Civil society and religious figures in Saudi Arabia Literature review

Civil society and religious figures in Saudi Arabia - Literature review Example The conference report stated that in Saudi Arabia, â€Å"all non-governmental organizations are controlled by the state in a way or another, and they do not have their full independence† (p. 3). According to the report, many official authorities supervise CSOs and interfere in the elections of their board of directors; they also oversee the audit and financial accounts of these organizations. 2-4 Nature of civil society, what is it, its history, how did it affect western policy when it was first applied, what changes occurred in the west. Definition and nature of civil society There are several forms of democracy that involve varying levels of citizenship participation. What distinguishes civil society is its role as channel for deliberation, which is essentially different from voting and negotiation. Voting is the mere aggregation of preferences, and negotiation or bargaining involves voluntary coordination across different groups; these are essentially procedural, however, a nd reflect opinions already arrived at and distributions of power already established (Heller, 2013, 1). Deliberation, on the other hand, is â€Å"decision making by discussion among free and equal citizens (Elster 1998, 1 in Heller, 2013, 1). By deliberating, citizens and civil society organisations debate the issues before preferences can be solidified, thus act to inform and evaluate prior to taking positions on any side of the debate, making it a better alternative than voting. Also, deliberation allows participants to adjust their preferences by introducing new information, contexts, conceptualisations and understanding into what is essentially the decision-making process and creates a better coordination process than bargaining. History and development of civil society â€Å"Civil society† as a term originated during the times of the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, although in these contexts the phrase was associated more with the state. The term was however disc ontinued from usage in the mid-1800s because of the shift in the attention of political philosophers to the repercussions and implications of the industrial revolution. In post-World War II, Marxist theorist Antonio Gramsci revived the term to mean the society of citizens as the core of autonomous political activity, specifically in rebellion against tyranny. All these notwithstanding, civil society gained a new meaning in the 1990s when the term again resurfaced as globalisation spread throughout the various nations (Carothers, 1999, 19). Effects of civil society on western policy Heller (2013) views civil society as a reaction of grassroots elements to the growing tide of globalisation and marginalisation of representative democracy and bureaucratic organisation, which the author describes as having suffered in terms of legitimacy and effectiveness. There have generally been two responses to this development. First is the push towards â€Å"good governance† whereby the stat e and institutions such as the market are made self-regulating and thus insulated against politics. Under this situation, however, the voice of the people – a.k.a. democracy – is reduced to the ballot every election period, and nothing more. Another response, which the author views as a better alternat

MOVEO folding electric scooter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

MOVEO folding electric scooter - Assignment Example The company in 2013 unveiled a new product the MOVEO the folding electric scooter which they intend to begin distributing by June 2014. The company was founded by Zsolt HegedÃ… ±s and Gà ©za Hivessy in 2001. The company’s headquarter is based in Ã… riszentpà ©ter, in the western corner of Hungary (Antro Group). The vision of the company is to lead in the innovation of prototypes making use of environmental friendly technologies and materials that decrease the weight of the locomotives in order to reduce the consumption of energy. Their mission is to establish an environmentally friendly quality mode of transport that offers a cheap and comfortable alternative to the existing transport means. The market target for the MOVEO foldable electric scooter is individuals mainly residing in urban areas. The foldable electric scooter was created with the intention of regulating commuting by car which in turn reduces the emissions that pollute the environment. This follows the growth of awareness among the consumers who are now beginning to welcome two wheeled vehicles as a new mode of transport (Hurst & Gartner 2012). The market for electric scooters has also been boosted by the introduction of electric cars since there are charging spots that are easily accessible within the city which is attracting the interest of both new and existing consumers (Pinson, Jinnett & Pinson 1996). The major primary market for the MOVEO foldable scooter is the Asia Pacific region. This is because there is a high rate of urbanisation which continues to grow every day. Due to this, it leads to congestion in traffic coupled with emissions that pollute the environment. Following these reasons, the governments in the region have all come together to promote the use of electric scooters in order to manage pollution. The electric scooter market is expected to grow tremendously

