Case Study of Bata Ltd Essay

Bata Ltd. is a privately owned global shoe manufacturer and retailer headquartered in Ontario, Canada. The company is led by a third generation of the Bata family. With operations in 68 countries, Bata is organized into four business units. Bata Canada, based in Toronto, serves the Canadian market with 250 stores. Based in Paris, Bata Europe serves the European market with 500 stores. With supervision located in Singapore, Bata International boasts 3,000 stores to serve markets in Africa, the Pacific, and Asia, Finally, Bata Latin America, operating out of Mexico City, sells footwear throughout Latin America. All told, Bata owns more than 4,700 retail stores and 46 production facilities. Total employment for the company exceeds 50,000. Company Founded in 1894 The Bata family’s ties to shoemaking span more than two dozen generations and purportedly date as far back as 1580 to the small Czech village of Zlin. However, it was not until 1894 that the family began to make the transition from cobblers to industrialists. In that year, Tomas G. Bata, Sr. along with his brother Antonin and sister Anna, took 800 florins, some $350, inherited from their mother and launched a shoemaking business. They rented a pair of rooms, acquired two sewing machines on an installment plan, and paid for their leather and other materials with promissory notes. They produced stitched, coarse-woolen footwear. Within a year, the business was successful enough to enable the Batas to employ ten people in their factory, such as it was, as well as another forty who worked out of their own homes. In the same year, 1895, Antonin was drafted into the military and Anna quit the business to get married, forcing Tomas to assume complete control of the venture. He was just 19 years old. In 1900, Bata moved the operation to a new building located close to Zlin’s railway station and took the first major step in industrialization, installing steam-driven machines. The company enjoyed success producing light, linen footwear that appealed to a large portion of the population, who could not afford better-made leather shoes. Nevertheless, Bata came close to bankruptcy on more than one occasion and concluded that in order for his business to survive he needed to find more efficient ways to manufacture and distribute shoes. In 1904, he and three employees took a trip to the United States to learn firsthand the ways of mass production. Bata spent six months working as a laborer on a shoe assembly line in New England. On his way back to Zlin, he also took time to visit English and German factories. Upon his return home, Bata began to transform the family shoe business, not only by applying the latest production techniques–which would one day earned him the moniker, â€Å"the Henry Ford of the shoe industry†Ã¢â‚¬â€œbut also by finding a way to preserve the role of workers, which all too often changed dramatically during the transition from an artisan to an industrial approach to commerce. The Bata shoe business began to experience steady growth, so that by 1912 it was employing 600 full-time workers plus another few hundred who worked out of their homes in neighboring villages. Tomas Bata now began to exhibit another side to his personality, the social idealist. Because there was a shortage of housing in Zlin for his new workers, he constructed new homes, which he rented at cost. He also offered inexpensive meals in factory cafeterias and free medical care. He even built a new hospital to care for his workers. However, as soon as they began to earn higher incomes, area merchants raised prices. In answer, Tomas Bata opened his own less-expensive company stores to ensure that his employees were able to enjoy the fruits of their success. He also took steps to identify management talent among the ranks of his workers and instituted a training program that was ahead of its time. World War I Boot Contract a Turning Point Bata received a major boost in 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, when the company received a contract to produce boots for the Austro-Hungarian army. From the waste of these items, the company produced the uppers to a wooden shoe that it sold to the lower classes. Tomas Bata then invested the profits in new machinery, as well as in the opening of new retail shops, so that the business was well positioned to take advantage of the economic boom of the 1920s. Before the company could enjoy this strong period of growth, however, Tomas Bata and his employees were forced to take a major gamble together. In the years immediately following the end of World War I in 1918, an economic slump prevailed across the globe, leading to significant unemployment. Czechoslovakia, formed as part of the peace settlement of World War I, attempted to fight inflation, which had already devastated Germany, by adopting tight monetary controls. As a result, the country’s currency lost three-quarters of its value, which in turn led to a drop in demand for products, a cutback in production, more unemployment, and even less consumer demand–developments that together threatened national economic devastation. In August 1922, a group of industrialists met to discuss their plight. Unlike the others, Tomas Bata did not simply throw up his hands and blame the government. Instead, he called on the industrialists to take decisive steps to stimulate market demand, and he shocked everyone by announcing that he was going to cut the price of Bata shoes in half. Once the surprise of the moment wore off, Bata’s audience simply laughed at him. Bata was able, however, to convince his workers that he had a plan, albeit a radical one, that would work. He believed that the company had to cut costs to the bone and work at peak efficiency in order to halve the price of Bata shoes. Workers, ignoring their union leadership, accepted a 40 percent reduction in wages across the board. Tomas Bata, in turn, provided food, clothing, and other necessities at half-price to mitigate the loss of wages. In addition, he introduced measures that were pioneering, including the creation of individual profit centers and incentive payments to both management and workers to spur productivity. With his operations lean and efficient, he then launched a national advertising campaign. The response from consumers was swift and dramatic, as Bata stores, which had been virtually empty for months, were now swamped with customers looking for inexpensive shoes. Bata was forced to increase production, and not only did the company maintain full employment, it began to hire. The decision to cut prices proved to be a turning point in the history of the company, which now grew at a tremendous pace. Tomas Bata continued to innovate, improving on productivity primarily through the introduction of an assembly line approach. After five years, productivity improved 15-fold; after ten, the retail price of Bata shoes dropped by 82 percent. The employees’ faith in Tomas Bata was also rewarded. After accepting a severe wage cut in 1922, by 1932 they had seen their salaries doubled. They were now working for the largest shoemaker in the world. According to company lore, in fact, in some developing countries â€Å"bata† gained currency where there was no word for â€Å"shoe. † Moreover, Bata became involved in a variety of other industries, including socks, leatherwork, chemicals used in leather making, shoemaking machinery, wooden packing crates, tires and other rubber goods. The company launched its own film studio to produced advertising materials, and it soon evolved into a full-fledged enterprise that produced some of the earliest animated films. Because of the company’s involvement in transportation, as Bata became the world’s largest exporter of shoes, Tomas Bata even became involved in the manufacture of airplanes through the Zlin Air Company, which produced both sporting and business planes. He also became famous for housing his headquarters in the tallest reinforced concrete office building in Europe, which featured an elevator that housed his â€Å"floating office. † With a push of a button, Bata was able to confer, and keep an eye on, his employees on every floor without leaving his desk. Bata established operations in new markets, such as Singapore in 1930. The company, which in 1931 adopted a joint stock company form of organization, also established subsidiaries and shoe factories in a number of European countries as a way to circumvent tariffs that had been imposed in response to a worldwide economic depression. In mid-1932, Tomas Bata called together his team of executives and announced that in order for the company to weather increasingly difficult economic conditions and drive further growth, they would have to look to more distant markets, in particular North America. Just two days later, however, Tomas Bata was killed when an airplane he was in took off in a thick fog and crashed into a chimney of one of his buildings. He was 56 years old. Bata left a 22-year-old son, Thomas J. Bata, whom he had groomed since childhood to one day head the business, but in the meantime Bata’s half-brother Jan took over and continued the mentoring process. It was Thomas Bata who was to be dispatched to North America, to which the company was already exporting shoes, to establish a manufacturing operation. While most executives in the organization lobbied for the United States as the location for a plant, the young Bata was fixated on locating the business in Canada, a place he had romanticized since childhood after reading the works of Jack London. With the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the importance of organizing a North American operation took on increasing importance, as the company now made plans to relocate its headquarters to the West. In March 1939, with Germany on the verge of invading his country, Thomas Bata fled to Canada along with 180 Czechoslovakians. After being granted permission from the Canadian government, he started up operations in Frankford, Ontario, taking over a former Canadian Paper Company mill while a new factory was built. To aid in the Allied war effort, the company focused its personnel and equipment on the production of anti-aircraft equipment and machines used to inspect ammunition. For his part, Jan Bata moved his headquarters to the United States, but when blacklisted by the Allies he was forced to relocate to Brazil. The Bata Shoe Organization, as it was called, was now split between uncle and nephew, resulting in an eventual contest for management control and ownership. Thomas Bata essentially prevailed in 1949, but the contest continued to be played out in the courts of numerous countries until the end of 1966. The return of Bata operations lost to the Nazis was short lived after World War II. In 1945, the communist government installed in Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Union had nationalized the country’s industry, usurping the original Bata shoe factory in Zlin and the company’s far-flung network of shops. Even Zlin’s name was changed, becoming known as Gottwaldov, a tribute to the country’s first communist president. ) Bata was further stripped of assets as other countries, including East Germany, Poland, and Yugoslavia, also nationalized their shoe industries. Now based in the West, Bata and its many Czechoslovakian expatriates began to rebuild the business, taking on an almost missionary zeal in the process. Rather than organizing in a centralized manner, the company established a structure based on autonomous operations, primarily in the new markets of developing countries. Also following the war, Thomas Bata married an aspiring architect named Sonja, a woman who would play an influential role in the success of the company, supplementing her husband’s manufacturing and sales expertise with a sense of design and style. By the mid-1950s, Bata was operating 56 factories in 46 countries. Thirty years later, Bata was in 115 countries, selling close to $2 billion worth of footwear each year through 6,000 company-owned stores and 120,000 independent retailers. Bata Shoes Returns to the Czech Republic in 1991 In the 1970s and 1980s, the manufacture of shoes began to shift increasingly to Pacific Rim countries, where lower labor costs provided a competitive edge that proved devastating to shoe companies around the world. With its widely cast operations and well-established distribution network, Bata was better able to compete, but it too suffered from a softening in its business. With the fall of communism in the late 1980s, Bata was able to return to the country where the family business was founded. The company was not able to resume ownership of its prior assets, which has been combined with other Czech shoe operations, nor did Bata wish to be encumbered with facilities that the communists had neglected for more than 40 years. Nevertheless, Thomas Bata was committed to establishing a business in his native country. After some study, the management team elected to focus on a retail distribution business and a modest manufacturing facility, one that was not part of the old Bata operation. A small factory established by the communist regime was found acceptable, and the company then selected a number of retail locations, which would total a 20 percent market share, and presented the government with a joint venture proposal that was accepted in late 1991. Thomas Bata, at the age of 80, elected to retire in 1994. His son, Thomas Bata, Jr. , had been serving as president since 1985. According to The Globe and Mail, Thomas, Jr. â€Å"took over at a time when the international shoe maker was experiencing heightened competition from strong global marketers. The movement toward free trade challenged its network of quasi-autonomous national companies. Mr. Bata tried to make changes, but insiders says he lost the support of key members of the board. † He was widely expected to succeed his father, but to the surprise of many, Stanley Heath, a Canadian with considerable executive experience with RJR Nabisco, took over as president and CEO to assume the day-to-day running of the business, while the younger Bata assumed the chairmanship, ostensibly charged with focusing on the â€Å"big picture. He soon left the family business and moved to Switzerland. His father, with a reputation as an autocrat, was slated to become honorary chairman, but the post proved to be far from ceremonial, as he continued to be involved in the company’s operations on a day-to-day basis and was not reticent about letting management know his opinions. Little more than a year after coming to Bata, Heath resigned for â€Å"personal and family reasons. â⠂¬  Taking over for Heath was a loyal company man, Rino Rizzo, who had been with the Bata organization since 1969. In 1999, Bata brought in Jim Pantelidis, an executive who had no experience in the shoe industry, to assume the CEO position. Pantelidis’s background was in retail gasoline sales, and during his career he had worked for one of Canada’s largest chains, Petro-Canada Corporation. Pantelidis instituted a plan to develop regional shoe lines, as opposed to lines created for individual countries. In addition, he wanted to create economies of scale by building regional infrastructures. The goal was to use the regional infrastructures to position the Bata brand on a global basis. The tenure of Pantelidis lasted just two years. In late 2001, Thomas Bata, Jr. returned, gained control of the business, and was named chairman and CEO, while Pantelidis left to â€Å"pursue other challenges. † Bata began to reorganize the company, essentially running the business out of Switzerland. It remained to be seen if he would be able to succeed where outsiders had failed in the effort to transform Bata from a federation of stand-alone local subsidiaries into a truly international company. Principal Subsidiaries: Bata Canada; Bata Europe; Bata International; Bata Latin America. Principal Competitors: Footstar, Inc. ; Jimlar Corporation; Payless ShoeSource, Inc. Product Profile: Legendary quality, trend-setting styles, and a tradition of innovation that goes back to 1894. For more than 100 years, the Bata brand has offered the best shoe at the best price. With contemporary and classic styles, the Bata collection has shoes and accessories for active men and women who appreciate great design and understand the meaning of value. Everyday shoes that look good and feel even better; nobody knows shoes better than Bata. Bata Ambassador Combining Italian design with handcrafted detail and the highest quality leather, Bata’s premium Ambassador brand sets the standard for European footwear. And its trend-setting style doesn’t sacrifice comfort. The Ambassador offers a flexible genuine leather upper, a leather lining to absorb moisture, and a polyurethane sole for a firm grip. A contemporary classic for the man who knows where he’s going. Combining great-looking style and design with the latest technology, Bata Benefit offers the ultimate in healthful comfort for men and women. Developed at Bata’s Shoe Innovation Centre in Europe, the Benefit collection breaks new ground in shoe design, exceeding the expectations of even the most discriminating customers. From sporty and casual to elegant and formal, From Bata Flexible, Bata Antistatic to Bata Air System, all Benefit shoes are made with high-quality leather and Bata’s trademark precision.

Business Law, the Laws Applied in This Case Study Essay

Introduction Funster had suffered three forms of losses in this factual matrix, namely the broken ribs, the damaged iPhone and the torn T-shirt. Prima facie, Magic Studios is liable for the negligent damage caused to Funster. Therefore, whether Magic Studios should bear liability for the damage hinges upon whether they can successfully rely upon the exclusion clause set out in the ticket. The approach taken by the courts on determining the applicability of the exclusion clause is neatly set out in Press Automation Technology v Trans-Link Exhibition Forwarding [2003] 1 SLR 712. A court will first determine whether the clause is successfully incorporated, before applying the common law principles of construction to determine if it can be enforced. Following that, it will then apply the Unfair Contract Terms Act [UCTA] to determine if the clause can indeed be struck out by statute. Each point of law will be discussed in turn. Incorporation Two issues regarding the incorporation of a term arise in this case. The first is whether the term has been incorporated before the formation of the contract, and the second is whether there has been reasonable notice on Monster Studio’s part. Both issues will be discussed consecutively. On the first issue of incorporation before formation of the contract, the law is clear that terms should be incorporated into the contract before formation (Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking, [1971] 2 QB 163) [Thornton]. The terms and conditions of a contract should be well known to both parties before they are made to bear legal responsibilities under the contract. Therefore, the notice of a ticket must come before its formation. Elsewise, it will not be enforceable. In this case, it is likely that a court will decide that the term has been incorporated before offer and acceptance. This is because Magic Studios has clearly placed a sign above the ticket booth that certain terms and conditions will apply. Funster thus entered into the contract knowing that certain terms will apply to the transaction. In conclusion, the term would thus be properly incorporated into the contract. On the second issue of reasonable notice, the applicable law is clearly set out in the landmark English case of Parker v South Eastern Railway Co (1877) 2 CPD 416 [Parker] that the recipient of a ticket is bound if â€Å"he had reasonable notice that the document contains terms†, even if he remains ignorant of the terms. This means that the term can be incorporated into the contract only if it is reasonable that an ordinary person would have noticed the existence of such a term. The law in Parker was further clarified in Thornton that where the court held that if the party seeks to enforce an onerous term, it must take additional steps to bring its presence to the other party’s notice. In this case, it is clear that Magic Studios should be deemed as having successfully incorporated the exclusion clause. By using an obvious red font, it had clearly brought to any customer’s attention that there are underlying terms and conditions on the ticket. In any case, Funster had consulted an attendant about the exclusion clause and cannot claim that he does not know of such an underlying term. In conclusion, by applying the clear rules set out in Parker and Thornton, the exclusion clause should be successfully incorporated. Common law principles of construction Following the successful incorporation of the exclusion clause, the next issue is whether the clause can be enforceable by applying the common law principles of construction. As held clearly in Emjay Enterprises Pte Ltd v Skylift Consolidator, [2006] 2 SLR(R) 268, the rule of construction approach will be taken in Singapore where exclusion clauses are concerned. Following the landmark decision in The Suisse Atlantique, [1967] 1 AC 361, the court will determine, through a fair construction of the contract, if the parties have intended for such an exclusion clause to be enforced. Courts have traditionally taken a strict approach towards enforcing exclusion clauses purporting to exempt total negligence (Canada Steamship Lines v The King, [1952] AC 192, but following the enactment of UCTA, such a requirement has been visibly relaxed or non-existent [Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG, [2011] SGHC 149) [Jiang Ou]. Applying the law to the relevant facts, it should be clear that the common law requirement of construction should be fulfilled. Both Funster and Monster Studios can be said to have reached an agreement as to the enforcement of this clause since Funster had only bought the ticket after seeing the large sign containing â€Å"terms and conditions apply† above the counter. Funster must thus have entered into the contract knowing that certain terms and conditions may apply. Moreever, as seen in Emjay, the court is reluctant to reject any claims at this stage of the inquiry, preferring to use UCTA to weed out unmeritorious exclusion clauses. In conclusion, the clause can thus be successfully enforced, pending passing the requirements in UCTA. Unfair Contract Terms Act As mentioned earlier, Funster had suffered three types of damages – personal injury, damage to iPhone and damage to T-shirt. Each of the damage will be discussed in turn using the appropriate provision in UCTA. Broken Ribs Section 2(1) of the UCTA clearly states that a person cannot â€Å"exclude or restrict his liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence†. This clearly shows that parties are not allowed, under the law, to exclude liability for personal injury or death. Such a provision was written into law in order to protect parties, especially vulnerable ones such as customers to theme parks who might not have equal bargaining power, in cases whereby one party’s negligence have caused serious injuries or even death. Applying the s.2(1) to the facts, it is clear that Funster can claim for negligence with regards to the broken ribs he has suffered. Broken ribs belong to the category of â€Å"personal injury† in s.2(1), and a party clearly cannot exclude liability for such personal injury. As Monster Studios is already prima facie negligent, whether Funster can claim damages for his broken ribs hinges solely upon the application of s.2(1) of the UCTA. Applying the strict requirement in s.2(1), it is clear that Monster Studio cannot exempt liability for the personal injury that Funster has suffered. In conclusion, Monster Studios cannot rely on the exemption clause to exempt liability for Funster’s broken ribs. Damaged iPhone and Torn T-shirt Both the damaged iPhone and torn T-shirts may be classified under other forms of damage, applicable under â€Å"other losses and damage† under s.2(2) of UCTA. It is thus important to look at the relevant provision, which states that Monster Studio’s liability cannot be excluded except where it is reasonable to do so. While s.2(2) does not state what the term â€Å"reasonable† means, this is clarified in s.11 that a reasonable term is one which is â€Å"known or in the contemplation of the parties when the contract was made†. Typically, courts will consider several factors in determining whether a particular exclusion clause is reasonable. They include whether the relative bargaining powers of respective parties (Jiang Ou), whether there are any protests by the claimant (Kenwell & Co Pte Ltd v Southern Ocean Shipbuilding, [1998] 2 SLR(R) 583) and if there are any reasonable alternatives (Tjoa Elis v United Overseas Bank Ltd, [2003] 1 SLR(R) 747). As mentioned in Jiang Ou, the ultimate consideration by the court is whether it is against public policy to allow the enforcement of the particular exclusion clause, and such an inquiry is based on the particular facts of the case. In this case, there are two claims which arise with regards to s.2(2) of UCTA, namely the damaged iPhone and torn T-shirt. For both items, Funster should be allowed to claim for the relevant damages. Applying the several factors set out above, it is clear that Funster had little bargaining power over the inclusion of the exclusion clause and cannot be said to have any other alternatives but to accept the clause if he wishes to take the roller coaster. As discussed in Jiang Ou, it is against public policy if amusement parks such as Monster Studios are allowed to escape with their own negligence by drafting an exclusion clause. The UCTA was specifically drafted to protect consumers such as Funster from being denied legal recourse when faced with a negligent organisation such as Monster Studios. In conclusion, a court is unlikely to deny Funster the claims for his iPhone and the T-shirt. Conclusion In conclusion, Funster should be allowed to claim for his personal injuries, the broken iPhone and the torn T-shirt. While the exclusion clause drafted by Magic Studios can pass the requirements of incorporation and common law construction, it is unlikely to pass the stringent standards set by UCTA. REFERENCES Cases 1.Canada Steamship Lines v The King, [1952] AC 192 2.Emjay Enterprises Pte Ltd v Skylift Consolidator, [2006] 2 SLR(R) 268 3.Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG, [2011] SGHC 149 4.Kenwell & Co Pte Ltd v Southern Ocean Shipbuilding, [1998] 2 SLR(R) 583 5.Parker v South Eastern Railway Co (1877) 2 CPD 416 6.Press Automation Technology v Trans-Link Exhibition Forwarding [2003] 1 SLR 712 7.The Suisse Atlantique, [1967] 1 AC 361 8.Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking, [1971] 2 QB 163 9.Tjoa Elis v United Overseas Bank Ltd, [2003] 1 SLR(R) 747 Books Ewan Mckendrick, Contract Law (8th Edition), Palgrave Macmillan Law Masters (2009) Websites Singapore Academy of Law. Singapore Contract Law (accessed on 3rd May 2012). URL: http://www.singaporelaw.sg/content/ContractLaw.html Stamford Law Legal Updates, Jiang Ou v EFG Bank AG (accessed on 3rd May 2012) URL: http://www.stamfordlaw.com.sg/legal.php?id=241

Arguments for and against using Utilitarian principles Essay

Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that proclaims that the morally right course of action in any given situation is the one that produces the greatest amount of pleasure over pain for everyone affected (Ferrell, Fraedrich &Ferrell 2008). This is evident in business decision making processes done by analysts, legislators and managers, for instance on deciding to invest resources in public project, to minimize cost by using foreign labors and such. Thus, the argument on whether utilitarian principles should be applied in workplace practices is highly debated as it carries both pros and cons. First and foremost, utilitarianism in an organizational context â€Å"provides a clear and straightforward basis (Shaw, Barry & Sansbury 2009, p67)† for developing and testing guidelines and protocols. Pain and pleasure is graded in a scale of continuum to measure intensity of the emotion (Burns 2005). As such, organizations can utilize this to derive objective decisions, as the approach uses quantitative result oriented method, and calculates cost and benefit of the consequences of all possible alternatives. For instance, a departmental manager ordered to cut cost in his department may revise all employees’ salary in the interest of obtaining higher utility for all parties rather than lay off some staff. Secondly, utilitarianism enables an unbiased approach of decision making, thus a way to resolve conflicts involving self-interest (Mill, 1863). This approach requires the decision maker to take the standpoint of an impartial third party and give equal weightage to everyone’s interest. As such, the outcome of the decision will not be influenced by self interest and chances of negative implication to all individual are minimized. This is advantages, as incidents such as Bhopal Disaster that killed 20000, as a result of poor maintenance to minimize cost for the shareholders, could be evaded. Moreover, utilitarianism is a comprehensive and flexible method as it looks at the end results of actions and takes into consideration the complexity of the circumstances (Burns 2005, p46). All ramifications, regardless whether they are direct, indirect, long term or short term, are taken into account especially in situations that may have long term environmental and health implication. Thus using utilitarianism, organizations can reach â€Å"realistic and workable moral decisions (Shaw, Barry & Sansbury 2009, p67)†. Nonetheless, there are criticisms against the utilitarianism approach as it is difficult to determine and account for all foreseeable benefit and harm of every possible alternative (De George 2013, p48). This is because we cannot know the full implication of all actions in the long term, nor can we accurately estimate the pain and pleasure of future consequences resulting from these actions. For example, a drug that was released into market after thorough research and careful consideration of benefit over harm, could have undiscovered lethal side effect that could manifest many years later. However, due to limited technological advancement when the research was conducted, this potential harm and its intensity may not be identified accurately during initial cost and benefit analysis. Furthermore, utilitarianism is a teleological theory that looks at the end result itself rather than action. As such, it isn’t concerned with how the utility is achieved and even morally reprehensible actions such as theft and murder could be considered ethically right as long it produces more utility (Shaw, Barry & Sansbury 2009, p68)†.Moreover, the theory, though theoretically plausible, is not applicable in real life situations in which individuals are required to make decision within minutes and could not possibly consider all alternatives and their implications. In conclusion, utilitarianism though highly applicable to workplace, should be practiced with caution as it also has weaknesses like any other theory. As such, the individuals in decision making position, should be aware of potential biases and shortcomings of practicing utilitarianism and attempt to diminish the negative implications. Reference List Burns,J 2005, â€Å"Happiness and Utility: Jeremy Bentham’s Equation† Utilitarianism Resources. P46,accessed 27/08/2013, http://www.utilitarianism.com. De George, R 2013, Business Ethics, Pearson/Prentice Publication, New Jersey. Ferrell,O , Fraedrich, J& Ferrell,L 2008, Business Ethics : Ethical Decision Making and Cases ,South- Western Publication, Mason. Mill, J 1863, Utiilitarianism , Utilitarianism Resources. Accessed 27/08/2013, http://www.utilitarianism.com/mill2.html. Shaw,w, Barry,V & Sansbury,G 2009 Moral Issues in Business, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne.

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Affirmative action in the workplace - Essay Example This does not mean that they are handed over positions without qualification. They are qualified similar to the men but because of the marginalization and historical differences, they are not regarded as equal to the others and they therefore lack representation. The affirmative action that will be focused on this essay is that of gender in the workplace. One of the advantages of having affirmative action is that women get to have their fair share of representation in higher positions of power and decision making. This leads to the issues that are specific to females only to be addressed. The voices of women are now also heard which was not the case in the past. In having their voices heard and considered, the other women in the workplace can be sure that they will no longer be ignored but will have equality with the men. Women face their own shares of issues and especially those that have families. They will have small children that require being looked after and not all can afford to hire nannies or put them in day care system. This group of women may require having a room set aside in the workplace as a play area fort the children. This will allow the women to bring their children to work and get to monitor them throughout the day as well. For those breastfeeding, they should be allowed a nursing room to breastfeed their children or milk the breast milk with privacy. This is not something that men understand and hence can only be brought forward and campaigned by a many women voices to be addressed for increased productivity. When the workplace has diversity in terms of almost equal number of men and women, it is likely to attract more investors and customers and especially those who support feminism. This will not only increase business and productivity but will provide a higher chance of opening up other branches even globally and spread the idea of affirmative action (Estlund 147). Women provide a nurturing

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Management Accounting College - Case Study Example Most incumbents at the time of the entry of Southwest Airlines are showing small profits because of low consumer demand, high operation and maintenance costs. However, Southwest Airlines' introduction of a new business model significantly altered this situation. It can be recalled that deregulation has lowered the barrier to entry in the industry as well as enhanced the competitiveness of the players which are previously receiving subsidy from the government. This, in turn, largely contributes to the cost efficiency of airline operators allowing them to charge lower prices to passengers. A low cost carrier like Southwest Airlines typically adopts a business model which offers only a single passenger class and a single type of airplane which allows the company to cut on training and servicing costs. Budget airlines also typically employ a very simple fare scheme which rewards early reservation by increasing the fare charged as the plane fills up. There is usually no reserved seating in order to allow customers to choose their own seats thereby encouraging early and quick boarding (Sorensen 2006). In order to drive down operation costs, technological innovation particularly the internet is used in order to eliminate the huge commission usuall y passed on to travel agencies. Budget airlines also prefer flying on secondary and simplified routes as well as having relatively shorter flights and faster turnaround times. Budget airlines, unlike larger air companies usually skip in-flight catering and other complimentary services replacing this with optional paid-for-in-flight food and drinks. In order to insulate themselves from future increases in oil prices, budget airlines often undertake aggressive fuel hedging, that is, "making advance purchases of fuel at a fixed price for future delivery" (Fuel Hedging 2006). The operation of an airline necessitates the investment in capital which includes the planes, and ports among others. Southwest Airlines also recruited pilots, stewardess, and staff which will run the operation. The company also pays mechanic for the maintenance of its fleet. Looking the company's cost structure; it incurs both direct and indirect costs in order to keep the business running. The fixed costs associated with Southwest Airlines' operations include the monthly maintenance of the mechanic, the insurance paid for its fleet, the expenses associated with the leased properties like the airport, electricity expenses in its offices, and even the rent expense that it pays for its booking premises. These fixed costs can be seen as indirect expenses because they cannot be necessarily identified with a specific product or value (Garrison et al, 2007). These costs are incurred as the air carrier operates and are very significant to keep it in business. However, they cannot be direc tly linked to the specific process of product and process costs. In its daily operations, Southwest Airlines shoulders operations cost. As opposed to business organizations which can directly identify the costs associated in creating a product which is suitable to a specific customer order or requirement, Southwest Airlin

Endangered Species Reseach Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Endangered Species Reseach - Research Paper Example Human processes such as clearing of forests, poaching, human settlement, building of infrastructure and agricultural expansion have destroyed natural habitats for plants and animals. Destroying natural habitats leads to the extinction of certain species of both plant and animal families (Pimentel, Westra, and Reed). Destroying natural habitats leads to the threat of more plant and animal species to be at risk of further extinction. This paper shall focus its argument on extinction of tigers caused by human processes, which threaten to endanger this species of the animal family. The paper shall discuss the need for human beings to act against extinction crisis facing the world. Human beings are the primary cause of the current mass extinction of species facing planet earth. Scientists predict that if current trends are to carry on, half of all species may become extinct in less than 100 years. Activities such as habitat destruction, climate change and pollution are significantly contr ibuting to this mass extinction. Only a few of the global population are aware of the current mass extinction. This poses a substantial problem to the raising of awareness of mass extinction. Tigers are among the most endangered species in the globe today. There were eight subspecies of tigers known in the world of which three have already become extinct. Tigers live in densely covered grasslands. This assists with their camouflage for prey. Three subspecies of tigers have become extinct: Bali tiger, Caspian tiger and Javan tiger (Burke 22). The remaining subspecies of tiger continue facing endangerment due to actions of human beings. From approximated 10,000 tigers in the world in 1900, tiger population has dropped to an estimated 4000-5000 in the globe. The ever increasing human population and industrial growth lead to competition for land and food between human beings and tigers. Due to the increasing population, human beings become forced to clear land for settlement and in turn destroy the natural habitat for tigers. Due to human encroachment and clearing of natural habitats, tigers become endangered since they become homeless (Burke 23). They get forced to wander into unfavorable habitats, which are not conducive for their survival. Human beings need to practice natural living. This ensures that habitats for plants and animals do not get destroyed to ensure the continued existence of different species (Thoreau 51). The existence of different species within a habitat promotes biodiversity and promotes natural beauty of the environment. It enhances the natural balance between ecosystems promoting healthier lives between living organisms in the ecosystem. Global climate change has contributed to species endangerment and extinction. Climate change has led to destroyed habitats for animal and plant species. Climate change has largely been caused by environmental pollution. Industrial revolution by human beings has largely contributed to environmental pollutio n. Carbon dioxide released by industries into the air contributes to climate change. Climate change affects weather patterns, and this affects habitat growth (Zebrowski 106). Grasslands and forests are prime habitats for plant and animal species. When the natural habitats for species become destroyed, species become homeless and are at risk of getting killed as human encroachment also proceeds. There is the need for habitat protection and creation of reserves

Noble Lie and Platos Republic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Noble Lie and Platos Republic - Essay Example The noble lie gives a chance to ruled class to mould and shape the belief they want their subjects develop and if the ruler is benevolent, the belief inculcated in the people can result in harmony and after all harmonious life is the final objective of any society. The Platonic opinion regarding problem of discourse is regarding ‘powers and perils’ and noble lie is an aspect that minimizes the perils of the power from the people who question the right doings as well as wrong doings of the ruling elite. The noble lie is good as long as the elite people do not exploit the ruled people from the privilege they gain from the belief of the people in noble lie. Though it can be termed as a tool for thought control of the ruled, it will be good as long as it is related to ‘will to truth’. Hesk Jon (2000) quotes Marcel Detienne who argues about Greek notions of truth. By accepting the noble lie as part of a model republic, the rulers should concentrate only on submis siveness from the people but the activities of rulers should not undermine the rational thought of the ruled in their daily chores. However, benevolent rulers take care that the noble lie aspect does not interfere in the justice delivery system. In the context of delivery of justice, it is possible to ignore noble lie if the rulers are enough discretion regarding it. The same can be interpreted in case of Noble lie and it can be ignored to treat ruled and the rulers equally while delivering justice.

What companies or organization have shown strong commitment to making Essay

What companies or organization have shown strong commitment to making the world a better placeHow do their practices align with your personal views of ethical behavior - Essay Example Apple products have become such a huge part of our daily lives now, so much so that it would be tough to imagine a world without them. Inventions such as the iPhone and iPad make our lives so much easier because it is now possible to be connected to anyone in the world on the go. As I have worked in a customer services department, I know just how important it is to reach someone at a moment’s notice. Apple was not the first company to make a cell phone; it just took the idea and expanded the features available. Apple is going to be around for quite some time yet because its customers are satisfied with the products that it has to offer. I will not be abandoning Apple any time soon because products such as the iPhone and iPad help me to perform simple daily tasks in a much faster way. Apple chooses to manufacture its products in China because of the low labor costs there. While I may not agree with this decision completely, I understand the need to make a profit. Also, people like me are able to get a high quality product for a very low cost. There are sometimes complaints about the treatment of workers in Chinese factories that make Apple products, but I think that Apple does its best to look after any employee that contributes towards the company’s success. My personal views of ethical behavior are that a company should put the views of its customers first. Apple does this by making products in an ethical way and doing so cheaply. Whenever there is a complaint over working conditions in Apple factories, the company is always quick to launch an investigation and try to find out the truth in the matter. Being open and transparent are values that I believe in, so I appreciate that Apple follows this with its customers. If Apple were to be involved in unethi cal practices, then it would affect the image of the brand negatively. Apple does not want this, and neither do the customers, so I’m sure that the company will

Data Analysis for a business making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Data Analysis for a business making - Essay Example c. The model will be solved through the help of the objective function applied, in which the decisions variables will be used in terms of controlling the operations and also avoiding the constraints to get the maximized productivity. d. One of the main constraints in the functional operations was limiting the machine’s productivity due to the depreciation. Another main constraint was time management. The constraint that was not problematic was the labor issue, i.e. they worked properly. e. The reduction in the profit means either the low pricing or the higher material or labor costs. The value of the objective function will change because of the productivity concerns. Because as the material cost has increased, so a limitation will be applied on the working of the machine and the lesser productivity will be the case. f. The value of additional value of additional minute of time per week for the devices numbered 1 to 4 will be respectively as follows: 600, 390, 330, and 204. Th e company must add more test device time on 4th and 3rd device as they have experienced to be consuming lesser time. g. The management of the company should make the corrective measures in terms of the cost reduction techniques and profit maximizing mechanisms. The officials must hire firstly the trained engineers who must know everything about the functions of the machines and how the constraints can be avoided. The company needs maximum productivity and for that it is imperative to train the engineers or flour managers so that they already know what types of constraints can be there and must avoid them to keep the productivity maximized. Also the management must also make sure that the decision variables are only those that can really be controlled and they should be working for the interest of the company for taking the profits to maximized level, and also keeping the costs to the minimum level as that will be the key for the maximum profits. The company must also make sure that the objective functions are properly executed as they will be the important indicators for the success of the maximum productivity. Task 2: a. Mathematical expression for the linear programming function can be written as: Â   The constraints are as follows: These constraints actually mean that the productivity will be low if the resources are not applied efficiently, and the one reason might be the inefficiency of the labor. b. The optimal solution will require the client to follow a specific diet each day which will maximize the chances and objectives which he intends to achieve. The chocolate of 50 grams and sugar of 100 grams might be the best diet for him through which he can meet his aims. This will also incur him the minimum cost, as his problem is more intense but it’s the job of his doctor to suggest the prescriptions that can cost him less but offer him more. c. The creation of the objective function required the programming for which the matlab and java are best pr ograms. The data can be included there along with some calculations and programming. d. Yes, the resources are fully utilized and the materials before being utilized were in stable form and that is why the product quality will also be fine. The only source that was not utilized properly was related to the labor. The management experience of lesser labor doing more work that cannot be handled by them might be the one problem that caused the lack of the productivity that was

Machivelli Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Machivelli - Essay Example In order to back up my ideal about the working schema of the essay by Machiavelli, there are some of the aspects that are being discussed here from the context of the essay (HistoryMuse.net). Machiavelli have noted that one should never intrude in one’s property because that may threaten the social security of an individual which may put him under the impression that he or she needs to be a rebel which affects the social environment. Those who appear greedy will always get a similar treatment in a society (YouSendit.com). The first issue that is taken under debate regarding the text is that Machiavelli has shown a rather greedy side of a prince where he would be concerned about each and every aspect of the materials that may enforce him with power. I believe that this is not just a fake statement by the author because it is true in all dimensions. The monarchs or the government head always try to get more power if they have access to. If the material that provides power belongs to one person that the prince (representation of monarchs or the government) will be inclined towards that individual to gain power for authority. Another issue which is merely regarding the attribute of a prince being fearful or loved is that Machiavelli suggested in his text that government needs to be sure of the fact of being loved or feared by its people. Some governments would like to be feared while other would be loved. As per the suggestion of Machiavelli, one should be able to feared and then loved. This is agreeable as the government needs to empower the people when they are given the right way. The cruelty has also been considered as an aspect of argument. It is in the manner as stated by the author; Clement should be the way of governing rather than being cruel. The author has justified this stance in the form of governments in the previous times which went unsuccessful to provide

The Importance of Ethics in Criminal Justice Essay

The Importance of Ethics in Criminal Justice - Essay Example From the report it is clear that the process involves a suspected criminal, the police to whom the criminal activity is first reported, witnesses to the criminal incident and the judiciary. The four category of people is supposed to conduct themselves in a manner that will ensure that justice. The process is essential as it leads to judgement that is supposed to punish the culprit. When the justice is not reached and an innocent person is jailed, or a suspect freed, then the judicial process will not have accomplished its purpose. As the discussion stresses ethics is an important aspect that the police should have in their daily life when handling a suspect. They should handle and interrogate a suspect in a manner that the suspect will not feel mishandled. In some situations where suspects may be innocent; it would be wise not to cause pain to them in the search of evidence. Applying ethics in this situation gives the suspected criminals to give evidence that may lead to the arrest of the actual criminals. The police could lose this information if they were to be brutal towards the citizens. The citizens would choose to keep quite instead of giving an information to an unfriendly corps. The lack of the cooperation between the police and the citizens will mean that the criminal cases will rise, and justice will not be achieved. Police are worldwide known to miss handle suspect that mostly lead to serious injuries and sometimes the loose of life.

Data collection Essay Example for Free

Data collection Essay EXECURTIVE SUMMARY   PROBLEM Our client is unfamiliar with the Dutch market, we are to conduct an in-depth research of the target market in order to provide a deep understanding of the marketplace and its consumers. Research question: Will the product be able to capture the consumption of tea in the Dutch market? SECONDARY DATA COLLECTION DEMOGRAPHIC AGE DISTRIBUTION DATA Population The Hague to surpass the 500 thousand mark in September The population of The Hague is anticipated to surpass the 500 thousand mark in September this year, having grown by nearly 60 thousand since the turn of the century. The proportion of young residents under the age of 20 has increased markedly and at the same time, the proportion of over-65s has declined. Considerable growth since 2002 The population of The Hague has increased almost continually since 2000 and has grown substantially in 2002 when the number of Dutch municipalities was reduced further. Other factors contributing to the population growth were people moving in from other municipalities, more foreign migrants and natural population growth. The population increase caused by people moving to The Hague from other municipalities is partly due to the construction of new housing estates like Leidschenveen. This is not the first time for The Hague to surpass the 500 thousand mark. In the early 1960s, the population even exceeded 600 thousand Figure 1: Popution of The Hague More young people, fewer over-65s The share of young people in the population of The Hague has increased over the past 15 years. The proportion of people under the age of 20 has grown from 21.4 percent in 1996 to 23.0 percent in 2011, whereas for the  Netherlands as a whole, the proportion of people younger than 20 declined marginally. The increase in The Hague is caused by an increase in the number of households with children. Simultaneously, the over-65 population in The Hague shrank from 17.1 to 12.9 percent. This is surprising, because elsewhere across the Netherlands the over-65 population grew from 13.3 to 15.6 percent in the same period. Figure 2: Population of The Hague by age Nearly half have foreign background The share of people with a foreign background has grown from 37 to 49 percent in The Hague between 1996 and 2011. On 1 January this year, 241 thousand residents of The Hague had a foreign background, i.e. 73 thousand had a western background and 168 thousand had a non-western background. The most substantial increase by nearly 10 percentage points was recorded among people with a non-western background. The population with a non-western background comprises four large groups. The proportion of Turks grew most. People from Surinam are still the largest ethnic group in The Hague. The group of people with a western foreign background grew by just over 2 percentage points. The largest group of people with a western background are people from the former Dutch East Indies or Indonesia. This category declined by 15 percent, while the group of other western migrants grew by 65 percent. Figure 3: Population with foreign Backgrounds RATE OF TEA CONSUMPTION IN THE NETHERLANDS Next to coffie is tea one the most largely consumed beverage in the Netherlands. Data collected by CBS shows that 100 litres of tea is consumed per person in 2006. The targeted group for our product fall within the ages of 20 65 years who are the majority of the entire population of The Hague. In figure 3, it shows the population of people in The Hague with foreign backgrounds and among them are people from morocco, Turkey and Indonesia (Condliffe). These people are among the top 20 world tea consumption countries. Below is in figure showing the rate of tea consumption in the Netherlands per person in 2006. Figure 4:Rate of Beverage consumption COMPITION IN THE TEA MARKET Immediate competitors The Immediate competitors in the market are those companies that produce tea products with different flavours. One of the top competitors in the tea market are Lipton and Pickwick. These potential competitors are producing tea in the old traditional trend with little variations bringing to the market slightly improved flavours. Advantages of the Barley tea over the potential immediate competitors. 1. The barley tea has numerous health advantages over the various immediate competitors. Below is the nutritional contents chart of the various tea products in the market as compered to Barley tea (Asianfoods) Figure 5: Nutritional contents of leading tea products

History of Cancer Theories

History of Cancer Theories Defining Cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving out-of-control growth of abnormal cell growth in a part of the body. Ancient Evidence of Cancer The worlds first recorded case of cancer was discovered in Egypt and dates back to about 2600 BC. Its called the Edwin Smith Papyrus, an ancient papyrus named after the dealer who bought it in 1862. The papyrus is a copy of the collected teachings of the great Egyptian physician Imhotep who live around 2625 BC. It describes 48 cases of injuries, fractures, wounds, dislocations and tumors. Every case is followed by a concise discussion of treatments. Case forty-five describes breast cancer as a bulging mass in the breast, for which there is no cure. In around 440 BC, the Greek historian Herodotus recorded in The Histories that Atossa, the queen of Persia, had a tumor upon her breast. She sought a self-imposed quarantine and ultimately allowed Democedes, her Greek slave, to cut off the tumor. In addition to historical descriptions, there are also evidence of cancer found in mummified specimens of malignant tissues of cancers that had somehow preserved from ancient times. In 1914, a team of archaeologists found a tumor on a two-thousand-year old Egyptian mummy. In 1990, Arthur Aufderheide, a paleopathologist, found cancers in naturally desiccated mummies in a thousand-year-old gravesite in the southern tip of Peru. The most striking finding, though, is not that cancer existed in the distant past, but that it was rare. In ancient times, people didnt live long enough to get cancer because cancer is a disease of older people, with incidence rates increasing with age for most cancers. Origin of the Word Cancer The great Greek physician Hippocrates (460-370 BC), who is considered to be the Father of medicine, used the word karkinos to describe malignant tumors because the finger-like spreading projections from such tumors reminded him of a crab. The Romans later translated the Greek term into cancer, the Latin word for crab. Claudius Galen (130-200 AD), another Greek physician, used the word oncos (Greek term for swelling) to describe tumors. It is the origin of the word oncology, the study of cancer. Old Theories about Cancer Humoral Theory (400 BC) Hippocrates believed that the body contained 4 humors (body fluids), (1) blood, (2) black bile, (3) yellow bile, and (4) phlegm. Any imbalance of these fluids will result in disease. Hippocrates had opined that cancer was best untreated, since patients live longer that way. Galenic Theory (160 AD) Claudius Galen, an influential Greek physician, took Hippocrates humoral theory to the next level by classifying all illnesses in terms of excesses of various fluids. Inflammation was attributed to an excess of blood; tubercles was the excess of phlegm; jaundice was the excess of yellow bile; Cancer was the excess of black bile.ÂÂ   Galenic theory suggested that cancer was the result of a systemic malignant state. Cutting the tumor out would not cure the disease. We should try systemic medicines to purge the black bile instead. This black bile theory of cancer was standard through the Middle Ages for over 1400 years until the birth of modern human anatomy in the 16th century. In 1533, Andreas Vesalius, who is considered the founder of modern human anatomy, arrived at the University of Paris to learn Galenic anatomy and pathology. To his disappointment, there were no map of human organs to guide him in surgeries. So he decided to create his own anatomy map, and scoured the graveyards around Paris for bones and bodies as specimens. In 1538, after becoming the professor of anatomy at the University of Padua, he published his drawings which showed anatomical charts of the blood and nervous systems.ÂÂ   He wondered whether he could put the charts for practical use to treat diseases. The Galens humoral theory of disease required the patient be bled and purged to squeeze the overgrown humors out of the body. So he tried to locate the four humors in his chart. The lymphatic system carried a pale fluid, the blood vessels were filled with blood, yellow bile was in the liver. But he could not find Galens black bile. He kept quiet about his discovery that there was no black bile, and left his drawings just as he saw things. In 1793, Matthew Baillie, an anatomist in London, wanted to map the body in its diseased abnormal state. He too was looking for black bile, but couldnt find it on charts of a normal body. He thought that black bile may not have existed in normal tissue, but tumors should have been full of it. So he started mapping the body with tumors. But he could not find the black bile anywhere not even in the tumors. Like Vesalius, he left his anatomy and cancer drawing the way he actually saw it.

Treating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Ginger

Treating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Ginger Qi-Cai Liu Tiran, D. (2012). Ginger to reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: Evidence of effectiveness is not the same as proof of safety. Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 18(1), 22-25. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2011.08.007 This article presents a systemic review of the mechanism and safety of using ginger to treat nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP). In the article, the author first introduced the history of ginger as a traditional remedy in some eastern countries, then discussed the potential risk of several different forms of ginger that were available in the UK market. After that, the author explored the mechanisms of gingers anti-emetic function. Ginger can inhibit serotonin receptor and suppress vasopressin, as well as reduce tachygastric activity. However, the exact mechanism still remains unclear. The author pointed out that there was no consistency in dosages and forms of ginger among current studies, and the differences between nausea and vomiting was not fully understood. Next, the author discussed the safety of using ginger. The author believed that ginger should be treated as a pharmacological medication rather than a natural remedy. Therefore, it should be administered with safe dosages and be obtained from the correct plant, Zingiber officinale. Following that, the author discussed gingers potential adverse effects, drug-drug interactions, as well as contraindications and precautions. For example, ginger should be contraindicated for women who have a history of miscarriage because anticoagulation is one of its notable side effects. At the end of article, the author offered a contraindications and precautions checklist, which is very useful for health care providers to identify which women should avoid ginger. The limitation of this article is that it did not emphasize gingers therapeutic effects. The strength of this article is the valuable safety checklist. Overall, this article increased the awareness that ginger, although a natural remedy, has side effects and contraindications too. Ozgoli, G., Goli, M. Simbar, M. (2009). Effects of ginger capsules on pregnancy, nausea, and vomiting. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(3), 243-246. doi: 10.1089/acm.2008.0406 This article describes a single blind clinical trial to determine function of ginger on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP). 70 pregnant women who experienced nausea and vomiting before 20 weeks of gestation participated this study. Prior to the treatment with ginger, the baseline levels of nausea and vomiting symptoms were measured via a standard visual analogue scale. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group and control group. In the experimental group, 35 participants were treated with ginger at a dose of 1000mg/day for 4 days. 35 participants in the control group were treated with a placebo (lactose) with the same dose and prescription form. The treatment effects were measured by asking participants to finish the 4-page questionnaire and record nausea intensity twice a day (3 participants from experimental group failed to complete the questionnaire). A statistically significant decrease in the nausea and vomiting intensity with ginger treatment was rep orted. 85% of women who received the ginger treatment reported an improvement of nausea symptoms, while only 56% reported improvement in the control group. In addition, the vomiting times for the pregnancy are also significantly decreased in the experimental group comparing to control group (50% versus 9%). The materials and methods section was well developed with clear description of experimental design, samples selection, data collection and analysis. The strengths of this article are the rigorous experimental design and large sample size. The limitation of this study, as mentioned by the authors, is the short assessment period. As a result, some ginger adverse effects may not be able to discover. The findings of this study provide some evidence-based information about effects of ginger for NVP. Ensiyeh, J., Sakineh, MC. (2009). Comparing ginger and vitamin B6 for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: A randomised controlled trial. Midwifery, 25(6), 649-653. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2007.10.013 This study conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial to compare the effects of vitamin B6 and ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP). 70 pregnant women who experienced nausea and vomiting symptoms before their 17 weeks gestation participated this study. Half of them were randomly selected to receive ginger 1g per day treatment for 4 days. As a control, half of them received vitamin B6 40 mg per day treatment at same time. The nausea intensity was measured via a visual analogue scale during the treatment plus 24 hours before. The vomiting episodes were also recorded in the same period. The treatment responses at a 7-day follow-up were measured via a five-point Likert scale (one participant from control group failed to return to clinic later). Their results showed that both ginger and vitamin B6 treatment could decrease the symptoms of nausea, and ginger worked significantly better than the vitamin (p=0.024). In terms to vomiting episodes, both ginger and vitamin B6 could reduce the frequency of vomiting, and there was no significant difference between them. In the 7-day follow-up visiting, there were 29/35 participants in ginger group and 23/34 participants in vitamin B6 group reported a decrease of nausea reaction (p=0.52). This trial was well designed with large sample size, strict sampling inclusion criteria, and rigor experimental process. The strength of this study is that they measured and compared the long-term effects of ginger and vitamin B6 on the pregnancy outcomes, such as abortion and preterm birth. The limitation of this study is that they changed the participants dietary, which might influence the treatments and outcomes. The findings of this study provide some evidence-based knowledge about the efficiency of ginger and vitamin B6 in the NVP treatment, as well as their long-term effects. Therapy Assessment Nausea and vomiting are the most common unpleasant complications in early pregnancy. There were about 70-80% of women experienced nausea and 50% of them experienced vomiting episodes during their early pregnancy (Ensiyeh Sakineh, 2009). That means there are about 350,000 Canadian women experience nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP) every year (Lee Saha, 2011). The pathogenesis of NVP remains unclear. However, it is widely accepted that NVP is correlated to the hormone changes during gestation, such as the human chorionic gonadatropin (hCG), progesterone, and estrogen (Lee Saha, 2011). It was reported that the peak of NVP is positive correlated to hCG peak, and hCG could regulate gastric smooth muscle activity by stimulating placental prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (Lee Saha, 2011). Progesterone also has a function of gastric emptying by decreasing smooth muscle contractility (Lee Saha, 2011). NVP can cause more undesirable consequences for the pregnant women than uncomfortable, such as s ocial interactions, families, and careers (Ozgoli, Goli, Simbar, 2009). About 25% of employed pregnant women have to leave their jobs due to the nausea and vomiting symptoms (Ensiyeh Sakineh, 2009). As a result, it may bring some financial and psychological problem for them, which will further influence the health status of themselves and even their babies (Ozgoli et al., 2009). Most important, nausea and vomiting symptoms can also change dietary and may lead to malnutrition for themselves and their babies. Therefore, it is very important for the women, who are experiencing NVP, to get treatment in time. In terms to the treatments of NVP, there are nonpharmacologic approach and pharmacologic approach (Lee Saha, 2011). The nonpharmacologic approach includes dietary measures, emotional support, acupuncture, and ginger. The pharmacologic approach includes pyridoxin-doxylamine, antiemetics, promotility agents, and antihistamines. The goal of treatment is to release the symptoms and reduce risks for the women and fetus. It has a long history for using ginger as an herbal medicine to treat NVP in some eastern countries, such as China, Japan, and India (Tiran, 2012). Pregnant women in western countries also knew gingers anti-emetic effects for a long time (Tiran, 2012). However, it was until recently, the effects of ginger for NVP were studied in the scientific way (Ensiyeh Sakineh, 2009; Ozgoli et al., 2009). In the Ozgoli et al. study (2009), a single blind clinical trial was conducted to investigate the effects of the ginger for NVP. Their results found that, 1000mg/day ginger treatment could significant decrease nausea symptoms, as well as reduce the frequency of vomiting. In Ensiyeh andSakineh study (2009), a double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the function of ginger and vitamin B6 for NVP. Their results showed that both ginger and vitamin B6 could reduce the vomiting frequency. The ginger was more efficiency on reduce nausea symptoms than vitamin B6, which has a wel l known effects on treating NVP. The strength of these two studies is that they proved the gingers effects on NVP in the scientific way. However, both studies failed to explore the mechanism about how ginger can effectively treat NVP, and one study failed to measure the long-term adverse effects of ginger. These are the weaknesses of these two studies. Based on these research results, I would like to say ginger is an effective alternative therapy for NVP. In the future nursing practice, I would like to recommend pregnant women to take this herbal medicine to treat their NVP symptom. However, as Tiran (2012) suggested, ginger should also be treated like a pharmacological drug. I must be very cautious about its mechanisms, adverse effects, drug/food interactions, and contraindications before making the recommendation. Being familiar with these knowledge will also enable me to educate each pregnant woman why she can or cannot take ginger to treat her NVP. Mechanisms It is well known that ginger is very effective for treating NVP symptoms (Ensiyeh Sakineh, 2009; Ozgoli et al., 2009). However, the mechanism of its anti-emetic effects still remains unclear (Tiran, 2012). What already known are that the three ginger indigents: gingerols, shogaol, and zingiberence, can bind to serotonin (5-HT) receptor and block its function to inhibit nausea and vomiting (Tiran, 2012). The major anti-emetic substance in ginger was thought to be gingerols (Tiran, 2012). In addtition, ginger also was reported that it could reduce nausea and vomiting symptoms through suppressing vasopressin to decrease stomach activity (Tiran, 2012). Except these gastrointestinal tract effects, Tiran (2012) thought ginger might also have some effects on the central nervous system. For example, it has sedative and hypnotic functions. Adverse effects The adverse effects of ginger can be easily ignored by both pregnant women and health care providers due to its natural remedy character (Tiran, 2012). Like other pharmacological medications, ginger also has some adverse effects (Tiran, 2012). First, ginger has side effects on gastrointestinal tract (Tiran, 2012). Ginger can cause stomach irritant and then lead to heartburn, which may due to its weakly cholinergic function (Tiran, 2012). With the same function, ginger also can stimulate the bile secretion (Tiran, 2012). It is also reported that poorly chewed ginger can cause intestinal blockage (Tiran, 2012). Therefore, it is necessary to recommend women to masticate ginger properly if they are prescribed with the dried root ginger (Tiran, 2012). Second, ginger has adverse effects on cardiovascular system. It is reported that ginger can cause hypotension and that is one reason why some women felt dizziness after had the ginger herbal (Tiran, 2012). Ginger can also cause cardiac arrhy thmias, which may due to the interaction with beta receptors (Tiran, 2012). Third, ginger has side effects on the blood. One of its notable side effects is anticoagulant, which increases the risk of bleeding (Tiran, 2012). Beside that, ginger also can lower the blood glucose level, which may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (Tiran, 2012). Fourth, ginger can produce side effects of hot, sweating, constantly thirsty, and looking for cold drinks. These symptoms are caused by its cholinergic function (Tiran, 2012). Last, it needs to keep awareness that the long-term adverse effects of ginger on fetus development are still not fully understood (Tiran, 2012). Drug/food interactions Like other pharmacological medications, ginger also has the interactions with other drugs or food (Tiran, 2012). First, abundant evidences showed that ginger can interact with some prescribed medications, such as beta antagonists, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, as well as other herbs such as gingko balboa (Tiran, 2012). Second, ginger has weakly cholinergic function (Tiran, 2012). Therefore it can have interaction with other cholinergic drugs, including antagonists and agonists. For example, ginger can interact with donepezil, a muscarinic agonist, as both can increase the bile secretion. Third, ginger can interact with other drugs which can increase or decrease blood pressure as ginger can cause hypotension (Tiran, 2012). For example, ginger can reduce the anti-hypotension function of epinephrine, an adrenergic agonist. Fourth, ginger can lower blood glucose level (Tiran, 2012). Therefore it can interact with other drugs which can increase or decrease blood glucose level, such as in sulin and metformin. Fifth, as mentioned previously, ginger has the function of anticoagulant (Tiran, 2012). Therefore, ginger can interact with other anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, such as heparin, warfarin, and aspirin. Last, ginger can cause cardiac arrhythmia (Tiran, 2012). As a result, ginger can interact with other drugs with can cause cardiac arrhythmia too, such as Levodopa. Contraindications As ginger has some adverse effects and drug interactions, it should be contraindicated to the pregnant women who have relevant diseases or are taking the interactive drugs. First, ginger should be contraindicated for the women with certain gastrointestinal tract diseases (Tiran, 2012). Pregnant women with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn symptom should avoid ginger as it can worsen this symptom by irritating stomach (Tiran, 2012). Pregnant women with a history of gallstones should be contraindicated because ginger can stimulate the secretion of bile (Tiran, 2012). Dried root ginger should not be prescribed to pregnant women who have lower gastrointestinal tract disease, such as duodenal ulcer, as it may cause intestinal blockage (Tiran, 2012). Second, pregnant women with certain cardiovascular diseases should also be contraindicated from ginger (Tiran, 2012). Ginger can cause hypotension (Tiran, 2012), therefore the women who with hypotension symptom or are taking anti-hypertensive drugs to control their blood pressure should not take ginger. Ginger also can cause cardiac arrhythmia (Tiran, 2012). As a result, ginger should not be prescribed to the pregnant women who have cardiac arrhythmia or are taking anti-arrhythmic drugs, such as Na+ and K+ channel blockers. Tiran (2012) even suggested that all the herbal remedies and complementary therapies should be contraindicated for pregnant women who have major cardiac diseases. Third, ginger should be contraindicated for pregnant women with bleeding disorders as it has a function of anticoagulant. Tiran (2012) suggested that any pregnant women who had a history of miscarriage, vaginal bleeding, or clotting disorder should not take ginger. These women who may have a surgery several weeks later also should stop taking ginger at least two weeks before the operation (Tiran, 2012). Fourth, ginger has a function of lower blood glucose (Tiran, 2012). Therefore ginger should be avoided from those women wh o are taking drugs to control their diabetes mellitus, such as insulin and metformin. The women who have hypoglycemia also should also be contraindicated from ginger. Last, ginger has interactions with the benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and gingko biloba (Tiran, 2012). Therefore it should be avoided for the pregnant women who are taking those drugs. Conclusion Ginger is an effective herbal medicine in treating NVP although its mechanism still remains to explore. As a pharmacological medication, ginger has its own adverse effects, drug/food interactions, and contraindications. Ginger is not always safe for every pregnant woman who are experiencing nausea and vomiting symptoms. The women prescribed with ginger should be educated with its adverse effects and its possible interaction with other drugs. In addition, the women, who have certain gastrointestinal tract diseases, certain cardiovascular diseases, bleeding disorders, and hypoglycemia, should also be contraindicated from ginger. Overall, ginger should be treated like a pharmacological medication rather than a natural remedy when being prescribed for NVP treatment. References Ensiyeh, J., Sakineh, MC. (2009). Comparing ginger and vitamin B6 for the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: A randomised controlled trial. Midwifery, 25(6), 649-653. Doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2007.10.013 Lee, N., Saha, S. (2011). Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 40(2), 309-334. Doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2011.03.009 Ozgoli, G., Goli, M. Simbar, M. (2009). Effects of ginger capsules on pregnancy, nausea, and vomiting. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 15(3), 243-246. Doi: 10.1089/acm.2008.0406 Tiran, D. (2012). Ginger to reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: Evidence of effectiveness is not the same as proof of safety. Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 18(1), 22-25. Doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2011.08.007

Stem Cells Essay -- Biology Science Stem Cell Research Essays

Stem cells are a large focus of study in today’s biomedical world. They are cells that exist in an undifferentiated state, and transform into differing tissue types depending on what the cells surrounding them are. The different types of stem cells have the ability to repair many classes of damaged human tissue. However, only one type of stem cell promises to regenerate virtually any class of tissue. This is the highly controversial embryonic stem cell (ESC). Unfortunately, there is a dark side to the ESC. To obtain these cells from embryos will ultimately kill it. By definition, the acquisition of the ESC includes performing an abortion. This has created a great stir in the public world, where abortion is such a hot topic that politicians are hesitant to take either side. The embryonic stem cell is today’s Pandora’s Box. With this option now available in the medical world, everyone involved with this topic must make a difficult ethical decision: whether or not saving existing life is worth the termination of potential future life. As expected, there are two sides to the stem cell argument. One side is all in favor of their use, and the other side is dead-set against it. Stem cells come at a high price, yet this price is well worth the saved lives they can offer. In order to develop an opinion on whether or not stem cells should be used, one first must understand what they are and how they are used. Simply stated, the definition of a stem cell is an undifferentiated cell, meaning that it has no true function yet. However, all of the genes within a human stem cell have the potential to become other types of cells. The triggering mechanism for this is for the stem cells to be placed among specialized cells. Specialized cells include skin cells, muscle cells, or any other type of cell that has a specific function in the body. One of the most popular examples—and one of the most effective—is the neuron example. This was originally discovered at the University of Madison at Wisconsin in 1997. In the disease Multiple Scleroses, the myelin sheath protecting the neuron is missing. In the absence of myelin to protect the neuron, pain is a constant sensation. Researchers at UMW gathered a group of mice, which were genetically deficient of myelin. When the undifferentiated embryonic cells were implanted into their spines, the cells were able to sense that the myeli... ...he medical world wishes to be able to repair damage within the human body. While it is true that obtaining stem cells destroys life, the benefit to the greater good greatly outweighs the destruction of potential life resulting from a fertilized egg. With an infinite supply of stem cells from just a few lines, all defective tissues can be replaced. Those working in the medical world can greatly improve the quality of human life. With stem cells used in general practice in hospitals, people will live longer, healthier, lives. Many diseases would be completely eradicated, and injuries would cease to be crippling to so many people. However, only when scientists and doctors fully understand how to implement the embryonic stem cell, can all this happen. With funding and support for just a handful more stem cell lines, the medical world could be supplied with an infinite number of stem cells to cure patients. When doctors have all of the lines they need, then they can cease destroying e mbryos to obtain the stem cells they require. The biological world and the field of stem cells specifically, require the support of the federal government as well as the people to make this possible.[/i]

Hybrid Cars Essay example -- Argumentative Persuasive Essays

Hybrid Cars In my basic presentation, I examined the practicality of HEVs (Hybrid Electric Vehicles), otherwise known as hybrids. The presentation gave some background about laws pertaining to emissions but at the same time was designed more to educate the consumer as to what a hybrid actually is. You do not plug it in! Current Emission Standards are confusing. At this point in time, we are at a major transition as to what will be the future of combustion vehicles. Present day standards do not call for the kind of emission requirements that will account for the current rate of global warming. To fix this problem we must either cut back on the number of vehicles on the road (not likely to happen) or use less fuel. There are many advantages to efficient fuel consumption. These advantages range from saving money to saving the environment. It will also make the United States stronger as a nation in that we can reduce dependency on foreign oil. The first question we ask ourselves: what is a hybrid? A hybrid is a vehicle that has both a combustion engine as well as an electric motor. With the batteries of today it is not possible to make a practical vehicle that will run solely on electric. These cars need to be recharged after a range of approximately 60 miles. This limitation does not make the car practical by today?s standards. Although, the number of hybrids on the road today is limited, in the future we should see most, if not all, passenger vehicles available with the hybrid option (an option that might very well become a requirement). The primary goal of the hybrid vehicle is to cut down on global-warming. The only way in which we can effectively reduce green house gas emissions is by burning less fossi... ...eir combustion counterparts. However, this will change once they become popular and, in actuality, the additional cost up front can quickly pay for itself with increased fuel savings. There is also the question of all these batteries. If the nickel metal hydride batteries aren?t disposed of properly, there could be environmental side effects. Who will fix these cars? Currently, a hybrid will have to be brought back to the dealership for maintenance and that could prove to be more expensive than a private mechanic. However, as hybrids become more popular and costs drop, so will the associated maintenance fees. With the benefits weighed against the drawbacks, it is clear that hybrid vehicles are a plausible measure in controlling greenhouse emissions. Bibliography www.epa.gov/greenvehicles www.fueleconomy.gov www.ott.doe.gov/hev www.insightcentral.net

Chemistry (Redox)

Experiment 1 : Redox Titration Using Sodium Thiosulphate Abstract This experiment is to determine the concentration of oxidizing solution using the iodine/ thiosulphate titration where the reducing solution is potassium iodate solution and the oxidizing solution is sodium thiosulphate solution. Potassium iodate solution which is an oxidizing agent is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium iodide. This reaction will release iodine. Potassium iodide is acidified with sulphuric acid and the iodine released quickly titrated with sodium thiosulphate until it become light yellow.The iodine then detected with starch solution and it turn into dark blue solution and titrated again with sodium thiosulphate until colourless. From the reaction occur, the amount of the iodine can be determined and based on this amount, the concentration of oxidizing agent which released iodine can be determined. Introduction Redox titration using sodium thiosulphate as a reducing agent is also known as iodometric titration. The reaction is:- I2(aq) + 2NA2S2O3(aq) 2Nal(aq) + 2Na2S4O6(aq) I2(aq) + 2S2O32-(aq)2I-(aq) + S4O62-(aq) In this equation, I2 has been reduced to I-: S2O32-(aq)S4O62-(aq) + 2e- I2(aq) + 2e- 2I-(aq) The iodine/ thiosulphate titration is a general method for determining the concentration of oxidizing solution. A known volume of an oxidizing agent is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium iodide. The reaction will release iodine:- Example: a. With KMnO4 2MnO4-(aq) + 16H+ (aq)+ 10I-(aq) 2Mn2+(aq) + 5I2(aq) + 8H2O(I) b. With KIO3 O3-(aq) + 5I-(aq) + 6H (aq) 3I2(aq) + 3H2O(aq) The iodine that is released is titrated with a standard thiosulphate solution.From the stoichiometry of the reaction, the amount of iodine can be determined and from this the concentration of the oxidizing agent, which released the iodine, can be calculated. Aims a. To prepare a standard solution of potassium iodate use in determining the concentration of a sodium thiosulphate solution accurately. b. To learn the proper technique for titration. Theory In an iodometric titration, starch solution is used as an indicator as it absorbs the iodine that is released. This absorption will cause the solution to change to a dark blue colour.When this dark blue solution is titrated with the standard thiosulphate, iodine will react with the thiosulphate solution, the dark blue will disappear. So the end point of the titration is when the dark blue solour disappear. It is difficult for iodine to dissolve in water. Iodine is usually dissolves in water by adding an excess of KI so that KI3, which has similar properties to iodine, is formed. I2(aq) + KI(aq)KI3 .I3-(aq) + 2e-3I-(aq) APPARATUS AND CHEMICALS 50-mL beaker250-mL volumetric flask Glass rodBurette 25-mL pipettePipette filler 3 ? 250-mL conical flaskMagnetic fleaPotassium iodate crystals (KIO3)Potassium iodide (KI) 1M H2SO4Starch solution ca. 0. 1M sodium thiosulphate solution Level of miniscus Pull the stopcoc k in against the taper each time you turn it. A sheet of white paper or towel below the flask will help in recognizing the colour change at the end point. Swirl the flask continuosly until one drop of titrant causes a colour change throughout the entire solution. Swirl the flask continuously until the drop of titrant causes a colour change throughout the entire solution. METHODOLOGY : A. Preparation of potassium iodate solution . 0. 75 g of potassium iodate crystals is weighed accurately in 50-mL beaker. 2. 25 mL distilled water are added into beaker and stirred with glass rod to dissolve all the potassium iodate. 3. The potassium iodate solution is poured into a 250-mL volumetric flask. The beaker is rinsed with distilled water and the washings are poured into the volumetric flask. 4. Distilled water is added to the volumetric flask up to the graduated level. The volumetric flask is stoppered and shook well in order to get a homogeneous solution. B. Standardization of 0. M sodium t hiosulphate solution 1. A burette is filled with the 0. 1M sodium thiosulphate solution to be standardized. There are no air bubbles in the burette. 2. The initial reading of the burette is recorded in table 1. 1. 3. 25-mL of standard potassium iodate solution prepared in part A are pipetted into a 250-mL conical flask and a magnetic flea is added into conical flask. 4. 1 g of potassium iodide, KI, is weighed approximately and it is placed in a 50-mL beaker. 5. 10. 0 mL of 1. 0M sulphuric acid solution are added and are swirled until all the KI dissolved. . This solution is added to the conical flask containing the potassium iodate solution and it is immediately titrated with the sodium thiosulphate solution, while it is stirred using a stirrer hot plate, until a ligth yellow solution is obtained. Then, the solution is diluted with distilled water until the total volume is about 100 mL. Then, 1. 0 mL of starch solution is added and the titration is continued until the blue colour di sappears and the solution become colourless. . The final reading of the burette is recorded in the table 1. 1 . The procedures are repeated twice as the results is more accurate. CALCULATIONS : 1. Complete chemical reaction equation for reaction between ; i. iodate and iodide ions, IO3- + 5I-+ 6H+ >3I2 + 3H2O ii. iodine and thiosulphate ions, [ I2 + S2 O32- > 2I- + S4O62-]? 3 > 3I2 + 6S2 O32- > 6I- + 3S4O62- 2. Calculate the molarity of the KIO3 solution. Mass of KIO3 = 0. 75 g Volume of KIO3 = 250 mL Relative molecular mass of KIO3, = 39. 0983+126. 9045+3(15. 994) = 214. 001 g mol-1 Number of mole KIO3, = 0. 75 g ? 214. 001 g mol-1 = 0. 0035 mol Thus, Molarity of KIO3, = 0. 0035 mol ? 0. 25 L = 0. 014 mol L-1 3. The mole ratio between the iodate and thiosulphate ions is determine from the equation given are IO3- + 5I-+ 6H+ >3I2 + 3H2O [ I2 + S2 O32- > 2I- + S4O62-]? 3 3I2 + 6S2O32-> 6I- + 3S4O62- IO- : 6S4O62- 1:6 4. The molarity of the sodium thiosulphate bM1V1 = aM2V2 6(0. 014)(0 . 50) = 1(M2)(0. 021) M2= 2 M2= 0. 0210. 0211 = 0. 995 mol 5. The molarity of potassium iodide solution IO3- + 5I-+ 6H+ >3I2 + 3H2O Moles of KI- = 1g ? 1 mole of KI39+127 Molarity of KI3 = aM2V2bV2 = 1(21. 14100L)(0. 1008M)6101000L =0. 0355 M KIO3 Moles of KI3 = MV1000 =0. 003? 101000 =0. 00036 mol KIO3 Excess mole of I- = 0. 0060 – 0. 0018 =0. 0042 mol I- 0. 0060 mol0. 0042 mol = 250 mlx X =17. 5 mL 3I2 + 6S2O32-> 6I- + 3S4O62- Ratio of iodide to thiosulphate 5 : 6 bM1V1 = aM2V2 Molarity of KI = 50. 1008g(21. 141000l)6(17. 51000l) =0. 1014 M KI DISCUSSIONRedox titration using sodium thiosulphate is also known as iodometric titration. Sodium thiosulphate acts as reducing agent an at the same time it undergoes oxidation and release electron. In this titration, potassium iodate, KIO3, is used as an oxidizing agent. Potassium iodate solution is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium. This reaction release iodine. Iodine reacts with sodium thiosulphate. The reaction is: I2 (aq) + 2Na2S2O3 (aq) 2NaI (aq) +Na2S4O6 (aq) I2 (aq) + 2S2O32- (aq) 2I- (aq) + N4O62- (aq)In this equation I2 has been reduced to I- 2S2O32- (aq) S4O62- (aq) + 2e- I2 (aq) + 2e- 2I- (aq) In this iodometric titration, we use starch solution as an indicator as it absorbs the iodine that is released. The absorption causes the solution to change to dark blue colour. When the dark blue solution is titrated with the standard thiosulphate, iodine react with the thiosulphate solution. When all the iodine has reacted with the thiosulphate solution, the dark blue colour disappear. So, it is the end point of the titration when the dark blue colour disappear.However, there are a few aspects that need to be considered during the experiment. Firstly, the indicator should only be added after the titration has begun. This is because it is difficult to release the iodine while titrating with the thiosulphate. This will affect the end point. Hence, the addition of the starch should only be do ne when the colour of the solution is light yellow. Secondly, to avoid the iodine from evaporating, the solution must be titrated immediately with the sodium thiosulphate after the solution is mixed with potassium iodide,KI. The precaution taken: Wear safety goggles in the laboratory during the experiment. * Washed the effected skin immediately when in contact with chemicals * Wear gloves when taken the chemical substances. CONCLUSION The experiment was performed in order to determine the concentration of oxidizing solution. Potassium iodate, KIO3, as an oxidizing agent is added into an excess solution of acidified potassium iodide and from the reaction, iodine is released. The iodine that is released is titrated with a standard sodium thiosulphate. From the calculation, the molarity of potassium iodate is 0. 014g/cm3.

Roles of Spartan Women

Question 1 With reference to source A, what does the evidence break-dance nigh the graphemes and status of wo work force in wicked edict. In S expounda, wowork force were well respected and had quadruple qualitys within society. They were conducen more license than in most opposite Grecian societies. The primary(prenominal) reason for this was the fact that S graphic symbola had a warrior culture and the men were forward any(prenominal)(prenominal) at war or information for war. while the men were away the women had octuple roles. The most important of which was to give extradite to goodly grave children to become warriors.Some of the other roles women had included participating in apparitional festivals, and servicemanaging the kleros. As mentioned above, the most important role of grave women was to give birth to level- gaffered spartan babies to become warriors. Xenophon stated for give up women the most important job was to remain firm children. In ord er to produce bouncing children, women underwent physical training. This was because it was thought that a tidy mother would produce a healthy child. Lycurgus stated that only women who died in vaginal birth would be aloneowed to have a pronounced grave.Archaeological evidence has been found to support this statement. This highlights the brilliance of childbirth in Spartan society. From birth, mothers discipline their children and instilled the attitudes of the agoge. They implanted the ideas of performing at nonp aril and were responsible for raising children to conform and be loyal to Sparta. When their sons reached the age of seven, the mothers would freely give their sons to the agoge for their military training.Women would maintain the ideologies of the agoge and Spartan society by ridiculing men that were cowards and praising those who were heroes. Plutarch speaks of this in source A. In Sparta, marriage by capture was thought to have been practised. As described by Plut arch, the bride would have her head shaved, she would be dressed in mens clothes, and she would accordingly lie in a dark room. The men would then come into the room, lift her onto the bed, have talk with her, and then return to his normal quiescence arrange. t is said that these customs were practiced in order to give the man feel more comfortable about having intercourse with a woman. From this point onwards, meetings amid the couple were possess in secret. Xenophon suggests that this was done to build up excitement and intimate tension so that when they finally did meet, the outcome produced would be stronger and healthier as a result. There is evidence to show that Spartan women had an important role in Spartan religion. Archaeological evidence has been found at the sanctuary of Artemis Orthia.This evidence includes hundreds of votive whirls. These offering were usually lead figurines in the haoma of women. It is thought that these figurines symbolised childbirth and pregnant women would make these offerings either to ask for a boffo childbirth or to ask to contribute a strong, healthy son. Women too took part in three of the major festivals that took place in Sparta the Karneia, the Hyakinthia and the Gymnopaediae. At the Hyakinthia, women rode in watching chariots, marched in procession, sung, danced and took part in sacrifices.At the Gymnopaediae, women would debate with the males in athletic competitions. Spartan women also had a small, yet important role in the Spartan economy. Spartan women were compulsory to oversee the kleros while the men were away at war or training. This meant that the men were dependent on their wifes efficiency in order to fork up their contribution to the syssitia. Women could also inherit blank space from her familys estate. However, she did not own this land. sooner this land either formed part of a dowry or was passed onto her sons.According to Aristotle approximately two-fifths of the only country is held by women. The main sources we have that relate to Spartan women all have limitations. Some of the main writers that we assoil information from are Herodotus, Aristotle, Thucydides, Plutarch and Xenophon. The reliability of these sources is moderate due to the fact that none of the writers were from Sparta, they are all male, and the fact that it was seen has normal to make up stories rather than tell the whole truth.Some of the information provided may have been stereotypes created in order to emphasise the warrior nature of Sparta, merely the information is nonetheless useful to novel day historians. In conclusion, Spartan women were a crucial part of Spartan society. without them, there would be no soldiers for the army nor would the kleros be run smoothly while the men were away at war or in training. It is through different sources, both archaeological and written, that it is evident that Spartan women had some degree of power and responsibilities within Spartan socie ty.

Future of Democracy in Pakistan

future(a) of studyity universeage in Pakistan Outline 1)What is kingdom 2) res publica and Pakistan Present, Past and Future 3) im workforceseness of land 4)Threats to nation 1. Weak political scienceal institutions 2. Influence of Military 3. Economic difficulties 4. well-disposed Norms 5. Illiteracy lose of policy-making of sentience 6. Unemployment and poverty 7. Image of political leaders 8. Power politics 9. Foreign disruption 10. Unbridlight-emitting diode media 11. Feudalism and racism 12. Grievances of exquisite provinces 13. Relation with India 14. Terrorism and extremism 5) Suggestions to meet the challenges 1. Strengthing of political incisionies and political culture . Sovereignty of parliament and other statuary 3. Independence of work bench 4. Eradication of illiteracy 5. policy-making sentiency 6. Democratic norms 7. Economic uplift 8. proceeds of new leaders 9. Participation of younker in political process 10. jump on and tolerant politi cs 11. Independence of media 12. function 6)Our bearings 1. Presence of pro-democracy leading 2. Active healthful-mannered Society 3. Independent Media 4. Determined and use nation 5. Pakistani Youth 7) induction Essay For years now we absorb been hearing the word democracy organism used endlessly in our media, homes and offices. entirely do we really know what democracy is? What does it tie-up for? What atomic number 18 its principles? And most importantly what is the occasion of different state institutions and their respective jobs and duties as prescribed in the constitution. The word democracy is derived from two Greek words, Demos and Kratos meaning triumph of the quite a little. In simple words academics ilk to define it as, Rule of the battalion by the people for the people. Democracy protests for peoples rights and re deportation. It is a very well balanced system which has slowly evolved into the decorous and reasonable system we all know.It favours a prog ressive hunting lodge. It encourages arts and science. All the technological, social and political progress that man has do was in a spokesperson society e-g Muslim Spain, British Empire, the States. Our country Pakistan was the ensue of a political and classless attempt but democracy could not flesh out during 62 years of its existence. The fo below of Pakistan was a great elected statesman who envisage a pop and progressive Pakistan. regrettably his illness couldnt let him to sum much for democracy. His termination was a fine bollocks up to the political stability of Pakistan.Liaquat Ali Khan, a devoted prime-minister elected from Eastern Pakistan was unsatisfactory to the ruling elite of West Pakistan and was later eliminated from the political scene in 1951. These initial problems of Pakistan gave him little age to focus his c atomic number 18 on elected and constitutional using of newly born state. His sudden death proved a serious blow to the nation. His su ccessors dedicated their efforts to perpetuate their rule viewing little concern to democratic knowledge. The wee years were marked with conspiracies, un honourable and despotic tactics in tycoon corridors of the country.This locating provided opportunity to military to intervene in politics and Ayub Khan imposed basic Marshal Law in 1958. after this, army became a s allowholder in power game and ruled the country quartette times through coups. The recent brass has assumed power through an electoral process. It is for the first time in the recital of Pakistan that a democratic government is dismission to complete its duration. The current democracy is face up multifaceted challenges on economic, social, political and supranational fronts. This packs a sagacious undertake to run into continuance of democratic rule in Pakistan.Today the respect of a nation in the international community is presently linked to preponderance of democracy. Pakistan has to establish democ racy in roll to earn a respectable enjoin in the valet and head towards the road of progress and prosperity. The clouds of suspicion be hovering over the democratic set-up in Pakistan. The major threat is absence of strong political infrastructure. Frequent Military interventions prevented harvest-feast of political culture. political parties could not be established on modern and democratic lines. Political parities argon nursuries of democracy.In Pakistan these parties argon plagued with alfresco influence, short term goals, iodine man show and family politics. Political culture nominatenot fly high until political parties start functioning in democratic manner. FOR RULERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES similar PAKISTAN, DEMOCRACY IS A CHEWING mucilage FOR THE PEOPLE, TO GO ON CHEWINGA SWEET YET USELESS try on Economic difficulties argon the barriers to Govt performance causation human beings discontent. Pakistan government is cladding fiscal difficulties. Its economy i s under developed characterized by huge trade deficit, heavy debt agitate and deteriorating currency.Government needs the requisite economic resources for unexclusive uplift. thence common men remain immaterial to national politics and democracy that expedite undemocratic forces to intervene. The democratic system derives its military group from people. Whereas half of the Pakistani population is unskilled and stands unaw ar to democratic opinions, even the major chunk of educated people carcass also indifferent to political developments in the country. This allures undemocratic forces to assume the power and to their joyousness they are accorded warm welcome by the nation when they assumed the charge.Political unawareness amongst the batch poses serious threat to democracy. Democracy hatful flourish only if human race at large get involved in the political process. The image of political leadership has been rotten over the time. Common men tend to dis uniform the polit ical personalities. They are held responsible for all the afflictions Pakistan facing today. thither are deficiencies in politicians, but these are projected to the human race with exaggeration of about facts along with certain myths. This mis depone of public prevents them to concern about the political process.Political mental unsoundness along with economic difficulties pushed the country towards unusual dependence. Resultantly, the international powers, in pursuance of their perk up goals, care little to the democratic stability of the country. All the military rulers enjoyed foreign support. 75% of financial aid by USA was received during the military regime. Purportedly, these foreign players enamour to destabilize the political set up, when their beguile require doing so. Media freedom is vital to democratic stability but it must(prenominal) be subjected to some ethics, rules and regulations. Unfortunately, media scarcely follows he ethical and lawful limits. Comm ercialism some time allures it to pursue yellow journalism lay aside the national interest. In put to catch public opinion, media manipulate the facts and mis-represent it to the public where constructive criticism play a positive grapheme, undue castigation conflagrate public wrath for the sitting government. consequently people start desiring change whether democratic or undemocratic. Feudalism is negation of equality and freedom. Democracy is not just happening of electoral exercise, it is set of principles based on the concept of freedom, liberty, equality and tolerance.Elections are just one of the manifestations of democracy. While feudalism does not kibosh the electoral process, it put curbs on the peoples right of freedom. Masses are restrained to freely participate in the democratic process. Feudalism is still overabundant in Pakistan and people falling under its jurisdiction are treated same(p) subjects. They can never become the dynamical participants of political process. Small provinces brook bemused their confidence on federation. Military rulers check their demands. They were denied the genuine legal and constitutional rights.Though the present democratic government sought vindication from Balouchs, no substantial efforts has been evinced yet to damages their woes, their anti-centre feelings, if not addressed aptly would change in the days ahead. Pakistan unfriendly transaction with India overpower its domestic and international policies. two the countries remained at logger heads since their inception. Pakistan, in order to counter the menace of Indian adventures, had to deal major chunk of her resources for military development at the cost of negating other socio-economic sectors of the country.She has to take hold a large army in spite of having limited economic resources. Pakistan annually allocates 33% of her budget to defense on average. If relations with India are normalized, these resources may be better spent on public uplift, social welfare, education and health. If it happens it would bring prosperity that strengthens the democratic foundations of the country. Terrorism is one of the biggest threats to excerption of entire humanity. The entire world is scare of this menace and making efforts to counter it.Its afflictions are pervasive and engulfing the peace and prosperity of the nation. The triple challenges lingering on democracy therefrom requires a multipronged struggle to counter them. Political parties are the primary institutions of democracy in order to provide a self-colored foundation to edifice of democracy. Political parties build to re-organize and function on democratic lines. These have to establish their roots at crying(a) root level and develop them like institutions open to public. Only political parties can ensure public participation in political process and impress the democratic determine.A dedicated involvement of people at large would provide a self-coloured ba se to democracy in Pakistan. fan tan is representative institution of public. Executives must be accountable before the parliament. If all decisions are made through the parliament, it would strengthen democracy. judicial system is a foremost pillar of state. An mugwump and efficient Judiciary ensure prevalence of social justice in the society. It provides a plat-form to aggrieved citizens to seek redressal of their griveneces. If people get legal way to their redressal, it reduces the likelihood of illegal adventures.So independence of judiciary is key to strong democracy. educational uplift of the society makes its members well familiar(predicate) to the concepts of freedom, liberty and democracy. People learn the blessings of public rule. It enhances their commitment to democracy and they can stand against the efforts to derail the political process. Ironically, a considerable majority of educated people lack awareness to democracy. This issue must be addressed through transf ormation of computer programme on modern lines. Democracy, its need and its blessings must be incorporated as part of the syllabus at all levels of education.Besides this, government must join hands with media, courteous society and other pressure groups to inculcate the values of freedom, liberty, human rights and democracy amongst the plenteousnesses. Political players must set substantially norms to strengthen democracy. Power thrust, intolerance and corruption have plagued the politics of Pakistan. Time has come to contain the old practices and follow the democratic values prevailed in developed societies. Political parties need revision regarding their structure as they lack democracy. Economic growth brings prosperity in the life of common.A prosper society is to a greater extent likely to adopt democracy and actively engage in political process. leadership provides new direction to society and led them to the destination. Pakistan desperately needs trustworthy leadershi p that people follow dedicatedly. Our youth make 30% of the society they are representative of new generation. Their participation may ensure structural improvements in national paradigm. It has been witnessed that during Pakisan transaction youth played vital role in opinion formation and mass awareness and so is the time now.thither is a need to guide our youth to take the responsibility of our tomorrow. Its the high time when youth is active and willing to welcome the perforate of democracy and it should be utilized to its fullest. An open system of accountability enhances public trust on the political system. It provides enormous strength to democratic process. Moreover, it compels thousand who are supercharged with governance, to transparently discharge their official responsibilities. It ensures good governance and strengthens the political set up.Inspite of facing innumerable challenges and showing unsatisfactory performance, Pakistanis has the susceptibility to emerge as a democratic and progressive nation. Pakistan can road to democracy with dedication, determination, commitment, courage and patriotism of its political leaders. If they are aptly inculcated with the true spirit of democracy, they are potent enough to change the destiny. There is no second opinion that democracy is pre-requisite for Pakistan to earn a respectable place in the international community. Its track spirit uring 62 years of existence portrays a gloomy picture. The current challenges and threats further irritate the scene. But this does no imply there is no room for improvement. A glint at the history reveals that difficulties always pop in the life of surviving nations. But these adversities are proved blessing in disguise when these are faced gallantly. This turn becomes starting point in their go towards success. It has all the potential to overcome the craggy challenges the required is unity, faith, discipline and guidance.