Cookiecutter Shark Facts and Information

The cookiecutter shark is a small shark species who got its name from the round, deep wounds it leaves on its prey. They are also known as the cigar shark,  luminous shark, and cookie-cutter or cookie cutter shark. The cookiecutter sharks scientific name is Isistius brasiliensis. The genus name is a reference to Isis, the  Egyptian goddess of light, and their species name is a reference to their distribution, which includes Brazilian waters.   Classification Kingdom:  AnimaliaPhylum:  ChordataSubphylum:  VertebrataSuperclass:  GnathostomataSuperclass:  PiscesClass:  ElasmobranchiiSubclass:  NeoselachiiInfraclass:  SelachiiSuperorder:  SqualomorphiOrder:  SqualiformesFamily:  DalatiidaeGenus:  IsistiusSpecies:  brasiliensis Description Cookiecutter sharks are relatively small. They grow to about 22 inches in lengths, with females growing longer than males. Cookiecutter sharks have a short snout, dark brown or grayish back, and light underside. Around their gills, they have a dark brown band, which, along with their shape, gave them the nickname cigar shark. Other identification features include the presence of two paddle-shaped pectoral fins, which have a lighter coloration on their edges, two small dorsal fins near the back of their body and two pelvic fins. One interesting characteristic of these sharks is that they can produce a greenish glow using photophores, bioluminescent organs which are located on the sharks body, but densest on their underside. The glow can attract prey, and also camouflages the shark by eliminating its shadow. One of the most important features of cookiecutter sharks is their teeth.  Although the sharks are small, their teeth are fearsome-looking.  They have small teeth in their upper jaw and 25 to 31 triangular-shaped in their lower jaw. Unlike most sharks, who lose their teeth one at a time, cookiecutter sharks lose the complete section of lower teeth at once, as the teeth are all connected at their base. The shark ingests the teeth as they are lost -- a behavior that is thought to be related to increasing calcium intake.  The teeth are used in combination with their lips, which can attach to prey through suction.   Habitat and Distribution Cookiecutter sharks are found in tropical waters in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They are often found near oceanic islands.   These sharks undertake a daily vertical migration, spending the daytime in deep waters below 3,281 feet and moving toward the water surface at night.   Feeding Habits Cookiecutter sharks often  prey upon animals much larger than they are.  Their prey includes marine mammals  such as seals, whales and dolphins and large fish such as tuna, sharks, stingrays, marlin and dolphin, and invertebrates such as squid and crustaceans. The greenish light given off by the photophore attract prey. As the prey approaches, the cookiecutter shark quickly latches on and then spins, which removes the preys flesh and leaves a distinctive crater-like, smooth-edged wound. The shark grips the preys flesh using its upper teeth. These sharks are also thought to cause damage to submarines by biting their nose cones. Reproductive Habits Much of cookiecutter shark reproduction is still a mystery. Cookiecutter sharks are ovoviviparous. The pups inside the mother are nourished by the yolk inside their egg case.  Cookiecutter sharks have 6 to 12 young per litter. Shark Attacks and  Conservation Although the idea of an encounter with a cookie cutter shark is frightening, they generally present no danger to humans due to their preference for deep waters and their small size.   The cookiecutter shark is listed as a species of  least concern on the IUCN Red List. While they are caught occasionally by fisheries, there is no targeted harvesting of this species.   Sources Bailly, N. 2014. Isistius brasiliensis (Quoy Gaimard, 1824). In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2014) FishBase. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species, December 15, 2014Bester, C. Cookiecutter Shark. Florida Museum of Natural History. Accessed December 15, 2014.Compangno, L., ed. 2005. Sharks of the World. Princeton University Press. 368pp.Martin, R. A. Cookiecutter Shark. ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research. Accessed December 15, 2014.

Final Essay English 1Bs Journey - 1128 Words

English in its entirety can be simply described as author, biologist and physician, Lewis Thomas had once said, â€Å"We pass the word around; we ponder how the case is put by different people, we read the poetry; we meditate over the literature; we play the music; we change our minds; we reach an understanding. Society evolves this way, not by shouting each other down, but by the unique capacity of unique, individual human beings to comprehend each other† (Thomas 120). The impact literature can bring onto others is simply amazing and is a gift that should be shared with everyone. This spring semester has quickly broadened my perspective. Being that this is my freshman year in college I prodded around ideas of what majors I had interests in. I†¦show more content†¦I rarely read the assigned readings in English 1A and expected to do the same for 1B’s course. However, when I received the daily checks back and got zero after zero I realized I had my work cut out for me. This class challenged me, for the first in my English studies I had to work hard to earn an acceptable grade. Our first essay however, I was not too thrilled to have to write about Michelle Boisseau’s â€Å"Self-Pitys Closet†. I felt that her work was already self explanatory; the title said everything about the poem that needed to be said. The beginning of Boisseaus poem starts off with a slur of emotional turmoil, â€Å"depression, loneliness, anger, shame, envy† (Boisseau l1).I did not like the writing style because it bluntly listed how the character felt at the time. I wanted to investigate the core of why she felt a certain way but instead I was handed her emotions. I felt the urge to expose the character as an over emotional train wreck who feed off of empathy. At one point in my analysis I wrote â€Å"The speakers life is consumed by fear of what others may think of her. She constantly is searching for the answer which would lead to acceptance not only from others, but also within her own self†. I had not gained any sympathy for the character. I felt that if she wanted to gain acceptance from others she would first has to accept her own flaws and not sulk in misery. The purpose of the assignment was to create a response. However, I found myself analyzing Boisseau’s

