Information and Communication Technology as Bedrock of the...

FOREWORD This revised policy underlines the desired need for appropriate cutting-edge technologies that will propel the country through and beyond the 21st century. This vision policy is therefore designed to underpin the nation’s socio-economic progress and development. It emphasizes the need for a coherent, systematic and comprehensive approach to the determination of technological programmes and their implementation taking into account domestic productions in agriculture and rural development, food security, industrial manufacture, infrastructural services such as information and communications technology (ICT), space exploration and biotechnology. Three major technologies will dominate, at least, the first half of this century. These†¦show more content†¦In tackling the challenges and opportunities that are the driving forces for this revised policy in the new millennium, the utmost need for a strategic vision has been emphasized and infact re-emphasized. This vis ion calls for a science and technology RD that is innovative, creative and infact proactive – that which will leverage the nation’s science and technology capability in the public and industry domain within and outside the 3 institutions. It is hoped that this policy will flourish through both knowledge and finance using modern information technologies to facilitate the application of science and technology for sustainable development of Nigeria. It beckons on all of us. 4 INTRODUCTION Nigeria’s first national Science and Technology Policy was formulated in 1986 in the realization of the fact that the overall national development could only be sustained through the effective application of scientific and technological skills for the production of goods and services. The Policy was to be a guideline designed to create harmony in the quest for knowledge about the environment through research and development and the use of that knowledge to ensure a better quality of life for our people. However, while the reasons for which the policy was formulated are still valid,Show MoreRelatedGeographic Information Science And Systems1738 Words   |  7 PagesJoseph Crain GPHY 384 Term Paper 04/19/2016 Geographic information science and systems can be an extremely powerful tool when properly applied to real world situations. GIS is commonly thought of as map making because it deals with spatial analysis, but data can be managed and manipulated to create a vast array of different outputs including charts and graphs. There are several software programs capable of dealing with GIS synthesis and analysis. The focus of this paper applies to use of ArcMapRead MoreNegative Effects Of Globalization1552 Words   |  7 Pagesintensified Jihad movements through terrorism against the Western world. Terrorist groups were able to utilize the same communication advances that caused the latest globalization wave, trying to resist all the social changes it brought upon conservative Muslims, at the same time driving away moderates who want to pursue a better life elsewhere. Networks were built on new channels of communications through encrypted applications and spyware, posing a new type of securit y challenge that still need to be addressedRead MoreDevelopment Of A Gated Community Project Essay1079 Words   |  5 Pagesfailure because of myriad problems. Even if the resources are available, projects fail due to variations in planning approaches, defective plans and inefficient management (Nyokabi, 2014). 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Despite the complexity of this environment and fiscal austerity, the JF25 must â€Å"protect our Nation and win our wars.† It must deter and defeat state adversaries, disrupt and defeat terrorist organizations, and strengthen the global network of allies and partners.† The prioritized capabilities required for Joint Force 2025 are linked to theRead MoreImportance of Information and Communication Technologies (Icts) in Making a Heathy Information Society: a Case Study of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria3226 Words   |  13 Pagesand Practice 2008 ISSN 1522-0222 Importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Making a Heathy Information Society: A Case Study of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria Monday Obaidjevwe Ogbomo Esoswo Francisca Ogbomo Department of Library and Information Science Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria Introduction There is widespread research interest in information and communication technologies (ICTs). According to Crede Mansell (1998), ICTs areRead MoreImportance of Information and Communication Technologies (Icts) in Making a Heathy Information Society: a Case Study of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria3245 Words   |  13 Pagesand Practice 2008 ISSN 1522-0222 Importance of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in Making a Heathy Information Society: A Case Study of Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria Monday Obaidjevwe Ogbomo Esoswo Francisca Ogbomo Department of Library and Information Science Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria Introduction There is widespread research interest in information and communication technologies (ICTs). According to Crede Mansell (1998), ICTs areRead MoreTerrorism Prevention And The Homeland Security1793 Words   |  8 Pagesin conjunction with the public sector to create new ideas, and technologies from this ever happening again. This paper identifies some of the significant need that only the private sector can produce, and the impact on the five portions of the homeland security step established by the Department of Homeland Security. (DHS) in the publication of the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. Terrorism prevention Prevention is the bedrock of combatting terrorism, and referred as the cornerstone of homelandRead MoreEssay PETER DRUCKER2220 Words   |  9 Pageswho decide how far they want to take their organization. Knowledge work defines our society today. With the dominance of social media, the expanding internet, and the powerhouses of technology; the possibilities of knowledge are endless. Educators are beginning to orient themselves towards teaching through technology, whether that is tablets in the school classroom or universities providing entire courses online. Physical labor still exists; however, the high level of knowledge that is needed stillRead MoreThe World Is Connected Like Never Before2449 Words   |  10 Pagestrodden. That country, that continent, that world, brought together by the nigh instantaneous communication across its now seemingly small surface. It is the next part of the journey of man, with its prequels the internal combustion engine and the jet engine. With those, months became hours but with the world wide web, hours have become a handful of milliseconds. Though dramatic, the previous opinions become bedrock facts with a cursory view of the standards we have come to expect. Class updates postedRead MoreProject Management Project Manager s Sparsest Resource1934 Words   |  8 Pagessparsest resource. Project managers must be able to budget their time sensibly and rapidly be able to adjust their priorities. Quality time and cost estimates are the bedrock of project control. Experience is the best starting point for these estimates. The quality of estimates is influenced by other factors such as people, technology, and downtimes. The key for getting estimates that represent realistic average times and costs is to have an organization culture that allows errors in estimates without

Nursing Scope Of Practice And Medical Errors Example

Essays on Nursing Scope Of Practice And Medical Errors Article Nursing Scope of Practice and Medical Errors Establishing a clear scope of practice for nurses is very effective in avoiding medical errors. With this said, what are the activities a qualified nurse on duty may perform today? Well, some states now allow nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives to check on patients and prescribe medications without a physician’s approval (The Future of Nursing: Focus on Scope of Practice - Institute of Medicine, n.d.).However, current laws in many states authorizes that nurses provide direct and indirect patient care such as insuring their safety, comfort, personal hygiene, protection of patients, performance of disease prevention and restorative measures. To be more specific, among the independent duties of registered nurses are to observe symptoms of illnesses, reaction to treatment general behavior which becomes the basis of an initiation of emergency or medical procedures. Aside from which, a nurse’s dependent functions wou ld include the performance of skin tests, immunization, extraction of human blood administration of medication. Lastly, among their interdependent function would be to implement appropriate standardized procedures or changes in treatment regimen of a patient after observing signs and symptoms of illnesses or a crucial reaction to treatment (Bailey, L., 2011).Indeed, having a clear scope of practice for nurses will reduce medical errors especially because they can focus on cultivating their knowledge on specific medical functions instead of performing based on general medical knowledge. Aside from that, it is helpful to have clear drug labels, being familiar with medication storage, knowledge in proper drug use and monitoring to avoid cases of medical malpractice and errors (American Nurse Today, n.d.).Bibliography:The Future of Nursing: Focus on Scope of Practice - Institute of Medicine. (n.d.). The Future of Nursing: Focus on Scope of Practice - Institute of Medicine. Retrieved M ay 20, 2014, from http://iom.edu/Reports/2010/The-Future-of-Nursing-Leading-Change-Advancing-Health/Report-Brief-Scope-of-Practice.aspx?page=2\Bailey, L. (2011). An Explanation of the Scope of RN Practice Including Standardized Procedures. California, USA: Department of Consumer Affairs.American Nurse Today. (n.d.). American Nurse Today. Retrieved May 20, 2014, from http://www.americannursetoday.com/article.aspx?id=6356fid=6276

