Humanitarian Intervention Essay

The United Nations is an international organization that fights for world peace, and strives to control international law, international security, economic development, social progress, and human rights. In the United Nation’s preamble, it states the organization is â€Å"determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and â€Å"†¦to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.† However, the U.N. can often be ineffective and it has been an ongoing debate between the world’s leaders whether or not intervention is justified when inhumane acts are committed in foreign lands. Too many human beings have been victims of violence, rape and/or other crimes on the U.N.’s watch all because the organization is not authorized to forcefully intervene in another country. The United Nations Security Council is responsible for preserving peace between nations and even within nations, and when a nation is com mitting atrocious acts against its citizens, the U.N. and other nations should have the right to intervene militarily to end those abuses. Just as if a teenager would take on the responsibilities of providing a home and food for themselves when they move out, a country assumes the responsibility of taking care of its citizens when it becomes independent. When a country proves to the outside world it is not capable of controlling its citizens and maintaining a peaceful nation, blue helmeted U.N. troops may invade these unstable regions. It would be inhumane for the U.N., any country, or any human to witness a population suffering and not try to interfere in some way. To look the other way would be immoral and an inhumane act of itself. When trying to obtain peace in foreign countries, peaceful negotiations are not always successful and other means are necessary. In the past, the U.N. has not been able to aid suffering populations militarily and has failed to protect the citizens from vicious crimes. In a survey taken by the U.N. in 2007, â€Å"which covered a total of 14 countries, plus the Palestinian Territories, [it] found that solid majorities in each of 12 national pools believe that the U.N. Security Council should have the right to authorize the use of military force to protect innocent people from genocide and other massive abuses, even against the will of their own government† (Lobe). Even with the support of the majority of world, the U.N. still does not have the authority to forcefully protect innocent people from cruelty. When tens of thousands of people were being killed in Darfur, and Rwanda, it was the U.N.’s responsibility to step in and save the lives of those living in a country at an unfortunate time. However, by following their rules of procedure, the U.N. troops were not allowed to use force unless fired upon. Since 2003, â€Å"tens of thousands of people have being killed and over one million people displaced† in Darfur and in 1994, Hutus killed an estimated 800,000 Tutsis in Rwanda (Spectators to Genocide). â€Å"As a result of the massacre [in Rwanda], there are more than one million orphans† (Rust). But when the blue helmeted troops entered the Rwandan chaos, there was not much they could do to stop the genocides that were taking place right before their eyes. It took the United Nations three years after the United States declared the events taking place in Darfur as genocide to interfere, and even still the U.N. has done nothing beneficial to help those suffering in Darfur. Unable to seize weapons, the blue helmets stand by powerless. Had the United Nations involved itself earlier in Rwanda and Darfur and at full force, millions of people’s lives could have been saved or bettered. If the U.N. involved itself militarily, it is possible that the U.N. may have a few casualties, but the United States Army has lost a good number of soldiers over the years while fighting for causes they believe in. Sometimes sacrifices need to be made, and if a few members of the U.N. were lost in effort to protect the lives of thousands of people and potentially save a population, it would be an admirable sacrifice. It should be the world’s responsibility to defend civilians when its government is guilty of neglecting to â€Å"protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity† (Reeves). Had the United Nations acted quicker when the Hutus began killing the Tutsis, and put an end to the vicious attacks that took place during those days, future genocides could have possibly been prevented. Instead, the word genocide can be heard more frequently and little is being done to stop that. Thousands of lives could have been saved or altered had the United Nations been able to step in and militarily defend the helpless populations of Rwanda and Darfur. Justification of humanitarian intervention is essential in order to protect the lives and rights of those suffering from genocide. The U.N. should want a reputation of not allowing genocides to take place, but instead the organization is being criticized for the lack of effort and aid being lent to those countries in need. Over the years, too many lives have been lost or damaged due to genocide and other inhumane acts. Humanitarian intervention needs to be allowed when a country is not protecting its citizens, in effort to save the lives of populations. The United Nations’ ineffectiveness in the past should be enough of a reason for why humanitarian intervention should be justified. It is imperative that the United Nations be entitled to militarily involve itself when innocent lives are in danger. Works Cited â€Å"Charter of the United Nations: Preamble.† Welcome to the United Nations: It’s Your World. Web. 03 Nov. 2010. . Jim Lobe. â€Å"U.N.: POLL SHOWS BROAD SUPPORT FOR U.N. ACTION AGAINST GENOCIDE. † Global Information Network 6 April 2007 Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. Reeves, E. â€Å"Failure to Protect: International Response to Darfur Genocide. † Harvard International Review 29.4 (2008): 84-85. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 3 Nov. 2010. Rust, Selina. â€Å"RWANDA: REMEMBERING THE UNFORGETTABLE. † Global Information Network 9 April 2010 Research Library, ProQuest. Web. 9 Nov. 2010. â€Å"Spectators to Genocide. † Wall Street Journal 2 Aug. 2007, Eastern edition: National Newspaper Abstracts (3), ProQuest. Web. 3 Nov. 2010.

A Property of the Clan Essay

I have chosen to explore the theme of Peer Pressure from the text â€Å"A property of the clan† and the film â€Å"Thirteen†. In â€Å"A property of the clan† peer pressure plays a major part in the unfortunate events that unravelled within the play. This is most evident in the scene, when no one knew what had actually happened that night of the party, except those who had committed the act, and Jared. Page 28, Jared confesses to Ricko that he had witnessed the raping of Tracy that night at Black Rock.But Jared had not said anything to anyone as those who committed the felony, were in fact his friends. Jared tells Ricko â€Å"It's a madhouse. Davo and them running round saying don't be a dobber, and then the posters on telegraph poles. Shame Black Rock Shame. † This cleary portrays peer pressure as he feels as though he needs to refrain from telling the truth, to not be labelled a snitch. And he is put under more pressure considering the fact that they are his friends, and he believes that he cannot go against them, even if it is the right thing to do.After Jared tells Ricko what he had saw, Ricko gets defensive and tells Jared to keep his mouth shut. â€Å"Forget you even saw it. Nobody knows you were there. It's just the way things happen. †. Jared respons with â€Å"All right! † This represents peer pressure as Jared is put on the spot and being hassled not to tell anyone what he had seen. Jared's response with â€Å"All right! † shows him giving into peer pressure and is listening to what they are telling him to do. Powerlessness is shown in this scene by the main character Jared, as he is the vitim in the situation.This is shown mainly with the use of language techniques. For instance, page 31, â€Å"Not a word. Not a name. Not a single fucking name. Get it? † says Ricko. The use of slang and cursive lauguage by Ricko portrays aggressiveness toward Jared, putting Jared in a powerless state as he liste ns and just goes with it, not saying one word. Also, this use of launguage portrays Ricko's assertivness and puts Jared in a state where he cannot do anything about it, and that he has to listen to him. He is powerless in the situation.My poster promotes peer pressure through visual techniques such as juxaposition. This is evident as in the background, the people are positioned close together as a group, to show isolation and power over the main image of the girl. Also the use of colour is simple but eye-catching as it creates the focal point (girl) due to the contrast in colour (black and white). This layout portrays how in the play, Jared is left to decide for himself, whether he should do the right thing, or stick by his peers. Peer pressure also plays a huge role in the film â€Å"Thirteen†.Tracy (7th grader) becomes friends with the most popular girl in school, Evie, and is introduced to drugs, alcohol and sex. But Peer pressure was first and most evident when Tracy firs t hung out with Evie at a popular clothing store. Tracy shockingly witnesses Evie and her friend stealing clothing and accessories but steps outside the store as she knew it was wrong, and was laughed at and looked down by them. She had a moment to herself and thought about what had just happened. Ironically, a woman then sat next to her, and put her purse down. Tracy had a thought to herself.And only moments later, reunites with Evie, showing the wallet she had stolen and all the money that was inside. Evie's attitude toward Tracy was flipped and was then happily welcomed by her. This shows a form of peer power as Tracy is felt unwelcomed and as if she weren't fitting in, leading her to feel pressured into stealing aswell. Both power and powerlessness is shown by the main character Tracy in this scene. Powerlessness is shown through the technique juxtaposition, as Evie and her friend are always positioned close together, where as Tracy is always by herself ; portraying power over T racy.But at the end of this scene, when Tracy decided to steal the purse, she was welcomed by Evie and the use of up-beat music showed power as they walked happily together; ending the scene. Again, my poster promotes the theme of peer pressure through visual techniques such as colour. The colour of the people in the background are coloured in a shade of black, to contrast with the main image of the person in the foreground, to represent isolation and power over her. Also, the gestures made by the main image, (e. g. er stance and facials) show the feel of uneasiness in the situation, as she is under pressure by her peers. This contrasting image reflects how in the film, Tracy felt powerless and also uneasy about the situation she was in, but eventually gave in due to her peers. To conclude, peer pressure is clearly present in both the related texts â€Å"A Porperty of the Clan† and the film† thirteen†. Peer pressure is an inevitable part of life, which everyone wi ll evetually encounter; And these both these texts show the consequences of such.

Proposed Market Research for Famuss car Rental Essay

Proposed Market Research for Famuss car Rental - Essay Example In 2009 Car rental industry, took a major plunge due to economic recession. But they slowly emerged out from recession and in 2012 and 2013 this industry looked very positive and they started to gain profit. With the growth in the tourism industry the growth of car rental agencies has risen (Henry, 2008, p.57). The travellers have the liberty to move around freely with such rental cars. A growing number of air travellers had led to the increase in revenue of the car rental agencies around the world. Discussion The Trends in the Overall Market The car rental industry is a major part of the transport industry. It is affected by various factors like increase in the GDP growth which in turns results in increase in the number of air travellers. 45 to 50 Millions of vehicles are rented all across the Europe. The importance of car rental industry can be seen from the growth of major car rental companies like Enterprise Rent a car and National Car Rental. For example UK’s largest car rental company National Car Rental has a fleet base of over 40,000 vehicles and 170 branches all over. Both of the above mentioned companies have received prestigious ITM awards and have made notable contributions in the sector (Vogel, 2012, p. 124). The global Car rental industry is now facing radical transformations. Some year ago most of the major car rental companies of US were owned by the car manufacturers (Lee, 2013, p. 1). Now only Ford has their own car rental business named Hertz. But apart from that most of the other large car rental companies are owned by individual companies who are only into car rental business. Few examples are Alamo Rent a Car and National Car Rental are owned by Taylor family of St. Louis; Budget and Ryder is owned by Sandy Miller who is a former franchisee. These players along with a few others control over 90 per cent of the market (Autoescape. 2013, p. 12). Here are some of the facts of car rental industry of US in 2012 It employed over 126,000 i n US The Total revenue grew from $31.6 billion in 2007 to $33.7 billion in 2012, which shows that the industry is rising. Demand of car rental companies increased throughout 2012 as the air travel cost increased. The revenue is expected to grow from 5.6% in 2012 to 3.0% in 2013. The number of foreign tourist which visited the US had increased by 3.4% for the past five years to 2012. Market Segment Famus Car Rental intends to target basically two markets. The market of the company is segmented into two parts the luxury car segment as well as the economy segment. The company thinks that the luxury cars would be the suitable in case of the special occasions (McDonald and Hawkins, 2013, p. 15). The people may hire the luxury cars during the weddings or various events. On the other hand the economy cars would be hired on the day to day basis for the regular requirements of the individuals. The market for the high end customers would be comparatively niche because the rental costs of the cars would be more. On the other hand the rental costs of the cars would be less for the economy sections. The luxury cars would also be taken by the business travellers. The business travellers would not hesitate to pay the high price for the cars. On the other hand the event management companies would also be an ideal target market for the luxury cars. The competition in this

