Essay Examples on Vietnam Essay Example

Essay Examples on Vietnam Paper 1st Essay Sample on Vietnam Vietnam is the most controversial events to ever divide the US aside from the Civil War.Although throughout history the US is known to be very isolationalist, this time they took charge.As time passed and the threat of Communism spread to Vietnam, the US gradually became more and more involved between 1954 and 1975. In 1954, the US was in the process of shrugging off the Great Depression, WWII, and the Second Red Scare and suddenly another conflict presented itself.By May, Dien Bien Phu fell into the hands of Vietnam from the former local power of France.As a temporary arrangement, Vietnam was divided into a north (controlled by communist Ho Chi Minh) and a south (still controlled by France and anti-communists). In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected into the office of the presidency.He was a steadfast believer in the containment policy and wanted to stop communism at the regional level, but without missiles.The Domino Effect must be stopped before all of South-East Asia falls.Soon in to his presidency, he sent 16,000 military advisors to South-East Asia to train the South Vietnamese military to fight the North.His initial plan was to merely train the south to fight and keep US military troops out. By 1963, the situation worsens with the assassination of the South Viet. President.Not long after, JFK himself is assassinated and Lyndon Johnson comes into office.Johnson had many issues (such as the Great Society) that he wanted to tackle at home and did not put full effort behind international or internal affairs. The turning point of the war occurred in August 1964 with the Gulf of Tonkin Incident.North Vietnamese patrol boats attacked U.S. naval vessels in neutral waters.The Americans promptly launched retaliatory air strikes. 2nd Essay Sample on Vietnam During the Cold War, the United States of America was determined to act as the superior nation in the world. They believed that every country was inferior to them in regards to military power, economic stability and moral beliefs. After the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy, the Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson took over in Washington. He was pressured to follow through on the late President’s programs and policies on Vietnam which involved the demonstration of America’s strength and responsibility. It is believed that American intervention in Vietnam was caused by structural weakness in the National Security Council and not enough attention to long- range policy planning. In addition, Johnson’s inexperience and naivety regarding foreign policy and the positive belief of creating a perfect world. A main cause of American involvement was the weakness of the mechanism for determining the framework of foreign policy. The establishment of the National Security Council came about in 1947. We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Vietnam specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Vietnam specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Essay Examples on Vietnam specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It was to bridge the gulf between considerations of foreign policy and considerations of the military force which was to conduct external relations.1 Apparently, the U.S.A. had had no central authority that linked the organizations of the Military Services and the State Department. As a result, the government decided that in order to be successful in international affairs the two groups had to basically work together. The NSC ensured detailed coordination of all major factors of U.S. foreign policy decisions.2 It was odd that both President Truman and Eisenhower had success with this organization and when Kennedy came to office he decided to change it. He preferred to rely on small groups to be responsible for policy formation and execution therefore, he was more â€Å"comfortable†¦with a broad knowledge of foreign affairs and a strong distaste for being hemmed in by too much organization†.

Interest Rate Essay

Interest Rate Essay Interest Rate Essay Financial Planning 4.2 The amount of capital I will need to start up JB Fitness is  £9000. I will need to take out a bank loan of  £5000 and  £1000 from my sleeping partners. I will also be contributing capital be putting in  £3000 of owners capital. This is the way I will obtain the money, especially as in the first year of running, there are many expenses such as payment for gym equipment, computers, desks etc from looking at my cash flow forecast. By having some capital invested into the business it will help paying the cash outflows, which shall reduce the amount of dept significantly in year one as the cash outflow and much more higher than the inflows. This is way the capital from the bank loan, owner’s investment and sleeping partners will help balance the cost and reduce the net cash flow. I will obtain the  £5000 in a form of a short term loan from HSBC, which is payable over the first year of running JB Fitness so they can clear their depts and focus on increasing profit margins. 4.3 The cash flow forecast from year one to year three shows that the closing bank balance in December was increasing significantly. In year one, the closing bank balance for year one was  £21,826, year two was  £54,303 and in year three was  £66,744. This shows that from year one to year three the closing bank balance for December had increased by  £44,918, which shows that year upon year my closing balance was increasing that mean that I had high amount of capital to take over to the new year. In year one the reason as to why my net cash flow was -13,985 was because of high expenses made in January as the outflows made were very costly. For example, paying for gym equipment, computers, chairs, desks etc. as my net cash flow in January for year one was showed minus figures meant than my cash outflows were higher than my cash inflows, however this was expected due high start-up costs. In year two my cash outflows were reduced considerately to a low amount, as there were no start up costs and minimum expenses such as payment for stock, wages, rent, gas and electricity, website etc. This meant that for each month in year two there was a higher net cash monthly flow in comparison to year because of lower cash outflows. For example, in year one for December the net cash monthly was  £538 and in year two for December it was  £1,343, which had increased by  £807 in year two. In year three, the closing balance for December was  £66,744, which shows the capital remaining i n the bank was outstandingly good because the closing balance from year two to year three had increased by  £12,441 for December. This shows that the overall cash flow position was improving from year one to three as the net cash monthly flow was increasing rapidly, which indicates that the cash inflows were greater than the cash outflows which shows great importance. 4.4 From analysing the profit and loss accounts from year one to year three, I can confirm that the profit from year one to year three are increasing which suggested that JB Fitness have made a significant amount of profit to survive. In year, there was a lower amount of profit being made in comparison to year two and three. The net profit made in year one was  £12,848 whereas in year two the net profit made was  £54,325. The reason as to why there was a smaller amount of net profit being made in year one was because of the long list of costly expenses such as gym equipment, Jacuzzi, showers etc. In year two the net profit made is almost five times as much net profit made in year one, which shows that JB Fitness profit was increasing. In year one, the sales revenue made was  £156,220 and in year two, the sales revenue made was  £171,988. Form year one to year two the sales revenue increased by  £15,768. In year three the net profit made was  £66,766, which shows that the net profit was increasing year upon year as it increased by  £12,441 from year two to year three. In addition, the sales revenue in year three was

