Date and Observations Essay

1. Write the balanced equation for the reaction conducted in this lab, including appropriate phase symbols.†¨Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) –> H2(g) + MgCl2(aq) 2. Determine the partial pressure of the hydrogen gas collected in the gas collection tube. †¨The partial pressure of the hydrogen gas is 1.07 atm 3. Calculate the moles of hydrogen gas collected.†¨pv=mrt ; n= .0013mol of hydrogen gas 4. If magnesium was the limiting reactant in this lab, calculate the theoretical yield of the gaseous product. Show all steps of your calculation.†¨0.03184 g Mg(1mol Mg/ 24.3050 g Mg)= 0.0013mols Mg 0.0013mols Mg(1mol H2/ 1mol Mg)= .0013 1. Determine the percent yield of this reaction, showing all steps of your calculation. 2. (actual yield/ theoretical yield)x 100% (0.0013/ 0.0013)x 100= 100% 1. Would the following errors increase, decrease, or have no effect on the calculated moles of gas collected in the experiment? Explain your answers in complete sentences.†¨ a. The measured mass of the magnesium was smaller than the true mass. †¨If the measured amount of magnesium is less than the true amount of magnesium then the measured number of moles would be lower than the measured number of hydrogen would be smaller than the true number of moles of hydrogen. It would decrease the calculated moles of the gas. b. The actual temperature of the hydrogen gas is lower than room temperature. †¨If the actual temperature of hydrogen gas is lower than room temperature then the actual amount of hydrogen gas would be higher than the gas at room temperature. So therefore it would increase the number of moles produce. 2. Explain in terms of particle collisions and Dalton’s law why it can be assumed that the total pressure inside the gas collection tube is equal to the atmospheric pressure outside of the tube. †¨If the number of particle collisions and the pressure inside the gas collection tube was high it would force the water in the gas collection tube to be lower than the surrounding water. If the number of particle collisions and the pressure was low the surrounding water would push the water higher into the gas collection tube. When the water is even, inside and outside of the tube, the number of  particle collisions and the pressure are equal. 3. If an undetected air bubble was trapped inside the gas collection tube, how would this affect your calculated percent yield? Explain your answer. 4. If there was an undetected air bubble trapped in the gas collection tube then the pressure of hydrogen would be lower then the actual value therefore the percent yield would be lower than the actual percent yield.

The International Company Logistics

Logistics is the designing and managing of a system in order to control the flow of material throughout a corporation. This is a very important part of an international company because of geographical barriers. Logistics of an international company includes movement of raw materials, coordinating flows into and out of different countries, choices of transportation, cost of the transportation, packaging the product for shipment, storing the product, and managing the entire process. The concept of logistics is fairly new in the business world. The theoretical development was not used until 1966. Since then, many business practices have evolved and logistics currently costs between 10 and 25 percent of the total cost of an international purchase. There are two main phases that are important in the movement of materials: material management and physical distribution. Materials management is the timely movement of raw materials, parts, and supplies. The physical distribution is the movement of the firm†s finished products to the customers. Both phases involve every stage of the process including storage. The ultimate goal of logistics is to coordinate all efforts of the company to maintain a cost effective flow of goods. There are four logistics concepts: the systems concept, the total cost concept, the after-tax concept, and the trade-off concept. The systems concept is based on all functions of a organization working together in order to maximize benefits. This concept sometimes requires certain components of the organization to operate suboptimally in order to achieve maximum goals of the system. The total cost concept is based on the systems concept, however goal achievement is measured in terms of cost. A variation of the total cost concept is the after-tax concept. This goal of this concept is after-tax profit. This concept is becoming very popular because of the many different national tax policies. The trade-off concept links the system together in a way that is very efficient, but can have trade-offs that might be inefficient. The advantages of such high efficiency must be weighed against the risk involved. One of the largest obstacles of international logistics is geography. The distance and manner materials must be shipped is the most important step in international logistics. Transportation infrastructures vary greatly throughout the world. International companies must consider all options before starting any operation in another country. Perhaps a country could have easy access by ship, but no way to transport the goods once on the ground. All available routes into and out of the country must be determined in order to judge the feasibility of the operation. Ground shipments are excellent for neighboring countries such as the U.S. and Mexico. Normally, shipping across ground borders is fairly uneventful and is usually the best method if time and distance allow it. Ocean shipments are divided by three types of service: liner, bulk, and tramp. Liner service is regularly scheduled passages on assigned and established routes. This ship routes are similar to taking a plane somewhere. This service is used more for one-time or irregular shipments. Bulk service is contractual for a prolonged period of time. This service is for those needing to ship large quantities on a fairly regular basis. Tramp service is for irregular routes and scheduled as needed. This service would be to destinations liner service normally does not operate, and for large quantities. The type of ocean service you use also depends on where the material must go. Certain types of ships can only go to certain places, and certain ships can only carry a certain type of freight. All alternatives must be fully researched before ocean service can be considered as a valid option. The biggest advantage of ocean shipping is cost. Typically, ocean service is the least costly option, however is also has the slowest travel time. Accidents are infrequent, however if one would happen, large quantities of material are lost all at once. Certain operations could not sustain long periods of down-time caused by lost goods, which could prove devastating. Additionally, not all countries have adequate docking facilities and material may have to be delivered in another manner. Sometimes, the material can be ocean shipped to a neighboring country, and then trucked across land. Air freight is the quickest method for shipping goods. It also is the most costly. While the airfreight industry has had tremendous growth over the years, it still makes up less than 1 percent of all international freight. Typically, airfreight is used for high value items, and those required to have a short transit time. Perishable goods for instance, practically requires air shipment. Another advantage to air freight is the abundance of facilities throughout the world that are accessible by air. Transit time is another important aspect of international logistics, and is closely related to the manner in which the material is shipped. Because the ocean freight takes longer, large quantities are shipped. This requires storage of inventory in both countries. By using air freight, the smaller quantities and more periodic shipments can reduce storage costs. Air freight is also more predictable than ocean shipments. Where a ship may be a few days late, the air freight is usually only a few hours late. Predictability is important for many types of shipments, and when it is required, air freight is the mode of choice. Packaging for international shipments must also be researched. Many times, a single shipment may be trucked, air freighted, and shipped. Packaging for three different types of shipping can be tricky. The most common type of international shipping is in containers. These containers can ride on a truck and then be placed on a ship. Beyond general packaging, climate changes must also be taken into consideration. Care must be taken that the freight is not susceptible to extreme temperatures or humidity. When air freight is being used, the weight of the packaging must be considered for maximum benefit. Extremely heavy packaging can add thousands of dollars to an air freight bill. Logistics of a storage facility is also very important. How many locations and where they are located must be closely researched in order to yield the most benefit. Sometimes, a location can be chosen based on monetary benefit in addition to logistical benefit. Certain enterprise zones can greatly increase after-tax profits. These types of areas must be researched and compared for cost/benefit. The final part of logistics is how to tie this system together. All of these different options and concepts must flow together and operate as efficiently as possible. There are three basic forms of logistics management. Centralized logistics management provides that the logistics operations are headed by managers that also head other divisions of the company. This type of management helps avoid internal problems by having a central manager that ultimately decides how logistics and operations are coordinated. Decentralized logistics management is based on the fact that a company needs to have a division that helps control the local-adaptation needs. Dealing with different cultures requires input from the local branch. The managers that deal with the cultural differences on a daily basis normally know what works and what doesn†t. Outsourcing is the final option for logistics management. When this happens, transportation firms concentrate on logistics, and the company can concentrate on it†s production. There are many cost savings using this type of program, however that lack of control can negatively effect many companies. International logistics requires many different options and requirements to be met in order for a company to operate internationally. It†s like a big puzzle that must be put together, in order for all the goals to be met. As described above, there are many options to consider, and sometimes what appears to be an option really isn†t. It is not difficult to hit a road block, and you must start over with a new plan. Once the logistics plan is in place, you must constantly look for improvements in order to maximize profits and goals.

Paleo-discharge of the Maumee floods Research Paper

Paleo-discharge of the Maumee floods - Research Paper Example The results positively indicate the extent of the damage and predicts the next step in solving the problem. Introduction The problem is finding ways of restoring the watershed to a state that would be useful to the inhabitants living in the surrounding. This study is aimed at identifying opportunities and issues in the process of establishing the viability of the study. The main subject of the study is the deposits that were formed by the glacial activities. They include the Fort Wayne Moraine, and the Wabash. The Wabash was formed as a result of the activities that followed the melt water that into the St. Joseph and St. Mary’s Rivers. The two streams converged at the western edge of Fort Wayne Moraine. They drained a bigger discharge that created a valley that was called the Wabash Erie Channel. On a personal observation of the site there is feasibly in the thickness of disjointed deposits that are in the southern and the northern sides of the Maumee River watershed. The hei ghts go from 50 to 100 feet above the ground. This evidence of the occurrence of glacial activity in the northern part of the Maumee River. The bedrock holding these features is controlled by the Cincinnati Arch on the southern part and the Michigan Basin the northern area. The study tries to measure the magnitude of the water discharge that has been impacted by the Maumee River. Methods A task in the lab is to figure out the flood elevation from topographic maps and imagery near Lafayette, Indiana. In order to do this, I make 5 cross sections (Battleground, Americus, upstream of Delphi, Purdue and Lafayette, and Independence) from the topographic maps, with a vertical exaggeration of 10X. The scale of my cross section is, horizontally 1cm = 800ft, and vertically 1 cm = 80ft. There are two different ways I used to estimate discharge to complete this project. The first one is using Manning’s equation, and the second one is using the equation in dam breakout floods. In this par t, I am going to give detailed explanations for each of the equations, and explanation of flood reconstruction. Method1: Discharge estimations, whether of modern floods or ancient floods, requires that you determine both the average velocity of the water as well as the cross sectional area. The overall equation is: Q = u * A Where Q is the estimated discharge, u is the average velocity of the flow, and A is the cross sectional area. The average velocity can be estimated using Manning’s equation: u = RH2/3 * S1/2 * n-1 Where the RH is the hydraulic radius, S is the water surface slope, and n is the channel roughness coefficient. The cross-sectional area (A) is the area of flowing water as measured from bank to bank. Requires both a channel cross section, which I constructed, and an estimate of water depth (d) for calculation. The hydraulic radius (RH) is a physical characteristic of a streambed. It is the cross-sectional area (A) of the channel divided by the wetted perimeter. The wetted perimeters the length of the wetted edge of a channel cross section containing flowing water (i.e. the total perimeter minus the water surface). The water surface slope is the angle of the water surface relative to the horizontal. This angle can be found by measuring the change in water surface elevation between two points along the stream. Roughness coefficien

