Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment And Social / Economic...

A discussion of the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and social/economic importance of Alzheimer’s disease A disease is a medical condition that affects a living organism either physically, mentally or emotionally. It is basically a condition involving a pathological process along with a set of various symptoms; some easily noticeable whereas others quite difficult to detect, making their treatment process slower. (Healio.com, 2012) Nevertheless, the social and economic impacts followed by the diagnosis of the disease are generally quite drastic. Among the various types of diseases, certain diseases are named after a scientist or a doctor who has discovered it or rather a famous person who suffered from it . Alzheimer’s disease is one of†¦show more content†¦(Nihseniorhealth.gov, 2015) The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is yet unclear however; there are certain factors which increase the risk of developing the disease. It is most common in people over the age of 65 and statistically one in every six people over the age of 80 is affected with this disease. This is large ly because of the factors associated with ageing. For example; high blood pressure, changes to DNA and nerve cells, weak immune system and incidences of diseases like strokes and other cardiovascular diseases. (Alzheimers Society, 2015) Alzheimer’s disease affects women considerably more than men due to the lack of hormone oestrogen after a menopause. The lack in this hormone is correlated to an increased risk of the disease. The family history of the condition is also considered because; there are certain risk factor genes which can be passed on within generations e.g.: Apolipoprotein E gene. Other lifestyle factors such as inappropriate diet, smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and etc are also considered. (Alzheimers Society, 2015) The physical symptoms associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease are generally divided into three stages namely; early, middle-stage and later symptoms. During the early stage the individual suffers from memory lapses, increased anxiety,

Analysis Of Homer s The Iliad - 3570 Words

Final Paper Senior Seminar in Interdisciplinary Studies Dr. Packer Eric G. Shuping March 3, 2015 Final Paper Homer’s poem, The Iliad, explains to us how the Trojan War started with Paris stealing Menelaus wife, Helen, and affected the lives of the Greek and Trojan people. The gods and warriors all desire to earn their honor to prove they are great, which Homer proves that it ends disastrously at times. Homer’s definition of honor in Iliad shows us that the gods, Greeks, and Trojans will do anything to prove their honor, while in the Hebrew Bible, they show honor differently. In the Hebrew Bible, we learn to honor one person that gave us life, God. The Hebrew Bible gives us a choice to choose from right and wrong, to learn from our mistakes. God wants us to be able to prove that we are able to head to the advice that we are given. Homer displays fate in The Iliad to show that no matter what we do, our future is already determined for us regardless if we intervene. Homer describes our decisions are not up to us, our fate is decided for us no matter how much we try to escape from it, it will always meet up with us in the future. In Oedipus the King, we have differences of fate vs. free will. Even though fate is already determined, it is the free will that shows us that is ultimately up to Oedipus, but also the free will he takes to own up to his mistakes by blinding himself. As in the Hebrew Bible and Oedipus are the same. Even thoughShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad Essay1231 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Iliad is a tale of war and aggression (Puchner 183). Written in the 8th century, it remains relevant to society today. The basis of the Iliad, warfare, brings with it portrayals of death, grief, and the real problem with humankind: we are not peaceful beings. In a war-ridden world, these topics remain pertinent to society. These terrors of war showcased in the Iliad generate an anti-war message. With this said, Homer creates a timeless lesson against war with his work. While the Iliad has beenRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad997 Words   |  4 Pagesare set up in a way such that the audience must believe at least one party loves another. How they act on behalf of this love is perhaps a testimony to the strength of their love and heroic status. Taking this structure at face value, in Homer’s The Iliad, Hector shows the most modern form of heroism in Book Six. He chooses to fight rather than see his loved wife fall to the Achaeans, while others throughout the story view their women as prizes and choose to fight- or not- based on very different values;Read MoreAnalysis Of The Homer s The Iliad Essay1010 Words   |  5 PagesPoor leadership is devastating in The Iliad.. Homer recognizes this, making a particular effort to demonstrate what traits constitute effective leadership. It is crucial, therefore, to determine exactly how Homer presents this idea in order to gain a coherent understanding of his beliefs. With Homer’s convic tions in mind, the individual gifts of these war leaders shine rather brightly. One can then begin to analyze them, deciding for oneself who fits Homer’s ideas the best. Assuredly, each of theRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad 1310 Words   |  6 Pagesunity in his tale. Homer was a writer who performed this feat throughout the entirety of the Iliad and showed his unique ability to weave a tale full of similes that both enhanced and unified his story. Although Homer used a variety of subjects in his similes, and many of them had a common thread. Homer’s unique ability was to create a tale so descriptive that the listener was able to fully immerse him or herself into the story. His usage of similes magnified this ability. Homer focused on the commonRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad887 Words   |  4 PagesIn Homer’s the Iliad there are two types of culture which are shame and honor. The Greeks rank great significance on personal honor. Why is tha t? The reason being is that to them honor means the ability to fight and be triumphant on the battle field. There are many ways honor is obtained to the Greeks, another way to prove your honor is to reveal athletic abilities. Meanwhile, the shame culture has a different concept to the Greeks. Shame meant to have good morals towards others and it is a moreRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad866 Words   |  4 PagesIn Homer’s The Iliad, women can often be overshadowed by the strong male warriors that dominate the epic poem. However, many women in The Iliad are central to the plot; without these women the poem would have a drastically different story. The influence of women in The Iliad varies from woman to woman, usually having some effect on the plot, but the extent of their involvement is typically dependent on their status in society. However, even when a woman is in a position of great power, she is stillRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s Iliad 1382 Words   |  6 PagesRy an Doerhoff History of Greece Dr. Kirkland September 5, 2014 Document Analysis The primary documents that will be focused on in this analysis come from Homer’s Iliad. Homer is venerated today as the greatest of Greek epic poets, as his works had a colossal impact on the history of literature. Through his epics, Homer brings us first hand into the culture of the Greek world in the eighth century B.C. It is important to note that at this time very few had the privilege of an education, and lackedRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad 1177 Words   |  5 Pagesto the powerful, hardheaded fighters that generally appear in The Iliad. His purpose in The Iliad is to demonstrate, through tact and strategic ability, that strength and brawn isn’t all that compose a hero. Odysseus, the great tactician, isn’t known as the brawn, but the brain of the Achaian army. When compared with Menelaos, â€Å"Menelaos was bigger by his broad shoulders, but Odysseus was the more lordly† (III, 210). Here, Homer is intentionally lessening Odysseus’ physical prowess to uphold hisRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad Essay1692 Words   |  7 PagesA major theme seen in Homer’s The Iliad is one of war and the politics that play a role in it. A key part of politics is the interactions that take place between people when determining policies and courses of action. The focus of this paper will be on the interactions between the Greek leaders and the army in the opening of book 2. There will be a section where I will analyze these interactions and provide evidence showing what degree I believe the Greek leaders care about their army. The way thatRead MoreAnalysis Of Homer s The Iliad993 Words   |  4 Pages In Homer’s The Iliad, we learn that the mother and father relationships within the family is very important, but we don’t want to overlook the brothers. For instance, in the Greek and Trojan families, it was one way to bring everyone together. The brotherhood of Agamemnon and Menelaus, and Hector and Paris illustrates their devotion. Book Six of The Iliad comprehends several illustrations of how honor strengthens the bond between both brother’s Agamemnon and Menelaus and Hector and Paris. Glory

The San of the Kalahari Desert Free Essays

The San of the Kalahari Desert The San also known as â€Å"Bushmen† are one of the well-known foraging and hunting communities. They have made the Kalahari Desert located in Southwest Africa their home for many years. These communities are called bands that consist of multifamily groups with a size ranging from 25 to 50 people. We will write a custom essay sample on The San of the Kalahari Desert or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Family, marriage, and kinship, gender, and age are the key principles of social organizations in foraging societies† (Nowak Laird, 2010. Section 3. 7). In this paper you will have a brief understanding of the kinship system of the San Tribe, as well as how their environment influences their behavior and interactions. The nuclear family would consist of a mother, father and their children. This family is considered the most common in the foraging societies because they are able to adapt to various conditions. Bands are made up of several multifamily groupings such as nuclear families. It is very important how these families are related because it will determine how they will act towards each other. The bands will sometime include extended family members which will be beneficial in circumstances such as cooperation and sharing amongst the community. Both men and women work together to provide for the community as a whole. Women are responsible for 80% of the san diet (Nowak Laird, 2010). Women are the primary gathers; their diet is consisting mostly of nuts and fruit. The men are responsible for 20% of the diet. They provide meat from their hunts. The women are able to gather enough food that will last a full week in two to three days. They can enjoy each other’s company the rest of the time. The men and women work together by mentioning areas of vegetation or animals they may come across on their gathering and hunting trips. The good and services produced by the men and women are shared amongst the community. They rely on each other for the gathering and hunting of food. Everyone’s participation is very important. There is an unspoken promise on the exchange of the goods and services. This is called reciprocity, â€Å"a mutual, agreed-upon exchange of goods and services. Reciprocity works well n a society in which food items need to be consumed quickly due to spoilage† (Nowak Laird, 2010. Section 3. 3). Foragers have to stay mobile, so there is no room for stock piles of food or goods. Everything has to be used immediately; there is no need for storage because they can always get what they need from the environment. This type of reciprocity would be generalized, there are no expectations for nothing in return, in due time everything will work it- self out. The men are not always successful in their hunts but when they are the meat is prepared and distributed throughout the community. This will also be the same for the food that comes from the gatherings that the women go on as well. This insures that everyone is fed and that both men and women do not have to look for food every day. Everyone takes their turns in providing for the entire band. These interactions promote close bonds and social ties. They are not only sharing with just their neighbors but these are also their kin, no one is an unfamiliar person in these communities. In the San Tribe no one is of more value to another. Since everyone shares everything it leaves little room for jealousy. As in our society, we do not forage, we can pretty much walk in any store and purchased pre-prepared food and goods. There is little thought put into where our food will come from or where we live. The most important thing for us would be making sure we have the funds to be able to do the things that we would like to and purchase the things that we absolutely need. We focus on the needs of our immediate family such as our partners, children and parents vs. considering our communities. I feel that in our society most people are for self only. No one is really willing to help each other no more. I believe that if we had kinship systems in placed things would be a lot better. We could all come together and be there for each other. Making sure everyone has something and no one is left without. There are services shared among my neighbors such as lawn services, babysitting and clothing. We do these things for each other never expecting anything in return. References Nowak, B. Laird, P. (2010) Cultural Anthropology. Retrieved from https://content. ashford. edu/books/AUANT101. 10. 2/sections/sec3. 7 (EBOOK) https://content. ashford. edu/books/AUANT101. 10. 2/sections/sec3. 3 (EBOOK) How to cite The San of the Kalahari Desert, Papers

