Methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 2

Methodology - Essay Example Over the last few decades, the exploring and understanding of phenomena has given birth to various paradigms of social research, especially in context of educational betterment. Paradigms are a mixture of concepts and variables, attached to methodologies and tools that can help shape research into a certain subject or verify a certain theoretical proposition (Saunders et al, 2006). The positivist paradigm seeks to gather true knowledge, utilising a method of observation and experiment. The primary approach used in this paradigm is quantitative, with surveys and experiments becoming the tools to gage relationship and effect between two or more entities. On the other hand, an anti-positivist paradigm approaches a research subject under a qualitative cloud, using case studies and phenomenological methods to understand a single entity and its activities. In reference to this paper, the approach taken is under the positivist paradigm, as the crux of the research is evaluating the link between two or more entities, and the effects of change that is passed because of the existing linkage. However, the author acknowledges the importance of the anti-positive approach, and aims to undertake some tools of this methodology like interviews, in order to reach a more comprehensive conclusion. The methodology of research adopted is important in selecting the most suitable approach by which the researcher can answer the aims of a paper. A part of the approach is linked to the strategy adopted by the researcher; if deductive, the researcher is seeking to develop and test a theory, while if inductive, it involves the gathering of data from which a theory is likely to be built (Saunders et al, 2006). The research in this paper is set around understanding the linkage between the Indian textile industry with the Western markets of Europe and US, and the impact of the global downturn and financial

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay Example for Free

Mary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay It will be more interesting with a dual narrative because then the reader will not feel so much pity for the creature as there will be two points of view. In the beginning of the novel, Frankenstein used the monsters descriptions in a positive manner as he thinks its a good idea, but later on in the novel he used it in a negative manner. This shows that his thoughts for the monster changed over a period of time and that the creatures appearances changed Victors mind about it. When Victor walks out on the creature and abandons it, I think that it is quite a tough time for the creature. I believe this because the creature has only just been born, and doesnt yet know how his bodily functions work, and how to stay alive as he has to relearn these skills. The creature is upset and ashamed that he can not be loved by anyone Victor quite frequently walks out on his problems. Earlier on in the novel, Victor went to Ingolstadt after his mother died, he left behind all of his responsibilities and problems. Also, when he decided to create the monster, he stopped with his former life and started to endure on the task ahead, and forgot all of his responsibilities. These actions suggest that human nature can change as someone can be nice towards one thing and then they can be disgusted with that same thing at a different time. Victor gets very friendly with Henry Clerval in the time that they are in Ingolstadt. Henry nurses Victor back to health when he is ill. They came to be in the same college because Henry persuaded his father to let him come to Ingolstadt, but he said that it was hard to persuade as Henrys father thought that all the skills that you need in your life are used and gained when you are a book keeper. It is ironic that Henry sees knowledge as a good thing but Victor uses scientific knowledge and turns it into a tragedy, Frankenstein should of followed in s footsteps as Victors creation turned out to kill Henry. The way that Victor treated his family, is completely different to the way that Henry treated Victor. Victor dumped all of his family life behind him, and only spoke to them through short sharp letters, but Henry cared dearly for Victor and even spent useful time looking after Victor when he was seriously ill, Henry also puts his life on hold just to make him better. I think that the readers of the novel will be ashamed of Victor for abandoning his family and his creation, but also for letting Henry put his life on hold just to make him better. This is a selfish act, and Victor should be more grateful towards Henry and his family. Henry is a very caring man and has a lot of time for people, especially Victor who just takes his skills for granted. Henrys kindness is shown throughout, examples of this kindness are; I did not before remark how very ill you appear; so thin and pale, you look as if you have been watching for many nights. , and I will not mention it, if it agitates you. These shows that Henry cares greatly for Victor and that he doesnt want to upset Victor. This caring manner contrasts with that of Victors when he rejects the monster because of its looks. Victors selfish side is shown throughout the novel, a few examples are; I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with and ardour that far exceeded moderation, but now that I have finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart, infinite pains, and I felt the bitterness of disappointment. These show that again Victors selfish. He doesnt care about anyone but himself. Victor also uses the personal pronoun, I, this states that everything is about him, so this is also a selfish action. Victor keeps his creation a secret, he does not want to tell anyone as he is not yet sure of the outcome of the creature, but after the birth of the creation, he is ashamed of it, he believes that it is a product of hell and that the monster is beyond control and just decides to keep it to himself and lie to other people. This influences the readers attitude towards Victor in the rest of the novel because the readers may now believe that he can not tell the truth and that the narration of the story may be biased. This relates to the theme of secrecy in the rest of the novel, for example; when he makes a companion for the monster, and also not telling anyone that he knew what killed someone of his family and friends. Mary Shelley suggests that lots of people do keep secrets and do not want to tell anyone. We keep secrets because it will ruin something special, the person is ashamed or embarrassed of it, the person can not confide in anyone, or they just do not want to tell anyone, as it may get someone in trouble. People do keep secrets and usually lie, it may be small lies or it may be a serious lie. People tell lies to put the problem off for as long as they can until they crack, they do this because they think it is an easy option, but in the long run, it is the hardest option as it drags a lot out of your self esteem. The ending of the chapter is a contrast of the rest of the chapter, especially the beginning, the weather and the atmosphere created. In the begging of the chapter the weather is dull, and gloomy. This is shown throughout the opening paragraph. The phrases the rain pattered dismally against the pains, and dreary suggest that the weather reflects on the dark atmosphere created by the near birth of the creature, it also suggests that something may happen may happen later on in the chapter. In the ending paragraph, the atmosphere created is completely different. The descriptions show that there is change as it is now light. This is a pleasurable sight for Victor as the weather was so uninviting earlier on in the chapter. The phrase young buds were shooting forth from trees that shaded my window. It was a divine spring, shows that the darkness has subsided to make way for the light. Also, there was a new beginning for the natural processes, growing of buds etc. There was a non artificial mood in the air as everything that was happening was completely natural, so this is a great contrast to everything that was happening in the first paragraph of the chapter. The word divine is connected