Project Management of Marks&Spencer Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Project Management of Marks&Spencer - Case Study Example Project Management is the art of directing and coordinating human and material resources throughout the life of a project by using modern management techniques to achieve predetermined objectives of scope, cost, time and quality and participation satisfaction. In order to meet the organizational objective of providing increased satisfaction to the customers by offering products of superior quality and an efficient service in more attractive surroundings that are comfortable to the customers a continuous stores development programme on the part of Marks & Spencer is the most important factor to decide on the expansion and modernization of their stores locations. Apart from the customer satisfaction from the commercial angle also when there is an opportunity for increased profitability resulting from such relocation the company would as well take it up to get the advantage. In the instant case the new location Kendal being a busy market town as well as a popular tourist area in Cumbria offered excellent prospects of increased sales activity. Existing sales performances, proposed selling space available, local customer profile, size of the catchment of the population and local competition are some of the other deciding factors that will infl uence the decision about the project. The major obstacle was the climatic factor as the n... The initial preparation of the site by the contractor may also pose an issue though not a major one. It was necessary to get all the statutory clearances by giving notices abiding by the requirements of public notice periods so that if there are any objections from the public. Another issue in the way of the progress of the project was the important building regulations approval required was for the changes in the elevation involving design changes and relocation of entrances. One of the major obstacles faced was in the issue of the opening dates so that the sales during the festive season were not missed. However the project team did not want to rush up and end in doing wrong things. Discussion and Evaluation: As outlined earlier the organizational objective of Marks & Spencer in improving customer satisfaction and thereby achieving enhanced profitability was aimed to be achieved through this relocation project. The major deciding factor in favour of the project is the location of the new site which is a business town as well as a tourist spot which offers a twin advantage for improving the sales of the company. Moreover the geographical location also went in favour of the decision to relocate. As explained by the Stores Planner the customer satisfaction can be improved not only by offering quality products to the customers but also by providing an attractive and comfortable stores environment. When both these factors are combined in any retail store relocation, the project is bound to result a remarkable success. Moreover efficient stores design also result in an effective cost minimisation. A lot of inputs in the form of studying the existing

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT - Essay Example J. Heinz Co’s Resources 40 2.3.1.1 Increase Competiveness 45 2.3.1.2 Long-term Sustainability 49 2.3.1.3 Corporate Social Responsibility 54 2.4 Porter’s Value Chain Framework 59 2.4.1 H. J. Heinz Co’s Porter’s Value Chain 59 3.0 Conclusion 70 4.0 Bibliography 73 1.0 Introduction H.J.Heinz Company was started in the year 1900 in Pennsylvania and it manufactures a vast range of food products throughout the world. The Company’s principal products include ketchup, condiments and sauces, frozen food, soups, beans and pasta meals, infant nutrition and other food products (HJ Heinz Company, 2005). The company is present in over 110 major locations worldwide, with leading brands on six continents. The Heinz brand is a $2.5 billion global icon and Heinz's top-15 power brands account for two-thirds of annual sales (HJ Heinz Company, 2006). With more than $8 billion in annual sales, Heinz's 50 companies have leading brands in more than 200 countries (HJ Heinz Company, 2009). In the year ending 2010, it achieved sales of $10.5 billion and gross profit of $3.8 billion (HJ Heinz Company, 2010). These positive results reflected increased innovation and marketing and dynamic growth in Emerging Markets. However, one of the core aspects of the company is also its unique lean production techniques which have played a major part in enhancing the efficiency of the company while at the same time managing to survive tough global markets especially for a US based company tackling recession. 2.0 Discussion 2.1 Evaluation on H. J. Heinz Co 2.1.1 Definition of Lean Production Lean production simply means a manufacturing paradigm that improves product quality; reduce production costs and being able to respond to customer needs quickly (Radhakrishnan and Balasubramanian, 2008). The main principles of lean focus on the methods of creating a continuous improving culture that engages employees in reducing production time and material in order to meet custome r’s needs. Lean production also concentrates on systematic elimination of non-valued added activity of waste from the production and implementation process of lean principles (Chalice, 2007), which will contribute an improvement environment performance (Radhakrishnan and Balasubramanian, 2008). The term lean production can be traced to its origins with Japanese companies more specifically in the Automobile market which faced issues like lack of resources including financial and labour. At this stage of crisis, two employees of Toyota Motors namely Eiji Toyoda and Taiichi Ohno developed this unique concept to manage such a crisis focusing solely on terminating waste in a production or manufacturing process which is called as Lean Manufacturing in the western region. 2.1.2 H. J. Heinz Co’s Lean Production Being a global food processing company, Heinz critically needs to leverage its production aligning with its strategy of waste management. While the company has extensiv ely worked on various lean production and waste management cases, research will focus on one of the major cases of the company where waste management was successfully done Amongst its other global strategies, when Heinz chose to give priority to waste management, it realized that technology would be one of the key aspects if it were to successfully compete in the industry and reduce waste. After careful analysis of several competitive applications, Heinz chose an enterprise asset

California Proposition 32 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

California Proposition 32 - Essay Example Against: From the votes cast on the 8th of November 2012, we understand that a lot of people were opposed to the enactment of the proposition 32. Some of those against the proposition include league of Women voters in California, rights groups and politicians. They argue that Proposition 32 will lead to the exemption of big businesses based in Wall Street and therefore this will not contribute to equal political reforms (Castro 2012). Some argue that it tends to shield PACs have no restrictions in raising funds for their political motives and therefore it would be unfair to prevent unions and other interest groups from raising funds. Beneficiaries: In case Proposition 32 had passed, the major beneficiaries would have been business people who would have relied on the law for the purposes of controlling their employees. Since the power of unions would have been diminished in the process of influencing political decisions (Laffer 109). It is not only the unions that would have been disa dvantaged but also interest groups who represent a bulk of workers and voters. This is because rich people who have the power of influencing politics through the use of super PACs and other means. Since the proposition failed, it is these business people and other interest groups that will feel the impact since they will still have to contend with unions and special interest groups in politics. Gains: The unions and special interest groups will the groups that were the winners of the defeat of Proposition 32.... Some argue that it tends to shield PACs have no restrictions in raising funds for their political motives and therefore it would be unfair to prevent unions and other interest groups from raising funds. Beneficiaries: In case proposition 32 had passed, the major beneficiaries would have been business people who would have relied on the law for the purposes of controlling their employees. Since, the power of unions would have been diminished in the process of influencing political decisions (Laffer 109). It is not only the unions that would have been disadvantaged but also interest groups who represent a bulk of workers and voters. This is because rich people who have power of influencing politics through use of super PACs and other means (Resmovits 2012). Since the proposition failed, it is these business people and other interest groups that will feel the impact since they will still have to contend with unions and special interest groups in politics. Gains: The unions and special i nterest groups will the groups that were the winners of the defeat of proposition 32. This is because they still showed all other groups that they are in control of the politics in California. Workers will benefit from the defeat of the proposition since employers will not have control over minimum wages and other issues. The main gainers will be the workers, unions, special interest groups and some politicians such as Democrats who have the support of the unions (Castro 2012). As at 3rd some $ 60.5 million had been pumped into the support for proposition 32 while another $ 73.3 million had been used to oppose the proposition. Loopholes: There

Philosophy of Science - Does Creationism qualify as science Essay

Philosophy of Science - Does Creationism qualify as science - Essay Example This new aspect erroneously emphasizes that both the earth and universe were born some 10,000 years ago and the present life form of the earth is the outcome of catastrophes like floods. Some creation scientists again hold that human beings were born out of divine intervention for the presence of intelligence absent in others. The creationism aspect of science on account of the above examples is countering problem for the proper teaching of science. (Skehan & Nelson, 1-2). Thus, the activities of creation scientists are aiming to draw a rift between experimental nature of science and a scientific approach based on false dogmas and religious ideologies. Creationism which fails to impart an experimental outlook fails to be qualified as Science. Controversial Theories of Creation Science against Science Scientific Creationism is observed to largely mingle religious ideologies with scientific doctrines causing the formation of erroneous facts which cultivate an environment of misinformat ion. In fact, the doctrines rendered by Creation Science which states that the formation and destruction of life forms on the planet were the outcome of a deluge were observed to bear close resemblance to Biblical theories. These facts rendered by Creation Science draw controversies for Science has already stated the age of the earth as amounting to some billions of years. With regards to the development of the large diversity of flora and fauna Science has successfully shown that these diversities sprouted out owing to the effects of evolution. The facts stated by Science gain ground for being supported by experimental observations conducted through the study of fossils which claims that evolution is a spontaneous phenomenon and not merely a theory. An endeavor to intensify the realm of Creation Science to reach the Science classrooms was largely contested on several grounds. The Law of the land observed such moves of Creation Science as totally unconstitutional due to mainly three aspects. Firstly, it was observed that such a drive affected the secularity of the region and legislation. It is because the approach of Creation Science is considered to have strong linkages to the Catholic religion. Secondly, it was held that the Creation Science’s approach was involved more in spreading religion than centered on imparting knowledge. Thirdly the approach made by Creation Science was also felt as anti-governmental activity and thus an endeavor was made to restrict its further development. Several schools of the American region were strictly directed to disallow the professing of the doctrines of Creation Science. The activities of Creation Science however did counter less halt as it came out with the doctrine of ‘Intelligent Design’. The theory of ‘Intelligent Design’ is considered to be propounded by the Creation Science theorists to counter the strength of legislative actions imposed upon it. The theory of ‘Intelligent Desi gn’ propounded by the Creation Scientists presents itself in two parts. The first part aimed at totally criticizing the theory of evolution framed by Charles Darwin. It aimed at stating that the theory of evolution was totally wrong and practically suffered from absence of a strong base. In the second part the concept of ‘Intelligent Design’ tried to focus that each of the different life forms on earth including the intelligent human beings were the actions of some

The impact of different regulation regimes on funds performance Essay

The impact of different regulation regimes on funds performance - Essay Example The fixed income securities have the ability to provide regular income, stability and liquidity to the investors and as a result the investors prefers in investing in this kinds of funds. With the advent of these funds investors are relying on its investment as risks are relatively reduced as they receive a fixed dividend after a specified period of time. There are numerous benefits for investing in fixed income securities, which attracts the investors to invest in it. The rules and regulations pertaining to the investments are stringent, which restricts groups of people in investing in these funds. For investing in few fixed income securities registration is required, which becomes a hindrance for common investors. However, the government of individual countries have reduced the compliance burden to a great extent. The retirement fund administrators have to obey the strict legislation the requirements related to the governance of the fund. A personal statement is provided in order g ive the view of the writer regarding the operation of fixed income securities. Fixed income securities are securities, which are defensive in nature and have the capability to provide capital stability, liquidity, income and diversification to the investors. It provides capital stability to growth-oriented asset classes, such as, property and equity. In spite of the advantages portrayed by the fund, it has limited use worldwide. As for example, the investors in Australia do not use this particular fund as fixed income investment, instead they employed other managed funds over the past 23 years. Within this time frame, a proportion of investor’s wealth is allocated to fixed income securities present in Australia. The investments in fixed income funds had, however, declined over the years. During this period of time, the investment made in equities had increased as it is made in cash. Hence, it can be portrayed that

Age-Related Changes that Occur in the Cardiovascular System Essay Example for Free

