Ikea Report free essay sample

Key Company Facts Inter IKEA Systems BV| Headquarters| Netherlands| Regional Involvement| Asia Pacific, Australasia, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, North America, Western Europe| Sector Involvement| Home and garden specialist retailers, home shopping, internet retailing| World retailing share (2007-2008)| 0. 3% (2008)0. 3% (2007)| Value sales growth (2007-2008)| 16. 9% (2008)20. 7% (2007)| Increasing global share Ikea generated revenue of EUR22. billion (US$35 billion) in the year ended August 2008. This makes it by far the largest player in the furniture and furnishings stores channel, with second-placed, Bed Bath Beyond Inc registering revenue of just over US$7 billion in the year ended February 2009. Ikea’s broad geographic reach, rapid store network expansion and market positioning meant that its sales grew significantly faster than most of its main rivals. Bed Bath Beyond’s reliance on the US led to revenue growth of only 2% in the year to February 2009. For tax avoidance reasons, privately-owned Ikea is controlled by INGKA Holding, itself owned by the non-profit INGKA Foundation, and a franchising relationship exists between INGKA Holding and Inter IKEA Systems BV. We will write a custom essay sample on Ikea Report or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In the financial year to August 2004, the last year when it released results, INGKA Holding recorded profits of EUR1. 4 billion, corresponding to a robust 11% margin. Defying economic crisis Despite the fact that the global downturn in discretionary consumer spending and declining house prices in several markets have had a marked negative impact on the performance of many home and garden specialist retailers, Ikea saw revenue grow by 9% in the year ended August 2008. The compatibility of Ikea’s value-orientated business model with prevailing market conditions enabled the company to increase its share of world furniture and furnishings stores value sales by 0. and 0. 4 percentage points in 2007 and 2008 respectively. SWOT ANALYSIS FOR IKEA Strengths * Strong brand image Ikea has developed a strong brand image combining a distinctive style and affordability. Hence, it has a broad and loyal consumer base. * Broad geographic reach Developed a wide-ranging geographic reach which enabling significant growth potential of emerging markets. Weaknesses * Queuing systems Customers often spend hours to pay at the checkouts. It is caused of insufficient stores available. * Cost Delivery cost and time waiting to receive the items that have been purchased. Opportunities * Dynamism in emerging markets Planning to expand the markets to different countries by opening more stores and focusing on cheaper and beneficial prices. * E retailing It could introduce internet buying which would offer service for those customers who prefer to shop online. Threats * Difficult economic conditions The business is still being threatened by low spending power, waning consumer confidence and poorly performing housing markets. * Increasing competition from non-specialists The efforts of major grocery retailers to expand their furniture and furnishings offer are further enhanced by the development of internet retailing and also lower prices offered by the competitors. References Kotler P, Wong V, Saunders J and Armstrong G (2005) Principles of Marketing 4th edition, Harlow; Pearson Education Limited. IKEA 2005 – home page (internet) WWW. IKEA. COM Key Strategic Objectives and Challenges Competitive Pricing Low prices are central to Ikea’s strategy, enabling it to reach a very broad consumer base and to remain robust in the face of extremely challenging economic conditions, even attracting new consumers who may previously have been put off by its mass-market image. However, rising raw material and transport costs forced the company to raise prices in 2009, stating that this was the first price hike in five years. Moreover, the differentiation conferred by Ikea’s pricing strategy is undermined by similar approaches from direct rivals and low-price retailers such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour and Tesco venturing into furniture and furnishings New market entries Ikea aims to accelerate the pace of its expansion into new markets. In the 10 years to the end of 2008, the company entered only two new markets –Japan and Portugal –a significantly lower rate of expansion than during its early history. However, Ikea has stated its intention of entering seven or eight new markets over the next decade. 90% will be in emerging markets, with India and Mexico amongst the markets under consideration. Thus, the company hopes to tap into the expansion of the urban middle class and counter maturity and increasing competition in developed markets. Slowing down store expansion While Ikea intends to speed up expansion into new markets, it is responding to the impact of the unfavourable economic environment in developed markets by slowing down its overall store expansion. In 2007, Ikea opened 22 stores, with 20 more being added in 2008. However, from 2010, the company intends to open only 10-15 stores a year, down from a planned 20-25 stores a year. Moreover, while Ikea intends to increase its staff numbers from the current 130,000, it does not rule out eventual job cuts as it seeks to adapt to a harsh economic climate. Expansion in Eastern Europe With Ikea increasingly looking to emerging markets to generate growth beyond mature developed markets suffering from severe economic difficulties, Eastern Europe is becoming an increasingly important focus for the company’s development strategy. With plans to open stores in all major cities in the country, Ikea foresees Russia becoming its largest world market. It is also investing heavily in Poland, and entering or considering entering several new markets in the region, including Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Ukraine. SOURCE :  © Euromonitor International Ethical Development Strengthens Brand Distinctiveness Sustainable values With rivals imitating Ikea’s pricing strategy and product design, and the expansion of major grocery retailers into furniture and furnishings sales, the company is having to work increasingly hard to maintain the distinctiveness of its brand. Ongoing creative marketing activity maintains a buzz around the brand, and is particularly helpful in raising awareness of new store openings. However, the company is also seeking to develop a more sustainable image bringing additional resonance with consumers, associating the brand with deeper values in the context of a growing consumer concern with ethical issues. Distinct advantages While many retailers are seeking to generate an image of corporate responsibility related to social and environmental issues, Ikea’s established high levels of consumer trust and the association of its Scandinavian heritage with progressive and environmentally-aware values, place it in an unusually strong position to build a positive ethical and transparent image. Thus, while the efforts of retailers such as Wal-Mart to develop a socially and environmentally-responsible image are often attempts to turn around negative consumer perceptions, Ikea once again has the opportunity to build on established strengths instead. Furthermore, it has the advantage of a loyal consumer base which is willing to view its social and environmental plans in a generous light and thereby strengthen its association with the brand. For example, the Ikea Social Initiative is an organisation which sponsors medical treatment, and educational and environmental projects on a national and international level, including a programme to introduce cancer treatment training to doctors in Vietnam. Environmental focus Ikea is particularly focused on the environment, an area in which it appears to go some way further than competitors such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot. The company’s eco-friendly activity extends from no longer offering disposable plastic bags in its stores to investing US$75 million in new green technology in five areas -solar technology, energy conservation, water saving products, alternative lighting and new product materials –through its Green tech subsidiary. Ikea also recycles 84% of the waste generated in its stores, while 71% of all Ikea products are recyclable, made from recycled products, or both. In addition, the company aims to have 100% renewable energy sourcing for its stores. Moreover, when forced to adapt to stricter environmental legislation in particular markets –as when Japan restricted formaldehyde emissions to close to zero –Ikea extended the restrictions to its global operations. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS Develop internet retailing presence Increased access to the internet, the rising popularity of mobile internet devices, greater transaction security and convenience and price-consciousness are all driving strong growth in internet retailing in the majority of Ikea’score markets. â€Å"Click and brick† operators with established store-based brands, such as Tesco and Wal-Mart, are expanding strongly in the channel. Ikea’sstrong brand and established distribution infrastructure position it well to develop its own internet retailing presence. Continue expansion in emerging markets Despite its geographic expansion, Ikea’ssales remain heavily biased towards Western Europe and North America, which jointly accounted for 87% of company sales in 2008. With these markets subject to maturity and increasing competition, as well as severe economic problems, the company should make good its commitment to increase its focus on emerging markets. It should focus on targeting the growing urban middle class in these markets, continuing to move beyond first-tier cities in existing markets such as Russia and China, and entering new ones, such as Ukraine and India. Stay receptive to opportunities of economic climate Ikea’sallegedly strong financial base and its low-priced strategy mean that it is well adapted to survive in the current testing economic environment. The company should look beyond mere survival, however, at the opportunities thrown up by these conditions. Ikeashould target consumers who may previously have considered it too downmarket. It should also court the customers of failed rivals, such as MFI in the UK. The failure of rivals and the condition of the real estate market in several key countries also offer opportunities to acquire cut-priced store sites. Tapping into such potential will leave Ikeaa stronger company as economic conditions improve. Focus on ethical image With the distinctiveness of its offer being undermined by rivals’ imitative strategies and the aggressive pricing of major grocery retailers expanding into its key product areas, Ikeaneeds to concentrate on maintaining its brand differentiation. The company should look to build on its high levels of consumer trust and the positive associations of its Scandinavian heritage by developing its corporate image in line with growing consumer concerns with ethical issues. It should continue, for example, to develop environmental practices ahead of legislative demands, and invest in eco-friendly product development. SOURCE :  © Euromonitor International lovelynisha6 Passwordtribuneshipevase