Bussiness Proposal Free Essays

Describe how the current market conditions will affect the planning or operating decisions involving the product. Market Structure The market structure in this instance could fall into one of two types, oligopoly or monopoly (McConnell, Bruce, Flynn, 2009). The rationale behind oligopoly is that several large retailers currently provide this service and control the availability, use, and other aspects of the programs (McConnell, Bruce, Flynn, 2009). We will write a custom essay sample on Bussiness Proposal or any similar topic only for you Order Now The rationale behind monopoly is that the program is limited to each organization (McConnell, Bruce, Flynn, 2009). For example the program used at my organization is call the Shop Your Way Rewards program, it is only available at Smart and Sears, it cannot be used at other retailers and is exclusively controlled by Sears Holding Inc. Ultimately The market structure is a combination of a monopoly and oligopoly. Price Elasticity of Demand Price elasticity of demand has little effect on this product as the product is a free program provided by the organization. Despite this fact price elasticity does have an effect on the use of the program in that the customers can earn points on purchases and in turn spend those points on other researched. In this instance, as prices rise or fall within the store the use of the product increases or decreases as a result. If for instance a products price rises at the store level, the number of points earned during purchases using the product increases as well. Likewise as the prices increase it requires customers to have more points available to make purchases. Though the rewards card is a free program an increase in product prices would translate to an increase in demand for the rewards card. In looking at the determinants of price elasticity of demand, substitutability is first. The only way to substitute this product would be to shop at a competitor using the rewards program there such as a Kroger Plus card. Another substitute would be to use coupons instead of the card; however enhance them. The next determinant is proportion of income, again this would tie into the selling price of products and how the rewards program would offset any increases in price therefore increasing the amount of funds available to purchase products. Next is the luxury versus necessity determinant, the rewards card applies to both and is neutral in this area as it can be used for either luxuries or necessities. The last determinant is time, as more consumers become familiar with this product the demand will increase as the benefits are realized. Profit-Maximizing Quantity This program essentially gives the customer a percentage of his or her purchase price back in the form of points that can be redeemed during a transaction Just like cash. The program also generates coupons based on purchase levels and membership levels for additional dollars or percentages off purchases. Through data analysis, the company has determined that customers enrolled in the program average three additional shopping trips per onto than non-members, the data also reveals that members purchase on average $13 more per transaction than non-members. Points are earned one point at a time based on one percent of every $1 . An example of this would be a purchase of $100 would translate to gaining 10 points. Every 10 points equal one penny, 1,000 points equals $1, 10,000 points equals $10, and so forth. By increasing the frequency of customers return trips along with the average dollar amount of those purchases the company is essentially paying for the program by enrolling new members. As membership increases so do sales and in turn profits. Price and Non-price Strategies Because the program is free, no price is placed upon the product. A non-price strategy is currently underway in which the benefits of membership are expressed by checkout operators during the customer checkout experience. The company has also set enrollment and usage goals for each location within the company as well. Through the increase in verbal communication with every customer the company will realize the goals set and will be able to increase the goals as they are met. Production Costs The production costs associated with this product are the production of plastic cards for consumers to carry for purposes of using the program and redeeming points. This has been reduced over the last year and a half of the programs existence by encouraging customers to use their mobile phone number to access the account. The company also has an internally produced website specific to the program that allows customers to update information and review purchases and current point amounts. This required only a small outlay in web design as the hardware and software was already in place to support the aerogram. The company also is reducing costs on receipts as part of the program is to allow customers to receive electronic receipts via e-mail instead of printed paper receipts. The costs of the program also include the points issued to customers. These costs are offset by the increases in purchases. The following is a hypothetical cost break started the program by mass producing credit card-sized plastic rewards cards along with multicolumn, trip-fold brochures. The company’s initial investment was $1 million for the printing, distribution, and advertisement of this program. The initial program an for 12 months prior to the first cost reduction initiative. The program had recurring costs of $100,000 per month to continue production and distribution of materials. This initiative was to eliminate the plastic card and eliminate the need for informational brochures. This was accomplished through the use of customer phone numbers and email addresses as identifiers instead of physical cards. The next reduction was made through the implementation of a website where the information regarding the product could be accessed by customers. This resulted in a net reduction of costs by $75,000 per month. The costs associated with points accumulated and spent by customers is variable and changes month to month, the amount has been steadily increasing since the program’s inception and will continue to do so. To curb expenses associated with this part of the program the suggestion is to limit the number of points that can be redeemed in any transaction as well as place an expiration date on accumulated points. This will prevent customers from saving up a large number of points and eroding profit margin. Current Global Economic Conditions and the Local Macro Economy The current global economic conditions eave led to increases production costs of products sold by Smart and Sears as a result these increased costs have been passed on to consumers in the form of price increases on the products. The rewards program will offer consumers a way to offset these increased costs by earning rewards points that will allow them to reduce the total amount of their purchase. The program will also issue member-only coupons to these consumers which will further reduce his or her costs. By doing this the company will see an increase in brand loyalty and revenues. Recent economic trends in the United States include new growth in the housing market, as consumers arches homes and contractors build new homes the demand for products offered by both Smart and Sears will increase and as a result the demand for the rewards program will increase as well. The company is seeking a 75% penetration rate across all avenues of the business, including brick and mortar stores and online outlets. Local Economies Current Stage in the Business Cycle The local economy is currently in an expansion period as businesses are slowly starting to rebound from the recession. This is evident by the increase in home sales and the resulting increase in mortgage rates, along with the decrease in unemployment. As a result the demand for the product will increase as people begin to have more disposable income and seek out purchases for both luxury items, such as televisions and necessity items such as food. The product uniquely will set Smart and Sears apart from the competition in fighting for this increase in disposable income by allowing customers to access a virtually limitless amount of products through Internet shopping sites and affiliate marketplaces set up on those sites. The current market conditions for Smart and Sears are still in a period of struggle as individuals are still recovering from the recession. As individuals recover the company must fight to regain market share from new competitors such as Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree. These three companies capitalized on the recession by offering low price products that undercut many big box retailers such as Smart, Target, and Wall-Mart. As the economy recovers it will be important for Smart and Sears to pursue actively the consumers lost to these competitors and a way to do that is with the rewards program. Conclusion The program provides a unique experience for customers as the points are redeemable on virtually any product carried either in tore or online. The program also generates sales and profit with a low amount of investment from the company. Customers will have generated roughly three to four times the amount of profit needed to cover the issuance of the points to each customer. Management should have a solid understanding of how effective and beneficial this program is and how the continued success of the program directly translates to the success of each business unit. Reference McConnell, C. R. , Bruce, S. L. , Flynn, S. M. (2009). Economics. Unknown, NY: McGraw-Hill Company. How to cite Bussiness Proposal, Papers