Taxation Law Legislation and Commentary

Question: Discuss about the Taxation Law for Legislation and Commentary. Answer: Introduction The current report is being drafted on the Taxation laws of Australia. Light is drawn on essentials that are required to be entered or omitted while calculating the income of a taxpayer. Income tax is charged on the income earned by the assessee further broadly classified into two categories, ordinary income and statutory income. The current case indicates provisions in relation to income received in advance and the stock traded in context to the funeral business. Significant case laws are cited to prove the correlation between the applicable sections and law, which is apt to the current case. Application of relevant facts suitable case wherever found necessary to prove the point of the answer. Legal Law: As per the section 6.5 of Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, an ordinary income is a part of assessable income, which is derived throughout the income year. In the case of Brent V FC of T71ATC, it was articulated that wherein any specified provision is not mentioned regarding the determination of derived income, applying of commercial and ordinary principals will derive the income assessed (Linney, 2012). The income, which is derived by RIP LTD from RIP Finance, shall be the income derived in general. The income that is been derived from its funeral plan will be taken as an activity. Such activities are referred as funeral and associated activities. Facts: RIP Pty. Ltd is a resident private company, which carries on its business of undertaker/funeral director. Fess is generated by the company from RIP finance Pty Ltd who under the instalment repayment plan provides its customer credit facilities. Deluxe funeral arrangements are guaranteed to the client wherein the agreed amount is paid. If the determined charge of the contract is not paid in complete then in such a case it is billed as fees payable under an invoice of 30 days or fees received from RIP finance Pty Ltd. under the instalment repayment plan. Pertinent Law: In the case of Arthur Murray (NSW) Pty Ltd. V FCT (1965) CLR 314 (High Court), the dance classes were taken by the taxpayer and prepaid basis was chosen as a means of recovering fees. In the event of future services, no refund was offered to its customers (Rowland, 2014). The income earned from classes for future prospects was accounted by the taxpayer as unearned deposit account. In this case, the court provided its verdict elucidating that the amount received by the taxpayer for services that are to be offered in future years will be a part of the assessable income for the year in which it is received and not for the year in which it is actually earned. In the current situation, Arthur Murray case shall be applicable to the company. As the company is receiving fees on the prepaid basis for which the taxpayer makes no refund if the client is unable to avail the services in future. A similar notion is applicable for those customers who cease to make payments and are unable to repay their arrears. The respective two methods are clearly elucidated under Rule 8 and Rule 9 of the Taxation Rulings (TR 98/1): Cash Basis: It is also known as receipt basis. Under this method, taxpayer derives income when he receives cash or cash equivalent amount. Any company who has a turnover of less than $2 million can avail this method. This method covers the period during which actual sales and purchases are being made (Martorano, 2014). The merit of employing this method is that it can better align the flow of money with the business activity and its statement liabilities. Thus overall making it easier for managing the cash flows. The cash method is applicable in following instances: Any small business which might be an individual, company, partnership firm or a trust whose aggregate turnover is not more than $2 million (Charlesworthand Marshall, 2011). Wherein the income tax is calculated on the basis of cash method. A type of enterprise who is directed by any respective law to pay taxes on the basis of cash method. Accrual Method: Herein, income is considered received when it has actually been earned. Income will be realised only when the services or goods are actually been delivered or debts are incurred against the income and not just merely because of receipt of income as done in cash basis (Srensen and Johnson, 2010). Instance; Cash Basis: Mr N is employed who receives a salary for two months in advance for the next year. Herein, the salary of two months shall be deemed to be received even if the services pertaining to such salary is not rendered. Accrual basis: Mr P has a business of selling telephone. In the current year, a scheme is offered to customers to make payment in advance for the next year and avail the benefit of rebate of 20%. On the basis of accrual method, though the fees are received for next year, the fees in relation to current year will only be accounted for assessment of income of the taxpayer. Pertinent Law: As per theSection 104-150 of Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, forfeiture of deposit CGT event H1. This is applicable in a case wherein an individual or entity or organisation has received any deposit from you and they forfeit the same for the reason that prospective sale or any other transactions have not proceeded (Taylor and Richardson, 2013). For instance; Mr X has decided to sell off its land. Before commencing upon the contract of sale, the prospective buyer pays Mr X $1000 which is a holding deposit for 2 months. In any circumstance, the negotiating contract ceases to occur and in such case, the deposit is forfeited by Mr X. According to 1A the following components need to be reduced from the amount, which is being deposited: Amount repaid by Mr X, or Compensation paid by Mr X that can be considered as a repayment of complete or part of the deposit. Also, 1A specifies that the proceeds which are being forfeited may be in form of property (Tse, and Krol, 2015). As per 1B, deposit cant be reduced by any part of payment that can be deducted. As per subsection 2, the time of the event is when the deposit is forfeited. As per subsection 3, a capital gain can be made if a deposit is more than the expenditures incurred in context to the prospective sale or any other transactions. Subsequently, the capital loss is said to be made wherein the deposit is less. As per subsection 4, the expenditure may include giving property, but it does not include any amount, which is received as recoupment and is not a part of your assessable income as well (Whiteford, 2010). Facts: The amount received by RIP Pty Ltd from its client under the funeral plan for any future costs in relation to the funeral. In case if the complete agreement is not met then the amount deposited shall be forfeited. $225000 is the amount that remains of Easy Plan funeral. As per the Section 104-150, the company has the right to forfeit the amount that has been deposited on account of incompletion of the obligation and $225000 should be written down as capital gained in the books of RIP Pty Ltd. Treatment of trading stock Applicable Law Trading stock is defined by 1997 The Income Tax Assessment Acts Section 70-10. As per the section trading stock involves all that is made, produced or bought which is used for the purpose of manufacturing, sale or exchanging in the ordinary course of business (Jacob and Jacob, 2013). Cases involving livestock and shares need to be considered for special issues. Livestock is considered to be a part of stock only if they are burdened animal only for the purpose of primary production in the business. In the case of shares, it is a part of trading stock only if there are a frequent number of transactions and considerable resources are developed from such activity. Generalised Taxation Treatment: Deduction referring to the cost of purchase is permitted. If closing stock's amount becomes more than closing stock's amount then the difference is valuable (Pintoand et.al., 2011). If opening stocks amount is more than the amount of closing, the resulting difference is deductible. Facts: There are three types of caskets, which include a range of accessories considered as religious and secular possessed by RIP Pty Ltd as closing stock. The company has also procured a significant amount of discount on its advance purchases. As the company has acquired the caskets and accessories for its fulfilment of obligation and not for the purpose of selling or exchanging it in the ordinary course of business thus this will not be a part of the stock. The case law of Ballarat Brewing Co, Ltd V FCT is applicable to the current situation as for the facts; it correctly reflects the expenditure made in reference to the acquisition of caskets and accessories. According to this case, the amount calculated in the books of accounts shall be the amount after discount availed. The net amount shall be the correctly reflected (Rowland, 2012). $25000 will be shown under head assets, but only if the casket and accessories come under the head of assets. Thus, equivalent to the amount under the head of capital assets, debtors account will be created. If this is considered as expenditure, then it will be accounted as prepaid expenses. Treatment of dividend income earned during the year As defined under section 44 of Income Tax Assessment Act, Assessment of dividends is made when it is paid and as per the section 6 (1) the word paid includes sum i.e., distributed or credited by the company. Further, the section 44 (1)(a) must be read in reference to dividend payment (Crawford and Sawang, 2011). The company cannot revoke dividend once declared. Thus, dividend forms a part of assessable income when it is received and cant be revoked by the company. Hence, in the current situation RIP Finance Pty Ltd declared a cash dividend of $21000, which will be part of the assessed income of the company. Treatment regarding rental of storage space to be paid during the year: Applicable law: In context to the provisions specified in Australian taxation laws, an individual or any business is eligible to claim any rental expenses, which are of revenue nature. Though, in context to the capital expenses, it has been clearly mentioned one is entitled to claim deduction wherein there is any declining value of capital work. Facts: On 1st March 2016, an amount of $57000 was paid as 2 years rent for storage space. The lease is about to get expired by 28th February 2018. In this situation $9500 amount was taken as a part of the expense and remaining $47500 is to be capitalised in financial accounts. As per the provisions specified under the Act, $9500 will be permitted to get deducted in the same year. Though, certainly, one cannot claim the deduction of $47500 immediately and avail it in proportionate of two years as per the declining value of capital expenditure. Treatment of the amount being debited from Long Service Leave Account Income Tax Assessment Acts Section 83-70 herein deals with the accounting of Long Service Leave provisions. The subset of this section is applicable to the leave off following categories but other than the annual leave which is to comply with the provisions of section 83-10 (Other capital expenses. (2016)). As per this section: Long leaves, extended leaves and furlough are a part of the long service leave. Any other service which has the same implication as of above mentioned in part (a) is ordinarily available. If the employer has been availing any scheme of arrangement for leave, the employer is not bound to comply with the Law of Common Wealth and State of Territory Laws, related to the leave as aforementioned in section 83-70. Section 83-8 is considered for dealing with taxations belonging to vacant long service leave payment (Pintoand et.al., 2011). As per this section, payment is recognised to post 14th August 1993 period will be 100% part of assessable income of employee. The MD of RIP Pty Ltd was given an advance pertaining to Long Service Leave of $22000 for 3 months. This amount is considered for the provisions of service leave account. In reference to Section 83-7 and 83-8, it can be observed that the amount given to an employee is related to the long service leave and the total amount. As part of the assessable income of the employee, the total amount of $22000 will be a part of it. Thus, the treatment done herein is correct. Applicable Law: The deduction that is applicable in relation to customer costs for a building it can be claimed under the head of capital work. It includes the following: Building or the preliminary extensions, enhancements to a building. Enhancement made in the structure of building such as maintaining the wall and fences (Pintoand et.al., 2011). The improvement made to safeguard the environment. Thus, all this assessment can help in claiming for the capital expenditure made by them regarding the extension of the building. Furthermore, distinctive rates of deduction shall be applicable from the time when the work has started. Division 43 of ITAA 1997 shall cover the provisions of this law. Facts: According to the decision made by the companys Board of directors to resort to and construct a purposeful built in facilities. In the year 2013, $250000 was paid over as a preliminary expense for architectural designing. The land was subsequently acquired in the year 2014 that costs around $1.25 million along with $50000 was given as expense incurred for demolishment. Construction for new house commenced from 1st September 2014 incurring a sum of $2.5 million. Operations began on 1st August 2015 and an onsite parking cost was calculated as $125000 which was completely built by 30th September 2015 and the over landscape site resulted in a sum of $40000 which was completed on 31s of January 2016. As per the given situation, the business is eligible to claim for 4% as allowances for construction work as in reference to the Division 43 of ITAA 1997. However, in order to avail this allowance the building is required to be qualified as per the provisions of Section 43.150 of ITAA 1997. Conclusion The organisation herein has been applying all the relevant norms of the ITAA 1997. Any non-compliance of the statutory laws will result in varied penalties and punishments for the company and its representatives (Rowland, 2012). It can be very well articulated from the current report that standard norms of the Taxation laws of Australia are followed requisitely by the organisation. The prevalent sections and provisions are elaborated for a detailed explanation of the sections. Suitable Case laws have been cited to present the facts and judgement of law, which has helped, in ascertaining the treatment made by the organisation. References Charlesworth, S. and Marshall, H. (2011). Sacrificing workers? The curious case of salary sacrificing in non-profit community services in Australia.International Journal of Public Sector Management.24(7).pp.673-683. Crawford, J. Sawang, D. (2011). RD in Australia: The new RD tax incentive.Taxation in Australia,46(4), p.145. Jacob, M. Jacob, M. (2013).Taxation, dividends, and share repurchases: Taking evidence globally. Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. 48(04), Pp.1241-1269. Linney, S. (2012). Changing the face of regulatory projects in Australia. Taxation in Australia,46(10), p.468. Martorano, B. (2014).The Impact of Uruguay's 2007 Tax Reform on Equity and Efficiency. Development Policy Review, 32(6).Pp.701-714. Rowland, N. (2012). Keeping you up to date with the latest in tax.Taxation in Australia,47(2), p.62. Rowland, N. (2014). Furthering excellence in the tax profession.Taxation in Australia,49(3), p.119. Srensen, P.B. Johnson, S.M. (2010). Taxing capital income: options for reform in Australia. InMelbourne Institute, Australias Future Tax and Transfer Policy Conference(pp. 179-235). Taylor, G. Richardson, G. (2013). The determinants of thinly capitalised tax avoidance structures: Evidence from Australian firms. Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 22(1).Pp.12-25. Tse, J. Krol, C. (2015). Tax transparency in Australia: Cutting through the BEPS noise.Taxation in Australia,50(2), p.80. Whiteford, P. (2010). The Australian Taxà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ Transfer System: Architecture and Outcomes.Economic Record,86(275), pp.528-544. Pinto, D.and et.al. (2011). Australian Taxation Law Select: legislation and commentary. CCH Australia. Other capital expenses. (2016). [Online]. Available throughhttps://www.ato.gov.au/business/income-and-deductions-for-business/depreciating-assets/other-capital-expenses/.[Accessed on 6th September 2016].