The Low Cost Airline Air Asia

The Low Cost Airline Air Asia The low-cost concept became a moneymaker in the United States, where it was pioneered in the 1970s by Southwest Airlines, the model for budget carriers elsewhere like Ryanair and easyJet in Europe. Definition of low cost airlines A low cost airline generally has many features that differentiate it from the traditional carriers. These features include ticketless travel, online ticket sales, no international offices, no frequent flyer points, no free food and beverages, no inflight magazines, no club lounges, use of secondary city airports. Not all low cost airlines have these features, and not all airlines that have some of these features are low cost airlines. For example, Virgin Express is a low cost airline, but it still offers complimentary coffee and inflight magazine, and they are based at Brussels primary airport. Case Study-AirAsia Story of AirAsia Air Asia, as the second Malaysian National Airline, provides a totally different type of service in line with the nations aspirations to benefit all citizens and worldwide travellers. Such service takes the form of a no frills low airfares flight offering, 40%-60% lower than what is currently offered in this part of Asia. Their vision is Now Everyone Can Fly and their mission is to provide Affordable Airfares without any compromise to Flight Safety Standards. The story of emergence of AirAsia is similar to Ryanair, since both carriers underwent a remarkable transformation from a money-losing regional operator to a profitable, low cost airline. AirAsia was initially launched in 1996 as a full-service regional airline offering slightly cheaper fares than its main competitor, Malaysia Airlines. Before 2001, AirAsia fail to either sufficiently stimulate the market or attract enough passengers from Malaysia Airlines to establish its own niche market. The turnaround point of AisAsia is in 2001, while it was up to sale and bought by Tony Fernandes. Tony Fernandes then enrolled some of the lending low-cost airline experts to restructure AirAsias business model. He invited Connor McCarthy, the former director of group operation of Ryanair, to join the executive team. In late 2001, AirAsia was re-launched in Malaysia as a trendy, no-frills operation with three B737 aircraft as a low-fare, low-cost domestic airline. Opportunities faced by AirAsia in light of external development Low fare of Indonesia-Malaysia trip The fare for a Jakarta-Johor Baru trip costs Rp 100,000 (RM 88.88 one way). And charge Rp 150,000 for a Bandung-Kuala Lumpur flight, and Rp 300,000 for a Surabaya-Kuala Lumpur trip, whereas a Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur air ticket from Malaysia Airlines available at travel agents cost Rp 1.4 million. Meanwhile, Lion Air on the same route, charged Rp 1.05 million. The low fare provided by AirAsia helps it open the Indonesia market. Low fare of Singapore-Bangkok service AirAsia will increase its services between Singapore Bangkok by introducing a 2nd daily flight to its existing schedule. This recent development came barely a month after Thai AirAsia operations started its first international flight to Singapore in early February this year. AirAsia is offering its guests promotional fares to/from Singapore- Bangkok from SGD$23.99 (THB 499) one way from the 28th March to 30th Oct, 2004. It is much lower than the lowest fare SGD$56 offered by full-service carrier. This helps it open the Singapore market. Political connections AirAsia hold 49% of Thai AirAsia with 1% being held by a Thai individual. The remaining 50% is held by Shin Corp. which is owned by the family of Thailands prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. Shin Corp. has financial strength, synergy in ingormation technology and telecommunications, which support AirAsia Internet and mobile phone bookings. Shin Corp. allows subscribers of the Shin mobile phone flagship, Advanced Information Service, being able to reserve tickets through its short-messaging service (SMS). AirAsia with its politically powerful backer may well grow up to bite. This helps it open the Thailand market. Malaysian government support The Malaysian government supported the establishment of AirAsia in 2001 to help boost the under-used Kuala Lumpur International Airport. AirAsias flights from Senai are meant to develop Johor into a transport hub to rival Singapore. AirAsia, therefore, can provide an alternative route to travel to Bangkok, by using Senai Airport in Johor Bahru, in southern Malaysia. Opportunities faced by AirAsia in light of internal development Issue of IPO Kamarudin Meranun, AirAsias Executive Director announced the appointment of Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) and RHB Sakura Merchant Bankers (RHB) as the bookrunners for the companys upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO). The IPO strengthens AirAsia balance sheet, further cuts its existing low costs at 2.5 US cents per ASK and accelerates our growth plans throughout Asia. The IPO also allows AirAsia to expand its fleet of 18 Boeing 737-300s. Political connections Thai AirAsia is a join venture established by AirAsia with Shin Corp. Shin Corp. is owned by the family of Thailands prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and about 900 million baht will be invested in Thai AirAsia over a five-year period. Shin Corp. oversees the finance and administration of Thai AirAsia while AirAsia shoulders the responsibility for marketing and operations. Shin Corp. has financial strength and supports AirAsia to grow. AirAsia with its politically powerful backer may well grow up to bite. Challenges faced by AirAsia in light of external development Indonesian habit Preferences of Indonesian passengers are quite different from the concept of cheap air travel without extra service for the passengers (free snacks and drinks), and also their reluctance to bring light baggage. AirAsia prefers passengers with very light and minimum baggage. If this is the case, it may not last long. But Indonesian domestic airline companies are able to provide value-added extras like food and beverages as part of their service to the passengers, although at a relatively higher cost. The comparative edge of Indonesian domestic airline companies compared to AirAsia concerns habit (culture). Furthermore, Indonesian domestic airlines were already trained with the low-cost air travel concept, known as tariff war. They have proved themselves as immune, and managed to survive. Last but not least, the Indonesian government or domestic airline companies had never announced the availability of a low-cost airline company of the country. All these affect AirAsia growth in Indonesia. Singapore government rejection Initially, AirAsia wanted to start flights from the southern state of Johor, near Singapore, it hoped to attract passengers by running a convenient bus service to the city-state. However, Singapore quickly quashed that idea. The Singapore government said it would not approve a bus link for AirAsia because it was not in her national interest, reflecting fears that Singapores Changi airport would lose business to Johors new Senai airport. This makes AirAsia cannot abandon the use of Changi airport, and therefore suffer from a higher cost. This is because AirAsia flying to Singapore needs to suffer from flight congestion of Changi. Changi has drawbacks of flight congestion that could prevent the quick turnarounds essential to keeping down costs. AirAsia finds it stuck between big planes and circling to wait for a slot to open up, which means extra fuel costs. Moreover, the SGD$21 departure and security tax of Changi is too high for AirAsia low-cost operation. AirAsia had asked the Singapore government to waive the fees, however, a request that was not only rejected but also criticized. Besides Singapore Bangkok, AirAsia now provides an alternative route to travel to Bangkok, by using Senai Airport in Johor Bahru, in southern Malaysia. Seeking to cater to the different markets, fares for Johor Bahru- Bangkok are generally 20 % lower in comparison to Singapore Bangkok. AirAsia currently operate daily flights to Bangkok from Johor Bahru. However, the choice proved unpopular, as the route failed to attract Singaporeans because of the additional cost and inconvenience of having to travel in and out of Malaysia by road. All these affect AirAsia external growth. Minimum air-fare rates AirAsia faces challenges finding open takeoff and landing slots at opportune times, and Thailands regulation that sets minimum air-fare rates. Although Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said the current minimum air-fare regulations will be scrapped to open up the market, he couldnt name a date when this will be done. This seems to be favoritism toward Thai Airways Internationals domestic operations, and affects Thai AirAsia to compete in the Thailand market. External Changes which have impact on AirAsia Asias middle class growth Low cost airlines are anticipated to have greater potential in Asia as there are many Asian cities with a population above one million people each as well as a rising middle class population. This growth of middle class in Asia provides a huge market potential for AirAsia to grow. However, as the market is becoming larger, more airlines or new comers would like to get a piece of the action. For example, Budget airlines, it is estimated, will capture at least 25% of Asias air travel market within next 10 years and a lot of that will be new, not diverted, traffic. Therefore, AirAsia will face more competitions at the same time. Besides the low cost airlines, AirAsia still needs to compete with the conventional carriers. Although extra passengers of the low cost airlines will be coming from the new demand to be created by the low fares, the growth may not be entirely stolen from big flag carriers. Actions of Changi and nearby airports The growth of low cost airlines in south-east Asia has a significant effect on which airports will dominate the regional aviation market. Low cost airlines are seen as helping funnel more passengers to airport hubs. Therefore, there is a realization among regional governments that they need smashing airports and feisty carriers or they are going to miss out big time. Therefore, these governments are more willing to support low cost airlines. For example, the Malaysian government supported the establishment of AirAsian in 2001 to help boost the under-used Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and Thai premiers Shin Corp. forms a join venture with AirAsia that would benefit Bangkoks new airport and create a new hub at Chiang Mai. Therefore, under this situation, it helps AirAsia grow in Asia. Moreover, as there is a growth of several south-east Asian airports, this poses a challenge to the status of Singapores Changi airport as a regional aviation hub. These airports include Johors new Senai airport in southern Malaysia, Bangkoks new Suvarnabhumi airport which will be able to handle 45 million passengers when it opens in 2005, Bangkok Don Muang which recently overtook Changi in passenger numbers, etc. To maintain Changis position as the air hub in the region, Singapore is proposing a budget airline terminal at Changi by 2005 and lower passenger taxes to attract low cost airlines. This helps AirAsia grow and lower the cost. Actions of existing airlines The existing airlines in south-east Asia have several actions to compete with AirAsia, for example, some have launched a low cost airline to fight with AirAsia. Singapore Airlines launched a low cost airline subsidiary, Tiger Airways, in the second half of 2003, only months after the scheduled launch of ValuAir set up by one of its former executives. Orient Thai Airlines launched a new low cost airline subsidiary, One-To-Go. One-To-Go operates with a fleet of six Boeing 757-200s and match any fares that Thai AirAsia offers. Thai Airways have frequency and capacity to offer to their 13 domestic destinations. They also have, during the past two years, worked to improve operational efficiency, slashing unprofitable domestic routes, increasing flights on busy routes, strengthening yield management and controlling costs. All these make AirAsia face a huge competition. Critical success factors in the Low cost airlines in Asia Reduction in operational cost Low cost airlines strive to achieve the lowest possible price for their products and services. Low prices cannot sustain unless the company maximizes its operational efficiency. The success factors of Asian low cost airlines in reducing their operational cost include: Service savings (no frills cabin service and extensive use of outsourcing) NO-frills include: NO drinks, NO food, NO headphones, NO newspapers, NO movies, NO VIP lounges, NO expensive offices, NO mileage programs, NO seat allocation, NO childrens fares, NO paper tickets (Electronic tickets only), NO connecting flights (All flight-legs must be booked independently) Operational savings (point-to-point services and uniform fleet) Overhead savings (internet sales and streamlined bureaucracy) We can compare the operational cost in terms of costs per available seat kilometer (ASK), a measure of the running cost of the airline. For instance, Ryanair in Europe is almost half of the ASK price comparing with the full services airline. The average fare offered by Air Asia in Malaysia is 40-60 % lower than its full-service competitor. Competitive Ticket price against traditional full-service airline Low cost airlines begins with two initial cost advantages arising from the very nature of their operation: higher seating density and higher daily aircraft utilization. By removing business class and reconfiguring their aircraft, low cost airlines can increase the number of seats on their aircraft. Seat pitch of a low cost airline is usually 28 inches, compared to a traditional conventional economy class pitch with 32 inches. Doganis (2001) calculates that should be able to operate at seat cost that are only 40-50 % those of mainline rival. Combining the load factor benefit and beneficial distribution cost, low cost airlines cost per passenger can reduce price by one-third of conventional airline. Flying out of secondary airports Many low-cost airlines keep expenses down by flying out of secondary airports, avoiding major hubs where takeoff and landing fees are much higher while still getting passengers close enough to their destinations. The travel distance is short As the routes offered by low cost airlines are mainly short, domestic routes which may only take one to two hours, travellers might be fine with no amenities on flights Success factors in AirAsia Absolute Cost Advantage Low cost per average seat kilometer AirAsia focused on ensuring a competitive cost structure as its main business strategy. It has been able to achieve a cost per average seat kilometer (ASK) of 2.5 cents, half that of Malaysia Airlines and Ryanair and a third that of EasyJet. AirAsia can lease the B737-300s aircraft at a very competitive market rates due to the harsh global market conditions for the second-hand aircrafts because of the September 11th event in 2001. On the other hand, the operating cost of the company is also dropped drastically. Low distribution cost AirAsia focus on Internet bookings and ticketless travel allowed it to lower the distribution cost. Attractive ticket price With the average fare being 40-60 % lower than its full-service competitor, AirAsia has been able to achieve strong market stimulation in the domestic Malaysian air market (Thomas 2003). For instance, the fare for the trip from Kuala Lumpur to Penang on AirAsia starts from 39 ringgit. Comparing to trip by bus charge 40 ringgit and 80 ringgit by car. The effect of attractive low fare is more travelers switching from bus to air, similar case as Ryanair in Europe. Good Management Team AirAsia value proposition is more sophisticated than Ryanair placing equal emphasis on brand reputation and customer service/people management, by a senior advisor to AisAsias top management team. AirAsia pursue a Ryanair operational strategy, Southwest people strategy and an Easyjet branding strategy. Weakness Fair availability The availability of AirAsia is not good as traditional airline as it only provide unique aircraft. However, it cannot be the cost leader if it offers customized features or comprehensive support which will result in increasing operational cost. However, focus on a specific customer may avoid straddling. Case of straddling A Japanese low cost airline, Skymark, trying to be everything to everyone targeting the broader customer and offering limited special features (satellite TV, Business class and charter operations). The result is failing to both cost efficient and price competitive rendering it vulnerable to market forces and customer demand (porter1996; Lawton 1999). Major strategic directions recommended Open more Asian market Low cost airlines are anticipated to have greater potential in Asia as there are many Asian cities with a population above one million people each as well as a rising middle class population. It is time for AirAsia to exploit the potentials of affordable air travel by Asias growing middle class. Besides starting services to the Pearl River Delta in south China in 2004, AirAsia can expend its services to the coastal cities in China. Besides the growth of Asian middle class, the liberalization of aviation sector of India is another reason for AirAsia to open more Asian market. The Indian government has liberalized the aviation sector long dominated by the national carriers. Now, only a few low cost airlines, e.g. Air Deccan, Airone Feeder Airline Pvt Ltd, Crescent Air, have launched their services there. Moreover, the national carriers, Indian Airlines or Air India, despite their domination of the Indian skies, do not seem to be much interested in operating low-cost services. Therefore, it is a good chance for AirAsia to open the Indian market. Join venture with Virgin Group AirAsia should put more effort to set up a pan-Asian low cost airline with Virgin Blue, which is a low cost carrier of Virgin Group serving Australia and New Zealand mainly. Virgin Blue has suggested it may extend services to south-east Asia. Therefore, setting up a join venture with Virgin Blue can help AirAsia to grow in Asia even further, and help Virgin Blue to extend services to south-east Asia. Recommendations to maximize competitive advandages of AirAsia 1. Enforce Political advantages AirAsia established a join venture, Thai AirAsia with Shin Corp. Shin Corp. is owned by the family of Thailands prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, and about 900 million baht will be invested in Thai AirAsia over a five-year period. Shin Corp. has financial strength, synergy in ingormation technology and telecommunications, which support AirAsia to grow in Thailand. AirAsia with its politically powerful backer can well grow up to bite, and therefore it should enforce such political advantages in order to extend the growth in Thailand. Furthermore, AirAsia should use its Thai subsidiary, Thai AirAsia, to claim the use of Thailands open skies agreements to fly to Singapore, Brunei and Cambodia, overcoming the barrier of bilateral aviation pacts that threatened to limit its growth. Induction of smart cards AirAsia can issue a smart card which is compatible with the existing ticketless booking. It can offer 2 kinds of smart cards. The first kind of smart card, aimed at ordinary travellers, will offer instant rewards when topped up, offering greater value than its purchase price. For example a Bt5,000 card may be worth Bt5,500. The card can also be used by other people with the same family name as the cardholder. The second kind of smart card will offer unlimited travel for frequent flyers. Priced provisionally at Bt20,000, cardholders will be allowed make as many trips as they want within a specified period. Conclusion A study by the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (2002) confirms that Asia continues to offer attractive conditions for the air transportation industry. With thirteen out of worlds top twenty-five major urban centres located in the Asia Pacific region and a rapidly increasing urbanization trends, the Asian air travel market is bound to continue to grow. Urbanization is highlighted as one of the key drivers for the growth in air travel. It is estimated that Asia would account for 30% of the world market by 2019, or one third of growth between now and then. While the impact of SARS is going to slow down the growth of Asian regional demand, the long-run forecast continues to be very positive. These enable low cost airlines to grow even further.