with heaven, so everything is moving on from Victors deed. It is also to do with God, so it is a contrast between the thought of hell earlier on in the chapter. In the following chapter people may think that Victor tries to accept the monster and is not so selfish towards it and also the rest of his family, because the chapter ends with relief for Victor. The reader, at the end of the chapter, may be wondering where the monster has gone and what the monster is really doing. It may be that they think he has gone to commit another deadly murder. To conclude, this chapter is very vital. In it, there is always something going on. The chapter helps you to see how Victor really is and how he treats people in times of struggle. When, the monster is created, we get the impression that Victor was excited, but then he was ashamed of the outcome. Furthermore, when the monster disappears he felt relieved even though it could still come back. At the time when the monster disappeared, it was like Victor started a whole new life, this showed that he was not really bothered about what would happen if the monster was let loosen the world. From this chapter, we find that when Victor gets engrossed in something, he forgets about the whole world around him and abandons people, like his family. Victor is prone to abandoning things and people in this chapter. For example; he abandons the monster just because of the way it looks, and hurts its feelings, making it commit murders on people close to Victor to get its own back. We find that Victor is to blame for the actions of the monster, and that Victor is very selfish. This is shown when he uses the person pronoun I, which shows that he is completely aware of himself and that he does not care much for other people. The secrecy in the novel is constant. Victor is always keeping secrets from his loved ones, whether large or small. The scientific ideas that Victor has are also important, as they bring together the whole story, as he knows man can create life with the correct theories and equipment. The theories that Victor has are going against God as it is an un-natural process, and that the creation will be forever criticized whether it is handsome or ugly. It also sums up how we treat each other in society today. I don not feel the same way as Victor did towards his creation. I think the actual monsters are Victor Frankenstein and M. Waldman these people both tried to create the creature, but Victor got further. They both created an abominable creature. I think some of the concerns in the novel are relevant today because not many people abandon things like children and pets, but the lucky ones get looked after. People also get abused because of the way they look, I think that this is wrong and should be stopped. By Samantha Loader Page 1 Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Mary Shelley section.

Religion Definition Essay Example for Free

Religion Definition Essay 1. What is a religion? You’ve read our textbook author’s definition; use that definition as a starting point to go further. The word â€Å"religion† is such a broad word that to this day there is no one definition that can satisfy all religions. For the time being, it is better to simply be open to many possible definitions, without embracing any single one. Different people especially in different religions will all have a difference in opinion when trying to use very few words to define religion. The traditional definition of religion is a system of belief that involves worship of a God or gods, prayer, ritual, and a moral code. Religion is important to many people because it gives them something to believe in. Religion helps human deal with their mortality. As human beings, we look to religion for answers to life’s unexpected or unknown questions such as death, pain, afterlife, or rebirth. Religion has a way of helping us deal with death and offers comfort. Religion also helps us be creativity and express ourselves through music, dance, and art. It gives us a sense of viewing life as something beautiful and lively. People who have a religion usually are more happy knowing that they life can reflect something of the supernatural that they do not understand. Through art, we get to express how we are feeling on the inside. Many people use music, dance, and art to show others what they cannot express through words. Religion gives them a sense of confident. 2. Discuss some of the characteristics that religions have in common. Some characteristics that religions have in common are: belief system, community, central myths, ritual, characteristic emotional experiences, material expression, and sacredness. Not all religions will consist of all elements but rather some of these characteristics are commonly accepted. Many believe in a worldview were all things in the universe and human being has a place in it. Humans need of belonging helps them seek out for a community where they can belong too and share their ideals and practices. Many religions have this so people can rely on one another. Other characteristics that are shared in religions are passed down from generations to generations through stories or reenactment of major events in the religious group. Each religion has its own myth that is central to the religion. Not only are myths passed down but rituals as well. These beliefs are enacted and made real through ceremonies. Also, ethics are passed down which are set guidelines for the group of people; these are viewed as being revealed through a supernatural realm. Religions also allow people to express themselves emotionally and give a sense of inner peace that cannot come from outer resources. Material expression allows religions to make use of astonishing variety of physical elements. Each religion has a source of sacredness that is distinctive from the ordinary. Ceremonies express the distinction through different language, clothing, and architecture. Each tradition exhibit most of these characteristics but for those who practice them will manifest them in different ways and at different times. 3. In addition to characteristics in common among religions, there are some patterns with regard to beliefs, world views, etc., that are exhibited by most religions. Discuss these patterns. There are three different patterns that we look for to see similarity and difference among religions. The first pattern is views of the world and life. Religions must offer answers to life’s great questions that are asked. All questions are the same, but the answers very depending on the religion. Because of the great variety of worldview each answer is different and must be examined close to get a better understanding of why it is the way it is. Some religion view the universe as being created by a Creator while others believe it has no beginning and no ending. Some view nature as the realm of evil where it needs to be overcome. Others believe that humans are called to shape it. Each view differs from religion to religion. The second pattern is the focus of beliefs and practices. There are three concepts that are practiced, although one may be more dominant than the other depending on the purpose of importance. Sacramental orientation emphasizes carrying out rituals and ceremonies regularly and correctly as the path to salvation. Some believe that correct ritual influences the processes of nature. Prophetic orientation implies that a human being may be an important intermediary between the believer and the sacred. This is prominent in Judaism, Protestant Christianity, and Islam. Mystical orientation seeks union with something greater such as God, nature, the universe, or reality as a whole. Upanishadi Hinduism, Daoism, and some Buddhism stress the importance of this. The third pattern is the view of male and female. As human being the role of men and women are very important and religion has had much to say about the roles of men and women on earth and in the divine realm. Today many influential religions consider the male as dominate; the sacred and full-time religious specialists are usually males. Although this may not be completely true, in the past, female divinities once played an important role in many culture and religion. 