Shanghai transportation PowerPoint Presentation

Shanghai transportation - PowerPoint Presentation Example ating in Shanghai city and this number is expected to rise in coming years as a result of rapid industrialization and general increase in disposable income associated with the growth of Shanghai’s economy. Motorcycles have increased over the last decade as more people prefer to use them for their convenience in snaking through traffic jams. These together with a staggering 7 million bicycles significantly increase crowding in the city (Dargay et al. 2014). Nanjing road in the city is known to be the most crowded street in the world with various holidays including New Year and Christmas among others being celebrated in it. These attract significant crowds that gather to enjoy fireworks. Shanghai is renowned for the worst rush hour traffic jams that are unmatched in any other Chinese city with a jam index of 2.16. These rush hour jams mainly occur on Monday and Thursday mornings as well as on Friday evening when the jam index as high as 2.3 has been recorded. Express ways have been built to lower the traffic jams but their effect has been minimal (Danielson, 2010). There are special lanes for buses with the city being home for the world’s broadest network of urban bus ways. There are a total of 1,000 bus routes that are run by many transportation firms. The Shanghai metro is a rapid transit system, which is a clever transportation idea comprising subways and light railways reaching all the major urban districts in the city and its suburbs (Chen, 2011). The Shanghai metro lines form the longest rapid rail network with a daily commuter population of over 7 million passengers. The bullet train is a rapid transport system that allows fast movements to and from Shanghai. Public transportation is not affected by airport operations and does not stop 2 miles from the airport as is the case in Los Angeles (Chinese academy of sciences, 2010). Public transport accounts for over 90% of the daily journeys in Shanghai, which is the highest among global cities. China does

Annotation assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Annotation assignment - Essay Example Unconsciousness is characterized by the lack of awareness, for example, when one is asleep or is in a coma. Unconsciousness as Meltzer defines it is also never a thing nor is it a place; the word is an adjective in the sense that the unconscious individual is never aware of his or her actions (Meltzer, p 147). This is what brings in the complexity of the term, different individuals in different fields argue differently about the concept, some arguing that the term is a noun (meaning it is a thing) while others argue that it is an adjective, (meaning it is never a thing). In psychology, the unconscious falls in as an adjective, in that it is a state in which human beings are not aware of their actions. However even with this definition, controversy rises in the aspect that if one is not aware of his or her actions, then is this an ‘activity or is it a ‘place?’ Also the psychology definition brings another controversy; usually individuals define the term as an ‘it’ so is unconsciousness an ‘it or a ‘how.’ Freud defines the concept as an ‘it he defines it around different concepts such as desires, feelings and emotions usually held by individuals without their awareness. To some extent, this brings in the psychological definition ‘state in which an individual is not aware of his or her actions’ (Meltzer, p 148). Meltzer also attempts to define the term philosophically, in this he brings the idea that there are powers revolving around the term that are difficult to understand. But do these ‘dark powers’ really exist and if they do, do they really result in individuals committing unconscious actions? Meltzer in this section tries to show that unconscious in philosophy falls in a state where individuals perform certain actions as a result of dark forces. In religion, the term revolves around the knowable and the unknowable, however even with this religion holds to the fact that unconsciousness falls

Natural Gas in Israel Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Natural Gas in Israel - Assignment Example This means that even as it focuses on economic development, Israel must give good attention to its defense and the activities of its neighbors and maintain a robust and well thought out foreign policy. One other challenge that the country has to deal with is pollution. With the development of new industries comes more pollution. The country has taken a raft of measures to ensure that it remains stable and harvest the resource sustainably. It remains to be seen, however, how the country will deal with these challenges. Â  For a long time, the world has known the economic importance of oil and natural gas. Many countries including The United Arab Emirates and Canada are the testimony to the wealth and power that comes with having natural gas and oil as part of a country’s natural resources. Being situated in the Middle East which is associated with massive oil and natural gas reserves, Israel hoped that it too would enjoy the benefits of having oil and natural gas wells ever since its establishment as a modern country. While this was the case, the country’s prospects of discovering natural gas and oil very little promise. Â  Between 1954 and 1969, the officially country began to hunt for natural gas reserves off and onshore as noted by Forman (2013). After more a long period of searching, the Tethys Sea Partnership announced that it had discovered natural gas in the Noa field. The discovery of the Mari B field after the first discovery was a feat that sparked great interest in Israel’s coast. The year 2005 saw Israel sign a contract with Egypt for the supply of 40 percent of its yearly demand (Forman 2013). The Tamar, Dalit 1, and Levithian reserves were discovered between 2009 and 2012 marks a major breakthrough for the small country (Forman 2013). For the first time in the history of Israel, natural gas from the Tamar reserve flowed in 2013 marking another major breakthrough in the country’s history. Â  

Investment Portfolio Implementation & Management Essay

Investment Portfolio Implementation & Management - Essay Example The following aspects have been considered before formulating the appropriate asset allocation strategy for the investor: An investment portfolio consists of a number of asset classes which have different levels of standard deviations, returns and yields. The assets that are to be included within an asset allocation model depend largely on the kind of return being expected by the investor and the risk that the individual is willing to bear (Market Watch, 2013). Therefore before preparing the asset allocation model, the first thing that needs to be identified over here is the latest investment benchmark figures of the different asset classes. Considering the above mentioned investment benchmarks, 8% of Dr. O’Hara’s investment should be made behind intermediate bonds as the investor wants to invest $30,000 in an asset that is considered safe and is associated with no expense, sales or early withdrawal charges. This will enable Dr. O’Hara that a guaranteed return is realized at the end of maturity thereby enabling the individual to pay for travel expenses without any inconvenience. Now, considering the fact that Dr. O’Hara wants to earmark $60,000 in an account with higher than current certificate of deposit or money market rates but minimal market volatility, 17% of the total investment sum should be invested in short term bonds. They have a standard deviation value of 0.68% indicates that this asset is less volatile. Therefore, keeping $60,000 earmarked for an investment in short term bonds will enable the investor to enjoy a return close to 0.71%, 1.23% and 2.74% respectively in bonds with 1 year, 5 years and 10 years maturity. The remaining 75% of the investment fund should be distributed appropriately between large cap stocks, small cap stocks, mid cap stocks and international stocks. 27% of the investment fund should be invested

Career in Financial Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Career in Financial Planning - Essay Example To be able to deliver that effectively, the scope that requires thorough understanding is listed below. A good financial planner understands investments, taxes, estate planning issues and strategies. In order to acquire adequate expertise, financial planners must be familiar with legal restrictions and laws concerning retirement plans, tax shelters, insurance, and trusts. There are several journals and other reliable sources that provide details which planners need to be aware of; few of the sources have been listed in forth coming sections. In order to succeed in financial planning one not only needs to know the details of various investments, tax law, estate planning strategies, but also needs to be an active listener, good at marketing oneself, above average interpersonal skills with an analytical mind that can work with numbers and budges, understand complicated financial and legal documents. In addition, they should be articulate, persuasive, and have fairly decent selling ability. While associating myself in knowing the significant elements of financial world, I have also kept myself engaged in developing the required skills. 4. Target Clients - High Net worth Individuals are a Key Target A growth area in financial planning and money management is targeting the high net worth individual. PSI, a financial services consultant, estimates that over 4 million US households have a net worth in excess of $1 million, which is encouraging enough to dwell more on this crowd to explore more opportunities for business and sales. 5. Sources There is benefit of attending local chapter meetings of financial planner organizations. The best way to find out the identity of a local chapter is through any of the three national financial planner organizations: (1) Institute for Certified Financial Planners (2) International Association for Financial Planning or (3) National Association of Personal Financial Advisors. I also plan to be updated from top trade magazines including Today's Realtor and Mortgage Banking Magazine and online at Inman News, the leading electronic broadcast service in real estate Informally I will also keep track of all the blogs veteran certified financial planners maintain, to develop some kind of competitive intelligence and be better facilitated with facts about the sector as a whole. Websites of leading firms that hire Financial Planners like AIG, Ameriprise Financial, Edward Jones, John Hancock. Primerica also will provide enough insights about the