Age-Related Changes that Occur in the Cardiovascular System Essay The title page introducing what subject I am planning on presenting to the residents of the independent living facility. It tells them who I am and what subject is being presented. The residents that I am going to be addressing are healthy, active and mentally alert senior who want to learn more about health conditions that are affecting their age group in general and are of major concern. Slide 2 Homeostasis is the equilibrium of the body. Homeostasis is maintained by the balance of our vital signs to keep us on an even keel. The definition of Homeostasis is, â€Å"Homeostasis is the compensation of the vital signs to regulate the hearts blood flow and maintain balance within the body† (Jenkins, Kemnitz, Tortora 2010). The autonomic system and its branches keep the body moving and functioning. Like these teeter-totters the parasympathetic and the sympathetic move oppose of each other, but keep a slow steady rhythm and together they work as a whole. Slide 3 The fight or flight dilemma. The fight stance is pretty self-explanatory; these are noticeable effects like pupils dilated, neck and shoulders stiffen up or tense, chest pain or palpations, mouth can get very dry or cotton mouth, these are just some of the examples of signs and symptoms that an individual can experience. The flight stance is more hidden and not necessarily identified by the patient or doctor until the more noticeable symptoms are visible. Some of the hidden symptoms can be, but not limited to blood pressure can get higher to a dangerous level, more adrenalin is released into the individuals system, liver produces more glucose to give energy to the muscles, and the digestion system will slow or stop completely. Slide 4 Some of the side effects from medication or treatments can be uncomfortable and more severe than the symptoms of the condition that is being treated. Looking on the brighter side is that once the medication or treatments are manageable the medication is controlling the condition, than life can get back to normal except for some life style changes. Diet and exercise can be the most drastic changes, and the hardest to comply with. If an individual has never exercised much and has lived on fast food, eating healthy and increasing activity besides sitting in front of the television can be the most challenging. Slide 5 A hypertensive heart has thickened ventricular walls which make the heart work harder to pump the blood throughout the body. When the walls thicken, the elasticity is decreases and the heart and other systems need to work harder to pump oxygenated blood throughout the body. Any condition that affects the oxygenated blood from flowing through the heart can cause the ventricular walls to thicken. As we age our blood pressure increases, age, ethninticity, weight, and genetics can play a role in a hypertensive heart condition. Slide 6 Hypertension is sometimes call, â€Å"The Silent Killer† (www. medicinenet. com 2013). Hypertension usually does not have any symptoms and puts a lot of stress on other major organs which over time will start to deteriorate. Some side- affects that can impact quality of life are sexual dysfunction, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurological problems. Sexual dysfunction is usually more noticeable and bothersome to men. Heart disease can lead to other heart related problems, like heart attack (MCI), stroke (CVA), and congestive heart failure (CHF). Slide 7 After the diagnosis of hypertension, the physician and individual will work on a plan to manage the hypertension. Most of the time this includes medication, low fat, low sodium diet and exercise. This will include some changes in your family’s life to. Our society functions on fast food, and not enough education on the right foods to eat. Exercise can be as little as walking around the block or as much as working out at the gym several times a week. Blood pressure needs to be taken every time there is a doctor’s appointment and sometimes it should be Slide 8 Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is caused from a waxy substance building up in the coronary arteries called plaque. Blood is slowed because of the plaque blocking the arteries and slowing the blood flow. Sometimes the plaque can disengage and cause a blood clot that if not detected and treated can cause a stroke or heart attack. The lack of oxygen-rich blood to the heart and major arteries over time will cause organ to deteriorate and healthy tissue and muscles will start to die. Acting quickly is the key in recovering from a heart attack or not surviving. Some symptoms can include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Men generally have classic signs of a heart attack; women can have other symptoms that are not classic symptoms, like lower back pain, and even neck pain. Slide 9 Heart attacks can be caused from medication (legal and illegal), stress, diet, generational, exposure to extreme cold weather, and cigarette smoking. Drugs and alcohol when taken in large quantities can be damaging to body when not prescribed for a treated condition. Narcotics, over-the-counter, cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, alcohol, even medication for certain conditions if taken differently than prescribed can do harm to the heart and body. Slide 10 Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the leading cause for hospitalization in individuals over the age of 65 years old. The heart needs to work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood through the body. The myocardium’s thickened walls make the heart work harder to pump blood. The heart may pump more freely to hold more blood or stiffen and harden as time goes on. Slide 11 Some of the symptoms of congestive heart failure is kidneys start retaining water and salt, edema in the legs, ankles, arms and feet. The lungs can start retaining fluid to. More weight from the excess of fluid puts stress on the heart, shortness of breath and more exertion on activity. Slide 12 Myocardial Infarction (MCI) is the medical term for heart attack. Some of the symptoms can include seizures, dizziness, fainting, fainting, chest pain or discomfort and extreme fatigue. The person may experience the heart racing really fast, like if they ran a marathon, but were sitting down and relaxing. If the individual has unexplained family deaths at an early age can put them in a higher-risk category. Slide 13 This slide is a picture depicting what might happen in a heart attack. A blood clot can dislodge and move through the blood stream until it blocks oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart or major organ, or it completely blocks the pathway of blood flow. If not treated immediately, it can lead to tissue and muscles becoming damaged or dying all completely and then death. References Jenkins, Kemintz, Tortora (2010) Anatomy and Physiology. John Wiley and Sonc Inc. Kulik. (2013, April). www. medicinenet. com. Retrieved from Myocardial Infarction: www. medicinenet. com Ladwig, A. a. (2014). Nursing Diagnosis Handbook. Mosby by Elsevier Inc. National Stroke Association. (2012). After Stroke. Effects of Strokes, www. stroke. org. Potter, P. S. (2012). Fundamentals of Nursing. St. Louis: Mosby an imprint by Elsevier Inc .

Starting and Naming a Business Essay Example for Free

Starting and Naming a Business Essay Betty Wilson’s venture of opening a Christian Coffee House in Belmont, NC, presents her with abundant opportunities in selecting a business form. She is considering the following types of entities: 1) franchise, 2) sole proprietorship, 3) partnership of some sort, 4) corporation of some sort, 5) LLC, or 6) even as a joint venture. We will briefly explore each business option and give Betty concise recommendations as to what business form to pursue as well as what business partners to engage. Franchise A franchise is a legal agreement between franchisers and franchisees that consents use of the franchise’s trademark and trade name or marketing plan to sell products or services (Kubasek, Brennan, Browne, 2012, p. 791). Through a franchising arrangement franchisee can profit from implementing another’s efficacious business model. One of the most attractive advantages is the high probability of success of 90 % as compared to 20 % for small businesses (Staring and Naming a Business Presentation, 2012, Slide 9). Other advantages include established franchise reputation, operational support and training, product research and development, and better access to financing. On the downside, business plan rigidity can deprive the quality of customer service and hinder a creative business owner. Thus, both the Clayton Act regulates business competition and price discrimination (15 USC  §Ã‚ § 12-27; 36 Am J1st Monop etc  §Ã‚ § 141, 142) and the Sherman Act is a federal antitrust act (15 USC  §Ã‚ § 1 et seq; 36 Am J1st Monop etc.  § 141) protect the public and small business owners from monopolization and market power. Sole Proprietorship Sole proprietors own an unincorporated business on their own and this type of business constitutes the most predominant form of business enterprise in the United States (Kubasek, et al., 2012, p. 758). Advantages of a sole proprietor include complete decision-making power, flexibility, easiest and inexpensive to start, enjoyment of all profits, no corporate tax payments, and reporting losses and income on personal tax returns. A sole proprietorship is treated as one entity with the owner. The most significant disadvantage is total personal responsibility for all debts and liabilities, which constitutes the element of risk that drives away investors to more solid business ventures (Kubasek, et al. 2012, p. 758-759). Partnership General. Similar to sole proprietorship, this type of entity is uncomplicated and less costly to create. This is an association of two or more individuals who contribute labor, money, property, and skills and consequently share in the profits of the business. A general partner exists only if the profits are shared and do not only receive a wage or salary (Kubasek, et al., 2012, p. 759). Some of the most enticing features are sharing in the decision-making control, authority different aspects of the business (i.e., management, capital, etc.), and simplified taxing. As with a sole proprietorship, a disadvantage is that each partner has unlimited personal liability for all debts, contracts, and torts. And similarly to any conglomerate of people, differences in views, standards, performance, and expectations can undoubtedly clash and encumber profitable business management. Limited. Limited partnerships consist of both general and limited partners (Staring and Naming a Business Presentat ion, 2012, Slide 4). The main difference of limited partnership to general partnership is that limited partners are not liable in sharing the debts outside the funds they contribute to the partnership. A limited partner is vastly disengaged in management decisions and operations and function solely as contributors of capital. One of the main advantages of this business structure is that they enjoy direct contact to the flow of income. In North Carolina, limited partnerships are strictly controlled by the Uniform Partnership Act (1941, c. 374, s. 1; 2000 140, s. 101(j); 2001 487, s. 20.) administrates the creation, operation, and liquidation of all partnerships formed. Finally, at any time a limited partnership agreement is breached, the business entity is treated as a general partnership. Corporation A corporation is a separate legal entity that possesses distinctive liabilities and privileges than that of their members or shareholders. As an investor, a corporation’s advantage is liability for their own investments especially in risky investments (Kubasek, et al., 2012, p. 760). Among the various types of corporations for Betty to select from, an S corporation is an enticing venture for new entrepreneurs given that it grants limited personal liability for debts, sharing of corporate profits, and taxation relief. Double taxation is a main disadvantage of C corporations but not for S corporations. The General Corporation Law (Corp C  §Ã‚ §100-2319) treats S corporations similarly to partnerships for taxation purposes. Limited Liability Company (LLC) As a hybrid of partnerships and corporations, LLC’s provide limited liability for debts and flexibility to be taxed as a partnership or corporation (Staring and Naming a Business Presentation, 2012, Slide 5). Some specific advantages include being empowered authorities in the management of the business, diversity of members, limited liability, pass-through taxation, and less paperwork (appreciated by many). A drawback of this business structure is the need for a tailored operating agreement that specifies the specific needs of the company. Joint Venture A joint venture is a business partnership that usually involves a specific purpose or goal for its formation and the partnerships dissolve after the goal is attained. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) normally does not recognize a joint venture as a legal entity so it is treated as a partnership (Staring and Naming a Business Presentation, 2012, Slide 8). This is advantageous in that the partners equally distribute authority to govern, share profits and losses, and contribute labor, money, property, efforts, and skills to expand the success of the business project (Kubasek, et al., 2012, p. 759). According to the Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-28), the only type of qualified joint venture that cannot be treated as a partnership it that of an unincorporated business between a husband and wife. The main disadvantages of joint ventures are uneven collaboration, expertise, management styles, and research to reinforce sound decisions. Recommendation Business name. To determine corporate name availability, Betty must comply with statutory requirements to allow her to name the coffee shop â€Å"Gathering Place.† After utilizing the search engine for the Department of the Secretary of State North Carolina to determine the name availability â€Å"Gathering Place,† generating fifteen results. The businesses range from motels, publishers, books stores, churches, and pastry and coffee shops. Under the hospitality industry, two food service businesses resulted that are Gathering Place Cafà © Sweet Treats, Inc. located in Archdale, NC and The Gathering Place and Bake Shoppe of Fayetteville, NC. Some of the basic apprehensions to the name is that it is confusingly similar and it doesn’t target the desired consumer market. Because it is in a town with no businesses with the same title, Betty can definitely brand her business with the â€Å"Gathering Place† title. Business type. In hindsight, a LLC would grant Betty needed flexibility given the diversity of interested business partners. This business structure is well suited for individuals who can invest into a new venture and have many interested parties as well as needed beneficiaries of taxation privileges. The Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (C  § 18-1101(b) set precedent to the freedom of contract of LLC’s and obligations set forth in operating agreements. Betty would be legally well protected if she entered business with John (husband), Alice (sister), or Erma (neighbor). My recommendation would be for Betty to include John and Erma in the business endeavor and keep Alice outside the endeavor given the strong opposition of her husband. Final Thoughts We can find numerous Bible passages that warn against unequal yoking (i.e., 2 Corinthians 6:14). I would advice Betty to enter into an LLC with her husband John and Neighbor Erma. In spite of her confused perfection of her â€Å"Christian† worldview, Erma can prove to be a good business partner and profit from being in business with a mature Christian such as Betty. References Clayton Act (15 USC  §Ã‚ § 12-27). Corporations Division for Department of the Secretary of State North Carolina (2012). Retrieved from http://www.secretary.state.nc.us/corporations/searchresults.aspx?onlyactive=OFFWords=ALLsearchstr=gathering%20place Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (C  § 18-1101(b). General Corporation Law (Corp C  §Ã‚ §100-2319). Kubasek, N. K., Brennan, B. A. Browne, M. N. (2012). The legal environment of business: A critical thinking approach (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Liberty University (2012, Spring). Staring and naming a business. Legal Issues in Business class presentation. Retrieved from http://bb7.liberty.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-15354309-dt-content-rid-74512567_1/courses/BUSI561_D10_201220/presentations/Module%207/index.html Small Business and Work Opportunity Tax Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-28). Uniform Partnership Act of North Carolina ( §Ã‚ § 59-31).