4. Having discussed in last week’s Discussion Board postings your own reasons for taking this World Religions course, discuss some of the benefits of studying the major religions of the world cited by our textbook author. Studying the different religions around the world allows for a better understanding of each religion and helps educate and improve one’s experience of other related subjects. When studying other religion it allows insights into the religious traditions such as values, relationships, personalities, and human creativity. Not only that but it gives the outsiders an appreciation for the things that are not obvious to the insider. Other benefits include insight into everyday life. Religions influence everyday life in many ways. Many people use religion for moral issues, on buildings, comic strips. The study of religion with help a person recognizes the religious influence everywhere. For someone who has no religion or is on their religious quest, understanding and studying the many different religions will help them find a place to belong too. Knowledge of the different religion will aid a person in their journey of life. Short Answer Questions: 5. What is the origin and meaning of the word â€Å"religion†? The origin of the word â€Å"religion† comes from the Latin roots re-, meaning â€Å"again,† and lig-, meaning â€Å"join† or â€Å"connect.† The translation would then mean â€Å"to join again,† or â€Å"to reconnect.† This word suggests the joining of our natural, human world to the sacred world. 6. What is the meaning of â€Å"sacred†? Sacred is a God or gods that is set apart because of its holiness. These deities are considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion. 7. Define and contrast monotheism and polytheism. Monotheism is the term that means a belief in one God. Those who believe in God believe that He is all powerful, pure spirit, and not fully definable in words. Polytheism on the other hand means worship of or believing in many coexisting gods. These multiple gods may be fairly separate entities, each in charge of an aspect of reality, or they may be multiple manifestations of the same basic sacred reality. 8. Define and contrast atheism and agnosticism. Atheism is the denial of the existence of any God or gods. Agnosticism is to argue that the existence of God cannot be proven. 9. How are symbols used in religion? Symbols are important in religion because religions are so varied in their teachings and in conflict with each other that symbols help express truth. Symbols are fairly concrete, ordinary, and universal that represents and helps human beings intensely experience something of greater difficulty. 10. What is a sacrament? Give two or three examples of sacraments in a religion with which you are familiar. A sacrament is a religious rite or act seen as way of receiving Gods grace. In some mysterious way God uses physical things to bring about spiritual changes and give His grace. As a Christian, a few sacraments that we hold are: baptism, communion, and fasting. These are all important in receiving God’s grace. 11. Contrast linear and cyclical time in the study of religion. Linear time place an emphasis on creation, religions that believe in this is Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, time is very important. Linear time means moving in a straight line from the beginning of the universe to its end. In cyclical time, the universe simply moves through endless changes, which repeat themselves over grand periods of time. Buddhism believes time is cyclical and is not as crucial because ultimately the universe is not moving to a final point.

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Information Technology Essay

Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Information Technology Essay Rudolph Technologies Inc. (RTEC) is a global leader engaged in the design, development and manufacture of high-performance process control defect inspection, metrology, and process control software systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. The company provides a complete yield management solution to chip makers through a mix of hardware, software, and services. The three main lines of business comprise metrology, inspection and data analysis, and review. The metrology system evaluates composition, thickness, and other properties of transparent and opaque films to ensure that the material does not get too thick or too thin. The inspection system looks for defects such as tiny scratches or gouges in the surface of a silicon wafer, while the process control software offerings turn raw data collected during the production process into useful information. The company generated revenues of $78.7 million in 2009, with inspection systems sales contributing nearly 50%. The company s ells products to over 90 customers comprising of logic, memory, data storage, and application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) device manufacturers located in 20 countries; among them Intel Corp accounts for around 14% of total sales. The company generates nearly three-quarters of sales outside the US, primarily in Asia. Rudolph has extensive world-wide network of direct sales, customer service and application support offices, while its manufacturing facility is situated in Bloomington, Minnesota. In highly competitive semiconductor capital equipment market, the company competes with several established companies, principal among them are KLA-Tencor and Camtek. Flanders, New Jersey headquartered Rudolph employs around 497 personnel. The companys common shares trade on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RTEC. Company Background Rudolph Technologies was incorporated under the laws of New Jersey in 1958, and reincorporated in Delaware in 1999. The companys origins can be traced back to 1940, when Otto Curt Rudolph formed O.C. Rudolph Sons to import microscopes and scientific instruments, which was later renamed as Rudolph Research Corp. In 1977, the company launched the industrys first production-oriented ellipsometer for thin-transparent film measurements. Since then, through its engineering expertise and continuous investment in research and development, the company has broadened its portfolio with several new innovative products covering metrology, inspection and analysis solutions. In June 1996, Riverside Partners and Liberty Partners made major investments in the company to support its expansion in the semiconductor metrology market. To reflect the companys new strategic focus and plans for metrology, its name was changed to Rudolph Technologies. Three years later, in November 1999, Rudolph went public with its initial public offering 4.8 million common shares. The acquisition of ISOA Inc. in July 2002 added inspection and classification systems to the companys product portfolio, while the companys merger with August Technology Corp. in February 2006 further strengthened its position in macro defect detection and analysis markets. To be a complete supplier of back-end equipment and software, the company acquired the semiconductor business of Applied Precision LLC in December 2007, and the wafer scanner product line from RVSI Inspection LLC in January 2008. These acquisitions expanded the companys product offerings to precision wafer probe card metrology systems, wafer probe process management systems, and 2D/3D macro defect inspection. In august 2009, Rudolph became second largest supplier of process control software solutions with the acquisition of Adventa Control Technologies Inc. The acquisition of Adventa widened its software presence with a wide range of technologies including tool automation, run-to-run control, and fault detection and classification. Inorganic growth being an important part of the companys strategic growth plan, the management intends increase revenue and earnings with additional purchases during upcoming quarters. Table 1: RTECs subsidiaries Products and Services Rudolph is engaged in the engaged in the production and sales of macro-defect inspection, metrology and process control software systems used by semiconductor device manufacturers. These process diagnostics and control equipments provide solutions for both front-end and back-end semiconductor manufacturing processes. Over the years, the company has