Sustainable Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sustainable Tourism - Essay Example However, a decline in the tourism industry has been seen. It may be because of the declining consumer trend towards tourism due to the financial crisis. The industry is also helping in creating possibilities of low cost tourism that accommodates people from different phase of lifestyles to enjoy the beauty of nature. The tourism industry of Malaysia is said to be the second highest contributor in the Malaysian economy, which helps in generating foreign exchange as well as creates job opportunities for the locals. Malaysia is less developed as compared to other tourism places of the world, but Malaysia is renowned for its niche tourism due to world events and marketing strategies, which are employed. The Malaysian tourism can be improved; therefore, a report on ‘Sustainable Tourism Development’ is given to provides an in-depth view of the issues and gives a measure to deal with such issues which cater the heavy tourism industry of Malaysia. The report provides a stakeholder inclusive model which helps in resolving skirmishes between the local, national and international authorities. This model also provides realistic approaches, which are mandatory for the formulation planning and development process. The report gives a brief overview about the bodies, which are responsible for organizing and running the tourism industry of Malaysia. The repot discusses principle of planning as its core segment. The planning of tourism in Malaysia is done with highlighting the upcoming five years. This five-year plan includes the aim of developing and rehabilitating the tourism industry as it is the second highest contributor to the Malaysian economy. Then the principle of planning discusses its second part, which is the national ecotourism plan (Warn 2010). It is aimed at providing suitable strategies, which help in developing the tourism on the basis of sustainability factors with relation to ecotourism. The third part of

Format for a Business Report Essay Example for Free

Format for a Business Report Essay There are few standard rules for writing business reports that dictate what information should come in which section of the report. This format is followed in most of the business report examples, that one may refer to. The most widely used format consists of the following standard sections: Title Section: In a short report, this could be the first page bearing the title of the report, author name and date. The reason of making such a report could also be included in this section, so that the reader can establish an instant connection with the information in subsequent sections. In case of long reports, include the Table of Contents, Terms of References and so on. Summary: As the name suggests, this is the summary of the whole report. Then why include it in the beginning of the report itself? It is because this is the section that most of the senior personnel, who do not have enough time to go through the whole report, will read through. Hence, give a very clear and precise information about the problem/aspect of business that the report is analyzing. Also, include the main points, conclusions, recommendations and important results. Although, this section contains a lot of information, ensure that it is a small one. Treat the summary as a separate report and use bullets and numbered lists to highlight important points. Methodology: List the methodologies used in your research, like if you interviewed focus groups or consulted research firms. Also, give the reason why you resorted to using a particular methodology. Introduction: This is the first part of a proper report. Use this section to provide the background of the report. Highlight the reasons why the report is important for the readers. Include information about what is covered in the main body and the order in which the details are covered in the report. In case, the Terms of Reference has not been mentioned in the Title Section, Introduction is the section to include it. Main Body: This is the heart of the report. Arrange all the information in order of priority, so that this section follows a logical sequence. Divide this section further into subsections. Lend greater order to the Main Body using sub-titles within each subsection. A paragraph about the relevance of the findings of the report can also be included in this section. Data Tabulation: Another important factor when writing format of business report is data tabulation. Presenting your data in lists or tables can help in readily understanding the report. Also, data tabulation or listing, makes the report look professional and neat. So, accompany necessary lists or tables in your report whenever required. Make sure you use neutral colors to make tables and keep the list and tables looking neat and crisp. Conclusion: Present logical conclusions for the topic investigated in the report. One can also suggest an option for the way forward. In case, discussion has not been included in the Main Body, include it in the conclusion. Otherwise keep this section small. Recommendations: Since you have worked on the report, no one would have a better understanding of the topic than you. There may be a few solutions or actions that you think would be effective in dealing with the problem, investigated in the report. Include those solutions in this section. List them in bullets and numbered lists for easier comprehension. Appendix: Although very few people read the Appendix, the information in this section gives support to the arguments used in the report. It is the Appendix where the author includes all the sources and research information, in detail. Although it is not about creative writing, good writing skills are important in business information reports, as one needs to give comprehensive information using precise words. It is advisable to keep the language simple and lucid in a business report, specially in the Summary and the Recommendations, as these are the sections most commonly read by senior level managers. However, some technical jargon can be used in the Main Body, as this is the section that is mostly read by experts. In the world of business, time is money. Following a standard business report format is what senior level managers and busy businessmen look for, as it reflects what they value the most, that is effective utilization of time. You can find many such examples online and use them as a reference for designing a suitable report format.

Vitabiotics Marketing Analysis And Future Strategy Marketing Essay

Vitabiotics Marketing Analysis And Future Strategy Marketing Essay Vitabiotics LTD is a UK-founded but globally prominent nutraceutical corporation and describes its business as nutrient-technology based healthcare. The first product to market was a mouth ulcer treatment called Oralcer in 1971 followed later that year by Omega-H, a multivitamin which has since seen huge success in various countries worldwide, often becoming the number 1 selling nutritional supplement. Since then, Vitabiotics invested heavily in research and development and began to increase their product range, creating international manufacturing facilities and landing increased distribution into large UK retailers such as Boots, Superdrug and several of the largest supermarkets. During this expansion Vitabiotics gained UK brand leader status with various products (Pregnacare, Menopace, Perfectil, Osteocare) and now export to over 100 countries. At the current day, Vitabiotics is the second largest branded multivitamin manufacturer (behind Seven Seas) and has a very wide product ra nge: Aquamarine Cardioace Diabetone Dietrim Feroglobin Goldcare Immunace Jointace Liverel Menopace Nerozan Omega-H3 Osteocare Perfectil Premence Pregnacare Tricologic Ultra-D3 Visionace Wellkid WellTeen Wellman Wellwoman (For the full list of products within each of these categories see appendix 1) The fundamental factor behind Vitabiotics success to date has been effective research and development of new products to remain at the forefront of new scientific developments in vitamins and nutrients with respect to health. In the past 30 years, the supplements market increased massively in accordance with the increase in the health food market and the populations increase in disposable income to spend on daily health products. The multivitamin market quickly become very competitive which induced the development of a myriad of more specific supplements by Vitabiotics, most of which were more expensive than the generic multivitamin. These specific supplements were developed on the basis of scientific research and the speed at which the science was developed into useable, marketable products was reflected in terms of growth, profits, brand awareness and brand loyalty. It is often the case that businesses are built upon an idea or a new product/service without the thought and investme nt into creating a brand. In these cases, the product/service can often be replicated or a similar service can be created, thus taking custom away from the original idea. The creation of a brand along with the product/service can protect their future by creating loyal customers. In addition to the brand creation, especially in the health/supplements markets, innovation and new product development is needed in order to keep or increase any market share. Vitabiotics have succeeded in this, both in the development of new products by being at the forefront of scientific research and in brand creation, which are the primary factors behind its exports expansion and its brand UK brand leader status in many of its products. Current SWOT analysis Creating a SWOT analysis is an effective way to assess a companies current market position along with its future prospects, the table below gives a summary SWOT and a much more detailed discussion and analysis follows; Strengths Weaknesses Continued growth during economic difficulties Strong brand image several recent awards Lack of knowledge towards supplements Opportunities Threats Emerging markets in developing countries Diversification into a broader product base health foods and beauty products Recent Product recall could damage brand image A change in consumer behaviour towards eating healthy foods as opposed to taking supplements could erode Vitabiotics growth Strengths Despite a 16% drop in single and multivitamin sales in the UK between 2004-2009 (Mintel), Vitabiotics continue to show growth and therefore future promise; this is in-part due to the expansion and diversification of its product base. Also, its expansion into over 100 countries has shown that globalisation of the brand is not only possible, but is currently being achieved. Another strength is Vitabiotics positive brand image with consumers, this is shown not only in increased sales but also in the recent awards that It has won; Boots Vitamin supplier of the year (for the fourth year running) Boots are the largest European pharmacy chain and this award is often advertised within Boots stores. When customers see an award from a very trusted and successful business such as Boots, this strongly encourages brand trust and greatly reinforces the brand image. BT Vision 100 award Given to the most visionary companies. This further establishes the image of Vitabiotics as a strong British company, a factor which consumers will most likely find appealing. The Queens award for enterprise. Prestigious export award Weaknesses The general consumer still has a lack of knowledge about supplements and it is very difficult to communicate benefits underpinned by science. Also, despite Vitabiotics relative success during the current worldwide economic crises, it isnt going to be ending soon and consumers are getting more conservative with their spending. Opportunities Vitabiotics have recently opened headquarters in Egypt, USA, Iran and Russia (ref) to complement the globalisation strategy. This will allow for greater expansion and possibly increased market share within the respective regions as it will enable more specific and coherent marketing strategies depending upon the region. Even though exports are currently to over 100 countries, there is still much opportunity in emerging markets as consumers have more money to spend on health related products. Threats A very recent FSA (food standards agency) recall of 9 different batches of products in the UK will damage both UK profits and may damage the brand image Vitabiotics have worked so hard to achieve, however this was only due to a labelling issue but any negative media needs to be handled appropriately. Another threat is regarding consumer opinion and behaviour towards taking supplements and multi-vitamins wherein there is an increasing preference towards eating healthy foods as opposed to taking pills. Perceptual Map Below is a simple perceptual map describing Vitabiotics current product diversity and market positioning, the first diagram shows a selection of its products, and places them on the map relative to the particular market segment that they occupy. The promotion strategies of the specific products are also segregated and tailored to where these fall on the map; Omega-H3 promotion spending has reduced drastically and the specific Wellman/teen/kid/woman multivitamins have all received lots of investments, with promotion in gender specific magazines. Perfectil, a skincare multivitamin is advertised separately in more beauty-orientated media. The second diagram represents Vitabiotics product diversification strategy which is reacting to current consumer trends, products are moving away from traditional multivitamins and towards the beauty, specific and medicinal markets. Despite the diversification, segregation and separate promotion strategies, product branding remains similar and noticeable to reinforce the Vitabiotics image: A consumer can easily associate any of the Vitabiotics products with each other. In addition the ecommerce store that Vitabiotics have launched brings these products together excellently, to give the consumer a broad choice when selecting what product is right for them. Future strategy and recommendations For Vitabiotics to continue to grow and attempt to gain more market share from seven seas and chainstore-branded products