The Effects Of Media On Preschoolers Essay -- Media

The use of media (television, video games, phones, music, and computers) by young children is becoming more and more common in everyday life. Children are in front of media screens now more than anytime in history. Parents are allowing, encouraging, and promoting the use of media in many forms. There are endless sources available for parents to purchase for the use with infants, toddlers,a nd preschoolers from movies to games and videos. (Ravichandran, France de Bravo, 2010, â€Å"Yound Children and Screentime†.) Although these media tupes are readily available, whether they be for entertainment or educational use, are they really in the children's best interest? According to the American Acadamy of Pediatrics (1999) the average child spends twenty one hours a week watching television. Children that watch television are more likely to be aggressive, obese, and learn at slower rates. It also states that an average viewer is subjected to 14,000 sexual references a year and only a handful of those encounters are of responsible sexual behavior. Not to mention the $8 billion a year that alcohol and tobacco manufacturers spend on alcohol and tobacco references in television and movies. (AAP, 1999 â€Å"Media Education†) Research shows that children under three years old should not have screen time at all. In fact, young children that watched television were much more likely to have reading and attention problems. The type of programming didn't matter on the results. Children were impacted negatively even if they weren't watching. Having the television on in the background of their play was enough to influence them negatively. The play was not as intense or as focused, and the children didn't play as long as they otherwise would have, had ... ...uwosh.edu/psychology/rauscher.htm Rauscher,FH Zupan,MA (2000) Early Childhood Research, 15 (2) 215-228 Oshkosh,WI: University of Wisconsin Classroom Keyboard Instruction Improves Kindergarten Children's Spatial- Temporal Performance: A Field Experiment. Retrieved from http:// www.uwosh.edu/psychology/rauscher.htm Ravichandran,P France de Bravo,B,MPH (2010) Young Children and Screen Time (TV, DVD's, Computer) National Research Center for Women and families Retrieved from http://www.center4research.org/2010/05/young-children-and-screen... Roberts,DF Christenson,PG Gentile,DA (2003) The Effects of Violent music on Children and Adolescents Retrieved from http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/~dgentile/106027-08.pdf Sibal,K(2004) Exploring the Effects of Music on Young Children Retrieved from http://www.more4kids.com/Articles/article1009.htm

Identification Of Potential Ischaemic Stroke Health And Social Care Essay

Stroke could shortly be the most common cause of decease worldwide ( Murray and Lopez, 1997 ) . Stroke is presently the 2nd prima cause of decease in the Western universe, ranking after bosom disease and before malignant neoplastic disease ( Donnan et al. , 2008 ) , and causes 10 % of deceases worldwide ( [ Anon ] , 2004 ) . Despite a decennary of intense public instruction and medical promotion, stroke continues to stand for a major cause of mortality accounting for around 53,000 deceases every twelvemonth ( [ ANON ] 2009 ) and this is the most common cause of terrible disablement which will necessitate long-run attention. There are more than 111,000 people who have suffered from new or perennial shot ‘s every twelvemonth, where in 2006/07 the NHS spent over ?2.8 billion in this country and the entire cost to the UK economic system was ?4.5 million ( [ ANON ] 2009 ) Stroke consequences from perturbation in the blood supply to the encephalon and leads to the decease of all cells within the affected tissue ( Sims and Muyderman, 2010 ) . There are 2 chief types of shot. They are ischaemic and haemorrhagic ( NINDS, 2009 ) . Ischemic shot is caused by the infarction of a vas providing blood and foods to the encephalon. The encephalon cells in the immediate country of hurt have died as a consequence of ischaemia ( NINDS, 2009, Deb et al. , 2010 ) . Ischemic shot can be embolic and thrombotic ; lacunar shot is besides under this class ( Wityk and Llinas, 2007 ) . Hemorrhagic shot is caused by compaction of tissue from an spread outing haematoma or haematoma. This force per unit area besides lead to a loss of blood supply to affected tissue and the blood released by encephalon bleeding appears to hold direct toxic effects on encephalon tissue and vasculature ( NINDS, 1999 ) . More than 80 % of shot are caused by ischaemia ( Flynn et al. , 2008 ) At the minute, the diagnosing of ischaemic shot is relied on an experient shot clinician ‘s scrutiny of the patient, supplemented by the consequences of encephalon imagination. However, those who all of a sudden become ailing with a suspected shot, the clinical appraisal within the first few hours is non ever straightforward. Many patients with acute shot are non assessed by a shot specializer ; the initial rating is frequently performed by a household practician, paramedic, or triage nurse ( Whiteley et al. , 2008 ) . Presently, the computed imaging ( CT ) and magnetic resonance Imaging ( MRI ) are the most common technique used to diagnosis acute shot and differentiate between ischaemic and haemorrhagic shot ( Wardlaw and Mielke, 2005 ) For most instances and at most establishments, CT remains the most practical imagination mode ( Adams, 2007 ) . For those assessed in infirmary, reading of encephalon imagination visual aspects can be hard, as CT is frequently normal after the oncoming of ischaemia and may stay normal in patients with mild ischaemic shots. MRI is more sensitive in observing ischaemia than CT, particularly in the diagnosing of mild shot ( Chalela et al. , 2007 ) , is still merely 83 % sensitive or 98 % specific ( Chalela et al. , 2007 ) . Furthermore, MRI may non be executable in acutely sick patients because they are ungratified, have a contraindication to MRI, or MRI may non be instantly available. The current diagnosing of shot remains hampered and delayed due to miss of a suited mechanism for rapid, accurate and analytically sensitive diagnostic trial ( Laskowitz et al. , 2009 ) . There is a clear demand for farther development in this country. Scientists have for a really long clip been look intoing and seeking to happen new ways to diagnosis shots. Increasing figure of articles, documents and journeys have been suggested that blood biomarker may be a possible campaigner for efficient and accurate diagnosing such as a blood trial for shots ( Hill, 2005 ) . Biomarker defined as a characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an index of normal biological procedures, pathological procedures or pharmacological response to a curative intercession ( Biomarkers Definition Working Group, 2001 ) . It can be any sort of molecules that present in the mark being. During an ischaemic shot, obstruction of arterias causes accretion of blood metabolites and release of enceph alon tissue proteins one time the cardinal nervous system gets damaged. All of these proteins are the possible biomarkers, including neuron-specific enolase ( NSE ) , astroglial protein S-100b, medulla basic protein ( MBP ) , creatin phosphokinase isoenzyme BB ( CK-BB ) , tau, thrombomodulin ( Tm ) , glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP ) , adenylkinase, lactate, lactate deshydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, glutathione, vasointestinal neuropeptide, and 7B2-specific neuropetide ( Allard et al. , 2004 ) . In order to go a individual specific diagnostic biomarker that will be clinically utile, the desirable belongingss are including duplicability to obtain in a standardised manner, acceptableness to the patient, how easy is it to construe by clinicians, truth such as high sensitiveness ( sensing of disease when it is truly present, i.e. placing true positive ) and high selectivity ( acknowledgment of absence of disease when disease is genuinely absent, i.e. placing true negative ) for the result it is expected to place, besides ability to explicate a sensible proportion of the result independent of established forecasters systematically in multiple surveies and there are informations to propose that cognition of biomarker degrees alterations direction, prognostic values, big likeliness ratios, low cost, rapid sustained lift, high tissue specificity ( bespeaking myocardial beginning ) , release relative to disease extent and check characteristics conductive to indicate of attention prov ing are critical ( Fon et al. , 1994, Kelly et al. , 2003 ) However, in 2008 a systematic reappraisal was published by the American Heart Association. 38 diagnostic literatures were reviewed and proving was carried out for 58 biomarkers, but a decision was made that none of them can be recommended for usage in everyday clinical pattern ( Whiteley et al. , 2008 ) . The high sensitiveness and specificity are the largest obstructor in ischaemic shot biomarker development ( Allard et al. , 2004 ) . There are a few concerns is addressed. First of wholly, the blood-brain barrier ( BBB ) will detain the release of encephalon tissue proteins into blood watercourse ; Second, the volume of damaged tissue released does n't correlate to the badness of the harm to within the encephalon. As Human shot is such a heterogenous disease, possibly a rapid blood trial for shot is difficult to believe. So far no blood trial can be 100 % specific and sensitive ( Hill, 2005 ) . However a blood trial can be used as a complementary clinical diagnosing bases on its sta tistic mark, together act as a diagnostic biomarker ( Hill, 2005 ) . If the constriction is able to interrupt, this will assist to salvage 1000s of lives and besides save an unbelievable sum of money for the NHS. Potential biomarkers identified demand to be transitioned rapidly into clinical proof proving for farther rating in an acute shot scene ; to make so would impact and better patient results and quality of life. A individual set or multiple sets of blood biomarkers that could be used in an acute scene to diagnosis shot, differentiate between shot types, or even predict an initial or reoccurring shot would be highly valuable. Label-free quantitative proteomic method will be used in this undertaking. It is a comparatively new engineering that generated by High Performance Liquid Chromatography -Tandem Mass Spectrometry ( HPLC- MS/MS ) , alternatively of utilizing exogenously labelled isotopes, it does non necessitate stable isotopic-labelled compound. This type of spectroscopy allows us to find and follow proteomic look at different provinces within the theoretical account being, therefore the proteins concentration. The combination of mass spectroscopy and bioinformatics has been proven to be an effectual technique for the find of possible biomarkers for assorted malignant neoplastic diseases and diseases from patient ‘s serum or plasma samples. With this technique, the proteins of involvements can be obtained from the samples which are convenient for sidelong quantification and designationPurposes and aimsMy undertaking is to look for possible biomarker ( s ) which might bale to utilize in acute is chaemic diagnosing. I will utilize Label-free quantitative proteomic method to near this purpose. The aims of this undertaking are able to utilize HPLC – MS/MS to observe and distinguish between the control and samples by comparing the peak strength differences, and to quantify the sum of differences of the protein so to place the protein of interested for farther experiment. Besides to develop a method to look for possible biomarker ( s ) with animate being theoretical accounts by HPLC – MS/MS.cardinal activities3.1 Sampling Animal theoretical account sample of shot is traveling to be used alternatively of human sample of shot. It is because animate beings and worlds have similar nervous and vascular substrates and similar biochemical and molecular mechanisms of hurt and ( Yamori et al. , 1976 ) features of shot in worlds are similar to experimental theoretical accounts in animate beings. Largely of import animate being theoretical accounts allow research workers to analyze immediate and early ischaemic events, events that can be hard to analyze in human patients because of the variable clip holds in early acknowledgment of a shot and initial curative intercession. Among the assortment of animate beings, rats are peculiarly utile for shot research because their cerebrovascular anatomy and physiology closely resemble that of worlds. They have a little encephalon volume that is however good suited to different analytical processs and are moderately cheap in footings of purchase and care costs compared with those for larger animate beings. Furthermore, the public tends to hold fewer animate being public assistance concerns sing the usage of gnawers in shot research compared with the usage of Canis familiariss or cats and commercially available of inbred rats are comparatively homogenous genetically, leting research workers to understate confusing effects originating from a heterogenous background and to accomplish good reducibility ( little criterion divergence ) ( Wang-Fischer, 2009 ).The stoke theoretical account I am traveling to utilize is focal hemisphere intellectual ischaemia. This theoretical account mimics the most common site of human ischaemic shot. Surgery will be performed under injectable anesthesia. Although inhalational anaesthesia is recommended for shot survey, injectable agents have some advantages in neurological surveies and have been used by many research labs, such as the disposal of injectable agents is simple and easy, no particular equipment is needed ( a sim ple acerate leaf and syringe can finish the anesthesia work ) and cheap equipment and drugs lower the cost of survey. Blood sample is taken Immediately before clamping of the internal carotid arteria ( ICA ) instantly anterior to unclamping ( ischemia ) the ICA and before skin closing ( reperfusion ) ( Fig. 1 ) . Cerebrospinal fluid has be to collected for analysis because it is highly utile for surveies of the cardinal nervous system, it will incorporate any unmetabolised molecules from the encephalon so it allows an research worker to straight mensurate alterations in senders, endocrines, cytokines, or any other factor that might be of import. All samples are so labelled decently. All blood samples have to be centrifuge within 30 proceedingss of aggregation. Plasma is removed and stored at a?’80A °C until usage. After the wound closing of the rats, evan blue is injected and circulated for 60-120 proceedingss. Then rats are anesthetised and perfuse with PBS through the left ventricle to rinse out the extra dye. Afterward, encephalons are removed and the hemispheres are separated, weighed, and placed in tubings. Reperfusion sample Ischmaemia sample Baseline sample Reperfusion Ischmaemia Baseline ICA unclamped ICA clamped Fig. 1 Flow diagram of sample aggregation. ICA: internal carotid arteria 3.2 Nanoflow HPLC- MS/MS sample readying and analysis Plasma samples are thawed at 4A °C and digested with trypsin at 37A °C for 16 hr before transporting out analysis. Digested plasma samples and cerebrospinal fluid samples are loaded and nanoflow High Performance Liquid Chromatography -Tandem Mass Spectrometry ( HPLC- MS/MS ) analysis is carried out. This is an machine-controlled method once the sample is loaded. 3.3 Fluorescence spectrophotometer analysis The fluorescence strength of the dye will so find by fluorescence spectrophotometer after a series of sample readying 3.4 Statistical analysis First, protein quantification is measure peak highs in chromatography. The mark proteins are the extremums strength with high duplicability ( CV & lt ; 8 % ) . The chromatographic extremum alliance is used to knock in this comparative attack. Statistical analysis such as Students t-test was performed to find the significance of alterations between multiple samples. In the spectral numeration attack, comparative protein quantification is achieved by comparing the figure of identified MS/MS spectra from the same protein in each of the multiple LCMS/MS datasets. This addition protein ‘s copiousness and consequences in an addition in the figure of its proteolytic peptides. A list of the possible biomarker will so be created. The atomization from this list will so place.The undertaking program4.1 Workflow Logic Diagram of activities Sample aggregation ( Surgrey ) White affair & A ; gray affair Control from CSF Sample from CSF Sample from plasma Control from plasma Sampling Sample storage at a?’80A °C Sample storage at – 80A °C Sample readying ( Digest ) Label-free quantitative proteomics readying and analysis Control from CSF Sample from plasma Sample from CSF Control from plasma Fluorescence spectrophotometer HPLC separation MS/MS Quantification ( Peak strength, spectra count ) Candidate verification/ proof Designation by commercially statistical package Potential diagnostic biomarker ( s ) Fig. 2 Logic diagram of activities. CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid 4.2 Gantt Chart Activities Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Sample aggregation TenaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆSample readying of blood sampleaˆˆTenaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆSample readying of CSFaˆˆTenaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆSample readying of fluorescence spectrophotometry TenaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆNanoflow HPLC- MS/MS analysisaˆˆTenaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆFluorescence spectrophotometer analysis TenaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆStatistical QuantificationaˆˆaˆˆTen Ten TenaˆˆaˆˆProtein IdentificationaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆaˆˆTen Ten Ten Table 1. Gantt chart with clip line. From Table. 1. It shows the jutting activities and hebdomad by hebdomad of what activities are expected to be carried out. In hebdomad one, surgrey takes topographic point and because the encephalon protein will get down to fall out 3 yearss after the station shot, the dye and fluorescence spectrophotometry is besides taking topographic point in hebdomad 1. In hebdomad 2, the HPLC- MS/MS analysis will be carried out. From hebdomad 3 subsequently, it is the statistical analysis. Statistical quantification the possible biomarker by comparing the peak strength and so place the atomization of interested extremum.ResourcesEquipment: Centrifuge Freezer – 80a„? HPLC – MS/MS Fluorescence spectrophotometer 4.3.2 Apparatus EDTA tubing Needle and syringe Skin Scissorss Vascular clinchs Microdissecting Tweezers & A ; Forcepss A cold-illumination lighting system Operating Board 4.3.3 Reagent Anaesthetic drug Trypsin heparin-saline mixture Sterrad ( Low-Temperature Hydrogen Peroxide Plasma ) Buffer A ( 96 % H2O 4 % methanol 0.2 % formic acid ) Buffer B ( 10 % H2O, 90 % acetonitrile, 0.2 % formic acid ) Evans blue PBS 4.3.4 Training Training to manage research lab animate beings Expertness on nanoflow HPCL because insouciant users lack the expertness to utilize the demanding microfluidics that is involved and to observe jobs. 4.5.5 Statistical package for HPLC – MS/MS Any of these would be suited for the statistical analysis: SIEVE package The Rosetta Elucidator systemUndertaking analysis5.1 Hazard analysis Incorporation of biomarkers find has an impact on timelines of undertaking direction due to extra work on their designation and possible proof. Furthermore, there are troubles to fix the white affair hurt theoretical accounts which are used as indicant of how much harm of ischemic shot caused to the rat and the fluctuation between animate beings are normally big.Drumhead decisionThe primary end of a individual set or multiple sets of blood biomarkers development is to cut down the hazard of late abrasion during clinical development for grounds of safety or efficaciousness ; to make so would impact and better patient results and quality of life. Although it will be a long and difficult tract to make this finish, it is a baronial end, and the right way for the hereafter of stroke diagnosing.