Getting Transcripts for Graduate School Admissions

Getting Transcripts for Graduate School Admissions An essential, often forgotten component to your graduate admissions application is your academic transcript. Your graduate application is not complete until your official academic transcript is received. What Is an Official Academic Transcript? Your official academic transcript lists all the courses that you have taken and your grades earned. It is official because it is sent directly from your college or university to the graduate admissions office and it bears the official college or university stamp, signifying its validity. How Do You Request Your Official Academic Transcript? Request your transcripts by contacting the Registrars Office at your university. Stop by the office and you can complete a series of forms, pay fees, and youre on your way. Some institutions allow students to request transcripts online. Visit the Registrars Office webpage to determine if your institution provides online transcript services. What Do You Need to Request Your Official Academic Transcript? Have the addresses for all the graduate schools to which you are applying on hand. Youll need to provide the Registrars Office with each address. Be prepared to pay a fee for each transcript that you request, typically $10-$20 each. When Do You Request Your Official Academic Transcript? Regardless of whether you request your transcript online or in person, you must process your transcript order early, well before the admissions deadline. What many applicants dont realize is that the official transcript is sent directly from the Registrars Office at their university to the graduate admissions offices of the schools to which they are applying. The Registrars Offices of most institutions require at least 10 business days or about 2 weeks to send official transcripts. It’s a good idea to check with your university well beforehand to ensure that you request your official academic transcripts on time. In addition, the admissions season is a very busy time, so it’s a good idea to request transcripts even earlier than the guidelines set by the Registrars Office. Allow for time to resend the transcripts if necessary. Sometimes transcripts are lost in the mail. Your graduate admissions application is not complete until your official academic transcripts are received, so dont let something silly like missing transcripts jeopardize your application.

What has happened in a CHOSEN EUROPEAN ECONOMY over the last two years Assignment

What has happened in a CHOSEN EUROPEAN ECONOMY over the last two years - Assignment Example Firstly, by taming expectations, actual inflation can be controlled; and secondly, this will also lead to stability in employment and output. Similarly, purpose of the fiscal policy (whereby the government alters public expenditure and taxation policies) is to boost aggregate demand of the country, which in turn is expected to improve growth rate of the economy (Lawton, 2013). In the wake of the global financial crisis, Germany, like most other developed countries, is following the policy of fiscal tightening. Germany is a member of the programs undertaken by Euro Plus Act and main commitment of this program was to reduce debt of the government. High debts of the government are not supportive for the long run as this increases the risk of default. Polices of the government are being heavily guided by withdrawal of stimulus and measures of consolidation coupled with reduction of social security benefits. Fiscal consolidation measures followed by German government have been effective in bringing down both the structural and actual deficit of the country. The deficit of the government was brought down below the reference figure of 3%. The general finances of government had also shown a surplus in 2012 for the first time, after the crisis. This makes it clear that the country has been successful in achieving the medium-term budgetary goal and structural deficit is within 0.5% of GDP. Bringing down structural deficit is also important for controlling long-term stability of a country; and in case of Germany, it has been observed that in 2012, the structural net borrowing was only 0.31% of GDP, which was well within control of the government. Even in 2013, structural deficit was below the stipulated value of 0.35% (Deutsche Bank, 20 13). On expenditure side of the fiscal policy, main focus of the government in the last two years has been to increase investment in research and developmental programs and education. The rationale behind doing

DIGITAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

DIGITAL PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Essay Example The paper also demonstrates an overview of the website that supports the cost of projects and schedules their control in a manner that is highly integrated (Cadle & Yeates, 2008). The website will use the object oriented modeling in representing the deliverables of the project. There are collections of control objects that are designed in mapping the project cost control processes. There are 18 website indicators that represent the amount of resources used in every project control object and is used as sensors in highlighting the areas that are associated with their dismal performance. The website uses a server that is designed in implementing the methodology that is developed. The website also has a central database that is used in storing and organizing the project budget and their actual progress data. The website generates a day to day, week to week, monthly and yearly performance of projects that are used in generating the project status at the level of resources used and the control object (Cleland, 2009). Managing time and cost for implementing a project within an international organization is a crucial management function for attaining successful delivery of projects dealing with procurement, construction, and even engineering. Several international charity organizations have designed their website in relation to this. From the past website, it is evident that improvements need to be made on their implementation, development, and design of the project control system. Such areas include the configuration of the project that includes the performance breakdown structure, the generic and standardized, generic earned status reporting and the diagnosis and analysis of the project variance on the website. Additionally, the recommendation section should be incorporated for reasons behind dismal performance and ideas for corrective actions and forecasting the duration and costs of the projects before completion. Consequently, it is important for efficient