reduced its dependence on front-end metrology market by adding defect inspection system, and process control software to its portfolio. At present, the company derives majority of revenue through the sales of inspection systems, followed by metrology and software systems. Source: Company Filing, RODM Research Inspection Systems The companys inspection equipment looks for defects not visible to the human eye, such as tiny scratches or gouges on the surface of a silicon wafer. The company is believed to be a market leader in both front-end wafer processing and final manufacturing inspection systems. The company entered into the macro-defect inspection market in September 2002 with the acquisition of ISOA Inc., a Texas-based OEM of defect inspection tools for lithography and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processes. Since that, the share of inspection system sales in total revenue has increased significantly to reach 48% in FY2009. The company offers a wide range of macro-defect (defects greater than 0.5 micron) inspection systems for detection of front side, edge and backside defects during both front-end wafer processing and back-end IC manufacturing. AXi 940 Module B30 Module Explorer Inspection Cluster NSX Series PrecisionWoRx VX4 System WaferWoRx 300 System Inspection Test Systems Introduced Functionality Type of Fab Front-end Back-end AXi  Module 2003 Advanced detection of defects >0.5 micron Inspection of patterned and unpatterned wafers In line, high-speed, 100% inspection Full color review and waferless recipe creation à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ E30  Module 2003 2D defect detection of the wafers edge Metrology of edge feature Incorporated into the Explorer Cluster à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ B30  Module 2003 2D defect detection of the wafers backside Darkfield, brightfield and color imaging Incorporated into the Explorer Cluster à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Explorer  Inspection Cluster 2009 A family of multi surface inspection tools, using one or more inspection modules Automated handling platform Intelligent wafer scheduling à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ NSX  Series 1997 Fully automated defect detection >0.5 micron 2D wafer, die bump inspection In line, high-speed, 100% inspection à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Wafer Scanner Series 1999 2D/3D bump dimensional inspection 2D bump/surface defect inspection In line, high-speed, 100% inspection à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ PrecisionWoRx 2008 Probe card test analysis Configurable channels High load forces à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ ProbeWoRx 2003 Probe card production metrology 3D Optical Comparative Metrology High-speed test times Automated, one-touch measurements à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ WaferWoRx 2006 Probing process analysis 3D probe tip analysis Proprietary, advanced software à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ PrecisionPoint 2002 Probe card analyzer Tests devices simultaneously Upgradable à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã… ¡ Metrology System Metrology equipment monitors layers of conducting and insulating materials on silicon wafers to ensure that the material doesnt get too thick or too thin. Rudolph introduced the industrys first production-oriented microprocessor-controlled ellipsometer for thin transparent film measurements in 1977. The company currently offers a wide range of metrology systems that measures both transparent and opaque thin-films during front-end fabrication process. The percentage share of metrology systems in total revenue has come down from 63% in FY2005 to 11% in FY2009 as the company has diversified into other higher-margin products including inspection system. MetaPULSE Series The companys MetaPULSE series of metrology systems uses picosecond ultrasonic laser sonar (PULSE) technology for opaque film measurement. The companys patented optical acoustic metal film metrology technology simultaneously measures the thickness and other properties of up to six metal or other opaque film layers in a non-contact manner on product wafers. PULSE Technology uses an ultra-fast laser to generate sound waves that pass down through a stack of opaque films and sends back an echo to the surface that indicates film thickness, density, and other process critical parameters. The company has sold nearly 200 MetaPULSE systems worldwide; the majority of them have been deployed for copper applications as this technology is ideal for characterizing copper interconnect structures. Introduced in 1997, the MetaPULSE was the first, and remains the market dominant, non-contact production metrology system for thin opaque films, currently used by all of the ten largest semiconductor produc ers. The average selling price ranges from $1.0 to $2.0 million per system. S3000 Series MetaPULSE-III System MetaPULSE System MetaPULSE-IIIa System S3000 CD System S3000S SystemIntroduced in 2006, the companys S3000 series of metrology equipments incorporates ellipsometry technology for transparent film measurement. Ellipsometry is a non-contact, non-destructive optical technique that measures the thickness and properties of transparent thin films applied to wafers during the device formation process. The companys patented ellipsometry technique uses four lasers simultaneously for multiple-angle of incidence and multiple wavelength ellipsometry, providing strong analysis and measurement capabilities for newly introduced thinner films and newer materials for future generations of semiconductor devices. Compared to the white-light sources used in spectroscopic ellipsometers, the laser light sources increase the level of accuracy and speed of the companys transparent film systems. Some of the systems combine ellipsometry with reflectometry tool to analyze films that require a broader spectral coverage. The companys transparent film measurement sys tems are available in a price range about $250 k to $1.0 million per system. Process Control Software Along with inspection and metrology systems, Rudolph also offers a suit of yield management and process control software, making it a complete yield management solution provider to semiconductor manufacturers. The company offers a comprehensive range of software for front-end fabs, back-end packaging facilities and photovoltaic market. The software collects the vast amount of data through automated inspection of fab process, which can be analyzed to determine trends that eventually improve yield. The type of software offered includes equipment automation software, tool-monitoring and fault detection software, equipment control software, yield and defect management software, and defect analysis and data management software. The acquisition of Adventa Control Technologies in August 2009 added several software systems to the companys portfolio, making it the second largest supplier of process control software solutions for chip makers, as per Gartner Dataquest. The company now supplies a broad range of Advanced Process Control technologies specifically for tool automation, run-to-run control and fault detection and classification, all designed to enable chip makers to increase capacity and yield and to reduce rework and scrap. Advanced Process Control utilizes software to automatically detect or predict tool failure and calculate recipe settings for a process that will drive the process output to target regardless of variations in the incoming material and disturbances within the process equipment. In FY2009, software licensing generated revenue of $6.7 million, accounting for 8.5% of total revenue. Industry Analysis Semiconductor Capital Equipment Market Rudolphs business is primarily driven by the annual spending patterns of semiconductor companies on capital equipments which, in turn, is dependent on other drivers such as the sales of PCs, mobiles and other electronic devices. Worldwide, capital equipment spending has been on a decline during the past 3 years due to the continued strong DRAM investments in 2007, when the market was experiencing oversupply, slower NAND spending growth, and disappearance of foundry