Olaudah Equiano a Man of Many Customs Free Essays

James Pajich Prof. Carla Lovett Hist. 105 18 October 2012 Olaudah Equiano: A Man of Many Customs The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano describes the life of a native African who was kidnapped from his homeland in the Eboe Province (which is now the Nigerian town of Isseke) at age eleven and thrown into the horrors of the African slave trade. We will write a custom essay sample on Olaudah Equiano: a Man of Many Customs or any similar topic only for you Order Now Unlike most victims of the slave trade, Equiano regained his freedom and experienced multiple facets of life that no one could have expected. Equiano became a man of diverse customs and values. However, due to the absence of written records’ it is often a matter of debate as to what his true origin really was. Throughout his autobiography, Olaudah Equiano defined himself as a native African. He used vivid illustrations of his homeland and experiences on the Middle Passage, and was even willing to defend the public’s view of him as a man of Africa. I personally define Equiano as a European citizen according to his customs, personal desires, and behavior. Equiano’s narrative played a key role in a variety of cultural, historical, and literary issues, therefore, the identification and ultimately the validity of its author take on special importance. While reading The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano I found it very apparent that Equiano viewed himself as an African born individual. He illustrated his culture and customs as an Igbo African in vivid details of culture, religion, law, and agriculture. (43-56) He also described the atrocities of the Atlantic slave trade as if he had recently experienced them: stating the smell, appearance, and reaction of his fellow slaves. 64-68) â€Å"Although culturally Equiano became â€Å"almost and Englishman,† embracing Christianity and British customs, the experiences Equiano shared with slaves and free people of color, and living in a world that did not differentiate between members of separate African communities, led him to consider himself also a son of Africa . † (21) Equiano embraced his African heritage throughout his life and even fought to uphold his reputation as such. There was an instance where two anonymous notes appeared in London papers charging that he was not from Africa at all, but was actually born on he Danish island of St. Croix in the Caribbean. Equiano realized that this claim falsified the validity of his Narrative and immediately confronted and threatened those responsible for the papers with legal action, providing actual witnesses of the fact that upon his arrival in England he was only able to speak an African language (24-25). This reaction shows that Equiano held much pride in his African identity and was willing defend it against those who claimed otherwise. However, there is evidence of significant authority that claims Equiano may have fabricated the origins of his identity. There are two certain documents, discovered by literary historian Vincent Carretta, that pinpoint the birthplace of Equiano in South Carolina that keep modern day scholars and historians from absolute certainty of his actual birthplace. One of these documents was written on February 9, 1759 in the baptismal registry of St. Margaret’s Church in Westminster, England. It read, â€Å"Gustavus Vassa (Olaudah Equiano) a Black born in Carolina 12 years old. † (26) The second document was from Equiano’s Arctic expedition in 1773. It claims that he was currently 28 years old and born in South Carolina. Neither of these findings is conclusive as to whether Equiano was African or American-born, but they certainly leave plenty of room for uncertainty. (26-27) I personally define Equiano as European, particularly an Englishman. Notions of English nationality are found in great abundance throughout the text. Equiano’s narrative repeatedly expresses his desire for a male English identity. He doesn’t view Englishness as a racially exclusive nationality, but one that evokes an ethnic identity that Equiano defines through Christianity, and citizenship. Two to three years after arriving in England Equiano claimed â€Å"I no longer looked at them as spirits, but as men superior to us; and therefore I had a stronger desire to resemble them; to imbibe their spirit, and imitate their manners I therefore embraced every occasion of improvement; and every new thing that I observed I treasured up in my memory. † (83) Here we see Equiano’s envy for his new â€Å"superiors† and his wish to possess their culture and belongings. This desire strongly encouraged my opinion of Equiano’s identity as European. My opinion was also influenced by Equiano’s acculturation into English society and customs during his early teen years. â€Å"I could now speak English tolerably well, and I perfectly understood everything that was said. I now not only felt myself quite easy with these new countrymen, but relished their society and manners. † (83) It is clear that Equiano identified his shipmates as his â€Å"countrymen† and personally enjoyed the interactions he had with each one of them. It was now between three and four years since I first came to England, a great part of which I had spent at sea; so that I became inured to that service, and began to consider myself as happily situated; for my master treated me always extremely well; and my attachment and gratitude to him were very great. From the various scenes I had beheld on ship-board, I soon grew a stranger to terror of every kind, and was, in that respect at least, almost an Englishman. † (83) This passage shows th at Equiano developed an affectionate relationship with his master and also that their bond strengthened Equiano’s identity as an adult man. Even more important, the identity Equiano is trying to proclaim for himself as an adult man, â€Å"a stranger to terror of every kind†, is as a European. There are also certain actions and beliefs that Equiano maintained that provoked the establishment of his European desires. For instance, he believed the only manner towards proper adulthood is as an Englishman. Equiano doesn’t come right out and say this but there is a point in the text where he noted that he considers himself very fortunate that he didn’t receive his family members’ tribal marking on his face, as is would have represented his entrance into mature Ibo manhood. As I was now amongst a people who had not their faces scarred, like some of the African nations where I had been, I was very glad that I did not let them ornament me in that manner† (69). Also, during Equiano’s voyage to Jamaica and the Mosquito Shore he went to see a Guineaman doctor to purchase slaves to cultivate a plantation. He even chose them according to their native land in hopes that it is near his own. (189) The identification of Olaudah Equiano is of the utmost importance because of the critical role he played in the antislavery movement. Even the timing f a personable voice speaking out against slavery was important because it was a time when opposition to slavery was scattered throughout Britain and America and Equiano’s narrative, along with other factors, helped assemble the movement into one of the greatest in British history. It was Equiano’s personal accounts and experiences that validated his narrative. He possessed the intelligence and capability to spread his ideas to men and women on all levels of British society. He also had the members of significant political authority to support his narrative to yet further its validity. Unfortunately, Equiano never had the opportunity to bare witness to what he worked so hardly toward because the slave trade ended in both England and the United State ten years after his death (1807). Conclusively, it is very apparent that Olaudah Equiano distinguished himself as an African-born man, even though I personally identify him as a man of European customs based on his desires, influences, and his acculturation into European society. Most importantly, Equiano’s narrative played a key role as an abolitionist tool in the fight against slavery and the identity of its author deems it valid as a historical document. How to cite Olaudah Equiano: a Man of Many Customs, Essay examples