Price Guarantee Essay Example for Free

Price Guarantee Essay Introduction Price guarantees have become a popular promotional tool for attracting new customers or selling new products to existing customers. Many business organizations are now adopting the price guarantee concept in their pricing policies. Most notable among them is Walmart. General implications of price guarantees Price guarantees can take two forms. One is price matching in which lower prices are immediately matched. The other is price beating in which lower prices are undercut by a certain percentage of the difference. Both forms of price guarantees however have immense implications as far as market expansion and market retention are concerned. Obviously the assurance that they are getting the lowest possible prices will have a major impact on how the customers do business with the organization offering price guarantees. The effect of price guarantees is especially pronounced nowadays because of the extensive use of the internet that customers make in arriving at their purchase decisions. Because of the widespread availability of information on the internet, consumers can easily compare prices and find out which company is offering the lowest prices. However it takes time-consuming research on the part of the consumer especially if the product in question has intense competition. All businesses these days having products and services to sell are advertising their existence online, so the consumer looking for a particular product widely available in varying prices will have to go through all those dozens of websites in order to make a worthwhile price comparison and arrive at the lowest possible price available to him or her. However if there is a company out like Walmart which guarantees that the price it is offering is lowest available now and that even if market prices should go down in the future, the consumer will get refunds, then consumers will just fall in love with that offer because of all the time and energy saved. As a result of the assurance on the part of Walmart that the product is selling at the lowest possible price now or even in the future, consumers will rush to spend all their money on Walmart offerings. According to the above, offering price matching or price beating seems to have an extremely positive impact on the mindset of the consumers. However not all consumers are looking for the lowest possible price and this is especially true if the product in question is a status symbol, that is, the product is an issue of image with the consumer. In that case, quality rather than price will be the prime consideration. Consumers putting quality before price will be asking themselves why a certain company is offering such low prices. The suspicion that these consumers would be harbouring is that the quality of the product is in question. Quality defects make products difficult to sell, however an assurance of the lowest possible price will tend to make most consumers blind to minor defects that are not readily apparent. Some consumers will suspect that a particular company is adopting the policy of price guarantee in order to allay suspicions of product quality. Benefits of price guarantees Price guarantees can create customer goodwill as the customers are sure that they are getting the best deal possible. Price guarantees are especially applicable in the retail industry as price is the only differentiating factor in this case. The nature of the service involved in the retail industry is such that quality hardly varies from one company to another. Therefore the only way for retail companies to make themselves stand out from the crowd is to differentiate themselves through price. This is the reason that price guarantees have become so popular in the retail industry and the customers are not complaining. They have no reason to because, as mentioned before, they no longer have to surf for hours and hours or walk miles and miles of aisles for the best deal. They will just buy whatever they need from Walmart because whatever they are buying, Walmart’s prices are the best possible they can get. There is no possibility of post-purchase regrets. This is the best of all possible worlds. As will be elaborated upon later on, price matching or price beating make it pointless for sellers to lower their prices as any benefits to be gained from the lower prices will be cancelled by the competing seller who is offering price guarantees. Thus price guarantees are a means of price signaling. It is this price signaling which assures the customers that they are getting the best possible deals. Price guarantees have become so prevalent these days that customers expect companies to offer price guarantees. As a result, offering price guarantees has become the very act of survival for companies particularly in the retail industry. While this may be greatly beneficial for the consumers, the situation is somewhat different for the suppliers. If there is one retailer for example who buys a television set for â‚ ¤150 and offers it to the market for â‚ ¤250 with price guarantee, then another retailer who happens not to have the buying power of the other retailer and buys the same set for â‚ ¤170 will have to set the price also at â‚ ¤250. The second retailer might want to undercut the first by setting a lower price, â‚ ¤240 for example, but the second retailer would have little to gain from this as price guarantee offered by the first retailer means that the first retailer would only either match the lower price or beat the lower price. This price cutting can go on all the way down to the purchase price of the second retailer beyond which it cannot go. This is a discounting game which the first retailer will always win because of the price guarantee it offers. In this way price guarantees ensure that there is no price cutting going on in the market and that customers always get the best possible deal. Legal implications of price guarantee Price collusion has become a greater threat than ever now that the internet is facilitating connectivity at an unprecedented level not only between buyers and sellers but also between sellers. So it has become easier than ever for the sellers to reach some sort of an agreement online and raise their prices simultaneously. Occurrences have been noted whereby sellers have been known to discuss their prices online and raise their prices the next day. Such price collusion is obviously anti-competitive and so illegal. Price matching can also raise issues of price collusion in a roundabout way. What might happen is that sellers might already be selling their products at a heightened price level and one seller might offer a price guarantee in one product category while another seller might offer a price guarantee in another product category. Thus sellers might be colluding to create their own niches in specific product categories. This impairs the market forces of supply and demand as the price setting mechanism and should become the focus of regulatory agencies to identify and regulate. Ethical implication of price guarantee According to the invisible hand theory, consumers demand for a lower price while suppliers ask for a higher price and accordingly adjustments take place and in the process an agreement is reached between consumers and suppliers whereby both the buyers and the sellers are buying and selling respectively at the same price. This is the underlying structure of the free market economy. However the element of price guarantees can strike at this very foundation of the free market economy. What happens is that price matching, for example, discourages the other sellers from lowering their prices as the seller offering the price guarantee will only lower its own prices accordingly. Thus the phenomenon of price guarantees can perpetuate high prices at the expense of product quality and manufacturing efficiency. Manufacturing efficiency results from the learning curve. As companies gain experience in manufacturing their products, there is a learning curve which makes their manufacturing operations more efficient. As a result, products become cheaper to produce. According to the laws of supply and demand, this would allow suppliers to lower their prices and sell more. Not so however when there is one seller in the market practicing price matching. That seller has a pact with the buyer that the buyer will never find a lower price elsewhere and that if the buyer does find a lower price, the seller will immediately either match the new lower price or beat it. As a result of this pact, all the buyers in the market will be rushing to that seller offering price guarantees rather than to the other sellers who are offering lower prices. Inasmuch as offering price guarantees implicitly chips away at the very foundations of demand and supply as the price-setting mechanisms, the act is clearly unethical. The use of price guarantees can be put to other unethical means as well. There have been several news items where shops offering price guarantees have been known to lure customers to their geographical sites where these same customers are then set upon by sale executives in order to make them purchase expensive items. Conclusion Whether or not buyers suspect price guarantees encouraging tacit price collusions, buyers prefer sellers who are offering price guarantees. This is especially so with the advent of the internet where price information is available at the click of a mouse. Inasmuch as price guarantees turn heads in the buyer community, price guarantees hold great benefits for the seller. By using price guarantees sellers no longer have to resort to online discounters to offer lower prices and can reach the customer directly. In spite of the anti-competitive issues that arise as a result of the implementation of price guarantees, these guarantees, ethically and legally practiced, can strengthen the flow of trade and commerce. BIBILIOGRAPHY Pindyck, Robert S., and Daniel L Rubinfeld. Microeconomics. South western college pub. 2007. Varian, Hal R. Microeconomic Theory. McGraw Hill/Irwin. 2005. Mankiw, N Gregory. Principles of Microeconomics. McGraw Hill/Irwin. 2005. Colander, David C. Microeconomics. McGraw Hill/Irwin. 2005. Nagle, Thomas T., and John Hogan. The Strategy Tactics of Pricing: A Guide to Growing More Profitably . South western college pub. 2007. Baker, Ronald J. Pricing on Purpose: Creating Capturing Value. McGraw Hill/Irwin. 2005. McConnell, Campbell R., and Stanley L Brue. Economics. South western college pub. 2007.