Divorce †Cause and Effect Essay

Before a marriage is fully â€Å"matured† 3 out of 10 fail and resort in a divorce. No child want’s to hear the word divorce mentioned by their parents, little alone the other spouse. Many now a days seek divorce as an â€Å"easy way out,† given that they have an annulment. Some may even cheat the system and get married for the spouses money, title, or objects. The marriages that are there just for show, don’t tend to last as long and become unhappy. In a marriage anything can go wrong from bad communication, cheating, and abuse. Fyodor Dostoyevsky, once a Russian novelist said, â€Å"much unhappiness come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.† The number one reason marriages end is because of the lack of communication in the relation, according to Huffington Post. There are five main instances where a lack of communication can affect the marriage. The first one, is hiding your feelings. If you’re having a heated conv ersation with your spouse but keeping in feelings or problems then where is your relationship going to go? Oh I can help, nowhere. The next type is bodily or physical. Simply rolling your eyes, walking away from the conversation, shrugging your shoulder, or even the lack of eye contact can push someone away. A â€Å"win-lose attitude† is one of the most aggravating things for someone to do, personally. If someone always says, â€Å"it wasn’t me,† if they’re judgemental or a very negative person it can agitate you and even bring you down. Lastly a lack of politeness can make someone feel underappreciated. If you continuously do something for someone and they correspond in a uncaring manner you will tend to feel over time like you don’t matter. The simple command, like â€Å"take the dog out,† can seem abrasive. They’re no such thing as over kindness, if someone does something nice for you, you can just simply correspond with a â€Å"thank you.† â€Å"Thank you honey,† any house wife, or husband would love to hear of their spouse. Just by keeping the à ¢â‚¬Å"spark† between you and your spouse lite can help keep them interested in you, instead of others. Infidelity is the cause for 53% of a divorce. Only 31% of marriages last after a cheating incident, and a whopping 53% of relationships are cheated. Isn’t it ironic though how psychiatrists and marriage counselors are the top two professions for the divorce rate. you would think since they work with helping marriages, that they’d have a lower chance, I guess not in this case. Many events can lead to infidelity. After the first year in the marriage there is the same  habitual activities every day where the cheater may feel like they need something new in life, which is when someone may first turn to cheat. Having a child is a huge factor, it’ll affect the relationship no matter what you have done. The stress of having to completely care for another human being can affect you mentally, and some feel like they want to go out and have an adventure, but they turn to the wrong activity when that happens. When it comes to the 5th to 7th year, also known as â€Å"the seven year itch.† By this time most coup les may have obtained the â€Å"american dream,† but they start to become bored and unhappy, so they turn to something new, to change things up. Then there’s the mid-life crisis. Generally around this time you’ve spent 20 years with the person, but you’re just not quite sure that another 20 you want to be with the person. These instances are generally the reasons which fuels someone to cheat. It’s not always the case, but these are the times when infidelity is started. Just picture 5 million women, which is just a quarter of women in a marriage. That mere 25% is the percentage of women that have been in a abusive relationship. There’s six different way abuse can happen, the following are: physical, emotional, verbal, economic, mental, and sexual.Why do they do it? They seek to control their spouse. Emotional, mental, and verbal is generally how it starts, but then it can progress to sexual and economic. It can be hard for These types of abuse though don’t always pertain to the spouse, it could be happening to a child or children of the couple. To say divorce only affects the two joined in holy matrimony is an unstatement. The children, friends, family, everyone thats connected to the two can be effected. As a child that has divorced parent, since I was two, can say it still affects me. I have to figure out a time during break when I can go that doesn’t conflict too much with my sports, I barely get to see my dad, and it’s hard to see my mom work and earn all of the money, by herself for us. So if you don’t want your marriage to end try to keep good communication a priority, whatever you do don’t cheat, and be sure to check if you’re being or are abusive, so you can get help to work on it. Sources Facts, Infidelity. â€Å"Infidelity Facts and Information.† Infidelity Facts. n.d. 27 March 2014. Pave, Project. â€Å"6 Types of Abuse.† Just for Teens. n.d. 27 March 2014. Post, Huffington. â€Å"Divorce Causes: 5 Communication Habits That Lead To Divorce.† November 29, 2012. HuffPost. 27 March 2014.