Financial And Managerial Accounting Mason â€Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss About The Financial And Managerial Accounting Mason? Answer: Introduction This study deals with four type of information that every company need for competing with other companies (Williams, 2014). This information includes external drivers, strategy, performance as well as resources and relationships. Each of the information is composed of different specific elements in the PWC Value Framework that guides management for analyzing the organizational health as well as organizational performance. In addition, each of the 17 elements had been evaluated in terms of comprehensiveness as well as accessibility for finding organizational health and organizational performance of Akzonobel in Netherlands (Akzonobel.com, 2017). Akzonobel is one of the Dutch Multinational Company that helps in creating everyday essentials (Akzonobel.com, 2017). This particular company operates in the chemicals industry and leads as a global paints as well as performance Coatings Company that supplies essential ingredients, essential color to industries and consumers in and across the world. Akzonobel was founded in the year 1994 and headquartered in Netherlands. Akzonobel operates in three main business areas and corporate functions that have equal business responsibility and autonomy in action. Comprehensiveness On analysis, it is found out that the major strategic objective of Akzonobel is to carry the supportable progress in form of earnings that takes place from expanded selection as it is comprised by layouts and products. The company had set out list of comprehensive targets that will be achieved by the year 2030 as it covers main three areas such as economic, environmental as well as social that complies with sustainable development. The main goals of Akzonobel is to achieve strategic advantages by taking into account the capabilities or in other term production of the business for developing good business residency in a challenging, safe and pleasing setting for their personnel as well as enhancing the valuation of stakeholders of business enterprise (Wild, Shaw and Chiappetta, 2012). Accessibility It is important to understand the fact that the strategic objectives of the company named as Akzonobel can be easily accessed by looking at the integrated report of the business for the year 2016. Here, the main objectives are already mentioned in the form of list that aligns with the objectives where the company has to face any risks or challenges for attainment of future objectives of the firm. However, the strategic objectives of Akzonobel can be easily accessed for analyzing the organizational healthcare. It is understood that the quality of organizational health information for the element named as tactical objectives that are mention in the PWC Value Framework is considered to be good and simply accessible in the integrated report that is well-formatted and easy for considerate purpose (Wild and Shaw, 2012). Comprehensive At Akzonobel, future sustainability developments are already planned by the World Business Council where they will attain sustainability development by the year 2050. This can be attained where customer durables are predictable to last longer as well as reprocessing of packing will be done that are clearly mentioned in the business models (Whitecotton, Libby and Phillips, 2012). By the year 2050, the World Business Council had forecasted that people will only use five tons of non-renewable materials down as compared to today that is 85 tons. Akzonobel build on strong chemical platforms that aim at delivering profitable growth in some of the selected markets. There are several challenges present in the Brazilian economy that Akzonobel had to face. The Unique Chemical Island business model aims at delivering a healthy presentation from both costs as well as sustainability perspective. Most of the innovative companies of today are acceptance ever-evolving business models that aim at off ering a clear link to longer-term financial achievement as a whole. Accessibility The business model of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the business for the year 2016. There is clear mention of the business models in the annual report of Akzonobel and this help in understanding the business model in easier way. It is important to highlight the fact that information relating to business model can be easily manageable from the annual report of Akzonobel where it is clearly formatted and easy accessible (Weygandt, Kimmel Kieso, 2015). However, it can be decided by saying that quality of the society health for the element business model in the PWV Value Framework is good. Governance At Akzonobel, they believe in performing business inherently that involves risk-taking activities. They believe in seeking help from balanced risks where the company strive to become successful as well as respectful company. Here, risk management is one of the essential element in the corporate governance as well as strategy development activities. At Akzonobel, they aspire to be become highest standards of corporate governance as well as seek to constantly improve and improving corporate governance enactment that emphasizes transparency and surrounding a maintainable philosophy of long-standing worth formation (Warren, Reeve Duchac, 2013). Accessibility The corporate governance of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the company. The data is certainly accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel and it is well-formatted and easy to understand as well. It is thereby noted that the data about the element Corporate Governance has been mentioned and concise properly under different sub headings. There is clear representation of governance in the report and determined that the quality of the organization health for the element governance in the Value Framework is good. The risk management framework of Akzonobel seeks to deliver sensible declaration where the corporate objectives can be attained in accordance to the customer obligations (Sowmya Mounika, 2016). The framework is aligned with the Enterprise Risk Management that controls the systems as well as major business risks that is constantly reviewed by the Audit Committee as well as Supervisory Board. Akzonobel constantly attempt to nurture a high awareness of corporate risks as well as internal regulator that gears up towards presenting risk appetite and rendering a transparency in the business processes as a whole. Furthermore, the Executive Committee of Akzonobel are mainly accountable for managing the associated risks with the activities and establishes satisfactory operational of suitable risk administration as well as regulator schemes. The risk management of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the company. The data is definitely accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel and it is well-formatted and easy to understand as well. It is thereby noted that the information about the element risk management has been mentioned and summarized properly under different sub headings (Shim and Siegel, 2012). There is clear representation of risk management in the report and determined that the quality of the organization health for the element risk management in the Value Framework is good. Remuneration The remuneration report of Akzonobel highlights the remuneration policy as well as remuneration paid to members of the Board of Management for the year 2016. In addition, the remuneration and separate contracts of the Board members of the Board Management as resolute by the Supervisory Board. The remuneration policies take into account all structures and policies that relates to the remuneration as well as employment contracts of the Board members management that aligns with the Dutch Corporate Governance Code. The remuneration policies of Akzonobel has the objective to provide remuneration in a firm so that there is retention and engagement of members of the Board Management as top managers of main intercontinental business enterprise at the time of protecting and promoting objectives of Akzonobel. The remuneration structure design of Akzonobel supports both short-term as well as long-term objectives. Furthermore, the remuneration policies of Akzonobel align properly with the Board that works well to provide market with a competitive remuneration that uses medium levels of the peripheral marketplace as an orientation point (Shiller, 2012). The remuneration report of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the company. The data is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel and it is well-formatted and easy to understand as well. It is thereby noted that the information about the element remuneration has been mentioned and summarized properly under different sub headings. There is clear representation of remuneration in the report and determined that the quality of the organization health for the element remuneration in the Value Framework is good. Resources and relationships At Akzonobel, the tangible assets are treated as financial assets of the firm. From the balance sheet figures of Akzonobel, it can be noted about the financial position of the company as a whole (Pretorius Ronan, 2015). The current assets are shown in the balance sheet of Akzonobel for the year 2015 and 2016. The current assets of Akzonobel are treated as tangible assets that are actually financial assets for the company. From the information gathered from the annual report of Akzonobel, it is noted that the financial assets takes into account inventories, current tax assets, trade receivables as well as cash and cash equivalents. There is constant increase in the total financial assets of Akzonobel from the year 2015 to 2015 and it shows that the company has strong financial condition during this period. After evaluating the annual report of Akzonobel for the year 2016, there was nowhere mentioned about financial assets. This leads to confusion among the financial users when they face difficulty to identify the financial assets from the balance sheet of Akzonobel. It is recommended to Akzonobel that they should include the terminology of financial assets in the annual reports so that the users can easily track the information and data for research purpose. To that, there was clear mention about current assets in the balance sheet but financial assets lack proper information and data (Otley Emmanuel, 2013). However, it is noted that the accessibility of financial assets is not easy and determined that the quality of health for the element financial assets in the Value Framework is bad. Physical assets The non-current assets are treated as intangible assets for Akzonobel where the non-current assets are intangible assets are the physical assets. From the annual report of Akzonobel, it is noted the balance sheet values as well as list of non-current assets are easily accessible (Noreen, Brewer and Garrison, 2012). This takes into account Property, Plant and Equipment, deferred tax assets, investments in associates and joint ventures, other financial non-current assets and intangible assets. From the balance sheet of Akzonobel, the total non-current assets increased from 2015 to 2016. After evaluating the annual report of Akzonobel for the year 2016, there was nowhere mentioned about physical assets. This leads to confusion among the financial users when they face difficulty to identify the physical assets from the balance sheet of Akzonobel. It is recommended to Akzonobel that they should include the terminology of physical assets in the annual reports so that the users can easily track the information and data for research purpose. To that, there was clear mention about non-current assets in the balance sheet but physical assets lack proper information and data (Needles, Powers Crosson, 2013). However, it is noted that the accessibility of financial assets is not easy and determined that the quality of health for the element physical assets in the Value Framework is bad. Customers The customer of Akzonobel includes consumers, paint distributors in and across the world and has large retail outlets like B Q, OBI and Leroy Merlin. Akzonobel leads as a supplier for performance of coatings with strong product technologies as well as brands (Needles Crosson, 2013). The high quality products of Akzonobel are used by the clienteles in and across the world for protecting and enhancing everything from ships, aircraft, cars, architectural components like building products, operational steel and flowing and consumer goods like appliances, furniture and beverage cans. Akzonobel believes in providing value to their customers, employees, investors as well as society so that the company is in better position and aims at achieving tactical idea of foremost market positions that delivers foremost presentation. After evaluating the annual report of Akzonobel for the year 2016, there was nowhere mentioned about customers in clear ways. In order have clear information and data about customers of the company, the financial user need to go through the annual report again. However, it is noted that the accessibility of customers is not easy and concluded that the quality of health for the element customers in the Value Framework is bad. From the annual report of Akzonobel for the year 2016, it is noted that people means employees, trade unions, work councils as well as bargaining councils and educational institutions (Mowen, Hansen and Heitger, 2012). Akzonobel recognizes the benefits of maintaining as well as fostering the strong relations with the stakeholders through transparent communication. In addition, the continuing incorporation of the workforces is openly transferred from recent learned business to Akzonobel. The management of Akzonobel is of the opinion that employees are the real assets of the business and that will help in attainment of future success that nurtures the services, aptitude and capability of the overall workforces working for the firm. The data about people and culture of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the company. The data is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel and it is well-formatted and easy to understand as well. It is thereby noted that the information about the element people and culture has been mentioned and summarized properly under different sub headings (Miller-Nobles, Mattison Matsumura, 2017). There is clear representation of people and culture in the report and determined that the quality of the organization health for the element people and culture in the Value Framework is good. The strategic focus of Akzonobel is to drive innovation for supporting organic growth that is gathered momentum. The company had launched a series of products that offers various profits in terms of sustainability outline. For instance, Akzonobel presented an ingredient for detergent makers that allows in meeting severe conservational guidelines and accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration. The company had given major emphasis upon digital innovation as it is the main area of attention and plays major role in product development as well as how the company works with the customers (Kensinger, 2013). The information about innovation of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the company (Eilifsen, et al., 2013). The information is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel and it is well-formatted and easy to understand as well. It is thereby noted that the information about the element innovation has been mentioned and summarized properly under different sub headings. There is clear representation of innovation in the report and decided that the quality of the organization health for the element innovation in the Value Framework is good. Akzonobel aims at continue building brands as well as using the product and margin management approaches so that they can achieve adequate profitability levels. The mitigating actions employed by Akzonobel will be build strong brand strategy for their employees (Edmonds, Tsay and Olds, 2012). Akzonobel occupies the topmost position in the decorative paints in and across the world. Akzonobel continues to drive brands with consumer tested communication as well as better rights in the required way. Akzonobel continues to build ways for strengthening the regional professional brands after clearly defining product offer, clear benefit claims as well as improved packaging. The brands of Akzonobel are fully aligns with the Planet Possible sustainability agenda. The information about brands of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the company. The information is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel and it is well-formatted and easy to understand as well. It is thereby noted that the information about the element brands has been mentioned and summarized properly under different sub headings. There is clear representation of brands in the report and resolved that the quality of the organization health for the element brands in the Value Framework is good. Process and Supply chain The main focus of Akzonobel is to increase the level of productivity as well as efficiency in and across the business in terms of supply chain and operations. In addition, a large scale alteration is done on the combined on the supply chain that was intended to make more effectual in production, supply, and logistics as well as enables cost lessening and increase in the level of productivity (Edmonds et al., 2016). The information about process and supply chain of Akzonobel can be easily retrieved from the annual report of the company. The data is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel and it is well-formatted and easy to understand as well. It is thereby noted that the information about the element process and supply chain has been mentioned and summarized properly under different sub headings. There is clear representation of process and supply chain in the report and determined that the quality of the organization health for the element process and supply chain in the Value Framework is good. Organizational Performance At Akzonobel, there is 28% reduction on operational eco-efficiency footprint from the year 2009. Akzonobel believes in continuous building on solid foundation of operational excellence for driving growth as well as sharpening focus on delivering more value for people, customers and shareholders (Demski, 2013). Akzonobel have stronger operational as well as monetary groundwork for adapting to marketplace challenges as well as grasping development chances after closing adjustments as well as working capital requirements. Akzonobel is now a stronger as well as agile business with superior brands that has worldwide existence and solid operative and monetary groundwork. In order to drive at operational level, Akzonobel work with main key process that is reinforced by a series of actions that help the company to endure on planned path as well as taking performance in to next level. Information about organizational performance is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is related to operational factors that are presented in a well-formatted way in the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is properly mentioned in bullet points that make the financial user easy to understand and interpret. However, it can be determined that the quality of performance for the element operational in the Value Framework is good. Economic At Akzonobel, they build the capability as well as engagement with the employees and partners for delivering the performance and growth that contributes to economic development as well as health and well-being (Davis and Davis, 2012). The sustainability agenda mainly explains improvement of well-being of the employees and others that are present in the value chain by rendering innovative products as well as processes. Some of the economic and political uncertainty can be noted where the market trends in the second part of 2016 includes for the marine as well as oil and gas industries that are predictable to continue in the first half of 2017. Akzonobel has physically enhanced their ability to retort for growths in the market as well as taking measures for dealing with higher raw materials prices in an inflationary setting (Bhimani et al., 2017). Information about organizational performance is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is related to economic factors that are presented in a well-formatted way in the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is properly mentioned in bullet points that make the financial user easy to understand and interpret. However, it can be determined that the quality of performance for the element economic in the Value Framework is good. For the year 2016, Akzonobel employs total of 46,000 people. There is increase in the number of employees because of new hires in developing regions as well as people joining from the learned BASF Industrial Coatings business (Bloomfield, 2015). There is an urgent need to listen as well as involve with an ever-widening field of stakeholders in terms of communal accountability that need an extra courtesy to transparency, social impact assessment of activities as well as concern regarding fair trade and tax avoidance by large multinational corporations. The main aim of Akzonobel is to benefit the creation of more social value. Here, it is understood that social value can be enhanced by constant focus on safety as well as aptitude expansion and influence towards different communal accomplishments (Crosson Needles, 2013). Information about organizational performance is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is related to social factors that are presented in a well-formatted way in the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is properly mentioned in bullet points that make the financial user easy to understand and interpret. However, it can be determined that the quality of performance for the element social in the Value Framework is good. Environmental Akzonobel had announced relocation as well as development of large organic peroxides factory in the Tianjin region. The company utilizes state of the art technology as it help in meeting new as well as strict safety and conservational values that was presented by the Chinese Government (Braun et al., 2014). The company prioritizes carbon footprint administration through the value chain and leverages conservational values formation for driving financial performance in the most appropriate way. Akzonobel confronts with substantial costs that arise from environmental laws as well as regulations that take into account obligations for eliminating or limiting the effects on the setting of the disposal or releasing of certain wastes or substances at different sites. The conservational matter includes alleged discharge of chemicals or waste materials in different countries (Clark and Baker, 2012). Information about organizational performance is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is related to environmental factors that are presented in a well-formatted way in the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is properly mentioned in bullet points that make the financial user easy to understand and interpret. However, it can be determined that the quality of performance for the element environmental in the Value Framework is good. Segmental Akzonobel aims at securing a leadership position in all the market that the company actually serves. In the year 2016, Akzonobel continues to implement commercial excellence programs and these programs had been incorporated by the company by using the tools such as better understanding all customer segments, developing appropriate go to market models as well as enhancing sakes force efficiency and efficiency (Cherneva, 2012). Information about organizational performance is easily accessible from the annual report of Akzonobel. The information is related to segmental that are presented in a well-formatted way in the annual report of Akzonobel (Breuer, 2013). The information is properly mentioned in bullet points that make the financial user easy to understand and interpret. However, it can be determined that the quality of performance for the element segmental in the Value Framework is good. Nature of materiality At the time of determining level of materiality, Akzonobel actually consider the issues that relates to material that has the capability to influence the capability of the company by creating as well as sustaining value for the stakeholders of the firm in an adequate way. The Board Management of Akzonobel had agreed and measured that the tactical objectives of the company Akzonobel and highlights the Key Performance Indicators that are clearly mentioned in the annual report of Akzonobel. The company needs to constitute the material issues of Akzonobel. Therefore, material issues are clearly aligned with the approach of Akzonobel for managing the risks in the most appropriate way (Brewer, Garrison and Noreen, 2013). Conclusion From the above study, it is concluded that annual report as well as integrated report of Akzonobel plays major role in getting information regarding the company. After that, detailed analysis of Akzonobel help in getting insights of information about the financial condition of Akzonobel based on PWC Model. Therefore, the model properly explains different aspects such as organizational health and organizational performance of Akzonobel. After close evaluation of several elements in PWC Value Framework, it can be stated that both the health and performance of Akzonobel is in better position. Reference List Akzonobel.com. (2017).Home | AkzoNobel. [online] Available at: https://www.akzonobel.com/ [Retrived 28 Sep. 2017]. Bhimani, A., Dai, N. T., Sivabalan, P., Tang, G. (2017). How do enterprises respond to a managerial accounting performance measure mandated by the state?.Journal of Management Accounting Research. Bloomfield, R. J. (2015). Rethinking managerial reporting.Journal of Management Accounting Research,27(1), 139-150. Braun, K. W., Tietz, W. M., Harrison, W. T., Bamber, L. S., Horngren, C. T. (2014). financial accounting. Pearson. Breuer, W. (2013).Special issue: Sustainable finance. Berlin ; Heidelberg: Springer. Brewer, P., Garrison, R. and Noreen, E. (2013).Introduction to managerial accounting. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Cherneva, I. (2012).The business case for sustainable finance. London: Routledge. Clark, R. and Baker, D. (2012).Finance. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Crosson, S. V., Needles, B. E. (2013).Managerial accounting. Cengage Learning. Davis, C. and Davis, E. (2012).Managerial accounting. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons. Demski, J. (2013).Managerial uses of accounting information. Springer Science Business Media. Edmonds, T. P., Edmonds, C. D., Tsay, B. Y., Olds, P. R. (2016).Fundamental managerial accounting concepts. McGraw-Hill Education. Edmonds, T., Tsay, B. and Olds, P. (2012).Fundamental managerial accounting concepts. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Eilifsen, A., Messier, W. F., Glover, S. M., Prawitt, D. F. (2013).Auditing and assurance services. McGraw-Hill. Kensinger, J. (2013).Research in finance. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald. Miller-Nobles, T. L., Mattison, B. L., Matsumura, E. M. (2017).Horngren's Accounting: The Managerial Chapters. Pearson. Mowen, M., Hansen, D. and Heitger, D. (2012).Cornerstones of managerial accounting. Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning. Needles, B. E., Crosson, S. V. (2013).Managerial accounting. Nelson Education. Needles, B., Powers, M., Crosson, S. (2013).Financial and managerial accounting. Nelson Education. Noreen, E., Brewer, P. and Garrison, R. (2012).Managerial accounting for managers. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Otley, D., Emmanuel, K. M. C. (2013).Readings in accounting for management control. Springer. Pretorius, A., Ronan, M. (Eds.). (2015).Managerial Accounting and Financial Management. Oxford University Press. Shiller, R. (2012).Finance and the good society. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Shim, J. and Siegel, J. (2012).Managerial accounting. New York: Schaum. Sowmya, K., Mounika, J. (2016). Impact of Managerial Accounting in Implementation of CRM.Indian Journal of Science,23(80), 373-376. Warren, C. S., Reeve, J. M., Duchac, J. (2013).Financial managerial accounting. Cengage Learning. Warren, C., Reeve, J., Duchac, J. and Warren, C. (2012).Financial and managerial accounting. Mason, Ohio: South-Western Cengage Learning. Weygandt, J. J., Kimmel, P. D., Kieso, D. E. (2015).Financial Managerial Accounting. John Wiley Sons. Whitecotton, S., Libby, R. and Phillips, F. (2012).Managerial accounting. Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Wild, J. and Shaw, K. (2012).Managerial accounting. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Wild, J., Shaw, K. and Chiappetta, B. (2012).Financial managerial accounting. New York: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Williams, J. (2014).Financial accounting. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Women in World War II an Example of the Topic History Essays by