Injection Molding Essays (944 words) - Injection Molding

Injection Molding Injection Molding Injection molding is a process used to form products from plastic. The process requires a mold, clamping component, injection unit, and some sort of plastic. As time has advanced so has injection molding by developing new techniques and new products to aid in the manufacturing of the injection molded parts. Injection molding was used as early as the 1860's. It can be used to form many different products. Whether the products are small, large, complex, or simple they can be produced. Injection molding has derived from metal die casting. However, the polymer can't just be poured into a mold, it has to be forced into the mold cavity. The polymer is forced into the mold and pressure is held on it to avoid shrinkage in the mold cavity as it cools. Injection molding is capable of producing a large number of parts with very high precision. All thermoplastics except polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE), polyamides, and some aromatic polyesters can be used by the injection molding machine. Some thermosetting plastics can also be used. The typical fabrication process can be done by one of two different types of injection molding equipment. Either a plunger, or reciprocating screw type machine can be used. The process starts by melting the polymer resin. Once the resin is melted, a mold is placed in the clamping unit. The clamping unit is to hold the mold together. The plunger or reciprocating screw then force the polymer resin into the mold. In the plunger operated machine, the plunger is hydraulically operated. This forces the plastic through a heated area, where it is then spread into a thin layer by the torpedo. Then the melt comes to the nozzle and is injected into the mold. The reciprocating screw rotates, this moves the polymer resin forward for injection. As the screw rotates it acts to melt, mix, and pump the polymer to prepare it for injection. The reciprocating screw machine is the most widely used of the two machines. Once the polymer resin is injected into the mold cavity, the mold is allowed to cool. The mold has a gate, which limits back flow and directs the flow of the melt into the mold cavity. Once the mold has cooled and the polymer has solidified the mold can be removed and the part can be ejected. When the gate freezes, the screw begins to rotate again and the part is ejected. This completes the cycle time. Cycle times range due to the amount of time the polymer needs to cure or solidify. This is called the hold time. Some advantages of injection molding are high production rates, design flexibility, low tolerances, can process wide range of materials, low labor, little or no finishing, and scrap is held to a minimum. However, some disadvantages are high startup and running costs, part must be designed for effective molding, accurate cost prediction is difficult, and machine cost is very high. The high tooling costs come from the molds being built to a high level of precision. The molds are usually constructed of hardened tool steel, and aluminum or other soft metals when tooling life is not an issue. Tooling costs can range from $5,000 to $100,000. However, there are some parts that can not be formed by any other method of processing except injection molding. These parts typically become feasible around 1,000 pieces. To go with the high tooling costs there are a large number of variables that go along with it. Injection molding machines may require special plant services that other equipment does not. As technology advances so must the industry to keep up production. One way injection molding is keeping up is by becoming automated. Usually, operators are placing parts into molds, and then taking the parts out. Now, robotic devices are being used to place inserts before molding and remove parts after molding as well as a host of other operations as well. Not only does the robotics speed up the process, but makes it much more cost effective. Another way industry is trying to keep up with technology is by using computer software. The software is called ?Mold Adviser,? which is a mold design and analysis package that can be used to help speed up operations while reducing tooling costs. Using the past standard operation of designing molds a company could easily waste six to twelve weeks and anywhere from $30,000 to $40,000 on fixing a mold that has a problem with filling correctly. The new software

The Greatest Grieves are Those We Cause Ourselves

The Greatest Grieves are Those We Cause Ourselves The Greatest Grieves are Those We Cause Ourselves This is a philosophical quote which means that people always become victims of their own deeds Any evil action performed brings agonies to the person who does it. In other words, the decision made by individuals end up causing serious adverse effects on them. Whenever someone plans to harm another person, he has to know that it is himself who will face the intended havoc. The statement can be explained using William Shakespeares play Macbeth. In this play Macbeth, a military leader who maneuvers to be a monarch becomes a casualty of his own actions. He does very evil things in order to rise to power. First, he kills the king to take his place. This is a very unfortunate incident because, as a patriot, he should have been loyal and protective of his king. After all, he was a distinguished army leader who had sworn to be loyal to his kingdom. After rising to power, he becomes very brutal He proves his autocratic leadership by indiscriminately murdering his subjects who were perceived to be dissents. He uses his military authority to establish a totalitarian regime in his kingdom. However, as events unfold, he gets seriously affected by his actions. He loses the confidence of his subjects who repeatedly rebel against him. In the long run, the kingdom plunges into war. This demoralizes him to the extent that he loses interest in his life and eventually loses it. Conclusively, it is good for people to be careful with their decisions Planning evil deeds eventually turns to haunt the perpetrator himself just like it happened to Macbeth. His ordeal gives meaning to this statement and acts as a lesson to others who might be planning to behave in the same perverse manner. Morality be the pillar of harmony and success to all the people in the society.