Expanding Nation

Expanding Nation Free Online Research Papers Manifest destinythis not only drove economic expansion but is still a core belief for Americans today, the virtue of the American people and their institutions; the mission to spread these institutions, thereby redeeming and remaking the world in the image of the U.S; the destiny under God to accomplish this work. Expansion westward was led by the American Puritan work ethic which played a huge roll in economic growth. The Westward Expansion played a significant role in the America history, because it caused the population movement and the productivity of lands, and in terms it caused a massive economical growth in the west during the 19th century. The US economic development in the 19th century was characterized by the westward movement of population and the accumulation of productive lands. After President Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana territory, it doubled the size of the United States landmarks. Also it increased the size of America population, where many individuals both internal and external settled in their new land in search of a better opportunity. Therefore, in just a few years there were tremendous shifts in West demographic population. It is recorded that million of Europeans migrated to west. This strong population growth resulted in major production and development of productive lands, which in terms increased the economic growth in the United States. With a great number of mig rations, the cost of labor and transportation were significantly low. (Davidson 2002) The migration population brought with them unique skills that became very useful and profitable for the land owners. Besides new types of technological devices, also they were clearing, breaking, irrigating, draining, and fencing new areas of lands in order to make the lands more productive and lucrative. Another product that increased the profit of the Westward Expansion was the massive amount of cotton that was being produce in the South. South was dominating the cotton market, because they had sufficient slaves to produce more cottons than any other regions. In addition, transportation also made a major impact in the US economy, because ordinary business men were able to transport their goods at the cheap rate and efficient. The presence of steamboats and railroad tracks also revolutionized how the goods were being transported to the internal and to the international market. (Davidson 2002) While the America economy, demographic, social and political system were changing; the economy and the social system of every region were also taken a different format. Economical growth in the west brought a great deal of wealth to the American economy, but it also transformed the appearance of everyday society as well as the intellectual capabilities of certain individuals. During the developmental era, they were a major gap between rich and poor. Due to these social changes, many individuals who once use to associate with their neighbors begin to distance themselves. For instance, professionals, storekeepers, clerks, office workers, and supervisors begin to only intermingle with individuals within their social status. In addition, the social environment between South and North were also changing. For instance, south was a rural region, where 84 % of labor force were engaged in agriculture, where as in the North, only 40 % of labor force were involved in the agriculture business. Therefore, southerners were able to produce more nations products than the northerners. For this reason that many of the individuals from the south find themselves working in the industrial fields rather than pursuing education. Average southern white children spend only one-fight as much time in school as did their northerners counterparts. When it comes to living arrangements, 1 out 10 southern lived in the cities and town and in north 1 out 3 people lived in the cities and town. Therefore, these phenomena led the regions to have different sectionalism. Each wave of immigrant sought an area of the US which was most familiar to them. Thus the Scandinavians moved into Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Dakotas and Iowa. The Welsh went to the mountains of Appalachia. The English went into the South and The Germans into Pennsylvania and then down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The French went into Louisiana. This lead to regionalism and variations in the social systems, which to some extent still exist. It can be seen in differential accents, laws, religious traditions etc. (Davidson 2002) The opening of our shores to every one also made us a dumping ground for those undesirables found in the rest of the world. The programs of Russia, Poland and Eastern Europe, the forced labor of the Chinese and Africans brought a broad view of ourselves as the melting pot of the world and that the rest of the world was xenophobic. It had little impact on domestic policy until the early 20th century when quotas began to be imposed. On the foreign front, we welcomed these people with open arms because of our need for cheap labor. Our foreign policy was to keep the gates open. Research Papers on Expanding Nation19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesTwilight of the UAWAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeAppeasement Policy Towards the Outbreak of World War 2Marketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasQuebec and CanadaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito

Kubla Khan Essays - British Poetry, Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Kubla Khan Essays - British Poetry, Samuel Taylor Coleridge Kubla Khan Kubla Khan If a man could pass thro' Paradise in a Dream, & have a flower presented to him as a pledge that his Soul had really been there, & found that flower in his hand when he awoke Aye! and what then? (CN, iii 4287) Kubla Khan is a fascinating and exasperating poem written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (. Almost everyone who has read it, has been charmed by its magic. It must surely be true that no poem of comparable length in English or any other language has been the subject of so much critical commentary. Its fifty-four lines have spawned thousands of pages of discussion and analysis. Kubla Khan is the sole or a major subject in five book-length studies; close to 150 articles and book-chapters (doubtless I have missed some others) have been devoted exclusively to it; and brief notes and incidental comments on it are without number. Despite this deluge, however, there is no critical unanimity and very little agreement on a number of important issues connected with the poem: its date of composition, its meaning, its sources in Coleridge's reading and observation of nature, its structural integrity (i.e. fragment versus complete poem), and its relationship to the Preface by which Coleridge introduc ed it on its first publication in 1816. Coleridge's philosophical explorations appear in his greatest poems. 'Kubla Khan', with its exotic imagery and symbols, rich vocabulary and rhythms, written, by Coleridge's account, under the influence of laudanum, was often considered a brilliant work, but without any defined theme. However, despite its complexity the poem can be read as a well-constructed exposition on human genius and art. The theme of life and nature again appears in 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner', where the effect on nature of a crime against the power of life is presented in the form of a ballad. 'Christabel', an unfinished 'gothic' ballad, evokes a sinister atmosphere, hinting at evil and the grotesque. In his poems Coleridge's detailed perception of nature links scene and mood, and leads to a contemplation of moral and universal concerns. In his theory of poetry Coleridge stressed the aesthetic quality as the primary consideration. The metrical theory on which 'Christabel' is constructed helped to break th e fetters of 18th-century correctness and monotony and soon found disciples, among others Walter Scott and Lord Byron. Opium and the Dream of Kubla Khan Coleridge's use of opium has long been a topic of fascination, and the grouping of Coleridge, opium and Kubla Khan formed an inevitable triad long before Elisabeth Schneider combined them in the title of her book. It is tempting on a subject of such intrinsic interest to say more than is necessary for the purpose in hand. Since the medicinal use of opium was so common and wide-spread, it is not surprising to learn that its use involved neither legal penalties nor public stigma. All of the Romantic poets (except Wordsworth) are known to have used it, as did many other prominent contemporaries. Supplies were readily available: in 1830, for instance, Britain imported 22,000 pounds of raw opium. Many Englishmen, like the eminently respectable poet-parson George Crabbe, who took opium in regular but moderate quantity for nearly forty years, were addicts in ignorance, and led stable and productive lives despite their habit. By and large, opium was taken for granted; and it was only the terrible experiences of such articulate addicts as Coleridge and Dequincy that eventually began to bring the horrors of the drug to public attention. Coleridge's case is a particularly sad and instructive one. He had used opium as early as 1791 (see CL, i 18) and continued to use it occasionally, on medical advice, to alleviate pain from a series of physical and nervous ailments. But the opium cure proved ultimately to be more devastating in its effects than the troubles it was intended to treat, for such large quantities taken over so many months seduced him unwittingly into slavery to the drug. And his life between 1801 and 1806 (when he returned from Malta) is a somber illustration of a growing and, finally, a hopeless bondage to opium. By the time he realized he was addicted, however, it was too late. He consulted a variety

The Chemical Composition of White Gold

The Chemical Composition of White Gold White gold is a popular alternative to yellow gold, silver, or platinum. Some people prefer the silver color of white gold to the yellow color of normal gold, yet may find silver to be too soft or too easily tarnished or the cost of platinum to be prohibitive. While white gold contains varying amounts of gold, which is always yellow, it also contains one or more white metals to lighten its color and add strength and durability. The most common white metals that form the white gold alloy are nickel, palladium, platinum, and manganese. Sometimes copper, zinc or silver are added. However, copper and silver form undesirable colored oxides in the air or on the skin, so other metals are preferable. The purity of white gold is expressed in karats, the same as with yellow gold. The gold content is typically stamped into the metal (e.g., 10K, 18K). The Color of White Gold The properties of white gold, including its color, depend on its composition. Although most people think white gold is a shiny white metal, that color is actually from the rhodium metal plating that is applied to all white gold jewelry. Without the rhodium coating, white gold might be gray, dull brown, or even pale pink. Another coating that may be applied is a platinum alloy. Typically platinum is alloyed with iridium, ruthenium, or cobalt to increase its hardness. Platinum is naturally white. However, its more expensive than gold, so it may be electroplated onto a white gold ring to improve its appearance without dramatically increasing the price. White gold that contains a high percentage of nickel tends to be closest to a true white color. It has a faint ivory tone but is much whiter than pure gold.  Nickel white gold often does not require plating with rhodium for color, although the coating may be applied to reduce the incidence of skin reactions. Palladium white gold is another strong alloy that may be used without a coating. Palladium white gold has a faint gray tinge. Other gold alloys result in additional colors of gold, including red or rose, blue, and green. Allergies to White Gold White gold jewelry typically is made from a gold-palladium-silver alloy or gold-nickel-copper-zinc alloy. However, about one in eight people experience a reaction to the nickel-containing alloy, usually in the form of a skin rash. Most European jewelry manufacturers and some American jewelry manufacturers avoid nickel white gold since alloys made without nickel are less allergenic. The nickel alloy is most often encountered in older white gold jewelry and in some rings and pins, where the nickel produces a white gold that is strong enough to stand up to the wear and tear these pieces of jewelry experience. Maintaining the Plating on White Gold White gold jewelry that has a platinum or rhodium plating typically cant be resized because doing so would damage the coating. The plating on jewelry will scratch and wear over time. A jeweler can re-plate the item by removing any stones, buffing the metal, plating it, and returning the stones to their settings. Rhodium plating typically needs to be replaced every couple of years. It only takes a couple of hours to perform the process, at a cost of around $50 to $150.