Women in World War II The Second World War offered an unexpected opportunity for women to work in various places such as the factories, offices, and military which their men had left as they had gone to fight in Europe. There are eight great women who were known for their struggle and fight during the second world 11 (Library of congress, 2006). Among them were, Toni Frissell, Clare Boothe Luce and Esther Bubley. They were all determined to secure the front-line war assignments. To work as newswomen, they had first to serve as war correspondents. These women endured all the discomforts, frustrations and any type of peril that was associated with the Second World War 11. Some of the womens experiences had also been encountered by the seasoned war correspondent. From time to time, they faced bombing raids from Europe and the Far East. These women were known to cover wide series of World War 11 battlefronts. Additionally, they were much drawn to the overwhelming industrial complex being initiated by the war. Need essay sample on "Women in World War II" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Frissell committed most of her time in war assignment than she could perform her family obligations. Her connection with prominent people in the society made her to pursue well in the frontline. She created images to support the publicity objectives of her subjects. This encouraged the public positively about the fitness of blacks to even handle the most demanding military jobs. On the other hand, Luce considered her war reportage merely time off from her true profession as an author. She also faced house arrest in Trinidad. Unlike the other women Bubley was not haggard to the industrial complex; rather she was more focused on average Americans as dimension of human mobilization. She used her free time in proving her camera skills by snapping wartime subjects around the nations capital (Library of congress, 2006). References Library of Congress. (2006). Women come to The Front : Eight Who Came to the Front., Retrieved on 24 July 2010 from, http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/wcf/wcf0010.html

