Marketing - Sunshine Foods, Inc Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Marketing - Sunshine Foods, Inc - Case Study Example The main cause identifiable with these problems is inappropriate business strategy that is not aligned with the changing market demands. Market demands include customer preferences and competitors’ offerings. Sunshine Foods Inc lacks focus on consumer requirements in terms of choice of quality, quantity and variety. Thirdly, its business strategy stalled at products with high potential sales volume resulted in limited sales potential by confining to bigger shops and excluding smaller retailers. This created limited market for the wide variety of Sunshine Foods’ products because the smaller retailers could not conform to the high volume sales policy, unaffordable in terms of cost and space. Next, lack of ownership is also a major contributor of low profits attributable to lack of focus on reducing operational costs. Lack of focus on employee retention and motivation caused the downfall of Sunshine Food Inc. Lack of co-ordination between production and sales department ad ded more problems. Lack of diversified expertise in the staff is one of the major problems in Sunshine Food Inc as most of its staff was from its parent company. Recommendations to improve the situation include strategic changes in different aspects of business; this should include change in corporate strategy, marketing and sales methods, research, and human relations. Firstly, the corporate strategy has to be aligned to the organizational goal of improving profits. Next, developing a research team to check profitable and non profitable products on a periodic basis will help the company assess customer requirements, market performance and efficiency of the strategies followed. This research can be used to formulate sales and marketing strategies accordingly. Sunshine Foods needs to expand its offerings to all kind of stores including smaller stores

Hurricane Hits England By Grace Nichols and Storm on the Island Essay Example for Free

Hurricane Hits England By Grace Nichols and Storm on the Island Essay Hurricane Hits England about a hurricane that came across from the Caribbean and hit the South coast of England (Sussex). In 1987 the poem takes place at night and follows the poet, Grace Nichols, as she talks and questions the hurricane like it were an old friend. Storm on the lsland is set on the top of a cliff on a barren island off the coast of Ireland. It describes the storm and how the village people are prepared for it and have built there houses squat. This shows that there are storms there frequently and it also speaks of no trees to avoid falling branches. Storm on the Island is written in blank verse. This reflects the crashing motion of the storm. It was often used by Shakespeare because it sounds like spoken English, this makes the poet sound like he his talking to the reader. However Hurricane Hits England is written in free verse which gives the poem a relaxed feel. Also breaking it up in to stanza lets you see how the mood changes throughout the poem from questioning, to understanding. Come to break the frozen lake within me the frozen lake being her sense of belonging and home. By not using an article before the title Heaney makes it sound blunt and gives a sense that he is not just talking about one storm in particular but many. To create drama Heaney writes the poem in present tense. Enjambment is used to create the surprise a storm would give when it blows full / Blast like a gust of wind suddenly Blasting in at the start of a new line. Despite the confident start Heaney admits to being scared of the storm it is a huge nothing we fear. Whereas in the first stanza of Nichols uses a very effective metaphor to describe the hurricane howling ship of the wind this creates a ghost like quality to the hurricane this is later backed up by the word spectre. The view of the hurricane changes from stanza to stanza. In the third stanza Nichols questions the like it were an old friend. The mood is then saddened when Nichols describes roots as cratered graves. The island is described as Wizened which at first conjures thoughts of a desolate and barren landscape. There are no stacks suggests there are no crops, but as the hurricane is introduced the view of the island has been change and maybe its not just the ground that is Wizened but also the villagers. The fact the villagers are prepared for the storm is emphasised more so by the lack of trees. He uses the imagery of a tame cat / Turned savage because the sea is usually calm a gentle but can become violent and angry. The fact this is spread over two lines is to use the pause between them as the quiet before the storm. The military theme is carried on when he uses words like dives, strafes, salvos and bombardments to show the distructive power of the storm. While the storm in Hurricane Hits England is show to be an actual person or a one point a God this is meant show that Nichols has not rejected her culture and is still capable of seeing things in terms of her native culture. The poets heart is unchained by the hurricane which breaks the frozen lake in me. There is a clear implication that she has felt trapped in England and by riding the hurricane (a global event, of course) she finds her freedom. Heaneys poem is written in a repetitive and confident way and by using blank verse it reflects his mood that he will survive the storm. Although this changes throughout the poem, halfway through he uses phrases like the thing you fear and exploding comfortably to portray he is scared. While Nichols writes in free and open way which reflect her past in the Caribbean to show this she uses the words the earth is the earth The final lines of Hurricane Hits England are a plea for multiculturalism and a pride in ones own culture. The poet has realised that she can only be free and happy in England if she stops yearning for her own culture and accepts that, that culture is a part of her: she brought it to England with her just as the hurricane has brought a feeling of the Caribbean to England. This is unlike the ideas in Storm on the Island which concern our uneasy relationship to powerful natural forces and the feelings of vulnerability and fear. That we feel in the face of the potentially destructive powers of a storm.

Personal Reading Study :: English Literature

Personal Reading Study Personal Reading Study – â€Å"Cry Freedom† by John Briley Q: Choose a novel in which a relationship between two different characters is developed. Show how the developing relationship between Steve Biko and Donald Woods explores the theme of racism and how the novel portrays the effects of racism in South African society. In your answer you must refer closely to the text and to the themes explored, characterisation and Key incidents. â€Å"And towards that day, when the isolation that creates hostility becomes the closeness that permits friendship, let us join in the song of South Africa†¦Ã¢â‚¬  As the above quotation suggests ‘Cry Freedom’ by John Briley, is a fascinating study of the real life relationship between Donald Woods and Steve Biko. The author employs a variety of literary techniques to demonstrate how two very different men with disparate lifestyles become close, and how their relationship develops under complex circumstances. In my essay I will show how the relationship between Steve Biko and Donald Woods develops and I will also explore the portrayal of the theme of racism and the effects it has on the society in which it exists. Briley portrays this through his characterisation, the themes explored and the key incidents throughout the novel. John Briley has successfully engaged my interest in the developing relationship between the two protagonists. Before their first meeting I believe that Donald Woods was not very sure of what he thought of blacks in South Africa and how much freedom they should be allowed to have. It seems to me that Donald Woods, as a white liberal and an editor contradicted himself many times. An example of this is, â€Å"He did not believe blacks should be given the full right to vote.† But a few sentences later there is a quotation saying, â€Å"When he caught the Government violating those basic ethical premises, he struck at them with a pen so sharp and so precise that his paper was quoted from one end of South Africa to the other.† I believe that in these quotations Woods contradicts himself as he believes blacks should not be given the full right to vote yet when he caught the Government violating those ‘basic’ ethical premises he would argue with them. It seems to me that Woods is not too sure what he believes is acceptable for blacks, and how far they should be allowed to go in the justice system. Furthermore, before their first meeting Woods did not approve of Biko’s black consciousness principles. He believed that Biko’s principles were all about black prejudice and that he did not want everything to be fair in South Africa but instead to be the way the

The Island Of Dr. Moreau :: essays research papers

The Island of Dr. Moreau The Island of Dr. Moreau is a story that questions the ability of men playing God. The balance of nature is put to the ultimate test as a man by the name of Charles Edward Prendick stumbles across an out-of-control experiment that fuses man with animal. At first glance, this tropical paradise seems idyllic. But deep in the jungles lies a terrifying secret. Moreau and Montgomery have been preforming scientific research on human beings and the experiment goes terribly wrong. They have ignored the most fundamental law of the jungle: survival of the fittest. The first illustration is a drawing of Doctor Moreau explaining his status on the island to Prendick. Prendick has been finding out things that he shouldn't have been knowing, and he demands answers. He gets his answers from Dr. Moreau but he hears things that are unimaginable. Moreau explains how he mutates humans into beast-like animals. For the rest of Prendick's stay on the island he maintains an uneasy feeling and he wishes he never arrived on this island. The Next sketch illustrates the beasts new thirst for blood, which is a major turning point for the story. Roaming free, these beast-people are highly intelligent with murderous instincts. Their thirst for blood is pacified through a combination of sedatives and shock discipline. But events triggered by Prendick's unexpected arrival are about to break Moreau's God- like domination over these resentful creatures. The last drawing in my visual essay symbolizes a catastrophe. This was a point in the novel were all hell broke loose. Prendick found himself in the middle of a violent eruption between the doctor and his "family." Moreau, Montgomery, and most of the beasts lost their lives. Prendick himself was even forced to kill. It ended up that he was the last one left on the island except for a few beasts. Prendick later escaped the clutches of his captors and flees the island leaving behind terror, but taking a new life with him.

The Convenience of Today’s Technology

Who would have ever thought that you will be able to communicate with a person, just by typing a letter push press and send all from one location. Today’s technology is more convient, faster, and cost effective. As one of the projects that I have worked with for years is preparing the church newsletter, programs, notes, and other resources. In the past we had the manual and then the electric typewriters. When typing and a mistake were made, before the correction ribbon on the electric typewriter, you had to continually hit the back button and retype the correct letter. Your choice of print was very limited with the typewriter. There was no way to do spell check. Every paper had to be carefully proof read by a department of peoples. If you were adding a picture to your paper, you had to find pictures out of books and they were limited. Once the picture was found it had to be cut out and paste or taped to the paper. In order for someone else to add an article to the paper they had to type their part, get it proofread and then transport it to the location of the paper being prepared. In today’s world we have the technology that allows us to do all printing while sitting in one location. There are different types of programs to choose from to publish the newsletter, program, and other resources You have many different fonts to choose from depending on the type of message you are sending. There are thousands of clipart from cartoon, silhouettes, to any thing you can name to add as an image to your project. After finding the set up that fits your needs you can start your project, you can begin to type in your message in the designated area. To insert an image, you can go to the clipart or internet to locate the desired image. The computer does the spell check and some grammar checking as well. Usually when a word is misspelled it is underline with a squiggly red or green line. Some proofreading is still required but it may not take a team of people as in the past. In order from some one else to add a message to the paper being prepared all you need to do is send it to them by email as an attachment. As a downfall to this technology, if everyone is in the same office working with the same programs all will work well. However, if I’m working from home on my personal computer and I send it to another person at home, we may be working with different programs. Some people may have older systems while others may be on a up to date system. In conclusion, the convience of today’s technology and printing is much easier and faster in this day and time. As the years go on we will be amazed at how technology will advance in the future.