The Robinson-Patman Act and Its Applicability in the Modern Age Research Paper

The Robinson-Patman Act and Its Applicability in the Modern Age - Research Paper Example This unfair business practice created a price discrimination problem that threatened the survival of small companies or retailers (McElvain 35). Then the Robinson-Patman Act was implemented during the Great Depression when these large businesses that had emerged then were having competitive advantages over smaller retailers. There is no doubt that Robinson-Patman Act doused this economic problem by fighting against price discrimination. And the critics believe that the Act was most effective during this time period when price fixing posed a serious threat on competition and the economy. As a matter of fact, Robinson-Patman Act tended to reduce criminal business practices during the Great Depression. Therefore, four major requirements must occur for a claim to arise under the Robinson-Patman Act. There must be: 1. a sale of products that are of like â€Å"grade and quality† 2. from the same vendor to different purchasers in which there 3. is a discrimination in the prices of the products sold 4. that causes a restraint in competition. This necessitates that if a big company offers to sell a product of similar â€Å"grade and quality† at an expressly cheaper price, the small retailer affected by this action may seek legal recourse for redress and compensation. This action would discourage big businesses from using their economies of scales to have an advantage over the small businesses. Potentially, if the price of a good is reduced, a company can sell as many pieces of the product to several purchasers at a price that is far cheaper than the offering price by a smaller retailer. This discrimination in price kills competition, and it was discovered to be an inhibition to the economic growth during the Great Depression. The Court's opinion in FTC v. Morton Salt, 334 U.S. 37 (1948), illustrates how it was applied during the age of booming large businesses. Interestingly, the Supreme Court ruled that Morton Salt had acted illegally by selling its finest â€Å"Blue Label† salt to large chain-stores at a r elatively cheaper price instead of making the same product available for customers nationwide at the same price. The Federal Trade Commission made sure that the Robinson-Patman Act was enforced to discourage the criminal trade practice of selling goods at a discount price to large stores simply because they could afford to purchase large quantities of the products at a time. One of the possible effects of this practice is that small retailers would be pushed out of business as consumers could not afford to buy the same product or good that are offered at a competitive price by the 3 large stores. This instance of price discrimination was what Robinson-Patman Act fought against in the earliest time. The Congress then perceived the act of price fixing as an inhibitive and unhelpful to the American economy that had already been battered by the Great Depression. Critics have always pointed to the fact that the World World I contributed to the emergence of the Great Depression, and that the sharp practices by big retailers to cheat the smaller ones was caused by the need to earn higher profitability at the expense of other retailers (McElvain 48). Therefore, enacting the Robinson-Patman Act served as a salvaging force to discourage large businesses from making life unbearable for ordinary Americans who had already had enough hardship due to the effects of

Ecconomic globalization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ecconomic globalization - Essay Example tion has led to economic growth by increasing the aggregate demand which increases exports as well as increasing aggregate supply through higher levels of investments that are associated with globalization. Globalization has led to destruction of jobs in the manufacturing sector and increase of jobs in the service sector. In addition to that, globalization has led to the increased demand of skilled labour and reduced demand of unskilled labour. This is because firms have shifted their some of their productions stages to countries with cheap labour only leaving the ones that required highly skilled man power within the USA. This has led to widening income gap in the United States of America (Hanson, 2006). Globalization has impacted positively on export and import trade in the USA. This increased trade has led to increase in the GDP of the country. However the effect of globalization on balance of payment is uncertain and it hugely depends on the relative growth rates, exchange rates and

Market Orientation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Market Orientation - Essay Example Different departments within the organizations are completely oriented towards identifying and designing methods to meet these changing customer demands. According to Naver and Slater (1990), organizations that follow marketing orientation tend to follow five key strategies namely customer orientation, competitor orientation, interfunctional-coordination, organizational culture and focus on long-term profits. Most well-known market-oriented organizations are Sony, Dell, Toyota, General Electric, etc (Day, 1999). These organizations are customer-focused and use marketing information to develop strategies that enhance customer satisfaction. Several benefits have been identified with market orientation. A market-oriented firm can focus and retain its loyal customers that are of more value to the firm’s business. These firms usually have higher employee satisfaction because of greater customer satisfaction and vice versa. This further enhances employee commitment and their product ivity.

Foreign Exchange Risk Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Foreign Exchange Risk - Case Study Example Another option to mitigate foreign exchange risk is the adaptation of foreign exchange services from a foreign currency exchange specialist. These specialists include the Canadian Forex and local banks in Canada. These experts will help reduce the risks associated with frequent transfers from Canadian dollars to the US dollar. This is done by entering into Canadian dollars earlier, and banks will only convert it during the payment period, so there will be no risk. The final and recommended option for mitigating risks is the purchase of foreign exchange contracts. In this case, Alliance will pay more cash than required to cover the costs of mitigation. This will cover any risk that may occur between the time when the money was deposited and the time of payment for the equipment to the supplier. For example, the price of equipment is $ 500,000, when the exchange rate is C $ 1.00 = U S 1.00. If the Alliance does not use the forward exchange contract and the payment time occurs when the exchange rate has moved by C $ 1.00 = 0.95 US dollars, then the Alliance will have to pay 526315 as the final price. This is $ 26,315 more than the original amount. But when the Alliance decides to buy a forward foreign exchange contract and which they decide with the bank to be one percent of the amount of Equipment, then the Alliance will have to pay 505,000. Therefore, the design concepts of the alliance will not worry about fluctuations in the exchange rate. They will save more than 21,000 US dollars.

The dilemma of managing continuous change in performance management Research Paper

The dilemma of managing continuous change in performance management - Research Paper Example The paper tells that in recent times, change in business environment has been inevitable as business strive to remain relevant and competitive. Bradford and Warner note that the need for change in business environment has been brought about by technological advancements, increased customers and shareholder’s expectations, new initiatives, competition, and the need to increase demand among other factors. Therefore, in order to meet the new challenges and attain the organizational goals and objectives, organizations have introduced several changes. However, introduction of change, whether small or big, to organizational functions and processes have often proved intimidating to some managers and have sometime not yielded the intended outcomes. This has resulted to adopting of change management strategies by managers in order to manage change successfully. According to Bradford and Burke, change management can be defined as the application of a set of principles, skills, processes , and tools for managing people and processes within an organization in order to transition or shift the organization from its current state to the desired or intended future state. Several researches have shown that in the modern competitive environment, it takes more than the known management strategies to realize organization’s full potential Bradford and Warner. There is need for managers to welcome change and manage it effectively in order to achieve organizational success in the long- run. Continuous management of change is critical in performance management. Louis (2004, p. 46) explains that the essence of managing change in the organizations is to improve performance and ultimately achieve organizational goals and objectives. As such, continuous management of change is related to performance management. Performance management refers to activities and processes that ensure that goals are met consistently in a manner that is efficient and effective (Aubrey, 2004, p. 95) . The focus of performance management is in regard to processes, departments, organization, and employees and aims at facilitating overall performance of the organization through attainment of organizational goals and objectives Bradford and Warner (2010, p. 18). 1.1 Purpose of the Study The purpose of this research is to foster an understanding of the dilemma of managing continuous change in performance management. The research purports to get deep insights on the dilemmas of managing continuous change and how they impact on performance management. 1.2 Problem Statement In the face of challenging business environment brought about by increased customers and shareholder’s expectations, technological developments, and competition, management are supposed to make continuous changes in their organizations in order to stay remain relevant and be successful (Bradford and Burke, 2005, p. 22). In the process of managing continuous change in order to improve the performance of organi zation, managers are faced with dilemma. The dilemma is on whether the intended change can lead to improved performance or

Money , its for a History of economic thought class Essay

Money , its for a History of economic thought class - Essay Example Money is the difference between that person who is sleeping hungry and that one who affords to have his pets on a special diet. In this sense, it is the promoter of inequality. Once inequality checks in, the consequences are unlimited there is anger, dissatisfaction, deception and every other emotion and act that epitomizes dissent. It is at this point that â€Å"money costs too much†. This is because it gets to a point where it costs life, peace and relationships. The focus of this essay is on relationships the concern is how money comes between people, how money blurs our sight that we soon forget the emotional, patriotic and sometimes blood bond that hold us together. The essence of this inquiry has been informed throughout the semester, having the opportunity to journalize different experiences regarding money has really brought to the fore the value we place on money. This is because unless we place too much value on money higher than the value we place on our social rela tions then it would never be possible for money to downplay our relations. Unfortunately, the exposure I have had throughout this course and the materials I have read have brought to the fore the disheartening truth that money has a much greater force, it costs too much. Economically, money is considered a medium of exchange the means through which we are able to acquire different goods and services. Historically, it has not always been represented by coins and notes but at some point gold and other valuable metals were the preferred means of exchange. However, history teaches us that the problem has not been with the nature but on the value placed on these materials. Any material in which extreme value has been placed has thrown people into frenzy they are continually interested in amassing that which has value. The burst of the Mississippi bubble brings this act of desperation and thirst for value into perspective. It depicts the race to hold that which has value and disposing tha t which has less value. This has been a historical trend, one that has only aggravated over time, the fundamental question is at what cost? The answer may not be as a definite, but it is evident, it is at a much higher cost. Over the past few months I have been able to watch the documentary â€Å"inside job†. The film directed by Charles Ferguson traces the root of the financial crises that only became so apparent in 2007-8. However, following the film clearly illustrates that the financial crises had been ongoing for a while. The signs had been there of a slowdown but were largely ignored. The reason for this ignorance is the basis of this study. The crisis was driven by a need to compound on gains made, a need to amass assets that were being speculated to appreciate in value. Given the capital limitation enforced by the market dynamics, people had to borrow and banks, which are also the primary lenders had to lend for speculative purposes and had also to invest in these spe culations. In any case, the banks were the first to participate in these speculative ventures. The result was an imbalance between the asset base and money borrowed by investments banks. At the end, the speculative ventures never bore the anticipated results and the banks were left indebted. People who had entrusted their hard earned money had lost their confidence on the very people who represented a chance of higher value. This