capital spending. Subsequently, capital equipment spending eroded nearly 64% to $16.3 billion in 2009 from the 2007 levels, according to Gartner. However, equipment spending is expected to increase 56% to $25.4 billion in 2010 following the broad recovery in the semiconductor industry revenues, and related investment in the foundry and memory markets. In addition, the advancement of new technology nodes will drive the future spending. Gartner estimates an average 20% annual growth in capital equipment spending between 2009 and 2013. Wafer fab equipment spending, which accounts for almost three-fourths of total capital equipment expend is currently driven by advancements in memory technologies and related upgrades. The overall capacity utilization rates continue to run at 80-90% levels, while leading edge utilization rates will hit 90-95% by the end of 2010, which will power strong capacity additions by 2011. Process control equipment market Process control equipments are primarily used to measure the accuracy of the features of a wafer throughout the process flow, and inspect for any defects during the wafer fabrication process. Semiconductor manufacturing costs continue to rise as chip design is becoming smaller and more complex, leading to more time consumption and higher defects Complex chip designing not only increases the cost of buidling a fab, but the higher costs, in turn, increase production with imrpoved yeilds for superior profits and ROI. And this can be achieved by process control equipment which we believe is very critical to increase production yield, and minimize defects. In line with the downturn in semiconductor capital spending, the process control equipment spending declined 44% to $1.75 billion in 2009 from the 2008 levels, which had plunged 32% from $4.6 billion in 2007. However, as a percentage of total semiconductor equipment spending, the expend on process control equipment has increased magrinally from 10% in 2004 to 10.7% in 2009, indicating that this market conitnues to outpace overall semicondicutor capital spending. According to Gartners estimates, process control equipment spending is expected to grow >50% to reach $4.5 billion by 2012. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research In terms of overall market share, KLA-Tencor dominates with ~50% market share followed by Hitachi and Applied Materials with 15% and 11%, respectively. Although a market leader in several segments, Rudolph is a tier-2 player holding an 2% share. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research As a leading supplier of process control equipment for the semiconductor industry, Rudolph serves the macro defect inspection (both front-end and back-end), thin film metrology, and data analysis segments of the process control market. Macro Defect Inspection Macro defect inspection is one of the oldest metrology processes involved in the identification of defects of 0.5 microns and greater. Earlier, inexpensive manual techniques such as microscopes and cameras were the mainstay for identifying scratches, residual material, wafer edge irregularities, and several inspectors were employed at each process level. This compounded the cost of production and compelled production managers to resort to sampling where ~20% of the wafers in-line was inspected. Again, the limitations of this sample strategy restricted the ability to reduce errors leading to increasing number of misprocessed wafers to be scrapped. In response, automated macro defect equipments were introduced which made inspection (100%) both technically and economically feasible. The adoption of automated macro defect equipments has transformed this market into one of fastest growing sub-segments in the entire semiconductor capital equipment industry. Presently, the adoption of automated defect inspection is driven by the industry shifting to 300 mm wafers; where the wafers have more than 2X of the size and number of die compared to 200 mm. With larger wafers size, more chips are produced per wafer and, therefore, automated inspection improves the frequency of detecting defective chips, necessitating the use of automated defect inspection. An automated tool has a throughput of 120 wafers per hour compared, nearly double the manual inspection. We believe that as more devices continue to manufacture on 300mm wafers, the demand for automated macro defect inspection tools will enhance in the future. Macro defect inspection is classified into two sub-segments: 1) front-end inspection in wafer manufacturing; and 2) back-end inspection in packaging and assembly. Front-end macro inspection: The front-end inspection takes place at the front-end of manufacturing stages such as lithography, deposition, post-etches, post-clean, and CMP. Front-end macro inspection technique includes a) front-side inspection b) back-side inspection c) edge inspection; and d) surface inspection. Back-end macro inspection: The back-end inspection takes place in the assembly and final test phase of the manufacturing process which includes probe mark and bump inspection. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research The front-end macro defect inspection market declined 44% to $50 million in 2009, in line with the decline in the overall semiconductor equipment spending. Gartner estimate this market to reach $215 million by 2012, growing at >100% annually between 2009 and 2012. In terms of market share, Rudolph is the market leader with a ~50% market (enhanced after August Technology acquisition in 2006) followed by KLA-Tencor and Nikon with a market share of xx% and xx%, respectively in 2009. The back=end macro defect inspection participates in the $20 billion Outsourced Assembly and Test (OSAT) market, where Rudolph is the number one provider of inspection solutions, where all of it is from August Technology acquisition. Rudolph has a 34% market share in the back-end market, follwed by Camtek and Hitachi with 23% and 13%, respectively. Thin Film Metrology Metrology tools are used to measure and examine characteristics such as thickness and electrical properties of a wafer to maintain uniformity across the manufacturing process. These tools can be classified into metal film metrology and transparent film metrology. Metal film metrology is used to measure the thickness of each individual metal layer on a wafer; while transparent film metrology uses a process called ellipsometry to measure the thin films properties. Rudolph has pioneered in transparent thin film market launching the industrys first ellipsometer based thin film metrology equipment. The thin film metrology market stood at $169 million in 2009, down 43% compared to 2008, in line with downturn in the overall semiconductor equipment market. In terms of market share, Rudolph dominates the metal metrology market with a 90-95% share. KLA-Tencor is the market leader in the transparent film metrology market with a 70% share and Rudolph followed with 8% in 2009. Source: Gartner, Rodman Renshaw Research The metrology market is currently driven by the transition of copper interconnect metallization into both DRAM and NAND memory market. Essentially, the fundamental shift to copper as a conductor material from aluminum is because an increasing number of semiconductor devices are being designed with more interconnect layers, since aluminum interconnects limit the overall chip speed. Whereas, copper interconnects handle geometries as small as 45 nm with more than 10 layers of interconnect circuitry and with higher speeds. Industry majors such as Samsung and Toshiba are progressing in the transition, indicating a substantial market opportunity. We believe Rudolph will be among the beneficiaries when memory suppliers transition to copper in the manufacturing process. The migration from 65nm to 45nm will require high-end metrology tools to measure the thickness of the copper layers. Being a market and technology leader, Rudolphs MetaPULSE solutions will experience gargantuan demand in the market, which has been very successful with leading memory suppliers such as Intel and AMD. Company Analysis A one-stop shop solution provider for yield improvement Rudolph Technologies presence across the value chain in the semiconductor manufacturing process is strengthened