Cultural Context: Alcohol Essay -- Drinking Teenagers Papers

Cultural Context: Alcohol Alcohol has always been a controversial topic in the United States for social, political, and religious reasons. The negative effects of drinking came to the foreground of American concern during the early twentieth century. This was a time of great prosperity followed by the Great Depression. Both of these eras led Americans to turn to or against liquor as the cause or demise of their success. Prohibition marked a change in the American way of life and is best documented by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway in their contemporary works. Both of these authors grappled with alcohol use and abuse within their own lives and writing. On 12:01 a.m. on July 16, 1920 the 18th Amendment went into effect, marking the beginning of a thirteen-year period of national Prohibition in the United States. The movement had existed for decades, but it was not until President Wilson and his southern Democrats came to Washington did it get national momentum, (Parrish, 96). Those who were in favor of Prohibition were collectively known as â€Å"the drys.† The group was generally composed of members of two sub-groups: the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League. The Anti-Saloon League considered themselves â€Å"an army of the Lord to wipe out the curse of drink,† (Sann, 26). A large majority of the prohibitionists were church-going, Protestant women from small-towns. The divide in opinion between the cities and the rural and suburban areas was so great that the passage of the 18th Amendment was considered a major cultural victory over large cities (Parrish, 97). The call for temperance was supported by progressive reformers who viewed the â€Å"Devil’s Brew† as the primary source ... ...Company, 1992. p. 95-113 This was the most useful source in understanding the social context of Prohibition, its enforcement, and failure. Sann, Paul. The Lawless Decade. New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1957. p. 21-24. 115-120 This book provided background information on the 1920s, the Jazz Age, and the role alcohol played during these time periods as well as the American response to Prohibition. www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=441 This article was extremely helpful in understanding the circumstances during Prohibition and how exactly citizens managed to undermine the law. www.drugtext.org/library/articles/craig103.htm This article emphasized and provided a glimpse into the lawlessness of Prohibition and the operation of speakeasies. www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork/laic/episode5/topic1/e5_t1_s2-rr.html Cultural Context: Alcohol Essay -- Drinking Teenagers Papers Cultural Context: Alcohol Alcohol has always been a controversial topic in the United States for social, political, and religious reasons. The negative effects of drinking came to the foreground of American concern during the early twentieth century. This was a time of great prosperity followed by the Great Depression. Both of these eras led Americans to turn to or against liquor as the cause or demise of their success. Prohibition marked a change in the American way of life and is best documented by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway in their contemporary works. Both of these authors grappled with alcohol use and abuse within their own lives and writing. On 12:01 a.m. on July 16, 1920 the 18th Amendment went into effect, marking the beginning of a thirteen-year period of national Prohibition in the United States. The movement had existed for decades, but it was not until President Wilson and his southern Democrats came to Washington did it get national momentum, (Parrish, 96). Those who were in favor of Prohibition were collectively known as â€Å"the drys.† The group was generally composed of members of two sub-groups: the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League. The Anti-Saloon League considered themselves â€Å"an army of the Lord to wipe out the curse of drink,† (Sann, 26). A large majority of the prohibitionists were church-going, Protestant women from small-towns. The divide in opinion between the cities and the rural and suburban areas was so great that the passage of the 18th Amendment was considered a major cultural victory over large cities (Parrish, 97). The call for temperance was supported by progressive reformers who viewed the â€Å"Devil’s Brew† as the primary source ... ...Company, 1992. p. 95-113 This was the most useful source in understanding the social context of Prohibition, its enforcement, and failure. Sann, Paul. The Lawless Decade. New York : Crown Publishers, Inc, 1957. p. 21-24. 115-120 This book provided background information on the 1920s, the Jazz Age, and the role alcohol played during these time periods as well as the American response to Prohibition. www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=441 This article was extremely helpful in understanding the circumstances during Prohibition and how exactly citizens managed to undermine the law. www.drugtext.org/library/articles/craig103.htm This article emphasized and provided a glimpse into the lawlessness of Prohibition and the operation of speakeasies. www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork/laic/episode5/topic1/e5_t1_s2-rr.html

Building the Panama Canal Essay -- essays research papers

Since the start of Teddy Roosevelt's presidency, he wanted to imperialize the United States. He believed that building a canal in Latin America would be a good way to imperialize. It would connect the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans and would be much quicker and more efficient than having to go around the bottom tip of South America in the Tierra del Fuego. Roosevelt was determined to build this canal and would keep pushing for it until he got his way. He faced many obstacles, but his determination enabled him to overcome them. With much help, he would build one of the most important canals in the western hemisphere. Building a canal to connect the seas together wasn?t originally Roosevelt?s idea. The idea had been around since Spanish colonial times, but the United States took interest in the subject too as they expanded westward. In 1846 a treaty was signed granting the United States transit rights across the Isthmus of Panama, as long as they guaranteed neutrality in Panama and Columbia. In 1848, Great Britain and the United States had great interest in building the Nicaragua Canal, a route other than across the Isthmus of Panama. The Clayton-Buwler Treaty of 1850, in which Great Britain and the United States promised that any canal in Central America would be politically neutral, ended the rivalry between the two countries. Credit of the idea for building a canal can be given to Cornelius Vanderbilt. H realized he could make quite a profit from the canal. The United States found it imperative that they had control over a canal in Latin America, but did not know whether to build one in Nicara gua or Panama. Later, in 1878, a French company under Ferdinand de Lesseps, who was an ambitious man who built the Suez Canal, was grant... ...more of an imperialistic nation, which was Roosevelt?s goal all along. In 1977, the United States signed a treaty with Panama stating that the U.S. would end its control beginning in the year 2000, and Panama would resume the operation and defense of the Panama Canal. Therefore, presently, the Panama Canal is neutral, but is still very important due to the U.S. We still have a say on what happens to and goes on around the canal, and if something were to happen to stop the flow of the ships through the canal, the United States would be allowed to step in and take care of the problem. Over the last ten years, nearly $100 million have been spent on repairing and widening the canal. Through all the thinking, planning, hard labor, and toiling put into the Panama Canal, the canal became arguably the most important canal ever and one of the greatest engineering feats ever.

Thin is Beautiful Essay -- Beauty and the Media

How many times have you looked in a magazine and envied the models pictured? Have you ever watched a TV show or a movie and wished you looked like one of the stars? Many teenage girls are often targeted by magazines, movies, and TV and are made to believe that â€Å"thin is beautiful†. The media has negatively affected teenage girls’ self-image. From sit-coms to magazines, thin, beautiful girls can be spotted, and this can cause a girl to feel that she is not thin enough to be accepted by society. Many shows on TV can cause a teenage girl’s self-image to be a very negative one; that she is too fat. Sit-coms are examples of this. On the hit TV show â€Å"Friends†, there are three thin, beautiful girls starring in it, who wear skimpy, stylish clothes, have beautiful hair, and always look gorgeous. In a few episodes, there are flashbacks to when Monica, one of the characters on the show, was in high school and was a little bit overweight. Monica’s friends on the show make fun of her because she was much heavier than she currently is. Surely, any girl who is slightly heavier will feel negative about her image because the â€Å"popular† and â€Å"cool† characters on the show are making fun of her weight. Most any other sit-com has the same gorgeous style of women. On Will & Grace for example, the star playing Grace has a beautiful slim body and flaunts it from time to time. On Dharma and Greg, the star also has a thin body and wears smaller clothe s as well. Search mostly any sit-com and surely,...

The Six Features of Academic Style

It therefore has fewer words that refer to the writer or the reader. This means that the main emphasis should be on the information that you want to give and the arguments you want to ake, rather than you. Your arguments should also show balance and both sides of . he issue. Explicitness Academic writing is explicit about the relationships int he text. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the writer in English to make it clear to the reader how the various parts of the text are related. These connections can be made explicit by the use of different signalling words. (PEE Point, example, empirical evidence. ) Hedging In any kind of academic writing you do, it is necessary to make decisions about your tance on a particular subject, or the strength of the claims you are making.Different subjects prefer to do this in different ways. Using verbs such as might/may/could and reporting verbs gives extra detail/protection of your position. Responsibility In academic writing you must be re sponsible for, and must be able to provide evidence and Justification for, any claims you make. You are also responsible for demonstrating an understanding of any source texts you use. The Six Features of Academic Style By SapphireP