My Life is History :: Personal Narrative Writing

My Life is History Light reflected off his menacing scales. Sixty-five million years before grocery stores, and drive through ATMs, Tyrannosaurus Rex stomped the fields of Palmer Massachusetts. In the pale light of a brisk October night, the resurrected teeth and textured body of the ferocious beast again terrorized Palmer safely restrained by the possessive clutch of my chubby little fingers. It was not so much that the I loved dinosaurs, though I did and still do, more I was intrigued that there was more than just my lifetime in the history of the world. Though I knew the world through the narrow scope of ten years, the earth had been around for millions. From that small age I was seduced by the past. What or who stomped the earth before me was an all consuming question for me. I wanted to know about those who lived before me. I wanted to know what kinds of lives they lead, what they did and who they were. History was my life. In the metropolis of Palmer there are few stoplights and even fewer attractions to stop at. On my unfrequented street in a little farmhouse on seventy-six acres we got few stations. Public television beamed to me quenched my insatiable need for history. While my counterparts were absorbed with the, then novel, music video I was reaching back to play with the Egyptians as they built the pyramids. Most every night I could bask in the cathode rays of emperors and kings, peasants, popes, and even the occasional murderer. Sometimes at night, I would go outside after a particularly interesting show and stare at the sky. In the heavens I saw the same sky as Napoleon Bonapart. I could see the stars Socrates saw out the window of his cell the night before he was executed. I reclined on grass watered by the sweat Joan of Arc perspired as she was burned at the steak on May 30, 1431 in a Rouen marketplace at the age of nineteen. Though these thoughts may have been macabre for a young child, they gave me an intense connection with the past. They created in me the desire to know everyone who came before me because as their history was part of me. The strong connection with the past brought me to one realization a little too early. I realized at a young age that I was mortal and all the implications there of.

