Cultural Differences Essay

Dear Vice President of Production, Mark Jones, a Production Manager, has been transferred from the manufacturing plant in his hometown of Chicago to his company’s overseas manufacturing plant in Osaka, Japan and I am writing to let you know the differences that Mark will experience in managing front-line plant workers in Japan in contrast to in the United States and also address how cultural differences may play a role in individual differences Mark will experience. Three differences that Mark may experience are: * Language Barriers * Technology * Politics In the United States individuals tend to speak loudly and are more assertive or aggressive when addressing workers or giving direction. Individuals in Japan speak softly and are generally more passive. With language barriers making a conscious effort to be considerate of others can aid in effective communication in the business setting. The increase of conduct business with each other is due to globalization. Technology aids people to connect one another much easier, however it may be easy for most but there are individuals that are completely lost when it comes to technology. Another thing to consider is the time zone differences. Yes you may be able to video chat with someone in Japan they are not in the same time zone as you are, so ensuring to conduct whatever form of communication you choose is considerate of the time difference. The way a company conducts business can be affected by political influences. Some cultures pose a strong sense of government pride, and nationalism. Other cultures tend to negotiate with companies that have minimum conflict with their culture. I believe with our help Mark can move overseas with minimum transition problems. I suggest these three things that could stand to aid Mark make the transition as smooth as possible. It is important that Mark researches the Japanese cultural. I recommended this because knowing what to expect can give him a head start so that he can address any possible doubts or concerns that might arise with the font line workers. Mark should be clear and careful in communicating with the workers. Due to the language barrier that already exists Mark has to be extremely careful when communicating to ensure the workers understand what he is asking or telling them to do. Finally Mark should regularly check with his employees to ensure they have what is needed for them to do their job as well as how things are going for them. Mark would also want to aid his employees in the transition as well. Not only doe’s transition problems affect Mark they affect the works as well.

Leadership In Teamwork Essay

Leadership plays a significant role in the actualization of the set objectives and goals of organization. A leader is someone who has motivates the members in an organization in working towards effectively attaining the set objectives and goals of the organization. Hence, he poses the purveyor of punishment and rewards as a way of deterring laziness and encouraging hard work. Thus, a leader stares the members of the organization and keep them focused on the set objectives and goals of the organization. There are different leadership styles that are exhibited as the leader operates in the organization. These include: democratic leadership style, autocratic, free rein, and situational or transformational leadership. A democratic leader is one that that respects the views of members and adopts their input in making a final decision for the organization. This type of leader welcomes opinions from his subordinates and seeks their views on vital matters concerning the progression of the organization. On the other hand an autocratic leader is someone who does all the decisions in the organization by himself. He has little or no trust on the ability of subordinates. He or she tends to compel workers to abide by his or her decisions whether they are pleasing or not. Leize faire or free rein leadership style is one that gives maximum freedom to workers to make discretions of their own pertaining on how they choose to work or operate. He has little contribution to make on the pattern of steering the workers in working towards meeting the organization’s objectives and goals. Thus, he is regarded as a figure head. A situational or transformational leader is someone that adapt to changes in the environment in which he operates in. a transitional leader don’t have a fixed characteristics but adopt a leadership style that is most relevant in effectively meeting the organization’s objectives and   goals. This leadership style is considered as most effective as the leader will adapt to the changes in the environment by cultivating the right attitude towards motivating the workers in meeting the organization’s goals and objectives. A transformational leader adopts or transform to a given characteristic (either the X variables or Y variables in McGregor theory) depending on the situation. (Wetheim 2005). The transformational leader becomes more effective in periods of uncertainties and high level of instability in the environment. According to Gellis (2001), cited in Mizrahi & Berger (2005), â€Å"with organizational changes administrators find themselves balancing an internal and an external focus simultaneously. Whereas some administrators rise above the challenges and continue to provide positive leadership, others may become overwhelmed by chaos and pressure and turn negative. Still others may attempt to survive by accommodating and adjusting to the environment, exhibiting the traits of transactional leader†.   A transformational leader thus, tends to survive in an environment where there is high level of changes. This is attained by their ability to adopt the right traits to withstand the changes in the environment. Also a transformational leader, have the capability of motivating workers during period of changes resulting from alliances, merger, takeover or reformation in the management structure of the organization. During such period the workers are vulnerable or incapacitated in making a right decision. Some may truncated into making irrational decision from the fear of loosing their jobs or they can’t cope with the new structure in place. It then boils on the transformational leader to direct and motive these workers into adopting the right attitude in making the transformation in the organization become a success. In this view, Lajara et al (2002), argue that leadership capacity is perhaps the one of the most necessary elements in this process of alliance. The participation of senior managers must go beyond the formulation of a strategy based on alliance, they must personally be engaged and show their commitment and enthusiasm in the alliance. This means that a way in which a leader behaves in situation of transformation or changes in the environment will make low ranked employees see reason why to continue by seeing the relevance of such transformation in the organization. Thus a transformational leader stands to direct his followers in cultivating the right attitude and be motivated in a dynamic environment. REFRENCES Lajara, B. Marco, et al (2002), â€Å"The Role of Human Resource Management in the cooperative Strategy Process† in Human Resource planning. Vol. 25, No. 2 Mizrahi, T. & Berger, C.S. (2005), â€Å"A Longitudinal Look at Social Work leadership in Hospitals: The Impact of a Changing Health Care System† in Health and Social Work. Vol. 30, No. 2 Wertheim, Edward G. (2005), â€Å"Historical Background of Organizational Behavior† http://web.cba.neu.edu/~ewertheim/introd/histroy.htm