Corruption of Power essays

Corruption of Power essays In the words of Winston Churchill, Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely. This statement echos a typical yet sometimes unpleasant characteristic of human nature. Time and again throughout history mankind has repeatedly demonstrated an inherent selfishness. This often results in actions falling short of their preceding ideals. With memorable characters and linguistic devices, Orwell weaves a story of human demons in memorable animal characters. Orwell shows the one flaw in human nature, which inevitably keeps us chained. He uses the art of writing and creates a complex story with complex characters. Orwell all to well points out the flaws of communism and that flaw is human nature. Orwell was born in Bengal, India and was educated at Eton in England. The wealth that he saw at Eton caused him to attain a distaste for money. Orwells outright distaste for money soon caused him to become and opponent of capitalism. Being an opponent of capitalism and communism wasnt exactly a good position during Orwells life. Orwell actually despised all governments that he considered hypocritical. At the point in time Orwell wrote animal farm society had a growing respect for communism. Russia had just been instrumental in the defeat of Nazi Germany and been established as a world power. Orwell for a considerable portion of his life served as a British policeman of sorts with the Indian Imperial Police. After watching the oppressive influence of the declining British Empire he developed a more worldly view. (Kearny 87-98) This worldview allowed him to criticize virtually all forms of government. Orwell was a Socialist and hated communism because it was an impure form! of socialism. He hated the thought of leaders living in large luxurious mansions while the workers slaved in the fields. Orwell saw communism as another way for a ruling elite to control the majority of peasants. Having f...

Operational Management in Paul Markillies A Third Industrial Revolution

Operational Management in Paul Markillies A Third Industrial Revolution The article A Third Industrial Revolution was written in the year 2012. In the article, Paul Markillie, the author provides an intruding view of the future. The author asserts that the future of manufacturing lies in the 3D printing, additive production, and automation (Markillie 2012, p.1). According to the author, these technologies will be adopted in the future by the manufacturing firms.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Operational Management in Paul Markillies A Third Industrial Revolution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In addition, the author postulates that when the technologies come into play a third industrial revolution would be experienced. For instance, the technologies will enable designers and the engineers to design and build products that are currently uneconomical to produce. Notably, the author argues that when the future industries digitize their operations the world will witness a shift in the m anufacturing industries from developing countries to developed countries. In the article, the author asserts that manufacturing industries are here to stay (Markillie 2012, p.2). However, he suggests that in the future the nature of jobs will change. Markillie points out that prior the year 2010, the United States lose more of its manufacturing jobs to China. According to him, increase in the cost of operation in the United States led to the reduction in jobs. On the other hand, China benefitted from the shift in labour owing to its low cost of operation in the manufacturing industries and availability of raw materials. Equally, Markillie suggests that in the future manufacturing industries would shift their bases of operations from developing countries to developed countries. The author attributes this shift to future digitization of manufacturing industries. According to Markillie, in the near future factories would depend on robots rather human beings for their operations. With t he adoption of robots, manufacturing industries would relocate back to their mother countries creating more jobs and opportunities.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If the future manufacturing industries digitize their operations, Markillie assumptions on how manufacturing industries will shift their operations to developed countries might not come into pass. With digitisation of industries, the cost of operation would reduce significantly. This would not only happen in developed countries but across all countries. It should be noted that advancements in technologies are embraced by all industries regardless of their geographical locations. This implies that with digitization it would be even cheaper to operate a manufacturing industry in China than in the United States. As compared to the United States, China has more readily available raw materials and more perso nnel that are skilled. Equally, developing countries in Africa and Asia have more industrial raw materials than the developed countries. With these economic advantages, when manufacturing industries digitize their operations it would be cheaper to operate manufacturing industries in the developing countries rather than in developed countries. In the article, the author emphasizes on the importance of manufacturing industries to a country’s economy. Although Markillie acknowledges a specific research study that asserted that the service industries are important as the manufacturing industries, he focuses his attention more on manufacturing industries. Through this, he underestimates the contribution the service industries contribute to the world’s economy. Instead, the author should note that currently service industries contribute equal returns as manufacturing industries. This is evidenced from the world’s top billionaires. Currently, the worlds top billionaire s own and operate service industries. Unlike in the past centuries, service industries have proved to be flexible and lucrative than other industries. For instance, the internet now provides several jobs and opportunities as compared to the manufacturing industries. Therefore, the author should acknowledge the significance of the service industries in the modern world economy rather than undermine it. In the second part of this article, Markillie focuses on the industrial materials being developed by the scientists. In this section, the author points out how new carbon fibre products, recycling technologies, and casting technologies would improve the future of material science. The author cites Rolls-Royce Company has one of the companies leading in material science researches.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Operational Management in Paul Markillies A Third Industrial Revolution specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Ma rkillie suggests that the company’s success is accredited to its ability to house production staff under one roof. By using this illustration, Markillie suggests that the future industries will house their staff under one roof to enhance the understanding of their operations among their staffs. Through this argument, Markillie fails to note that some products cannot be manufactured under one roof. For instance, automotive and electronic parts are made in different regions and reassembled in specific regions. The author should note that no single country or industry would produce all the required parts necessary for some products (Marchant Sylvester, 36). Owing to this, countries will continue to manufacture or purchase different parts of their products from different regions. Similarly, by focusing on production of specific parts industries have been able to concentrate on their area of specialisation. This has not only improved on the quality of their products but also incr eased their production levels. Similarly, the author focuses on the advancements in nanotechnology. The author illustrates that in the future the technology will be very helpful in the treatment of fatal diseases such as cancer. Equally, Markillie proposes that with further researches the technology will be fully exploited. Before concluding his article, Markillie illustrates how 3D printing technologies have led to the production of products that were impossible to produce earlier. During the early days of this technology, 3D printing was only used in the production of prototypes. However, with technological advances the technology has been adopted in additive manufacturing industries (Herbort WÃ ¶hler 2011, p.5). According to the author, the use of this technology will continue to increase by 80% before the year 2020. The author acknowledges that though the technology is still young, some multinational companies are showing a lot of interest in adopting it. For instance, the aut hor points out that GE is interested in adopting this technology in all their operations. While illustrating the usage of 3D printers, Markillie states that the printers are expensive to produce and that they will take some time before they are developed in mass production. Other than this disadvantage, the author fails to illustrate other disadvantages of the machine.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For instance, it could be appropriate for him to indicate the cost of maintaining these printers and the cost of hiring its expertise. Based on its complex functionalities, it might prove more difficult for industries to maintain and hire the expertise to operate these printers than producing goods using traditional subtractive methods (Rivers 2005, p.556). Similarly, the author should have pointed out how intellectual property would be enhanced after the adoption of this technology. Without appropriate measures, the technology would enhance intellectual theft, as anyone can scan a property and later print it without the consent of the owner. References Herbort, S., WÃ ¶hler, C. 2011. An introduction to image-based 3D surface reconstruction and a survey of photometric stereo methods. 3D Research, 2(3), 1-18. Marchant, G., Sylvester, D. 2006. Transnational Models for Regulation of Nanotechnology. Social Science Research Network Working Paper Series, 6(2), 12-67. Markillie, P. 2012 , April 21. A Third Industrial Revolution. The Economist. Retrieved from dc.mit.edu/sites/dc.mit.edu/files/Econ%20Special%20 Rpt%20Manufactur.pdf Rivers, T. 2005. An introduction to the metaphysics of technology. Technology in Society, 27(4), 551-574.