Discrimination in Labor Processes

Discrimination in Labor Processes There is a tendency to eliminate the gender differences in al aspects of human life and consider men and women equal in their rights. However, looking at some particular activities it is still impossible to say that the rights and freedoms of men and women are equal there.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Discrimination in Labor Processes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For example, talking about labor processes and considering the desire of women to be treated equally with men the practice shows that the gender differentiation still exists. No matter how strong the social opinion about the equality of genders, the labor process is the expression of those considerations in practice. Many works have been written in the relation to the equality of genders and explaining the differences in gender roles at the workplace. Therefore, studying the works by Lorber (2007), Braham (1996), Williams (1992), and Mullings (1997), the salience of gender in the labor process is going to be discusses as the working process is believed to be the most appropriate aspect in analyzing the gender relations. Dwelling the problem of division of labor Braham (1996) states that the modern consideration of this notion has changed. Therefore, now, discussing the division of labor race and gender aspects are discussed in most cases. Discussing the labor processes and the role of gender, Braham (1996) has noticed the tendency that women more often choose the part-time jobs. This is connected with their desire to be mothers, but to show that their professional growth is important as well. The author states that the part-time job does not show that women are not that professional in what they do. The author considers the history of women in the labor process and states that the number of women has dramatically increased since 1940’s. Even though a feminization of labor process occurs, the number of men remains higher i n comparison to the number of working woman. Considering the expression of Werneke in 1985 â€Å"women are concentrated in a limited range of occupations and are more likely to be found working in relatively less skilled and lower paying jobs than their male counterparts† (in Braham, 1996, p. 319) and comparing it with the modern times, the change in the labor segmentations may be seen. Nowadays women get high paid jobs and the variety of occupations has dramatically increased. Even though, the segmentation of the occupation still exists. The desire to make the rights of men and women at the workplace equal, there are â€Å"male† and â€Å"female† professions even though the number of women in male professions increases as well as the number of men in the female ones.Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Thus, nursing, librarianship, elementary school teachin g, and social work positions have always been considered as female sex-typed occupations, but the tendency to eliminating the sex factor from occupation has lead to the increase of the number of women in male professions and vice versa. Nevertheless, the prejudiced attitude and discrimination still takes place. The society is struggling for equal rights at the work place, but people are not ready to accept men at the â€Å"female† positions too freely (Williams, 1992). Thus, it appears that men do not feel comfortable and have to leave the places they are interested in. The presence of such discrimination will never allow to equalize the genders at the labor market and make sure that the roles of men and women are equally treated. Lorber (2007) states that the whole society is divided into two roles from birth, male and female and these roles support people through all their lives. The desire to make men and women equal in the social life does not make any sense as people are distinguished from their childhood. Lorber (2007) pays much attention to the sports professions trying to state that men are stronger and more powerful, therefore the criteria in sports professions are higher for them. Additionally, analyzing the sports equipment, it becomes obvious that gymnastic equipment is created for slim female bodies, while men’s sports are tougher. Men’s and women’s professional sports are based on the capacities of each gender. No matter how equal the rights in the society, it is difficult to combat with the physiology. Moreover, the author of the book adds the statement that even though the programming comes from Grace M. Hopper who has written a famous work on programming language, this job is believed to be a male one and those women who choose this profession are not paid too much. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the gender differences still exist in the labor segmentation even though women occupy high paid and top posit ions. The discrimination at the work place has been reduced dramatically, still, there are some particular prejudices in the relation to both male and female positions. The changes in the position hierarchy have occurred for the previous several years and it is not a surprise to see a woman at the top management position, in politics and at other positions which have always been considered as male ones. Additionally, men begin to occupy the professions usually believed to be female. It says about great changes and the beginning of the process of equalization of the roles at the labor processes.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Discrimination in Labor Processes specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Considering the situation at the labor market and the inequalities in the modern world, it is important to check the place of the employees from poor families in the low wage industries. The conditions at such manufacturing are extremely negative. The greatest representation of the labor conditions at the low wage industries is presented in the documentary film China Blue (2005) directed by Micha Peled. The main idea of this movie is to show the conditions poor people have to work at. Even though one of the main themes of the movie is the dominant role of China as the exporter, the working conditions are also shown in detail. The working shift is too long, the wages are too low, but people do not have an opportunity to leave the job as this position gives them the room and the food. The work is hard, but people do not have an opportunity to battle for their rights, as they will be left the most important items they have, room and food. Working in terrible conditions, here all men and women are equal, but there is another hierarchy. Watching this video, I was frustrated and disturbed with the cruel conditions which still exist in this world. Being too civilized, such countries as China where people are at t he threshold of poverty have an opportunity to get money on people who do not have another way out but to work in the current conditions. Reference List Braham, P. (1996). Divisions of labor. In S. Hall (Ed.), Modernity: an introduction to modern societies (pp.308-339). New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell. Lorber, J. (2007). Believing is seeing. In B. A. Arrighi (Ed.), Understanding inequality: the intersection of race/ethnicity, class, and gender (pp. 153-160). New York, NY: Rowman Littlefield. Mullings, L. (1997). Notes on women, work, and society. In On our own terms: race, class, and gender in the lives of African American women (pp.20-29). Oxford: Routledge.Advertising Looking for essay on labor law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Williams, C. L. (1992). The Glass Escalator: Hidden Advantages for Men in the Female Professions. Social Problems, 39(3), 253-267.