Quiz Questions for Chapter 9

Quiz Questions for Chapter 9 1. A truck was purchased for $25,000. It has a six-year life and a $4,000 salvage value. Using straight-line depreciation, what is the asset’s carrying value (book value) after 2 1/2 years? a. $8,750. b. $12,250. c. $14,583. d. $16,250. 2. On January 1, 2003, Superior Landscaping Company paid $17,000 to buy a stump grinder. If Superior uses the grinder to remove 2,500 stumps per year, it would have an estimated useful life of 10 years and a salvage value of $4,500. The amount of depreciation expense for the year 2003, using units-of-production depreciation and assuming that 3,500 stumps were removed, is a. 2,380. b. $1,750. c. $1,700. d. $1,250. 3. The sale for $2,000 of equipment that cost $8,000 and has accumulated depreciation of $6,700 would result in a a. gain of $2,000. b. gain of $700. c. loss of $700. d. loss of $1,300. 4. Underestimating the number of tons of a mineral that can be mined over a mineral deposit’s life will result in a . overstated net income each year. b. overstated total assets each year. c. overstated depletion expense each year. d. no effect on total assets each year. 5. A copyright is obtained for what becomes a very successful book.The publisher expects the book to generate sales for 10 years. The copyright should be amortized over a. 2 to 4 years. b. 10 years. c. 40 years. d. the author’s life plus 50 years. The following information pertains to the next two questions. Z Company purchased an asset for $24,000 on January 1, 2004. The asset was expected to have a four-year life and a $4,000 salvage value. 6. The amount of depreciation expense for 2006 using double-declining-balance would be a. $2,000. b. $3,000. c. $6,000. d. $12,000. 7. Assume that Z Company uses straight-line depreciation.If on January 1, 2007, Z Company sells the asset for $10,000, the statement of cash flows would report a a. $1,000 cash inflow from gain on the sale of the asset in the operating activities section. b. $10,000 cash inflow from an asset disposal in the investing activities section. c. $9,000 cash inflow from an asset disposal in the financing activities section. d. a and c. 8. On January 1, 2006, Fulsom Corporation purchased a machine for $50,000. Fulsom paid shipping expenses of $500 as well as installation costs of $1,200. Fulsom estimated the machine would have a useful life of ten years and an estimated salvage value of $3,000.If Fulsom records depreciation using the straight-line method, depreciation expense for 2007 is. a. $4,870. b. $5,170. c. $5,270. d. $5,570. 9. Hickory Ridge Company purchased land and a building for $920,000. The individual assets were appraised at the following market values: Land $614,400 Building $345,600 Recording the land in the accounting records would a. increase land by $588,800. b. increase land by $614,400. c. increase assets by $920,000. d. Both a and c. 10 Penny Lane and Associates purchased a generator on January 1, 2006, for $6,300. The generator was estimated to have a five-year life and a salvage value of $600.At the beginning of 2008, the company revised the expected life of the asset to six years and revised the salvage value to $300. Using straight-line depreciation, the depreciation expense recorded in 2008 would a. decrease assets and equity by $1,140. b. decrease assets and equity by $930. c. decrease assets and equity by $1,005. d. decrease assets and equity by $1,500. 11 Which of the following statements about goodwill is true? a. The amount of goodwill is measured by subtracting the amount paid for assets from their fair market value on the purchase date. b. The amount of goodwill is recorded as an asset. . Recording impairment of goodwill reduces the amount of net income. d. All of the above. 12 XYZ Company paid cash for a capital expenditure that improved the operating efficiency of one of its assets. Which of the following reflects how this expenditure affects the company’s financial statement s? a. b. c. d. 13 Assets = +- +- – n/a Liab. n/a n/a n/a n/a + Equity n/a n/a – n/a Rev. – n/a n/a n/a n/a Exp. n/a n/a + n/a = Net Inc. n/a n/a – n/a Cash Flow – IA n/a – OA n/a KLM Company experienced an accounting event that affected its financial statements as indicated below: Assets = – Liab. n/a Equity – Rev. – n/a Exp. + = Net Inc. – Which of the following events could have caused these effects? a. recognizing depreciation. b. paying cash for a capital expenditure. c. amortizing a patent. d. none of the above. Cash Flow – OA 14. Which of the following correctly matches the type of long-term asset with the term used to identify how that asset’s cost is expensed? Building Oil Reserve Copyright a. Amortization Depreciation Depletion b. Depletion Amortization Depletion c. Amortization Depletion Depreciation d. Depreciation Depletion Amortization 15. Which of the following is true? . The book value of an asset is its estimated market value. b. The primary purpose of recording depreciation expense on the income statement is to reduce income tax expense. c. Recording depreciation expense decreases the book value of the asset in the year it was used to produce revenue. d. The accumulated deprecation for an asset provides the cash needed to replace the asset at the end of its useful life. Quiz Questions for Chapter 10 The following information pertains to the next seven questions. On January 1, 2003, XYZ Corporation issued a $5,000 face value bond that sold for 90.The bond had a five-year term and paid 10 percent annual interest. The company used the proceeds from the bond issue to buy land. The land was leased for $600 of cash revenue per year and was sold at the end of the 5th year for $4,200 cash. 1. The carrying value of the bond liability on January 1, 2003, would be a. $4,600. b. $4,500. c. $5,000. d. $4,000. 2. The amount of interest expense reported on the 2003 income sta tement would be a. $450. b. $400. c. $500. d. $600. 3. Interest expense reported on the income statement over the life of the bond would a. ncrease by $100 each year. b. decrease by $100 each year. c. be the same each year. d. equal the stated rate of interest. 4. The carrying value of the bond liability on December 31, 2007 would be a. $4,500. b. $5,000. c. $4,900. d. $4,600. 5. The sale of the land on December 31, 2007, would a. increase retained earnings by $300. b. increase equity by $4,200. c. reduce net income by $300. d. have no effect on retained earnings. 6. The total amount of liability associated with the bond issue would a. increase each year as a result of the amortization of the discount. b. ecrease each year as a result of the amortization of the discount. c. remain the same each year. d. always be equal to the face value of the bond payable. 7. The amount of the cash outflow for interest expense in 2005 would be a. $600. b. $400. c. $500. d. $ 0. Use the following in formation to answer the next three questions. On January 1, 2003 , Keynes Company issued a $20,000 face value bond that sold for 110. The bond had a ten-year term and a stated annual interest rate of 8 percent . 8. The carrying value of the bond liability on January 1, 2003, would be a. $20,000. . $22,000. c. $21,800. d. $20,200. 9. The amount of interest expense reported on the company’s 2003 income statement would be a. $1,200. b. $1,400. c. $1,600. d. $1,050. 10. The amount of interest expense reported on the company’s 2004 income statement would be a. $1,400. b. $1,600. c. $1,800. d. $2,000. 11. If a bond sells at a discount, which of the following is true? a. The market interest rate at the time of issue is greater than the stated interest rate on the bond. b. The market interest rate at the time of issue is less than the stated interest rate on the bond. c.The market interest rate at the time of issue is the same as the stated interest rate on the bond issue. d. The market interest rate is expected to increase above the stated interest rate on the bond. 12. On January 1, 2003, Ink, Inc. borrowed $100,000 cash from the Fidelity Bank on a note that had a 6 percent annual interest rate and a five-year term. The loan is to be repaid in annual payments of $23,741. 69 on January 1 each year. The amount of the January 1, 2004, payment applied to interest and to principal would be a. $6,000 / $94,000. b. $17,741. 69 / $94,000. c. $4,935. 0 / $82,258. 31. d. $6,000 / $17,741. 69. 13. Indigo Company can borrow up to $50,000 on its line of credit at the state bank. The company agrees to pay interest monthly at 2 percent above prime. Funds are borrowed or repaid on the first day of each month. Month Jan. Feb. March Amounts Borrowed or (Repaid) $15,000 $ (5,000) $30,000 Prime Rate 6 percent 5 percent 4 percent The amount of interest to be accrued on the March 31 is a. $225. 00. b. $100. 00. c. $133. 33. d. $200. 00. 14. XYZ Company experienced an accoun ting event that affected its financial statements as indicated below: Assets = Liab. + + Equity n/a Rev. – n/a Exp. n/a = Net Inc. n/a Cash Flow + FA Which of the following events could have caused these effects? a. A bond issued at face value. b. A bond issued at a discount. c. A bond issued at a premium. d. All of the above. 15. A bond will sell at a premium if: a. The market rate of interest is equal to the bond’s stated rate. b. The market rate of interest is greater than the bond’s stated rate. c. The market rate of interest is less than the bond’s stated rate. d. The bond is convertible into common stock. Quiz Questions for Chapter 11 1.The ZZ Corporation had the following shares of stock outstanding at December 31, 2003: Common Stock, $50 par value, 40,000 shares outstanding; and Preferred Stock, 6 percent, $100 par value, cumulative, 10,000 shares outstanding. Dividends for 2001 and 2002 were in arrears. On December 31, 2003, ZZ declared total cas h dividends of $250,000. The total amounts payable to preferred stockholders and common stockholders, respectively, are: a. $60,000 / $190,000. b. $120,000 / $130,000. c. $125,000 / $125,000. d. $180,000 / $70,000. Use the following information to answer the next four questions.The Kramer Company was started when it issued 200 shares of $5 par value common stock at a market price of $20 per share. The company repurchased 10 shares at a market price of $15 per share. Later the company reissued 5 shares at a market price of $20 per share. At the end of the first year of operations the company’s equity included $1,200 of retained earnings in addition to its contributed capital. 2. The entry to record the original issue of 200 shares of stock would a. increase cash by $4,000 / increase common stock by $4,000. b. ncrease cash by $4,000 / increase common stock and paid-in capital in excess of par value by $1,000 and $3,000, respectively. c. decrease cash by $4,000 / increase common stock common stock by $4,000. d. increase cash by $1,000 / increase common stock by $1,000. 3. The entry to record the purchase of the 10 shares of the company’s own stock would a. decrease assets / decrease equity. b. decrease assets / increase equity. c. decrease assets / increase treasury stock. d. both a and c. 4. What effect would reissuing the 5 shares have on the company’s paid-in capital from treasury stock transactions account? . No effect. b. Increase additional paid-in capital by $100. c. Increase additional paid-in capital by $25. d. Decrease additional paid-in capital by $75. 5. The total amount of stockholders’ equity at the end of the first year would be a. $5,150. b. $5,200. c. $1,200. d. none of the above. 6. Which of the following is an advantage of the corporate form of business organization? a. double taxation. b. amount of regulation. c. limited liability. d. entrenched management. 7. Jan Irving started a proprietorship on January 1, 2007 w ith a $1,000 cash contribution to the business.During the first year of operations the company generated $5,000 of cash revenue and incurred $2,000 of cash expenses. Also, Jan withdrew $500 from the business. At the end of 2007 the balance in the Jan Irving, Capital account was a. $1,000. b. $3,000. c. $3,500. d. $4,000. 8. ABC Company is authorized to issue 100,000 shares of common stock. The company issued 60,000 shares of common stock and later repurchased 15,000 shares of its own common stock. How many shares are outstanding? a. 60,000. b. 45,000. c. 100,000. d. 40,000. 9.An 8 percent stock dividend on 12,000 shares of outstanding preferred stock with a par value of $20 per share and a market value of $60 a share will have what effect on the accounting equation? a. Increase preferred stock by $57,600. b. Increase cash by $38,400. c. Decrease retained earnings by $19,200. d. Decrease retained earnings by $57,600. 10. Which of the following statements concerning a two-for-one stoc k split is true? a. The number of shares outstanding will decrease. b. The market price of the stock would be expected to increase. c. The company’s equity will increase. d. No journal entry would be necessary. 1. EFG Company paid cash to purchase treasury stock. Which of the following reflects how this event affects the company’s financial statements? a. b. c. d. 12. Assets – +- – +- = Liab. n/a n/a n/a n/a + Equity – n/a – n/a Rev. – n/a n/a n/a n/a Exp. n/a n/a + + = Net Inc. n/a n/a – – Cash Flow – FA – OA – FA – OA ZGAR Company distributed a stock dividend. Which of the following reflects how this event affects the company’s financial statements? a. b. c. d. Assets – n/a – n/a = Liab. n/a n/a n/a n/a + Equity – +- – +- Rev. – n/a n/a n/a n/a Exp. n/a n/a + n/a = Net Inc. n/a n/a – n/a Cash Flow n/a n/a – FA – FAQuiz for Chapte r 12 1. Which of the following cash transactions is classified as an investing activity on the statement of cash flows? a. Cash borrowed. b. Cash received from issuing stock. c. Cash received from revenue. d. Cash collected on a loan. 2. A building costing $55,000 with $16,500 of accumulated depreciation was sold for $40,000. How would the cash flow from the sale appear on the statement of cash flows? a. $1,500 in operating activities and $38,500 in investing activities. b. $40,000 in financing activities. c. $38,500 noncash financing and investing activities and $1,500 in operating activities. . $40,000 in investing activities. 3. The owners of X Company invested $2,000 in the company. X Company used the cash to invest in Y Company. On X’s statement of cash flows these transactions would be classified, respectively, as a. an investing activity and an investing activity. b. a financing activity and a financing activity. c. an investing activity and a financing activity. d. a financing activity and an investing activity. 4. Issuing a note for the purchase of land is an example of a. an investing activity. b. a financing activity. c. a noncash investing and financing activity. d. transaction that would not appear on the statement of cash flows. 5. The sum of the three major components (operating activities, investing activities, and financing activities) on a statement of cash flows will add up to a. the ending cash balance. b. the change in the cash account balance between the beginning and ending of the period. c. the amount of cash inflow for the period. d. net income for the period. Answers: Chapter 9: D, B, B, C, B, A, B, A, D, B, D, A, D, D, C Chapter 10: B, D, C, B, C, A, C, B, B, A, A, D, D, D, C Chapter 11: D, B, D, C, A, C, C, B, D, D, A, B Chapter 12: D, D, D, C, B