The dilemma of managing continuous change in performance management Research Paper

The dilemma of managing continuous change in performance management - Research Paper Example The paper tells that in recent times, change in business environment has been inevitable as business strive to remain relevant and competitive. Bradford and Warner note that the need for change in business environment has been brought about by technological advancements, increased customers and shareholder’s expectations, new initiatives, competition, and the need to increase demand among other factors. Therefore, in order to meet the new challenges and attain the organizational goals and objectives, organizations have introduced several changes. However, introduction of change, whether small or big, to organizational functions and processes have often proved intimidating to some managers and have sometime not yielded the intended outcomes. This has resulted to adopting of change management strategies by managers in order to manage change successfully. According to Bradford and Burke, change management can be defined as the application of a set of principles, skills, processes , and tools for managing people and processes within an organization in order to transition or shift the organization from its current state to the desired or intended future state. Several researches have shown that in the modern competitive environment, it takes more than the known management strategies to realize organization’s full potential Bradford and Warner. There is need for managers to welcome change and manage it effectively in order to achieve organizational success in the long- run. Continuous management of change is critical in performance management. Louis (2004, p. 46) explains that the essence of managing change in the organizations is to improve performance and ultimately achieve organizational goals and objectives. As such, continuous management of change is related to performance management. Performance management refers to activities and processes that ensure that goals are met consistently in a manner that is efficient and effective (Aubrey, 2004, p. 95) . The focus of performance management is in regard to processes, departments, organization, and employees and aims at facilitating overall performance of the organization through attainment of organizational goals and objectives Bradford and Warner (2010, p. 18). 1.1 Purpose of the Study The purpose of this research is to foster an understanding of the dilemma of managing continuous change in performance management. The research purports to get deep insights on the dilemmas of managing continuous change and how they impact on performance management. 1.2 Problem Statement In the face of challenging business environment brought about by increased customers and shareholder’s expectations, technological developments, and competition, management are supposed to make continuous changes in their organizations in order to stay remain relevant and be successful (Bradford and Burke, 2005, p. 22). In the process of managing continuous change in order to improve the performance of organi zation, managers are faced with dilemma. The dilemma is on whether the intended change can lead to improved performance or

Case Study on a Day Care Essay Example for Free

Case Study on a Day Care Essay When couples are engaging in family planning, there are several things that they have to take into consideration. One such thing is the care of the child or children when it is time for them to return to work. A common option over the years has been that of the day care or child care center. Parents today are realizing the importance of daycare centers in their children’s development. They are looking for daycare centers that not only will take care of their child while they are away but also will provide quality, real-life learning opportunities and experiences. These learning opportunities will ensure that children are prepared not only for their academic life in school but also for real life situations outside the daycare center and their own homes. There are five basic categories of day cares: Child care centers, educational day care, family day care, non-profit day care and subsidized day care. A child care center is a large day-care provider and is often franchised under a brand name. They often have extensive facilities, including swimming pools and large playgrounds. They also provide day care for multiple ages divided into smaller groups by age. Educational day cares are intended to provide children with pre-school learning and skills to prepare her for kindergarten or elementary school. They strive to provide children with rounded spiritual, physical, mental and emotional support to prepare them for lifes challenges. A family day care is provided in the care-givers home, usually with the providers children present. They provide a familiar and comfortable setting for your child. A family day care often is smaller than other types of day care. Non-profit day cares are run by non-profit organizations, such as churches or synagogues. They sometimes include religious schooling and are often more affordable than other types of day care because of their non-profit status. Subsidized day care programs are those that provide financial assistance either through the federal or state government or an employer. The day care visited by group five, was an educational daycare. The daycare caters to children between three (3) months and three (3) years old. At the beginning of September, there were a total of forty (40) children. Currently, there are twenty-six (26) children there. Space and Equipment The day care is clean and sanitary. There is no garbage lying around, floors are clean as they are constantly mopped when messes are made. The kitchen is large enough to facilitate the free movement when 2-3 persons are in there making food preparations. It is also away from the areas where diapers are changed and away from the bathroom. It is clear that great consideration was taken in regards to inclement weather, as the space in the day care is large enough to separate sleeping children from playing children and those who are learning. The area is large enough for everyone to play when they are unable to go outside even though the tables where they have their meals are there. There are five smoke detectors throughout the building, a fire aid kit and a fire extinguisher that are strategically places. Standard childproofing techniques are utilized, (covered outlets, safety gates, door latches). The center is secure, having a buzzer that is working and therefore, strangers are not able to just walk in from the streets. The building is properly lit and ventilated and doors are placed strategically as well to facilitate emergency exit if necessary. There is short term parking space at the front for parents and guardians who come to drop off and pick up their children. Caregivers’ Credentials/Qualifications Because the caregivers are expected to create a safe and stimulating environment for the children to develop in, it is important that the staff get formal training that will equip them with the tools necessary to do so. All the members of staff are qualified. The qualifications held are varied. There are members of staff who have Level 1 and 2 Certificates in Early Childhood Care and Development from HEART Trust NTA. Other qualification held by staff is a Certificate in Practical Nursing and Heart care and a Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education. Programme Activities At this stage of the child’s development, it is important to have activities that engage the children’s minds and develop skills that will be needed in further learning. At the day care, there is a structured schedule that includes plenty of time for physical activity, quiet time (including daily reading sessions for groups and individuals), group activities, individual activities, meals, snacks, and free time. The activities cover the duration of time that the children are at the day care from the moment of arrival to the time of departure. The physical activities come in varied forms including music movement (dance) and play time- outdoor play and free play. Free play is for the children to do whatever they feel like doing, whether it is engaging in imaginative play with their little friends or by themselves, playing with toys, or looking through their picture books. Outdoors, there is a slide, a swing, a monkey bar and some tires for the children to crawl through. Group activities include some aspects of the physical activities and story time, as well as their varied creative, manipulative activities. Such creative/manipulative activities include finger painting, drawing, and making things out of clay dough. This is done with the assistance of the staff. A lot of the stories are made up based on a series of pictures that are taped to the walls of the daycare. Caregivers also engage the children in picture games. The children form a ring and are shown pictures that they are to identify. Those who correctly identify the pictures get an extra treat at meal time. They are also taught nursery rhymes such as â€Å"hey diddle diddle†, and â€Å"itsy bitsy spider† and the alphabet song. There are designated times for snacks, and other meals. They do not allow the children to eat right throughout the day but encourage the habit of eating at intervals. There is also designated naptime and quiet time for the children. The activities are very appropriate as they are in keeping with Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. In the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development, which is the first stage, Piaget stresses the importance of discovery through a child’s active interaction with the environment. Between birth and age two (2), children discover the world using their senses and motor activity because they are limited by their inability to use language or symbols at this stage. Therefore, the hands on activities that they are engaged in, helps to enhance cognitive development at this stage. Teacher-child Relationships According to Erikson’s psychosocial theory of development, trust is identified as the first major developmental task of early childhood, and is established in childrens first relationship with their caregivers, parents and teachers. Trust is the first pre-requisite for effective learning. It encourages a sense of well-being and emotional security in young children, creating a solid foundation for future learning from the dynamic experiences of childhood. Without the support of early trust relationships with caring adults, children are ill-equipped to take the kinds of risk essential to the learning process. Trust develops when children come to anticipate positive experiences in the child care settings. If trust is to develop, children need sensitive and perceptive caregivers that understand childrens needs and consistently offer tender, responsive care. Having received formal training for the purpose of taking care of the children, they have an understanding of the importance of their interactions with the children and therefore treat the children accordingly. It is evident that the children trust their caregivers as they affectionately refer to them as â€Å"Auntie† and warm smile light up their tiny faces whenever they see the members of staff walk through the door. The staff plays with the children during their playtime. There is prompt responsiveness to the cries or outbursts of the children and reassurance is given when the infant is crying, except in cases when the child is throwing a tantrum. In such instances, the infant is spoken to firmly but gently. The ratio of teacher to child is 1: 6. However, the caretakers try to share their attentions evenly among the children. They tend to group the children together when they are interacting with them so that none is left out. There were demonstrations of positive reinforcement from the caregivers. When a child did not like what was prepared for them to eat, he or she was coaxed into eating by the use of various methods, one of which was to pretend that the spoonful of food was an airplane loaded with niceties. The child was praised when he or she would chew the food and swallow it. The caregiver would also reward the child with the option of having their juice before the water if the food was eaten. A sense of autonomy is identified as the second major developmental task of early childhood and is developed when a child is allowed to practice newly acquired physical skills. At the daycare, the children are encouraged to do things for themselves. There are toddlers who prefer to feed themselves, even though they make a bit of a mess when they do. Nonetheless, they are allowed to do so. They are encouraged to pick up after themselves and therefore run around picking up toys when they are done playing. During outdoor play, the older and stronger children are allowed to climb the monkey bars by themselves with the ‘Auntie’ hovering close by to give assistance if it is needed. Recommendations A good day care is one that has a good reputation. No one will want to send their child/children to a daycare that has a bad track record. Established ground rules and policies are important and this is something a good day care has. These rules and policies should include what to do when a child gets sick, or has an accident while at the daycare, schedule pick up times (even though there should be some amount of flexibility with this), safety policies, etcetera. A good day care has a stimulating curriculum that is age appropriate. As these are the formative of a child’s life, activities should be geared at setting a foundation of later learning. The day care should have a license that is current. This is an indication that the day care is in legal operation. Qualified staff is also important. Parents want to know that when they drop their children off at the day care, they are in good hands. The facilities should be clean and safe as well. The day care of study can be considered to be a good one. However, there are a few things that could be done to improve the facility. The acquisition of more qualified staff is something that should be looked into. Even though the caregivers try to pay attention to all the children in their care, it can be taxing for one staff member to have to oversee six children at once, especially during play time. There is a need for more toys for the children, especially building blocks. There is presently a toy drive going on to help with the endeavor of procuring more toys. In doing so, they can look into getting another slide as the tiny one that is there cannot suffice for all the children that want to use it during outdoor play. They need to also look into getting straps or bars put on the swing as there are children who have a habit of getting in and out of the swing while it is in flight. This can be very harmful to them. The monkey bar is also a cause of concern as it is very dangerous, especially for the smaller children. The spaces between each bar are too wide and therefore adjustments may have to be made by putting plastic or wooden bars in between each space to reduce the width that the children will have to climb on. There is a gate at the end of one of the driveways that is too far from the ground and so the ball continues to go under the gate when the children play in the driveway. They need to lower the gate or put something to block the opening so that the ball does not run onto the road. Closing Remarks Members of group five (5) can conclude that the visit to the day care was a productive one. The time spent with the children was thoroughly enjoyed as there was more than mere observation. The day care is a great one and should become better if the things in the afore mentioned recommendations are taken into consideration. Group five would recommend this day care to parents and guardians seeking one as they take into consideration the holistic development of the children.