The Ultimate Guide to the AP US History Exam

The Ultimate Guide to the AP US History Exam SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips The AP US History exam involves reading, writing, and in-depth analysis. It's not just about memorizing names and dates; you'll be asked to interpret historical evidence quickly and accurately, recall outside information about the topic, and, on the essay questions, synthesize your ideas into a coherent argument. In this guide, I'll give you a rundown of the format and structure of the exam along with a brief content outline, sample questions, and some tips for a great score! How Is the AP US History Exam Structured? The AP US History testin 2016 will be administered on Friday, May 6th at 8 AM. It hasmultiple-choice, short answer, and free-response sections, and the total length is 3 hours and 15 minutes. The Multiple-Choice Section Is: 55 minutes long 55 questions 40 percent of your score Formatted in sets of two to five questions that are based on the provided pieces of historical evidence The Short-Answer Section Is: 50 minutes long Four questions 20 percent of your score Questions have multiple parts and will usually reference pieces of historical evidence The Free-Response Section Is: Comprised of two questions: Document-based question An essay based on a prompt that's accompanied by a series of relevant historical documents 55 minutes 25 percent of your score Long essay question Regular essay question where you get to choose between two different prompts 35 minutes for the long essay question 15 percent of your score On the free-response section, you will be told when 55 minutes are up and advised to move on to the second question, but you aren’t forced to do so. Time management is one of the major challenges of this test! Content Background for the AP US History Exam There are seven themes addressed inthe AP US History course, and all of them will show up in one form or another on the exam.Each represents a subset of learning objectives that students are expected to master.You can read more about the learning objectives in the course description;here I’ll just give a broad overview of the major themes: Theme 1: American and National Identity How and why definitions of American and national identity and values have developed. Related topics such as citizenship, constitutionalism, foreign policy, assimilation, and American exceptionalism. Theme 2: Politics and Power How different social and political groups have influenced society and government in the United States. How political beliefs and institutions have changed over time. Theme 3: Work, Exchange, and Technology Factors behind systems of economic exchange and development, including the role of technology, economic markets, and government. Theme 4: Culture and Society The roles that ideas, beliefs, social mores, and creative expression have played in shaping the United States. How various identities, cultures, and values have been preserved or changed at different stages in U.S. History. Theme 5: Migration and Settlement Why and how the various people who moved to and within the United States both adapted to and transformed their new environments. Theme 6: Geography and the Environment The role of geography and environments (natural and man-made) on social and political developments in the United States. Theme 7: America in the World Interactions between nations that affected North American history in the colonial period. The influence of the United States on world affairs. These themes are discussed across nine different historical periods, each of which corresponds to a certain percentage of questions on the AP exam: Sample AP US History Questions Now that you have a sense of the test content, I'll present you with sample questions to give you a better idea of what it actually looks like! Multiple-Choice Question For multiple choice, you’re given one or two pieces of historical evidence followed by a set of questions that ask you to do some analysis.The US History exam is less about knowing specific dates and names and more about being able to draw conclusions and connect themes based on materials provided by the test. First, let’s read the (disturbing) statement we’re considering for this question: Hammond refers to slaves as â€Å"fellow creatures whom God has entrusted to my charge† and goes on to say that it is â€Å"in the interest of all...to treat our slaves with proper kindness.†This is a statement typical of many southern slaveowners at the time.In his view, he has been entrusted by God to take care of his slaves because they are lower in the natural hierarchy.He talks about treating them with kindness to make it seem like slavery helps everyone. Southerners believed they were doing their slaves a favor by treating them well within the slave system because slaves weren’t capable of handling freedom. Now, we'll examine our choices: Choice (A) can be ruled out because there is nothing in the statement that indicates a reaction to the development of gradual emancipation laws. Hammond isdefending slavery in a broader moral sense. Choice (B) is incorrect because there is no relationship between the statement and development of stronger slave codes.Hammond talks about treating his slaves well and is clearly trying to ignore the increased unrest within the slave system. Choice (C) should be eliminated as well.Although Hammond is making a moral argument for slavery that could be considered a counter to activists’ moral arguments against it, there isn’t a direct enough connection between the quote and the trend described in this answer choice. Finally, let’s look at choice (D), which is the correct answer.This is the only choice that makes a DIRECT connection between the point of view expressed in the excerpt and the social/political trends of the time.Hammond’s statement is an individual piece of evidence that serves to demonstrate the larger movement of southerners touting slavery as a â€Å"positive good† benefitting both slaves and masters. Short-Answer Question Short answer questions are technically considered part of the multiple-choice section because they are so much less involved than the essay questions.Although they do have multiple parts, you don’t have to come up with a thesis (one sentence answers are ok). They're about succinctly connecting themes and reference materials to specific events or trends. Here’s an example: For part (A), you would need to provide a brief explanation of the aspects of the cartoon that express the artist’s point of view on a particular economic topic. For example:The artist expresses the view that industrial capitalism is an exploitative and unfair system in which underpaid laborers work hard to build the basis on which wealthy capitalists lounge around and enjoy lives of luxury. For part (B), you would need to describe a specific development between 1865 and 1910 that supports the artist’s viewpoint. For example:Newly rich businessmen such as Gould or Vanderbilt quickly rose to prominence and lived lavish lifestyles funded by huge corporate monopolies. For part (C), you would need to describe another specific development within the same time period that challenges the artist’s viewpoint. For example:A more industrialized economy brought benefits to many people in society through access to cheaper commodities, new technologies, and improvements in the standard of living. Document-Based Question These are the instructions you’ll see for the document-based question: The question itself is a short prompt that gives you a lens through which to view the sample documents.You’re given seven different documents to examine, and, to earn full credit, you have to use at least six of them as evidence for your thesis in your answer. Documents range from transcripts of folk songs to excerpts from letters and newspapers to demographic maps.I won’t list all the documents that were presented for this specific question, but here are a couple so you can get a sense of the variety you’ll see on the exam: There are several components of a solid response to this question: Thesis The thesis must clearly address patterns of continuity and change over time with regards to the social and economic experiences of African Americans who migrated North in the early 1900s.Don’t make it hard for the graders to find your thesis; the best place to put it is right at the end of your first paragraph. Here's an example:As many African Americans migrated North in the period from 1910 to 1930, they encountered both new and familiar challenges, including the hostility of white northerners, barriers to employment, and housing segregation. Evidence At least six out of seven documents (and preferably all seven!) should be used as evidence in your essay. Also, atleast one of the following should be examined in the essay for four or more of the documents: the author’s point of view, the author’s purpose, the intended audience, and the historical context. Analysis and Connections The essay must draw connections between documents or parts of documents to build an argument.You should also observe in your essay that documents reflect differences in point of view, audiences, formats, etc.Paying attention to the context is critical for an appropriate historical reading (for example, document 4 is written for a white audience by a white author, so that should inform the way its statements are viewed). Outside Knowledge Your essay should also include knowledge that extends beyond the documents themselves and strengthens your argument. Caution:DON’T start fact-vomiting all over this essay. Make sure what you’re saying is directly relevant to your argument.One historical trend you might mention specifically is the rise of legalized social segregation in the South (impact ofPlessy v. Ferguson).You could also note that the evidence in the documents provided does not reference the Harlem Renaissance, which was an important development in the experience of many African Americans in the urban North during the 1920s. Context Your essay shouldalsoconnect the issues raised by the documents to broader discussions of racism in U.S. history.You could talk about things like: The transition from an agricultural to an industrial economy Different motivations that have influenced migration within the U.S. Development of housing patterns in urban environments Long Essay Question For your long essay, you will be able to choose between two prompts.Here’s an example of a potential prompt: Your answer should include many of the same elements as your answer to the document-based question, but there are no documents to analyze and reference, so you have less time to write.This question also asks you to take a more solid argumentative stance for or against a certain claim. The first thing you should do is decide whether you support, partially support, or totally disagree with the argument presented in the question.Then, write a thesis that makes your point of view clear and briefly references examples you will use to support it in the body of your essay. If you chose to support the statement, your essay might include the following points: The New Deal was a conservative measure taken to preserve a capitalist economy in the US by lessening the negative effects of capitalism and mitigating weaknesses within the system. It represented a desire to change things as little as possible while maintaining the economic status quo. No programs in the New Deal led to fundamental redistribution of land and wealth, so most elements of the capitalist system were unchanged. If you instead decided to argue against the statement, your essay might include the following points: The New Deal was a dramatic departure from the role government had played in the US economy up to that point. Programs were revolutionary in that they provided relief to people who were struggling, curbed corporate abuses, and sought to protect the environment. Alternatively, you could say that the New Deal was revolutionary in a negative way; the government veered too far into socialism and worsened the effects of the depression for people like business owners. You could mention the more far-reaching benefits and drawbacks of the New Deal to provide additional evidence for your point (greater financial security for people in the long run as a result of New Deal programs). You could also modify the original statement by saying that the New Deal was a moderate measure that fell between conservatism and revolution (the partial agreement option).More extreme factions of conservative and progressive groups were either alarmed at the dramatic changes or dissatisfied with a policy that fell short of complete economic restructuring. Whatever your argument, you must include specific references to historical events or trends of the period for context (for example, you might mention conservative fiscal policies of presidents before Roosevelt and the causes of the Great Depression). One of FDR's quirks was that he always had to be painted completely green from head to toe before being seen in public. Using this strategy, he successfully prevented people from noticing his wheelchair for years. How Is the AP US History Exam Scored? On the multiple-choice section (55 raw points possible), you get a point added to your raw score for each question that you answer correctly. No points are taken off for incorrect answers!Each short-answer question is worth three points, so there are 12 raw points possible in the short-answer section. The document-based question is scored based on the following criteria (seven raw points possible): Thesis and argument: 2 points Document analysis: 2 points Using evidence beyond the documents: 2 points Synthesis: 1 point The long essay question is scored based on the following criteria (six raw points possible): Thesis: 1 point Argument development: using the targeted historical thinking skills: 2 points Argument development: using evidence: 2 points Synthesis: 1 point On essay questions, points are taken off for errors only if they detract from the quality of the argument being made (basically, don’t make up historical facts to support an argument).Grammatical errors are not a big deal as long as they don't inhibit the grader's ability to understand what your essay is saying. The total number of raw points you can earn on the test is 80: 55 on the multiple choice, 12 on the short answer, seven on the DBQ, and six on the long essay.Raw scores can be converted to scaled scores out of 150. Multiply your raw score (out of 55) on the multiple-choice section by 1.1 to get your scaled multiple choice score. Then, multiply your raw score (out of 12) on the short answer-section by 2.5 to get your scaled short answer score.Multiply your raw score (out of seven) on the document-based question by 5.4 to get your scaled DBQ score.Multiply your raw score (out of six) on the long essay question by 3.75 to get your scaled long essay question score. Then, add all of the scores together to get your final scaled score! Here’s a chart to show you approximately how the scaled scores translate to final AP scores: Scaled Score AP Score Percentage of Students in 2015 115 - 150 5 9.3% 90 - 114 4 17.8% 65 - 89 3 23.6% 44 - 64 2 25% 0 - 43 1 24.3% I made my best estimates based on other AP score conversion charts because there was no official scaled to AP score conversion chart online for the latest version of the exam.Your teacher or review book may have a more accurate score conversion system that you can use for official practice tests. Tips for the AP US History Exam AP US History is a grueling test that requires intense critical thinking and analytical skills.Here are some tips you should remember if you hope to do well: Tip #1: Accurate Facts Aren’t Always Correct Answers Many multiple-choice questions will list answers that are accurate representations of historical events or trends but don’t directly respond to the question being asked. Be wary of these answers on the test so that you don’t accidentally choose them over more relevant responses.In the multiple choice question I gave as an example, one incorrect choice was â€Å"The expanding use of moral arguments by Northern antislavery activists.†At the time referenced in the question, this was a real trend that occurred, but it doesn’t relate directly to the excerpt that was referenced. That means it’s still the wrong answer.Don’t let these types of choices confuse you; adhere to the particulars of the question and the evidence presented! Tip #2: Details Are Important: Read Excerpts Carefully! Most of this exam is based on historical reference materials.You won’t be able to answer questions correctly without reading carefully.Even if you know everything there is to know about US History, that knowledge will mostly just serve to contextualize the evidence presented on the test.The specific details found in the writings and images will ultimately reveal the best answer choice. Tip #3: Plan Before You Write It’s critical to write well-organized, focused essays on the AP US History test.A clear thesis is the first thing on the agenda.Then, you need to make sure the rest of your essay ties back into your thesis and provides relevant evidence throughout.If you jump into writing an essay without taking the time to organize your thoughts, you’re more likely to ramble or get off-topic from the main focus of the question. For the document-based question, you’re encouraged to spend 15 of the 55 minutes planning how to organize your thoughts and use the different documents as evidence.You have less time for the long essay question, but you should still spend five minutes or so writing a brief outline before you start your final draft. Tip #4: Use Outside Evidence Wisely It’s a smart idea to incorporate additional background knowledge into your responses on the test.It shows that you’ve mastered the material and can connect themes to what you learned in class and not just what was presented to you in the question.However, don’t include outside knowledge unless it bolsters your argument.If you’re just sticking it in there to prove how much you know, your essay will lack focus, and you may lose points.That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead; in the planning stage, you can think of examples that tie into your thesis and strategically place them throughout your essay in ways that contribute to your point. Be wise, like an owl. Not necessarily this one...it looks like it lost its grip on reality a long time ago. Conclusion The AP US History exam is one of the longer AP tests, and it has four different types of questions! You'll see multiple-choice, short answer, document-based, and long essay questions on this test. The main thread running through the entire exam is an emphasis on analyzing historical evidence and applying outside knowledge in context. In your studying, you will need to learn to connect the five themes of the course to events spanning 500 years of North American history. To recap, some study tips that I recommend include: Don't mistake accurate facts for correct answers Always read excerpts carefully Plan before writing your essays Use outside evidence strategically Make sure you practice all the different types of questions with official materials before you sit down to take the real test. If you get used to thinking about history in an analytical, evidence-based context, you should have no problem earning a high AP score! What's Next? Looking for more practice materials? Check out our article on the best online quizzes you can take to prepare for the AP US History test! Review books can be extremely helpful tools in preparing for AP tests. If you can't decide which one to get,take a look at this list of the best review books for the AP US History exam in 2016. Did you lose some of your notes? Head on over to this article for links to AP US History notes on every section of the course. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Management accounting-Bias Budgets Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management accounting-Bias Budgets - Coursework Example Question One (a): Why do managers want to manipulate their budgets? After budget approval, the company may use it to carry out budgetary actions. As a result, the managers use it to ensure they carry out the organization objectives and plans and in the end, they have to compare budget plan against the real performance. Once compared, the difference in amount is usually the budget deficient or bias which is cause by manager`s manipulation or distortion on the proposed budget. There are various reasons as to why mangers manipulate budget. Firstly, if the rewards and motivation through performance evaluation help to achieve the budget results, the managers may end up manipulating the budget to include more of rewards in order they can hit the target more easily like league table and bonuses. Besides, managers are highly involved in cases of budget slacks-where organization set their revenue to be too low and a high cost, the organization may end up losing sales since the resources requi red to raise production with the short time given have been limited. Moreover, the managers who have been promised some rewards on attaining certain goals set their target to be very low such that they easily attain them without caring whether the company looses or gains. Likewise, the senior managers dictate on a budget for performance. As a result, it forces the mangers to keep focus of resources on the performance of their department. Consequently, the mangers end up presenting a budget request biased on his department not for organization as whole. Hence, the direction of bias is downwards. Secondly, the company`s practices and norms is subtle in determining the performance of the company`s budget. Notably, prevailing work conditions help to dictate what is morally right. As a result, the management, which focuses on self-manager performances, will give incentives directed to managers alone. However, the aggregate accounting performance from his action is focusing on organizatio n as whole. On the other hand, the management focusing on others gives a hard determination of degree of performance. As a result, it reduces the aggregate performance although it induces co-operation and collaboration to other firms. Moreover, when there occurs some change in the budgetary system from being top-down or centralized, and an acceptable estimate of growth is set, with the changing budgetary system to may be bottom up, and company`s practices remaining similar, bias of unknown direction happens. Lastly, the mangers may feel insecure in their job and as a result, they are more than ready to use the budgetary trick when a chance arises. By this, it mean, the managers are quick to spend until the entire budgeted amount is consumed when the chance of buying goods occurs at a lower price. In fact, in the managers operating in the declining sales department makes use of entire budgets usage under the assumption that the future is uncertain. As a result, the budget becomes was teful at the expense of the manager approving his need of upholding the job since the amount needed by the company and the bought one is very varying. Hence, strong upward bias occurs. (b): Why are they able to do? What are the constraints on such behaviour? As a long as the departmental budget exists, some head of the department will always try to game the budget. Additionally, there are numerous reason as

Describe the methods used to calculate value added. How does value Essay - 1

Describe the methods used to calculate value added. How does value added contribute towards understanding the connections betwee - Essay Example Therefore, outputs that are not determined by one  self are not put into consideration (Sheikh, & Tonak, 2002). Marxist and neoclassical methods of determining value added B. Cox in 1979 agreed in his book called â€Å"value added† that Pigou’s definition went further in explanations. He construed value added in two diverse perspectives: the additive and the subtractive. In one, instance, the subtractive value added, is determined by taking away material purchases and services from revenue from sales. The value added signifies its creation. In addition, additive value added is deliberated by accumulation of labour cost (consisting of social charges), operating profit and depreciation. This permits the estimation methods where the created profit is distributed. Goods and services are (Samuelson, & Nordhaus, 2004) exchanged in business system; thus  a  market product entails a market where products are traded  (especially to firms). Thus, product market and busine ss are interrelated given that the business permits products to be traded in markets. Besides, vertical integration and value added are correlated. Indeed, if a company opts to vertical integration, its Value added ratio increases. However, many companies do not create their own products in entirety. An addition or change made by a business regarding a product or process prior to reaching the point of purchase or customer. In a situation where there is change in business value-added, there will be an increase in the quality and value of the process or products. However, the fact of the change in itself is not obvious to the customer (Palmer, 1998). The concept of Karl Marx where the value product is the same as the national accounting concept of determining net value added. It is obtained through subtracting the value of the gross product and expenditure on constant capital. The latter represents depreciation and the costs of intermediate products. In rotation, value added equals th e summation of variable capital (compensation of labor) and surplus-value (which is pre-tax profit income). The case is that labor generates value added (a new value) that comprises the cost of own wages i.e. payment for the ability of workers perform labor (labor power) and property income (surplus-value). In Marx's case, provided in Das Kapital thesis, workers apply sufficient labor-time within a working day so as to pay for proliferation costs where their ability to work in that day (labor-power) is judged by the extra work or surplus-labor required to compensate incomes to land-owners and capitalists among others (Deardorff, 2003). Given that labor is active and highly conscious factor in the process of production, capital goods which is the means of production together with gifts from nature like land and natural resources, facilitates the ability of labor to transform raw materials into finished products. It raises the physical productivity of labor regarding its ability to ge nerate use-values alongside value-productivity. The latter is the ability to generate use-values that can be traded for money (Yanovsky, 1999). On the contrary, neoclassical economics deem the incomes comprising added value as the prize for services provided. While critiquing the political economy, Marx observed incomes as consequences of production subject to circumstances of capitalist exploitation. In the capitalist class, they

Grief Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Grief - Assignment Example The struggles to search for him were characterized by sleepless nights and huge expenditures as we all offered ourselves to ensure his survival. K.L was the most supportive member of the family who all of us admired. He was humble, honest, and charming; this made us love him the most. When he went missing and finally died in unknown circumstances, we were hurt more than if it was someone else. The saying by Lewis revived my pain and grief. I now feel as if the sorrowful events that I experienced during the period of lose have just recurred. After reading the saying, I tried to compare what I feel when people in the neighborhood die and what I felt for K.L.; there is a big difference between in the pain and grief I experience when a distant person dies or encounters worst situations. Lewis’s saying reflected on my experiences by reminding me the intense pain and grief I experienced after the disappearance and burial of K.L. According to Winokuer and Harris (2012), reading statements of grief and pain resets the painful and grievous memories of the past found in the sub-conscious mind. This is true because as human beings forget the past, anything related to their life events makes them recall past occurrences. I belief that there is a way we would be honest with ourselves and have it in a different way. Pain and grief are natural elements that all human beings must experience as long as they love. However, we should not anguish forever and destroy our lives. Winokuer and Harris (2012 assert that people experiencing grief should seek the services of a counselor to enable them appreciate situations and take care of their lives. Grief manifests itself through several ways, and it occurs in stages with each stage bringing different emotions (Holleran, 2006). Grief manifests itself through shock; shock constitutes a natural form of adaptation that prevents the victims from the impact of death

Strategic management of Tesco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Strategic management of Tesco - Essay Example Inbound logistics include the receiving, warehousing, and inventory control of input materials. Superior supply chain management has always been Tesco's core strength. Stockholding and distribution costs were minimized by constantly replenishing stocks. The new Tesco stores were built so as to facilitate reconfiguration (for e.g. walls in the warehousing area could dismantled to make for additional selling space) and minimum warehousing space. Operations are the value-creating activities that transform the inputs into the final product. Outbound logistics are the activities required to get the finished product to the customer, including warehousing, order fulfilments, etc. Marketing & Sales are those activities associated with getting buyers to purchase the product, including channel selection, advertising, pricing, etc. Service activities are those that maintain and enhance the product's value including customer support, repair services, etc. The elements of the value chain describe d here have been dealt with in the earlier discussion. 1.2. Antecedents: The first three letters 'Tes' that form the name Tesco come from the founder Jack Cohen's first tea supplier, T. E. Stockwell and the 'co' from his surname - supply chain management has always been prominent in the company's scheme of things. ... They were; direct delivery of the supplier to the retail store; centralised distribution system for ambient goods to be supplied to regional centres, which began in the 1970s but continued to evolve over the years; a composite distribution system developed in 1989 and vertical collaboration in the supply chain to achieve better operational efficiencies. The 'reconfiguration of distribution and operational strategies' helped the company to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. The company's fortunes changed dramatically during the 1992-2002 decade. The top six retailers in the UK up to 2002 were Tesco, Sainsbury's, Gateway (now Somerfield), Argyll (now Safeway), Asda (acquired by Wal-Mart) and Kwik Save. Tesco was far ahead of its competitors in 2002 with sales worth ' 15.6 billion - her nearest rival Sainsbury's had sales of ' 6.4 billion. In 2002 W. M. Morrison arrived as a new entrant to the top six claiming a place above Safeway with sales of ' 3 billion in that year and in the process dislodging Kwik Save. 1.3. Strategic challenges: The strategic issues that the food retailing industry faced in the last decade of the twentieth century were challenging. As all of them offered - more or less - the same goods it was difficult to create a sustainable competitive advantage over an extended period. The differentiator was to be service and to beat competition businesses had to constantly evolve a process of innovation in their service offering. One of the consequences of this evolving process of innovation was to diversify product offerings that made food retailers move into non-food businesses like clothing, electrical goods, petrol, financial products and insurance apart from

HOUSING MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

HOUSING MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE - Essay Example l as the community is being managed by other members of the community who are responsible for administering the building and resolving its salient issues such as planned and unplanned maintenance. Generally the chosen building displays full occupancy all year around with most people belonging to the working class residing. Meanwhile some residents are part time students as well as part time workers (for gas stations, super store, take away and the like). The building is a typical skyscraper built along the beams and columns design principles. The entire building is composed of beams and columns that have been created using concrete as well as steel. Steel cages have been intertwined with poured cement in order to create the beams and columns. The floors have been constructed similarly although the composition of the steel frameworks or cages is far denser in the floors than in the beams and the columns. A few places in the building are also reinforced using structural steel although it is not highly visible. Adequate cladding in these areas ensures that the structural steel is not totally visible although some structural steel can be seen due to damaged cladding. The beams and columns are relied on to create different apartments such that all apartments have access to some form of ventilation in the shape of windows that are exposed to the outside environment. The matrix like structure created through the use of beams and columns is such that apartments exist on all the exposed faces of the building while hallways exist in their middle to provide access to the apartments. Within each typical apartment the external windows are all created using glass. These windows may stretch for entire man height in some areas while in others they are restricted to between 1.5 feet and 3 feet. The internals of the apartments are all done in concrete such as the beams and columns and the floors and roofs. The external shells of the apartments (the walls mostly) are done with

Strategic management of Tesco Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4750 words

Strategic management of Tesco - Essay Example Inbound logistics include the receiving, warehousing, and inventory control of input materials. Superior supply chain management has always been Tesco's core strength. Stockholding and distribution costs were minimized by constantly replenishing stocks. The new Tesco stores were built so as to facilitate reconfiguration (for e.g. walls in the warehousing area could dismantled to make for additional selling space) and minimum warehousing space. Operations are the value-creating activities that transform the inputs into the final product. Outbound logistics are the activities required to get the finished product to the customer, including warehousing, order fulfilments, etc. Marketing & Sales are those activities associated with getting buyers to purchase the product, including channel selection, advertising, pricing, etc. Service activities are those that maintain and enhance the product's value including customer support, repair services, etc. The elements of the value chain describe d here have been dealt with in the earlier discussion. 1.2. Antecedents: The first three letters 'Tes' that form the name Tesco come from the founder Jack Cohen's first tea supplier, T. E. Stockwell and the 'co' from his surname - supply chain management has always been prominent in the company's scheme of things. ... They were; direct delivery of the supplier to the retail store; centralised distribution system for ambient goods to be supplied to regional centres, which began in the 1970s but continued to evolve over the years; a composite distribution system developed in 1989 and vertical collaboration in the supply chain to achieve better operational efficiencies. The 'reconfiguration of distribution and operational strategies' helped the company to achieve sustainable competitive advantage. The company's fortunes changed dramatically during the 1992-2002 decade. The top six retailers in the UK up to 2002 were Tesco, Sainsbury's, Gateway (now Somerfield), Argyll (now Safeway), Asda (acquired by Wal-Mart) and Kwik Save. Tesco was far ahead of its competitors in 2002 with sales worth ' 15.6 billion - her nearest rival Sainsbury's had sales of ' 6.4 billion. In 2002 W. M. Morrison arrived as a new entrant to the top six claiming a place above Safeway with sales of ' 3 billion in that year and in the process dislodging Kwik Save. 1.3. Strategic challenges: The strategic issues that the food retailing industry faced in the last decade of the twentieth century were challenging. As all of them offered - more or less - the same goods it was difficult to create a sustainable competitive advantage over an extended period. The differentiator was to be service and to beat competition businesses had to constantly evolve a process of innovation in their service offering. One of the consequences of this evolving process of innovation was to diversify product offerings that made food retailers move into non-food businesses like clothing, electrical goods, petrol, financial products and insurance apart from

Legal opinion for formation of a public company Coursework

Legal opinion for formation of a public company - Coursework Example Before the company starts its business, it must have allotted shares whose minimum value should be at least 50, 000 pounds. A quarter of the shares should be paid up; this amounts to ?12, 500. For each of the allotted shares, up to the last quarter of its nominal value has to be paid up as well as any premium (Companies House, 2012). The other procedure in the formation of a public company includes the choosing of directors of the company. Several requirements have to be followed when choosing the company directors. One of the requirements is that the person should not be disqualified by law from becoming a director or be bankrupt. The maximum age of directors that was previously seventy years has been removed. During the formation of the company, the minimum age required for company directors is sixteen years. The directors of the company should then select few names (four) that are suitable enough and indicate the company’s objective (Companies House, 2012). One of the four names selected will become the main name while the three others have to be mentioned in their order of preference. The directors should then make an application to the registrar of companies to ascertain whether the selected names are appropriate. Once the names go through, the next step includes the drafting of the memorandum of associations and articles of association. The authorized share capital of the proposed public company should then be declared and be in line with the minimum paid up capital required in forming a public company. The next step involves filing a declaration and attaching the statement in lieu of the prospectus. Once the company is through with these steps, it will obtain a certificate that will enable it to commence business. Shares will be floated through an initial public offering, which states the price per share and the minimum and maximum number of shares that can be held by shareholders (Companies House, 2012). How the courts distinguish between contrac ts of service and contracts for services and the importance of this distinction. The law distinguishes between a contract of service and a contract for services. A contract of service refers to an agreement, which may either be verbal or written, implied or expressed. In this contract, a person makes an agreement employ another person as an employee while the employed person makes an agreement to serve the employer. An example of a contract of service includes an apprenticeship agreement or contract. On the other hand, contracts for services refer to independent contractors and sub-contractors. In differentiating between a contract of service and contracts for services, courts apply such tests as integration and control (Barendrecht 2007, p. 151). The test of integration looks at the extent to which the work of the employee may be said to be integrated into business. The control test explores the question on whether the employer can tell the employee what they ought to do. Other tes ts applied by the courts in the distinction between contracts of services and contracts for services include mixed or multiple tests. These tests question whether the agreement or engagement has wages, holiday pay, and sick pay. The courts state that these tests ask whether PAYE and PRSI are deducted. According to the courts, these multiple and mixed tests should also look at whether

Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath. Essay Example for Free

Lady Lazarus by Sylvia Plath. Essay The poem Lady Lazarus gives us an insight into the troubled life of the poet Sylvia Plath. She lost her father at an early age. Supported solely by her mother she went through a very rough childhood. In fact, Sylvia Plath escaped a near fatal accident in her childhood and went on to attempt suicide twice in the following years of her life. In the poem, Plath lets her emotions flow and sheds light on her distress. In this poem, Sylvia Plath uses Holocaust imagery extensively. The Holocaust, as is widely known, refers to the inhuman torture and exploitation of the Jews by the Nazis. The first mention of the gruesome Holocaust comes in the form of a comparison between herself and a Nazi lampshade. Unbelievable as it may seem, the Nazis used the skins of the Jews to make lampshades. Plath feels that she has been used in a similar manner. Throughout her life Plath had been in and out of hospital. So much so that she felt like an object on display; a mere, inconsequential living thing on which the doctors happily carried out various experiments. The Nazis used to take away all valuable articles from the Jews, including expensive fabrics like linen. Plath refers to her skin as Jew linen, again indicating that she was used as an object. Plath suffered a nervous breakdown in her childhood. To cure her, doctors had no choice but to use shock treatment, subjecting her to unbearable pain in the process. In the poem, Plath uses the word charge which has a pun on it, referring to the brutal pain inflicted on her by the doctors. In this instance, a parallel can be drawn to the inhuman torture experienced by the Jews. In the poem, Plath refers to herself as a valuable and a pure gold baby, which is again an example of Holocaust imagery. It is widely believed that the Nazis were so cruel that they not only used the Jews to do physical work but also used their bodies to make objects like soap. Their golden teeth were plucked out and melted to make valuables such as wedding rings. Their corpses were then burnt to erase all trace of their existence. The mention of all this in the poem makes us believe that Sylvia Plath considered herself to be stifled, oppressed and exploited, just like the Jews. Finally, a striking similarity is noticed in the manner in which Plath chose to end her life and the methods used to exterminate the Jews. The Jews were killed in gas chambers where poisonous gases devoured their internal organs. Plath committed suicide by putting her head inside an oven, and died as a result of gas poisoning. In my opinion this was perhaps because she felt herself so alike the Jews that she preferred to end her life in the very same manner. Thus, we can safely conclude that Holocaust imagery forms a significant part of Sylvia Plaths poem Lady Lazarus. b) After critically analyzing the poem, the Holocaust imagery which has been used widely, seems fairly effective in conveying the poets message. It is clear from the poem that Sylvia Plath felt she has been driven to suicide by society as a whole. Evidently, she believed that life had been too unfair to her. This feeling stems from her childhood, when she lost her father. This horrific incident left a gaping void in her life. A major part of her moral support had been cruelly snatched from her. To add to this, Plath had a pitiable medical record. She made frequent visits to the hospital throughout her life. The excruciating shock treatment she received shook her completely. Once Plath got married, her personal life suffered even more. Her husband had been unfaithful to her, further aggravating her pitiable condition. Overall, Plaths life was depressing to say the least. Plath was consumed by self-pity throughout her life. In this regard, the Holocaust imagery used by Plath is very effective and appropriate. It reminds us of historys most vicious tale of cruelty. This justifies its use to depict Plaths life. However, in other respects, the Holocaust imagery cannot effectively portray Plaths life. An important reason being that the Jews always had the will to survive. They were members of an affluent community who were stripped off all their possessions by the Nazis. Plath on the other hand had attempted suicide twice. This is a glaring difference between Plaths life and the Holocaust, making it quite ineffective in conveying her message. Another important difference is that the Holocaust was a planned genocide which involved the death of approximately six million people. Plaths comparison seems quite irrelevant in this aspect, as she talks about the death of a single person (herself). Finally, one of the most important differences is that Plath considered death to be a performance. At the end of the poem, Plath says that she was about to rise like a phoenix, referring to her own death. To her, attaining death was like being resurrected, as she would be freed from her troubled life. Plath believed death to be a means of attaining victory over life. She clearly mentions that when she survived her second suicide attempt, it was a theatrical comeback. In comparison, the Holocaust was only about forcing people into giving up their lives. Thus, in my opinion, taking these factors and many more subtle differences onto consideration, the Holocaust imagery is fairly effective in conveying Plaths message.

Beta Blockers Properties Of Propranolol And Atenolol Biology Essay

Beta Blockers Properties Of Propranolol And Atenolol Biology Essay Abstract This essay reports the properties of propranolol (lipophilic ÃŽ ²1-selective blocker) and atenolol (hydrophilic ÃŽ ²1-selective blocker) in the point of view of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and physical chemistry. It is observed that their pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties are different, but its physicochemical properties are relative close. Introduction to ÃŽ ²-blockers The ÃŽ ²-blockers are drugs which act by blocking the effect of mediators and agonists on the relevant receptors. The ÃŽ ²-blockers show an antihypertensive effect, which is caused by reduced cardiac output, decreased release of renin, central decrease of sympathetic action. Also, they exhibit an antianginal effect, which is caused by slowing of the heart rate and thus decreased metabolic demand. The main side effects of general ÃŽ ²-blockers are cardiac failure, such as cardiac depression, hypotension, sinus node dysfunction, atrioventricular block. The side effects depend on the properties of ÃŽ ²-blockers. For instance, non-selective ÃŽ ²-blockers show the unwanted effects caused by blocking ÃŽ ²2-receptor. These show bronchoconstriction which is potentially life-threatening in asthmatic patients and clinically undesirable in patients with other respiratory problems. Lipophilic ÃŽ ²-blockers may cause psychological symptoms, such as depression. There are some important factors in the selection of ÃŽ ²-blockers, which are ISA, MSA, ÃŽ ²1-selectivity, lipophilicity, solubility, and the duration of effects. The ÃŽ ²2-selective blockers are not used clinically, because of causing bronchoconstriction. Some ÃŽ ²-blockers show the effect of not only blocking the receptors, but also stimulating ÃŽ ²-receptors. It depends on the situation whether ISA positive ÃŽ ²-blockers stimulate or block ÃŽ ²-receptors. For example, these act as ÃŽ ²-blockers under the existence of ÃŽ ²-agonists. On the other hand, these invigorate the receptors under the non-existence of ÃŽ ²-agonists. Such an effect is termed ISA which is intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. The drugs which have ISA decrease the side effects caused by ÃŽ ²-blockers. The non-selective blocks of ÃŽ ²-receptors cause the increase in cardiac afterload and bronchocostriction, because of ÃŽ ²2-blocking. The ÃŽ ²1-selective drugs slightly have the effect of ÃŽ ²2-blocking, but the ris k of causing cardiac afterload and bronchoconstriction is lower than that of non-selective ÃŽ ²-blockers. The duration of effects depends on the disease. Long acting ÃŽ ²-blockers are desirable for hypertension and heart failure, because of the low frequency of administration. In contrast, short acting ÃŽ ²-blockers, propranolol, are ideal drugs for angina, because of the fast onset of action. As I stated above, lipophilic ÃŽ ²-blockers have a risk of causing depression. The reason is such drugs are absorbed easily, so can penetrate BBB. MSA, membrane stabilising activity, is an activity which prevents sodium ions from entering inside of cells. Many ÃŽ ²-blockers, such as propranolol, have the activity, so these are useful for arrhythmia. The properties of propranolol Propranolol is a non-selective ÃŽ ²-blocker, which is clinically used as propranolol hydrochloride. The IUPAC name is (2RS)-1-(1-Methylethyl) amino-3-(naphthalen-1-yloxy) propan-2-ol monohydrochlorid. The molecular weight is 295.80, and the melting point is around 165 degrees. It is white crystalline powder, and it is easy to dissolve in water and methanol. Also, the methanol solution doesnt exhibit optical activity. Its structural formula is following. Propranolol is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, its plasma level reach a peak, 42.9ng/ml, after 1.5 hours of administration. The half life is approximately 3.9 hours. The metabolism of propranolol is mainly conducted by the liver, so it is metabolised to naphthoxylactic acid, glucuronic acid conjugate, and 4-Hydroxypropranolol. It is mainly metabolised by CYP2D6, CYP1A2, and CYP2C19. As I discussed above, propranolol can penetrate BBB and transition to the brain, because of lipophilic. Its dosage amount is mostly excreted in urine within 48 hours, and the rest is excreted in faeces, which is just less than 4 percentages. Its pharmacological actions include an antihypertensive effect, an antianginal effect, and MSA. Propranolol doesnt show ISA in the experiment with using rats, so it is considered that propranolol doesnt show human ISA as well as rats. Some side effects have been reported, such as, bronchoconstriction, slowing of heart rate, and allergic. These days, a new si de effect is becoming popular, which is mental symptoms, such as depression, nightmare, and insomnia. There is the drug-drug interaction in propranol. For instance, propranolol cant use with thioridazine which is a psychotropic drug, especially for integration dysfunction symptom. The reason is the side effect of thioridazine is likely to happen, because of preventing propranolol from being metabolised thioridazine by enzymes in the liver. In the same way, propranolol cant use with rizatriptan which is a drug for migraine. Combination use with propranolol and rizatoriptan induce the extension of half life of and the increase of AUC, so increase the side effects. Also, it is essential to avoid administering rizatoriptan within 24 hours of administration of propranolol for the same reason. Its package leaflet approved by US Food and Drug Administration warns. Therefore, its administration should not be stopped suddenly. Above statement is one of the most important warnings in the usage of propranolol. Properties of atenolol Atenolol is a ÃŽ ²1-selective blocker without showing MSA and ISA, which is used for hypertension, angina, and cardiac dysrhythmias. It is sold as TENORMIN in the market. The IUPAC name is 2-(4-{(2RS)-2-Hydroxy-3-[(1-methylethyl) amino] propyloxy} phenyl) acetamide. The molecular weight is 266.34, and the melting point is around 155 degrees. It is white or light yellow crystalline powder, and it is easy to dissolve in water and methanol as well as propranolol. In addition, the methanol solution doesnt exhibit optical activity. Its structural formula is following. Atenolol is almost half absorbed from gastrointestinal tract, and the rest enter systemic circulation without getting first pass effect on the liver. Its half life is approximately 7 hours. Atenolol is little metabolised in the liver, but some are metabolised to glucuronic acid conjugate. The data shows that atenolol is low distribution to brain compared to proranolol, because its drug is hydrophilic. Therefore, it has been reported that atenolol hardly have an influence on mental symptom unlike propranolol. The excretion of oral atenolol is approximately 50% in urine and faeces respectively, but 90% of them are not metabolised. As I stated above, atenolol is a ÃŽ ²1-selective blocker, so it is little to affect bronchial tubes which is controlled by ÃŽ ²2-receptor. However, the data have been reported atenolol inhibit ÃŽ ²2-receptor at high dose. Its side effects are almost the same as propranolol. The main difference between atenolol and propranolol is the incidence of tracheal symp toms, such as bronchoconstriction and bronchial spasm. Propranolol blocks ÃŽ ²-receptors non- selectively, so causes different tracheal symptoms. In contrast, atenolol inhibits ÃŽ ²1-receptors selectively, so barely makes such symptoms happen. The sudden cessation of therapy with atenolol has a possibility of causing cardiac diseases for specific patients. Its leaflet approved by FDA cautions, The properties of ÃŽ ²-blockers in obese patients These days, the number of obese people is increasing due to high calorie foods and the decrease of exercise. It is common for obese patients to take drug therapy in clinical practice, because obesity is connected with many diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it is important to identify pharmacological and pharmacokinetic properties in obese patients. Jerzy Wojcickia studied the pharmacological and pharmacodynamic properties between propranolol and atenolol in obese patients. As a result, he concluded following. Conclusion In summary, there are some differences between propranolol and atenolol from the point of view of pharmacology, because of the difference of selectivity of ÃŽ ²-receptor. In the same way, there are some pharmacokinetic differences as well, such as the duration of half life and the mechanism of metabolism and excretion. In contrast, their physicochemical properties are similar. In clinical use, there are some warnings respectively, and the common cautions are to avoid sudden discontinuation of administration. Its dosage should be progressively decreased over a few weeks in order to avoid such side effects. I studied the characters between these ÃŽ ²-blockers in obese patients. In the study, it was not observed there are the obvious differences between obese patients and non-obese patients