Developing the movie Robocop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Developing the movie Robocop - Essay Example The essay "Developing the movie Robocop" talks about the overview of the film "Robocop" produced in 1897 by director Paul Verhoeven and of cinematic elements and styles used in this film. Apparently, Verhoeven presents an excessively commercialized future where the Detroit authorities are overwhelmed with crime in the city and decide to outsource it to a megacorporation, Omni Consumer Products (OCP). However, the megacorporation considers it more realistic to replace the settlement in old Detroit with a modern settlement which OCP refers to as Delta City. Due to the unfathomable number of crimes in the city and the regular killing of the understaffed law enforcers, OCP decides to take an initiative to end the crimes before starting construction of the new city, Delta City. However, the filming of the futuristic Detroit could be amended. It should have been filmed in downtown Dallas as the city had futuristic buildings even during the 1980s when the movie was being filmed. While Verhoeven’s movie was produced in the 20th century, it visualized the 21st century as evident when the director contrasts the successes of the inventions of Dick Jones and Bob Morton. During a meeting meant to strategize on the best way of curbing insecurity in the city, Dick Jones brings the idea of an ED-209, a law enforcement droid. Sadly, Verhoeven deliberately demonstrates the antiquity of the idea by allowing demonstration of the ED-209 to go awry through the deliberate killing of an executive.

Strategic and Financial Decision Making Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Strategic and Financial Decision Making - Essay Example The cost of financing through equity is more than that of debt. The bond holders are paid fixed rate of interest every year, hence they bear no risk. The equity shareholders do not receive any fixed income every year; it is dependent on the profits of the company. Hence, there is a risk involved in holding equity shares as compared to debt capital. Therefore the equity shareholders require more return as compensation to the extra risk borne by them. On the factors discussed above, debt financing would seem more attractive as compared to equity financing. But decision cannot be made solely on the cost factor. One also has to look into the risk involved in different sources of financing. Since there is a fixed obligation every year towards interest payment, it is considered to be more risky than financing through equity on which no risk is involved. Thus, a company has to decide upon the level of debt on the basis of the risk it can undertake. Eugene, Houston (2007:1).The following ste ps involved in decision making process are: Existing capital structure: One has to evaluate the existing capital structure. In case the company has too much debt already it is not advisable to issue more debt. It can also maintain the existing debt equity ratio or change the ratio. Dividend payout policy: The dividend payout ratio should be decided be the firm, so as to maintain the same every year. This is because fluctuating dividend payout ratio would reduce the confidence of the shareholders towards the company. Effect of return: The company has to analyze the effect on return because of the cost of capital. It has to ensure that it is able to earn the desire level of return of the investors. Effect of return: In order to reduce the cost of the capital a firm might take debt equity mix. However, it should first analyze the risk involved in using debt as a source of capital. Effect on cost of capital: The effect of desired level of debt and equity on the cost of capital of the company should be evaluated. Excess debt can lead to increase in cost of capital after a certain point of time because of the high risk involved. These decisions should be based after careful study of the market. The risk appetite, the required rate of return of the shareholders, the effect on market value of the shares due to change in the capital structure of the company should be studied. Hence, these factors have to be taken into consideration in order to arrive at a sound decision. b) The investment proposal involves an initial investment of 3,000,000 along with cost of forecasting of 100,000. The proposal is expected to be financed at the existing debt-equity ratio of 2:3. It is assumed that the return required by equity investors is 10.5% (real). Therefore nominal return (inflation adjusted) expected would be 10.5% + 5% (inflation) that is 15.5%. The rate of interest payable on corporate bonds (debt) is 6% p.a. We have to now compute the weighted average cost of capital

Gender Roles in Manuel Puig's The Kiss of the Spider Woman Essay

Gender Roles in Manuel Puig's The Kiss of the Spider Woman - Essay Example So, the author continues, "En cambio, un homosexual, con fijacin femenina, si, todava, puede defender esa ideologa, porque, como desea ser mujer, pero no puede realizar la experiencia de sea mujer, no puede llegar a desengaarse y sigue el engavio, en el sueiio de que la realizacin de la mujer esta en encontrar un hombre que la va a guiar y que se va a ocupar de ella, lo cual es buscar un padre y no un compaero" (Osario, p. 53). Puig subtly unfolds another aspect of his project: writing about a homosexual. It does not stop surprising us how or why this aspect of his writing has to be grounded with an explanation "beforehand!" That is, by framing the homosexual character of the novel, Molina, first, as "a feminine character who still believed in the existence of a superior man" and, then, as a "homosexual, with feminine fixations," Puig is showing us a certain anxiety regarding homosexuality in his writing. Puig's presentation of Molina is an excuse. It is important to highlight this particular moment in the author's explanation (or excuse) for the homosexual subject because, after presenting such a brilliant feminist reading of the homosocial valorisation of the superior macho, he almost obsessively and uncritically positions the homosexual within the heterosexual matrix as produced by the Oedipal complex--the Freudian "structure" of which he is critical in the footnotes of El beso. How do we reconcile both of the author's positions--on the one hand, his more challenging perspective that informs the construction of masculinity as the fantasy of the homosocial; on the other hand, a reductive and misogynist reading of male homosexuality as a desire to become and appropriate .the "feminine" Moreover, how do we read homosexuality outside the Oedipal complex When we consider the question of sexuality in the text, we must look not simply at writing about homosexual themes or a homosexual character in a "popular" novel, but--and more importantly--the author's own gayness. A consideration of sexual difference as epistemology illuminates our critical reading of a text (Sedgwick, 1991). Along these lines, a reading of El beso de la mujer araa must not only focus on the construction of Molina's sexual identity, the homosexual "with feminine fixations" as a performer of transvestism; but, also, analyze the transvestitic performance of Valentin as a Marxist. This essay will show that ideology--in this case, oppositional revolutionary politics-signals a transvestitic performance; and, that this ideological transvestism necessarily sublimates the homoerotics of any heterosexual male encounter. That is, every male "event" connotes a hidden homosexual embrace. The politics of denying this embrace shamelessly produce the language of sexism and homoph obia. The structure of the El beso de la mujer araa is simple: Valentin, a political prisoner, and Molina share a cell where Molina's retelling of B-movies make the time spent there easier. Before looking at some of the stories told by the prisoners, I would like to evaluate the importance the prison takes as a site of narration. One cannot help thinking of an Arcipreste de Hita or a Cervantes who wrote his masterpiece in/from prison. The architectural design of a prison influences Molina's fantastic story-telling: the close walls must be transcended with complex narratives and performances (Merrim, 1981). If spaces can be labelled "heterosexual," "lesbian," "educational,"