Black swan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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Information & operation management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

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Uprisings in Bahrain and Syria - Research Paper Example In both the situations, the dynamics were governed by a history of social discrimination, strong internal sectarian divide and involvement of external geopolitical forces. However, it is interesting to note the varying roles played and the different positions taken by these external geopolitical forces in both these events of great significance to the region. The Bahrain uprising, also popularly known as the 14 February Revolution, was aimed at securing greater political, social and economic reforms in Bahrain. The protesters organized themselves using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and claimed to have no specific religious or political affiliations. The protests were supposed to be non-violent. The main demands included disbanding of incumbent National Assembly, a new constitution modeling Bahrain as a constitutional monarchy ruled by the Khalifa family and formation of a commission to investigate and revoke the politically motivated naturalization of aliens (Bassiouni, Rodley and Al-Awadhi 75). The protests started of small and grew in strength with major showing on February 14 in different parts of the country. However, in attempts to manage the crowds the law enforcement agencies resorted to aerial shooting in which at least two lives were lost. This resulted in further escalation of tension and protestors occupying the Pearl roundabout in main Manama, the capital city of Bahrain, on February 17. In an attempt to vacate the roundabout the law enforcement caused four more casualties bringing the total to six within the first 72 hours (Bassiouni, Rodley and Al-Awadhi 73). On the same day, a session of foreign secretaries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) expressed its solidarity with the Bahraini regime in view of the emerging crisis. The following days saw increasing protests and more loss of life. On February 18, an exiled Shiite cleric, Shaikh Hadi Al-madrassi, in a

Ceremony & Wisdom Sits in Places Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Ceremony & Wisdom Sits in Places - Essay Example In this book, Basso also argues that places can be identified with sacred stories and ancestors. According to Basso (83), landscape connects sacred names and stories of ancestors to everyday life. He suggests that people tend to speak about strong place-names. Basso argues that place-names is not mere telling of stories but is adopted in Western Apache as a kind of shorthand during conversation. Using names enables individuals to remember about places and the story about them. In the book, Lola conversation serves as a perfect example of how places connect people to historical meanings. In the conversation, Lola explained â€Å"We didn't speak too much to her... that way she could travel in her mind... we gave her clear pictures with place-names. So her mind went to those places, standing in front of them as our ancestors did long ago. That way she could see what happened there long ago... perhaps (she could) hear our ancestors speaking'(83). This reveals the fact that place-names o f Western Apache are firmly embedded in the historical and moral meaning or imagination. Basso believes that there exist reciprocal relationship between people and landscape by which people and communities get connected to voice of their ancestors. The author believes that place-names enable people to develop mental pictures and images of Western Apache or any other geographical location. ... For instance, when an individual makes a mistake in the society, he/she is brought to a landscape that was named after an event occurred. Consequently, this would help remind the person who has committed mistake of the important morals of that event, which they can apply them to their lives. Basso argues that place naming is critical on the grounds that landscape is an instrument in human living. Names of places or geographical features such as mountain are used when teaching people about moral values because they are believed to be sacred. A Mountain is sacred because it is a hub of most natural resources. Western Apache have a close relationship with geographical features especially land because of the belief that land should be taken care of in order to improve the lives of people (90). Even though the book has had significance meaning to human life, it has certain shortcomings. Martin Ball is one of the scholars who sharply criticised Basso’s book Wisdom Sits in Places. Ba ll argues that Basso failed to represent the emic Western Apache view of places. He did not write directly on sacred lands in the Western Apache as the way they are being dealt with today. Basso also failed to include geographical locations where certain spiritual events occurred. Basso knew that Western Apaches would claim that these landscapes are sacred. As such, this claim is distinct from considerations of a sacred landscape connected to certain group of people in Western Apache (100). Question Two Tayo is the main character in Leslie Marmon Silko’s novel, Ceremony. Having returned from World War II, Tayo must cope up with life and come to terms with himself. As Silko indicates, Tayo is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder that has had far-reaching negative effects on his

