much you want to improve from your baseline score. Here are some general guidelines for the amount of time you should prep depending on thesegoals: 0-1 Composite Score Improvement: 10 hours 1-2 Composite Score Improvement: 20 hours 2-4 Composite Score Improvement: 40 hours 4-6 Composite Score Improvement: 80 hours 6-9 Composite Score Improvement: 150+ hours Some students canfollow through on a plan with just independent study, whereas other students fare better with help from a tutoror an ACT prep course. If you’d like some more information on coming up with a study plan, check out our posts on how long you should study for the ACT and putting together a sample study schedule. Tip #3: Learn From Your Mistakes The most important part of studying effectively is critically analyzing how, why, and when you mess up. It’s also perhaps the least fun part of prepping for the ACT. Just keep in mind that if you’re not thinking about the problems, concepts, and strategies that you’re weak in, you’re missing out on valuable opportunities to improve your score. Mistakes and errors are only "bad" if you don't use them to improve. The big categories of errors and mistakes include: Careless errors - you should have known the right answer Content issues - you didn't have the information needed to answer the question Comprehension issues - you couldn't figure out what the question was asking Errors due to timing - these usually happen at the end of a section There are some simple, but important steps you should follow if you want to learn from your mistakes on ACT practice tests. Lucky for you, we have an awesome comprehensive guide on these strategies. You can also check out more detailed information on reflecting on ACT practice tests, ACT English, and ACT strategy mistakes. Tip #4: Work Efficiently You have to work efficiently if you want to do well on the ACT - this tip applies both when you’re studying for the test and when you’re actually taking the test. The bottom line is that if you’re not using your time wisely, you’re wasting time. To work efficiently as you study, it’s important that you do a few things: Stick to your study plan (Tip #2). It helps to set reasonable study goals, so you don't get distracted or side-tracked. Use the right study materials - don’t prepare with practice materials that won’t serve you well on the actual test. Focus on your pain points(Tip #1)first! To work effectively as you take the test,know that you'll be most effective if you've practiced developing time management skills through your prep. If you still need help with timing, though, you should read more about: How to stop running out of time on ACT reading How to stop running out of time on ACT math Time management for ACT science General ACT time management Tip #5:Take Care of Yourself Physically Mentally All of the previous ACT advicewon’t serve you well at all on test day if you’re stressed, hungry, or tired. No matter how much you may want to cram for the ACT the entire night before, keep in mind that your health and wellness is super important when it comes to your test performance. The ACT is a marathon, not a sprint, so prepare yourself the night before for a mental workout. This means getting a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast (your brain needs fuel, you know)! There are even more things you can do to take care of yourself the night before and the morning of the ACT - following those strategies will help you optimize your score. Wrapping Up In short, here are the five most important things you should do to prepare for the ACT: Figure out your pain points Make a study plan Learn from your mistakes Work efficiently Take care of yourself physically mentally There's a lot more detail to get into when it comes to prepping for the test, but if you follow this ACT advice, you'll be on the right track. What's Next? Next comes the work of actually studying for the ACT! As it's best to focus first on your weaknesses, you may want to read up on the three core areas of ACT prep: content, timing, and strategy.Check out our guides to ACT reading, math, science, and writing. Read more about how to beat the clock when you're taking the test. Finally, read up on 12 last-minute strategies that will boost your score. Want to improve your ACT score by 4 points? Check out our best-in-class online ACT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your ACT score by 4 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses. We also have expert instructors who can grade every one of your practice ACT essays, giving feedback on how to improve your score. Check out our 5-day free trial: