Explanatory Synthesis free essay sample

Synthesis A countless number of children in the United States were taught to believe that you could accomplish anything if you worked hard. This American dream has now become an American nightmare. According to the information in the Hart Research Associations titled â€Å"Raising the Bar,† â€Å" How the Rich are getting Richer and Poor are getting Poorer,† and the Workforce Commission powerpoint, Americans are faced with many obstacles to learn how to survive in the economy. The main discussion in these research items is how millennials will learn to adapt to the economy, look beyond requirements, and become systems analysts. Robert Reich discusses in his article, â€Å"how symbol analysts are succeeding in many areas of the economy. † He explains that â€Å"symbolic analysts who solve, identify, and broker new problems are, by and large, succeeding in the world economy. † People will be replaced by computers or machines to do the work leaving people jobless. We will write a custom essay sample on Explanatory Synthesis or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In Reich article â€Å"How the rich get Richer and the Poor get Poorer,† he states â€Å"The fiercest competition that in-person servers face comes from labor-saving machinery (much of it invented, designed, fabricated, or assembled in other nations, of course). Automated tellers, computerized cashiers, automatic car washes, robotized vending machines, self-service gasoline pumps, and all similar gadgets substitute for the human beings that customers once encountered. † People were replaced with these machines, but who managed these machines? Jobs today require a type of computer knowledge that makes things quick and more manageable. Employees today are looking for a problem identifier, a problem solver, or and innovator who can visualize new uses of existing technologies. In order to receive the standers these jobs are looking for we need to learn how to put these abilities in work with getting a higher education that will benefit us. The Hart Research Association titled â€Å"Raising the Bar,† describes what jobs’ requirements are in order to attain a decent job. College tuition has a big impact on generation millennials. Some people are faced with the question of whether it is even worth spending thousands of dollars on college and not have a guaranteed job. The cost of attending ollege leaves students in debt due to student loans that have to be paid after graduation. Students can apply and receive scholarships, but do they help when not all students meet the requirements? The future for millennials will consist of a broad range of skills, higher levels of learning and knowledge, and an ambition to become symbolic analysts. â€Å"Raising the Bar,† explains that, â€Å" When it comes to future hiring, employers indicate that their greatest increase in emphasis will be on hiring graduates from four- year colleges. Employers will want people with the qualifications of a two-year and four-year degree rather than a high school degree. â€Å"Employers indicate the biggest shift in emphasis will be away from those who hold a high school degree with no further education and toward those who hold a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college,† stated in â€Å"Raising the Bar. † The expectations of employers are more challenging than ever before, employers want employees with a special set of skills and the people who stand out and look for new ideas that will continue to grow. Raising the Bar,† mentions a few things colleges should emphasize, â€Å"1) written and oral communication, 2) critical thinking and analytical reasoning, 3) the application of knowledge and skills in real-world settings, 4) complex problem-solving and analy sis, 5) ethical decision-making, 6) teamwork skills, 7) innovation and creativity, and 8) concepts and developments in science and technology. † If employers conceive by establishing more emphasis on key learning, it will help graduates become more successful in our economy. The Workforce Commission powerpoint explains a variety of requirements jobs will be looking for in a person. Generation millennials will need to set high standards to be able to survive in this economy. They will need to find a degree that could be flexible for different demands of a job. The cost of attending college has a big impact on generation millennials. In order for millennials to meet certain requirements, a change in college tuition will need to occur. Colleges should focus more on application of knowledge and skills in real-world settings. In the future, I plan to major in kinesiology to pursue a job in physical therapy. Therefore, I will need to accomplish a variety of tasks it requires. It is important to have a range set of skills to maintain a job in this workforce. In the Workforce Commission powerpoint it states that, â€Å"an employer group needs to advance itself in the next five years to a proper staff for area, critical thinking skills, cultural awareness, multi-lingual, control cost of needs, better understanding of a system, soft skill development, and a work ethic. † Many people focus on the main requirements that everyone wants to accomplish, but do not think beyond that point. It is important to fit these demands, but in addition, it is also important to have unique ideas that could separate me from others. In order for universities to teach better critical thinking skills, they need to interpret different ways to help millenials develop a broad range skills and knowledge to apply in positive/negative real world situations. Also, universities must continue to assist millenials in maintaining a flexible degree that will fit job expectations of employers. Generation millennials have the opportunity to change their future by applying their knowledge and becoming some of the top systems analysts in this economy. Works Cited Alamo WorkSource and San Antonio Inc. Creating An Economic and Workforce Advantage: A Regional Workforce Development Summit and SA, Inc. ’s Third Economic Roundtable. San Antonio, Tx: Alamo WorkSource, 2005.

Federalists and anti-federalists

Federalists and anti-federalists The intent of this essay is to show different viewpoints of federalists and anti-federalist colonists and how they were overcome by compromises to form our constitution.It is important to first understand that the birth of our nation is a result of two major events, which we call founding moments. It all began when various unfair and inconsistent policies of England had changed Colonists goodwill towards the imperial power. Colonists felt abandoned, persecuted and betrayed by England. The anger towards England increased due to several misunderstandings and arguments. On one side colonists were not happy and other side England felt that colonists were being ungrateful and paranoid.The anger led colonist's to have feelings and visions of self governance based on Democracy. This was the first founding moment. A desire to form a new nation, declaring independence from England became goal for most colonists, despite their economical, racial or religious differences.That dream became reali ty after England was defeated in the war of independence in 1776 and a new nation was born.After the war, came time for healing and chaos. Once the influence of England had gone, colonists had to face reality and form a new government. Chaos was subdued by promise of compromises. Fears were calmed when it was decided that delegates would meet and come up with a universal solution to their current problems and will address their future.There were many different viewpoints and to structure a new form of government became work in progress. This is now known as second founding moment where various ideologies came together to create a foundation for our great country.The nation was carved out of ideas of Federalists and anti federalists by negotiations, compromises and ideals of equality and fairness to all. After the war of independendence, colonists had...

Summary for research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Summary for research - Essay Example For empirical analysis there were used both daily and weekly closing stock price indices for the four sectors of the Qatar Exchange for the period from January, 2008 to April, 2011. The results of the study based on the Johansen’s multivariate cointegration analysis have shown that all four sector indices had interrelationships in a long-term equilibrium. The findings based on the Granger’s causality analysis have shown that Banking and Financial Institutions sector had significant impact on the price predictability in the other sectors in the short-run, while Services sector had much lower impact. The analysis based on the findings of the generalized forecast error variance decomposition has shown that the Services and Insurance sectors appeared to be the most endogenous sectors while both the Industrial and the Banking and Financial Institutions sectors were the most exogenous sectors (Walid, 2012). Both individual and institutional investors usually try to diversify their portfolios in order to minimize the risks and to generate most efficient outcomes and/or expected returns. There are recognized two major strategies under portfolio diversification: cross-market investment to in different classes of assets or sectors and global diversification of portfolio by investing across both domestic and foreign assets. However, it is worth to mention that in order to create a well-diversified asset portfolio, prospective investors should take into consideration the fact of interdependence structure of financial markets (Walid, 2012). There were carried out many empirical researches, which provided evidence of interdependencies of international financial markets as a result of globalization and increased level of integration. However, it is also important to understand the nature of interdependence structure amongst different sectors in a specific country, because it can provide prospec tive and

Should Americans have free universal health care Essay

Should Americans have free universal health care - Essay Example Also, deeper evaluation of why the government should consider a free universal health care has been explained well. The opposing viewpoints have been revealed and were corrected with a brief explanation too. Both sides of the coin have been weighed with various studies to explain the efficiency or importance of the program. A Position paper to the issue: â€Å"Americans Should Have a Free Universal Health Care† There are many people who long to have freebies in life such as free food, free key chain, free shirts, and even free gift certificate in salon and spa. Some makes fun of it and some do not. Every laughs that these freebies bring has some â€Å"real thing† accompanied with it. It is pretty obvious that every man who wants freebies in life lacks for something. And that is the issue: if there is someone who cries for some â€Å"freebies† and it seems to bring goodness on the other side if evaluated well, would the authority listen? Health is one the most imp ortant things that people do consider. If they are not having a good lifestyle, their health would be on the peak of harm. They would experience illness and worst, even death. Health has become a big issue in the United States making universal health care to be the answer for these health issues. According to Torrey (2008), universal health care is a view where everyone, who belongs to a certain place, is covered with basic health amenities and would not be denied of any health related needs. Today, there are several debates that discuss whether the Americans should have a free universal health care or not. Julie Sykora (2010) listed a few countries that embrace the universal healthcare system such as Canada, Germany and Japan and compared their health services with the United States of America. According to the writer, the United States is the only industrialized nation whose citizens are not guaranteed health care rights. As a result, as many as 45 million citizens are uninsured. Sykora (2010) also criticizes the unnecessary paperwork included in the American medical care system and considers them repetitive and unnecessary. Also, according to Avery Johnson (2010), a reporter at The Wall Street Journal, it was showed that the data and statistics of the rising uninsured, based on the 2010 Census Bureau, are dramatically increased in a year’s time. Most of the drop is seen in employer sponsored insurance, while people are found moving to government funded health insurance that can be seen with a significant increase in number. The Democrats use these findings to support their health care reform, and, on the other hand, Republicans representatives also want to get every American covered under health insurance. It is obvious that literally, people value their health and always make it a point to work with it. The government should consider their cries. Health is a valuable thing that one should always consider. It is a good point if the government would l et the universal health care to be freed. All Americans should have free universal health care. This is because free universal health care would encourage them to start preventive medicines and avoid major health problems. Also, it would let people work part-time or be stay-at-home parents without worrying about the health

Poverty in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Poverty in America - Essay Example These figures imply that there are about 37 million people well below the poverty threshold as at end-2004. In view of the above, steps on how to alleviate poverty in the country must be efficiently programmed. In order to address the heart of this matter, legislators and private sector should have an understanding of key issues regarding poverty and the poor people in the US. The lives of those people bordering or below the poverty line are controlled by myriad factors which should be taken into consideration. This paper provides an overview of the profile of poor people and discusses how economic and social factors such as availability of job opportunities, prevailing wage levels, single parenthood, level of education, housing, health, mental illness and substance abuse among others affect the poor in America. The poverty line is defined by the Census Bureau as a threshold level of total money income, which includes wages and salaries, self-employment income, interest income, social security and welfare benefits, alimony and unemployment compensation, received by all family members on an annual basis. The threshold set varies depending on the number of adults and children in the family. As at end-2004, a family with two parents and two children required $19,157 to be above poverty line. A family headed by a single parent with two children needed $15,219 to elude poverty. On the other hand, a single elderly person needed $9,060 to answer day-to-day needs. Those who fall within the said levels are deemed poor. (Cadena & Sallee) As mentioned, poverty rate rose to 12.7% in 2004 from 12.5% in 2003. The increase in poverty is attributed to the decrease in real earnings. This means that, although relatively more people who wanted to work had jobs in 2004 than in the previous year, many have earned less after their earnings are adjusted for inflation. (Cadena & Sallee) The median earnings fell by 1.0% and 2.3%, for women and men working full time, respectively. The increase in poverty level is also considered to be concentrated among native-born non-Hispanic white Americans between the ages of 18 and 64. (Cadena & Sallee) Job Opportunities One of the primary factors affecting poor people is the availability of suitable employment. This is vital since it is mainly from the earnings gained from working that people are able to meet their needs and required sustenance. It is observed though that limited job opportunities as well as the prevailing low wages contribute to the persistence of poverty in America ("Hunger and Poverty in the United States"). The minimal wage for unskilled workers and some employment barriers for poor job seekers are deemed to perpetuate poverty (Mangum, Mangum & Sum). Albeit as much as 50% of all those considered living in poverty are actually working, their jobs pay minimal wages barely enough to cover their basic needs and that do not keep up with the rising inflation. In this regard, these people still fall under the poverty line. These conditions are aggravated by the fact that the working people in poverty are not able to receive social welfare benefits from the government as their earnings make them ineligible for government assistance. (Giddens) In order to make ends meet, some people are forced to get an extra job. Given the rising cost of living, one job may not be

Production of Hydrophobic Bioplastics using Silicon Dioxide

Production of Hydrophobic Bioplastics using Silicon Dioxide ABSTRACT Silicon dioxide (SiO2), also known as silica, is a chemical compound that comes in different forms and has a variety of uses. One form is silica gel, which is used as a desiccant in shoe boxes and bags to prevent rupturing, and to prevent molds in food products. Silica is the main material in our project because it has water-repelling properties and our group planned to create hydrophobic bioplastics with these properties. The purpose of this study is to benefit people in many ways. One way is the protection for electronic gadgets from water. Another method is to speed up the cleaning of food containers. With the hydrophobic properties of our plastic, water has less contact with it making washing containers easier. To test our plastics we produced for hydrophobic properties (or wetability), we used a testing method known as the drop contact method. Twelve pieces of 2cm x 2cm plastic samples were prepared – with 3 pieces per concentration. A graduated dropper was used to drop 1mL of water on each plastic sample over a dish. The amount of water on the dish shows how much water each plastic sample repels. Our results show that as the concentration of the silicon dioxide increases, the water repelled decreases.  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­ Background of the Study: SiO2 is a substance used to produce modern plastics. The group came up with an idea of making use of the said substance to produce hydrophobic plastics which could be a big help in latest technology and practical activities in our daily lives. Through this, we could also expand the capability of the silicon dioxide which may be used also in different ways. Research Hypothesis: If silicon dioxide is added as a material in the production of plastics, then a more hydrophobic plastic will be produced. Objectives of the Study General Objective: This study was conducted to test the effectiveness of silicon dioxide in producing hydrophobic plastics. Specific Objectives: Produce an inexpensive and durable hydrophobic bioplastic material. Test the hydrophobicity of the bioplastic produced using the drop contact testing method. Significance of the Study The researchers chose the topic because of the advantages that could be given to us people not only in our homes but on other fields of industries by the product. Plastics are widely used all over the world; it is the main reason why the researchers would like to introduce new technology in the form of hydrophobic plastics. If the project would be successful, hydrophobic plastics would be a big help in cleaning surfaces of plastics. For instances, dusts on plastics could be easily washed away by pouring water into the surface of the plastic. Hydrophobic plastics could also be alternative casings to our gadgets and appliances. It could protect our modern technologies from water penetration. It would also bring advantages in storing food products in the refrigerator like meats and fishes. The product will also be a good container for soaps, toothbrushes, plates and other household materials. Scope and Limitations The research shall only focus in the ability of plastic to repel water. Other characteristics of a plastic shall be maintained. In the production of the plastic, silicon dioxide will be the only addition to the regular raw materials of the process. Review of Related Literature Repellant Plastics GE accomplished this by modifying a material that’s a mainstay of its plastics business. And they took their inspiration from the leaves of the lotus plant, which is naturally super hydrophobic; microscopic inspection of lotus leaves reveals their nanocrystalline wax structure. The lotus leaf surface has cells 5-10 micrometers wide, on top of which are tiny wax crystals that are tens of nanometers wide. On a lotus leaf, water beads look almost like perfect spheres. GE set out to mimic this pattern on the surface of its polycarbonate material, essentially by â€Å"roughening† the surface in a specific way. Tao Deng, materials scientist at GE, is tight-lipped about the process, but says it was done with a â€Å"chemical treatment of the surface.†GE succeeded with its prototype last summer, but only began discussing the advance in recent weeks. One of the significant downsides is that the process leaves the plastic opaque, not transparent. That means it would not work for plastic windows or clear food containers. But a clear version is not far off. â€Å"That’s coming,† Deng says. Even getting the opaque versions into real products will take some time. GE estimates it will be at least five years before commercialization, once the manufacturing issues are resolved. Five years isn’t that much time, though – about how long it takes for all the ketchup to drip out of today’s plastic bottles. Hydrophobic Glasses BalcoNano stated that there are two categories of what is known in the market as â€Å"self-cleaning† glass. These two categories are: glass coated or applied with hydrophilic layer that uses photo catalytic decomposition, and glass coated or applied with a hydrophobic protective coating. The microscopically rough surface of glass is what makes it hard to clean. Dirt, bacteria and other particles can get deep into the glasses that it cannot be removed with any cleaning material. To solve this problem, we can make the surface of the glass very water repelling or hydrophobic. Applying a hydrophobic coating to the glass gives it a sort of shield. Dirt particles are picked up by water droplets due to the surface created by the hydrophobic coating. This form of glass works in a similar way to Teflon works on a frying pan. It produces a non-stick surface and water will run off of this surface quickly and not streak. The coating or applications of this type are silica based and create a nano-scale film that covers the microscopic valleys and peaks on the surface of glass. This type of self-clean coating prevents the contamination, dirt and grime from clinging onto the glass or fixing to the surface. There are advantages and disadvantages of hydrophobic coated glass. An advantage is that everything that gets put on the glass can be easily removed with water. Dirt, graffiti, and paint can get washed off with just a splash or two. A disadvantage is that coatings may differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, and that application is not easy. Factory applied coatings, depending on the exact product, have a life span of 3 to 10 years in external conditions. Cost wise the hydrophobic coatings and applications are usually about half the cost of the hydrophilic type glasses. Many industries and manufacturers commonly use silica powders alone or in combination with other ingredients. The mineral has moisture absorbing and thickening properties. These characteristics make silica useful in construction materials, cosmetics, and some foods. Silica is one of the most common minerals on the planet. It is a component of sand and quartz along with other minerals. Manufacturers obtain natural silica by mining and grind the substance into granules or fine powders. Some companies make synthetic silica, but both types commonly start with silica sand. Both natural and synthetic silica powders are frequently found in non-food products. Microscopic diatoms, which are hard-shelled skeletal remains of single celled plants, also contain silicon dioxide. These remains exist in salt and fresh water beds. These types of silica are frequently referred to as amorphous silica. They are frequently ground into granules or a fine powder, sometimes called silica flour. Diatomaceous earth silica may be used in food or non-food products. Quartz powders or glass powders are silica sand heated to extreme temperatures and melted. Artisans and manufacturers mold and shape the molten material. When cooled, the substance becomes glass. Paints, plastics, polyvinyl chloride glue, and corrosive resistant coatings all contain silica powders. In some of these products, the silica acts as a thickening or hardening agent. Some cleansers and detergents contain silica powders. The granulated mineral scrubs surfaces by means of mechanical abrasion. Silica detergents might be used for washing clothes, dishes, or be found in general powdered cleaners. Abrasive action is also desired in some toothpastes, which contain diatomaceous earth silica as one of the ingredients. When used in hand cleaners, the abrasive nature of silica may cause rashes or other skin irritations. Silica cosmetics contain the silky translucent powder to absorb skin oils. The mineral is thought to be hypoallergenic and some believe the substance reduces the visibility of facial lines and wrinkles. Consumers may purchase silica powders and add the substance to lawns or soil to increase moisture retention. Some believe the powdered form also deters or eliminates insect pests, though inhaling the product may lead to serious lung inflammation or possibly cancer. Food and pharmaceutical industries commonly use silica powders for the mineral’s ability to absorb up to 50% of its weight in moisture. Food grade, or the diatomaceous earth form of silica powders, is commonly used as an anti-caking agent in coffee creamers, powdered foods, and seasonings. The self-contained gel packs frequently found in medications and over-the-counter supplement bottles usually contain some form of silica. Bioplastics Bioplastic isnotmade from petroleum, which is a non-renewable resource. Bioplastics come fromsustainable renewable resources. Corn regrows in a year. They arenon- toxic:no harmful toxins will leak into the food compostable. Best case scenario it ends in a commercial compost facility where it composts, and is used to feed the soil and grow more plants. Biodegradable Bioplastic takes longer to biodegrade in home composts, where conditions are uncontrolled and are rarely optimal. If it does end up in a landfill it will biodegrade if it is exposed to bacteria, moisture and heat. There are different biodegradable plastics available, each with their own properties: PLA is made from fermented corn starch, and is a great alternative to conventional petroleum based plastic in many applications. PLA is transparent and heat sensitive to 40 C. It’s used on its own, or as a thin sheet over bagasse or cardboard to act as a moisture or grease barrier. It is used to make our  bags, bowls,  cupsand  lids. CPLA is a combination of PLA, chalk and other biodegradable additives and can withstand temperatures of up to 95 °C without deforming. It is usually opaque in colour and is used for making our disposable  cutlery  and  coffee cup lids. Definition of Terms For this research study, one must know and understand the following terms: Plastics are one of class of organic compounds made from hydrocarbons, proteins, cellulose, or resins that can be molded, extruded, cast, or otherwise fabricated into various shapes. In this study, we use bioplastics which are just plastics developed from cornstarch. Hydrophobicity is a characteristic of a material to repel water. Drop contact is a testing method to determine the hydrophobicity of the material. It is done by dropping a constant amount of water on a sample material over a dish. The amount of water on the dish shows how much water the sample repels. METHODOLOGY Procedure Preparation of materials The researchers prepared the various raw materials that make up the bioplastic: powdered silica, starch, vinegar, glycerin and water. Three different 7 cm x 7cm x 1 cm containers were also prepared and were labeled A, B and C. The materials and then placed in different containers, grouped as: ‘A’ for 0% concentration, ‘B’ for 1% concentration, ‘C’ for 2% concentration, and ‘D’ for 3% concentration.[Sir Jay1]  ­Ã‚ ­Production of the Plastic The materials mentioned above are mixed then heated until the mixture boils and creates a clear substance. After heating, the mixture is placed on a flat surface depending on the desired thickness. The mixture was set aside to dry until it produced a durable plastic. For the constant group; the researchers mixed 48g of cornstarch, 314ml of water, 8ml of vinegar, and another 8ml of glycerin. Thus 330 ml of mixture is produced which is divided into three making it 110 ml for each plastic sample. For 1% concentration; 3.3 ml of the 330 ml mixture is removed and replaced with 6.3g of powdered SiO2. The 330 ml with 1% concentration is also divided into three making it 110 ml of 1% concentration for each plastic sample. For 2% concentration; 6.6 ml of the 330 ml mixture is removed and replaced with 12.6g of powdered SiO2. The 330 ml with 2% concentration is also divided into three making it 110 ml of 1% concentration for each plastic sample. For 3% concentration; 9.9 ml of the 330 ml mixture is removed and replaced with 18.9g of powdered SiO2. The 330 ml with 3% concentration is also divided into three making it 110 ml of 1% concentration for each plastic sample. Testing and Data Gathering The produced plastic is tested on its hydrophobic properties by comparing the amount of water repelled by each of the concentrations (using the drop contact testing method). The dimensions of the sample material for each concentration that we used are 2 cm by 2 cm. The statistical test we have selected for this study is one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. Analysis If the silica-concentrated group shows a noteworthy distinction to the control, we can conclude that SiO2 is effective in making hydrophobic plastic. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION TABLE 1 Amount of water repelled by the produced bioplastics with different silica concentrations Reflected in Table 1 the evidence showing variability in the amount of water repelled by the plastics produced using different concentrations of silica. The minimum mean (0.63 mL) is in the control and the maximum (0.78 mL) is shared 2% and 3% concentration. FIGURE 1 Line graph showing the correlation between the values of the amount of water repelled Then, the researchers tested the data obtained using one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s multiple comparisons test to see if there is a significant difference among the control and independent variables. According to the results of the test, there is a very significant difference (0.0002) on 0% vs 1% and extremely significant differences on 0% vs 2% and 0% vs 3%. However, the 1%, 2% and 3% concentrations show no significant differences when compared with each other. Furthermore, there is positive correlation (0.9012). CONCLUSION The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of silicon dioxide (SiO2) powder to the production of hydrophobic bioplastics. According to the results of our experiment, adding silicon dioxide to the contents of a bioplastic evidently makes it more hydrophobic. However, varying the concentration does not affect the hydrophobicity of the plastic. RECOMMENDATION The research group recommends adding more variations to the concentrations to give a better comparison of the experiment. Adding more trials to each concentration is also recommended to make the results more accurate. Also, using Tapioca starch is a great alternative for making the bioplastic. Remember to make the right calculations for the concentrations. Maintain the same shape, area, and weight for all trials of the plastic so that the comparison is accurate.  ­ BIBLIOGRAPHY BalcoNanoâ„ ¢. (n.d.). Hydrophobic Glasses. Retrieved from BalcoNano: http://www.balconano.com/HydrophobicGlass.aspx Craig Freudenrich, P. (n.d.). How Plastics Work. Retrieved from Howstuffworks: http://science.howstuffworks.com/plastic5.htm Hall, M. J., Barwick, S. (2013, April 10). What Are the Different Uses of Silica Powders? Retrieved from wiseGEEK: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-uses-of-silica-powders.htm Mempro Materials. (n.d.). Silicon Dioxide Nanofiber Materials. Retrieved from Mempro: http://mempro.com/products/ceramic-nanofiber-materials/silicon-dioxide-nanofiber-material/ Rice University News Release. (2010, September 1). Silicon oxide circuits break barrier. Retrieved from Understanding Nano: http://www.understandingnano.com/silicon-oxide-nanowire-memory.html Talbot, D. (2006, February 23). Super-Repellent Plastic. Retrieved from MIT Technology Review: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/405378/super-repellent-plastic/ http://www.greenhome.co.za/raw-materials/plant-starch/ APPENDICES Appendix A Total Cost of the Project Total project cost: à ¢Ã‚ ±Ã‚ £ 863.00 APPENDIX B Ordinary One-Way ANOVA (at ÃŽ ± = 0.05) APPENDIX C Tukey’s Multiple Comparisons (at ÃŽ ± = 0.05)  ­ 1 [Sir Jay1]revise

Kiss Bow or Shake Hands Essay -- Essays Papers

Kiss Bow or Shake Hands The book Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands, is written specifically with those doing international business in mind. It is essentially a guide to over sixty countries and an explanation of their society and cultural customs. Knowledge of those with whom you are doing business not only can help avoid costly blunders it can also give you an advantage when dealing with them. The authors identify that there are three main factors that effect how people act, think, and make decisions. The first is religion, in some countries faith plays an important role in all areas of life in the culture of the country and can influence many of their customs and behavior. The second factor is that of fact. In many countries their greatest desire is to find the best deal and the best product or services. The final factor is feeling, if a culture is based on feelings the people will conduct business accordingly. For example it would be essential to make a personal connection with this type of individual. The rest of the book is spent discussing each of the countries in detail. For each country the authors give a brief explanation of the history of the culture. Then they give tips on what each country expects from a visiting businessman. This includes tips on whether or not it is okay to be late for meetings, proper behavior during a business lunch or dinner, and how to properly address people you come in contact with during your business trip. They also give a guide t...

Evaluate Postmodernist Explanations of the Role and Functions of Religion in Contemporary Society Essay

Evaluate postmodernist explanations of the role and functions of religion in contemporary society. Postmodernist religion can be defined as any type of religion that is influenced, interpreted or shaped by postmodernism and postmodern philosophies. Postmodern religion is not an attempt to banish religion from society; rather, it is a philosophical approach to religion that considers orthodox assumptions that may reflect power differences in society rather than universal truths. A postmodern interpretation of religion emphasises the key point that religious truth is highly individualistic, subjective and resides within the individual. Science technology and efficiency would overcome many social problems. The collapse of the ‘grand-narrative’ is part of post-modernism as it is a belief system that claims universal authority, religion; science and philosophies are examples of these. They have a superior status over other belief systems and also claimed they could explain the causes of society’s problems and could therefore provide solutions. According to Jean-Francois Lyotard, the grand-narratives powerful attraction has been lost during the 20th century. So, science hasn’t delivered solutions, wars have devastated nations, and the world is still full of evils that the grand-narratives can’t explain or resolve. Examples of this are world wars; nuclear warfare; AIDS and global poverty. The common perspective of post-modernist religion is ‘there is a god who can’t do anything, there is a god who won’t do anything, or there isn’t a god. ’ Zygmunt Bauman said post-modernity is the irretrievable loss of trust in the project of modernity and its ability to manage, enhance and fulfil human potential. Symbols, signs and meanings are also another theory to post-modernism. Mass media like television and the internet have exposed us all to different cultures and ideas from across the globe, also known as globalisation. The ‘meanings’ of things have now become more individualised, we consume the products, symbols and signs of a globalised economy, but we provide our own meanings to these. Jean Baudrillard said â€Å"we are what we consume†¦ and our identities are formed and changed through acts of consumption. † Signs and symbols have become detached from their original meanings; original purposes and meanings have become lost. Religious signs and symbols are losing their meaning, these signs and symbols have been adopted by mass consumer culture, usually used for decorative and playful purposes such as jewellery. Joseph Natoli said â€Å"post-modernity has questioned the authority and legitimizing of both faith and reason, opting for the view that both offer stories of reality†¦ both do so on the shifting sands of a post-modernist outlook. † Signs and symbols have become insecure from the things they were linked to originally. Individuals no longer identify with a single religion and so they blend different beliefs with practices to create an identity for themselves. This can be known as being utilitarian, so there is no substance to our identity and actions, we are no longer just shaped by the moulding force of socialisation. Zygmunt Bauman said the consumption of goods and services becomes more important in our lives as a way of constructing and changing identity. This consumption is addictive and advertising drags us in. â€Å"I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore, and I don’t know how I’m meant to feel anymore, and when do you think it will all become clear? † from ‘The Fear’ by Lily Allen (2009). Many different religions now exist and people tend to mix the styles and genres with one another. Baudrillard said it is hard to find guidance in our lives as sources of authority and moral leadership are often undermined, they seem almost irrelevant. In the past we believed anything that religious leaders told us, simply because they were a religious leader, but this is no longer the case as we are now sceptical. We live in a world of images, and so it is hard to distinguish between image and reality as we live in a world where media simulations are more ‘real’ than the reality that we live in. Anthony Giddens said we live in a new form of modernity where we have lost faith in the ‘project of modernity’. We are now able to try out many different cultures in a globalised world. Life is now more uncertain than before. So to sum up, we live in a society characterised the coexistence of many different subgroups and cultures; the erosion of traditional social classes; the growth of movements such as environmentalism, feminism and ethnic politics; the absence of agreed standards for evaluating what is true/false and right/wrong; the blurring of what is real and not; and experimentation with self-identity. Stewart Clegg said that organisations are different in the post-modern age. For example, in the modern age there is rigid authoritarian control; mass consumption; it is dominated by technology and is demarcated and deskilled. Whereas, in the post-modern age there is flexible and democratic control; niche markets; it is enabled by technology and is undemarcated and multi-skilled jobs. Postmodernists believe that the advent of postmodernity has led to significant changes in religion. In particular, they see it as leading to the decline of traditional church-based religions in which believers follow rules laid down by their religion, and the growth of new age beliefs where people can pick and choose their own belief systems. Marxist religion is all about the ruling class owning the means of production, and through wealth they derive power which allows control over the superstructure of society. Ruling class ideology of religion keeps the ruling class in power by discouraging the working classes from realising they are being exploited and in turn trying to rebel against the ruling class power. Karl Marx famously described religion as the ‘opium of the masses’, by this he meant that religion was seen as being like a drug that helps people deal with pain, much like ‘opium’. Religion promises eternal life in heaven for people who accept religion. As the biblical quote says ‘it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye if a needle, than for s rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’. It offers hope of supernatural intervention to end suffering, for example, Jehovah’s witnesses believe that judgement day will arrive and those who are not religious will be judged and punished. Marx saw religion as a mechanism of social control. It creates false class consciousness, mistaken beliefs about the true nature of social life, which justify the position of the ruling class. This prevents the working class developing class consciousness, in which they become aware that they are exploited, and unite to overthrow the capitalist system that exploits them. Marx believed the only escape of this exploitation was communism, this way religion would no longer be necessary. Without social classes there would be no need for religion as its sole purpose was to legitimate ruling class power. Religion would therefore disappear. For example, in the Soviet Union under communist leadership from 1917 to 1990 the state consistently opposed the existence of religious beliefs and destroyed many Russian orthodox churches, as well as mosques and synagogues. The Marxist view of religion has been proven in many societies across the world; some examples of these are the Hindu caste system and evangelical Christianity in Latin America. In the Hindu caste system in India, people were divided into 5 castes based upon their supposed degree of religious purity. The Brahmins (priests) were at the top and the untouchables (unskilled labourers) at the bottom. This supports the Marxist view since no movement was permitted between castes, this system ensured the ruling class maintained their power and control and justified the lowly position of those at the bottom in terms of their religious impurity. The new Christian right have encouraged the spread of protestant religious beliefs in predominantly catholic Latin America countries particularly amongst the poor in shantytowns. This supports the Marxist view of religion as protestant religious beliefs provide religious discipline and hope of salvation in afterlife to some of the poorest in Latin American societies, discouraging them from supporting radical catholic liberation theology and encouraging support for US-style capitalist values. However Marxist view can also be criticised, just a few criticisms would be that Marxist only focus on one possible role of religion in society and it ignores the much broader range of effects religion might have. Another criticism would be that attempts to destroy religion in communist countries were not successful. Religion survived in the USSR and Catholicism thrived in communist Poland. Much like Marxists, feminists believe that religion does not serve the interests of society as a whole, and only serves the interests of a particular social group. They see religion as being patriarchal, male-dominated, and serving the interests of men. Karen Armstrong argued that religion has not always been patriarchal and that in early history women were considered central to spirituality and archaeologists have found numerous symbols of the great mother goddess, in comparison there were few portrayals of male gods. With the advent of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, monotheistic religions largely replaced polytheistic religions. In all these cases god was portrayed as a male. Jean Holm argues that in the public sphere of religion when important positions are held, men almost always dominate. However, in the private sphere, women are dominant and do most of the religious work. Holm has identified inequality between men and women in all major world religion. Some examples of these inequalities are shown in Christianity/roman Catholicism; Islam; Hinduism; Chinese folk religions; Orthodox Judaism and Sikhism.

Stereotypes †the Outsiders Essay Essay Example

Stereotypes – the Outsiders Essay Essay Example Stereotypes – the Outsiders Essay Paper Stereotypes – the Outsiders Essay Paper Essay Topic: The Outsiders Ever felt targeted? Witness person be judged by how they spoke? Felt as if no 1 belongs? Is it because they dress. act. or larn otherwise or a certain manner? Most immature grownups go through these types of battles. Stereotypes are preconceived labels subjected on the populace. When adolescents do things out of the ordinary. frock otherwise. or hang out with specific people they tend to be measured up into or against these stereotypes. A common happening in high school. these stereotypes that try to specify adolescents. can impact them either positively or work against us in negatively. When people are labeled it is normally through a stereotype. they are judged on their visual aspect. attitude. personality. and friends along with many other superficial constituents. â€Å"Instead of being presented with stereotypes by age. sex. colour. category. or faith. kids must hold the chance to larn that within each scope. some people are nauseating and some are delicious. † ( Manson ) Characterization is a tool used to picture person through the traits of their personality and association with those around them. Of class. with the clang of characters and imposed stereotypes. struggle between people is about certain. Rivalry. a by-product of struggle and the jurisprudence of endurance is ever at drama within society. S. E. Hinton uses these literary techniques of stereotypes. word picture and struggle throughout the novel of The Outsiders to picture they cardinal subject of competition. In The Outsiders. every character has been classified as â€Å"a greaser† . being stereotyped like that is pretty cruel. When Ponyboy said. â€Å"We both need a haircut and some nice apparels. They’ll know we’re goons the minute they see us! † ( Hinton. 64 ) He admitted to yielding to his stereotype. Proving to the readers that the Greasers were based on their visual aspect. When people see them. they think that because they wear raggedy-down old vesture they are hapless. non of import. juvenile delinquents. Additionally. apart from being judged on their visual aspect. they are grouped together. all being seen as punks with no room for individualism. Ponyboy. Dally. and Johnny met two immature Soc misss at the drive-in film theatre. Dally’s rude and unpleasant attitude gave the two misss a bad first feeling of the Greasers as a whole. Subsequently on. Ponyboy talked to Cherry. altering her position wholly through the deep conversation he has with her. go forthing her wholly astounded at his intellectuality and at the find that the Greaser stereotype she had fitted him into was wholly erroneous. In the beginning. Ponyboy drops the narrative to pass a few pages feeding the readers with a brief sum-up on the characters mentioned throughout the book such as Sodapop. Darry. Steve. Two-Bit. Dally. and Johnny. Ponyboy tells the readers that the ground his group is called The Greasers is because of their long greasy looking hair. â€Å"My hair is longer than a batch of male childs wear theirs. squared off in back and long at the forepart and sides. but I’m a wetback and most of my vicinity seldom fusss to acquire a haircut. Besides. I look better with long hair. † ( Hinton. 1 ) He informs the readers that the ground him and Sodapop have interesting names. is because it expresses the love their parents felt for them and it describes their personalities. He mentioned that Steve is smart and really cocky. Two-Bit neer takes things earnestly. ever jesting about. merely goes to school for the boot of it non to travel to larn or anything. Dally’s existent name is Dal las. he mentions that he’s tougher. colder. and more mean than any other Greaser. Readers are left with the idea that Johnny is frightened. unloved. victimized. abused. and helpless. When a auto full of Socs pulls up. Pony and Johnny seek to run off. Alternatively. those Socs trap them down. As Pony is about to submerge in an ice-cold park fountain. Johnny stabs a Soc. The Soc who was managing pulls him out. Johnny tells Pony that he stabbed a Soc as Pony’s seeking to retrieve his breath. Pony looks over to see a Soc on the land and puddle of blood merely to throw up. To avoid any more jobs they leave and go to an old wooden church far from place. Spending five yearss at that place entirely. they cut their hair to look different from the newspapers. Merely as they were approximately to travel place. the church catches fire. †Ã¢â‚¬â„¢I’ll acquire them don’t concern! ’ I started at a dead tally for the church. and the adult male caught my arm. ‘I’ll acquire them. You kids remain out! ’† ( Hinton. 91 ) Pony explains to the readers that several kids are inside the combustion church and there is non a whole batch of clip to wait for the fire section to come and deliver them. Pony wakes up. in a infirmary bed being reunited with his brothers. He is told that Dally is all right. but that Johnny is in critical status and might decease. When he gets out he’s told that there will be a rumble with the Greasers vs. the Socs. Being in good status. Pony wants in on the battle. Dally is released merely in clip for the battle. After the rumble. Dally got the intelligence that Johnny is deceasing. When he gets to the infirmary to state him the triumph of the bash. he is told that contending doesn’t solve anything and see Johnny’s painful decease. Dally being really disquieted make-believes to be armed and goes to the constabulary merely to be shot to decease. fall ining Johnny. As demonstrated. struggle has arisen in this narrative as a cause of the two opposing forces of the Socs and Greasers. The stereotypes show the cause for misconstruing and how stereotypes are neer right and that a group of people can neer are categorized as the same. True individualism radiances through with the usage of word picture. turn outing the stereotypes to be erroneous. The struggle in this narrative is the effect. the monetary value paid for the competition. which was cause of preconceived impressions and ignorance. Stereotypes are revealed to be false. individualism is at last illustrated through the development word picture throughout the narrative. and the concluding blow out is a representation of what ignorance. labels. and rivalry bring about. Plants CitedHinton. S E. The Outsiders. N. p. : n. p. . 1962. N. pag. Print. Manson. Margaret. â€Å"Stereotype Quotes A ; Quotations. † Think Exist. N. p. . n. d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //thinkexist. com/?quotation/?instead_of_being_presented_with_stereotypes_by/?327616. hypertext markup language gt ; .

The Screen Time Rules You Really Should Enforce Th Essays

The Screen Time Rules You Really Should Enforce Th Essays The Screen Time Rules You Really Should Enforce This Year The Huffington Post |By Rebecca Adams Posted:09/08/2014 10:59 am EDTUpdated:09/08/2014 4:59 pm EDT While parents grapple with how much screen time is too much for children, new research now supports their suspicions: An excess amount of time in front of screens is bad for kids. The Learning Habit study, published this month in the American Journal of Family Therapy and in a book titled HYPERLINK "amazon.com/Learning-Habit-Groundbreaking-Approach-Parenting/dp/0399167110/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=booksie=UTF8qid=1406239414sr=1-1keywords=the+learning+habit" \t "_hplink" The Learning Habit , examined family routines in 46,000 U.S. homes of children in grades K-12 via an online survey. Conducted by a research team from Brown University School of Medicine, Brandeis University, Children's National Medical Center and New England Center for Pediatric Psychology, the three-year study worked with WebMD, The Huffington Post/AOL, The National PTA and Parents Magazine to assist with national outreach. The key findings shed light on how all of these smartphones, tablets, televisions and computers are affecting kids: Children feel the effects of screen time in all aspects of their lives. After just 30 minutes of screen time a day, researchers saw that children's grades began a steady decline. After two hours of it, researchers observed a dramatic drop in grades, and after four hours a day, the average GPA fell an entire grade level. This effect was seen particularly in middle schoolers , who weren't able to achieve A's in mathematics or English language arts after four hours of screen time. Even if more screen time led to more time spent on homework (many kids used computers and other devices to help complete homework assignments), children still suffered a decline in grades. Plus, all of that time spent consuming media led children to have trouble falling asleep those who spent four hours of screen time a day took an average of 20 minutes longer to fall asleep than children who had more limited screen time. More time on devices also led to increased social-emotional volatility in kids. Many parents have inklings of these effects, Rebecca Jackson, co-author of The Learning Habit book, told The Huffington Post. However, there seems to be a "disconnect" between this generalized intuition and parents' own children. "There's a difference between knowing something and suspecting something," Jackson said. "We are aware that the average American child spends eight hours in front of a screen, but we often don't associate those numbers with our own children. Those numbers tend to be about somebody else's child." Despite what kids think, less screen time and more time doing chores makes them happier. One thing that parents often overlook when it comes to screen time is grit, said Jackson. The researchers found that grit defined in the study as the ability to perform a strenuous or difficult task without giving up decreased as children's screen times increased. When children in the study had limited screen time and were given chores to do, they performed better academically, socially and emotionally. Household tasks, like laundry, cooking or taking out garbage, made children feel a sense of self-worth and responsibility. "It's exciting because this is something that parents and educators can build," Jackson said. "They can develop it, and it is directly related to the amount of screen time, or media use, a child has." Make sure kids aren't spending too much time on homework that's often screen time, too. All work and no play isn't the answer, though. While 10 minutes of homework per grade in school was positively correlated with children's GPAs, more time than that spent doing homework showed nearly no benefits. (This is something HYPERLINK "sedl.org/pubs/sedl-letter/v20n02/homework.html" \t "_hplink" researchers have seen in the past .) Jackson said that excessive homework can even harm children, especially as "homework" becomes increasingly synonymous with "screen time," a trend that the researchers noticed. But since homework is still an important part of a child's routine, she also suggested that parents not make it a punitive activity. "The goal for parents is to help our children have a balanced life," Jackson said. "It's not a child coming home and a parent having to enforce homework one night and then a child doesn't have homework another night so they're

Management Accounting Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management Accounting - Assignment Example Vision matched the idealism of TC's founders (students of a great drama teacher). Vision also reinforced the mission "to entertain our audiences with plays produced from the Canadian and international repertoires, and to develop the theatrical community." Mission and vision are summarised in Principles that combine artistic excellence, financial stability, and organisational sustainability. Objectives are clear, developed and refined with inputs from everyone (Board all the way to customers). Annual strategic and budget planning sessions inspire commitment to TC's purpose, core values, and vision. TC is in a creative business and has a system in place to get inputs from the creative/production side, including inputs to the budgets and planning system. However, there is no clear answer to "how does TC create value for customers" beyond the sentimental ones (tradition, legacy, culture, etc.). TC has to think of a better answer to the question, because this would help solve its revenue-generation problem. McCabe had an ambitious performance goal: increase subscribers threefold. Backed this up with performance standards, codes of conduct, and incentive systems to motivate, inform, and align staff with the organisation's objectives. Sales teams were given freedom to be creative within limits, and titles changed from "ticket clerks" to "customer service teams". However, strategic boundaries seem incomplete. The case lacks details on defined market position, which affects the theatre's capacity to generate sufficient revenues to cover costs and wipe out deficits. TC has to define what business it is in, who competitors are, whether pricing strategies are competitive, and how to generate loyalty amongst customers. Of course, there are idealistic supporters ready to contribute cash to bridge deficits, but unless TC develops a plan to widen its market base, it cannot sustain profitability. And whilst it evaluates its current customer base, it needs to find ways to target new customers, new age groups (below the present 40 to 65 age group), develop the right pricing for each, and develop new materials to compete with other providers in the market (how can TC compete with video games, peer group activities, extreme activities, etc.). TC has to look to the future, instead of only learning from the past. Related to this is the need to determine which amongst its existing customer groups (the 45-60 years age group is one generation!) are profitable, and whether it can increase their numbers or generate higher profits from those who can afford to pay more. TC may be too concerned with survival, but it has to learn to cut down its level of risks using its accounting system to identify where profitable and sustainable opportunities exist. Interactive Controls (Monitoring, Key Uncertainties) TC has internal control systems, a way of monitoring sales and expenses, getting the

Managing Change at Faslane Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Managing Change at Faslane - Essay Example Faslane requires managed change that would find this company at a better position compared to its previous state. To begin with, Faslane was entirely operating under the watch of Ministry of Defense and the Royal Navy. Due to need to cut costs and retain operations at the top of the base’s interest, Faslane introduced change that enabled the company decide to establish partnering program with an independent entity that would help reduce the cost of operations and at the same time provide the most effective services. Therefore, Faslane collaborated with Babcock, a subsidiary branch of Babcock International. The Ministry of Defense signed this partnership with Babcock in 2002 that would last for five years (Schank, 2005:17). Babcock’s task, under the charge of John Howie, was to deliver cost savings of $76 million without affecting the activities or services provided to the UK Navy. In this case, Faslane took measures that would manage their strategies with absolute effic iency since the cut cost would come to Babcock in form profits. Subsequently, Faslane introduced change that it managed by contracting an independent company that would ensure delivery of effective and quality services at a lower cost. In addition, Faslane comprises of a large number of employees and cost of maintaining them is always high. Therefore, in order to make sure it cuts costs to the lowest amount possible, it seconded Babcock close to 300 Royal Navy personnel and over 1,000 civil servants. It also left the remaining number of civil servants within the site together with the police, Royal Marines, and sailors to Babcock (Gapes, 2010:114). This change of reducing the number of employees under Faslane watch ensured easier and cheaper management of the company. With respect to these alterations, it is clear that change is manageable at Faslane provided the kind of change introduced maintains the best interests of the company and adheres to its protocol. Furthermore, the strat egy Faslane used to manage change was competent since its changing styles resulted in the company’s transition of mindset. This is because; collaborating with Babcock would ensure that Babcock changed the mindset of all the previous employees present at the site. As elaborated, these employees were mostly civilians who worked at the site for quite a long time and had established empires. This deterred them from seeing the importance of delivering service to the Royal Navy, which is their customer. Hence, for Babcock to achieve its set goals and objectives, it was necessary to change the mindset of these employees who guarded the submarines as well as the ships. Changing the mindset would incorporate means of delivering service at the lowest possible expenditure (Schank, 2005:21). This means that, even if Babcock does not renew its contract at the end of five years, Faslane employees would still have the knowhow of cutting costs and ensuring effectiveness at the same time. Thu s, strategic management of change at Faslane is long-term figurative. Previously, if there were any change at Faslane would take 56 days for it to reach approval. This was due to strings attached by government officials such as politicians. Therefore, to some extent, Faslane had its hands tied up by unscrupulous and lengthy procedures. Nevertheless, after Faslane introduced a strategic management change that witnessed the establishment of a partnership between them and Babcock,