Social Class: Maintaining Divisions Within Society

Social Class: Maintaining Divisions Within Society As social beings we naturally form groups for survival and support, as the popular saying goes No man is an island, and indeed, we are not. We form social groups that unite us with one another and give us a sense of security. These groups can be created from the tiniest of excuses, for example; a group of people that meet at the bus stop every Tuesday at 5am, after seeing each other regularly they easily form alliance and share mutual goals and norms i.e. getting the bus on time. It is within these groups that we receive our social identities. These social identities can be awarded within a small intimate group like a family or in a large scale group like a class in society. Their common goals create an us and a them response governed by a group conscience (Tajfel, 1971). This response can be a strength, for example, a great championship team attempting to win 4x400meter relay race, find that distinguishing themselves from others could be positive experience that builds self-esteem, making them work harder than others and mesh better. However, even though these social groups provide us with positive identities, securities etc., they can at the same time have a negative effect and create bias towards other groups whether they realise it or not. In this essay, I will discuss how specific social groups based on class and status, come to exist and explore their importance in society. The disadvantages or advantages experienced by a social group within a stratum reflect the amount of power they have in society. The power comes directed from the resources one is advantaged enough to have, for example, ranging from being able to afford an education, from which, one can gain employment, from which, one can move up to a moderate position within a company, from which, they have the income to buy a house, car and pay for healthcare; to owning an international chain of restaurants, from which, one can afford a luxury yacht that offers luxury cruises, generating enough income to buy a third house and another yacht or two. This is why sociologists believed that social stratification was the core factor that influences the sharing of power in society. There have been many attempts to determine a deciding factor for social power. Some feminists like Firestone (1971) believed that all societies were divided into opposed sex classes that were the basis of gender inequalities. She argued that all men in society oppressed women because of the biological, psychological and physical shortcomings they experienced due to pregnancy, child-birth and child rearing. Her ideas stemmed from the womens liberation movements in Europe and America in the 1960s and represented emancipation. Meanwhile, other systems presented a supressed, racially influenced explanation of social stratification. In the 19th century, the idea that race determined specifically by inherited biological distinctions was the deciding factor in social strata becoming prominent in society. Gumplowicz (1885) viewed ethnic and racial conflict as the fundamental mechanism of social development. Gumplowicz believed that it inevitable and natural for one ethnic group to surpass an other, giving chance for the strongest to emerge. Gobineau (1853-5) and Chamberlain (1899) promoted racial stratification and warranted the oppression of inferior ethnicities. Ideas like these were detrimental to the seemingly inferior ethnicity and fuelled thinkers like Adolf Hilter (1925) who sought to eliminate inferior races in favour of the Aryan race. Sexual and racial inequalities are undeniably influential, however, they cannot be individually crowned as the primary causes of social stratification. Race itself does not exist, it is a social construct, and there is only one human race (Gordon, 1964). Ethnicity instead of race, on the other hand, does exist, based on cultural differences springing from history, origin, religion language and the like, however, it is an inequality that contributes to social stratification but does not solely determine the outcome. Similarly, sexual stratification struggles to define all social division because men and women thrive in complete isolation. Men and womens sexual differences are the building blocks of society and essential for existence so they cannot be the core reason for stratification because stratification is division of society, they are requirements. Neither sexual nor racial inequalities can define a single source of stratification because people are so complicated and diverse, t hey cannot individually account for the complexities within society. Other sources of stratification are political status, religion or class. Max Weber (1948) suggested that a wider perspective that incorporates sex and ethnicity should be considered. He believed that there were three unique aspects that spread across humanity and influenced the distribution of power in society and life chances in their own way. The three aspects were class (economic power), status (communal power) and authority (authoritative power). Weber was initially influenced Karl Marx and further developed his own ideas specifically about class and status. Social class refers to a conscious group of people that share the same socio-economic background, whose life chances are decided by the class they belong to. The class system in Britain is a prime example, society is divided into the upper class (mostly aristocrat families, headed by the Queen); middle class (upper-middle class e.g. architects, barristers, high level doctors etc.; middle-middle class e.g. management, teachers, accountancy, social work etc.; and the lower-middle class e.g. clerical , administrative etc.); working class (skilled e.g. a white van man or self-employed contractor and unskilled e.g. customer service or telesales); and the underclass (long term unemployed living off welfare). Marx (1867) believed that almost every society was a class society with exception of the most primitive societies because they were smaller and undeveloped. He viewed possessing means of production, especially property, was the deciding influence in social division. He suggested society was of capitalist nature, distinguishing two conspicuous classes: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. The bourgeoisie owned the means of production and derived majority, if not, all of their income from capital. They were known as the capitalist class. On the reverse were the proletariat, who did not own any means of production and instead work for the bourgeoisie. They were known as the working class. The bourgeoisie, owning the means of production, kept majority of the wealth generated by the proletariat; the bourgeoisie received surplus value from their resources, meanwhile, the proletariat only received a small percentage of their economic worth. He believed that skilled labour in particular had greater value and deserved higher wages. Marx strongly believed that the proletariat were oppressed to the extent that the existed in a state of false consciousness, where they were content with their hardship. He believed that over time the classes would collapse due to internal conflict and a revolution would ensue. He believed the solution to the class system was effective communism. Weber, influenced by Marx, overruled the idea of effective communism, thinking that the proletariat revolution was highly unlikely because the power of false consciousness was too strong. He understood the bourgeoisie/proletariat class relationship was not so black and white. There were grey areas such as the manager that does not own the means of production and governs the proletariat but does not receive surplus let alone receiving their fair wages. He suggested the distribution of power was not rooted purely in economic power. Both the possession and non-possession of economic assets disperse power in society because from both avenues income is secured, for example, working for an company is labour which has to be bought by the employer, thus, providing income/capital via the non-possession of economic assets. Weber viewed class divisions as having economic basis only and that individually class alone could not condition people into stratum. He believed that the increase in wages that Marx sought after would, if granted, would produce cause and effect experience from significant changes in lifestyles, subsequently creating antagonism in the disadvantaged groups. This revolution would be spurred by rational motives instead of stir from false consciousness. Instead of just class, there were two more aspects determining distribution of power and life chances in society: status (communal power) and authority (authoritative power). Status, for example, held ground when it came to prominent religious figures/poets that were highly significant in society with little economic power. Authoritative power could be executed by a senior police officer that has a lot of authority but not a lot of property. Other criticisms were that the boundaries between various groups are almost impossible to specify. Also, a moral stance was not identified, whether the motives for the division where good or bad. Dahrendorf (1959) also mentioned that in many western societies there are fairly large middle classes because education was more prevalent and available, creating the opportunity to progress. Weber understood that unlike Marx, explaining stratification in only terms of economic factors was unreasonable and stressing the importance of non-economic factors. He further developed his ideas on the non-economic factor of status. Social status refers to the ranking of an individual in a society as superior or inferior according to the values that they have in common. It is the reputation of the individual granted by lifestyle and duties, dictating their life chances, those that successfully conform to the required standard receive great honour and prestige (high status); and vice versa. In minute societies, status is determined by intimate details gathered from regular face to face interaction. However, in larger, complicated societies, ranking is generated by generalisations based on age, sex, family relationships, ethnicity, sexuality etc., putting one into a specific social group regardless of ability or accomplishments. It is the potentially boosting or diminishing assessmen t of lifestyle choices without any real information about the individual preferences. Diminishing status can be very dangerous because it can create a sense of negativity around those of said status, if not worse. For example, in the Indian Caste system, status is assigned according to ethnicity. They range from the religious scholars and leaders at the highest status group known as the Brahim, and the lowest status group known as the Dalits or the untouchables. This is a closed/ascribed status system where despite challenges one cannot change their status because they are born into it. An open/achieved status system is one where status groups are based on merit and achievement so there is social mobility. According to Parsons (1940) status is assigned depending on the most significant social position in a society, for example, lineage, gender, age etc. An example of status assignment are in a tribal society where older men have the highest ranking and young women have the lowest ranking until married off, then a young woman can increase her ranking via her associatio n with her husband. Modern societies alternatively, determine membership by specific public positions. Despite the large variety of occupations, those with the most prestigious receive higher status and vice versa. Strangers are usually judged based on the assumed status gathered from clothing to accents to cars. In contemporary societies status is assumed via income and consumption, and aspirations are geared towards earning higher incomes. Parsons was criticised by an array of sociologists, some argued that not everyone in contemporary societies share the same significant social positions. Therefore, a unified set of views cannot be assumed. Modern societies also have multiple value systems that dictate status. Others stated that in some value systems a person that is, for example, a black doctor despite the high status of being a doctor would be assigned a low status because of his ethnicity. Weber (1924) believed that when it came to life chances, status was a more important factor instead of class because majority of the population would be more likely to make sacrifices based on social status as it affected their day to day life more. From a Functionalist perspective, stratification is essential for society to operate smoothly; especially in industrial societies with complicated division of labour. They believe that the inadequate wages served to motivate people to aim higher, creating competition for important roles in society. Critics contended that the definition of important roles were inadequate and stated that the importance of roles does not directly reflect in wages. Society is not a meritocracy because many are born into their class and status. Also, how is inequality essential for society? Another perspective was the conflict theory stating that stratification is universal but inevitable, unnecessary and not vital for society. Stratification was fashioned and maintained by the elite to guard and enhance their interests. Inequality is not inevitable and it does not promote the ideal functioning of society. They continue to sustain disparity by controlling ideas and information of the masses to keep them in their boxes spreading ideologies such as scientific racism, the divine right of kings and a fair days pay for a fair days work etc. Information released to the public is often manipulated or filtered e.g. Paris Hilton being mentioned on BBCs 10 oclock News etc. Technology is used to monitor our habits e.g. mobile phones, surveillance cameras, oyster cards, credit cards, Facebook etc. The elite sustain by keeping close-knit social networks that pass their privileges from generation to generation. Having looked at the in-depth definition of stratification, I think society is divided for worse. Established class and status play an important role in keeping the rich rich and the poor poor. I support the Marxist view when it comes to the bourgeoisie oppressing the proletariat recklessly. However, as Weber stated it is more complicated that two distinct classes but the presence of the elite is still felt. However, communism is not necessarily the answer to societys woes. Stratification is naturally inevitable to a degree because the variety of innate differences in peoples abilities. It also provides necessary structure to govern large populations. Evolution states that after distribution of essential resources, the surplus will eventually rank some as more affluent. Symbolic interactionists mention that predominant symbols i.e. wealth, define all social interactions, which in turn develops a persons sense of self and placing in society. Wealth is not necessarily a bad thing, part icularly when it is earned through hard work; it is just harmful when its distribution is extremely lop-sided due to exploitation. The proletariat are the building blocks of society and they deserve a share of the capital. We all have same basic needs and it is selfish for people to have ridiculous amounts of excess i.e. four twenty bedroom mansions and a private jet while the majority of people elsewhere cannot guarantee where their next meal is coming from. This is inequality and an exhibition of the us and them mentality to highest order. It is not necessary for the groups to fuse into one group and develop intimate social ties; however the groups should have mutual respect towards one another as fellow human beings regardless of personal differences. The resources in the world are not infinite and they do not belong to a single social group. Diversity should not be punishment; it is what makes humans great, ideally the gap between rich and poor would be moderate. Other than that, stratification is natural and the wealth should be distributed more freely throughout to ease irresponsible division and unnecessary antagonism in society. Protein Denaturation of Egg White and Milk: Experiment Protein Denaturation of Egg White and Milk: Experiment Introduction: Proteins are the secondary crucial food components while carbohydrates are primary ones. However, proteins must be denatured their natural structure to be unfolded before the digestion. [ 1 ]In the practical, the denaturation of egg white and milk were examined. The white of an egg is a solution of protein in water which depends upon stable interactions with the protein active groups. Factors which influence the stability of the protein may thus be expected to influence the stability of the solution. Objectives: The purpose of the experiment is to: Examine and explain the changes in appearance of egg white that occur in different conditions in denaturation of egg white Examine the phase transitions that occur in denaturation of egg and milk affected by temperature change by making egg custard Examine and explain the changes in appearance of milk that occur in different conditions in denaturation of milk Examine and explain the changes and differences in properties between the original sample of yoghurt and two sample with respective addition of fresh milk and boiled milk Method: All of the practical were followed by the procedures listed on page 11 and 12 of Laboratory Manuals Guide 2014. Result: The observations are shown in the following: The changes in appearance of egg white that occur in different conditions in denaturation of egg white Before the treatment of different conditions, the egg white was clear yellow liquid in each of five boiling tubes. After the treatment of different conditions, the egg white in tubes made changes in appearance at certain time in water bath or at certain number of additions shown in the table. Visual appearance Time duration until the change to occur Number of additions for change to occur Tube 1(egg white in the water bath at 60à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™) Milky gel 1hour and 12 minutes / Tube 2(egg white in the water bath at 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™) Milky gel 1minute and 32seconds / Tube 3(egg white with additions of 1M Acetic acid) Three layers: water, silk-like white sediment and yellow egg white / 22 drops Tube 4(egg white with additions of 5M NaCl (aq) ) Two layers: silk-like white sediment i yellow egg white and water / 110 drops Tube 5(egg white with additions of equal of volume of distilled water) No observable change / / The phase transitions that occur in denaturation of egg and milk affected by temperature change by making egg custard The time duration for baking at around 130à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ in the oven was 30 minutes in order to make egg custard. Before the baking in the oven, the mixture was milky yellow liquid. After the baking for 30 minutes, the mixture became thickened and semi-solid phase. Moreover, a gel-like structure was formed. The changes in appearance of milk that occur in different conditions in denaturation of milk Before the treatment of different conditions, the milk was white liquid in each of three tubes and the conical flask. The measurement of milk in pHjwas 6.39 When 52 drops of 1M Acetic acid added into milk in conical flask, the formation of ppt occurred and the measurement in pHkwas 4.49. Since then, the three tubes that were treated to add 26 drops of 1M Acetic acid, add 1ml 5M NaCl (aq) and have no further addition were placed in the 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ waterbath. The time durations for changes in the three tubes were 1 minutes 22 seconds, 19 minutes and 20 minutes respectively. After the 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ waterbath, the mixture in tube with addition of 26 drops of 1M Acetic acid formed large white curd. Besides, the mixture in tube with addition of 1ml 5M NaCl (aq) was observed to have white ppt. Moreover, the control tube (no further addition) remained white liquid but had very little silk-like sediment on inner wall of the tube. Finally, the conical flask sample was taken for centrifugation for 5 minutes at 2,000rpm. After the centrifugation, the sample formed two layers: pale yellow liquid and milky sediment. The changes and differences in properties between the original sample of yoghurt and two samples of yoghurt with respective addition of fresh milk and boiled milk The original sample of yoghurt was light, fluffy, smooth and creamy and tasted a bit sour and the smell of milk was detected. Two samples of yoghurt with respective addition of fresh milk and boiled milk cultured in 38à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ incubator formed two layers: firm and thickened milky gel and yellow watery surface. They are not similar to the smooth and creamy original sample of yoghurt. Sourness was enhanced in the sample of yoghurt with fresh milk. However, sourness in the sample of yoghurt with boiled milk was similar to the original sample. Furthermore, the sample of yoghurt with fresh milk was detected a tangier taste in comparison with the sample with boiled milk and the original sample. Discussion: The changes in appearance of egg white that occur in different conditions in denaturation of egg white When egg white solution was placed in waterbath at 60à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ and 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™, heat damaged hydrogen bonds from the connections of unfolding of tertiary conformation of proteins. Since then, there was a chance for long chain of polypeptides to interact with other polypeptides and the polypeptides were reformed to large molecular structure to form coagulum. Therefore, egg white solution in waterbath at 60à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ and 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ became milky gel. Besides, the time duration for change to occur at 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ was much shorter than that at 60à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™. That meant the rate of denaturation of egg white at 80à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™ was faster than that at 60à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™. The reason was that the higher the temperature of the water bath, the more the heat energy was supplied to protein molecules per unit time. The higher kinetic energy of protein molecules vibrated more rapidly and violently. Therefore, the bonding disrupts faster and the rate of denaturation increased. When egg white solution was added with 22 drops of 1M Acetic acid, acid reacted with egg white to alter the electrostatic interactions and resulted in unfolding the tertiary conformation of peptide chain. It decreased the solubility of the egg white, and thus, formed silk-like sediment in the middle of three layers. When egg white solution was added with 110 drops of 5M NaCl (aq), excessive amount of NaCl (aq) easily attracted water from protein surface and removed it from the surface. The unfavourable interactions produced between protein molecules leaded to the connection of protein molecules. Hence, egg white solution with 110 drops of 5M NaCl (aq) became silk-like white sediment in yellow egg white. However, there was no observable change in egg white solution with additions of equal of volume of distilled water. As water didn’t react with the egg white solution, the solution remained clear yellow liquid. The phase transitions that occur in denaturation of egg and milk affected by temperature change by making egg custard Ovalbumin, from egg white protein, casein micelle and whey protein, from milk proteins, were involved. The mixture was thickened by the condensation of these three proteins during baking. They denatured by heat and became unfolded polypeptides with the chance to interact with other polypeptides and the polypeptides were reformed to large molecular structure. Meanwhile, the water was trapped into the network of polypeptides. Thus, the mixture became semi-solid phase or a gel-like structure. The changes in appearance of milk that occur in different conditions in denaturation of milk In the centrifuge tube, the top layer was pale yellow liquid and the bottom layer was milky gel. Pale yellow liquid contained water and water soluble substances such as water-soluble vitamins, minerals, lactose from milk. On the other hand, milky gel contained milk protein mainly. There was a difference between the milk conditions because of different mass of substances. Milk protein had large molecular structure and heavier mass. It formed in the bottom layer of the tube. By contrast, water and water soluble substances had smaller molecular structure and lighter mass. It formed in the top layer of the tube. The changes and differences in properties between the original sample of yoghurt and two samples of yoghurt with respective addition of fresh milk and boiled milk During the formation of yoghurt, the lactose-consuming bacteria and micro-organisms from air trapped inside the culture at favourable temperature and moisture condition grew and released enzyme to lactose fermentation to produce lactic acid that disrupted the milk protein such as casein micelles.[2] When casein micelles were destabilized by acidic environment, due to denaturation, micelles stuck together. Therefore, coagulation happened in acidic environment. Two sample of yoghurt formed firm and thickened milky curd. The sample of yoghurt with fresh milk was detected a tangier taste and more sourness in comparison with the sample with boiled milk. The amount of lactose-consuming bacteria in sample of yoghurt with fresh milk was much higher than that with boiled milk. It was because the fresh milk did not involve a process of boiling that killed bacteria at boiling temperature. High amount of bacteria produced excessive lactic acid. Thus, the sample of yoghurt with fresh milk tasted tangy sourness. To make commercial yoghurt, the first step is to denature boiled milk protein molecules by acidic environment was required and the coagulation was resulted in to form coagulum. Since then, a proportion of milk is taken to fluid called whey. Stabilizer such as starch has to be added to prevent whey separation so that whey is immobilized and retained within the yoghurt. This increases the smoothness and creaminess. References: Protein, wikipedia 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein Production of yoghurt, The Dairy Council http://www.milk.co.uk/page.aspx?intPageID=81 http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/protein/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_white http://www.ukessays.com/essays/biology/denaturation-of-egg-white-data-biology-essay.php