Idealism & Realism essays

Idealism & Realism essays In 1651, Thomas Hobbes wrote Leviathan, thus introducing the backbone of realist view in politics. Hobbes believed that humans posses a desire to dominate, and this urge is the base for our political interactions. I agree with Hobbes in this animus dominandi as the driving factor behind mans political thought. Although I agree greatly with Hobbes, I would still classify myself as an idealist. I believe that through idealist actions it is possible to attain greater power than through the heavy-handed ways of realism. A realist belief is that the very nature of politics is increasing power, keeping power, or demonstrating power. Because of this emphasis on power, realists wish to limit power of groups like the U.N. Force or a threat of force is used as the means of dominating others in this forum. Realism depends on competition among sovereign states, thus creating conflict. This conflict would then be resolved with the nation-states as primary actors. Realists oppose a world federal government, because it would eliminate the competitive nature of politics. War results naturally from realist views. Safeguarding national interest is essential to keeping power, and is believed to be policy makers foremost concern. Realists would argue that power is the universal ideal that transcends national allegiances and boundaries. A realist would believe that a display of force would be more effective than economic sanctions. Realists key belief is that those with the power should play the most important ro le in decision making. These views seem to be in sharp contrast to the more peaceful idealist beliefs. Idealists support organizations like the U.N. to promote peace. Force can be accepted as a last resort in international relations. Cooperation between nations drives idealism. Idealists believe that organizations like the U.N. should step in as the primary actors to resolve problems. A world government woul...

To Spy or Not to Spy on Software Company Globe Alive, Inc Case Study

To Spy or Not to Spy on Software Company Globe Alive, Inc - Case Study Example The company has more than 150 employees. Its vision is to be a leading company that assists in the network design and servicing of Canadian firms who were conducting business in a foreign country. Several issues exist in the enterprise. It needs to address them for it to succeed in the software industry. According to the CEO, the company needs an appropriate technology to solve its issues. The human resource department has noted that technology cannot build a team-oriented workforce (Mondy, Noe, & Gowan, 2005). The production manager and the Operations Manager agree that it is impossible to build trust between management and subordinate staff members if the company embraces the spyware usage. Helmut Schwartz is a technological person with a vast experience and education in Information Technology. He thus believes that, based on his experience, technology will go a long way in the growth of the Globe Alive company. However, he faces a lot of resistance from the other executives against new ideas and a lack of innovative thinking at the firm. Schwartz embraces more expansive and modern strategic philosophies, unlike the previous CEO. He wants all employees to embrace creative t hinking in their operations. Additionally, Schwartz spies employees to ensure they are not wasting time. On the other hand, Stuart Miller has a rich background in human resource management. He believes that embracing appropriate human resource strategies is the best way of moving the firm ahead. He thus proposes the use of Human Resource metric services in measuring turnover, resignation rates, sick days, and other parameters. The human resource manager impressed the members of the executive team by his presentation of an innovative idea of analytics and tracking data of employees. However, the CEO presentation of surveillance software failed to impress them. Various symptoms suggest that GAI Company is experiencing some problems. The company lacks an efficient communication with global partners.  

Character analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Character analysis - Essay Example Mozart is very immature and his childlike conduct contrasts him from the grown man that he is. His actions state that he expects the world to work according to his means rather than conform himself to society. A true master at music, his character contains a great amount of passion for beauty around him, including his wife, however, despite that he is unfaithful to her, displaying his uncertainty and lack of respect towards both his emotions and that of others. His character has been depicted as humble because despite his excellent musical abilities he did not refrain from seeking help from Salieri and instead tried to make himself better and get inspired by Salieri’s words. His emotional side comes to terms with the audience as he is shown as being truly touched by learning from Salieri and showing him appreciation for having taught him what he knew. Constance Mozart, the wife of the composer, has been shown as a woman of both play and steel in the film Amadeus. Her role is n ot confined to her husband’s participation in society but is much more than that in the sense that she has her own standing in life and takes control of her family life when she witnesses Mozart not being able to strike a balance between his personal immaturity and professionalism towards his musical dreams. Even though Constance shares a number of the playful qualities of Mozart that include juvenile behavior, she also has her head on her shoulders as she has been portrayed to be a woman who knows how to go about conducting a business and make profits not only financially, but also out of situations. In the movie, she has also been shown as having a tactful frame of mind as she is willing to do anything to help her husband out; this takes place when she uses her body in the presence of Salieri to attain favors from the composer in order to save her husband and help him gain more popularity and fame. Mozart’s death left Constance in a very hard place in life with a son to look after as well as the lack of a legacy to live on with; she was forced to deal with her husband’s innumerable debts which she did with utmost skill and posterity. She was able to obtain pensions and also organize concerts for the public in honor of her husband and these depicted her true love for him. She was aware of the fact that he loved her yet was unfaithful towards her yet loved him enough to let him lead his life whichever way he wished to. She never stopped him from doing anything or taking any chances and never failed to show her compassion towards him for the work that he did. Antonio Salieri, also known as Mozart’s rival, was indeed a brilliant music composer with a focused frame of mind. Salieri was aware of the talent that he housed within himself and the success that he could bring about in his life if he used his talent well. He never engaged in actions that he assumed would distract him from his work and thus steered away from all kinds of vices like drinking, smoking, gambling, indulging in intimacy with women etc., except for his one vice – having a sweet tooth. He was extremely fond of candy, perhaps an indication to show the innocence that lay within him as most children have a fondness for candy. Salieri is a very