by its diversified product portfolio of metrology, macro inspection and software solutions. The transition from being a pure metrology company to a more diversified process control equipment and software provider has consolidated its presence in both wafer processing (front-end manufacturing), and packaging and testing (back-end manufacturing) with revenues from the former accounting for 60% ($47.19 MM) and the latter with 40% ($31.46 MM). Revenues from the metrology stream stood at $19.66 MM or 25% of the total revenue during 2009; while the inspection and software segments generated $47.2 MM and $11.8 MM, contributing 60% and 15%, respectively toward total revenues. The semiconductor device formation is referred to as front-end manufacturing wherein the raw wafer is subject ot various processes such as oxidation, lithography, diffusion processing, ion implanting etching, photo resist coating, washing, and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) to develop into a silicon wafer that contains multiple copies of integrated circuit devices. After the device formation stage, the back-end processing (usually outsourced to contract manufacturers) starts to fabricate the finished product or integrated circuit for the customer. The back-end processing starts with parametric testing and functional testing following by the packaging process which includes polishing, back grinding, die attaching, wire bonding, and hermetic sealing. Diversified product portfolio (present across the value chain) Source: Company Presentation The companys presence in the entire value chain of semiconductor manufacturing process not only diminishes the risk of exposure to the dynamics of single market, it also weathers the cyclicality inherent in the semiconductor industry. The successful transition from front-end metrology to a total solution provider has resulted in a much more balanced mix of product portfolio with exposure to both front-end and back-end process. This helps the company to overcome the industry cycles that always do not move in sync (refer chart book-to-bill ratio).Front-end manufacturing is driven by technology changes, while back-end manufacturing is driven by unit volume growth (market demand). The difference in the demand drivers for the front-end and back-end manufacturing equipments can also be validated by analyzing the book-to-bill ratio over the past two years, which clearly indicates the cyclicality. Book-to-bill ratio Source: Company Presentation Financial Performance Over the years, Rudolph has transformed from being a front-end metrology system producer to a total solution provider to semiconductor device manufacturers through a mix of proprietary hardware, software, and service offerings. During 2008 and 2009, semiconductor equipment market experienced a downturn as semiconductor device makers reduced their capital spending due to the global economic crisis. In line with the industry, Rudolphs revenue also declined, although at a rate slower than that of the industry. When the downside in the global semiconductor equipment market was approximately 46.0% year-over-year in 2009, as per a Gartners study, Rudolphs revenue was down 40.0% compared to the prior year. The companys revenue in FY2009 stood at $78.7 million compared to $131.0 million past year, while the gross profit was $28.9 million over $43.7 million a year ago. Consequently, the company incurred a higher adjusted net loss of $14.1 million or $0.46 per share as against a loss of $2.4 m illion or $0.08 per share. A majority of the revenue is derived from macro-defect inspection system sales, which represented 48.3% of the total earnings in FY2009. Rudolphs strategy for continued technological and market leadership is largely on its diversified revenue sources from just the front-end metrology system in 1999 to include higher margin macro-defect inspection system and software licensing in its portfolio, thus circumventing the risk of depending on a single market. The share of inspection system and software sales has increased from 14.0% and 1.5% in FY2005 to 48.3% and 8.5%, respectively in FY2009, whereas that of the metrology system dropped from 63.4% to 11.3% during the same period. The company also generates revenue from spare parts sales and services including maintenance service contracts, system upgrades, as well as time and material billable service calls. Revenue from the sale of spare parts and services accounted for 19.6% and 12.2% of total revenue in FY2009, respectively. Rudolph derives a significant portion of its revenue from customers outside of the US, specifically from Asia. In 2009, it derived 72.4% of its revenue from outside of the US, of which 60.8% was generated in Asia, and 11.6% was derived from Europe. Going ahead, we believe that the revenue generated from Asia will be a substantial percentage of the total earnings, as a Garner estimate forecasts the semiconductor capital equipment market in the Asia-Pacific region to outpace other regions over the next five years. The rebound in the global economic and capital spending in the semiconductor industry, surged the companys revenue for 1Q FY10 more than three-fold to $40.6 million from $11.1 million in the earlier year quarter. Capacity additions by major foundries in Taiwan and elsewhere, and increase in capital spending by memory manufacturers supported the revenue growth. The inspection business represented 68% of revenue, while metrology and software businesses accounted for nearly 23% and 9%, respectively. However, the share of metrology business in overall revenue is likely to enhance based on the current capacity addition plans of tier-1 memory manufacturers and the anticipated increase in metrology spending by the foundry sector. We believe that the company is well positioned to benefit from improving business conditions in foundry, memory, and logic markets with its strategic balance of front-end and back-end business. Along with revenue, the companys margins also improved to 49.9% from 20 .6% in the comparable quarter of last year, supported by an increase in higher-margin inspection system sales. Although the expected higher contribution of metrology systems sales in overall revenue could impart a slightly negative impact on the companys gross margin during the upcoming quarters, it is likely to be offset by improved manufacturing efficiencies as the companys newly introduced products mature. The adjusted operating margin also returned to historical levels, which improved to 13.2% in 1Q FY10 from -78.0% a year ago. Finally, the company swung to a non-GAAP net income of $3.3 million or $0.11 per share from a non-GAAP net loss of $6.7 million or $0.22 per share during the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Rudolph usually invests the cash generated by operating activities into marketable securities, acquisition of businesses and capital assets. Inorganic growth has always be a key factor in the strategic growth plan. The company has acquired five businesses since 2002, the payment in all the cases was made through cash, either partly or the entire purchase price, thereby, minimizing stock dilutions. In 1Q FY10, the company generated operating cash flows of $6.8 million compared to an outflow of $4.0 million a year earlier. The company had cash and marketable securities of $67.1 million as of March 2010 which, we believe, is sufficient for the future capital expenditure, and supports the company to pursue its inorganic growth strategy. The balance sheet validates Rudolphs strong liquidity level as well as its debt-free position. The current ratio of 5.4 as of March 2010 affirms the companys ability to meet short-term payment obligations. The absence of debt will preclude financial risks during a downturn, and provide adequate flexibility in its operations. Although the accounts receivable at the end of 1Q FY10 surged 175.2% year-over-year to $40.8 million, it increased at a much lower rate than the revenue, which grew 267.3% during the same period. Days sales outstanding during 1Q FY10 reduced to 94 from 130 a year ago, and inventory days dropped to 311 from 336, thereby, improving cash generation. The cash conversion cycle has declined to 327 days from 377 days over the prior year quarter.