Fundamental of portfolio management

The equity risk premium is the excess return required by investors to compensate risks of holding a stock rather than holding a â€Å"risk free† asset. Jason ,2011) Under the Capital Asset Pricing model: , risk free investments involve borrowing and lending among investors and borrowing positions offset by lending positions, therefore let Y = and representative investor's risk aversion be . (Bodied, Kane and Marcus, 2011). We rearrange this equation , indicating the equity risk premium is influenced by average risk aversion and variance of the market portfolio.It's obvious that when risk aversion of investors and variance of market portfolio increase the equity risk premium will goes up, and vice-versa. There are many empirical evidences show that during the Global Financial Crisis the volatilities of market increase, for example Chewer (AAA) have recognized the increase of volatilities in stock markets during financial crisis. Besides, according to the research of Steven, Mic hael and Bob (2011) derived from trades in options on the S&P/ASX 200 index showed that the implied volatility climb up during the SGF and reach the peak in 2009.The increase of stock market volatilities not only represent the increase of risks (Karol 2011 and Brooks 2001) but also have negative relationship with risk aversion. (Chewer 1989 and Carney 2000). There are some events can be summarized in mention of an increase in risk aversion, for example after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy in September 2008 the stock market price hardly dropped and the bank lending dramatically decreased, consistent with this there was a overshooting of risk aversion. Paolo, John and Chairs,2011) In conclusion, during the SGF both average risk aversion and risks of market increased, therefore the equity risk premium went up. Part D The keenness in the distribution of returns has became important in asset pricing because the traditional mean-variance measurement cannot fully characterize return behavi ors (Samuelsson 1970,Campbell and Hence 1992;Circler and Huber 2007).This report will discusses the importance of keenness in returns in asset pricing with he respects of investors' preference for positive keenness and aversion to negative keenness, which asset pricing factors may be a proxy for keenness, the distinction between keenness and co-keenness in returns, and some researches include behavioral finance researches will be provided. What is keenness and why it's important Keenness is a measure of the asymmetry of probability distribution around its mean.Positive keenness has more probability distribution towards positive value, while negative keenness has more probability distribution towards negative value. The skewed distribution of asset returns was first point out by Dominant(1985), and it caused by the asymmetrical reactions of investors to goods news and bad news from companies. Chem.., Hong and Stein (2001) argued that there was another reason The main reason for the i ncreasing importance of keenness in returns is that the unrealistic assumptions of traditional mean-variance framework.The mean-variance measurement assumes the returns are normally distribute and quadratic preference, however it rarely happened in real word, therefore the insemination of expect returns and risks may exhibit. According to the finding of Roll(1977) and Ross( 1977) that the portfolio used as a market proxy is inefficient, the Sharper's CAMP have been suggested as invalid. It's also supported by Bernard and Allotted(2000) that the (unadjusted) mean-variance measurement Sharpe ratio can lead misleading conclusions.For overcoming this bias Parka's and Bear (1986) and Leland (1999) have developed performance measure incorporating keenness. Besides, Harvey and Suicide (2002) and Krause and Litterbug (1976) have recognized the importance of keenness that systematic keenness and conditional keenness are important to asset pricing since hey characterize the true distribution of asset returns. Furthermore, in traditional mean-variance framework such as Capital Asset Pricing Model there is only a single efficiency risky asset portfolio.While accounting for the mean-variance-keenness in returns, there are multiple efficient portfolios, which could be considered to provide diversification portfolios. (Harvey and Suicide,2000) Investor's preference for positive keenness and aversion to negative keenness The positive skewed distribution has a longer tail on the higher-return side of the curve, while the negative skewed distribution has a longer tail in the lower-return did.The asset with negative skewed returns distribution has greater risks that the returns will decrease than what the standard deviation measures, and for positive skewed distribution there are fewer risks the returns will decrease (Mini, 2011) Theoretically, investors have preference toward positive keenness and aversion toward negative keenness, since increasing positive keenness will decrea se possibility of large negative rate of returns.There are many literally evidences show the preference of positive keenness, for example in 1967 Aridity presented that rational investors with reasonable utility functions should prefer positive keenness in the distribution of investment returns†. Following Aridity (1976),Chinchilla et al. (1997) and Parka's et al. (2003) have recognized investors' preference for positive keenness as well. What's more, investors show their preference toward positive keenness in gambling, lotteries and entrepreneurship (Thomas, Jose and LU-Santos, 2009).Nevertheless, some investors exhibit preference for negative keenness in real life, here investor is not only represent individual but also economic agent. Prefer repertory investment is a an example of negative keenness preference, which with reasonable average yields but a small chance of heavy losses, to the opportunity of recouping the original cost(Maker, Nicholas, Dominic and Raymond additi on, economic agents facing a stream of stochastic monetary payoffs will show preference for negative keenness (Nazism, 2004).This also supported by Richard â€Å"economic agents may prefer negative keenness under some certain conditions† (Richard, 2010). From the research of Harvey and Suicide (2000) we can know that negative keenness receive higher return. In their research they assumed investors require payment for negative keenness, and excess returns could be result from the market inefficiency. The higher return of negative keenness may be a reason that in some circumstance investor will prefer negative keenness.Although investors expect the returns of asset exhibit positive skewed distribution, commonly the returns are negatively skewed distribution, since investors react to good news and bad news from corporations asymmetrically. It's explained by Dominant (1985) who first pointed out the skewed distribution of asset returns, and he reposed that the increase of stock p rice caused by good news is to some extent offset by the increase in the risk premium, which is required by higher volatility.For the decreased stock price caused by bad news is amplified further by the increased in the risk premium. Which asset pricing factors may act as a proxy for keenness The traditional mean-variance CAMP use beta to measure the systematic risks, and there are lots of studies suggest that the beta can't fully capture the systematic risks. Ban (1981) suggested market capitalization ,and Fame and French (1992) proposed kook- to-market ratio have relationship with the cross-section of stock returns(Chi- Hoist ,2006).There are many debates about whether asset pricing factors such as size and book-to market ratio may be acting as a proxy for keenness. The SMB factor measures the spread in asset returns between small and large size firms, and the HIM factor measures the spread asset returns between high book-to-market ratio and low book-to-market ration assets. In th e research of Harvey and Suicide(2000) they found that when adding keenness alone or Jointly with HIM and SMB to portfolios had similar results, therefore they lamed that book market ratio (HIM) and size (SMB) factors can be act as a proxy for keenness.Recently, Chunk Johnson and Shill (2007) also proposed that SMB and HIM are proxies for higher-order moments, and the Fame and French factors could be superior. However, there were some probabilities of errors in variables in their research. Conversely, Smith (2007) applied the condition three-model factor, which was proposed by Harvey and Suicide (2000), he argued that there was little impact on the price of market beta after adding the size(SMB) and the book-to-market(HIM) actors when the conditional keenness has already included in the model.The study of Jail(2004) showed that the conditional keenness plays an important role in stock market (HIM) factors. Even though there are many arguments about the extent those SMB and HIM asset s pricing factors act as a proxy for keenness, as least from the studies of Chunk Johnson and Shill (2007) and Jail (2004) we can conclude that the SMB and HIM those non-market factors can't completely act as a proxy for keenness.Distinction between keenness and co-keenness in returns Keenness is a measure of the asymmetry of probability distribution around its mean or a single asset, while co-keenness measures the symmetry of a variable's probability distribution in relation to another variable's probability distribution symmetry, which provide estimation of risks of assets connect to market risks. Theoretically, investors show their preference towards positive conciseness that present the asset has higher possibility of extreme positive returns than market returns.Thus, jocoseness also plays an important role in asset pricing, and there are many studies support it. The studies of Harvey and Suicides (2000), Smith (2005) and Errand and Sys (2005) provided evidence that the conditio nal jocoseness can help explain the cross-section of stock returns. Baron-Ideas (1985) and Limit (1989) suggested the pricing of jocoseness. Moreover, jocoseness extends capital asset pricing theory to some extent.The study by Krause and Litterbug provided the evidence that jocoseness can be regarded as a supplement to the covariance measurement of risks in explaining the returns on individual NYSE stocks and in the process to interpret the other discrepancies between returns, and the returns when take the NYSE stocks on the whole. Conclusion In conclusion, keenness in returns plays an important role in asset pricing, and there are many researches can provide evidence for it. For example, the studies conducted by Campbell and Hence (1992) and Harvey and Suicide (2000).

The Avengers: Disney’s Recipe for a Blockbuster Success

The Avengers â€Å"There was an idea called the avengers initiative, the idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they could become something more, see if they could work together when we needed them to. To fight the battles that we never could. † and â€Å"Until such time as the world ends, we will act as if it intends to spin on. † â€Å"The tesseract has awakened† bringing forth the forefront for the action/superhero genre in the form of Disney’s The Avengers written and directed by Joss Whedon.With planning years in the making, The Avengers needed a star-studded line-up and it far exceeded expectations with selections. Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury, the leader of Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, better known as S. H. I. E. L. D. recruits the powerful, well known actors ;amp; comic book characters both on screen and off screen in Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Bruce Banne r/The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and the â€Å"volatile, self-obsessed, doesn’t play well with others† Tony Stark/Ironman (Robert Downey Jr).Throw in Gwyneth Paltrow, Cobie Smulders, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddlestone and all you will need is a plot, script and some visuals to be guaranteed a success. Having a meticulously developed script disables viewers from allowing attention to drift away for even a moment in fear of missing one of the witty one-liners or references to a greater idea The Avengers empowers. â€Å"An ant has no corral with a boot. †Not to mention, the plot will disable washroom breaks as you will be immersed in the super heroic battles constantly taking place from the first minute to the last, you will forget you ever had to go to begin with. If still teetering to give The Avengers a go a budget of $220 million, mostly spent on visuals such as costumes, sound and special effects should be enough to aesthe tically please the eyes enough into going.From pin-point accuracy in detail in costumes, to loud booming, breathtaking explosives during battle sequences, The Avengers could easily be the best thing your eyes have ever seen. No matter who you are or what Earth you are from, I would bet my bottom dollar that you cannot watch The Avengers and walk away unsatisfied. With a star studded cast, a meticulous script and plot, and jaw-dropping visuals Disney has created a recipe for blockbuster success certain to burn out many DVD players in households worldwide.

Resolving Ethical Business Challenges

1. What are the potential ethical issues faced by ACME Corp? Frank from ACME corp. is leveraging his personal relationship and offering bribes and kickbacks to Otis of Thermocare to increase purchase contracts. This could potentially be a large problem if Thermocare becomes aware of such practices. The purchase of product should be warranted w/ quality of products and price structures, not because it gets you tickets to baseball games and Cancun. If ACME is competitive, there is nothing wrong with these kick-backs. If there is a better option for Thermocare, however, and Otis is choosing ACME for kickbacks alone, this becomes an ethical problem. If other customers of ACME or general public discovered these practices, they could damage their infrastructure thru lost revenue or hurt their public image. Related reading: Disadvantages of Ethics in the Workplace 2.What should ACME do if there is a desire to make ethics a part of its core organizational values? If ACME wanted to adapt Ethics as part of its core organizational values, they should start in the same approach as the structure of the business, top-down. Amber may be Frank’s boss but does business no more ethical than Frank does. Instead of warning of ethical issues, she re-enforces the practice of bribing the client. Therefore, Amber requires ethical training as much as Frank does. Her manager likely needs Ethical training as well as anyone up the chain. 3.Identify the ethical issues of which Frank needs to be aware. Frank needs to be aware of ethical issues of bribery. He should understand that his personal reputation as well as ACME’s is at risk when conducting business in this manner. Frank should start by asking himself if Thermocare would be as interested in ACME’s product if Otis was not able to squeeze kick-backs out of Frank and Amber. Frank should also be aware that Amber, despite being his manager, is as un-ethical as Frank is. She specifically tells Frank that no one will find out about the funding for season tickets as well as the trip to Cancun. 4.Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each decision that Frank could make. The easiest thing Frank could do is continue the bribery, say by funding Otis’s night at the Adult Entertainment venue. This would keep Otis happy and coming back for more kick-backs. Otis, Frank, Amber and the rest of ACME corp. would materialistically benefit from this continued business practice. It is unknown whether or not Thermocare is benefitting from this relationship. It is clear, however, that someone is paying for this. The disadvantage of continuing this bribery is clear. If the kick-backs become exposed to the rest of Thermocare, the client may terminate Otis and further sales with ACME Corp. If the rest of ACME Corp. found out about Amber and Frank’s methods, there would likely be disciplinary action. Additionally, if this matter became public, Frank and Amber could have jeopardized ACME’s reputation and severely hurt future sales with anyone.

Different Kinds of Engineering Material Assignment - 1

Different Kinds of Engineering Material - Assignment Example Brittle fracture basically is a fracture where there is a rapid run of cracks within the stressed material. In this case, the crack works much faster and it is difficult to understand the fracture before failure occurs. The scientific principle in the brittle fracture is that the crack moves close to the perpendicular where the stress is applied, because of this action, there remains a perpendicular fracture which leaves a flat surface at the broken area. Apart from having a flat fracture surface, brittle material more or less showcase a pattern on their fractured surface. Fatigue is the most common material failures found in the engineering field. Fatigue is a kind of failure mode where the material tends to fracture by means of progressive brittle cracking with regard to a repeated cycle of stress. Here, the stress implied on the material is of lesser intensity which means below the average strength. Creep is a failure mode which occurs on engineering materials at an elevated speed. Basically, it is seen on stainless steel when there is constant stress on the material with exposure to high temperatures. According to â€Å"The stress that produces a specified minimum creep rate of an alloy or a specified amount of creep deformation in a given time (for example, 1% of total 100,000 h) is referred to as the limiting creep strength or limiting stress†. The destructive test method is performed to understand the strength, hardness, and toughness of a material. The test utilized here is the stress test and for this purpose, the material chosen was the aluminum crank arm. The specimen was obtained and different loads and stresses were applied on the same. The destructive testing which is also known as mechanical testing displayed some results when stress was put on the iron with the help of a hammer.  

Business Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Business Environment - Essay Example d because he might have certain views about China and its relationship with America that would have certainly affect his analysis and description of the facts. There is a possibility that he has viewed the entire issue from the American perspective and not as a third or neutral party. My analysis of the case study is also likely to be affected from my educational background and work experience. I have been studied and working in United States and I am a regular user of Google, Inc. I use the search engine almost every day and most of the times; I found that the research results generated from the engine are accurate and helpful. Due to this reason, I already have a soft corner for Google, Inc. that is likely to generate a favorable response for Google in my analysis of the case. However, I am aware that in order to present a credible analysis of the case, I have to put my influences and biasness at a side and have to conduct an impartial and unbiased analysis of the case. For many years I am a regular user of Google services and so far I have never been disappointed by the accuracy and facilities offered by Google, Inc. Due to this fact, I have positive views about Google however, as far as the analysis of this case is concerned, I will not make a bias analysis on the basis of my personal likeness and attachment with the company. The case basically evolved due to the problem that the Chinese government has put restraints upon the material upon certain subjects like security risk subjects, material violating principles set forth by the Chinese constitution, material against the integrity and unity of the nation, pornography, rumors or material promoting any unlawful act. Google, Inc. has done long strategic planning to launch Google.cn, however their filters were not able to sensor certain material and information that has banned by the Chinese government. This issue turned in to the conflicting situation. The administration of Google, Inc. believes that the

Obsession Compulsive Disorder Research Proposal

Obsession Compulsive Disorder - Research Proposal Example "Researches have found that one-third to one-half of OCD cases identified in adults began during childhood" (Hyman and Pedrick 16). Most of the causes of OCD are biological. "About half of all the people with OCD experience the symptoms in childhood. Among children, twice as many boys than girls demonstrate characteristics of OCD. For others, the disorder begins in adolescence or early adulthood. Interestingly, by adulthood, the male female ratio is almost fifty-fifty." (Boyles and Contadino 233). Obsessive Compulsive Disorder has a variety of symptoms like contamination symptoms, symptoms related to performing tasks and intrusive fears and thoughts. Along with this symptoms can be of violent or aggressive thoughts, and inappropriate sexual thoughts. "Although people appear to be distinct dimensions in OCD, it should be noted that most patients report multiple symptoms that cut across dimensions" (Swinson 7). With obsessions, "there are three common themes: unwanted thoughts of aggression/harm, unwanted sexual thoughts, and blasphemous thoughts" (De Silva and Rachman 4). In layman's language the symptoms include, some patients fear the presence of body secretions like sweat and saliva. Some symptoms related to performing actions repeatedly can be specific counting patterns or repeatedly washing the hands or clearing the throat. Some people suffer with repeatedly getting unpleasant and involuntary thoughts and images, usually a result of depression. Some people suffer with repeatedly violent thoughts like jumping off a bride or a train or even hurting a child. Sometimes people suffer from inappropriate sexual thoughts like kissing, fondling, oral sex intercourse or anal sex with parents, strangers, friends or even children. This usually happens when the sufferer doubts his or her sexual ability. Scientists believe that the causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are both biological and psychological. Biologically it is believed that there is some abnormality with the neurotransmitter serotonin of the patient that causes OCD. Psychologists believe that OCD is caused by anxiety provoking intrusive thoughts. Some studies have proved that OCD can also be caused due to nutrition deficiencies. There is no complete cure for OCD, however, there are some treatments to help people suffering with OCD. In the past, people suffering from OCD did not have any medical or psychological help, they had to fight their symptoms on their own, which caused most patients to live in pain. Today treatment is available and a person suffering from OCD to seek early treatment. The early treatment is started the less are the chances of a person developing complications from the illness. However, "most writers simply discount the possibility that the outcome can be influenced by treatment" (Mavissakalian, Tuner and Michelson 29). The first line treatments for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are cognitive therapy, behavioral therapy and medication. One of the most effective methods of treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder if Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy is done on a one to one basis or within a group setting assisted by a trained specialist. It is usually the first step of treatment for OCD patients, especially children. The only proven form of psychotherapy for OCD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. Cognitive Behavior

No Child Left Behind Act Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

No Child Left Behind Act - Research Paper Example One such act which relates vehemently the inclusive educational system is the famous act of No child Left Behind Act of 2001 in passed by the then American President George W. Bush. The paper will seek to analyse the social, economic and political status that led to the development of the act. Social status associated with the NCLB Act The national Commission on Excellence in Education in the year 1981 was vested upon the responsibility to review as well as synthesize literature and scholarly data in order to assess the then quality of teaching as well as educational standards in both the public as well as the private sector with a special emphasis on the educational experiences of the teen age youth. The report investigations revealed significant information among which the most important which can be stated here is that around 17% of all the 17 years old children in the United States of America was considered as functionally illiterate with the percentage of the minority youths rea ching as high as 40 percent. Areas of faults were conjectured in the poor performances in important subjects like English, Physics, mathematics as well as in verbal communications. There was also deterioration in the academic achievements owing to the racial and ethnic differences as well. The findings and the report concentrated on the weaknesses of the approaches of content, expectations, time and teaching. Thus identification of these parameters let the government to drive its focus on the movement towards a standard based educational system which came up in the forefront with the passage of Improving America’s Schools Act of 1994 (IASA). The IASA along with the following implementation of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, the ESEA focused on the ensuring of the needs of all the students including the disadvantaged students along with the children who were vulnerable to the risk of school. In the mid 1980s, the testing industry saw a major shift towards standard based h igh stake assessments as one of the most necessary components of the standard based reforms. There was also a shift in the expectations of the marketplace as well. Within the span of 1994-2000, majority of the states in America enhanced standards of the contents, standards of performance and so on. The states also demanded the minimization of the time lag between the testing and the receipt of the score reports (Jorgenson & Hoffman, 2003, pp. 1-5). The test scores as an indicator of the actual achievement of the students started to become implemented in the reality and along with that the notion of social justice was also attached to the implementation motive. Thus a wave of establishing a new law made the lawmakers rethink and establish a new law with various threshold standards set for the purpose of introduction to inclusive education as well as focus on the delivery of social justice (Robicheau, 2006, pp. 2-3). Within such a social backdrop, on January 8, 2002, American Presiden t George W. Bush declared the law of No Child Left Behind Act which was directed towards the establishment of absolute clarity towards the value, use as well as the importance of the achievement of the

Nursing leadership and management style Article

Nursing leadership and management style - Article Example Therefore, it is a position and necessity that all the expertise in the childcare health consultancy is experienced in child health and development (Braveman and Tarimo, 1994). Moreover, they must have the knowledge about the distinct needs that concern the children in and out of home childcare settings. Mission: The mission of this health institution is to provide basic childcare health consultancy towards preventing harm and promoting optimal health programs towards bettering the child health care services. Additionally, the consultant aims at liaising with other health professionals as well as relevant community organizations. Mission Statement: The mission statement of the child care health consultancy seeks to establish a strong relationship with the child health care providers by identifying, implementing, and evaluating strategies towards achieving quality child health care services including the establishment of basic health and safety operational plans and guidelines to the children health care providers (Pilnick, Hindmarsh, and Gill, 2010). Organisational Structure: this health care institution has numerous department departments and practitioners since it targets children with different health needs. The chief consultant who will be in charge of the institution heads the institution and he/she will be the final decision maker of the institution. Under the chief consultant, there are numerous departments including medicine, pharmacy, nursing, chiropractic, and allied health among other care providers (Pilnick, Hindmarsh, and Gill, 2010). Notably, most of the works are done by the primary care, secondary care as well as tertiary care. The consultant has a series of field health practitioners who are responsible for collecting child health care data as well as sensitizing the community of the advantage and the importance of the child health care consultancy for the society and its health care related concerns. Budget: the budget of this

Personal project and Scoop management plan for my personal project Assignment

Personal project and Scoop management plan for my personal project - Assignment Example I would like to urge the management of the company to consider investing in Dream Chaserâ„ ¢ Vehicle. It is a new project that if adequately supported, will make the company to go a step further. I propose that a lot of funds should be allocated so as to enable me and my team to conduct a thorough research so as to ensure that the new brand of vehicle will be the best one in the market. If it is equipped with all the necessary features, it will become so comfortable to the users. For this reason, they will do all that they can to purchase it. By this, the company will not only rebuild its reputation, but increase its revenues. This demonstrates that even if the project has been created by me, it will not succeed if not supported by others. In order for the Dream Chaserâ„ ¢ Vehicle project to be a success, well-thought feasible and manageable plan need to implement. This plan will include strategies that can enable the project to achieve its objectives. First, I would like to suggest that the project should be executed by a team of professionals. In order to cope up with the stiff competition in this field, Sierra Nevada Corporation needs to come up with novel ideas. Meaning, it should incorporate the input of well trained professionals to carry out all the activities. The other strategy to be adopted is the production of high quality products. As already hinted, the auto industry has become so competitive. So, for the company to succeed in this project, it needs to manufacture exceptionally high quality vehicle that will appeal to the target clients and win their confidence. Besides, producing high quality vehicles will help in making the company to stand as outstanding manufacturer in the midst of others. Lastly, I would like to suggest that the project should be given enough time, finances and resources. As a new product, the company should be ready to incur all the expenses it requires. Apart from allocating

Nature of Conflict Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nature of Conflict - Essay Example This makes the employees enter into hitch with the management or higher officials. They may go on strikes or do other sorts of protests. Major conflicts occur when, for example, employees experience gender discrimination, work overload, forced overtime, short deadlines, and no opportunities for promotion, reward or compensation. These factors reduce job security and the employees suffer from work related stress. Other major causes may include dissatisfactory wages and salaries, and poor communication between the management and employees due to which the latter feel that their problems are not being considered. Also, when employees feel that they are not being able to participate in the decision-making process, they may acquire conflicting views about the project at hand. All of these conflicts may get serious enough to be requiring a mediation plan for resolution. No matter the conflict is small or big, the management should make serious efforts to resolve it as soon as possible so t hat employees do not lose their morale (Wilmot & Hocker, 2011). Negotiation or Mediation Negotiation is necessary to solve conflicts. Sometimes, this negotiation is done through mediation. We define mediation as a process in which a third party intervention is sought for reconciliation between individuals or groups. The purpose of negotiation is to make possible the re-establishment of mutual tolerance between the parties involved. However, negotiation itself depends upon the friendly signals shown by the opponents leading to friendly re-union and cooperative bonding. Strasser and Randolph (2004, p.22) affirm that mediators should â€Å"accept conflict as an inescapable facet of human existence, with the possible consequence of reconciliation.† Negotiators and mediators should understand that conflict cannot be eliminated entirely. If negotiators start thinking that they will be able to eradicate conflict completely, then this perception will be a barrier to an effective impl ementation of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process. It will also make the negotiators forceful and aggressive toward resolution. Thus, the negotiators need to adjust their behaviors and attitudes so that they can efficiently deploy conflict management techniques. Personal Experience This section of the paper describes my own case as an example of workplace conflict and negotiation process. I worked as an internee in a company in my city. As I stated, most conflicts occur due to unfair treatment or policy changes from the management side, this incident also involves a conflict between the manager and I. It was about the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). For reader’s information, the major responsibility of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is to make accommodations for disabled employees, under the title I of the Act. ADA makes sure that the disabled employees do not have to face discrimination by their seniors or co-workers when they are at the workplace. In order to get protection by ADA, the individual must have a disability which is defined by the Act as â€Å"a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities† (U.S. Department of Justice, 2005). All persons who have in their medical history that they have been or are going through such a disability, or people perceive him as

Studying in American university of Kuwait Essay Example for Free

Studying in American university of Kuwait Essay Established in 2003 by Amiri Decree 139, American University of Kuwait (AUK) is an autonomous liberal arts institution. Its campus is situated at the intersection of Salem Al Mubarak Street and Amr Ibn Al As Street in Salmiya district, Kuwait. In addition, AUK is a certified body by the council for private universities and the Ministry of Higher Education of Kuwait state. The administrative structure and educational standards are based on the American model of higher learning. The University strives at equipping students with essential skills for promoting critical thinking and value for diversity. One of the major motivations for applying at AUK is its educational quality and diversity. The fact that the medium of instruction is English, the university offers a serene environment for any English speaker. Consequently, students from around the globe can join, owing to the fact that English is the most widely spoken language. In addition, with its large garden enclosed by offices and classes, the campus design offers an open atmosphere for intensive learning. Apart from the design, its interactive and relaxing structures have greatly motivated me to study at AUK. This is mainly offered through pool tables and HD televisions found at a tent located at the main gate. AUK does not only offer curriculum activities, but also extra curriculum opportunities like athletics and clubs. Examples of athletics offered include, soccer, volleyball, basketball and table tennis, among others. Since the university values a multicultural and a lively campus involvement, students of different cultural background makes this a reality. Similarly, self-awareness and effective communication skills offered, leads to responsible, morally acceptable individuals in societies. Thus, I believe I will become a good ambassador of the institution. Moreover, the students clubs and associations play a crucial role in giving back to the community. This is through community service activities, where I can take part and at the same time create goodwill between the institution and the surrounding community. In summary, I am convinced that my relationship with the AUK administration will create a win-win situation. The modern facilities and the high-speed internet services do not only attract me, but will also make my life in campus lively and collaborative. The institution has IT developments that will ensure a rich learning environment. A wide range of degree programs offered in the institution creates a convenient space for diversity. Lastly, I find the university location quite peculiar. Surrounded by major malls and cafes with American style, the location is just one of a kind.

Training Key Areas Essay Example for Free

Training Key Areas Essay Introduction Employees bring talent, happiness, productivity measures an organization overall prosperity. Corporate responsibility has become an important value in large organizations. At State Farm Insurance, they requires high levels of employee contribution, promoting, diversity to provide to the community. Working towards positive culture will build the employee value and moral over time. Todays society requires businesses to account for its value on various levels, organizational achievements, community success, and personal growth of employees within State Farm. This paper will analyze key trainings that focus on legal requirements, diversity, and employee growth with larger organizations. Legal Requirements The different situations that can result in legal actions include failure to meet all training requirements, injuries sustained during a training session. It is vital that each organization uses the correct copyright material within orientation and that they obtain permission. If permission is not asked for or obtained, the organization is punished by law. State Farm Automobile Insurance Company is looking for ways to structure the workforce so as to minimize the expense of benefits. , State Farm Automobile Insurance Company may require overtime rather than hiring new employees. State Farm utilizes independent contractors rather than hiring employees. Some of their choices are limited by legal requirements. Fair Labor Standards Act requires employees to be paid for their overtime if the employee is nonexempt (Cretella, P, 2013). The Internal Revenue Service limits the definition of independent contractors so employees know the difference as a temporary and permanent employee. Diversity Great diversity training within State Farm’s organization provides employees with the proper tools needed to attract new employees and maintain a diversity workplace. The development of diversity training is more than race, gender, culture and ethics. These training programs are offered to each employee and increases the abilities of growth and reduces complaints and lawsuits filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). When a complaint is filed with the EEOC that can be for any violation against the Civil Rights Act Noe,R.A. 2008). The Civil Rights Act title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on color, national origin, sex, or race (Risser, Rita, 2008). Women, minorities, senior citizens, and disabled workers are treated equally in training session. Diversity recognizes and respects people’s differences and realizes the full potential of promoting different cultures to all employees, staff, students, and consumers. The requirements for organizational training is ensuring all employees are present and none of the materials presented are offensive. Organizations that do not report expenses or reimbursement as income may harm the organization and damage their reputation. Cultural sensitivity has become increasingly important providing a healthy and productive work environment. Although diversity training can’t change individual’s beliefs, it has the ability to increase awareness, impart knowledge and educate employees further as to how to accept differences among fellow employees. Diversity initiatives enacted by State Farm Insurance Companies help to optimize the money spent on employee salaries, benefits, recruitment and training. In addition, observers characterize diversity training in different ways. Its proponents consider it morally correct because it respects diversity, recognizing the value and contributions of every human being. Employee Growth State Farm is committed to retaining talented associates and inviting their best contributions. State Farm expects associates to be accountable for their development, with development plans built in collaboration with and support from team leaders. State Farm employees have a bias toward internal  growth, supporting people who demonstrate a commitment to their own development with developmental plans. Managers begin to work closely with employees to mentor and provide them with any desired qualities that he or she may possess and be trained to further advance within the organization. The end result is more stress free environment and increase self-esteem and have fewer turn overs. State Farm does not end training with the new employees. State Farm feels that there are always opportunities to connect with their employees to the company’s business needs and goals. Providing the employees with a structured training and development program ensures State Farm that employees are receiving experience and background knowledge consistent with trends, current topics relevant to the organization and any other needed support. State Farm employees are continuously receiving training also ensures that all of us have the same exposure to the organizations initiatives. State Farm invests in employee, which makes the employee feel valued and connected with the organization, resulting in the employee being more effective, creative, and loyal to the organization. Results from legal requirements, diversity, and employee growth  Continuously evolution of organizations and employee laws has shaped the way organizations conduct themselves. Creating a work environment that is open to diversity, enables the organization and employees to experience and develop respect for one another. Diversity in the workplace is when the organization has a diverse work place for women and minorities and all guidelines are met. State Farm implements the guidelines of the Civil Rights Act to having an open door policy for all new hires, knowledge, and untapped skills which ensures a bright future for employees and the organization (Cretella, P 2013). Successful diversity of the workplace enable organizations to gain new talents and skills from an untapped resource. The push for employers to acknowledge women, minorities, and those with that are disabled as viable assets will only enhance the success of State Farm’s growth. Conclusion The road is open for all business and or organizations both large and small for diversity, employee growth, and legal requirements which assists with how the organization is conducted. At the end, State Farm has implemented its resources on diversity, employee growth, and legal requirements not only eliminate unnecessary lawsuits but ensures that State Farm Insurance is the organization is reviewed as the employer of choice. Reference http://trainingtoday.blr.com/free-training-webinars- Cretella, Peggy, 2013 http://www.fairmeasures.com/ask/enews/articles/new330.asp- Rita Risser, 2008