Policy :: essays research papers fc

If Western diplomacy has a role to play it will have to be discreet and carefully considered, always bearing in mind that the governing rule of diplomats, like that of doctors, must be ‘first, do no harm’. ( Monteagle) This thought, taken form The Clash of the Civilizations article, succinctly puts forth the ideas that I, as a diplomat learned throughout the Nations Game simulation. Diplomacy carries out the policy that nations have set. In order to carry out policy diplomats must use tactics and strategies within prescribed guidelines. The primary tool, which was most often used during the nations simulation, was negotiation. Most diplomacy is secret, though results are usually made public. The goal of diplomacy is to further the state’s interests without causing resentment. Diplomacy is an alternative to war to achieve a nation’s goals. Its weapon is words. Diplomacy may employ persuasive threats, but is usually peaceful. ‘Diplomacy seeks to strengthen the state, gaining advantages and allies while neutralizing its opponents. Thus, it tries to create good will toward the state it represents† (Britannica). The role of diplomacy during the nations simulation was very important. Envoys had to be shrewd. In order to further ones country, the diplomat had to know exactly what they needed and not back down. For example, the country of Libertania decided early on that it must concentrate on point totals. Political alliances were of secondary importance to them. Press releases were less focused on good will toward other countries, but more on setting up trade appointments. When rumors of war began to brew, Libertania immediately looked at point totals and choose a country strong in military to ally with. Ideological alliances were not at the forefront of Libertania’s strategy. Libertanian women were concerned about slavery and conditions of women in other countries, but were more concerned about our own country progressing economically. Once Libertania was in a strong economic state , then it could use diplomats to bring their political beliefs to the continent. Outside sources, such as the World Council, at first glance thought Libertania had diplomatic failures. However, it was the complete opposite. Libertania was able to move forward through diplomatic treaties. For example, counties such as Crock gave Libertania hundreds of point totals in exchange for signing an ecological preserve pact to protect the Vastlands. Libertania gave up claims to both Land disputes which to outsides seemed to be foolish, costly mistakes. Conversely, they were ingenious maneuvers which allowed Libertania to collect more points. Other countries were delighted to trade us hundreds of point totals for a piece of land that would only yield a couple hundred points.

Essay --

Middle Ages building all over the world, good number of them has captured the imagination of visitors throughout time like the Alhambra. Its average daily visitors reaches, 6,000 tourists visit the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Much grant has occurred with respect to the Palace of the Lions, one of two castles that made it throughout the original six or seven. What makes it such a rich mine for study is the ample improved way in decoration and styling, and additionally its abnormal floor arrangement and then the water fountain. While many differing viewpoints on the Palace of the Lions have been carefully noted and very well supported, all concur that the Alhambra is a sublime mosaic in which impacts from Europe, the Almohads, the Fatimids, and the Eastern Islamic world can be seen. Instead of giving just detailed, step-by-step description on of the floor plan and layout of the palaces (which abound in the literature), I will focus on an overview of the Alhambra, a few of the unique features of the Palace of the Lions that reflects Arabs cultures, and then examine how writers and schol...