Role of USA in wars, rasism and terrorism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Role of USA in wars, rasism and terrorism - Essay Example This reasserted, in gendered analysis, America’s role as a masculine protector, while effeminizing its enemies by demonstrating their inability to protect their own soil. This gendered construct of war continued through to the abuses in Abu Ghraib, where American personnel, both men and women, had to rape (literally and metaphorically), and feminize their inmates to reinforce positions of masculine, patriarchal power. 2. In the Cold War, America was in a heightened state of fear unlike it has been since, with the possible exception of the immediate aftermath of September 11th. ... Thus aspects of American society deemed traditional, like respect for authority, for hierarchy and patriotism, racial division, and so on all became an integral ingredient to national defense. The most important of these â€Å"values† was family – and anything that threatened traditional family threatened America to its heart. Thus, gays and lesbians were constructed as being even more dangerous than they previously were, because of the false perception that they undermined family and family values, and thus naturally supported communism through the destruction of the bulwarks that stand against it. This fear was symptomatic of the wider fear that any weakness, any at all could lead to eventual communist victory, and that not even the smallest gap could left for communism to spread into. This line of thinking led to Johnson’s decision to enter Vietnam in 1965 – his belief in the â€Å"domino theory,† that a small country’s regime change half way around the world could eventually cause America to fall to communism lost thousands of lives. 3. Capitalist economic power has enshrined itself as being at the heart of America’s existence, its very way of life, and thus has made itself a priority of â€Å"national defense.† In recent history, America has frequently held the expansion of capitalism as a higher priority than the expansion of democracy, and his repeatedly felled democratically elected regimes in order to install dictatorial, but more capitalist, ones. In Brazil in 1964, for instance, America successfully toppled the government of Joao Goulart, to be replaced by a military government. This coup was mirrored a year later by the coup engineered in Argentina in 1976,