Mother Was Forced to Abandon Her Daughter

Questions: 1.What is the writers thesis or argument in this regard? 2.What evidence do they present to support their thesis? 3.What is your view of their argument? 4.What event can you think of (or have seen in the media) that proves or at least could be considered in relation to the evidence presented? Answers: 1. The writers have argued (and their thesis is) that, health and wellness are interdependent and such interdependence is actually the outcome of a complex interaction that takes places between the biological factors, the psychological factors, and the socio-structural factors. The writers have suggested that the three factors, known in a combined way as the BPS Model, is one of the most effective theoretical models for explaining the causes of physical and mental ailments. 2. The authors have presented some specific supportive evidence to strengthen their thesis. The authors have pointed out that there is an intricate relationship between biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors that eventually determine the status of an individuals psychological and physical health. The authors have provided evidences supporting the fact that often social isolation and economic turmoil like joblessness lead to depression or self-incrimination or even to sedentary lifestyles, and such menaces eventually give rise to physical ailments like hypercholesterolemia, myocardial infarction, and even diabetes. 3. I do believe that the authors arguments are justifiable. There is indeed an intricate relationship between psychological and social wellbeing with physical wellbeing. If an individuals social life is fruitful and rewarding then it can be assumed that his/her physical wellbeing or psychological wellness is ensured. It has often been seen that peace of mind is the key to professional and social success, and a successful man and woman is bound to experience happiness which is an essential factor for staying healthy. This holds truth for the nursing profession too. If judged from both the perspective of a nurse and a patient then it can be seen that both of them needs to have mental peace because psychological wellbeing will help the nursing professional in concentrating more on the care-giving process and this would contribute to the enhancement of the mental health of the concerned patient. In the future if nursing administrators can formulate and implement strategies to alleviate t he undue workload on nurses then, naturally, nursing professionals will be more psychologically at peace and this would increase their productivity manifold. 4. There are ample evidences that are often published in the media pointing to the fact that there is indeed an intricate relationship between socio-structural factors and physical and psychological wellbeing. For an instance, in the article, Mother Was Forced to Abandon Her Daughter With No Legs, Now Shes A Gymnast, Zagorski (2014) has pointed out how social support can help a physically challenged individual overcome all the adversities and eventually emerge as a successful individual having self-worth and self-respect. Going through the article one can understand that social structure of a positive nature can actually motivate an individual to attain the impossible, and this proves that psychological wellbeing is thoroughly related to a persons sense of physical wellbeing. References Zagorski, S. (2014). Mother Was Forced to Abandon Her Daughter With No Legs, Now Shes A Gymnast. [online] LifeNews.com. Available at: https://www.lifenews.com/2014/09/03/mother-was-forced-to-abandon-her-daughter-with-no-legs-now-shes-a-gymnast/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2017].