Osmosis: Potato and Blackcurrant Squash

In biology, osmosis Is defined as the diffusion of solvent molecules (usually water molecules) across a semi-permeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration. Osmosis Is of great importance In biological processes where the solvent Is water. The transport of water and other molecules across biological membranes is ssential to many processes In living organisms.The pressure exerted by the molecules of the solvent on the membrane they pass through is called osmotic pressure. Osmotic pressure is the energy driving osmosis and is important for living organisms because It allows water and nutrients dissolved in water to pass through cell membranes. There are three types of condition that Involves osmosis which Is hypotonic, hypertonic and isotonic. In a hypotonic solution, the water will move into the cell due to the outside of the cell having a lower solute concentration than the inside of the ell.When an animal cell Is placed In a hypotonic surrounding (lower solute concentration), the water molecules will move into the cell causing the cell to burst and haemolysed. When plant cell Is placed In a hypotonic solution, water molecules diffuse into the cell and the plant cells remain turgid because the cell wall prevents bursting. In a hypertonic solution, water will move outside of the cell due to the outside of the cell is having a higher solute concentration than the Inside of the cell.When an animal cell, a red blood cells is exposed to a hypertonic surrounding (higher olute concentration) the water will leave the cell causing the cell to shrink and it Is said to undergoes crenation. If a plant cell is placed in a hypertonic surrounding, the cell wall cannot prevent the cell from losing water as the water moves out from the cells. It results in cell shrinking, plasmolysis occurs (cell becoming flaccid), In an isotonic solution, there is no net movement of water as the interior and exterior environment of the cell Is having the same solute concentration.RESEARCH QUESTION: How does the dfferent concentration of blackcurrant squash solution affects the ercentage change in mass of chipped potatoes after being immersed in solution for 15 minutes? HYPOTHESIS: The higher the concentration of blackcurrant squash solution, the lower the concentration of the solution getting bigger, water inside of the cells will move outside the cell and this is called hypertonic. The movement of water diffuse out of the cell causes the size of the potato to decrease and shrinking in size to crenate.VARIABLES: TYPE OF VARIABLES VARIABLES UNIT WAYS TO CONTROL INDEPENDENT Concentration of blackcurrant squash solution Use different concentration of blackcurrant squash solution which is 0%, 20%, 40%, 0%, and 100%. DEPENDENT Percentage change in mass of chipped potatoes Weigh the potato using a weighing balance to get the initial mass. Then, immersed the potatoes in the different concentration of the solution for 15 minutes. Find the final mass to get the average mass. Calculate the percentage using the formula: XIOO% CONTROLLED 1 . Volume of solution cm3 Use 30 cm3 of solution for each boiling tube measured by measuring cylinder. . Type of potato Use the same type of potato 3. Time taken to immersed the potato in the solution min Fixed the time taken for the potato to be immersed in the solution as 15 minutes by sing a stopwatch. 4. Temperature Conduct the experiment in the same room using a thermometer. 5. Initial length of the potato chips cm each. Table 1: Table of variables and method to controls it. MATERIALS AND APPARATUS: MATERIALS APPARATUS 1. Blackcurrant squash at a concentration of 556 g dm-3 , 100 cm3 2. Distilled water, 100 crn3 3. Large baking potatoes 1. Boiling tube, 6 2. White tile, 6 3.Ruler, 1 4. Scalpel, 1 5. Measuring cylinder, 50 cm3 6. Cork borers, 1 7. Weighing balance, 1 Table 2: Table of Materials and Apparatus METHODOLOGY: PROCEDURE: 1. boiling tube is prepared and labelled as A, B, C, D, E and F. 2. 30 cm3 of distilled water is measured using a measuring cylinder and poured into test tube A. For test tube A, volume of blackcurrant squash is O cm3. For the rest of other test tubes, the volume of blackcurrant squash and volume of distilled water is measured as shown in column 4 and 5 in the table respectively using a measuring cylinder. 3.The potato is cut up using a cork borer making it into small pieces to fit in the boiling tube. The potato skin is cut off and trimmed. 4. The potato chips are dried on a towel paper. . The potato chips are weighed using a weighing balance and the mass is recorded in a table as initial mass. 6. The chips are placed in the blackcurrant squash solution and leave it for 15 minutes. 7. Make sure the solution covered the chips completely so that the process of osmosis can occur efficiently. 8. After 15 minutes, the chips are taken out and dried using a paper towel. 9.The potato chips are weighed using a weighing ba lance and the final mass is recorded in a table. 10. The change in mass of potato chips and the percentage change in mass of potato chips are calculated. 11. Steps 2 – 10 are repeated 3 times. 12. The graph of concentration of blackcurrant squash solution against percentage change in mass is plotted.Graph above shows that as the concentration of the solution increases, the percentage change in mass of the potato will decreases. This is because at the highest concentration, less amount of water is present in the solution than the concentration of the sucrose. Based on the raph above, we can see that the graph of concentration of blackcurrant squash solution against percentages changes in mass is inversely proportional to each other. The percentage change in mass is constant throughout the experiment as the slope or the steepness of the graph wasn't extreme and it decreases in a consistent manner. 3.At 0%, the percentage change in mass is in a positive value showing a hypotonic condition but as the concentration increases to 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%, the percentage change in mass has become a negative value. This shows that it is in a hypertonic condition. 4. As we can see on the graph, at 0% the lowest concentration it gives the highest value of percentage change in mass of 7. 60%. In this situation, hypotonic occurs as the concentration of water outside the potato chips is higher than inside the cell. Hypotonic solution is a solution with a lower solute concentration but high water concentration.This causes the movement of water to diffuse into the sap of potato cells following the concentration gradient. The rate of water moves inside the cell is higher than the water moves outside the cell and this result to the increase of size of the potato. The potato cell had become turgid and firm. 5. While, at the highest concentration 100%, the percentage change in mass is -33. 30 is the lowest value. In this situation, the potato cells are in hypertonic sol ution which is a solution with a higher solute concentration but lower concentration of water.Thus, water will move outside of the cell to the solution following the concentration gradient. The rate of water moves outside the cell is higher than the water moves inside the cell. As a result, the cell shrinks in sizes and become plasmolysed due to the water loss inside the cell. 6. At 20%, the graph loping downwards is showing a negative percentage changes in mass due to the difference than the 0%. But at 40%, the difference of percentage change in mass is bigger than the previous one with a value of -23. 20%.This is because as the concentration is getting higher, the water will moves out more than it will moves into the cells. At 60%, the percentage change in mass is -28. 00%. At 80%, the value is -31. 40% and the difference with 100% is quite small. 7. The standard deviation is calculated and it is shown in the graph as error bars. The error bars in the graph is small and cannot be seen clearly. Based on the results, he error bars show that the data that had been collected is reliable as it is very small and it indicates less variable and closer to the mean.The smaller the error bars gives you the more reliable data and accurate results. Limitation and Suggestions LIMITATIONS SUGGESTIONS 1 . When we do the dilution for the solution, the blackcurrant squash and the distilled water might not mix well. The apparatus we used here is measuring cylinder which cannot be turn upside down to get the homogenous mixture. – Volumetric flask can be used to replace measuring cylinder as it is the best apparatus to get the accurate esult. It has the most fixed values and it definitely can be turned upside down in order to mix the solution well. . The initial length of potato chips to be cut before we put it into the solution is measured using a measuring cylinder. This could affect the result because measuring cylinder has a big uncertainty which is 0. 05cm. – Instead, we can use vernier calliper that has a smaller uncertainty which is 0. 01 cm. This could give better and accurate result. 3. The volume of blackcurrant squash solution is measured using a measuring cylinder that has a bigger uncertainty of 1. cm and this could affect the result to be less accurate. To improve the results obtained, burette is used to replaced measuring cylinder as it has much more smaller uncertainty of 0. 05cm 4. The time for the potatoes left to immerse in the solution is too short which is 15 minutes. Such a short time is not sufficient for the osmosis to occur efficiently. – The duration of time should be longer to get the most accurate values. The potatoes should be left in the solution for at least 30 minutes so that the process of osmosis could happen efficiently giving out the best results. 5.When the potato chips is taken out from the solution, it must be dabbed and dried by using a paper towel to remove any liquid from the surface before wei ghing it to get the final mass. But the process might not have done the same way for every potato chip as maybe more liquid is removed from one of the potato chips but not the other. – We should at least try to dry the potato chips using the same paper towel and dried it carefully so all the liquid is removed of the potato chips so as the result will came out better. 6. The excess potatoes skin which wasn't taken out properly could give a slightly less

Stimulant Drugs and Its Effects

Not only does the phrase ‘Robbing Peter to pay Paul’ apply to Ponzi schemes, but it clearly applies to the use of stimulant drugs as well. According to the book Uppers, Downers, All Rounders, while stimulant drugs provide extra physical strength, added confidence, motivation and feelings of well-being, the continuing use of stimulants in the body may lead to ‘subsequent withdrawal symptoms, and severe depression can last for days or weeks or occasionally months. (Inaba, 2003) Without stimulus drugs, the human body releases the chemicals epinephrine and norepinephrine associated with the extra energy, confidence, and other feelings, among others.However, the normal release of these chemicals are reabsorbed by the body, and re-released again when needed. In the case of stimulant drugs, the release of these chemicals are forced on the body even before the need arises, thus, providing the body with extra energy. (Inaba, 2003) The result of this release of extra energy is then manifested by talking, uneasiness, hypervigilance and physical activity. Inaba, 2003) What is most concerning however, is the effect of strong stimulant drugs on the natural re-absorption of these chemicals, because drugs like these purposely prevent the re-absorption of these chemicals and een its metabolism. (Inaba, 2003)Having stated this, the robbery made by stimulant drugs is due to the dire health effects it causes in the long-term, such as ulcers, spasms, the constriction of heart vessels, hypertension, insomnia, paranoia, aggression, violence, psychosis, proneness to miscarriage, among others. Inaba, 2003) Thus, while it gives a short-term benefit to stimulant drug users, the long-term health toll must never be taken for granted, because it may prove to be fatal as well. It is a good thing, however, that many states are now implementing Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIP), best practices guidelines for the treatment of substance abuse disorders. (Rawson, 1999)

Questions for Stuff

1. What issues divided the Whigs and Democrats? How did the Panic of 1837 and its aftermath solidify the Democratic and Whig parties? How did the massive immigration of the 1840s influence the balance of power between the Whig and Democratic parties? 2. In what ways did the concept of Manifest Destiny affect the foreign and domestic policies of the US in the years 1840-1850? What economic and political forces fed westward expansion during the 1840s? 3. Why did Americans settle in Texas? How did it become an independent country in 1836? 4. Why did the U. S. wait until Tyler’s final days in office to annex Texas?What problems did the annexation of Texas bring to the country? 5. What were the countries that claimed the Oregon territory? How was the dispute eventually settled? 6. What were the arguments that both sides employed for and against going to war with Mexico? 7. How did the acquisition of the Mexican Cession spark a national debate? 8. To what extent did the Compromise o f 1850 represent a genuine meeting of the minds between northerners and southerners? How, specifically, did the controversy over enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act contribute to the undoing of the Compromise? 9.Why did the Whig Party collapse in the wake of the Kansas-Nebraska Act? Why did the Democratic Party not collapse? 10. How did the outbreak of conflict in Kansas influence the rise of the Republican Party? 11. Why is John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry considered a significant historical event? 12. What led southerners to conclude that the North was bent not merely on restricting territorial slavery but also on extinguishing slavery in southern states? 13. What was the platform of each party in the election of 1860? Why did Lincoln win? 14. How would YOU explain the causes of the Civil War?