Bhagavad Gita is the Ultimate Science of Yoga :: Yoga India Indian Spirituality Sprit Spiritual

The Meaning of Yoga It is common to associate the word Yoga with a system of physical postures and meditation. But Yoga in its original form has a deep spiritual significance which is lost in today’s body-centered world. The Sanskrit word Yoga comes from the verb root Yuj, which means to link or to connect. When we talk about linking or connection, an obvious question arises: to connect what with what? The very word â€Å"connection† implies that there must be two different entities separated from one another, and they need to be connected. The ancient Vedic text Bhagavad Gita explains that these entities are the individual consciousness and the universal Supreme consciousness. Some may call this universal consciousness an all-pervading energy, whereas most theists consider this Supreme consciousness to be God. The Vedic philosophy combines these two apparently contradictory concepts very beautifully. It explains that there is definitely an all-pervading universal energy. But the very existence of energy implies that there also exists a possessor and controller of the energy – the energetic – who is an intelligent being. Our individual consciousness or energy is a manifestation of the spirit soul inside our body, and this soul is a part of the Supreme Soul or the Supreme Energetic or God. The purpose of Yoga is to connect the individual energy with the universal energy, or put another way, to connect the individual being to its source – the Supreme Being. Yoga or divine union with the Supreme does not mean that we merge into the Supreme and become one with Him. Bhagavad Gita explains that we do become one, but in quality and not in quantity. This oneness is spiritual, not physical. For example, the perfect realization of sugar is not becoming sugar, rather tasting its sweetness. Similarly, the perfect divine union means that we do not lose our individuality, but we become united with the Supreme * An ancient language in which most of the Eastern philosophy texts have been written. †  Vedas are the most ancient recorded scriptures of knowledge of the Self. in a deep, eternal, sweet, personal, loving relationship, and taste the nectar of its mellows. What is Bhagavad Gita? Bhagavad Gita literally means Song of the Absolute. It is a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, which took place around 3000 B.C. in a battlefield. Krishna represents the Supreme Being and Arjuna represents an ordinary living being like us. Through Arjuna’s questions and Krishna’s answers, the complete science of Yoga is revealed. It is considered a science because it describes the concept of Yoga in a systematic step-by-step way. It tells us exactly how to follow the Yoga processes and also what will be the results of different practices. In modern days, Yoga is often misunderstood just Bhagavad Gita is the Ultimate Science of Yoga :: Yoga India Indian Spirituality Sprit Spiritual The Meaning of Yoga It is common to associate the word Yoga with a system of physical postures and meditation. But Yoga in its original form has a deep spiritual significance which is lost in today’s body-centered world. The Sanskrit word Yoga comes from the verb root Yuj, which means to link or to connect. When we talk about linking or connection, an obvious question arises: to connect what with what? The very word â€Å"connection† implies that there must be two different entities separated from one another, and they need to be connected. The ancient Vedic text Bhagavad Gita explains that these entities are the individual consciousness and the universal Supreme consciousness. Some may call this universal consciousness an all-pervading energy, whereas most theists consider this Supreme consciousness to be God. The Vedic philosophy combines these two apparently contradictory concepts very beautifully. It explains that there is definitely an all-pervading universal energy. But the very existence of energy implies that there also exists a possessor and controller of the energy – the energetic – who is an intelligent being. Our individual consciousness or energy is a manifestation of the spirit soul inside our body, and this soul is a part of the Supreme Soul or the Supreme Energetic or God. The purpose of Yoga is to connect the individual energy with the universal energy, or put another way, to connect the individual being to its source – the Supreme Being. Yoga or divine union with the Supreme does not mean that we merge into the Supreme and become one with Him. Bhagavad Gita explains that we do become one, but in quality and not in quantity. This oneness is spiritual, not physical. For example, the perfect realization of sugar is not becoming sugar, rather tasting its sweetness. Similarly, the perfect divine union means that we do not lose our individuality, but we become united with the Supreme * An ancient language in which most of the Eastern philosophy texts have been written. †  Vedas are the most ancient recorded scriptures of knowledge of the Self. in a deep, eternal, sweet, personal, loving relationship, and taste the nectar of its mellows. What is Bhagavad Gita? Bhagavad Gita literally means Song of the Absolute. It is a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, which took place around 3000 B.C. in a battlefield. Krishna represents the Supreme Being and Arjuna represents an ordinary living being like us. Through Arjuna’s questions and Krishna’s answers, the complete science of Yoga is revealed. It is considered a science because it describes the concept of Yoga in a systematic step-by-step way. It tells us exactly how to follow the Yoga processes and also what will be the results of different practices. In modern days, Yoga is often misunderstood just Bhagavad Gita is the Ultimate Science of Yoga :: Yoga India Indian Spirituality Sprit Spiritual The Meaning of Yoga It is common to associate the word Yoga with a system of physical postures and meditation. But Yoga in its original form has a deep spiritual significance which is lost in today’s body-centered world. The Sanskrit word Yoga comes from the verb root Yuj, which means to link or to connect. When we talk about linking or connection, an obvious question arises: to connect what with what? The very word â€Å"connection† implies that there must be two different entities separated from one another, and they need to be connected. The ancient Vedic text Bhagavad Gita explains that these entities are the individual consciousness and the universal Supreme consciousness. Some may call this universal consciousness an all-pervading energy, whereas most theists consider this Supreme consciousness