Abortion - Bible is Pro-Choice :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Bible is Pro-Choice Without any question, the Bible is overwhelminly pro-choice. Although the Hebrews were influenced by many of the laws of their Assyrian, Sumerian, and Babylonian neighbors, all of which forbade abortion, the Hebrew scriptures had no laws forbidding abortion, not a single one. This was chiefly because the Hebrews placed a higher value on women than did their neighbors. There are, however, some references to the termination of pregnancy. Exod. 21:22-25 says that if a pregnant woman has a miscarriage as a result of injuries she receives during a fight between two men, the penalty for the loss of the fetus is a fine; if the woman is killed, the penalty is "life for life." It is obvious from this passage that men whose fighting had caused a woman to miscarry were not regarded as murderers because they had not killed the woman. The woman, undeniably, had greater moral and religious worth than did the fetus, which was nothing more than a worthless glob of tissue, a meaningless, lifeless conglomeration of cells - contrary to antichoice people who cons ider it "human life." There is also reference in the Mosaic law to what is now called "abortion on request" Num. 5:11-31 indicates that if a husband suspects his wife is pregnant by another man, the "husband shall bring his wife to the priest," who shall mix a drink intended to make her confess or be threatened with termination of her pregnancy if she has been unfaithful to her husband. In other words, the Jewish Church was directly involved in bringing about abortions for those countless Hebrew women who fell into this category referred to above. Yes, the Jewish priests actually performed the abortion on the women. The Bible is undeniably specific on this point. Of course, there are less intelligent biblical exegetes who interpret this in various other obviously erroneous ways. It is best not to consider their ignorant opinions in this matter.

Robert Wrhinghim in James Hoggs Novel, The Private Memoirs and Confess

Robert Wrhinghim in James Hogg's Novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner Works Cited Not Included   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  James Hogg's classic novel, The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, portrays the fictional story of Robert Wringhim, a strong Calvinist who justifies murder by quickening the inevitable. Robert commits infamous acts of evil, believing that these murderous actions glorify God by annihilating sinners not chosen to be saved. I believe that a combination of factors involving both nurture and nature shape Wringhim into the suffering creature that he becomes. The greatest of these factors include Paranoia Schizophrenia, Multiple Personality Disorder, and the rejection of society.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To my limited medical knowledge, I understand Wringhim to suffer from a severe case of Paranoia Schizophrenia among other forms of mental illnesses. There is evidence for this theory in the novel. For example, it is typical for victims of this medical condition to have an immense fear that literally controls their life. In the early pages of the book, Wringhim discusses this paranoid fear which consumes his life. ?My heart quakes with terror, when I thought of being still living in a state of reprobation, subjected to the awful issues of death, judgment, and eternal misery( Hobbes 118). This fear of ?death, judgment and eternal misery? controls him and becomes all he thinks about. He goes on to describe that he prays three times a day and seven times on the Sabbath to cope with this fear of damnation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  However, even though Wringhim is obsessed with the security of his salvation earlier in the novel, this fear appears to diminish by an overwhelming sense of security that he is elected to be saved from the eternal flames fire, after his father bargains with God for Robert?s soul (130). Although there is little evidence to support this theory, it is not unintelligent for one to believe that Wringhim?s original fear of eternal damnation persists throughout his lifetime, even after he realizes he is one of the elect. Page 153 shows Robert struggling with the question of whether he is truly elect or not. This shows that his paranoid fear still persists.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After examining Wringhim?s murderous actions and the mental state he was possibly in, it can be concluded that Wringhim murders the ?enemies of the Lord? because it helps... ...er is rejected by society and goes on to cause great evil even though his heart longed to do good. The monster?s own creator rejected his creation leaving the monster with an immense feeling of misery. Robert Wringhim?s and the monster?s lives are very similar in the sense that those who should accept and love them were the first to reject them and then all of society followed forcing them to cause great evil to revenge their hurt. Revenge for society rejecting him could have been another factor that played in his decisions to murder. ?My life has been a life of trouble and turmoil; of change and vicissitude; of anger and exultation; of sorrow and of vengeance? (117).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Furthermore, it was not merely through nurture or nature that lead Robert Wringhim to commit these murders; it was the combination of both. Nature and nurture should not be classified into two separate categories or theories, because they have a correlating relationship and work off of each other. Hogg demonstrates this through Robert Wringhim using both nature (Paranoia Schizophrenia), nurture (rejection of society), and a mental disorder that combines both classifications (Multiple Personality Disorder).

Good and Evil of Internet Essay

The onset of computers on the general population has given a boost to the Economy in the world’s market. People who weren’t much aware of the world became drawn to computers, which in turn brought about the Internet, connecting the world all over. The Internet has played a major role in the lives of people all over the world. Now, it is not limited to just important organizations or governments. Everyone who owns a computer is logged on to the Internet; and this has made the world seem smaller. No one has to wait for the postman to deliver the mail, but instead one can just connect to the Internet and right away, you got mail. The Internet has been a boon, yet there are its darker aspects, which has caused much harm. The world is now so dependent on the Internet that it seems unthinkable of living without it. The computer industry got a boost when the people discovered that the world was progressing in leaps and bounds, and should any country be left out would be considered a backward country. Developing countries caught on to the progress. Learning about computers in school was made compulsory. To enhance the knowledge, everyone, young and old had to learn about computers and that was the first step. From computers to the Internet is but just a step ahead. Families who have migrated to different parts of the world have the link of Internet to connect to their relatives and friends, in the fastest and cheapest way. Internet has brought families, friends and businesses closer than they actually are. Communications via the Internet is so fast and cheap that there is no hold to its progress. The Internet brought about a lot of developments around the world, which otherwise would have taken much longer. Employers could buy the best talent around the world at a cheaper price than they would have to pay for hiring local workers. The young and aspiring workers left their homes and found better employment abroad, by searching for jobs on the Internet. Businesses flourished, as they could be in touch with whom they were dealing with, fast and quick on the Internet. The Internet brought prosperity all around and every small and big business caught on to the fear of being left behind. Big and small schools opened up for teaching computers and the Internet. Cyber cafes flourished to the assistance of those who did not possess a computer. Various Internet service providers propped up offering a variety of discounts and benefits for Internet services. Industries prospered, employees and employers also prospered, and to say the least there is just no stopping to the growth of the Internet. Information is at your fingertips, there is no need for the newspaper; all you need to do is switch on the computer and go to the web page to read the news. The Internet certainly is responsible for the development of the world, but it also has its negativity, which has brought about considerable disruptions and problems in its wake. Bad characters had limitations before, but now with the Internet, their limitations have gained a spot over. Countries know the secrets of each other and are always trying to harm one another in some way. Recent September eleven attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, in which thousands perished and landmarks reduced to rubble, are living proofs of what the Internet is capable of. Hacking, junk mail, obscene mail, porn mail and viruses are all done via the Internet. There is much damage done via the Internet to the minds of young adolescent children and these are just a few examples. The world is full of good and bad people, and having the Internet at your fingertips leaves something to your imagination of where the world is progressing today. The discovery of Internet is definitely a boon to the world and the development and betterment it has done for countries and people throughout the world. The progress that the world has made is beyond imagination, thanks to the Internet. The Internet has its advantages and disadvantages too. Those who want the betterment of the world spread enlightment and those that are bad create trouble and Internet is just the media through which they have access to the minds of people fast and results are equally fast and damaging. Now it is the responsibility of each and every family, parents, teachers, and the well wisher of the world to educate their young impressionable children, to differentiate between the good and evil. We hope this awareness should eliminate the negative aspect of the Internet.