SPECIAL PROBLEM IN OFFICE MANAGEMENT Essay Example for Free

SPECIAL PROBLEM IN OFFICE MANAGEMENT Essay Relative Standing Today from the Past to Today criteria: a.) Nation’s Share of Capital Definition of â€Å"Share Capital†: Funds raised by issuing shares in return for cash or other considerations. The amount of share capital a company has can change over time because each time a business sells new shares to the public in exchange for cash, the amount of share capital will increase. Share capital can be composed of both common and preferred shares. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) The GDP is monetary value of all goods and services produced in a nation during a given time period, usually one year. Basically, it’s a tally of everything bought for money during the course of a year. Consumer purchases from a candy bar to a car are counted in the GDP. When business buy  computer, farmers sell their crops, or a corporation exports goods overseas, the transaction all increase the GDP. Government spending, whether for a highway or a new bomber, also contributes to the GDP. Gross National Product (GNP) It is an additional measure of the size of the economy. It is the market value of final goods and services purchased by households, by government, and by foreign in current year. It uses slightly different criteria than GDP, and GDP is more often used for comparison of a nation’s economic progress against that of other countries. GDP and GNP in the Global Economy Due to factors such as technological advances, of trade barriers, and expansion of international financial markets, the world’s economies are more interconnected than ever before and the weakness of one can affect the health of them all. An internal crisis that affects the financial health of one country can send shockwaves around the world. Most government of the world maintains a national accounting system that compiles various measures of economic activity. There is even a set of international guidelines, the system of National Accounts, which provides on measuring GDP and other key statistic. Income approach Sum the income received by all producers in the country. Production approach Estimating the Gross values of Domestic output in various economic activities. Determining the intermediate consumption Deducting intermediate consumption from domestic value to obtain the Net Value of domestic output. Comparing GDP of Different Nations When computing GDP, nations use their local currency. In order to compare it to the GDP’s of other countries, it must be converted to a common currency. Converting value of currency, however, may result in an incomplete understanding of the true worth of money on a foreign nation’s economy. The same goods and services do not the same amount in every country. In addition to asking how much local currency equal in U.S., dollars one should ask how much value of a dollar will buy in the country. Expenditures Approach to Calculating GDP The expenditures Approach to calculating GDP by summing the four possible types of expenditures as follows: GDP = Consumption +Investment +Government Purchases +Net Exports Consumption The largest components of the GDP, consumption are calculated by adding durable and non-durable goods and services expenditures. Investment Investments in fixed assets and increases in inventory. Government Purchases Equal to the government expenditures less government transfer payments (welfare, unemployment payouts, etc.) Net exports Exports minus imports. Imports are subtracted since the GDP is defined as the output of the domestic economy. There are three approaches to calculating GDP -Expenditure approach Calculated the final spending on goods and services. -Production approach Calculate the market value of goods and services. These three approaches are equivalent with each rendering the same result. Per capita income The concept of international inequality refers to inequality across countries due to differences in per capita income among them. This concept of inequality takes as the unit of analysis, countries (nations) and, implicitly, omits intra-country income differences among its citizens. There are several methodological considerations involved in cross-country comparisons of per capita income: the exchange rates used in the comparisons (observed or purchasing power parity), the source of income data (survey-based or national accounts), etc. An important methodological issue, relevant for assessing the empirical recent evidence on the evolution of international inequality is how to weigh countries to compute an index of international inequality. One procedure —unweighted international inequality— is to assume that all countries count equally (in an analogy, a sort of UN General Assembly concept in which one country is one vote). Another concept is to weigh countries by population weighted international inequality. Here a more populous country (e.g. China) counts more than a small country (e.g. Luxembourg) when making inferences about the welfare level of the â€Å"representative individual† in the world economy. Another concept is world inequality. Here the unit of analysis is the citizen of the world rather than countries. The concept of world inequality treats, in principle, all individuals in the world the same and ranks them from the poorest to the richest, regardless their country of origin (Milanovic, 2001). An index of world inequality can be decomposed as the sum of international (between countries) inequality plus national (within country) inequality plus an overlapping component or residual (Yitzhaki, 1994). In other words, the distribution of income (welfare) of an individual of the world is the outcome of distributional patterns within the country he/she lives and the distribution of incom e of his/her country with respect to other countries (plus the overlapping term or residual). National inequality, say the disparity of the distribution of income within a country, provide the bridge between international and world inequality. The determinants of international inequality are the forces generating different rates of growth across countries that, over time, generate (important) differences in per capita income, living standards and levels of development across nations. In turn, national inequality depends on factor prices, ownership of productive resources within countries, demographic patterns, technical change and macroeconomic cycles. Of course, several of these factors can affect also international inequality. Health care Services Although predicated on the premise that the global concept is new, it actually had its origins in the late 1800s. Religious foreign mission groups felt it was their spiritual calling to tend to the sick and afflicted in poor countries (Schroth Khawaja, 2007). The religious work of missions was closely linked to medical work. These missionaries believed that the services they provided were designed to reduce human misery and suffering, thereby elevating the status of God in the minds of people. Mission hospitals and mission doctors served as important points of entry of Western medicine into other countries, and were the hub of medical knowledge and practice. Private healthcare facilities were established as part of the charitable mission. Even now, medical mission groups, such as Doctors without Borders and Heal the Nations, provide charitable medical care to the developing world. Subsequent innovations in healthcare have made it possible to bring patients from other countries into US hospitals for care that is not available in their home country. Specialists from US hospitals may also be utilized in countries that have no such physicians. For instance, Operation Smile, an international medical humanitarian organization, has a presence in over 50 countries (Magee, 2009). Their focus is surgical treatment of children with cleft lip and palate while providing the necessary medical training for local medical volunteers that will result in self-sufficiency for these communities. Often  persons travel to the US to avoid delays in care due to long lines and waiting periods experienced in other countries that may have universal coverage. Telemedicine is the exchanging of patient information through the Internet or cybertechnology. This ability allows healthcare professionals to communicate patient status regardless of distance (Goldbach West, 2010). Telehealth and teleconferencing have been used extensively for consulting with other professionals as well as reaching patients who live in rural or remote areas. The most popular direction globalization has taken is in the area of medical tourism. This aspect involves patients choosing to leave one country for another in order to seek quality specialized care or major surgery at a reduced cost (Keckley Underwood, 2007; Goldbach West, 2010). Countries such as India, Singapore, and Thailand provide care such as cardiac surgery, joint replacements, and reconstructive surgery at significant differences in cost. For instance, in India, a person can have cardiac surgery for approximately $25,000 less than the cost in the US. Along with the medical care provided, these locations offer a vacation-like atmosphere. Another feature that encourages the use of medical tourism is the availability of medications and technologies that may be experimental in some countries but readily available in others. Because of the cost differential, some private insurers also offer incentives to utilize medical tourism as a means of accessing health care services. Although medical tourism has led to knowledge development on a worldwide scale, concerns remain as to quality and liability. However, despite these concerns, entities such as medical tourism have the potential to increase awareness of illness and disease processes. This knowledge could be empowering to developing countries. Since the early 1990s, over 48 million people have been displaced due to the environmental crisis and its health related impact (Toole, 1995). HIV rates are increasing both in the US and abroad, infecting nearly 25 million people. Other diseases such as tuberculosis and cholera have developed into drug-resistant strains proven difficult to treat, thus increasing the disease transmission rates. It is predicted that by 2020, heart disease will  become the leading cause of disease an disability followed by depression and traffic accidents (Murray Lopez, 1996). Poverty has been found to be a leading predictor of health disparities. More than 25 percent of the world’s population lives in poverty. This economic burden results in decreased access to necessary and affordable healthcare. Public and private healthcare expenditures worldwide equal about 8 percent of the world’s economic output (World Bank, 1993). Life Expectancy As noted at the beginning of this chapter, globalization is here to stay even if it benefits just one set of nations of the world. However, that does not mean that it is fair, justifiable, and that its course cannot be altered. On thing remains clear: Most citizens of this world realize the injustices and are asking the major powers and corporations that benefit from the system to ensure that the planet is the ultimate winner, bringing an end or reduction to inequities or disparities, especially in health, the theme of this chapter, and provide the means, the knowledge, and the empowerment they need politically, economically, and environmentally to live better lives. This chapter has argued, and many others have done, that one of the most potent sticks through which to measure the objectives and the success of the phenomenon we have come to call globalization is the extent to which health and health care systems function for the extension of life expectancy and access to quality health care services. One can argue that, in the final analysis, globalization and its acclaimed successes are interdependent on people’s health. Health concerns and priorities dominate our lives and without it, life is almost meaningless, as it is for many who carry the burden of disease, especially when this condition can be easily alleviated, as is the case with many infectious and communicable diseases in the developing world. According to Okasha (2005): The process [of globalization] has clearly both negative and positive results and is likely to create both losers and winners. Globalization has promised to grant the world instant communication, fast and efficient means of travel, a widened access to technology, cross-border cultural interaction and globalized approaches to environmental issues. However, it also entails  deregulation of commerce and the creation of supernational political and economic bodies. As a result, the gap is widening between societies that â€Å"enjoy knowledge, tec hnology and the ability to control events and others which are still backward, ignorant, frustrated, helpless and unable to follow progress and selfactualization† (Okasha, 2005). The public response It is encouraging, however, that the unfairness of the system has not gone unnoticed. Labonte Torgerson (2003) remind us that the WTO has actually been under fire from social and human rights activists, the United Nations, civil society, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and even from the European countries themselves, which created it at the Uruguay Round of Talks on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The WTO’s â€Å"level playing field,† with different rules and treatment, â€Å"is pushing many of these countries into deeper health-compromising poverty. Its negotiations to open public services to trade will hasten their privatization, with loss of access for the poor.† In other words, the health needs for most inhabitants of this planet appear gloomy for the foreseeable future. Looking toward solutions What is the solution? The intent of our chapter was not to give solutions to the problems of globalization but to provide an overview of what the phenomenon and its system have done to the health of many people of the world, currently reflected in the existing health disparities or inequities that have prevented them from enjoying access to quality health â€Å"care, life saving knowledge, reasonable income, clean air, clean water, sanitation, land, and gainful employment.† In order to reap the benefits of globalization, say many experts, â€Å"we need novel approaches to international cooperation that place national self-interest in the context of global mutual interest to promote international cooperation and goodwill† (Frenk and Gomez-Dantes, 2000; Pang Guindon, 2004). References: The Impact of Globalization Determinants and the Health of the World’s Population Mario J. Azevedo and Barbara H. Johnson School of Health Sciences, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA Globalization for Development: Trade, Finance, Aid, Migration and Policy Golding Kenneth A. Reinert

Ebola Virus: Structure, Pathogenesis and Treatment

Ebola Virus: Structure, Pathogenesis and Treatment Named after the river valley in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it was first recognized, Ebola began its publicity in the spotlight of an epidemic. It is one of two members of RNA viruses called Filoviridae. Filoviridae were first discovered 9 years before the initial outbreak of Ebola, in 1967, in workers who were exposed to blood from African green monkeys imported from Uganda that had the Marburg virus [6]. The family Filoviridae constitutes, together with the families Paramyxoviridae and Rhabdoviridae, the order Mononegavirales. Within the family there is a single genus, filovirus, and a separation into two sero-/genotypes, Marburg and Ebola [6]. Filoviruses are classified as Biological Level 4agents [5] based on their high mortality rate, person-to-person transmission, potential for aerosol infectivity, and absence of vaccines and chemotherapy [6]. There are five identified subtypes of the Ebola virus. Four of the five have caused disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast and Ebola-Bundibugyo. The fifth, Ebola-Reston, has caused disease only in primates [2]. In 1976, the first subtype of Ebola was discovered, Ebola-Zaire. A local was admitted to a hospital in Zaire with a fever. The nurse assumed he had malaria and gave him a quinine shot. When the patient went home he died and a traditional African funeral was organized. In preparation, the woman from his family removed the blood from his body with their bare hands; most of the women died shortly after [4]. Meanwhile, the nurses at the hospital reused the needle for the quinine injection without sterilizing it, spreading the virus to everyone who came in contact with it. A doctor was called in to show how to sterilize their needles, purify their water, and give tips on how to bury the bodies that were now piling up. Quarantine followed after an autopsy was performed on a corpse and was held until every person who had contracted the virus had died [4]. Ebola-Zaire spread through the hospitals through reused needles and dead bodies, claiming an average 82.6% fatality rate from 1976 to 2003 [5]. The Zaire strain claims the most outbreaks and highest fatality rate of any strain of Ebola virus, although, it is not the only strain to take lives. As the Ebola-Zaire strain was being discovered the Ebola-Sudan strain also emerged. The first case appeared in a worker exposed at a cotton factory. The second case caused the death of a nightclub owner when he was introduced to an unsterilized needle [4]. Scientists were able to isolate these events, but a reemergence in the same location cased a smaller epidemic to occur just 3 years later in 1979. It rested at an overall 53.76% fatality rate spanning from 1976 to 2003 [5]. Ebola-Reston caused disease in a group of Macaques; some of the people exposed to the virus developed antibodies and none became ill [1]. The Ebola-Ivory Coast strain has only one known case of infection, that of a scientist dissecting a wild chimpanzee in 1994. The scientist fully recovered from the strain. Given the low infection rate, Ebola virus natural habitat s to this day remain unknown [2]. Structure Seen through an electron micrograph, the Ebola virus appears as long rods, 800-1000 nanometers in length. The filamentous structure is often found in a distinguishing U-shape arrangement, but is pleomorphic; meaning it can take on many shapes. Other shapes include branched, circular, or a 6 shape. The outer envelope of the virion is covered in small spikes, made of virally encoded glycoproteins [12]. These spikes are 7nm long, spaced 10nm apart, and allow the virus to attach itself to host cells. Ebola virus is an enveloped negative-sense RNA virus which is associated with zoonotic infections in humans [8]. Its genome consists of a single-stranded molecule of non-segmented, negative-sense RNA. The RNA is noninfectious, not polyadenylated, and complementary to polyadenylated viral subgenomic RNA species [6]. Gene signals are distinct by transcriptional start signals at their 3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ² (3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²-CUNCNUNUAAUU-5à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²) and the termination signals at their 5à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ² (3à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²-UAAUUCUUUUU-5à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ²) end [6]. The RNA is enclosed by a capsid known as the nucleocapsid. The nucleocapsid is formed by viral proteins, primarily VP24 and VP35. The space between the outer viral envelope and the nucleocapsid is known as the matrix space. Several viral proteins are located in the matrix space. Although little is known about the molecular mechanics of filoviruses, scientists focus on the mechanics of viral proteins as they are thought to function p rimarily as immune antagonists. Viral protein 24 (VP24), functions primarily to inhibit a signaling pathway known as JAK-STAT. The JAK-STAT pathway is a secondary method of transmitting information from chemical signals outside the cell, through the cellular membrane and into the cell. By inhibiting this signaling pathway, several cellular activities are disrupted including transcription. Studies have identified several regions within VP24 that are important for nucleocapsid formation [8]. As part of the bodys first line of defense against viral infections, interferons, which are released by lymphocytes during a non-specific immune response, disrupt a viruss ability to replicate. Viral protein 35 (VP35) is thought to play a central role in the synthesis of viral RNA, serving as an interferon antagonist [12]. The degree of interferon antagonist production is said to determine the pathogenicity of the virus and may account for the varying degrees of virulence among different strains of the Ebola virus [12]. Additionally, VP35 is critical for viral replication, suppression of RNA silencing, and nucleocapsid formation [8]. The viral protein 30 (VP30) is known to act as a transcription activator. Studies have suggested that VP30 halts the host cell transcription complex at its start site allowing the Ebola virus transcription to begin [13]. A nonstructural glycoprotein has only been discovered with viruses of the Ebola type. This protein, designated sGP, shares ~ 300 N-terminal amino acids with glycoprotein, but has a different C terminus (~70 amino acids) containing many charged residues as well as conserved cysteines [6]. Ebola virus glycoproteins, specifically the envelope-glycoprotein and the secretory-glycoprotein, play critical roles in the pathogenesis of the virus. The envelope-glycoprotein is responsible for receptor binding and fusion of the virus with host cells. Because Ebola is an enveloped virus, cleavage activation of membrane glycoproteins is essential for fusion between the viral envelope and the host cell membrane. This fusion allows the virus entry into host cells. The secretory-glycoprotein is secreted from infected cells [12]. Glycoproteins can also produce cytotoxicity by inducing cell rounding and detachment of cell surface integrins [9]. Specific cells targeted by Ebola virus differ depending on the strain of virus. Studies have shown glycoproteins of Zaire Ebola virus induced pathogenic changes in endothelial cells in both human and primate cells, where Reston Ebola virus glycoproteins induced similar effects in the primate cells but not in the human cells [12]. Endothelial cell dysfunction is thought to explain hemorrhagic characteristic of filovirus infections [12]. Often the proteins target the endothelial cells lining the blood vessel wall, which eventually leads to internal bleeding. Replication Replication of RNA viruses differ from that of DNA viruses in several ways. One important difference is that replication occurs in the cytoplasm of the host cell, and not in the nucleus. The virion then releases an enzyme into the cytoplasm, known as RNA-dependent RNA transcriptase, to begin transcription of positive-RNA. This positive strand of RNA then acts as the template for viral protein translation [7]. The virus proceeds to integrate itself into the DNA of the host cell allowing the viral RNA to become part of the host cells genetic material. The virus (at this point called a prophage) now can replicate every time the host cell replicates. Ebola virus replicates via both lysogenic and lytic phases. The lysogenic cycle is a process in which the virus enters the host cell but doesnt immediately destroy it. The virus enters through endocytosis in which the entire encapsidated virion is engulfed and released into the cytoplasm of the cell. After some time, the prophage is excised from the chromosome and the cell reenters the lytic phase, where the host cell lyses and newly assembled virions are released. At this point, symptoms of viral infection become evident [13]. Pathogenesis and Manifestation The Ebola causes the disease Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Within the first week of contracting the virus, mild headaches occur. The headaches intensify and flu-like symptoms, backache and chills are present. Fever, diarrhea, fatigue, and nausea then set in. Vomiting may occur within the first two weeks. By the end of two weeks, coughing and vomiting of blood occurs. Late symptoms arise. Blood purges from the mouth and rectum; eyes, ears, and nose follow. The eyes begin to inflame and the genitals swell. Rash overtakes the body, often containing blood. Seizures, coma, and delirium ensue. Death commonly comes from shock rather than blood loss [10]. Hemorrhaging is generally found macroscopically in most organ systems in human death scenarios. Focal necrosis in the liver, lymphatic organs, kidneys, testes, and ovaries are observed under a microscope. Incubation of the virus ranges from 2 to 21 days depending on the strain; the subtype Zaire is 4 to 16 days [6]. Treatment There is no known cure or standard treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Antivirals generally given to fight similar viral infections do not work well against the Ebola virus. Those who are infected can only receive supportive treatment for their symptoms until their body is able to fight off the virus. Most importantly, the patients blood volume and electrolytes are maintained to prevent the patient from going into shock. Fever, blood pressure, and oxygen levels are also monitored. The best option is to prevent infection through early diagnosis and isolation when outbreaks occur. Although cases are rare, vaccines can be a vital tool. Filoviruses can be harvested from wild monkeys in possibly infected areas to process for future vaccines. Epidemiology and Avoidance Since the natural reservoirs are unknown, prevention is merely suggestion. Wearing protective equipment such as gloves, masks, goggles, gowns, and practicing sterilization is recommended when in contact with the virus. When traveling to epidemic areas, its important to wear such equipment, and learn of possible symptoms as a preventive measure. The goal is to avoid contact with blood or secretions of any patient, as person-to-person contact is the main route of infection in human outbreaks. Premise concludes an infected animal is the primary determinant for contracting Ebola virus. Transmission can occur from direct contact with blood and/or secretions prevalent when caring for the infected [3]. History of the virus shows that nosocomial transmission provides high outbreak potential when sterilization is not practiced consistently. In lab setting, research suggests Ebola has the ability of spreading through airborne particles, but this type has not been documented among humans in a real-world setting [2]. In the case of a diagnosis, several infectious diseases need to be considered before making a proper diagnosis of filovirus. Detection can be done in the lab by measuring the host-specific immunological response to the infection, or by detecting viral antigens and genomic RNA in the infected host [6]. Conclusion The Ebola virus poses significant threat to humans and animals. Although the incidence of outbreak is low, the infection is very serious and often fatal. So far, Ebola has been confined and isolated but there is always a risk of it spreading rapidly to the rest of the world. Without effective treatment and prevention the threat is enhanced. More extensive knowledge is needed to understand how the virus spreads and its development, specifically Ebolas natural reservoir. Therefore, while traveling the world, people should be aware of the threats from the Ebola virus in order to avoid infection, and hopefully scientists will do their best to develop a treatment and vaccination. McDonalds in Beijing: Localization of Americana McDonalds in Beijing: Localization of Americana Summary: According to me the Author talks about the recent changes in the Chinese society and the new tendency to adopt the foreign culture influences and transform them into local institution which was restricted by the Chinese political system during the Maoist era. The important points made in the article are as follows: Acceptance of foreign culture influences. Beijing customers are the active partners in the process of localisation. Representation of McDonalds as Americana and the promise of modernisation. People patronize McDonalds to experience a moment of equality. Making experience at McDonalds restaurants exotic, American, and to a certain extent, modern. Genuineness of McDonalds food that is being identical to its American counterpart. Attraction to McDonalds by its American style rather then its food. McDonalds interpretation of its food as a foreign form of xianbing. The culture of fast food attracting the Beijing consumers. A way to take part in transnational cultural system. At McDonalds, eating environment is considered as romantic and comfortable. McDonalds experience is treated as a chance to explore American culture and give their young one a special treat. McDonalds representation as a symbol of American Culture has led them to accept new patterns of behaviour. Willingness to accept the exotic culture and social behaviour in general. McDonalds treated as a place to gain status. Efforts made to adapt Chinese cultural settings. McDonalds as a place to hang out McDonalds creating a family atmosphere for Beijing customers. Personal interaction with customers. Beijing customers want their children to learn American culture. Finally the author concludes saying, McDonalds has transformed into middle class family establishment, where people can enjoy their leisure time and experience a Chinese version of American culture. Critical Review I think that the article is relevant in todays world and the localization process mentioned by the author in the article. For any multinational company it is necessary that they try to adopt the home countrys culture i.e. tries to bring the home culture in their goods and services. As said by Mingsheng Li, a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication, Journalism and Marketing at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand, the degree of localization largely determines the degree to which a business succeeds or fails in a given country. The more the company works toward localization, the more likely it will be successful. It is necessary to understand ones culture and traditions and respect their tastes. But what is localization? To attract the target market, a product is made linguistically and it is culturally appropriate. When a company plans for global expansion, it is involved in the process of communication with local customers. Therefore it is necessary for the company to get familiar with local culture, study different customs, and make proper adjustments to their strategies according to the varied response of customers. The best example would be McDonalds in India. Majority of people in India are vegetarian. So McDonalds introduced range of vegetarian food in their outlet with the added flavor of American culture in it. McDonalds also priced their product according to the income of common people in India. Indian consumers were aware f the fast food culture, but the fast food in India was unhealthy and unhygienic. Introduction of McDonalds in India brought about the change in the fast food culture of India. The burgers were priced at Rs 20 which was affordable for an average middle class family. If McDonalds did not adopted localization strategy in China i.e. if they did not adopted the Chinese culture and traditions and the consumers taste, it was a failed project and the people of china would have banned it just like the French company Carrefour, hypermarket chain with more than 100 stores in major cities in China. The company had donated a large sum of money to the Dalai Lama. Calling for a boycott against French goods, Chinese nationals also called for a boycott against tourist travel to France. (Mingsheng Li, a senior lecturer in the Department of Communication, Journalism and Marketing at Massey University in Wellington, New Zealand). According to the article presented by the author it talks about the recent changes in the Chinese society and the new tendency to adopt the foreign culture influences and transform them into local institution which was restricted by the Chinese political system during the Maoist era. I strongly agree with the article and its process of localization strategy. The brand name of McDonalds was already there in the minds of Beijing customers. And before the McDonalds entered the Chinese market, the people of Beijing were fond of the American style and its culture. They were keen to learn the American or the Western culture. And when McDonalds entered the Chinese market on 23rd of April 1992, it served more than 40000 customers on the first day. This shows that the Beijing consumers were waiting for such kind of change in China, where they can experience the American or the Western culture. McDonalds has always been a fast food restaurant. The fast food in China was expensive and unhealthy. As mentioned in the article, in the eyes of the Beijing customers McDonalds represents Americana and the promise of modernisation. People also patronize McDonalds to experience the moment of equality. But McDonalds mad sure that they follow Chinese culture and Tradition and also keep up with the taste of the consumers to be successful in Chinese market. Some of the strategy adopted by McDonalds to attract the customer is Online chats Madden, Normandy; Wentz, Laurel. Advertising Age, 7/31/2006. For its its growth strategy in mainland China, McDonalds has created a live online chat series with the popular portal Sina and Askme.com.cn, a website launched by McDonalds in the mainland. Consumers can interact with leading sports, entertainment and business figures. The first one-hour episode Aug. 1 in Beijing will feature Houston Rockets basketball star and Shanghai, China, native Yao Ming, who signed a multiyear global partnership deal with McDonalds in 2004. The online initiative has no target age group, The program aims to provide consumer-focused education and encourage active, balanced lifestyles, but also be seen as an effort to ward off potential concerns about the nutritional content of fast food in general in China. Opens drive-through in China Madden, Normandy, Wentz, Laurel, Advertising Age, 00018899, 1/30/2006. Chinas rapid transformation into a car culture had led McDonalds to open drive thru in China. Drive-through sites, which account for a large proportion of McDonalds sales in the U.S., reflect Chinas rapid transformation into a car culture. With almost 6 million automobile sales last year, China has surpassed Japan and is now second only to the U.S. in annual car sales in the year 2006. This kind of strategy is a sign of bringing the American culture in China. But they are keeping in mind about the culture and traditions of China.