Fin111 Financial Markets and Economic Principles

[pic] Financial Markets and Economic Principles (FIN111) Assignment Answer Template |Students: Please enter |Word count | | |your word count for this |I have read the Assignment Guide in the Subject Room and have applied the word count | | |assignment |principles to my work. | | |My word count for this assignment is | | | |5368 words | | | | | | Marker feedback Comment on overall performance: |For marker use only. | |Students begin your assignment answers on the following page. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Begin your assignment answers from this point. Section A – Question 1 †¢ Describe the operations of each company JB Hi If – Is an Australian owned and operated company established in 1974. Due to the success of the business model and the growing retail sector in July 2000 JB Hi Fi was purchased by private equity bankers and senior management with the strategy of taking the model nationally. With a strong sign of the success of the business in October 2003, JB Hi Fi was floated on the Australian Stock Exchange.JB Hi Fi has proven to be one of Australia’s fastest growing and largest retailers of home entertainment. Looking to build on the successful model and expand their operations in July 2004, JB Hi Fi bought the Clive Anthony chain of retail stores who competed in the same retail space. Harvey Norman – Is an Australian based retail provider of electrical, furniture, computer, entertainment and home goods. They have over 230 stores in Australia and abroad in countries including New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland, Malaysia, Croatia and Singapore.Harvey Norman has implemented a unique strategy to the Australian retail market through their operating structure, in that each store department is operated by a separate franchise. Therefore these superstores are a combination of more than one business with each franchisee (computer, bedding, electrical) contributing to the gross reven ue of Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. This is achieved through their individual lease payment and a percentage of their sales. The individual departments have their own checkouts for its products and warehouse space is shared by the separate franchisees.Harvey Norman Holdings Limited is also a franchisor of other well known retail chains including Domayne, Joyce Mayne and others. †¢ Consider the key factors that may affect the performance and the share price of the companies in the short and long term Given the fact both companies are competitors in the retail sector, key factors affecting their performance will be quite similar. They both heavily rely on the consumption of the â€Å"Household Sector†, this helps drives revenue through their operations. A concern therefore would be given the challenging economic times there is a decrease in domestic spending.With households adversely increasing their savings as anxiety over the sovereign debt crisis in Europe escalates and g eneral unease in regards to the global economy. This is also reflected through the â€Å"Business Cycle† as it is my belief we are currently within a â€Å"Contraction to trough† period which is reflective of a decline in retail sales. This decline has been seen nationwide through the whole retail sector as organisations battle to lower prices to remain competitive when demand isn’t strong and still attempt to retain a profit.Some retailers have opted for longer trading hours and there is also concern over the moving trend towards internet shopping. JB Hi Fi currently have a strong focus on online shopping which has helped them maintain consistent sales results. Harvey Norman have moved to online shopping only in July of 2011, and has big ambitions with Gerry Harvey stating â€Å"I’ve told my team I want them to turn over $100 million within 2-3 years and then take it to $1billon within 5-10 years†. The decline is also reflected in the ABS August K ey Figures report for monthly turnover within the retail sector which saw department stores post a -0. % fall in July to August 2011. Also a long term concern for both companies would be that if global equity markets do recover and inflation rises that will lead to a rise in interest rates which would further affect the Household sector through their discretionary spending. The fluctuations of the Australian dollar will impact both companies as the stronger Australian dollar lowers the prices both enterprises can charge consumers. Increasingly consumers are buying electronics online both domestically and international, with the resilient dollar giving them an incentive to shop abroad. Question 2 ) JB Hi-Fi and its network of retail stores is an intermediary. They are an intermediary between the large electronic manufacturers (Sony, Samsung, Panasonic) whose products are sold in store and the general consumer in the household sector. The large manufactures are able to meet the order demands of the organisation and JB Hi-FI in return supplies the broad market with the products. The consumer is provided with a product at a competitive price and JB Hi Fi earns a margin on the product for the service. 2) JB Hi-Fi also uses an additional intermediary to increase their exposure in the sector.They have purchased Clive Anthony which was another established retail electrical chain. They own Clive Anthony however it continues to operate under its original trading name. All revenue is attributed to the JB Hi FI Limited organisation. 3) Harvey Norman Holdings Limited is well known for using a number of intermediaries within their own organisation. They have fragmented each department (bedding, electrical, computer) of their organisation to be an individual franchise or â€Å"intermediary†. With each franchisee contributing to the gross revenue of Harvey Norman Holdings Limited.This provides each department the ability to specialise and deliver expert service to thei r consumers. Other financial intermediaries Harvey Norman would include its acquired retails chain Clive Peter’s and the number of overseas retail operations it owns which contribute to its net profit. Question 3 Question 3: Impact of monetary policy Justify the Reserve Bank’s decision on interest rates announced on 4 October 2011 †¢ The factors that influenced the Reserve Bank’s decision and the likely impacts on the domestic economy The Reserve Bank nominated on the 4th of October to keep interested rates on hold for the 10th straight meeting.The factors influencing this decision were concern over global financial markets and fears world economies may be sent into global recession. Previously during the Aug-Sep meetings there had been a deteriation in the markets and between Sep-Oct meetings that had been a further substantial deteriation of global markets. The RBA acknowledged that domestic growth would weaken in the coming quarters. Europe’s sove reign debt issues are a major concern to the RBA and a contributing factor to rates remaining on hold. It has caused major volatility to global markets, with growing uncertainty in regards to a solution and its impact on banks in Europe.It is also affecting the outlook for Global Economic growth. The RBA will continue to assess market developments as well as the general indicators it follows including economy and inflation data. A benefit for the domestic economy is the RBA stated it had a bias to easing and that a rate cut could occur if September Quarter CPI data due on October 26 showed a moderation in prices †¢ The impact on the share market as a whole and the share price of your chosen companies The immediate impact on the share market following the RBA’s decision was negative. The S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0. % or 24. 9 points to 3872. 1 points, with the All Ordinaries down 0. 6% or 25. 1 points to 3935. 6. Also the Australian dollar slumped to a 13-month low of $94. 6 US cents. Despite an optimistic start to trading on the day with the market overcoming a negative lead from the US, the RBA’s decision had plunged the markets back into negative territory. JB Hi-Fi was down 60 cents to $14. 30 Not a substantial impact to HVN which was up 2cents from the close the previous day. †¢ Whether the impact on the share market as a whole differed from the impact on your chosen companiesThe negative impact of the decision by the RBA was shared by both the market itself and the individual holdings of JB Hi Fi Limited and Harvey Norman Holdings Limited. The decision had a significant impact on the performance of consumer exposed stocks such as JB HI FI and Harvey Norman. Question 4 JB HI FI posted its first profit slide since the stock floated in 2003. There were some contributing factors to this performance including a restructure of its Clive Anthony’s stores and a negative sales growth for July. JB Hi-Fi reported on August 8th 2011 that full year net profit fell 7. 5% to $109. 7 million on sales of $2. 6 billion, up 8. 3%. The slip has been attributed to the $24. 7 million in costs to restructure its Clive Anthony stores. Annual comparable sales fell 1. 2% Despite the daunting outlook for the retail sector JB Hi FI have stated they expect another solid group sales performance for this financial year, with full year sales to rise 8% to 3. 2billion. JB Hi FI is expecting that the Christmas period will be successful also timing with a number of new product releases. However due to the profit results and weak July sales on August 9th JB Hi-Fi shares closed down 35 cents at $14. 00 Harvey Norman announced a net profit after tax of $252. 6 million for the financial year ending 30 June 2011, which is up 9% on the 2010 financial year. These results were released in its 2011 annual report. The franchises within the organisation continued to provide the stability in the overall performance of the group. Owner Gerry Harvey s tated â€Å"we have a strong balance sheet underpinned by a $2. 04 billion property portfolio and generate strong free net cash flows from our franchising operations segment† Total revenue for the year was $2. 7 billion, which has increased from the 2010 figure of $2. 45 billion according to the results statement.Harvey Norman experienced an increase in consumer transactions despite revenue being down, this was caused by the strong Australian dollar reducing prices on imported goods. Despite the retail sector weakening in reflection of global markets Harvey Norman franchisees have experienced strong customer traffic and transactions. Also stronger results generated by retail operations in Singapore, Malaysia and Slovenia have increased profitability by $4. 65 million before tax collectively compared to the previous year. Despite challenging macroeconomic conditions, the outlook the retail, franchise and property system of the company remains positive.An important addition to the business moving forward in the first half of 2012 financial year will be the launching of our e-commerce site for Harvey Norman. Harvey Norman states they are confident there online transactional strategy will produce incremental dollars to the existing channel. Harvey Norman closed 1cent higher after releasing its annual report at $2. 15 on August 29th. Question 5 †¢ Explain the correlation of returns from the asset classes – Cash- Is looking to be a stable and reliable asset class in the 2011 calendar year. It will provide necessary stability to investor’s profiles.However will remain relatively unattractive reflecting low interest rates. Some important considerations for the RBA in determining any movement in monetary policy is the strength of the Australian dollar relative to trading partners, in particular the US. It is anticipated the RBA will lift the cash rate to 5% before the end of the year Fixed Interest – Will provide stability with a higher yield than cash given there is an element of risk. Savvy investors will look to this sector as global equities remain volatile and fixed interest provides the ability to stabilise returns.Large parts of the credit market in particular Australian credit offer reasonable value especially if the global growth outlook commences an incline. Equity – Global equity markets outlook remains extremely volatile. This outlook is reinforced by the RBA’s recent decisions to keep interest rates on hold and even suggest they may be deducted in the future. The cause for concern has moved on from the Sub Prime Crisis of 2008 and is now centred on government sovereign debt in the US and particularly in Europe and the PIGGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain).Of major concern is whether Greece will default on its loans and the potential impact on world markets. This is playing out at the moment with recent developments within the EU with a bailout fund and more recently revision of the si ze of the fund. This has provided huge amounts of volatility in the market and it seems it will play out most of the year, with a potential default if not avoided of Greece in early 2012. There is plenty of value long term in equities currently with stocks undervalued however you must be prepared to accept volatility in the short to medium term.Property – With improving international economic conditions, a local economy with good foundations and quality property managers achieving attractive terms on financing, prospects for high grade property investment remains attractive. Australian direct property will continue to perform well and prospects for the sector are high especially in commercial and industrial property. The retail sector could be a danger given the challenging times being experienced in the Australian consumer sector †¢ Provide a forecast of which asset class you believe will provide the best returns in 2011Due to global economic growth picking up in 2011 w ith various predictions at around 3. 5 – 4% driven largely by emerging economies, this provides opportunities in the equities sector. Market volatility is likely to continue due to Sovereign debt concerns in Europe and the impact of potential further quantitative easing in the United States. There is concern about equity markets seemingly drifting sideways over the past 12 months, however global share markets have recorded strong gains The economic outlook is likely to be supportive for equities in 2011, while there will be areas of concern.The slowly improving economic environment and a potential solution to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe should see companies begin to expand by borrowing. After experiencing a significant correction in 2010, equities are well positioned to post strong gains in 2011. Shares are good value and continuing economic recovery will contribute to further gains in profit. Question 6 Question 6: Influences on share prices Provide a graph showing b oth companies daily share price and the All Ordinaries index over the four week tracking period [pic] [pic] Explain the performance of the two companies over the four week period.In your explanation consider: †¢ The impact of any significant events or unexpected announcements JB Hi Fi – The announcement of Apple’s launch of its latest handset the iPhone 4s is hoped to have a significant impact on sales and foot traffic through its retail stores. – JB Hi-Fi held its annual general meeting on the 12th of October, it stated total sales were up 6. 6% compared with the previous corresponding period. The timing of this news to the market had investors responding positively with 3. 09% increase for the day with a close at $14. 36 Harvey Norman Holdings Limited There is direct concern for Harvey Norman over debt issues within Europe as they hold operations in Ireland which was the first country in the European Union to ask for a bailout. Harvey Norman’s stor es there made a trading loss of $38. 59 million for the 2010-11 financial year, with the board â€Å"committed to Ireland for the long term† – Harvey Norman have also responded to the online retail sector threat by launching a new e-commerce site in early October – Harvey Norman released its annual report on the 29th of September, revealing a 9% rise in 2011 full-year net profit to $252. 3 million Whether the performances have been similar or different The performance of Harvey Norman has been quite flat with quite limited movement of the stock over the reporting period. They released their annual report with a rise in profits but investors did not respond with any significant movements. JB Hi-Fi hit a low of $13. 