Pathophysiology- gasrtic acid stimulation on PUD,GERD,GASTRITIS Essay

Pathophysiology- gasrtic acid stimulation on PUD,GERD,GASTRITIS - Essay Example There are four main phases in the process of gastric acid production and these include basal phase which is constant acid release into the stomach. The cephalic phase involves the preparation for eating and acid secretion is triggered by impulses from higher CNS structures through CN X. Acid secretion in the gastric phase is due to distention of the abdomen and the intestinal phase is stimulated by amino acids and intestinal distension (Malfertheiner, 2009). There are several disorders that can occur as a result of hypersacidity which include peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux and gastritis. The acid accumulation in these cases is due to a series of aggressive factors such as alcohol, h. pylori and NSAIDs. For example in patients with hyperacid dyspepsia due to Helicobacter pylori there is an increase in gastrin production which stimulates the the parietal cells to produce HCl. Dietary factors and consumption of alcohol leads to stimulation of gastric mucosa leading to hypersecretion of acid from the parietal cells (Patel & Gyawali, 2012). Genetics have a role to play in the development of PUD, gastritis and GERD due to several reasons. Firstly, hyperacid dyspepsia can be a genetic condition whereby an individual naturally produces an elevated amount of acid therefore making him or her predisposed to developing the above mentioned conditions. Other genetic conditions such as hyperpepsinogemenia play a role in the development of peptic ulcer disease. Genetic defects of lower esophageal sphincter function also predispose an individual to GERD. Autoimmune disorders, cancers and allergic reactions increase an individual’s chances of developing peptic ulcers or gastritis (Patel & Gyawali,

Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Latin America - Essay Example The human population has changed and continues to change the landscape from natural to the cultural landscape in various ways. One of the significant ways that have seen a transformation of the landscape is through increasing agricultural activities. This has been intense especially with the rising human population. Humans have cut, cleared, and burned forest for agricultural activities (Erickson, n.d.). An example of human built landscape is the area next to Lake Titicaca (Erickson, n.d.). In this area, there have been heightened agricultural activities. In the last eight century, the environment in the basin has been changed into an artificial landscape (Erickson, n.d.). This has been mainly due to raised fields, terracing, and irrigation activities that are related to agriculture. The other factor that leads to change of landscape is clearing of forest. The region has witnessed a massive loss of forest cover for a long period. In fact, the region is noted to have the world’s highest loss of forest cover in the recent past (Pacheco et al., 2011). However, extensive forest transformation has been witnessed in the Amazon basin (Pacheco et al., 2011). As the authors note, huge population in the region relies on forest resources to support their livelihoods (Pacheco et al., 2011). The population also comprises of ranchers and farmers that continue to clear forest to create space for their activities. As a result, most of the land that was previously occupied by trees is left bare. The changing geography in the region has a profound impact on regional political future and institutions. One of the issues related to change is the rise in conflict between people, countries, and region in the area. For example, there has been increasing conflict over the use of resources such as those that come from the forest. On the other hand, failure to guard

The Adobe Dreamweaver Software Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Adobe Dreamweaver Software - Essay Example We were six team members. Although I actively participated in each and every stage of the project from the planning till delivery, yet my main contribution in the project was the design of the website. It was a very big responsibility as the design of website would be what will be seen by the client, which in our case was Prive and the customers that would be using the website once it is launched. The design of the website of a company has a fundamental role to play in the customer’s perceptions about the company. Customers tend to draw inferences about the company from the first impression that is lent by the website. It was my responsibility to make the design look both perfect and professional. It was a fairly tough task in that the design is constantly revised and modified until the product is delivered to the client. So my job would not finish with the completion of design as it had to be constantly revised and modified according to the ideas we explored along the way. I had to design wireframe sketches for the website. To achieve this, I conducted a thorough review of the existing models and tried different combinations to reach a fairly decent and professional design. Bob used my designs to construct the website using the software â€Å"Adobe Dreamweaver†, while Jack worked upon the launching of the website and its presentation to Prive. Dan conducted the feasibility study of this project for Prive. Martha and Susan selected useful models from an extensive literature review. At the start of the project, I felt very nervous as I had never done a project as complex as this ever before. During our passage through the project, there were times when we were stuck, there were times when we had disputes and times when we celebrated. After I was done, all of us were filled with the feeling of joy mixed with relief. One of the most difficult parts of the project for me was to gain the consent of all team members upon the design of wireframe sketches I had proposed.