A History of Rome and Julius Caesar

A History of Rome and Julius Caesar Report Plan Introduce: Caesar Battle at Alesia Gallia/Europe Report Important Caesar to Rome o Caesars army Vercingetorix o Tribe/prince Gaul history The siege at Alesia and army strategy The Gaul attack Picture of army attack strategy Final battle Map Conclusion New territory of Rome Culture change in Europe Pacere svbjectis, debellare svperbos To show mercy to the conquered and subdue the proud (Aeneid 6.847-853- Virgil.) 1. Introduction This report deals with the historical events that happened during the time of the Roman Consul Caius Julius Caesar (Caesar). It will first look at the important battle at a town called Alesia. It will then describe the battle that took place under the command of Caesar and his opponent Vercingetorix. It will describe some of the unique military strategy used. Finally some conclusions will be drawn about how this historical event had influenced how Europe looks today. 2. Methodology Information in this report is taken from both books and from three websites. The websites were found using Google searches. Websites were checked to guarantee the information was reliable. Books 1. Title: De Bellum Gallicum (in English it is called Commentaries on the Gallic War) It is a collection of 7 books written by Caius Julius Caesar, Roman General, politician and author (12 Jul. 100 BC, 15 Mar. 44 BC). There is an additional one, number 8, written by Aulus Hirtius, soldier, historian, Roman Consul (90 BC 43 BC). Websites Livius.org Livius is a website on ancient history written and maintained since 1996 by the Dutch historian Jona Lendering. It started on a different URL; the present one has been in use since 2000. The website is not for profit; with a couple of exceptions that have been indicated, you can use every photo and text, provided that you refer back to Livius and do not make profit either. Arsbellica.it ArsBellica is an Italian website, also translated in English to permit foreign students to draw from these precious studies, it belongs to Marco and Luca Maurino. These authors document historys battles for their own website and they collaborate with few of the most important universities in Italy. ThoughtCo.com Is a famous international website owned by Neil Vogel. The website debates about several topics like politics, history, maths, religion, sports and much more. It is run by a staff of experts who give the chance to freelance writers to send in their own articles, and after a meticulous review, these articles can be published. 3. The two Generals: Caius Julius Caesar ( July 12/13, 100 B.C. March 15, 44 B.C.) Was one of the most important men of all time. He was known as a brilliant military General, and he took part to form the first triumvirate. The first triumvirate was a political alliance between three consuls in the late Roman Republic: Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus. Caesar was the first Roman to land in Britain, and he unified the Gaul after its insurrection. During the siege of Alesia, Caesar had ten legions available (V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV), for a total of 60,000 soldiers (ThoughtCo.com, 2017). Picture of Caesar (Ancient History et cetera, 2015) Vercingetorix (82 BC 46 BC)   Ã‚   Vercingetorix is the name that meanswho won 100 battles. He was the Gallic Prince of the Arvernis tribe. During the Gallic war he was   able to gather most of the Gallic tribes in one single impressive army, with himself leading as the General. During the siege of Alesia he had 70,000 soldiers in the citys walls and 240,000 as relief army, situated outside the Roman camp (Thought.com, 2017). Picture of Vercingetorix (Ancient History Encyclopedia, 2014) 4. 58-51 BC, Gallia Cisalpina In 58-51 BC, in territory Gallia Cisalpina (commonly known today as France and part of Belgium), the Roman Consul Caius Julius Caesar (Caesar), ran an intensive military campaign in the region of Gaul. The nature of Caesars tactics, and the style of his battlefront during this period was one of the most bloody during Caesars military career. Within the hill town of Alesia, Caesar and his legions were getting closer to the battlefield that would eventually mark the event as one of the most remarkable military victories in history. This is because the battle that was fought in Alesia involved military strategies which tested Caesars abilities as a leader. He had to find ways to manage numerous traitor-tribes, revolts, and small rebellions. Managing these were important because Caesar knew that if the Gallic tribes formed an alliance against him, the Roman legion may not continue to maintain their rule in the region. (GreatMilitaryBattles.com, 2009) 5. The siege In 52 BC., Vercingetorix, after the battle of Gergovia, thought that it wasnt the right moment to engage in a royal battle against the Caesars army, so therefore he withdrew to the walled Mandubii town of Alesia. Placed on a hill and encircled by river valleys, Alesia was in a strong defensive position. Once nearby Alesia Caesar had to decide the best way to make his attack. Instead of launching a frontal assault, he decided the better strategy was to lay siege to the town, by surrounding the town and waiting for them to surrender. To make sure that Alesia was away from any sort of rescue, Caesars army built a circumvallation wall. Provided with ditches, watchtowers, and traps (such as stimuli, lilies, and tombstones) the wall ran for roughly 15 km. During the endeavor to build the wall by the Romans, Vercingetorix was sending small groups of cavalry with the aim to disturb the Romans work and also to try to kill as many Roman soldiers as possible. Wondering if a possible relief army in Vercingetorix could help, Caesar decided to erect a second wall, in slang contravallation, that was long about 21 km (ThoughtCo.com, 2017). Picture of the circumvallation and contravallation walls at Alesia (Ancient World, 2015) After three weeks of siege, at the end of September, the people in the town were starting to starve. Because of this, Vercingetorix decided to try to assault the Roman camp from the city, with the assistance of the relief army that arrived the day before under the lead of Commius (one of Vercingetorixs army generals), attacking from outside the Roman camp. Both attacks were contained by the Romans, so the Gauls attacked again in the next day, this time with the help of the darkness. When Commius thought that it was the right moment to break through the Roman lines, Mark Anthony and Gaius Trebonius cavalry gave a great proof of their valour keeping the position assigned to them by Caesar. From inside, Vercingetorix was also attacking, but the surprises element was lost due to the need to fill in the Roman trenches before moving onward (ThoughtCo.com, 2017). 6. The final battle The Gauls attack. After one month and a half of the siege, the Gauls decided to concentrate their forces in one last attack. The target was the Roman camp of Mount Rea, the farther from Alesia but even the more difficult to defend, because the landscape of the territory had poor visibility. Inside the citys wall, the remains of the army of Vercingetorix   decided to support the final attack from inside the lines. After 7 hours marching and 5 hours rest, the Gauls launched a devastating charge beginning a bloody hand-to-hand fight. Right away the Roman Tribunes needed reinforcements, so Caesar decided to send 6 military units (cohorts) from the south camp, next to the Mount Flavigny. Vercingetorix saw this move, and he sent quickly a charge to the camp that had just been deprived of a relevant number of troopers. After Caesar gave the order to get the 6 cohorts back to defend the camp from the assault of Vercingetorix, Caesars situation was getting dramatic and he decided to dismount his horse and start to fight with   his comrades. Once the legions of Caius Fabius and Decimus Brutus had recognized the General by his red cloak fighting on their side, they found new energies starting to fight harder (Arsbellica.it, 2015). Picture of army camps and attack directions (arsebellica.it, 2015) Caesars last move. After the 6 cohorts were arrived back to the camp of Mount Flavigny, south of Alesia, Caesar had to rush to the north, to Mount Rea, where the outside army of Vercassivellauno (Vercingetorixs army general) was charging the Roman camp with about 60,000 men. In his way up to the north encampment, Ceasar collected as many horsemen as possible (the Germanic auxiliary cavalry were the best knights of that time), and 4 reserve cohorts. Caesar knew it was his last chance, so he gave his last order: he sent the Germanic cavalry ahead following the entire perimeter to reach Mount Rea, run around it and take the attacking Gauls with surprise by their back. It was a pretty dangerous move because he had to deprive himself of the horsemen for at least two hours, the time to run to the north of Alesia and run around the enemy. In the meantime, Commander Labienus was holding the situation difficultly, waiting for Caesar and relief forces. When the Roman General arrived, he became conscious of the situation. The factions were so mixed that wasnt even possible to thrown an arrow without the risk of hit their own comrades. The legions were in great suffering, but fortunately, as Caesar expected, the Germanic   auxiliary horsemen arrived at the right moment to slaughter the Gauls from rear. Caesar wrote in his book like below: Nostri, omissis pilis, gladiis rem gerunt. Repente post tergum equitatus cernitur. Cohortes aliae adpropinquabant: hostes terga vertunt. Fugientibus equites occurrunt. Fit magna caedes (Ours, renouncing javelins and held the gladii. Suddenly appears behind (of the enemy) our Cavalry. The other cohorts are pressuring, enemies extend their backs. The riders chasing the fugitives. There is a great slaughter ). (CAESAR, De Bello Gallico LXXXVIII, 5-7; arsbellica.it, 2015) Picture of army camps and fleeing directions (arsebellica.it, 2015) The effect of the Caesars last move did not kill the biggest part of the enemy army, but the withdrawal of 60,000 men had increased the fear of the other Gauls who collapsed in panic. After 50 days of siege and their last card played, the Gauls did not manage to break through the Roman defenses. Later on, Vercingetorix yielded to Caesar (arsbellica.it, 2015). 7. Historical results With the repression of the Vercingetorix riot, Rome would finally annex the region of Gaul as Republic Province. This was a significant victory which changed the culture in Gaul. This victory may have other several results. The Romans, after this victory and the following conquest of Britain (England), increased their possession, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, until the North Sea. This property began the fusion of the Celtic people with the Latin ones and the merger of their cultures was be the beginning of the Romance culture of Provence, the courtly poetry and the Carolingian cycle poems. Despite the rising of a new culture, another one was dying out: The Celts. A thriving and old civilization that survived only in the farther and beautiful Island of Ireland.   (arsbellica.it, 2015). 8. References Caesar C.J. (2009). De Bellum Gallicum. Newburyport MA: Focus Publishing. Livius.org. (2014). Alesia (52 BCE).   Retrieved from http://www.livius.org/articles/battle/alesia-52-bce/ Ars bellica. (2015). Assedio di Alesia. Retrieved from http://www.arsbellica.it/pagine/antica/Alesia/alesia.html Kennedy Hickman for ThoughtCo. (2017). Gallic Wars: Battle of Alesia. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/gallic-wars-battle-of-alesia-2360869 Ancient World. (2015). The siege of Alesia 52 BC. Retrieved from http://www.antickysvet.cz/25994n-oblehani-alesie-52-pred-n.l. Ancient History et cetera. (2015). Barry Strauss on the Assassination of Caesar. Retrieved from  http://etc.ancient.eu/interviews/barry-strauss-on-the-assassination-of-caesar/ Ancient History Encyclopedia. (2014). Vercingetorix. Retrieved from http://www.ancient.eu/image/2399/