The Purpose of Internal Controls

The Purpose of Internal Controls Internal controls are a relevant part of any business. In order for an organization to meet its obligations and be a success it is imperative that it implements controls in an attempt to safeguard its assets, its employee and its continual existence. This paper explains the reasons why internal controls needs to be implemented, present a framework which describes its components and identify entities which foresees that procedures are followed and maintained. Controlling What Happens Robins defend territories as pairs during the breeding season and as individuals during the winter. When dogs find bones, they bury it in a safe place and constantly make sure they are safe at all times. What these animal have in common is their desire to protect their assets and possessions. One of the most important acts a manager can do is to safeguard assets. The main purpose of internal controls is to help the organization to achieve its objectives and to make sure that the business operates as efficiently and as professionally as possible. In order to understand internal controls, it is imperative that one knows what they are, the definition of internal controls, the categories, the components of internal controls as well as the entities that foresee that internal control procedures are followed and maintained. According to â€Å"SEC Proposes Rules on Internal Controls, Ethics Codes and Financial Experts on Audit Committees,† the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants defines internal controls as â€Å"controls that pertain to the preparation of financial statements for external purposes that are fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as addressed by the Codification of Auditing Standards Section 319 or any superseding definition or other literature that is issued or adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board† ( Haynes and Boone, LLP, 2002). They play a vital role and cannot be omitted from a business. This is because they ensure that employees as well as employers are providing reasonable assertions. In other words, they check the employees and employers actions and thoughts in a way which are meant to promote and better the business by preventing them from doing things their own way, or from robbing the business . They are established by management and they must make sure it is effective. According to R. L. Hurt, the significance of controls cannot be stressed enough, â€Å"In the importance of internal controls managers, stockholders, employees, and other organizational stakeholders want a company to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, to have financial statements that are reliable, and to make sure their assets are safe† (Hurt, 2008, p.53). They are basically a plan of organization within a business which co-ordinates with all the methods used in the business to safeguard its assets. It further promotes productivity and aids management to hold on to rules and policies of the organization. Internal controls can be classified into two; preventive and detective. The main purpose of preventive controls is to detect errors within or dampen the chances of fraud. According to â€Å"Internal Control Concept and Framework,† preventive control activities â€Å"aim to deter the instance of errors or fraud† (University Of Washington, 2009). This is the most effective control because it checks against fraud, scams and errors before they occur. It is important to note that before it can become effective, it will be necessary to have a strong risk detection system within the organization. Detective controls identify errors or fraudulent activities after they take place. In other words, â€Å"Detective control activities identify undesirable occurrences after the fact† (University Of Washington, 2009). This method can cause problems if the after effect was significant, such as Enron and WorldCom. In such occasions, the most common detective control is reconciliat ion. In an attempt to help businesses and organization improve their internal control systems, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commissions, otherwise known as COSO was formed. COSO is a voluntary private-sector organization and was established in 1985 and consists of a select committee which includes the American Accounting Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Executives International, Institute of Management Accountants and The Institute of Internal Auditors (The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commissions). The main purpose of COSO is to identify actions or activities which influence fraudulent practices in businesses and to identify way of minimizing their occurrences. According to the American Accounting Association, â€Å"COSOs Mission is to provide thought leadership on enterprise risk management, internal control and fraud deterrence designed to improve organizational performance and governance and to reduce the extent of fraud in organizations†(American Accounting Association, 2008, p. 3). In 1992, COSO established an internal control framework which consists of five components and are meant to be integrated within the management process to ensure success. These components consist of control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication and finally monitoring. Control Environment deals with the controllers and leaders of the business or company. In other words, this component talks mainly with management. The whole purpose is to make managers aware that internal controls begin in top management and thus cannot be effective without them playing an integral role in it. According to Lightle, Castellano and Cutting in their article, â€Å"Assessing the Control Environment,† they state that, â€Å"Of the five, the control environment may be the most critical, as well as the most difficult to manage and evaluate effectively† (Lightle, Castellano, Cutting, 2007, p. 52). They further state that â€Å"An effective control environment supports and strengthens the other control elements whereas a weak control environment undermines the other elements, rendering them useless† (p. 51). This environment emphasizes that if controls are not taken seriously by management, employees will also not take it serious. This is the reason why control environment is the backbone of the rest of the controls and without it, implementing ethical values and integrity in employees will be difficult. Risk assessment deals with the processes used to identifying organizational risks and threats within an organization and finding cost effective controls to deal with them. According to AICPA, risk assessment is â€Å"the identification and analysis of relevant risks to achieve the objectives that form the basis to determine how risks should be managed† (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 2005). An effective way to make this work is to consider both internal and external aspect of the business before it can be successful to its highest capacity. According to Sarbanes-Oxley, an â€Å"effective risk assessment requires; definition of the objectives, determination of the compatibility of the objectives, identification of risks to achieving the objectives, determination of risks associated with change, judgment as to which risks are critical and determination of actions to mitigate risks starting with the critical ones† (Walz, 2008). The third internal control framework of COSO is control activities. This component deals with the actions or actual controls executed in response to the information acquired from an effective risk assessment. They are the actual policies and procedures such as authorizations and approvals which aid management in making sure that organizational objectives are achievable. Information and communication is another important part of business which cannot be overlooked. This is because the process and what information is passed on can cause a lot of problems within the organization. It is imperative that the information flows is as accurate in the organization as possible in a way that ensures the right message is sent to the right person with the right encoding and the receiver has no problem in deciphering it. Effective information and communication helps in minimizing control risks and is directed mainly to employees to be responsible and careful in how they deal with sending and receiving information. In summary, the information and communication component aims in improving or maintaining quality and efficiency in communication within the organization. Unfortunately, some businesses are too big to accommodate any significant control process. According to â€Å"Effective Internal Control Systems Are Key to Ensuring Compliance†, â€Å"Informatio n and communication are the identification, capture, and exchange of information in a form and time frame that enable people to carry out their responsibilities† (Gundling, 2003). Monitoring is the final component of the COSO framework. It deals mainly with the evaluation and assessment of the organizations system of controls. It basically looks as the operations of an organization over a period of time to evaluate whether their objectives are being accomplished. So in effect, it is imperative that management assesses their internal control system to make sure that they are acquiescent to the organizations standard of controlling risks. According to â€Å"COSO Document Covers Internal Control Monitoring†, â€Å"COSO Document Covers Internal Control Monitoring,† he states that effective monitoring occurs by â€Å"establishing a foundation for monitoring, designing and executing monitoring procedures that are prioritized based on risk and reporting the results of monitoring to the appropriate level† (McCollum, 2008). A good way to ensure monitoring is used in its most effective way is to ensure that there are people who are qualified or have gone through training in that field and can ensure that the process it taken the tight way. This is because if management does not fully comprehend its importance the whole process could fall apart. One important aspect of monitoring is that the process should be taken serious and that risks discovered during that period should be directed to the relevant staff for corrective measures. Because of the extreme impact of the scandals that Enron and WoldCom brought into the business field, there have been entities which have been placed into the business field to prevent these fraudulent activities from occurring, one of these is the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. According to† Making compliance effective,† the act â€Å"was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush in large part because of the spectacular failures of Enron, WorldCom and other public companies† (Engle, 2009). Understanding the importance of internal controls can be difficult to comprehend. However the consequences of not adhering them are tougher to deal with. This can be seen by the utter chaos Enron and WorldCom have caused. Without controls goals and assets will be lost and operations will be terminated prematurely. Without internal controls, soon there will be no business. References Haynes and Boone, LLP, (2002). SEC Proposes Rules on Internal Controls, Ethics Codes and Financial Experts on Audit Committees. World Services Group, Retrieved from http://www.hg.org/articles/article_201.html Hurt, R. L. (2008). Accounting Information Systems: Basic Concepts Current Issues. New York: McGraw-Hill. University Of Washington, (2009, July 16). Internal Control Concept and Framework. Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/admin/finacct/office/internalcontrol/frame.html The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commissions, Initials. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from http://www.coso.org/aboutus.htm American Accounting Association, (2008, April, 1). Mission and operating policies. Committee of Sponsoring Organizations, Retrieved 09/07/2009, from http://aaahq.org/newsarc/COSOChairPosition.pdf Lightle, S., Castellano, J., Cutting, B. (2007, December). Assessing the control environment. Internal Auditor, 64(6), 51-56. Retrieved 09/07/2009, from Business Source Complete database. http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=truedb=bthAN=28323854site=ehost-livescope=site American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (2005). Internal control: a tool for the audit committee. Retrieved 09/07/2009, from American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Web site: http://www.aicpa.org/audcommctr/toolkitsnpo/Internal_Control.htm Walz, John (2008, April 11). Retrieved 09/07/2009, from Table Comparing COSO and ISO 9001 Web site: http://www4.asq.org/blogs/sarbanes-oxley/2008/04/table_comparing_coso_and_iso_9.html Gundling, Richard L. (2003, October). Effective internal control systems are key to ensuring compliance. Journal of Health Care Compliance, 2, Retrieved 09/07/2009, from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=truedb=bthAN=11291132site=bsi-live McCollum, T (2008, August). COSO Document Covers Internal Control Monitoring. Internal Auditor, [65(4)], [13-14, 2]. Engle, Paul. (2009). Making compliance effective. Industrial Engineer: IE, 41(8), Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login.aspx?direct=truedb=a9hAN=43346883site=ehost-livescope=site