Beiersdorf Ag And The Cosmetics Industry

Beiersdorf Ag And The Cosmetics Industry Beiersdorf AG (BDF), together with its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and distribution of branded consumer goods primarily in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia. The company operates in two segments, Consumer and Tesa. The Consumer segment offers skin and beauty care products under the Labello, NIVEA, 84, la prairie, JUVENA, atrix, Eucerin, FUTURO, Hansaplast/Elastoplast, and Florena brand names. The consumer division represents over 80% of the companys total value sales. The Tesa segment engages in the development, production, and marketing of self-adhesive system and product solutions for industrial customers and consumers. Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft was founded in 1882 and is based in Hamburg, Germany. The group has around 17,300 employees and over 150 affiliates worldwide. Since 2003, the company has been part of the Tchibo Group. The group recorded revenues of 5,120 million during the fiscal year ended December 2006, an increase of 7.2% over 2005. The operating profit of the group was 477 million during fiscal year 2006, a decline of 15.8% over 2005. The net profit was 664 million in fiscal year 2006, an increase of 99.4% over 2005. This report analyses the economic aspects of the business of cosmetics and the consumer segment of Beiersdorf AG. 2. Introduction In 2006, the cosmetics and toiletries industry posted $163 billion, a growth rate of more than 5% over 2005 $155 billion. Euromonitor International forecasts average annual growth of 3% to reach global sales of more than $313 billion by 2011. (GCI, 2007). The industry continues to benefit from a combination of strong macroeconomic trends (including a worldwide rise in consumer spending power); key demographic factors such as aging populations and higher life expectancies; an increased interest in appearance and personal care as a means of preventive healthcare; and lifestyle and climatic changes that are creating opportunities for new product niches. Legislative restrictions are having a positive impact by improving consumer confidence and facilitating international trade, and technological advances are improving product efficacy and providing manufacturers with new marketing tools and advertising opportunities. 3. Competition and Markets Microeconomics: Porters 5 Forces Based on Porters five forces model which determines the intensity of the industry competition and profitability (Porter 1980, p3), Beiersdorf has an advantage in the cosmetics industry; their heritage and unmatched leadership in skin care through NIVEA has created an immediate stronghold over its competitors in the industry as well as differentiation. However the threat of substitute products and services could affect Beiersdorfs popularity. Threat of New Entrants Medium A large number of firms differentiate their products and maintain a certain degree of control over their pricing. This monopolistic competition has relatively low barriers to entry and exit. Government regulation, mostly related to safety issues, and distribution channels appear to be the most significant barriers to entry in the cosmetics industry. Beiersdorf has the advantage of economies of scale, an established supply and distribution channels and high product differentiation, to compete and have an incumbent advantage. The capital requirements of entry, customer and supplier loyalty, legislation, and retaliation are moderate, which indicate that a new entrant is hindered to enter the market and compete. To stay competitive, Beiersdorf needs to continually innovate. Threat of Substitutes High The risk of product-for-product substitution is high as equivalent product benefits are available both in generic and branded form. Beiersdorf has contended with this risk by continuous innovation and introducing unique formulations across global markets. Beiersdorf has worked to expand its presence in the global personal care market by promoting its flagship brand NIVEA, which launched a global marketing campaign last summer that intends to cover 64 countries by mid-2008. To increase sales by presenting consumers with innovative new products, Beiersdorfs expenditure on RD rose 7.6 per cent to 127m in 2007 and this investment is expected to help the company launch successful new products in the years ahead (Cosmetics Design, 2007). Bargaining Power of Buyers Medium Buyer (customer) concentration is moderate as product differentiation and distributed markets ensure relative price differences that ensure profitability. This indicates reduced bargaining power of the buyers. Loyalty to Beiersdorfs products is relatively high and the cost of switching buyers is medium. The risk of supplier acquired by the buyer is less as the products are proprietary formulations. Beiersdorf also differentiates through choice and first to market innovation. As such, they should be unwilling to accept compromises on quality. This will also be true for emerging economies, where, as they develop and innovation becomes a competitive differentiator, buyers will be less willing to compromise on quality. Bargaining Power of Suppliers Medium Ingredients are individually sourced from suppliers and blending them into unique proprietary products has traditionally been Beiersdorfs primary strength. Suppliers concentration is high with the added risk of buyer being acquired by the supplier. However, the cost of switching suppliers is moderate and overall, suppliers increasing costs is less impactful on the profitability. Competitive Rivalry High Despite an unfavourable environment in Beiersdorfs key region of Western Europe, the company has managed to consistently outperform global sales of cosmetics and toiletries over the review period and by one percentage point in 2006. Beiersdorfs global sales growth (6%) is above that of its direct competitors Procter Gamble and Unilever, although LOr al outperformed by one percentage point. However, like LOreal and other major global players, much of this growth is derived from emerging markets. This performance tends to demonstrate that Beiersdorfs growth strategy is successful. However, the degree by which Beiersdorf outstripped overall sales has lessened. It is essential for Beiersdorf to continually invest in RD to maintain their competitive differentiation and profitability. The recent revision of Beiersdorfs growth strategy indicates that the company identified the right targets for growth, both at product category level, such as with a focus on mens grooming products, and at a geographical level. The slight departure from the previous focus on North America seems wise, as sales in this region are forecast to remain sluggish over the period 2006-2011. On the other hand, increased efforts to launch Beiersdorfs brands in high-growth countries such as China and Russia should prove very beneficial. 4. Market demand and understanding the consumer The law of diminishing marginal utility holds for the cosmetics sector. A shift in the demand curve will be seen as a result of changes in demand due to factors other than price, such as increases in consumer income, changes in taxes on the product, changes in price or availability of competing products, and changes in expectations of future prices (Wilkinson 2005, p.82). Various elasticity concepts, including own price elasticity, income, advertising and cross-price elasticises of demand as well as consumer indifference curves are very important to the company as they influence the pricing and advertising strategies (Jones 2004, p.98). The demand curve for Beiersdorfs portfolio can be expressed as D1, displayed in Figure 3. P1Q1 represents the market equilibrium point for quantity and demand for the pricing strategy. Beiersdorf expansion of its market share in 2007 by focusing on product innovation and emerging markets with a special focus on the Chinese market was supported by high sales of Nivea Visage and Nivea for Men, and sales in China increased 45.1 per cent in 2007 contributing to a 7.6 per cent rise in the companys turnover to 5.5bn, indicated by an outward shift in the demand curve from D1 to D2. At this price point, quantity sold was higher (P2Q2). Sales were up 12.8 per cent and the jump in profits was also due to the companys logistics and production revamp, which has centred on its hair and skin care operation in Europe during the past two years. Thus, the demand curve may well have sloped more sharply upwards than it appears in Figure 3. This raises the equilibrium quantity from Q1 to the higher Q2. These curves demonstrate that Beiersdorfs overall revenue has grown considerably from 2006. In its financial results for 2007 the company reported sales of 5.5bn for the fiscal year, which adjusting for currency translated into a 9.1 per cent increase on 2006. Also, Beiersdorfs growth is driven by advertising and promotion, alongside heavy research and development investments. Faced with growing maturity in its key market Western Europe, Beiersdorf has not limited its growth strategy to product innovation. In addition, the company is focusing on alternative retail channels. 5. Market supply and understanding the companys costs Market supply is the aggregate of individual firm supply, determined by factors affecting firm supply. The market supply function for a product is a statement of the relation between the quantity supplied and all factors affecting that quantity (Hirschey 2005, p.110). With the dual aim of halving working capital requirements and saving costs, the Company embarked on a restructuring of its supply chain in 2005. Originally managed locally, all major supply chain processes, including planning, sourcing, production, delivery and returns are now moving towards more central management. Processes are being optimised, in order to reduce the time-to-market for new products, and products and processes are being standardised as much as possible to achieve economies of scale. In Europe, Beiersdorf has already adapted its production sites and logistics centres to reflect actual demand and has reduced overcapacity. For example, early 2007, the company sold its production and logistics facilities in France, as well as its Hamburg-based logistics centre and its Heitersheim-based soap factory both in Germany. In Asia, Beiersdorf conducted an in-depth analysis of its product and supply chain during 2006. It is expected to roll out its Asia restructuring plan in 2008. Meanwhile, on the back of beneficial business tax reform net profit leapt to 132m from 74m in 2006. Although Beiersdorf began to focus a large part of its efforts into strengthening its position in high-growth regions such as Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, the company is behind many other international manufacturers. Many players identified the same areas as key targets over the last few years. Without first-mover advantage, Beiersdorf will have to match its competitors in terms of distribution, price and product support in order to reach new customers. 6. Market analysis, failure and responses Market failure is the situation where the market mechanism fails to allocate resources efficiently (Wilkinson 2005, p.473). There are a number of reasons why market failure might occur: inefficiencies, imperfect competition due to oligopoly in the cosmetics market, external economies and diseconomies of production, pure private and pure public goods; and government intervention in the form of taxation and subsidies to try and restore social equity while exercising other options such as legal measures and persuasion. Annual sales growth in the cosmetics and toiletries market has fallen gradually from 21.2 per cent in 2002 to 11.3 per cent last year to $20.9bn. Overall growth figures are slowing as the market matures although breaking down the figures suggests high double-digit growth is still achievable in the market for more sophisticated products. Picking out two categories for comparison, premium cosmetics sales increased 15 per cent last year whereas deodorant sales grew by only 8.2 per cent (Cosmetics Design, 2008). Beiersdorf should achieve growth figures in Central and Eastern Europe with targeted growing niches and expanded market share. In addition, Beiersdorf paid 269.45m in October for an 85 per cent stake in China-based C-Bons Hair Care, which owns the Slek and Maestro brands (Cosmetics Design, 2007). This will significantly strengthen Beiersdorfs market share in China. 7. Market structures and company strategies Economists classify market structures into four main types: perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly (Wilkinson 2005, p.313). The cosmetics business is an oligopoly. With competitors such as Unilever, LOreal, Proctor and Gamble, Avon, Est e Lauder Cosmetics, and other large corporations, Beiersdorf attempts to maintain a technological superiority through path-breaking innovations and their highly successful soft-sell techniques. The constant research and development of cosmetics, combined with the universal human desire to look the best they can, suggests that the industry has great potential. The strategies used by Beiersdorf are an attempt to differentiate itself from other competitors in the industry. Despite an unfavourable environment Beiersdorfs global sales growth (6%) is above that of its direct competitors Procter Gamble and Unilever, although LOreal outperformed by one percentage point. This performance tends to demonstrate that Beiersdorfs growth strategy is successful. The recent revision of Beiersdorfs growth strategy indicates that the company identified the right targets for growth, both at product category level, such as with a focus on mens grooming products, and at a geographical level. The slight departure from the previous focus on North America seems wise, as sales in this region are forecast to remain sluggish over the period 2006-2011. On the other hand, increased efforts to launch Beiersdorfs brands in high-growth countries such as China and Russia should prove very beneficial. 8. Economic output and national wealth Economic output is measured with actual growth and potential growth. Actual growth may be defined as the actual annual increase in national product or real GDP per annum, normally expressed as a percentage or on a per capita basis. In contrast, potential growth is the annual increase in a countrys productive capability. Actual growth may fall short of potential growth if the economy is working at less than full capacity, which is if it works within its production possibility frontier. Economic growth is perceived to be desirable since higher growth benefits the population of the country. However, high shorter term economic growth using non-renewable resources, causes slow long term growth. Cosmetics industry contributes positively to the GDP due to its manufacturing activity. Beiersdorfs products are manufactured across the world and in all its major markets it has manufacturing facilities or agreements with affiliates. Beiersdorf also supports beauty salons and massage parlours with its professional products and thus indirectly supports local economies. 9. Economic growth and business cycles The global economy recorded sound growth in the early part of 2007. However, in late summer the ongoing slowdown on the U.S. real estate market triggered fears regarding the creditworthiness of financial market products and institutions in the U.S.A. and Europe. U.S. monetary policymakers moved to counter rising cyclical risks by cutting interest rates. Nevertheless, the drop in real estate prices, rising default rates for mortgage loans, and the jump in jobless rates at the end of the year led to a market slowdown in the growth of U.S. consumer spending and hence in the economy as a whole. Against this background, the U.S. dollar came under strong pressure in the second half of 2007. In addition, the euro appreciated significantly against the yen, impacting the international competitiveness of European companies. Continental European economies were dominated by robust growth in exports and investments and further improvements on the job market, but were impacted by an increase in inflation risks, fuelled by rocketing prices for oil, energy, and food. Figure 7: Inflation in 2007 Source: Beiersdorf Annual Report, 2007 The ongoing rapid expansions of the Chinese market, where growth rates are at about 12%, continue to offer sales opportunities for European producers. At the same time, Chinas growing demand for raw materials led to price rises on the global commodities markets. Although Continental Asian countries saw dynamic development, Japanese growth is below expectations. In Latin America, growth remained stable at around 5% in 2007, while in Eastern Europe it was 6%. Business cycles effect on Beiersdorf, as a factor of investment and consumer spend on goods and services, is limited as its products cater to virtually every age-group among consumers and its flagship brand NIVEA and its extensions as an umbrella brand have gained immense value and loyalty. It is true that mass-market cosmetics are not essential for life, however, the relative low-cost of the products, and the heavy reliance on image enhancement, especially in women, prompt that cosmetics would not be the first items to be forsaken in time of economic hardship. This makes the industry more resistant to recessions and other economic downturns. 10. Capital accumulation and technological progress In addition to Beiersdorfs acquisitions, the investments in operating activities amounted to 106 million relating to intangible assets and property, plant, and equipment in 2007. Innovative product development is a strategic factor at Beiersdorf for ensuring competitive strength and group growth, based on over 80 years of research and development. In 2007, the company spent 127 million on research and development (2.3% of sales). On a global level, 870 members of staff without C-BONS Hair Care are employed in research and development. 11. Labour markets and unemployment Though unemployment is creeping, unbridled inflation has played havoc with commodity prices and interest rate turbulence. This can lead to loss of jobs as companies may trim their expenses in an effort to counter inflation. Beiersdorf enjoys a healthy growth rate of over 6% against the industry growth of 4% average. There is no threat of unemployment and labour market issues for Beiersdorf due to its unassailable market share and brand loyalty across the world. The resilience of the economy could be impacted by unemployment, but is unlikely to directly impact demand for Beiersdorfs products, due to its strong heritage and the NIVEA brand pull. 12. Role of government and fiscal policy Government expenditure and taxation is the basis for fiscal policy. Cosmetics are regularly taxed and such taxes have a notional effect on demand of Beiersdorfs products. However, customs and import duties on raw materials and finished goods have an impact and the company appears to counter such effects with local manufacture and continued product innovations. 13. Role of government and monetary policy Since inflation and money supply determine the monetary policy, inflation is countered with a change in interest rates to affect a control on money supply. Beiersdorf indicates that currency, interest rate, and liquidity risks are subject to active treasury management. In most cases they are managed and hedged centrally. Derivative financial instruments serve solely to hedge operational activities and financial transactions essential to the business. The Company limits potential default risks relating to the investment of the Groups liquid funds by only making short-term investments with prime-rated counterparties. Consumer impact of monetary policy may affect spending on cosmetics. However, brand loyalty and preference for personal grooming offset any adverse impact. 14. Foundations of international trade The law of absolute advantage and the law of comparative advantage are the basis for international trade. Countries specialise in goods and services which they have the greatest aptitude for producing due to natural resource endowments, or because of the acquired skills of their workforce. These factors of production are largely immobile between countries so trade takes place in the goods which they produce. The terms of trade of a country might change as the result of a change in the composition of its exports or imports, or a change in the price of its exports or imports. For the former, businesses selling higher priced products such as software as opposed to low level manufactures would be one cause of an improvement in the terms of trade. This leads to the issue of free trade against protectionism, such as import tariffs, quotas, exchange controls, export subsidies and administrative barriers. Beiersdorf with 150 affiliates worldwide is a major player in international trade. It leverages inherent strength of each country it operates in and extends these advantages across its global markets. Beiersdorf projects that the consumer segment of its business will continue to enjoy growth of approximately 8 per cent due to its increased China focus, which is double the cosmetics market as a whole. China does not however carry the burden of delivering sales growth for the company alone and Russia, Brazil and India have been identified as fellow drivers for growth. This is more confident than the outlook of competitor LOreal which, on the back of recent results affected by the weak US dollar, pulled down its expectations for the full year to just under 6 per cent growth (Cosmetic Design, 2008). 15. Conclusion The cosmetics industry, business and market analysis, based on the 12 strands of the Grenoble syllabus, identify several important issues. Central to the planning and development of strategies within the business environment is based on an understanding and interpretation of micro- and macro-economic factors. Applying the above twelve economic factors to Beiersdorf performance, it is clear that market, governmental and global forces act upon the company, affecting strategic decisions. The business is consumer-oriented and market driven. Sustaining market share and ensuring growth in this free and highly competitive market requires continuous application of information analysis, strategic decision-making and rapid execution. Constant innovation, vast potential in emerging markets, maturing markets in Western Europe and US, varied preferences of consumers across global markets who also seek consistent quality and product standards, may result in dramatic shifts along the demand curve. An oligopoly, the cosmetics business thrives on capital accumulation and technological progress, ensured by economic growth, business cycles and international trade. Fiscal and monetary measures by the governments and labour issues influence the business to a limited extent. Beiersdorf is a successful global company in this sector and its growth and expansion over the decades indicates a healthy and competitive advantage.