The benefits of dark chocolate

The benefits of dark chocolate DARK CHOCOLATE IS IT BEEFICIAL TO ONES MIND AND BODY OR NOT? The early 15th century saw the creation of something divine, something heavenly and something delicious; Chocolate. Though the cocoa beans from which chocolate is prepared were discovered around 2000 years ago, the manufacturing of dark chocolate began in the 15th century by the Mayan tribes. According to the article, â€Å"Chocolate-a health food?†(2008) there was a popular belief among these tribes that â€Å"there was a God simply because there was chocolate† (n.a, 2008). The tree that yields the cocoa bean, an important ingredient in the manufacturing of dark chocolate was called â€Å"Theobroma† (n.a, 2008) which means ‘Food for Gods. Fielmuseum.org (2007) says that chocolate was more than just delicious food to the Mayan tribes; it was a devout and societal way of life. Nowadays many people associate dark chocolate with having adverse affects on one. However, contrary to popular belief, intake of dark chocolate (at least 65 percent cocoa) may actually have some benefits to ones mind and body. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate has been found to help reduce risk of heart diseases. The article â€Å"Chocolate-a health food† (2008) published in â€Å"Optimum Wellness†, a journal states the results of a study that was published in the 2005 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study concluded that dark chocolate does indeed decrease blood pressure (n.a, 2008, p.32). On chocolate-for-health.com, Dean Ornish, who is the founder and president of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California states a study that was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2003. He says that Researchers at the University of Cologne studied the effects of dark chocolate on men and women recently diagnosed with mild high blood pressure. Half of the patients were given 100 grams each of dark chocolate and the other half were given 100 grams of white chocolate. At the end of the experiment, those who consumed d ark chocolate saw an average of five point decrease in their systolic and a two point decrease in their diastolic blood pressure. The decrease in blood pressure was explained to be due to the increase in the production of nitric oxide by intake of dark chocolate. Due to the nitric dioxide produced, the blood vessels dilated and increased blood flow thus causing a decrease in blood pressure (Ornish, n.d.). Another article, â€Å"Chocolates Health Benefits-Trick or Treat?† (2007) published in the â€Å"Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter† quotes another study published in the 2007 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. The lead author of this study, Dr. Dirk Taubert says that they conducted research at the University Hospital of Cologne in Germany on 24 hypertensive women and 20 hypertensive men, their age ranging from 56 to 73. They were each given 30 calories of dark or white chocolate for eighteen weeks and at the end they concluded that the on es who consumed dark chocolate had at least a two to three point decrease in their blood pressures. Taubert and his colleagues concluded that â€Å" on a population basis, it has been estimated that a 3-mm HG reduction in systolic BP would reduce the relative risk of stroke mortality by 8%, of coronary artery disease mortality by 5%, and of all-cause mortality by 4%† (n.a., 2007, p.5). Dr. Taubert also states that the most fascinating discovery was that â€Å"simple commercial dark chocolate was as effective at lowering blood pressure as much more comprehensive dietary modifications†(n.a.,2007.p.5). The article states that the results from this study were the same as those from the â€Å"Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet plan† (n.a, 2007, p.5). Moreover, the article â€Å"Chocolate as Medicine?†(Dermody, 2008, p.65) that appeared in The Readers Digest stated a similar study conducted also at the University of Hospital, Cologne, Germany, 44 peop le with borderline or mild hypertension were given 30 calories a day of dark or white chocolate. After their regular health checkups and four months of consuming dark or white chocolate every day, the patients who consumed dark chocolate had their hypertension levels reduced from eighty six percent to sixty eight percent. It is common knowledge that hypertension causes an increase in blood pressure hence increasing the risk of heart diseases. Therefore it can be concluded that a little indulgence for pleasure may not harm one but actually benefit ones body. Dark chocolate is also known to benefit the body by increasing glucose tolerance level. This means that consuming dark chocolate will increase insulin sensitivity and thus reduce risk of diabetes. There are two types of diabetes, type 1 being the one where the body is unable to make insulin and type 2 being the bodys incapability to deal with sugar. Though hard to believe, as chocolate is mixed with sugar and therefore is a sweet food, it is in fact true that dark chocolate can help you reduce the risk of diabetes, especially if it is hereditary. The article â€Å"Nutrition and Disease: Blood Pressure Is Reduced and Insulin Sensitivity Increased in Glucose-Intolerant, Hypertensive Subjects after 15 Days of Consuming High-Polyphenol Dark Chocolate† (2008) was published in the Journal of Nutrition. The authors of this article, Davide Grassi, Giovambattista Desideri, Stefano Necozione, Cristina Lippi, Raffaele Casale, Giuliana Properzi, Jeffrey B. Blumberg and Claudio Ferri are a ll researchers at theDepartment of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of LAquila, Italy except Jeffrey B. Blumberg who is a researcher at the Antioxidants Research Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston. The main idea for their research was to see how flavanol rich dark chocolate (FRDC) affected insulin sensitivity. Flavanol is considered to be an antioxidant and have anti-inflammatory properties (Lotito, 2002). The researchers conducted a study on 19 hypertensive patients, 11 males and 8 females. They gave 100 grams of flavanol free white chocolate at first to these 19 patients and then switched them to the other treatment, that is flavanol rich dark chocolate. The blood pressure and glucose tolerance level was checked at various times, before and after the intake of either type of chocolate. At the end of this test they concluded that â€Å"FRDC ameliorated insulin sensitivity† (Grassi et al., 2008). This study proves that dark chocolate does indeed have a positive effect on ones body. Furthermore a study from the 2005 issue of Journal of Medical Association states in the article â€Å"Chocolate-A Health Food?† (2008) that researchers studied the effects of chocolate in healthy people and concluded that Dark†¦chocolate helps decrease blood pressure and improve insulin sensitivity in healthy persons†(n.a. 2008, p.32). According to the studies above, dark chocolate, especially flavanol rich dark chocolate does increase glucose tolerance levels which help reduce the risk of diabetes. Another point why chocolate is beneficial to one is that it has a very high number of antioxidant properties than many other food substances. Anti oxidants protect ones body from oxidative stress i.e. slows down the oxidation process which is harmful to ones body as it reacts with cholesterol causing health related problems (Gorman, 2006). According to allchocolate.com, a serving of dark chocolate contains more antioxidants than a serving of blueberries or cranberries (n.a, n.d). Jeffrey B. Blumberg is the director of the Antioxidants Research Laboratory at the Tufts Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging and according to the article â€Å"Chocolates health benefits-trick or treat† (2007) Blumbergs main area of research concerning chocolate is antioxidants. Blumberg suggests that â€Å"dark chocolate is rich in pro-antho cyanides, that are potent anti-oxidants† (2007, p.4). In addition to pro-antho cyanides, chocolate has many more chemicals that act a s antioxidants. Flavonoids, for instance are natural anti-oxidants and cocoa beans and dark chocolate are rich in flavonoid (Raloff, 2000, p.188).   Chris Zdeb, writing in the National Post, says in his article â€Å"Chocoholics, Rejoice!† (2007), that there have been many studies that have found that chocolates contain a very high amount of flavanol. These are compounds that â€Å"reduce the stickiness of the platelets, cells that play an important role in blood clotting† (Zdeb, 2007). Zdeb also states that chocolate contains Polyphenol, another type of antioxidants. These antioxidants are much similar to those found in fruits such as blueberries, vegetables such as spinach and other food substances such as green tea etc. but chocolate has a much higher amount of these antioxidants in it. Zdeb suggests that Polyphenol help eliminate the free radicals in the body that cause cardiovascular diseases, cancer and â€Å"premature aging† (Zdeb, 2007). Moreover, Blum berg states that â€Å"in one Italian study†¦ [they] saw a significant decline in (‘bad) cholesterol†(as cited in â€Å"Chocolates health benefits-trick or treat† , 2007, p.4) after intake of dark chocolate. This shows that dark chocolate does indeed help the body by its high antioxidant properties.   In another Spanish study, Blumberg observed that cocoa, the main ingredient for the production of chocolate was found to increase antioxidant levels in ones body (n.a, 2007, p.4). All in all, dark chocolates antioxidant properties are very beneficial to ones body and chocolate is abundant in them. It has also been found that dark chocolate helps ease pain and relive stress. David Derbyshire writes in his article â€Å"How a Chunk of Chocolate Can Melt Away Your Pain† (2009) that studies have shown that chocolate acts as a natural painkiller, as according to researchers, anything done or eaten for pleasure acts as a natural painkiller. Derbyshire states a study done on rats by Dr Peggy Mason, of Chicago University. She found that the experimental rats were not that bothered by pain when eating a chocolate chip. She says that â€Å"Its a strong, strong effect, but its not about hunger or appetite† (as cited in Derbyshire, 2009). She explained that when you have food in front of you, you will never stop eating and according to past studies conducted, eating eases pain. In the experiment, the rats were given chocolate, sugar water, or plain water and a light bulb was placed beneath their cages. The rats way of reacting to the heat was lifting their paw of the floor. The researchers saw that the rats eating chocolate or drinking plain water were much slower in lifting their paws. This shows that when eating or drinking, people are more relaxed and sugar has nothing to do with it. The rats were then given a bitter drink, â€Å"quinine† that is quite distasteful. The result was that the rats â€Å"reacted to the heat as quickly as when they are not eating† (Derbyshire, 2009). This concludes that only while you are eating or drinking something you find pleasurable will it act as a natural painkiller and there is nothing more pleasurable than chocolate, or so many people think.   Though the experiment was done on animal, the researchers believe the effect is the same in humans.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Furthermore, Derbyshire provides another study that explains how chocolate helps relieve stress. Scientists at the University of Cincinnati in USA conducted an experiment in 2005. They found that sugary foods â€Å"cut the level of the potentially harmful hormone glucocorticoid† (Derbyshire, 2009). This is a hormone that is produced by the brain when under pressure. Their research on rats showed that when they had sugary food, their brains produced lower levels of glucocorticoid when they were put under stressful situations. This is a perfect example of how chocolate can help relieve stress. People will only feel stress free when relaxed and chocolate gives one that effect. This is quite true as there are several bioactive compounds in chocolate that increase vigilance, a sense of well being and make one less sensitive to pain.   For example chocolate is rich in carbohydrates which increases the rate at which Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, enters the brain. Tryptophan lessens anxiety by producing the neurotransmitter serotonin (Carter, 2008). This brings us to the conclusion that dark chocolate indeed has the properties to ease physical as well as emotional pain. Another reason why chocolate is so good for one is that it not only relaxes people, it also helps elevates their mood and also acts as an anti-depressant. Dana Small is a cognitive neuroscientist. In the article â€Å"No more†¦please! Popular Science† (2002) Gunja Sinha gives the details of a small experiment Small carried out on nine chocolate lovers. She connected these volunteers to MRI machines and gave them chocolate while she measured their blood flow to the brain. She saw that the area of the â€Å"brain associated with mood was active† (Sinha, 2009, p42) while they ate and enjoyed their chocolates. This increase in blood flow to a certain region related to mood shows how chocolate can affect ones mood. Chris Zdeb states in his article â€Å"Chocoholics, Rejoice!† (2007) that chocolate does indeed have chemicals that elevate ones mood. The chemicals â€Å"phenethylamine and anandamide [found in chocolate]†¦ activate receptors in the brain that cause feelings of excitement and well-being† (Zdeb, 2007). Dark chocolate is the best way to lift ones spirits and mood.   It is also much more delicious than any anti-depressant pills. â€Å"Chocolate a personality thing† (Morton, 2008) reports the findings from â€Å"Black Dog institute†. One of the institutes Professors, Professor Gordon Parker suggests that†Chocolate may settle emotional dysregulation in those who are personality prone to†¦depressive reactions†. (as cited in Morton, 2008). He also proposes that chocolate appears to have a calming effect on emotional reactions. Fifteen percent of the population had emotional problems and â€Å"chocolate appeared to have a calming effect† (Morton, 2008) on them, says Professor Parker. This proves that dark chocolate not only acts as an antidepressant, it also enhances our psychological well being. On the other hand there are a lot of common misconceptions associated with chocolate. One being that one of the main reasons for acne is chocolate. However, that is not true as acne is not caused by chocolate or any other food substance for that matter. Acne is the result of the buildup of dead skin cells within the pore according to the Acne Resource center online (n.d.). Our skins produce a type of oil called sebum and it is this oil that together with the bacteria cause acne. The resource center states that none of these factors are triggered by anything we eat. Chocolate is wrongly blamed. Another common belief among the world is that chocolate causes tooth decay. Parents tend to keep their children away from chocolate solely for this reason without realizing what they are depriving their children of. Lack of proper care of ones teeth is what causes tooth decay. Even if one eats vegetables and dont take care of his/her teeth, it will cause cavities. In fact chocolate is much better for teeth than fluoride, the chemical commonly found in toothpastes. Chocolate contains a chemical called Tannins. These are a type of flavanol and according to Chris Zdebs article â€Å"Chocoholics, Rejoice!† (2007) these chemicals help prevent cavities. The article â€Å"Chocolates Health Benefits-Trick or Treat?† (2007) provides information about a study done by Dr. Arman Sadeghpour who is a researcher at the Tulane University. He did the study with researchers from the University of New Orleans and Louisiana Universitys School of Dentistry. They compared the cocoa extract f rom chocolate to fluoride and concluded that dark chocolate is much better for the teeth as it contains a chemical theobromine. It is â€Å"water-soluble, crystalline bitter powder†¦ [and] an alkaloid of the cacao plant†(n.a, 2007, p.4). This team of researchers found that this chemical is much effective in hardening the tooth enamel than fluoride. At the end of this research Dr. Sadeghpour concluded that any food substance containing theobromine is good for dental health. One might think that dark chocolate contains sugar, which outweighs the beneficial properties of chocolate by far. However, by dark chocolate it is meant that it contains at least sixty five percent of cocoa which has most of the properties that help prevent cavities. Sixty five percent outweighs the sugar amount by a lot and if proper care is taken of ones teeth, one does not have anything to worry about. Dark chocolate might not be the cause of cavities or tooth decay but in fact might be much benefi cial to ones teeth.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Dark chocolate, as all other food substances does have some flaws but the positive effects outweigh them by far. Dark chocolate can help one reduce and prevent cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and can also protect ones body from oxidative stress and even relieve one from mental stress. It uplifts ones spirits and also eases physical pain. However, one has to remember that too much of a good thing can be bad so one should never over indulge. On the other hand even a small bite of dark chocolate regularly might do wonders for one.