Saliva: Functions, Composition and Chemistry

Saliva: Functions, Composition and Chemistry 1-3 Saliva 1-3-1 Secretion and function; The components of saliva essentialy are produced by acinar cells. Saliva is the main product of the salivary glands. It is an acidic, clear, slightly mucoserous exocrine fluid forming a complex mixture of secretions from major and minor salivary glands and gingival crevicular fluid (Humphrey and Williamson, 2001; Kaufman and Lamster, 2002). This mixture of fluids derived from different salivary glands is termed ‘‘whole saliva’’, while the fluid which is secreted by single glands is called ‘‘duct saliva’’ (Edgar, 1992). The constant flow of saliva from the mouth into the gut has a protective action. This flushing effect push, for example, food debris and exogenous and possibly noxious substances into the gut (Tenovuo, 1998). Saliva is an organic fluid that can indicate local and systemic alterations, such that the components of saliva can be related to the immunologic, hormonal, neurologic, metabolic and nutritional state of the individual (Carlson, 2000). Saliva is derived from many types of salivary glands. Each type of salivary gland secretes saliva with composition ,characteristics and properties. The secretions from these different glands have been shown to be different considerably, to be affected by different forms of stimulation and to be complex in composition, time of day, age, diet ,gender, several pharmacological agents and a variety of disease states (Forde et al., 2006; Wong, 2007). 1-3-2 Salivary Composition Saliva is a clear, slightly acidic (pH 6-7) liquid; it consist of: Inorganic components The highest and abundant component in saliva is water (approximately 99%), followed by ions H2PO4–, F–, Na+, Cl– Ca2+, K+, HCO3–,I–, Mg2+, thiocyanate. The ionic composition of saliva is different from the plasma that derived from it. (Humphrey and Williamson, 2001). The hypotonicity hydrates various organic compounds that form a protective coating on the oral mucosa and facilitates taste sensitivity. Resultant bicarbonate act as a buffering agent, also calcium and phosphate neutralize acids that would otherwise inhibit tooth mineral integrity (Humphrey and Williamson, 2001; Van Nieuw Amerongen et al., 2004). Organic components Saliva includes a huge number of organic compounds such as: glucose, cholesterol, urea, uric acid, , fatty acids, mono–, di–, and triglycerides, phosphor and neutral lipids, steroid hormones, glycolipids, amino acids, ammonia and proteins that aid in the protection of oral cavity tissues, including mucins, amylases, agglutinins, glycoproteins, lysozymes, peroxidases, lactoferrin and secretory IgA. It also includes of non-immune factors include cystatins, mucin G1 and G2, lactoferrin, lysozyme, defensins, myeloperoxidase and histatins, (Hicks et al., 2004; Kavanagh and Dowd, 2004; De Smet and Contreras, 2005; Dodds et al., 2005). In addition, these macromolecules form tooth enamel pellicle and a viscoelastic mucosal coat and and cleanse and aggregate debris and bacteria from the oral cavity (Heramia, 2002). Saliva contains growth factors and a variety of antimicrobial constituents (Shugars and Wahl, 1998).There is a strong relationship between functions-constituents of saliva and a number of salivary proteins participate in more than one function. Function of saliva are: mastication, digestion, deglutition, defense (spiting and oxidative stress), protective (antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral activity, lubricant and buffering agent), drug testing, water balance, excretion, chemical communication (kissing or infant salivating) ,speaking, denture retention, tasting, (Greabu, 2001; Battino et al., 2002; Pesce and Spitalnik, 2007; Wong, 2007; Zimmermenn et al., 2007). There is a fact that saliva has been used as diagnostic fluid for more than two thousand years. Ancient doctors of traditional Chinese medicine h ave suggested that blood and saliva are ‘brothers’ in the body and they come from the same origin. It is believed that salivary changes are indicative of the wellness of the patient. Saliva offers some distinctive advantages (Tabak, 2001; Kaufman and Lamster, 2002; Forde et al., 2006; Koka et al., 2006; Pesce and Spitalnik, 2007). Smaller sample aliquots, the possibility of a dynamic study, stress free, greater sensitivity, easy collection procedure and non- invasive, a good cooperation with patients, the possibility to collection somewhere and anywhere, not a trained technician and no special equipment are needed for collection, correlation with levels in blood, potentially valuable for older adults and children , could eliminate the potential risk of contracting infectious disease for both a technician and the patient, more accurate than blood for detection of many oral and systemic diseases, may provide a cost-effective approach for the screening of large populations. Advances in the use of saliva as a diagnostic fluid have been affected by current technological developments: enzyme-linked fluorescence technique, Western blot assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Saliva is one of the most important host factors that play a role in prevention of the caries process through its inorganic and organic constituents, besides the physiological functions. The continuous flow of saliva through the mouth removes cariogenic challenges and bathes the dentition with remineralizing ions (Edgar et al., 2005; Fejerskov and Kidd, 2008; Guy, 2012). For that reason saliva plays an important role in the equilibrium between the demineralization and the remineralization of enamel (Choi, 2010). 1-3-3 Diagnostic uses of saliva Saliva is critical for maintaining and preserving the health of oral tissues and has been used to eliminate of many drugs and as a source of non-invasive investigation of metabolism . However, it receives little attention until its quantity diminishes or its quality becomes altered (Axelsson, 2000; Humphrey and Williamson, 2001; Tabak, 2001; Malamud, 2006). At present, saliva represents an increasingly useful auxiliary means of diagnosis (Malamud, 2006). Many researchers have made use of sialochemistry and sialometry to monitoring general health, diagnose systemic illnesses and as an indicator of risk for diseases creating a close relation between systemic and oral health (Gonzà ¡lez and Sà ¡nches, 2003). Recently , saliva has gained attention as an important diagnostic fluid just as for blood and urine. It is now obviuos that saliva contains the same of many biomolecules that are commonly measured in other body fluids. As an example, approximately, 30% of the proteins which found in saliva are also found in blood improving the diagnostic potential of saliva. Saliva tests give us an advantages and preferable in comparison to blood tests due to simple collection being inexpensiv, noninvasive, simple, and with minimal risk of contracting infectious organisms such as HCV, HPV and HIV by the healthcare professional. In addition saliva is an ideal biofluid for children because of no compliances (Pfaffe et al., 2011). Saliva is a plasma ultra filtrate and contains proteins either derived from blood or synthesized in situ in the salivary glands. It contains biomarkers derived from gingival crevicular fluid, mucosal transudate and serum,. Saliva is produced in the acinar cells and acinar cells are connected to the vasculature which enables molecular transportation from blood into saliva. Salivary components may originate entirely from the salivary glands or may be derived from the blood by active transport or passive diffusion (Aps and Martens, 2005). To date, researchers have identified 2, 340 proteins in saliva (Bandhakavi et al., 2009; Schulz and Cooper, 2012). Saliva resembles the plasma proteome in amanner that proteome has a large dynamic range and it is essential to suppress this dynamic range in order to enable low abundant proteins of diagnostic potential. 1-4 Smoking and changes in saliva that can be used diagnostically: It has been known for long time that thiocyanate level are increased in the saliva of smokers and still used as a biomarker of smoking activity (tsuge et al., 2000). Because of thiocyanate is a product present in tobacco smoke, it is also measures the exposure to passive smoking (Ferguson, 1998). Determining the concentration of nicotine and cotinine in biological fluids is widely used in both clinical and epidemiological smoking studies (Hatsukami et al., 2003). Both nicotine and cotinine concentrations are used to measure tobacco consumption, to validate abstinence in smoking cessation programmes and to determine exposure to environmental smoke (Hatsukami et al., 2003). Nicotine, when smoked in cigarettes is absorbed across nasal and buccal membranes. The drug has a rapid onset of action with a half-life of 2 h and can be detected in saliva, urine and blood (Hatsukami et al., 2003). As nicotine is present mainly in the non-ionised form in alkaline pH and it is a weak base (pKa of 8.0), and hence more easily absorbed with increased levels of pH (Ciolino et al., 2001). Thus, salivary pH changes will affect the amount of nicotine that is absorbed across the buccal mucosa (Zevin et al., 1998). Cotinine, the main metabolite of nicotine, is used widely for estimating exposure to nicotine. This pharmacologically inactive compound has a half-life of 20 h (15 40 h), is slowly cleared from the body and it is important to know that Cotinine is specific to tobacco (Hatsukami et al., 2003; Patterson et al., 2003). Urinary levels of cotinine have been shown to be quite variable, because of the differences in nicotine metabolism among individuals (Yang et al., 2001). Generally, cotinine levels depend of degree of exposure to ETS. increased cotinine levels were predictors of an Increased number of cigarettes smoked at home (Mannino et al., 2001). The study in adolescents in Tenerife established correlation between the degree of ETS exposure and cotinine levels in saliva . The highest values noticed in active smokers who smoked at least more than ten cigarettes daily, was 341.1 ng/mL. The smokers who smoked fewer number cigarettes, average value of cotinine was 142.7 ng/mL, while in passive smokers it was 4.2 ng/mL. In the same study, it is established that persistent cough , bronhospasm as well as infections of lower respiratory tract, are more frequent in adolescents with higher concentrations of cotinine (Suarez, 2001). 1-4-1 Amylases: Salivary ÃŽ ±-amylase is the first enzyme in the gastrointestinal tract for extracting caloric value from food. However, beyond the primary role of ÃŽ ±-amylase to begin digestion of sugars, carbohydrates and complex starches,. salivary ÃŽ ±-amylase is known be a important marker of stress. It has also been found that salivary ÃŽ ±-amylase may be influenced by psychological and behavioral factors and processes (Kivlighan, 2006). Human salivary amylase hydrolyses ct-I- 4 glycoside bonds in starch, yelding maltotriose, maltose, glucose and dextrins as final products. In spite of and having similar composition and immunological activity and playing the same role as pancreatic amylase (Liang et al., 1999), these enzymes have different molecular weights, catalytic properties and isoelectric points, (Liang et al., 1999). Salivary amylase exists in two families: family A is glycosylated while family B is nonglycosylated. At least six izoenzymes have been recognized (Liang et al., 1999). Although playing an important role in the initial digestion of starch (Tseng et at., 1999), the importance of salivary amylase in digestion has been shown to be minor compared to pancreatic, as people who lack it jul to show any digestive perturbations. However, salivary amylase has many important intra-oral functions such as participation in ACDP, modulation of intra-oral microflora and affimity for hydroxyapatite, (Scannapieco et al., 1995; Gong et al., 2000). The catalytic activity of salivary amylase also participate in degradation of sticky starch rich foods which are retained in dental surfaces and theft transformation in slow glucose releasing devices which may play quite a role in dental caries pathogenesis (Tseng et al., 1999). It has been suggested that amylase represent between 40 to 50% of the total protein produced by salivary gland, most of the enzyme being synthesized in the parotid gland (Noble, 2000). Human submandibular saliva and parotid saliva contain about 45 mg and 30 mg of amylase, respectively, per 100 mg of protein However, it has also been suggested that amylase makes up about 1/3 of the total protein content in parotid saliva, and the content would be lower in whole saliva (Pedersen et al., 2002). The concentration of amylase increases with the increase of salivary flow rate, and it is generally considered to be a reliable marker of serous cell function (Almstà ¥hl et al., 2001). Amylase is also present in human acquired pellicle in vivo (Yao et al., 2001). Fasting has been found to decrease whole saliva amylase levels and activity (Mà ¤kinen, 1989). The amylase concentrations has been found to be reduced in radiation-induced hyposalivation (Almstà ¥hl et al., 2001). During chewing, some starch is hydrolyzed into dextrins and glucose by salivary ÃŽ ±-amylase but the degree of hydrolysis ranges considerably (1 to 27%) depending on the type of food (Woolnough et al., 2010). variation in human salivary ÃŽ ±-amylase activity has been reported, with values ranging between 50 and 400 U.mL-1 60 (Kivela et al., 1997; Mandel et al., 2010). An indirect measure of ÃŽ ±-amylase activity, which is particularly relevant to food application (Gonzalez et al., 2002), can be obtained by measuring the decrease in viscosity of starch pastes with the addition of ÃŽ ±-amylase (Collado Corke, 1999). This assay has been used to study the relationship between sensory analysis of starch thickness perception, ÃŽ ±-amylase activity, starch paste and mechanical properties (Evans et al., 1986; de Wijk et al., 2004; Mandel et al., 2010). Furthermore, the effect of decreased starch viscosity (due to ÃŽ ±-amylase activity) affects saltiness perception (Ferry et al., 2006) and aroma release (Ferry et al., 2004; Tietz et al., 2008). Amylomaltase-treated starches were found to be particularly good fat substitutes in yoghurts and a loss of instrumentally-measured firmness thats because ÃŽ ±-amylase was reported in those systems (Alting et al., 2009). It is therefore accepted that ÃŽ ±-amylase has a significant 70 impact on a number of critical starch attributes during eating (Engelen Van Der Bilt, 2008), thickness perception being the main one. In literature reviews, there appeared to be a great variation in sensory analysis of thickness perception for the same starch-thickened food system which could be due to the natural variation of ÃŽ ±-amylase activity between donors. Recently, ÃŽ ±-amylase concentration variations in saliva has been linked to genetic differences (Mandel et al., 2010) and this was suggested as an explanation for the natural variation observed in thickness perception of starch-thickene systems. Moreover, sAA levels are influenced by numerous factors which may lead to variability among individual, thus again undermining the accuracy of sAA as a biomarker for fatigue. For instance, studies have shown that cigarette smoking decreases basal ÃŽ ±-amylase activity in saliva and that people who chronically drink alcohol have decreased levels of amylase (Rohleder and Nater, 2009). Activity of amylase was decreased in passive smokers compared to healthy group (Rezaei and Sariri 2011). Similar results have been reported by Granger et al who found lower salivary amylase activity for mothers, not for infants as a result of tobacco smoking exposure (Granger et al., 2007). The results showed also a decrease in salivary amylase smokers as compared to non-smokers were recorded by (Sariri et al., 2008). It was explained that inhibition of salivary amylase by cigarette smoke may be caused by the interaction between SH groups of the enzyme moleculesand smoke aldehydes. Moreover, the percentage of the enzymatic inhibition showed a negative correlation with the basal level of salivary reduced gluthation (GSH). Regular exposure of passive smokers to cigarette smoke may accumulate in their saliva a smoke aldehydes leading to their interaction with –SH group of amylase. Another study by Greabu et al. Concluded that exposure to cigarette smoke caused a significant decrease in salivary uric acid and amylase. (Greabu et al., 2007). 1-4-2 Proteins: Human whole saliva has a protein content of about 0.5 to 3 mg/mL, and parotid saliva has a protein content of about 0.4 to 4 mg/mL, while sublingual and submandiblar saliva of about 0.6 to 1.5 mg/mL. The protein concentration is independent from the flow rateand is rather stable, Besides maintaining buffer capacity and osmolarity, salivary proteins are also involved in several specific functions. The number of distinct salivary proteins is roughly between 100 and 140 (Wilmarth et al., 2004; Yao et al., 2003), from which 30.40 % are produced by the salivary glands, whereas other proteins are originated from serum, from mucosal and/or immune cells, or from microorganisms (Wilmarth et al., 2004). The most important proteins of glandular origin are alpha-amylase, glycoproteins with blood-group substances, cystatins, epidermal growth factor (EGF), gustin, histatins (HRPs), lactoferrine, lysozyme, mucins, salivary peroxi dase, proline-rich proteins (PRPs) and statherin. The most important serum derived proteins are albumin, alpha1-antitrypsin, blood-clotting factors (VIII; IXa; XI) and members of the fibri- nolytic system (proactivators, traces of plasminogen activator). Most important proteins that originate from immune cells are myeloperoxidase, calprotectin (Ca2+ binding L1 leukocyte pro- tein), cathepsin G, defensins, elastase, immunoglobulins (90% to 98% sIgA, 1% to 10% IgG, a few IgM, IgD, IgE). Finally, the most important protein constituents of microbial (unknown) or mixed origin are fibronectin, alpha2-macroglobulin, , DNases, RNases, kallikrein, streptococcal inhibitor, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), , molecular chaperone (Hsp70), and cystein peptidases. (Data are summarized in Table 1-2). The most important proteins involved in oral ecosystem maintenance are, lysozyme, agglutinins and histidine , lactoferrin, peroxidases, proline-rich proteins, as well as secretory immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulins G and M (Lià ©bana et al., 2002), Moreover, saliva contains a many types of proteins and some of them might have protective properties. Additionaly, proteins can protect the tooth structure by the formation of a salivary pellicle when tooth are exposed to saliva (Siqueira et al., 2007). This pellicle may act as a barrier for acids (Dawes, 2008). In hyposalivation, caries process and erosive wear are phenomena that occur simultaneously (Lajer et al., 2009). With respect to the development of caries it was proposed that the salivary pellicle derived from whole saliva has a preventive role (Featherstone et al., 1993). Concentration of salivary total protein did not show considerable variation in passive smokers compared to control (Rezaei and Sariri2011). A similar result was obtained for salivary protein concentration in school children with smoker parents (Granger, 2007).