Research Plan Essay

Background of the Study Solid waste management is increasingly seen as a major issue in the country due to high rates of urbanization and increasing per capita solid waste generation with greater affluence (Petnamsin, et al., 2000). A major component of solid waste is resin based plastic. Plastics posses many properties such as water resistance and long life, that makes them perfect candidates for packaging. Unfortunately, the properties that make this product suitable for packaging also are the major cause of the environmental problems related to packaging. Given the wide use of plastics, the magnitude of the environmental problem is large and long terms. The choices for dealing with this waste are limited as incineration of plastic polymers invariably results in the generation of toxic emissions (Srorith, et al., 2000). The only visible solution is to bury the material in landfills. However, this approach is also limited because of the resistant nature of plastic to biological degradation. Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. is a popular fruit-crop that is widely grown in tropical areas. Often, its seeds are discarded because of the preferred well-flavored yellow sweet bulb for consumption. The seeds have high carbohydrate and protein content, hence, an abundant source of starch (Kurian, 2010). Starch is identified as a key natural product for the production of biodegradable plastic (Pranamuda, et al., 2006). Based on the above information, the researchers decided to do research work on starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruit seeds. Henceforth, there is a need to establish the additive property of starch from jackfruit seeds as scientific basis for its use in the production of biodegradable plastic. Objectives of the Study The study will aim to find out if jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.  seeds can be a main component in the production of biodegradable plastic. Specifically, the study will 1. determine the efficacy of starch from jackfruit A.heterophyllus Lam. seeds at varying concentrations as additives in the production of biodegradable plastic. 2. compare the mechanical properties between the produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit A.heterophyllus Lam. seeds, and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene in terms of tensile strength, flammability, soil biodegradability and air test. 3. compare the effects of acids and bases and organic solvents between produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene. Hypotheses of the Study The following hypotheses will be put forward: 1. There is no significant difference in the efficacy of starch from jackfruit seeds at varying concentrations in the production of biodegradable plastic. 2. There is no significant difference on the mechanical properties between the produced biodegradable plastic from starch ofjackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene in terms of tensile strength, flammability, soil biodegradability and air test. 3. There is no significant difference on the effects of acids and bases and organic solvents between produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic polyethylene. Significance of the Study The results of the study would be beneficial and helpful to the manufacturing plastic industries because it would relieve negative effects of overproducing plastics. By changing its raw materials and components, commercial plastic may be improved so that it would become biodegradable while retaining its good quality. Moreover,this component from starch of jackfruit seeds would help in the natural decomposition of plastic raw materials. Thus, a convenient way of minimizing waste management problem in the country, more so, the high demand for plastics would give the world the hazard of garbage problem, therefore, utilizing starch from jackfruit seeds as component in the production of biodegradable plastics would be the relative answer. Scope and Limitations of the Study The study will focus only on the starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruitA.heterophyllus Lam. seeds. It will be conducted at the Physics/Chemistry Laboratory of Antique National School, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique from July 15, 2011 to September 30, 2011. The variables to be evaluated will be the effect of starch from jackfruit seeds at varying concentrations for the production of biodegradable plastic; the mechanical properties between the produced biodegradable plastic from starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene in terms of tensile strength, flammability, soil biodegradability and air test;the effects of acids and bases and organic solvents between the produced biodegradable plastic from the starch of jackfruit seeds and commercially prepared plastic, polyethylene. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) will be used as statistical tools to identify the significant differences among treatment means and their interactions at 0.01 and 0.05 levels of significance, respectively. Definition of Terms Biodegradable.A substance or property of the produce plastic in the study that can be broken down into simpler substances by the activities of living organisms for decomposition.  Plastic. An end product obtained mainly as a result of the study using starch from jackfruit seeds as main component mixing with other components for biodegradable formation. Starch. A complex carbohydrate extracted from jackfruit seeds and used in the study for the production of biodegradable plastic. Polyvinyl Alcohol. An odorless, colorless, tasteless, thermoplastic synthetic resin used in the study that is soluble in water and insoluble in common organic solvents.  Glycerol. A simplest trihydric and commonly called glycerin in commercial  form that is used in the study for the production of biodegradable plastic. CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE After cutting talahib pulps into very small pieces, they were combined with different chemicals such as polyvinyl alcohol, sodium hydroxide in aqueous solution, glue, and glycerol to produce biodegradable plastics with different amounts of talahib pulp. (Valdez, 2009). A study determined the effectiveness of cassava starch as component of biodegradable plastic. Results confirmed that cassava starch is ideal as tests proved its worth (Romero, 2007).  