Poland during World War 2 Essay -- essays research papers

I. History of Poland After the Partitions of Poland (1772-1795), which had decreased the size of the country, giving most of the land to Russia, Prussia, and Austria-Hungary. The First World War provided a practical chance for Poland to restore its independence. The powers, which had separated the country more than one hundred years earlier, were fighting on opposite sides. Germany with the Austro-Hungarian Empire (the Central Powers) fought Imperial Russia allied with France and Great Britain. Polish troops, under their own banners, also joined the fight. At first, under the command of the anti-Russian revolutionary Jà ³zef Pi ³sudski, Polish battalions were formed to fight Russia. But in 1917, after a number of successful operations against Russians, the legions were disbanded and Pi ³sudski was tossed into jail when the Polacks refused to take an oath of allegiance to the Central Powers. Meanwhile, with the fall of its monarchy, Russia's grip on Poland began to slowly decrease to nothing. This enabled the Polacks to organize a Polish army in France to fight against the Central Powers. Russia was defeated first and Germany and Austria soon followed . Finally, on November 11, 1918, Poland re-emerged as a free nation after 123 years of captivity. However, some problems remained. After the Communist Revolution Russia was determined to carry the flame, so successfully kindled at home, to Poland, Germany and beyond. In 1920, not quite two years after regaining independence, Poland was forced to fight again to maintain its sovereignty and to defend Europe. II. Pre World War II The brief, nineteen-year period of peace following the war and lasting until 1939 was marked by a consolidation of the three partitioned territories, which for over one hundred years had belonged to an alliance of different countries. It also marked a time of vigorous economic growth for Poland. In the early 1920s German intrigues in the Free City of Gdansk prevented the free flow of Polish trade through that port. Poland's response was to build a new port in the small fishing town of Gdynia. By 1938, Gdynia became the busiest port in the Baltic Sea and provided serious competition for Gdansk. In south-central Poland, construction of an industrial complex began in 1936. It had hydroelectric power plants, steel works, aircraft manufacturing, machinery, ammunition and fertilizers. In 1938 P... ...d and they were rounded up and sent to ghettos in towns and cities. The two largest ghettos were established in Warsaw and Lodz. Between 22nd July and 3rd October 1942, 310,322 Jews were deported from the Warsaw ghetto to these extermination camps. Information got back to the ghetto what was happening to those people and it was decided to resist any further attempts at deportation. In January 1943, Heinrich Himmler gave instructions for Warsaw to be free of all Jews by Hitler's birthday on 20th April. Warsaw contained several resistance groups. The largest was the Polish Home Army. There was also the Jewish Military Union and the communist Jewish Fighter Organization (ZOB) led by Mordechai Anielewicz, Yitzhak Zuckerman, Gole Mire and Adolf Liebeskind. On 19th April 1943 the Waffen SS entered the Warsaw ghetto. Although they only had two machine-guns, fifteen rifles and 500 pistols, the Jews opened fire on the soldiers. They also attacked them with grenades and petrol bombs. The Germans took heavy casualties and the Warsaw military commander, Brigadier-General Jà ¼rgen Stroop, ordered his men to retreat. He then gave instructions for all the buildings in the ghetto to be set on fire.

“3 idiots” movie review Essay

The essay focus discussion on a movie called â€Å"3 idiots†. The essay provides a brief background of the chosen film. Next, it provides a description of the story and introduces the main characters in the movie such as the features on their experience and personalities. Moreover, it will illustrate discussion on main themes and ideas in the film. it focuses discussion on the use of cinematic techniques in the film. In addition, it will explain how the cinematic techniques used in the movie contribute in bringing about the themes and ideas such as the flashbacks, narratives, camera and music. Lastly, the essay includes our group opinion about the film. â€Å"3 Idiots† is a Bollywood comedy film directed by Rajkumar Hirani and produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The movie was released on 25th December 2009. The main cast of the movie were Ranchhoddas ( Aamir Khan) who was studying for his passion in engineering and made significant contribution to his friends and other peop le in engineering field. In the movie, this important person- Ranchhoddas, tries to present the importance of teaching instead of simple simply memoring the books. For instance, memorizing a definition without understanding just to pass the exams is of no value especially in the long-run. Moreover, he had a strong desire for studying about machines. He believes that one should follow excellence, not success, as success will take care of itself if excellence is followed. Furthermore, Rancho had two best friends named â€Å"Raju† and â€Å"Faarhan†. The girlfriend of Rancho- Pia plays the role of â€Å"Virus† daughter. â€Å"Virus† is the president of the college. Virus was the named used by the college students to call him behind his back just to make fun of . Virus† (President) admires students who are good at memorizing things instead of understanding and implementing what you learnt. Virus favorite student was called â€Å"Silencer†. He believes in mindless memorizing over understanding in order to reach his goals of corporate status. Therefore, he puts emphasis on the results rather than the process. The movie focuses mainly on 3 characters such as Rancho, Farhan and Sharman. They studied engineering in the same college for different reasons. â€Å"Rancho† had a passion in learning about machines and was interested in this subject. However, Farhan was not interested in his major subject: â€Å"Engineering† and was somehow pressurized  from his family to pursue his career in the engineering field. Farhan real passion was for â€Å"Wildlife Photography†. On the other hand, Raju was from a poor family and he had to study hard in order to support his family and get his sister married to a good family. The movie shows people how awful the education can be. Students can’t really do the things they prefer and discover their value. The solitary thing they were thinking about was to be prosperous not valuable. When they were born, their parents helped them cultivate an objective for the children’s complete life. In this movie, all the parents wanted their children to become the supreme engineer in the world because engineers can make lots of money exclusively good engineers. Since Rancho had entered the school, he used his own methods to deal with such situations. One incident in the movie shows Raju was not happy with Rancho’s methods of learning things. To help Raju, Rancho provided him with an example that we should not rely on memorization rather we should understand and implement things. He disrupts Chatur’s speech ( Silencer) who has been writing to deliver on Education Speech Night, where the Minister of Education and the President of the college attended with many students. Chatur, with his deficiency of knowledge in Hindi, senselessly memorized the compromised paper and becomes the laughingstock of the night. Meanwhile, Raju’s paralysed father goes into a cardiac arrest, and was saved on time with the help of Rancho and Pia (Kareena Kapoor)- Virus’ daughter, who was doing placement in the city hospital. This made Raju sincerely change his mind about Rancho and became his close friend along with Farhan. Rancho fell in love with Pia, and she accepted his love for her. Infuriated, Virus repeatedly challenged to break Rancho’s friendship with Farhan and Raju. Nevertheless, they always supported Ranchoa, who constantly came first in every exam, while they were always last, barely passing, due to Farhan’s photography passion, and since Raju was a scared man. He was always panic and stressful during the exam times and spent most time in praying to God instead of thoroughly studying the course materials because panic does not help. Things became worse four year later when 3 friends got drunk and accidentally got into â€Å"Pia house† daughter of â€Å"Virus† in order for Rancho to confess his love for Pia. During the meeting, â€Å"Virus† sees Raju leaving and fails to see the other 2 friends. Virus threatens Raju to put the blame on Rancho and be saved. However, Raju  commits suicide as he did not want to betray his friend or let his family down. Raju gets well from his sickness by the support received from his friends and family. Moreover, he gets a good job offer by his honesty. Farhan, motivated by his friends, persuades his parents to let him follow his wildlife photographer dream. Furious by his reputation that was ruined by Farhan and Raju getting good jobs, he decided to make the final examination extremely tough for them to pass. Pia was aware of his father’s intentions and decided to help Raju together with Rancho and Farhan by stealing the examination papers from â€Å"Virus office† as Pia had a duplicate key. However, Raju did not accept this cheating and threw the exam paper away. Virus sees the exam paper in Rancho, Raju and Farhan room and expels Rancho on the spot. In the same night, Pia’s elder sister- Mona who was pregnant got labour pain and due to heavy rain she could not reach Pia or anyone else. Rancho and his friends through the use of Rancho methods of implementing things learnt how to deliver the baby. Virus finally reconcile with Rancho and his friends, allowing them to stay for their final exams, and gave Rancho an astronaut pen, as a sign of distinction that he had been keeping for thirty years to give to an extraordinary student.