Georges Seurat - Hi Painting Essay -- essays research papers

Georges Seurat used the pointillism approach and the use of color to make his painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, be as lifelike as possible. Seurat worked two years on this painting, preparing it woth at least twenty drawings and forty color sketched. In these preliminary drawings he analyzed, in detail every color relationship and every aspect of pictorial space. La Grande Jatte was like an experiment that involved perspective depth, the broad landscape planes of color and light, and the way shadows were used. Everything tends to come back to the surface of the picture, to emphasize and reiterate the two dimensional plane of which it was painted on. Also important worth mentioning is the way Seurat used and created the figures in the painting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The famous painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte was painted between 1885-1886. The subject is an island newly adopted by the Parisian middle class as a place for quiet Sunday gatherings. The painting looks very realistic. The figures and the way they are dressed look lifelike as does the beautiful landscape in the background. The colors and the painting style, pointillism, make this painting very realistic. The question is, how does Seurat go about making the painting look so lifelike?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Pointillism was a major reason in why Seurats painting looks so lifelike. During the painting of La Grande Jatte, Seurat simplified his brushwork to such an extent that his painting seems to be composed of nothing but tiny, more or less circular dots. Seurat’s experiments with color led him to paint in small dots of color which are arranged in such combinations that they seem to vibrate. Individual colors tend to interact with those around them and fuse in the eye of the viewer. This approach is not unlike the dots or pixels in a computer image. If you magnify any computer image sufficently, you will see individual colors that, when set together, produce an image. Seurat was interested in the way colors came about. With the enhancement of the luminousity of colors made possible by the investigation of scientific optics, he saw positive merit in a method in which the movement of the brush no longer demanded the slightest skill: ‘Here the hand is, in eff ect, useless, deceit impossible; no room for bravura i... ... study for the overall concept they appear rather as abstract patterns. The shadows of the figures were very carefully modeled. The light- dark contrasts of the shadows make them seem actually real. The spatial quality is only established through the relations between the sizes of the objects. The painting is not based on a geometrical, box like space. The perspective centre is on the right, despite the fact that the composition is laid in rows parallel to the picture frame. At the same time a paradoxical foreshortening from right to left is evident. The girl fishing with the orange dress and her mother are on the same level, that is, actually at equal distance. In its spatial contruction, the painting is also a successful construction, the groups of people sitting in the shade, and who should really be seen from above, are all shown directly from the side. The ideal eye level would actually be on different horizontal lines; first at head height of the standing figures, then of t hose seated. Seurats methods of combing observations which he collected over two years, corresponds, in its self invented techniques, to a modern lifelike painting rather than an academic history painting.

Branches of Psychology Essay

Abnormal psychology is the area that looks at psychopathology and abnormal behavior. 2. Behavioral Psychology (Behaviorism) )Is a theory of learning based upon the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning. 3. Biopsychology It is focused on the study of how the brain influences behavior is often known as biopsychology. 4. Cognitive Psychology Focuses on internal states, such as motivation, problem solving, decision-making, thinking and attention. 5. Comparative Psychology Comparative psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the study of animal behavior. 6. Cross-Cultural Psychology Branch of psychology that looks at how cultural factors influence human behavior. 7. Developmental PsychologyThis branch of psychology looks at development throughout the lifespan, from childhood to adulthood. 8. Educational PsychologyBranch of psychology concerned with schools, teaching psychology, educational issues and student concerns. 9. Experimental PsychologyBranch of psychology that utilizes scientific methods to research the brain and behavior. 10. Forensic PsychologyForensic psychology is a specialty area that deals with issues related to psychology and the law 11. Health PsychologyIt is focused on how biology, psychology, behavior and social factors influence health and illness. 12. Personality PsychologyIt is focused on the patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behavior that make a person unique. 13. Social PsychologySocial psychology seeks to explain and understand social behavior and looks at diverse topics. 4. Sports psychology Is a interdisciplinary science that draws on knowledge from the fields of Kinesiology (human kinetic) and Psychology. Mathematical psychology   Is an approach to  psychological  research that is based on mathematical modeling(mathematical concept and language) 16. Clinical psychology Clinical psychology also promotes adoption, adjustment and personal development. 17. Evolutionary psychology This looks at how human behavior has been affected by psychological adjustments during evolution. 8. NeuropsychologyStudy the structure and function of the brain in relation to clear behaviors and psychological processes. 19. Occupational psychology Study the performance of people at work. 20. Integral psychology  Branch of psychology that presents an all-encompassing holistic rather than an exclusivist or reductive approach 21. International  or  global psychology Is an emerging branch of  psychology  that focuses on the worldwide enterprise of psychology in terms of communication and networking. 22. Legal psychologyBranch of psychology  involves  empirical,  psychological  research of the law, legal institutions, and people who come into contact with the law. 23. Media psychology Seeks an understanding of how people perceive, interpret, use, and respond to a media-rich world. 24. Systems psychology Branch of both  theoretical psychology  and  applied psychology  that studies  human behaviour  and  experiencein  complex systems. 25. Theoretical psychology  It is concerned with theoretical and philosophical aspects of the discipline of  psychology.