to be God. The Vedic philosophy combines these two apparently contradictory concepts very beautifully. It explains that there is definitely an all-pervading universal energy. But the very existence of energy implies that there also exists a possessor and controller of the energy – the energetic – who is an intelligent being. Our individual consciousness or energy is a manifestation of the spirit soul inside our body, and this soul is a part of the Supreme Soul or the Supreme Energetic or God. The purpose of Yoga is to connect the individual energy with the universal energy, or put another way, to connect the individual being to its source – the Supreme Being. Yoga or divine union with the Supreme does not mean that we merge into the Supreme and become one with Him. Bhagavad Gita explains that we do become one, but in quality and not in quantity. This oneness is spiritual, not physical. For example, the perfect realization of sugar is not becoming sugar, rather tasting its sweetness. Similarly, the perfect divine union means that we do not lose our individuality, but we become united with the Supreme * An ancient language in which most of the Eastern philosophy texts have been written. †  Vedas are the most ancient recorded scriptures of knowledge of the Self. in a deep, eternal, sweet, personal, loving relationship, and taste the nectar of its mellows. What is Bhagavad Gita? Bhagavad Gita literally means Song of the Absolute. It is a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, which took place around 3000 B.C. in a battlefield. Krishna represents the Supreme Being and Arjuna represents an ordinary living being like us. Through Arjuna’s questions and Krishna’s answers, the complete science of Yoga is revealed. It is considered a science because it describes the concept of Yoga in a systematic step-by-step way. It tells us exactly how to follow the Yoga processes and also what will be the results of different practices. In modern days, Yoga is often misunderstood just

The OReily Factor :: essays research papers

The O'Reilly Factor   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I choose the O’Reilly Factor because it’s about the only book that appealed to me. As well as the one the few narrators I could listen to for 5 hours. Besides the only other television shows I watch are reruns of the Simpson’s and Senfied. So the O’Reilly factor seemed like a logical choice for me.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book is basically Bill O’Reilly’s viewpoint on just about everything such as politics, raising children, and taken responsibility for your own actions. Personally I really liked the book but that’s just me I would not recommend to anyone who doesn’t like Fox News Channel. The book incorporates a lot of his television show. In a lot of ways it was long a really long episode of the â€Å"Factor†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the book Bill talks a lot of about his childhood and how he was raised in working class family in New York. The friendships he has maintained since his childhood as well as what it takes to be a good friend in his mind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The book starts out with him talking about being a high school teacher and when he was in college at Boston University looking across the river at MIT and Harvard and then given a chance to go back to get his masters at Harvard and then studying his now new counterparts. Growing up in a working class family his was not accustom to the Harvard way of life or thinking. What he means by that is since he did not come from a wealthy family when he graduated college he didn’t have his fathers friends lining up to interview him. Basically he has always had to work to get where he is today. And that holds true today if you are born into any class besides the wealthy upper class you have to work for everything and speak up for yourself if necessary. Which in the book Bill mentions how his mouth has gotten him into some trouble; for insistence when he first became a journalist he had four jobs in five years mainly because he would speak up when something was done tha t wasn’t right. Trying to make right wrongs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The first part of the book is a lot about the classes that exist in America. Why they exist for example the rich upper class usually the politicians in America don’t seat around at the country club wondering how to get drugs out of the ghetto.

The Democratization of Monsters as Characters :: Monsters Literature Novels Essays

The Democratization of Monsters as Characters Proportion and distortion are not just irrelevant to monstrosity. Monsters are not weird or wrong versions of ideal forms, and the monstrous is not that which violates the rules of the game or calls boundaries and order into question. There are no necessary narratives that are inevitably reacted to (making it just a question of how). At the same time, this is not an anarchist thesis. At one level, monstrosity is obviously that which is called monstrous. However, there must be something too it. Right? Ways of writing, reading, or thinking monstrosity enact monstrosity, just as an era’s critics often embody their culture better than the society they critique. What is interesting instead is how to react to monstrosity in its face today. Proportion is certainly not the issue. Pro portions look for portion and then compare them, without offering criteria for comparison. Elementary definitions of simile and metaphor are not instructive in this regard. A simile is a metaphor with ‘like’ or ‘as’, and both are comparisons, but comparisons are acts or statements of comparing. To compare is to describe as similar, equal, or analogous. First, similar means alike but not identical, and alike means having close resemblance – which is the state or quality of exhibiting similarity or likeness too. Second, equal means having the same measure or value. Same means being the very one, identical – which means being the same, exactly equal, or just indistinguishable and so interchangeable. Third, analogous means â€Å"similar or alike in such a way as to permit the drawing of an analogy†, and analogy means â€Å"similar in some respects† or a â€Å"comparison b ased on such similarity†[1]. The whole batch of words that try to explain comparison end up relying on the exhibiting of similarity to come from the object, measurement to be intrinsic to the object, interchangeability to be possible by inability to distinguish, and objects with respects that can be the previous things. Exhibition is not a one way street by which objects strike passive actors. Equal means having the same measurement.