Lockheed P-38 Lightning in World War II

Lockheed P-38 Lightning in World War II Designed by Lockheed in 1937, the P-38 Lightning was the companys attempt to meet the requirements of the US Army Air Corps Circular Proposal X-608 which called for a twin-engine, high-altitude interceptor. Authored by First Lieutenants Benjamin S. Kelsey and Gordon P. Saville, the term interceptor was specifically used in the specification to bypass USAAC restrictions regarding armament weight and number of engines. The two also issued a specification for a single-engine interceptor, Circular Proposal X-609, which would ultimately produce the Bell P-39 Airacobra.   Design Calling for an aircraft capable of 360 mph and reaching 20,000 ft. within six minutes, X-608 presented a variety of challenges for Lockheed designers Hall Hibbard and Kelly Johnson. Assessing a variety of twin-engine planforms, the two men finally opted for a radical design that was unlike any previous fighter. This saw the engines and turbo-superchargers placed in twin tail booms while the cockpit and armament were located in a central nacelle. The central nacelle was connected to the tail booms by the aircrafts wings.   Powered by a pair of 12-cylinder Allison V-1710 engines, the new aircraft was the first fighter capable of exceeding 400 mph. To eliminate the issue of engine torque, the design employed counter-rotating propellers. Other features included a bubble canopy for superior pilot vision and the use of a tricycle undercarriage. Hibbard and Johnsons design was also one of the first American fighters to extensively utilize flush-riveted aluminum skin panels. Unlike other American fighters, the new design saw the aircrafts armament clustered in the nose rather than mounted in the wings. This configuration increased the effective range of the aircrafts weapons as they did not need to be set for a specific convergence point as was necessary with wing-mounted guns. Initial mockups called for an armament consisting of two .50-cal. Browning M2 machine guns, two .30-cal. Browning machine guns, and a  T1 Army Ordnance 23  mm autocannon. Additional testing and refinement led to a final armament of four .50-cal. M2s and a 20mm Hispano autocannon.       Development Designated the Model 22, Lockheed won the USAACs competition on June 23, 1937. Moving forward, Lockheed commenced building the first prototype in July 1938. Dubbed the XP-38, it flew for the first time on January 27, 1939 with Kelsey at the controls. The aircraft soon achieved fame when it set a new cross-continent speed record the following month after flying from California to New York in seven hours and two minutes. Based on the results of this flight, the USAAC ordered 13 aircraft for further testing on April 27. Production of these fell behind due to the expansion of Lockheeds facilities and the first aircraft was not delivered until September 17, 1940. That same month, the USAAC placed an initial order for 66 P-38s. The YP-38s were heavily redesigned to facilitate mass production and were substantially lighter than the prototype. Additionally, to enhance stability as a gun platform, the aircrafts propeller rotation was changed to have the blades spin outward from the cockpit rather inward as on the XP-38. As testing progressed, problems with compressibility stalls were noticed when the aircraft entered steep dives at high speed. Engineers at Lockheed worked on several solutions, however it was not until 1943 that this problem was completely resolved. Specifications (P-38L): General Length: 37 ft. 10 in.Wingspan: 52 ft.Height: 9 ft. 10 in.Wing Area: 327.5 sq. ft.Empty Weight: 12,780 lbs.Loaded Weight: 17,500 lbs.Crew: 1 Performance Power Plant: 2 x Allison V-1710-111/113 liquid-cooled turbo-supercharged V-12, 1,725 hpRange: 1,300 miles (combat)Max Speed: 443 mphCeiling: 44,000 ft. Armament Guns: 1 x Hispano M2(C) 20 mm cannon, 4 x Colt-Browning MG53-2 0.50 in. machine gunsBombs/Rockets: 10 x 5 in. High Velocity Aircraft Rocket OR 4 x M10 three-tube 4.5 in OR up to 4,000 lbs. in bombs Operational History: With World War II raging in Europe, Lockheed received an order for 667 P-38s from Britain and France in early 1940. The entirety of the order was assumed by the British following Frances defeat in May. Designating the aircraft the Lightning I, the British name took hold and became common usage among Allied forces. The P-38 entered service in 1941, with the US 1st Fighter Group. With the US entry into the war, P-38s were deployed to the West Coast to defend against an anticipated Japanese attack. The first to see frontline duty were F-4 photo reconnaissance aircraft which operated from Australia in April 1942. The next month, P-38s were sent to the Aleutian Islands where the aircrafts long range made it ideal for dealing with Japanese activities in the area. On August 9, the P-38 scored its first kills of the war when the 343rd Fighter Group downed a pair of Japanese Kawanishi H6K flying boats. Through the middle of 1942, the majority of P-38 squadrons were sent to Britain as part of the Operation Bolero. Others were sent to North Africa, where they aided the Allies in gaining control of skies over the Mediterranean. Recognizing the aircraft as a formidable opponent, the Germans named the P-38 the Fork-Tailed Devil. Back in Britain, the P-38 was again utilized for its long range and it saw extensive service as a bomber escort. Despite a good combat record, the P-38 was plagued with engine issues largely due to the lower quality of European fuels. While this was resolved with the introduction of the P-38J, many fighter groups were transitioned to the new P-51 Mustang by late 1944. In the Pacific, the P-38 saw extensive service for the duration of the war and downed more Japanese aircraft than any other US Army Air Forces fighter. Though not as maneuverable as the Japanese A6M Zero, the P-38s power and speed allowed it to fight on its own terms. The aircraft also benefited from having its armament mounted in the nose as it meant that P-38 pilots could engage targets at a longer range, sometimes avoiding the need to close with Japanese aircraft. Noted US ace Major Dick Bong frequently chose to down enemy planes in this fashion, relying on the longer range of his weapons. On April 18, 1943, the aircraft flew one of its most famous missions when 16 P-38Gs were dispatched from Guadalcanal to intercept a transport carrying the Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, near Bougainville. Skimming the waves to avoid detection, the P-38s succeeded in downing the admirals plane as well as three others. By the end of the war, the P-38 had downed over 1,800 Japanese aircraft, with over 100 pilots becoming aces in the process. Variants During the course of the conflict, the P-38 received a variety of updates and upgrades. The initial model to enter production, the P-38E consisted of 210 aircraft and was the first combat ready variant. Later versions of the aircraft, the P-38J and P-38L were the most widely produced at 2,970 and 3,810 aircraft respectively. Enhancements to the aircraft included improved electrical and cooling systems as well as the fitting of pylons for launching  high velocity aircraft rockets. In addition to a variety of photo reconnaissance F-4 models, Lockheed also produced a night fighter version of the Lightning dubbed the P-38M. This featured an  AN/APS-6 radar pod and a second seat in the cockpit for a radar operator.    Postwar: With the US Air Force moving into the jet age after the war, many P-38s were sold to foreign air forces. Among the nations to purchase surplus P-38s were Italy, Honduras, and China. The aircraft was also made available to the general public for the price of $1,200. In civilian life, the P-38 became a popular aircraft with air racers and stunt fliers, while the photo variants were put into use by mapping and survey companies.

John Marshal essays

John Marshal essays Did the Supreme Court Under John Marshal have a significant impact on American history? John Marshall was born in 1755. He was the 4th chief justice of the U.S Supreme Court of Virginia for 34 years. (encyclopedia.com/articles/08102.html) He was a federalist who believed that the U.S should have a powerful central government. Marshall defended the U.S. constitution, and did not trust the Jeffersonians because he felt it was his duty to protect the government. Many of his conclusions and decisions were drawn from three major cases, which were: Fletcher vs. Peck, Marbury vs. Madison and McCulloch vs. Maryland. (http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/jmarshal/marsh.htm) He had a great impact on getting the people to respect the Supreme Court, which later gave him the nickname Great Chief Justice. He had a great positive impact on the Supreme Court, but mostly on the judicial system. (http://history1700s.about/aa022198.htm?iam=ask The case Marbury vs. Madison was brought to attention by William Marbury. He ordered James Madison to give him his commission as justice of the peace. (Madison was the secretary of the state at the time.) In this case Marshall favored Marbury. Marshall argued that the court might rule an act of congress unenforceable if the act goes against the constitution. From this Marshall made the Doctrine of Judicial Power. (http://history1700s.about/aa022198.htm?iam=ask One of the significant cases Marshall dealt with was the case of McCulloch vs. Maryland. That case occurred in 1819, and showed that Marshall could use the constitution wisely and to his advantage. It is about how Maryland tried to force the Bank of the United States out of its territory by taxing it. Marshall favored McCulloch and backed him up with the statement that ...

Description of Water Pollution Sources in Lake Victoria Research Paper

Description of Water Pollution Sources in Lake Victoria - Research Paper Example Lake Victoria has a surface area of 68800 km2 hence making it the second largest lake in the world. Currently, the lake is characterized by eutrophication and low dissolved oxygen due to pollution from human activity (Scheren et al., 2000). The pollution load is mainly domestic in nature with little industrial pollution. The article tries to identify a reliable method to gauge this pollution in terms of intensity and quantity from the various sources. Since the lake shares among three nations, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, the research determines the pollution load from each side and the management policies in place and their effectiveness is curbing the pollution into the lake. The article also views policies for sustainable development useful in the region (Scheren et al., 2000). The lead researcher and author of the article are M. Scheren. A member of The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation based in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (Scheren et al., 2000). The organization is responsible for monitoring and advising both the region and the United Nations Security Council on the effects of Industrial development on the environment. The second Author, H.A. Zanting is a member of the Faculty of Technology Management and center technology for sustainable development in the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands (Scheren et al., 2000). His expertise in sustainable development is key to the research as pollution due to increased human activity is an issue of sustainable development. A. M. Lemmens is a corresponding author in the research and often consulted on technical matters that require specialized opinion (Scheren et al., 2000). The increased pollution of Lake Victoria is the recent past that has subsequently resulted in immense alterations in the chemistry and biology of the lake’s ecosystem necessitated the research.