Private Retirement Scheme Essay Example

Private Retirement Scheme Essay Example Private Retirement Scheme Essay Private Retirement Scheme Essay With increasing life expectancy and rising living standards, many Malaysians find that their savings are inadequate to meet their retirement needs. PRS form an integral feature of the private pension industry with the objective of improving living standards for Malaysians at retirement through additional savings of funds. As long-term investment vehicles, PRS are designed to help enhance adequacy and expand coverage of retirement benefits to all segments of the population.It complements Malaysia’s mandatory retirement savings schemes. Contributions to the PRS are voluntary. Individuals (retail investors, self-employed and employees) or employers can participate as PRS contributors. Offering private pension benefits could be a tool for employers to attract and retain skilled talent. The PRS information set out in this publication includes a description of the framework, the key features of PRS and the regulatory safeguards. A number of frequently asked questions and answers are also set out in this publication. SPE CIM EN 3 PRS FrameworkThe retirement landscape in Malaysia has been given a boost with the development of a PRS framework, which is a major deliverable of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) under the Capital Market Masterplan 2. Key components PRS Distributors Consultants Private Pension Administrator (PPA) PRS Providers Schemes Trustees Schemes PRS are offered by approved PRS Providers. Each PRS will include a range of retirement funds from which individuals may choose to invest in, based on their own retirement needs, goals and risk appetite. The PPA functions as a record keeping and resource centre for data on all transactions performed by contributors.It will facilitate transactions and promote efficient administration. The PPA will also act as a resource centre for data and research relating to the PRS industry in Malaysia. The assets of each PRS will be segregated from the PRS Provider and held by an independent Scheme Trustee under a trust. The SC regulates and supervises all intermediaries in the PRS industry, namely the PRS Providers, the PPA, the Scheme Trustees and distributors of PRS to ensure the proper functioning of the PRS industry and protects members, via prudential and investor protection requirements. The SC is in the final stages of implementing the PRS framework – the PPA has been established and approvals have been granted to Schemes subject to the PRS Providers fulfilling certain conditions. The eight PRS Providers approved (as of 5 April 2012) are: AmInvestment Management Sdn Bhd; American International Assurance Bhd; CIMB-Principal Asset Management Bhd; Hwang Investment Management Bhd; ING Funds Bhd; Manulife Unit Trust Bhd; Public Mutual Bhd; and RHB Investment Management Sdn Bhd.Prior to the sale of PRS to the public by end-2012, this is an important period for potential members to understand how PRS fits into the rest of their retirement planning and to arm themselves with information about the different PRS Providers and Schemes before contributing to PRS. 5 Key Features of PRS Designed to provide choice and flexibility Encourages members to take control of their retirement savings PRSaredefinedcontributionsschemeswheretheaccruedbenefitstomembersare determined by the amount contributed plus investment returns thereon.The aim of savings in PRS is to make the members’ savings grow over the long-term. MemberswouldhavetheoptiontocontributetomorethanonefundunderaPRS or to contribute to more than one PRS, offered by different PRS Providers. Beingvoluntaryinnature,therewouldbenofixedamountsorfixedintervalsfor making contributions to PRS. A default option would also be made available for members who select their PRS Provider but do not specify a fund option. The default option would cater for different age groups.PRS Providers would need to ensure that the relevant members are switched to the default funds in accordance with the relevant age group as shown below Growth Fund Below 40 years of age Maximum 70% equites Investment outside M alaysia is permitted Moderate Fund 40 50 years of age Maximum 60% equites Investment outside Malaysia is permitted Conservative Fund Above 50 years of age 80% in debentures/fixed income instruments of which 20% must be in money market instruments and a maximum of 20% in equity Investment outside Malaysia is not permitted Age group Parameters Members choose PRS Providers and funds according to their risk appetite and investment profile or Individuals Default option for members who select their PRS Provider but do not specify a fund option Employer may channel contributions to a particular PRS Provider, with employees choosing the type of funds offered by that Provider or Employer may channel contributions to a particular PRS Provider, and where employees do not make a fund selection, contributions can be channeled to default option of that PRS providerEmployers 6 MemberswouldalsohavetheoptiontoswitchfundswithinaPRSatanytime, or change to another PRS Provider once a year subject t o terms imposed by the PRS Provider. The first transfer can only be requested by a member one year after making the first contribution to any fund under the Scheme. All contributions made to PRS will be split and maintained in sub-accounts A and B as follows: PPA Account 70% Sub a/c A Can be withdrawn upon reaching retirement age 30% Sub a/c B Can be withdrawn once a year The value of sub-account A and B can increase or decrease according to the unit price. The unit price is the worth of each unit held by a member from day to day. Units are priced daily. In order to provide efficiency and convenience for members, a single PPA is establised to keep track of their PRS contributions as well as to maintain records of all PRS related transactions made by members. It will not manage funds internally or accept contributions but will facilitate instructions from members.Individualinvestorswillhavejustoneaccountforbettermanagementofretirement savings as information from various sources can be consolidated within one account. Thediagrambelowshowsanexampleofanindividualchannellingcontributions to several funds under a PRS offered by different PRS Providers. 20 % PRS Provider 1 Fund 1 Fund 2 30 % PRS Provider 2 Fund 1 Fund 2 Fund 3 Fund 3 PRS Provider 3 Fund 1 40 % Fund 2 Fund 3 10 % PRS Provider 8 7 InadditiontothetaxdeductionpermittedforEPFcontributionstaxincentivesare provided to both employers and individuals as follows: Individuals tax relief of up to RM3,000 for the first 10 years from assessment year 2012; and Employers tax deduction on contributions to PRS made on behalf of their employees above the EPF statutory rate up to 19% of employees’ remuneration. A tax exemption is also provided on income received by the funds under the Schemes.Regulatory safeguards to protect interests of members TheregulatoryframeworksetoutundertheCapital Markets Services Act 2007 (CMSA), which includes the PRS Regulations, PRS Guidelines and PRS Eligibility Requirements f or PRS Providers, provide for high standards of regulation and conduct. Under the PRS Guidelines, PRS Providers must provide cost effective voluntary retirement schemes and ensure that Schemes are operated in a proper and efficient manner.The funds are segregated via a trust structure so that members’ assets are protected under the controls of an independent trustee company. PRSProviders,TrusteesandtheAdministratormustbylawactinthebestinterests of members. Prudential investment limits for funds within the Scheme are provided for under the PRS Guidelines. The investment policies of the funds under the Scheme must be consistent with the objective of building savings for retirement and ensure that there is a prudent spread of risk.Thedisclosureframeworkensurestransparentandfrequentinformationtomembers by requiring clear, concise and effective disclosures to be made to investors so that investors are fully informed of the investment strategy, the risks associated with the Scheme and all relevant fees and charges involved. Actionwillbetakenifthereareanyfalseormisleadingstatementstoinvestors. Reminder: Unit prices and distribution payable, if any, may go down as well as up. As with all investments, the returns from contributions made to PRS are not guaranteed and will depend on the performance of the PRS funds. 8 QA: Joining PRS 1. How do I (an individual) join PRS? To make contributions to PRS, just contact the PRS Provider of your choice and indicate your fund selection. At the same time or prior to contributing, you may open a PPA account by completing an account opening form that can be obtained from any PRS Provider or from the website of the PPA (www. ppa. my). Proofofidentificationisrequiredataccountopening: Identification card / Police / Armed Force ID (for Malaysians) or Passport (for foreigners). OncethePPAaccountisopened,youwillreceiveyourlife-timeaccountnumber and password. . How does an employer make a voluntary contribution on behalf of i ts employees? Where an employer seeks to contribute to PRS on behalf of its employees, the employer may enter into an arrangement with one or more PRS Providers of their choice. The amount of contribution is determined by the employer while employees choose the type of fund(s) under the Scheme offered by the relevant PRS Provider. Whereemployeesdonotmakeafundselection,theemployercontributions would be channelled to the default option of the chosen PRS Provider. 9 Employercontributionsmaybesubjecttoavestingschedulewhichmeansthe entitlement may only be vested to an employee’s account based on their terms of service. 3. What should I consider when choosing a PRS? When making your PRS contribution, you need to take into account various factors such as your age, personal and household income, risk tolerance, retirement objective as well as the suitability of the different funds under the various Schemes to meet your retirement needs as well as the fees and charges of the funds. Therearemanydifferenttypesofinvestors: ? ? ? Some may be looking for steady returns Some are happy to grow their retirement savings very slowly Some are keen to chase higher returns Theapproachmaybedifferentifyouare–single,youngemployee;double income young family, mid-career or already near retirement. For example: (i) if your retirement is remote you may consider investing in some higher-risk instruments that can potentially generate higher returns; ii) if your retirement is near, you may consider opting for some relatively stable and conservative investments; or (iii) if your retirement is some years away, you may consider investing in a balanced investment portfolio consisting of bonds and equities. Ourneedschangethroughdifferentstagesofourlives. Youshouldreviewyour PRS portfolio regularly to ensure that it matches your retirement objectives.Itisimportanttobearinmindthecostoflivingandinflationinsettingyour retirement goal as well as to think long-term; do not be overly co ncerned aboutshort-termmarketfluctuations. 10 4. Where can I obtain information when making a decision to contribute to PRS? Potential members must receive the following documents before contributing to any fund under the Scheme: ? Product highlight sheet, which provides a summary of the key information of the fund(s) under the Scheme written in easily understood language; and Disclosure document, either in electronic form or printed copy depending on the choice made by the potential member, which will provide more comprehensive information on the PRS.The objective is to enable the investor to make an informed investment decision. ? Contributors are advised to read and understand the disclosure documents and not solely rely on advertisements. 5. When can I start contributing to PRS? TheSCisinthefinalstagesofimplementingthePRSframework. In line with the SC’s investor protection mandate, a period of general education and awareness on PRS has been allocated before approved PR S may be offered to the public. This is to allow potential members to get advice on the need to save for retirement and more information on the features of PRS.AlistofapprovedPRSProvidersandtheirSchemeswillbepublished on the website of the PPA. 6. How do members keep track of their PRS investments? MemberswillbeabletocheckonlineviathePPAwebsiteorcontact the relevant PRS Provider. MemberswillreceivestatementsonaperiodicbasisfromPRSProviders and a consolidated statement on their investments from the PPA. This will include contributions held by every PRS Provider. 11 7. Can contributions be withdrawn from PRS? WithdrawalsfromPRSorfromanyfundsunderPRSmaybemadein part or