Devising an Instructional Plan for Billiards Essay -- Gaming

Heather is a 45 year old female registered nurse who is seen regularly at a popular bistro establishment (sandwich shop); which offers billiards (pool) entertainment. Heather grew up in Barbados and did not participate in sports or activities such as bingo, hop-scotch, spin the bottle or billiards. Heather moved into my neighborhood last week; only one house away from me. After several times observing Heather at the bistro, she shared with me her interest of learning the skills of billiard so she can make the female team at the recreation center; that will be starting up within the next three or four months. Heather expressed she was less than a novice player with no experience; no natural ability; and no skills at playing billiards, but after observing the smooth techniques used in the activity, she wanted me to teach her some of my skills, and techniques. Diagnosis of the learning experience Learning Characteristics: Heather is a 45 year-old female with no previous skills, ability, or experience in playing billiards. She is very motivated to learn new skills so she can become a part of an all female billiards team. Heather displays a less than average ability for playing billiards (motor timing, perceptual timing, and eye-hand coordination) due to slight anxiety and rushing things. Heather is mentally and physically fit to take part in the activity and expresses she has no known impairments, except a slight anxiety attack at times. Heather is very excited to learn skills such as speed-accuracy trade off in order to become the best player she can be. Goal of Learning: Since Heather is less than a novice player with no experience at billiards, she will start at the program learning stage where skill refinement would be one... ...ding billiard stick at top, dominate hand holding stick at the rear. 2. Non-dominate foot planted close towards the billiard table. 3. Eyes remain focused on designated spot on cue ball that will strike a numbered ball. 4. Breathing is at a relaxed state (inhale air into the nose and exhale air out the mouth). 5. Processing any errors detection prior to executing the shot in order to make corrections. 6. Dominate hand extracts stick back and plunges stick forward in order to strike ball allowing it to hit another ball and that ball falling into a pocket. Works Cited Abraham, D. (2008). Energetic Games: Models of Self-research and Bioenergetic Development. Journal Of Conscientiology, 11(42), 133-149. Schmidt, R. A., & Wrisberg, C. A. (2008). Motor learning and performance: a situation-based learning approach. (4th ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.