It was known that starch-based packaging materials are produced from extrusion or compression technology and have been developed as a substitute for polystyrene in producing loose-filters and other expanded items. The type of starch and synthetic polymer as well as their relative proportions in the blends may influence the properties of the resulting plastics (Sriroth and Sangseethong, 2003). Some physicochemical and rheological properties of jackfruit seed flour and starch, isolated from the flour were investigated. The flour had good capacities for water absorption and oil absorption. Flour from jackfruit seed was prepared by dry milling. It is high in protein and carbohydrate contents. The flour has good water and oil absorption abilities (Tulyathan, 2002). The range of possible applications for starch plastics is restricted by their sensitivity tomoisture and water contact and high water vapour permeability. The biodegradability of starch plastics largely depends on the biodegradability of the copolymer. High copolymer content can adversely affect biodegradability due to the complex interaction of starch and polyester at the molecular level (DegliInnocenti&Bastioli, 2002). Starch is unique among carbohydrates because it occurs naturally as discrete granules. This is because the short branched amylopectin chains are able to form helical structures whichcrystallize. Starch granules exhibit  hydrophilic properties and strong inter-molecular association via hydrogen bonding due to the hydroxyl groups on the granule surface (Daniel et al., 2000). Jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. is a popular fruit-crop that is widely grown in the Philippines and other tropical areas. The ripe fruit contains well-flavored yellow sweet bulbs which are consumed fresh or processed into canned products and seeds embedded in the bulb. Seeds make up around 10-15% of the total fruit weight and have high carbohydrate and protein content and are normally discarded or steamed and eaten as a snack or used in some local dishes. As fresh seeds cannot be kept for a long time, using them as source of starch is advisable (Bobbio et al 1978). Based on the above review of related literature, there is a need to conduct a study on starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. seeds and because in all studies, nothing has been mentioned about jackfruit seeds as component of biodegradable plastics. CHAPTER 3 MATERIALS AND METHODS The flow of processes on starch-based biodegradable plastic from jackfruit Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. seeds is shown in Figure 1. Collection and Preparation of Research Materials, Tools and Equipment The researchers will collect three (3) kilograms of jackfruit seeds from the source for two (2) days before the conduct of the study. These will be brought to the Physics/Chemistry Laboratory of Antique National School, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. Technically grade ethanol, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and sodium hydroxide, ammonia, distilled water, chlorine, polyvinyl alcohol, epoxydized soy bean oil, and glycerol will be obtained from chemworks, Inc.Jaro, Iloilo City prior to the conduct of the study. The other materials and equipment needed will be mortar and pestle, grinder, beakers, alcohol lamp, rolling pin, aluminum foil, stirring rod, molders, spring balance, double beam balance, tray, plastic cups, graduated cylinder, stopwatch, and hot plate. Research Procedure/ Experimental Design Three (3) kilograms of jackfruit seeds will be rinsed and washed in running water and will be air-dried for twenty-four (24) hours at room temperature. After air-drying, the seeds will be peeled manually. Then the seeds will be cut into smaller pieces and ground using an electric grinder. The ground jackfruit seeds will be added with water following the ratio 1:2, one (1) liter of distilled water to two (2) kilograms of ground jackfruit seeds. The mixtures will be placed inside the beaker for decantation for three (3) hours. After decantation, the supernatant will be discarded and the settling material will be collected and placed in an evaporating dish for the starch sediments to settle. This will be sun-dried for five (5) hours to let the water evaporate completely. After the evaporation process, the collected starch sediments will be ground using mortar and pestle until it will turn into powdered form. The produced starch will be weighed and placed in a sterilized container ready for experimentation. Measured amount of the water and jackfruit starch based on different treatments will be mixed and boiled using a hot plate at eighty (80(C) degrees Celsius until it will form into a sticky paste. After removing the starch-water mixture from the hot plate, the rest of the materials will be added such as polyvinyl alcohol, epoxydized soya bean oil, and glycerol. After mixing all the materials, the mixture will be heated again using a hot plate at a temperature of one hundred eighteen to one hundred twenty (118-120(C) degrees Celsius for seven (7) minutes. Then it will pass through a rolling pin and transferred to containers for sun-drying process until the plastic will be formed. The plastic will be cut into strips (3 cm wide by 5 cm long) for mechanical property, effects of acid and base, and organic solvents tests, respectively. The experiment will use five (5) treatments with three (3) replicates each. The duration of the experimental activities will be seventy-eight (78) days that will begin on July 15, 2011 and will end on September 30, 2011. The five (5) treatments that will be used in the study are as follows. Treatment A = 100 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment B = 75 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment C = 50 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment D = 25 grams starch + 100 grams water + 100 grams polyvinyl alcohol + 2.5 grams epoxydized soya bean oil +10 grams glycerin Treatment E – Control – Commercial plastic (polyethylene) Gathering of Data The cut samples of the produced biodegradable plastic will be subjected to the following tests: Flammability Test. The strips of the produced biodegradable plastic and commercial plastic with the same dimensions will be completely burned using alcohol lamp and the burning time will be noted. Soil Biodegradability Test. The plastic strips will be stapled to a piece of cardboard and will be buried in a can of soil. The strips will be unearthed after a week and the final dimension will be recorded. Tensile Strength Test. The plastic strips will be hooked to a spring balance and will be pulled until they will tear apart. The reading of the balance when the plastic strips will break will be recorded. Effects of Strong and Weak Acids and Strong and Weak Bases.The plastic strips will be immersed in concentrated strong/weak acids and strong/weak bases for thirty (30) minutes. Changes in length, width, and appearance will be noted. Organic Solvent Tests. The plastic strips will be immersed in a bottle of  chlorinated water/ethanol. The bottle will be sealed so as to isolate its contents from the external environment. After a week, their final dimensions will be noted.