Ethical decision making in the workplace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ethical decision making in the workplace - Essay Example Restaurants and hotels are frequently accused of many environmental, and health and safety problems including obesity and diabetes. For example, McDonald’s has been accused a number of times in blogs, articles, social media websites, and research studies for having encouraged people to consume high-calorie foods. â€Å"[Globalization] has brought McDonald’s franchises to Mumbai†¦It has thus super-charged the â€Å"nutrition transition,† a term for the obesity-inducing shift from traditional to Western diets that accompanies modernization and wealth† (Harvard University, 2012). The digital media has provided the consumers with an insight into the work procedures and practices in the famous restaurants which raise many concerns among the consumers. For example, the video What are Chicken Nuggets Made of? uploaded on Youtube by TheYoungTurks (2010) is a very depressing video for the nuggets-lovers as it tells how the waste of chicken is combined, process ed, and treated into the mixture that the famous restaurants describe as Chicken meat. Ethical decision making in the hotel and hospitality industry requires commitment of the top management since the decision making authority rests with the top management. Ecological and environmental issues in the hotel and hospitality industry include but are not limited to the management of organic and inorganic waste produced in the restaurants, and improving the nutritional value of foods so as to make them safer and healthier for the customers. Ethical decision making requires restaurants to be very honest about what they are feeding their customers with. â€Å"Its important that parents know that the standards of food are good† (Balls cited in BBC News, 2010). Top management plays the fundamental role in making such information available to the customers since they are the decision-making authority rests with them. Delivering the customers comfort and good experience is

Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Education - Research Paper Example Twenty-one questions answered on a scale apply as the measurement tool to measure job satisfaction. In addition, factor analysis in the nature of varimax rotation facilitates the grouping of the survey questions on six major factors. These are opportunity for autonomy and growth, quality of supervision, career advancement opportunities, pay benefits, physical and job stress and job security. Questions used in the National Health and Retirement Survey serve to find out in this survey of intentions to quit or leave current positions. A panel of experts reviews the survey to gauge content, format, readability and usability. Finally, a test on the project involving nurses from different environments occurs. Data collection is takes place through a descriptive questionnaire of twenty one questions measured on a scale out of seven. The overall response rate is one thousand, five hundred and seventy four respondents. There is the use of descriptive statistics to compares BS and AD educates Registered Nurses. Variables measured include job satisfaction and duration of career. All the nursing variables finally get comparison by application of age cohorts. 91.5% of the one thousand, five hundred and seventy four respondents are working nurses and complete the remaining survey questions (McIntosh et al., 2005). There is exclusion of some nurses from the survey leaving a total of one thousand and thirty nine nurses whose responses contribute to the findings. Four hundred and ninety three nurses list AD as their highest level of education. On the other hand, five hundred and forty six list BS as their highest education level. AD and BS nurses work in different environments with BS nurses working in hospitals while AD nurses work in private care. BS educated nurses cite more job satisfaction in terms of career growth and longevity. BS nurses

Chinese Foreign Policy Essay Example for Free

Chinese Foreign Policy Essay Specific portfolio. (See â€Å"Collective Leadership.†) To ensure Party control, the top-ranked members of the PSC serve concurrently as the heads of other parts of the political system. The top ranked PSC member, Party General Secretary Hu Jintao, for example, serves concurrently as head of the military, in his capacity as head of Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and as the head of State, in his capacity as State President. The second-ranked PSC member, Wu Bangguo, serves as Chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC), while the third-ranked PSC member, Wen Jiabao, serves as Premier of the State Council, and the fourth-ranked member, Jia Qinglin, heads the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and oversees the Party’s relations with non-Communist groups. Portfolios for other PSC members include the propaganda system; management of the Party bureaucracy and Hong Kong and Macau; finance and economics; Party discipline; and the internal security system. 32 PSC members also head Party â€Å"Leading Small Groups† (LSGs) for their policy areas. LSGs are secretive bodies intended to facilitate cross-agency coordination in implementation of Politburo Standing Committee decisions. The National Security Leading Small Group and the Foreign Affairs Leading Small Group, for example, are both headed by Party General Secretary Hu Jintao. The next highest decision-making body is the full Politburo, which, with the suspension of the disgraced former Chongqing Party Secretary, Bo Xilai, now comprises 24 officials. In addition to the nine members of the PSC, Politburo members include the heads of major departments of the Party bureaucracy, the two highest ranking officers in the Chinese military, State Council Vice Premiers, a State Councilor, and Party leaders from important cities and provinces. The current Politburo has only one female member. Because of its relatively unwieldy size and the geographic diversity of its members, the full Politburo is not involved in day-to-day decision-making. In 2011, it met eight times, with its meetings often focused on a single major policy area or on preparations for major national meetings. According to the Party’s constitution, the PSC and Politburo derive their power from the Central Committee, whose full and alternate members together â€Å"elect† the Politburo, Politburo Standing Committee, and Party General Secretary, and â€Å"decide† on the composition of the Party’s Central Military Commission.34 In practice, incumbent top officials provide a list of nominees to the Central Committee, which ratifies the leadership’s nominees.35 The current nearly 400-member Central Committee (including alternates) is made up of leaders from the provinces (41.5%), central ministries (22.6%), the military (17.5 %), central Party organizations (5.9%), and stateowned enterprises, educational institutions, â€Å"mass organizations† such as the Communist Youth League, and other constituencies (12.4%). The National People’s Congress (NPC) The third major political institution in China is the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s unicameral national legislature. According to Article 57 of China’s constitution, the NPC is â€Å"the highest organ of state power.† The Constitution tasks the NPC with overseeing the Presidency, the State Council, the State Central Military Commission, the Supreme People’s Court, and China’s national level public prosecutor’s office, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. In practice, however, the NPC’s powers are severely limited, and the entire entity operates under the leadership of the Communist Party. The public theater of the NPC’s work is centered around its ten-day-long annual full session, held every March and attended by all of the NPC’s nearly 3,000 deputies. The next full session, in March 2013, will mark the start of a new five-year Congress, and is expected to approve a major leadership transition, including a new President and Premier, and new Vice Premiers and State Councilors. At the annual full sessions, NPC deputies almost always vote to approve the reports, laws, and candidates put before them, usually by overwhelming margins, leading many observers to describe the NPC as a â€Å"rubber stamp† parliament. NPC delegates do occasionally push back, however. At the March 2012 session of the NPC, for example, a record 20% of deputies withheld their support from the Ministry of Finance’s budget report, reportedly in protest over the Ministry’s longstanding refusal to accept any NPC suggestions for revisions to the budget.47 (Unlike the U.S. Congress, the National People’s Congress does not pass spending bills. Rather, at the annual full session each year, it votes to approve the budget presented by the Minister of Finance.) The NPC also makes revisions to the Premier’s annual report on the work of the government, the State’s most important policy document. Out of the public eye, individual committees and the Standing Committee exercise more meaningful influence. They shape legislation and can exercise a degree of oversight over government entities through â€Å"inspection† visits and committee reports. The power of individual NPC deputies to exercise oversight is largely restricted to the right to submit â€Å"proposals† advocating for reforms or demanding better implementation of laws or regulations, to which officials are required to respond in writing. Because the annual full session of the congress is so brief, much of the NPC’s work is undertaken by its approximately 175-member Standing Committee, which meets about half a dozen times a year.48 Other important NPC bodies include nine specialized committees and a legislative affairs work committee, all of which review and revise draft legislation before sending it to the Standing Committee or the full Congress for action. Like the State Council, the NPC has a Party organization embedded within it. The NPC’s chairman serves on the Politburo Standing Committee and is currently the Party’s number-two ranked official. NPC deputies are not directly elected. The Communist Party draws up lists of nominees, based in part on potential nominees’ perceived loyalty to the Party. Thirty-five electoral units, most of them provincial-level People’s Congresses, then vote upon the Party’s nominees. The process is modestly competitive in that the Party nominates 20% to 50% more candidates than available positions and those with the most votes are elected to serve as NPC deputies. NPC election rules stipulate quotas for the representation of ethnic minority groups, the military, women, and other groups, including the Party itself. Because China rejects any separation of powers, the President, Premier, and other top leaders are all NPC deputies. 49 Deputies serve for five-year terms. The NPC is the uppermost layer of a nation-wide system of People’s Congresses. These congresses are loosely linked together in process and function. Only deputies for the lowest level of People’s Congresses are directly elected. Traditionally, even at the lowest level, candidate lists are controlled by the Party, and elections are uncontested. Since 2011, however, China has seen a wave of independent candidates contesting elections for People’s Congresses in city districts and townships. Most such candidates have faced forms of official harassment, including intrusive surveillance, extra-legal detention, intimidation of their supporters, and election irregularities designed to keep them from appearing on ballots, but some have succeeded in being elected to office. Corruption Corruption in China is widespread and takes many forms, from lavish gifts and expensive meals bestowed on officials by those seeking favors, to bribes explicitly offered in exchange for permits and approvals, to embezzlement of state funds, exemption of friends and relatives from enforcement of laws and regulations, and the appointment of relatives to lucrative jobs in stateowned companies. A 2011 report released by China’s Central Bank estimated that from the mid- 1990s to 2008, corrupt officials who fled overseas took with them $120 billion in stolen funds.28 The CCP uses its Central Discipline Inspection Commission (CDIC) to police its own ranks for corruption, an arrangement fraught with conflicts of interest. As noted above, the Party metes out its own punishments for wrongdoing by its members, and has sole discretion about whether to hand members over to the state judiciary for investigation and possible prosecution. (See â€Å"Weak Rule of Law and Ineffective Policy Implementation and Enforcement.†) Critics charge that CDIC investigations are frequently politically motivated, even if they uncover real wrongdoing. Officials who keep on the right side of their superiors and colleagues may engage in large-scale corruption, while other officials may be investigated for lesser infractions because they have fallen afoul of powerful officials.