Misunderstood Adolescents

Stereotypes of a group of people can affect the way society views them, and change society’s expectations of them. And with enough exposure to a certain type of stereotype, society may come to view the stereotypes more of the reality, rather than it being a â€Å"chosen representation,† which can cause a misunderstanding between people. The public’s perception of today’s teenagers, stereotypes them in such a way that portrays teenagers as â€Å"bad. † Teenagers are believed to be obnoxious and ignorant (moody, insecure, argumentative, impulsive, etc. because of how society sees the majority of teenagers. People believe that teens are rebellious, immature, and trouble for their parents. People tend to think teens are violent, reckless, and lazy. Many people do believe that strict eye should be kept around teenagers, especially those who tend to create problems or those who misbehaves. However we all do realize and know that not all teenagers are like that. Some may fall into the mentioned criteria, while others do not. I do understand, there are teenagers whose overall, general idea during their adolescence, is to have fun and â€Å"explore† during their younger years (like how many people say to enjoy your teenage years), but there are also teenagers who focus on more serious aspects of life. We cannot classify teenagers as adults when in reality, there are some who act like children, but at the same time, we cannot and or shouldn’t classify them as children either for the few of those who do act like adults. In my opinion, society bases their stereotypes on the teens they come into contact with as well as the ones that stand out from the rest. These portrayals trigger the â€Å"involuntary response† that all teenagers must be that way—a false assumption of both parents and teenagers. The negative stereotypes not only affect how adults see teenagers, but they also influence how teenagers see themselves. Knowing the feeling that the majority of the world doesn’t respect or understand teenagers does little when trying to encourage a positive sense of self-worth in themself. Believing in a stereotype has its disadvantages. I believe that it is in partly because of the misinterpretation and hugely overstated way teenagers are depicted through he media (in movies, television, etc. ) First of all, nobody likes being judged because of a stereotype. Nobody wants to be known as someone their not. Adults insist on stereotyping teenagers because they often act in stereotypical ways. For example, making generalizations that adults think they are no good and will do bad things just because they don't agree with them on a particular issue. Teenagers want their voice heard and with these stereotypes, however nobody’ willing to listen to their perspective or side of the story. So teenagers appear to be rebellious, when they get stubborn in attempting to get their point of view across. These stereotypes about teenagers are so common that, now teens do re-question about themself, in general, if they are bad. A personal experience that I had with how people viewed me in comparison with other teenagers on school campus, was just recently when I was a new student to Mclane High School. Coming from Clovis Unified, and knowing what I hear about McLane, I already knew that McLane wasn’t the best school or was in the best neighborhood as well. I would often hear stories about how students would ditch their classes and not even come to school, probably like come to school every other school days. And sadly, some not even able to graduate with their high school diploma. My first day on the McLane campus, I was especially shocked when I met up with a counselor and was ask if I was â€Å"planning to drop out of school, or attend college. † Obviously, I wanted to go to college, but knowing about how some of the students in McLane aren’t eligible to go to college, I took that more of a concerned question rather than a put-down comment. It’s true that teenage is characterized by having mood swings and or abrupt behavior due to â€Å"hormonal† changes, but yet it is the same for every teen in the world. Teenagers are more intelligent and skilled than what society â€Å"assumes† they are. During our adolescence, it is simply more of a phase transition into adulthood, where there are various reasons why we do and act the way we do, to be able to understand us, society should let teenagers themselves explain the stories behind the stories that people assume about them, and let people listen. Stereotyping teenagers (and or for any other group of people) doesn’t seem unjust, but yet it happens in society. Groups are misunderstood because people aren’t willing to listen to what one another has to say about their view, which causes confusion or we just start to assume based on what we know only (which is only one side of the full story).

Radioactive Waste Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Radioactive Waste Management - Essay Example Hospitals and labs doing research work generate low-levels of radioactive waste. Also the nuclear fuel cycle generates it, however at this level the radioactivity lasts a short time and not dangerous to dispose of. The intermediate-level of waste should be disposed carefully as it contains higher amounts of radioactivity. The high-level waste may be the used fuel itself, or the waste generated from reprocessing the fuel. They contain long-lived radioactivity and also generates a high amount of heat. (AUA, 2007) Radioactive materials are themselves a threat, and shielding is required for their management. Their waste is even more a threat since it can affect millions of people throughout the area that has been exposed to, hence proper management is required. Since most of the radioactive waste can be reused for nuclear plants, its high cost and utility makes it important to manage it properly. Also management from the point of view of keeping radioactive materials secure is also important since in the wrong hands, radioactive materials can be used to spread terrorism in the world. (IAEA, 1995) Radioactive waste is hazardous for the natural environment in high quantities. Once the radioactivity escapes into the environment, humans and other species are exposed to ionizing radiation. Since humans are among the most radiation sensitive organisms, the effect can be as bad as or even worse than that happed to the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The natural resources would be destroyed over extended periods of time. Chemical pollution and adverse affect on the natural habitats of other species can de disastrous for our future generations. (IAEA, 1995) Political Impacts Keeping radioactive waste can be a threat to the security of a nation and even a threat to the world. Since terrorism is a very strong force in this world today, keeping radioactive waste provides an opportunity to these fanatics to take control of the waste and use them for their terrorist activities. Physical The radioactive waste requires special landfills with lead containers kept deep inside the earth. The land then becomes unusable due to threat of radioactive contamination. When an area becomes contaminated, it then becomes quarantined and involves a massive cleanup campaign. If the radioactive waste is short lived then usually the site becomes usable after the radioactive waste decays. However in the case of long-lived waste, suitable sites are cleared and dug up to facilitate the waste in deep final repositories. (IAEA, 1995) Economic The management of radioactive waste is often extremely expensive. According to an Israeli estimate, it costs $30,000 per ton to treat and properly dispose low-radioactive nuclear waste (Kloosterman, 2007). This cost is extremely high for even a developed country. According to Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA), UK's nuclear waste clean-up program could cost more than 70bn (BBC, 2006). Responses Individuals Everyone at a personal level realizes the threat that radioactive waste poses for their country and to themselves. At a personal level, everyone should try to contain and limit the use of radioactive material in

The Chemistry of Biodiesel Production Term Paper

The Chemistry of Biodiesel Production - Term Paper Example Biodiesel is one such form of hydrocarbon based fuels. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) defines biodiesel fuel as monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from a renewable lipid feedstock, such as vegetable oil or animal fat (Zhang et al. 1). It is made by chemically combining any natural oil, fat or recycled grease with a suitable alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. The general equation that can be used to predict the amount of biodiesel that will be made from fats and oils is as shown: 100 pounds of oil + 10 pounds of methanol > 100 pounds of biodiesel + 10 pounds of glycerol Biodiesel can be used as neat (B 100) or in a blend with petroleum diesel for example a blend of 20 % biodiesel with 80 % petro-diesel by volume, is termed â€Å"B 20† (van Gerpen et al. 22). ... The Biox process involves the use of a co-solvent, tetrahydrofuran (THF), to solubilize the methanol. THF enhances solubility of the alcohol in the triglyceride phase and thus hastens the otherwise slow reaction (van Gerpen et al. 38). With THF the reaction takes 5 to 10 minutes at a low temperature of 30 °C. On the other hand, in the supercritical process a high alcohol to oil ratio (42:1) mixture is subjected to supercritical conditions – temperatures of 350 – 400  °C and pressures of 1200 pounds per square inch and above. So far, the huge capital and operating costs incurred in performing the supercritical reactions have made scaling up of this process to be quite difficult (van Gerpen et al. 40). The most common way to produce biodiesel is through transesterification. Transesterification refers to a catalyzed chemical reaction involving vegetable oil and an alcohol to yield fatty acid alkyl esters (which is the biodiesel) and glycerol. Catalyzed processes ca n be further subdivided into three major processes: acid catalyzed processes, alkali catalyzed processes and enzyme catalyzed processes (Zhang et al. 2). The alkali catalyzed process involves use of a basic catalyst such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide whereas the acid catalyzed process involves the use of an acid such as sulfuric, phosphoric, hydrochloric, or organic sulfonic acids as the catalyst. In enzyme catalyzed processes, lipases are used to catalyze transesterification in either aqueous or non-aqueous systems. Acid catalyzed and alkali catalyzed processes are the ones that continue to receive the most attention largely because the production of enzymes is significantly costly and their reactions remarkably slower (Zhang et al. 2). As mentioned previously,