Databases Is a Structured Collection of Data Essay

According to Business Link â€Å"The database is one of the cornerstones of information technology, and its ability to organize, process and manage information in a structured and controlled manner is key to many aspects of modern business efficiencies.† This paper will define database uses, advantages, and disadvantages as well as recommended changes to an Internet database I currently use. The definition of a database is a structured collection of data or records stored on a computer system. The definition of a database management system (DBMS) is â€Å"a collection of programs that enables you to store, modify, and extract information from a database† (Webopedia, 2011). â€Å"Databases are used just about everywhere including banks, retail, websites, and warehouses. Banks use databases to keep track of customer accounts, balances, and deposits. Retail stores can use databases to store prices, customer information, sales information, and quantity on hand. Websites use databases to store content, customer login information, and preferences and may store saved user input. Warehouses use databases to manage inventory levels.† Another example would include a bookseller, such as Amazon.com. Amazon.coms database would include title, author, ISBN, product information, reviews, quantity, and price to name few. Databases are used anywhere that data needs to be stored and easily retrieved. The filing cabinet has been replaced by databases. Advantages of using a DBMS are, reducing the amount of time managing data, the ability to analyze data in various ways, promoting a disciplined approach to data management, and improving the quality and consistency of information. One disadvantage is the cost because more than likely outside help will need to be employed to develop the DBMS, which can become very expensive. Another disadvantage is time, developing a database system is very time-consuming because numerous steps are involved. Different types of DBMSs are available from several vendors and the services offered can vary widely. Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle from Oracle  Corporation are two examples of DBMSs. In its most basic form, they both store information with the use of tables. Both use queries to sort, search, and analyze data. They use a backup system to save all information in case of a crash of the system. They are web-based so users can access them from anywhere. They could be tailored to meet business needs. They allow multiple users to access and update information while providing security from unauthorized users. Users are granted access to certain features with the use of passwords and permissions. They both offer reporting capabilities. A number of differences exist between these two DBMSs, the first is the cost, Oracle costs are extremely expensive compared to Microsoft SQL Server. Pricing for Oracle is over 100K, whereas Microsoft SQL Server can be purchased for a couple of thousand. Microsoft SQL Server is used for small-medium sizes companies while Oracle can be used for very large companies. Microsoft SQL can support a couple 1000 users while Oracle can support as little as 10 users, upwards to hundreds of thousands users. Microsoft SQL Server is slower over networks compared to Oracle. Microsoft SQL Server is easier to learn and more user friendly. Microsoft SQL Server has a large community for support, while Oracle has very little in comparison. I have been a collector of Cal Ripken Jr. baseball cards for many years, and I have amassed a collection of close to 2000 different Cal Ripken Jr. baseball cards With this many cards it is hard to keep track of what cards I currently own and their value. I needed a database program where I could have access to my collection in one place. I did some research and found Beckett.com offered a database software program called Beckett Collector Connection. Beckett is an industry leader concerning the collection of sport cards. Anyone who is a serious sport cards card collector knows Beckett is the place to go when wanting to know the value of one’s collection. Beckett Collector Connection has essentially taken all their price guides, put them in a database, and made them available online. It only cost $20 for the initial software and it is an additional $4.95 a month to get the latest sets and prices downloaded from their website. A  collector can list all their cards with ease using Beckett’s learning wizard. Each card or record shows year, set name, card number, and card name. Other columns provide a place where a collector can list the condition and quantity of a specific card they own. A number of the cards include a picture ensuring the collector has listed the right card. A collector can print one of six different reports, or use the report generator to create a custom report. A collector has the option of using Beckett’s auction tools, to create, track, and follow up on multiple Internet auctions based on a collector’s inventory. I have been using this program for quite some time and have found it very beneficial but at the same time, I have noticed ways the database can be improved. For one downloading the newest prices can be very time- consuming, even though I use DSL it can still take an hour. Another improvement I want is to the ability to list older sets, while they do list some older sets many older sets are not listed and prices are missing as well. Last, I would like to have Beckett offer to track your auctions listing through multiple auction platforms, such as eBay instead of just their own auction platform. In conclusion, one can determine that gathering, storing, processing of information using a database gives a company a distinct advantage. Developing a DBMSs is crucial to a company’s productivity, time management and vital to its success. References Business Link. Benefits of Databases. Retrieved from http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/layer?topicId=1075422967 Graham, AJ. How Are Databases Used In The Real World? eHow.com. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_5447556_databases-used-real-world.html Webopedia. (2011). Database Management System. Retrieved from http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/database_management_system_DBMS.html

Hastings Banda, Life President of Malawi

Hastings Banda, Life President of Malawi Continued from: Hastings Banda: the Early Years After an extra-ordinary but altogether unassuming life as an ex-patriot black African doctor in Britain during the colonial era, Hastings Banda soon became a dictator once in power in Malawi. His contradictions were many, and he left people wondering how the doctor had become Hastings Banda, Life President of Malawi. Extremist: Opposing Federation and Supporting Apartheid Even while abroad, Hastings Banda was being drawn into nationalist politics in Nyasaland. The tipping piont seems to have been the decision by the British colonial government to join Nyasaland with Northern and Southern Rhodesia to form the Central African Federation. Banda was vehemently against federation, and several times, nationalist leaders in Malawi asked him to return home to lead the fight. For reasons that are not completely clear, Banda remained in Ghana until 1958, when he finally returned to Nyasaland and threw himself into politics. By 1959, he had been jailed for 13 months for his opposition to federation, which he saw as a device for ensuring that Southern Rhodesia – which was governed by a white minority – retained control over the majority black populations of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.   In Africa Today, Banda declared that if opposition made him an â€Å"extremist†, he was happy to be one. â€Å"Nowhere in history,’ he said, â€Å"did the so-called Moderates accomplish anything.†Ã‚   Yet, despite his stance against the oppression of Malawis population, as a leader Banda had too few qualms, many people thought, about the oppression of South Africas black population. As President of Malawi, Banda worked closely with the Apartheid South African government and did not speak out against the radical segregation to the south of Malawis borders. This juxtaposition between his self-proclaimed extremism and the  real politique  of his international rule was just one of the many contradictions that confused and bewildered people about President Hastings Banda. Prime Minister, President, Life President, Exile As the long awaited leader of the nationalist movement, Banda was an obvious choice for Prime Minister as Nyasaland moved toward independence, and it was he who changed the name of the country to Malawi. (Some say he liked the sound of Malawi, which he found on a pre-colonial map.)   It was soon evident how Banda intended to rule. In 1964, when his cabinet tried to limit his powers, he had four of the ministers dismissed. Others resigned and several fled the country and lived in exile for the rest of their lives or his reign, which ever ended first.   In 1966, Banda oversaw the writing of a new constitution and ran unopposed for election as Malawis first president. From then forward, Banda ruled as an absolutist. The state was him, and he was the state. In 1971, the parliament named in President for Life. As President, Banda enforced his rigid sense of morality on the people of Malawi. His rule became known for oppression, and people feared his paramilitary Malawi Young Pioneers group.   He supplied the largely agrarian population with fertilizer and other subsidies, but the government also controlled prices, and so few but the elite benefited from surplus crops. Banda believed in himself and his people, though. When he ran in a contested, democratic election in 1994, he was shocked to be roundly defeated. He left Malawi, and died three years later in South Africa. A Fraud or a Puritan? The juxtaposition of Bandas demeanor as the quiet doctor in Britain and his later years as a dictator, combined with his inability to speak his native language inspired a number of conspiracy theories. Many thought he was not even from Malawi, and some claimed that the real Hastings Banda had died while abroad, and been replaced by a carefully chosen imposter.    There is something fiery about most puritanical people though. The same inner drive that leads them to renounce and denounce such common acts as kissing (Banda banned public kissing in Malawi and even censured movies he thought had too much kissing) and it is in this thread of Bandas personality that a connection can be drawn between the quiet, kind doctor and the dictatorial Big Man he became.    Sources: Banda, Hastings K. â€Å"Return to Nyasaland,† Africa Today 7.4 (1960): 9. Dowden, Richard. â€Å"Obituary: Dr. Hastings Banda,† Independent 26 November 1997.   Ã¢â‚¬Å"Hastings Banda,† Economist, November 27, 1997. Kamkwamba, William and Bryan Mealer, The Boy who Harnessed the Wind. New York: Harper Collins, 2009.      Ã¢â‚¬ËœKanyarwunga’, â€Å"Malawi; The Incredible True Story of Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda,† History of Africa Otherwise blog, November 7, 2011.