Pantheon essays

Pantheon essays In 476 AD, the fall of the Roman Empire marked the beginning of the Middle Ages. However, before its fall, the empire was divided into the Eastern and Western Roman Empires. In 476, the Western Roman Empire fell, while the Eastern Roman Empire, whose capital became Constantinople, preserved Roman culture and became the Byzantine Empire (Tomlinson, 41). And while the architecture of the Byzantine Empire was primarily based on the great legacy of Roman formal and technical achievements, their forms are more different than similar. The Pantheon in Rome one of the greatest structures and most influential buildings of all time (Trachtenberg, 139) is often compared to the Hagia Sophia, the one work that realizes the ideal Byzantine model (Trachtenberg, 173). Although the Pantheon in Rome has provided a model for the Hagia Sophia, the different Architectural styles have proven them more different than alike. The Pantheon in Rome, which was dedicated to all the Gods, was built by Hadrian between AD 118 and 128. It consists of three major elements: a domed cella, a Corinthian porch, and a rectangular structure between the two, connecting them. This was very similar to the basic setup of the traditional Roman temple, however, what makes the Pantheon so remarkable is mainly its size. After passing through the 85-foot-high porch and the 20-foot wide and 40-foot high doorway, one would enter the cylindrical base 142 feet in diameter. The hemispherical dome above, whose height reaches 142 feet above the floor with a central opening (oculus), open to the sky. The walls consist of eight large widely separately piers leaving eight niches, with one as the entrance and the others as statues of the gods. Hagia Sophia was built as the new Cathedral of Constantinople by the Emperor Justinian in 532. The building was completed in 537, with Hagia Sophia under construction for only 5 years. Both the speed of the ...

Post-Lab Report Variation and selection in a population of wood lice Lab

Post- Variation and selection in a population of wood lice -rollie pollie - Lab Report Example rve how the natural selection acts upon variation in a population, this experimental set up entails documenting variations among several traits of wood lice and determining how and whether certain traits confer some survival advantage when subjected to simulated foragers. It also entails testing whether such survival advantages are depended on the forager used. In this case, the traits which included animal length, sprint speed, the number of dorsal plates, and the animal mass for multiple individuals of the isopods population were measured. Measures of central tendency (Means, and range), measures of dispersion (standard deviations, and variance) as well a t-test was conducted to ascertain this connotation. The total number of isopods was 50. This was divided into two portions victims and survivors (Tables 1 and 2). The length, sprint speed, number of dorsal plates and weight of placed measured are also shown on tables 1 and 2. Additionally, the measures of central tendency (mean) and measures of dispersion variance) and the t-test value between the victims (variable 1) and the survivors (variable 2) were calculated. Tables3, 4, 5, and 6 shows the measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, and the t-test value between the victims and survivors. Tables 3, 4, 5, and 6 clearly indicate that at a significant level of 0.05, in each case, using a 1-tailed, Tstat= 1.165103 and T critical = 1.681952, it is apparent that Tstat 0.05. This indicates that the null hypothesis that variations in traits of an isopod do not confer a survival advantage in presence of simulated foragers is accepted. Therefore, it is with 95% confidence that variations in traits of an isopod do not confer survival advantage in the presence of simulated foragers. As for the case of the length, from the tabulated value for df ÃŽ ½ = 48, in each case, using a 1-tailed, the 95% confidence level, tstat = 6.408633 and T critical = 1.677224. It is clear that

Why companies pay dividend Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Why companies pay dividend - Essay Example The different tax treatment between dividends and capital gains however generally work against the former. A number of companies pay dividends and in some, it is a given in the way their organizations are run. This paper will explore why anyone cares about it at all. Specifically, this paper will address the questions why companies pay dividends; why investors pay attention to it; do dividends affect an organization’s value and how do managers use dividends in the organizational financial management; among others. The idea is to identify whether dividends have any bearing or effect on an organization particularly in terms of equity and firm value. The review on the current dividend literature provided in the following section is particularly focused on the areas related to the positive and negative characteristics of dividends to business organizations. Such outline of studies was aimed at determining how other scholars answered the question posed by this paper. The review summarizes the current studies and research on dividends policy, particularly. An important dimension to the review, however, which would have a pivotal effect on this paper as a whole was the passage of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act. The corpus of literature available in regard to corporate payout policy and dividends is extensive. However, this review would focus on two major areas: why do dividends matter for corporations and does it matter how business organizations distribute cash to its shareholders. Miller and Modigliani are considered to be the authorities in regard to framing dividend questions in their finance research. They, particularly focused on how dividend policy is considered a choice between financing with internal equity or financing with external equity. In their study, Miller and Modigliani offered proof that dividends do not matter in a world that is characterized by