The Human Papilloma Virus and Cervical Cancer in Ghana

The Human Papilloma Virus and Cervical Cancer in Ghana CONTENTS INTRODUCTION HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS Causes Risk factors Prevention Vaccination Screening CERVICAL CANCER Signs and symptoms INTRODUCTION Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are infections that one can acquire from having sexual contact with an infected person. There are over 20 STIs which have been identified including HIV/AIDS, chlamydia, pelvic inflammatory disease, trichomoniasis, syphilis, gonorrhoea, HPV and genital herpes1. According to WHO, more than a million people acquire a sexually transmitted infection a day2. STIs require treatment but there are some such as HIV/AIDS which are incurable and deadly but can be managed to prolong life. Majority of STIs are asymptomatic2 but the infection can still be passed on to partners3. If there are symptoms, they include bumps, sores or warts near the mouth, penis, vagina, or anus, swelling near the penis, skin rash, painful urinations, weight loss, night sweats, aches, pains, fever, chills, jaundice, vaginal or penal discharge and severe itching near genitals4. Infections are spread predominantly, as suggested by its name, through sexual contact, including vaginal, oral, anal sex or even genital touching3. Some ways of protecting one’s self against STIs are; Abstinence from sexual activities Condom usage during sex Limiting the number of sexual partners one has. The more the number of partners one has, the higher the chances of catching an STI. Practicing monogamy. This means a couple should have sex with only each other Careful choice of sex partners. Dont have sex with someone whom you suspect may have an STI. Getting checked for STIs so that the infection is not passed on to others Knowing the signs and symptoms of STIs and looking for them in one’s self and their sex partners. Learning more about STIs to better protect one’s self.4 STIs are classified under bacterial, viral, and parasitic/fungal infections. For the purpose of this paper, the viral group shall be taken into consideration. In general, viral infections involve many different parts of the body at the same time5. Viral infections include; Human Papilloma Virus (HPV): The human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common viral infection. There are about 40 types of HPV that are transmitted sexually through oral, anal or vaginal sex. Genital Herpes: Genital Herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus. It is in the same family of viruses that cause cold sores around the mouth. Hepatitis B Virus: Hepatitis B or Hep B, affects the liver. It is not to be mistaken with Hepatitis A or C, which are other forms of liver disease. Hepatitis B is easily transmitted not only through sexual activities, but by sharing items like razors, needles and toothbrushes. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): Human Immunodeficiency virus or HIV/AIDS attacks the body’s immune system, leaving infected individuals unable to fight off other illness. It is transmitted through sexual activities, but also spread by sharing items like razors, needles and toothbrushes. Cervical cancer occurs when there is an abnormal proliferation of cervical cells. These cells gradually develop pre-cancerous changes before turning into cancers. It is one of the most common cancers in women across the world. When pre-cancerous cell changes are detected early, using a method called the pap test, they can be successfully treated to prevent cancers from developing6. Cervical cancers are classified into squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The focus of this paper is to describe the relationship between one of the viral STIs, the Human Papilloma Virus, and cervical cancer in Ghana. HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS Human papilloma viruses, commonly referred to as HPVs, are aetiological agents of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer7. In humans, HPV is the most common sexually transmitted virus. It affects about 50% of sexually active people at some point in their lives8. Often, being infected is asymptomatic and the infection may go away without medical treatment. HPV is spread through contact with infected genital skin, mucous membranes and body fluids, and can be transmitted through vaginal, anal and oral intercourse. HPV lives in the epithelial cells of the body hence it usually affects the surface of the skin, vagina, vulva, anus, cervix, penis head, mouth and throat. Over 100 HPV types have been identified and each is referred to by a number9. HPV can be classified into a high-risk or low-risk strains. Not all of the sexually transmitted types cause serious health problems. High-risk HPV strains are known to cause about 70% of cervical cancers8. These are majorly types 16 and 18, but they also include types 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, and 82. Low-risk HPV strains rarely cause cancers but instead cause warts on skin surfaces. Of the total number of virus types found, about 60 cause warts on hands and feet (A papilloma is a benign tumour derived from epithelium ­). There are about 40 types of HPV that are transmitted through sex. CAUSES HPV infection is caused when the virus enters your body through a cut or abrasion in the epidermis of the skin. The virus is transferred primarily by skin-to-skin contact. Genital HPV infections are contracted through sexual intercourse, anal sex and other skin-to-skin contact in the genital region. Some HPV infections that result in oral or upper respiratory lesions are contracted through oral sex. It is possible for a mother with an HPV infection to pass on the virus to her infant during delivery. This exposure may cause HPV infection in the babys genitals or upper respiratory system3. RISK FACTORS The following are some risk factors inherent in HPV: Prevalence of genital HPV is directly related to the number of lifetime sexual partners, recent changes in sexual partners, marital status, age at which one first had sex, illiteracy, oral contraceptive use, alcoholism, hormonal and dietary factors and immune suppression,(domfeh et al) Age at first sexual intercourse: the age of a person at the time which they first had sex could be an indicator for the number of sexual partners they have in their lifetime. Number of sexual partners. The greater the number of sexual partners one has, the more likely they are to contract a genital HPV infection. Having sex with a partner who has had multiple sex partners also increases the risk. Weakened immune systems. People who have weakened immune systems are at greater risk of HPV infections. Immune systems can be weakened by HIV/AIDS or by immune system-suppressing drugs used after organ transplants. PREVENTION The best way to prevent getting an HPV infection is to avoid direct contact with the virus, which is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. It is difficult to avoid skin-to-contact with our loved ones in our relationships. Also, in most cases of HPV infection, there are no visible signs for us to know in order to avoid direct skin contact with infected individuals. Correct and consistent condom use is associated with reduced HPV transmission between sexual partners but areas not covered by condoms can still pass on the virus when they come into contact partner’s skin. Regular pap tests, which can detect precancerous changes in the cervix that may lead to cancer are recommended. SCREENING AND VACCINATION CERVICAL CANCER Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by two specific varieties of genital HPV: Types 16 and 18. Once HPV enters an epithelial cell, the virus begins to make the proteins it encodes. Two of the proteins made by high-risk HPVs (E6 and E7) interfere with cell functions that normally prevent excessive growth, helping the cell to grow in an uncontrolled manner and to avoid cell death. Often, infected cells are recognized by the immune system and eliminated. Sometimes, however, the infected cells are not destroyed, and a persistent infection results. As the persistently infected cells continue to grow, they may develop mutations in cellular genes that promote even more abnormal cell growth, leading to the formation of an area of precancerous cells and, eventually, a cancerous tumour. Other factors may increase the risk that an infection with a high-risk HPV type will persist and possibly progress into cancer. These include: Smoking or chewing tobacco (for increased risk of oropharyngeal cancer) Having a weakened immune system Increased parity (for increased risk of cervical cancer) Long-term oral contraceptive use (for increased risk of cervical cancer) Poor oral hygiene (for increased risk of oropharyngeal cancer) Chronic inflammation10 It can take 15 to 20 years for cervical cancer to develop in women with normal immune systems. It takes only about 5 to 10 years in women with weakened immune systems, such as those with untreated HIV infection 9 IN GHANA In Ghana, cervical cancer constitutes about 57.8% of all gynaecological cancers. It is the second most common cancer in women with an estimated incidence of 26.4 per 100,000. It is also the second most common cancer in women aged 15 to 44 years in Ghana. Every year, 3,038 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 2,006 die from it in Ghana (Edwin, 2010; Nkyekyer, 2000; WHO, 2010) The Pap smear and VIA have been observed to have challenges with regards to sensitivity and specificity even though the Pap smear is the gold standard for screening in Ghana. A study conducted at the Ridge Hospital in 2013, 201 women were sampled to be used to determine the prevalence of HPV and the associated risk factors. 1