Assess the Contribution of Functionalism

Functionalists view the family as an institution that is present in society to maintain social order and stability. Functionalist’s also view society’s functions very similar to that of the human body. The Brain in the human body is the organ that controls all other functions. In Society the Government is the main control over the country as a whole. The heart of the body is what keeps the body alive. In society the family is the heart. Overall if the family and heart is taken out, the body and society would collapse and die. Although both of these have necessary back-up systems, the society has the Army, Police services and Laws if the government should collapse. And the body has immune systems and antibodies to fight of any infections and diseases. Family is seen to be the key to society because it means reproduction to keep the society functioning. According to Functionalists the only family that would mean perfect functioning of society is the Nuclear Family. The nuclear family consists of a working man, a housewife, and children. The man is the breadwinner, he earns the money that the wife uses to buy food and necessities to help keep the family together. Functionalists views of this concept believe that heterosexual couples, adopted children and divorces do not fit into the smooth running of society. Murdock (1949) states that ‘The nuclear family is a biological necessity because it is universal’. What he means by this is that the main reason that reproduction of children is a necessity to society is because it is world-wide, it is happening everywhere and it can be found in all societies. Murdock also says that there is 4 key points. Stable Satisfaction of the sex drive (Less promiscuity), reproduction, primary socialisation and economic needs. Parsons extends on Murdock’s theory with the warm bath theory. This theory is based on how the family is seen to be a stress reliever. The man arrives home from work and is expected to be presented with a meal cooked by the wife. The family home is supposed to be a relaxed stress free environment for the man to wind down after a long day at work. Parsons also developed the functional fit theory which means a given family will fit the needs of the society in which it is found, for example, the extended family is only usually found in the pre-industrialisation period (according to Functionalists). And the Nuclear Family happens in the industrialisation period. The Nuclear Family is seen to be geographically mobile, higher wages also means socially mobile, and they are able to move up the social ladder. Parsons also adds to his theory the loss of functions; stabilising adult personalities and primary socialisation.

How to fix America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to fix America - Essay Example This financial crisis and the recessionary time period have struck the United States and the rest of the world because of reduction in the investors’ confidence level. This reduction in investors’ confidence is primarily because of the Federal Reserve’s supporting behavior towards large institutional banks and brokerage houses. The Federal Reserve has allowed such large institutional banks and brokerage houses to perform normally when these institutions carried liabilities worth an estimated 10% of the entire annual economic output (GDP) of the nation. The FED has kept a discriminatory approach towards the other private sector organization, which go into receivership if they are found to have such liquidity issues. This approach of the FED lets the large institutional banks and brokerage houses to perform normally can lead the economy to shatter if any of these institutions are allowed to unwind. The major example is the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy issue. Such act ions of the FED have led to a reduction in the confidence level of investors. The approach that can be followed to address such issue is to cut down and reduce the size of each bank. This reduction in the size of each individual bank would reduce the impact on the entire system if any of these banks fail. This way each and every institution would be accountable for the amount of risk that it takes up. This way the lending policies would become more risk averse and cautious. Each and every bank would work upon their revenue and economic growth through a proper and reasonable interest rate. The other issue arises with the transparency of the FED. The FED should be fair and just in all its decisions and the excess printing of the dollar bill as compared to the inadequate backing of gold needs to be fixed. This would increase and restore the confidence in the value of each Dollar in circulation. This can be