87 for the reporting period on the 11th of October as anxiety hit over the release of information from its annual general meeting. The news and results provided were positive and the stock reacted positively reaching close to the peak of the reporting period on the 14th of October closing at $15. 0 †¢ How the companies performed in relation to the All Ordinaries Index There has been limited volatility seen in regards to both JB Hi-FI and Harvey Norman. The reasons for this would be they both have core business which is based in the retail household consumer sector. The All Ordinaries which is based on the movements of the top 500 Australian companies has a much wider exposure to sectors. It is for this reason there has been significantly more volatility on the All Ordinaries as it has been exposed to the market’s recent concerns over the European Sovereign debt crisis. Whether the shares would be considered growth or defensive Both these companies’ shares would be considered cyclical stocks, where sales and earnings are affected by economic or industry cycle They would therefore be considered growth shares. †¢ Your view with justification on whether the companies are a buy, sell or hold JB Hi-Fi (HOLD) â⠂¬â€œ The stock is vulnerable to a decrease in discretionary spending in regards to its electronic goods and also the impact of the volatile Australian dollar. However the organisation is in a growth period with a number of new stores opening in a strategic move.The company has been a popular stock and has proven to be quite resilient, trading strongly through the last few turbulent years and also distributes a strong yield. It is in a good position to see through the current wave of volatility. Harvey Norman (HOLD) – The strength of the Australian dollar has seen a rise in internet commerce. Harvey Norman is launching a centralised online website to respond to this growing trend. International holdings have been performing well and there are talks of a possible expansion into the UK.The stock has been proven to be relatively resilient with a reasonable dividend and is adapting to a changing market by looking at opportunities online and abroad, for these reasons the recommend ation would be to hold. Section B Question 1 Section B – Question 1 Identify and discuss four advantages for AWPL of establishing a factory in New Zealand †¢ Operating costs – Establishing a new factory in New Zealand will save AWPL $A2 million per annum which is a significant savings long term. These additional funds can be used to reduce debt or spent on further product development or research Increase production – With the establishment of the New Zealand facility AWPL will be able to meet the demands of their current production and collectively with its Melbourne location the demands of the new proposed contract in the US. This will add a projected 30% to sales growth. †¢ Save $A 3 million – Establishing the new location at New Zealand would mean the fire upgrade to the current location at Devonport would no longer be necessary and the funds will be used to support the long term functionality and growth of the business as opposed to a mainte nance cost Brand Awareness – Currently AWPL provides production for Australia, UK, Germany and potentially the US. Having a location in New Zealand will promote the brand and create awareness which may lead to business opportunities through production in their domestic sector in the future Also four major funding and/or business constraints that AWPL needs to consider when deciding whether to establish a new factory in New Zealand or upgrade and expand the existing factory in Melbourne Production concerns – Due consideration needs to be made to legitimate concerns over AWPL ability to meet the demand of current production requirements during construction of a new factory in New Zealand. Meeting these demands are imperative to the survival of the business †¢ $1 million payout – Will need to be paid due to the retrenchments of the employees at the Devonport factory, this is a considerable amount of capital and needs to be taken into consideration †¢ Esta blishment costs – AWPL have determined that the establishment costs of the New Zealand venture are high with additional costs that do not exist in Australia Debt Funding – All the proposed developments require capital of $A10 million, AWPL do not have the liquidity to cover this outlay and will need to look at financing options. Their lenders at the moment already have concerns over their current level of gearing, so they will need to look at all their options. Question 2 a) Is AWPL eligible for listing on the ASX given its current structure and financial position? AWPL is not able to list on the ASX given its current structure, as it does not currently meet the requirements of the ASX listing rules. In particular condition 7 which states â€Å" An entity must satisfy either a) or (b)† a) There must be at least 500 holders each having a parcel of the main class of securities with a value of at least $2,000, excluding securities not acquired by those holders unde r a recent prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement b) Both of the following are satisfied †¢ There must be at least 400 holders each having a parcel of the main class of securities with a value of at least $2,000, excluding securities not acquired by those holders under a recent prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement AWPL is unable to meet these requirements as it currently only has 40 shareholders ) Listed companies are required to comply with stringent obligations imposed on them by the ASX Listing Rules. Explain four obligations that AWPL would be required to fulfil if it was a listed company †¢ Under Condition 3 of the ASX listing rules â€Å" A prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement must be issued and lodged with ASIC. If ASX agrees, an information memorandum that complies with the information memorandum requirements of Appendix 1A will be sufficient instead of a prospectus or PDS. This ensures that potential investors have access to critical financial inf ormation about the organisation to make an informed decision to invest or not. 1. 2. 4 of the Profit Test states that the entity’s aggregated profit from continuing operations for the last 3 full financial years must have been at least $1 million. This is to ensure the organisation is successful and has the means necessary to warrant being listed on the ASX †¢ 1. 2. 5A states that the entity must give ASX a statement from all directors confirming that they have made enquiries and nothing has come to their attention to suggest that the economic entity is not continuing to earn profit from continuing operations up to the date of applicationThis is to ensure the organisations admission is based on factual information and aims to confirm the integrity of the organisation and its intention not to commit any acts of fraud or deception †¢ 1. 3. 5 The entity must give ASX each of the following a) Any accounts, together with any audit report or review: – for the last 3 full financial years (or shorter period if ASX agrees); and – if the last full financial year ended more than 8 months before the entity applied for admission, for the last half year (or longer period if available) from the end of the last full financial yearIf the accounts have not been audited or reviewed, the entity must tell the ASX This ensures that there is full disclosure of financial information to the ASX and potential investors Question 3 a) Discuss three reasons why the bank would be reluctant to increase funding to AWPL at this time †¢ Financial Markets – Due to the implications of financial markets over the last few years starting with the Mortgage Sub Prime crisis in the United States and more recently the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, lenders have become tighter with their lending practices.They want extra security and having a signed contract confirming the commitment for production in the US confirms the need for additional funding †¢ Th e bank already has expressed concern over the level of gearing the organisation holds at the moment so without evidence to support the need for expansion there will be hesitancy from the lender †¢ There is also an element of risk involved as there is concern that if the upgrade and expansion plans are not handled effectively then production rates may be harmed which would ultimately mean AWPL would be unable to meet current order demands.If that was to occur then the ability of AWPL to service its current debt commitments to the bank would be placed in jeopardy b) Jack is concerned that the New Zealand project will expose the shareholders of AWPL to a new financial risk (associated with borrowing funds to upgrade the Melbourne factory and to establish the New Zealand factory). Assume that the US contract is signed. Identify the new financial risk. Discuss the implications of the risk on debt repayment schedules and outline the steps AWPL might take to reduce the riskJack is con cerned about AWPL ability to meet current production orders. The fear is that if establishment of the NZ factory and upgrade of the Melbourne location isn’t seamless it will affect the ability of the business to meet current demands and that of the new contract. This exposes the business and current shareholders to potential risk of defaulting on existing debt demands from their lender. AWPL may look at hedging this risk by looking at Business Risk Protection which would cover their expected income if they are unable to meet their demand for various reasons.AWPL should also consider looking at alternate factory locations they can use at short notice if production is impacted for any reason Question 4 a) Identify and discuss three effects that an appreciating Australian dollar (AUD) would have on a decision by AWPL to move its manufacturing operations to New Zealand †¢ An appreciating Australian dollar would be a concern for the core of AWPL business which is exports. If the Australian dollar rises a major implication is the impact on the terms of trade as exports become more expensive and imports become cheaper.A likely result would be an increase in domestic spending on imports and reduced demand for exports in foreign countries. This would be a huge concern for the viability of AWPL’s international production orders. If there is a change in the current revenue streams than it may impact their ability to service their current debt and/or gain finance for expansion plans †¢ Also an appreciation in the Australian dollar will mean AWPL’s exports will become more expensive and may result in them not being as competitive as other international competitors. The impact of this may be felt in loss of contracts, renegotiations and general cost cutting.Severely impacting their ability to implement any expansions †¢ These concerns will not only be felt by AWPL but by their shareholders and lenders. When approaching lenders about furth er debt funding an appreciating dollar and the potential negative impact on the business may very well be taken into due consideration before approval. b) Taking into account current economic conditions and financial market sentiment, identify and discuss two factors that could cause the AUD to move significantly above its current rate against the US dollar in the coming months One impact which could cause the AUD to move significantly above its current rate against the US dollar is the appetite for risk from foreign investors. With extreme volatility being experienced in the market currently and concern for the global economy the Australian dollar can be influence by the risk appetite of foreign investors. During the volatile times in the market we are experiencing currently there are heightened perceptions of risk which leads to a decline in the demand for riskier assets which promotes a move for investors to quality investments and an appreciation of reserve currencies such as th e US dollar.This can see the Australian dollar appreciated when markets sentiment is high and there is positive news about foreign and global development and depreciate on negative news. – An additional factor which may see a further increase of the AUD over the US dollar could be another round of Quantative Easing (QE3) from the United States. This involves the US Federal Reserve effectively prints more money injecting it into the economy The US government achieves this through purchases of bonds and places money into banks which then be loaned to the public.This in turn eases lending constraints and money flows through too small to medium businesses. A consequence for the US is that the increase in the supply of their currency weakens the value and causes further appreciation of the Australian dollar Question 5 – A) Discuss the outlook for global economic growth in 2011. Support your answer with a percentage forecast for global growth International recovery after the Great Financial Crisis has been uneven with markets seemingly moving sideways recently. Risks globally remain high with world economies continuing to recover from its effects.Financial conditions have improved through corporate earnings and financial market volatility has moderated, notwithstanding ongoing concerns over European Sovereign debt and the European Union ability to contain the crisis. The forecast for advanced economies is to continue to consolidate, where as growth in emerging markets is anticipated to deliver higher levels of growth and returns. Therefore in accordance the global economy is widely predicted to grow over 4% in 2011 down from 5% growth in 2010. Although traction has been made global economic recovery also remains vulnerable and a clear resolution to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe ill provide markets with strong sentiment and incentive to return to the equities market. Also failure for the US to develop a viable solution to the unsustainable US Fisc al position also poses a threat to the progress of global recovery – (B) Each of the countries below has a significant influence on global growth. Briefly comment on each country’s outlook for economic growth in 2011 Support your answer with a percentage forecast for each country’s economic growth i) USA The forecast for the United States is that their economy will grow between 3. -4% in 2011. This is an increase from the 3% growth recorded in the 2010 calendar year. The basis of this will be driven from growth in the consumer and business spending and personal consumption expenditure (PCE), an increase in consumer spending. PCE is adding between 0. 7% and 2% to overall US growth has increased for five consecutive quarters. Concerns for the US are European Sovereign Debt, budget concerns at all levels of government and falling house prices. These effects could impact and lead to a slower US recovery. ii) ChinaDue to the unprecedented growth of China, tighter mon etary policy was necessary to reign in growth which is still projected to be close to 9% in 2011. Inflation is a constant concern and will increase over the calendar year. It is china’s greatest concern and most pressing policy issue, their ability to contain this effectively will determine their sustained growth. The present account surplus is set to fall to 4. 5% of GDP, which is a reflection of a decline in export growth and higher commodity prices While high commodity prices pose risks they are unlikely to dent growth.Currency appreciation will continue at a gradual pace as reserves accumulate iii) Japan In March 2011 the Great East Japan Earthquake was the strongest ever recorded in Japan and triggered a tsunami which severely damaged the country and was the impact was felt on world equity markets. A preliminary report by the government estimated damage at between 3. 3-5. 2% of 2010 GDP There are serious concerns about Japans ability to recover from such a traumatic natu ral disaster. The timing and strength of an economic recovery is difficult to forecast.The growing uncertainty about the Japanese recovery, compounded by the ongoing nuclear situation and rising oil prices are adding to the difficulty of the situation. However Japan has experienced natural disasters before and the sentiment from other advanced nations is there will be a rebound in economy as reconstruction spending picks up. 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