Asthma Essay -- essays research papers fc

Asthma / Grant 1 Asthma in a Fitness/School Setting For some, the agony of asthma may be an affliction only during childhood; for others, the illness persists throughout adulthood. The least fortunate are those who fall mortal victims. Asthma can kill. Medical science can offer only temporary relief at best. The deviousness of the disease defies almost all attempts at discovering a cure. Asthma can be mild; it can be devastating. Sometimes the symptoms disappear for many years but surface again with even greater severity. In an asthmatic attack the diameter of the small bronchi is diminished as a result of spasm of the muscular coat, active congestion of the mucous membrane and excessive secretion of tough mucus. In inspiration the small bronchi are pulled open and the obstruction is thereby reduced. On the other hand, forced expiration tends to compress bronchi and increase the obstruction. Consequently inspiration is much easier than expiration; the difficult breathing of asthma differs in fact from all other forms of difficult breathing, in being mainly expiratory in character (Mezei, 1988). Not to be confused with asthma is a similar, but less intense, tightening of the bronchial muscles that occurs in people who are exposed to large amounts of noxious fumes, tobacco smoke, and other pollutants. The body attempts to protect itself against invasion by dangerous substances flowing into the lungs. The asthma victim, however, usually hypersensitive, overreacts with severe symptoms (Renard, 1996). Asthma deaths in the country are steadily rising at an ever-increasing rate. Statistics indicated that about 4,000 Americans died from the disease in 1985, more than double the number only a decade ago. Society became more involved into the process of Grant 2 determining why asthma death were increasing. A task force of immunology, chemistry, pulmonary medicine, and epidemiology researchers were charged with finding an answer, but their preliminary report only raised more questions. The rise in asthma deaths during the past decade has puzzled scientists and physicians. But while the severity of the disease appears to be increasing, many asthmatics are unwilling to lead the sedentary lives that some say their condition requires ("Asthmatics", 19XX). As seen in many studies and research done in the past exercise can be both beneficial and deleterio... ...with less respiratory distress can result from involvement in competitive athletics. The coach, teacher, and parents should share a common philosophy with the child, regarding competition. They should make the child aware that winning for an asthmatic does not necessarily mean coming in first place or having more points than the opposition. For an asthmatic, winning is wheeze-free participation (Dennis, 1985). Grant 8 Works Cited Asthma & Food: Know the facts. (1998, May). Executive Health's Good Health, 34, 8, 2. Asthma deaths rising, but asthmatics don't have to give up exercise. (19XX). Aerobics for Asthmatics, Inc. Dennis, Warren. (1985). What Every Physical Educator should know about Asthma. American Lung Association. Excess pounds may lead to asthma. (1998, Jun). Tufts University Health & Nutritional Letter, 16, 2. Exercise and Asthma. (1996). A.C.E. Fitness Matters, 2 Mezei, Gyorgyi. (1998). Physiotherapy of Asthma. Acta Microbiological et Immunological Hungarica, 45, 157-166. Research shows exercise program benefits children with asthma. (1998, June 11). The New York Amsterdam News, 14. William, Renard Jr. (1996). Asthma. Nutrition Health Review, 78, 10.

Topic Summary For Petroleum Paper :: essays research papers

CHEMISTRY ISU: REFINEMENT OF CRUDE OIL My ISU will focus on Petroleum, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons that occurs in the Earth in liquid, gaseous, or solid forms. The term is usually restricted to the liquid form, commonly called crude oil, but as a technical term it also includes natural gas and the viscous or solid form known as bitumen. In its liquid and gaseous states, it is also known as Oil, or Crude Oil. Italicized are segments from my ISU or introductions to the planned topics. In my ISU, I plan to dedicate potions of my paper to the following aspects of petroleum. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Petroleum’s many uses. Petroleum today is the source from which we derive many items. The Motor vehicle’s development in the 1930s gave petroleum a new and swiftly expanding role as the primary source of gasoline; oil and then natural gas replaced coal as the primary fuel for industrial and domestic heating. Petrochemicals derived from petroleum became the source of such chemical products as solvents, paints, plastics, synthetic rubber and fibres, soaps and cleansing agents, waxes and jellies, explosives, and fertilizers. Petroleum fuels also generate a large portion of the world's electrical-power supply. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I will also discuss the exploration for crude oil, and the impending crisis if it continues to be used up at the current rates of consumption. ( is expected to exhaust the world’s supply by the mid-21st century) and possible energy alternatives. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Petroleum’s origin and formation:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Petroleum is derived from aquatic plants and animals that died hundreds of millions of years ago. Their remains mixed with mud and sand in layered deposits that, over the millennia, were geologically transformed into sedimentary rock. Gradually the organic matter decomposed into petroleum, which moved from the original source beds to more porous and permeable rocks, such as sandstones and siltstones, where it finally becomes entrapped. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Types of petroleum; for example, Bitumen. It is formed by crude oil that has migrated toward the Earth's surface and has been stripped of its lighter fractions by descending water. †¢Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The components of Petroleum:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (A) hydrocarbons. I will spend a lot of time on this segment, as it allows a lot of discussion about hydrocarbons, in which I can discuss chemical compounds and molecular structures and subsequent properties. Can discuss paraffins, naphthenes, aromatics in detail.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  (B) Non-hydrocarbons. Other constituents of petroleum include sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and the metals nickel and vanadium. Most of these impurities are removed during refining.

Decision making software Essay

QUESTION 1 Life Orientation is an umbrella term which encompasses all the work that teachers should be doing with learners and include school guidance, counselling and life skills. QUESTION 2 Acceptance is concerned with all aspects of learning. QUESTION 3 Three (3) different types of thought developments can be differentiated. QUESTION 4 An intensive, extended career education programme helps learners to gain knowledge of who they are. QUESTION 5 Lindhard and Oosthuizen differentiate between the following principles of decision making, namely: aims and value; information; solution and decision making. QUESTION 6 A facilitative process is where the individual looks at his/her own interests. QUESTION 7 Assessment should only focus on the learner’s intellectual abilities. QUESTION 8 Observation is an exploratory technique that should be part of every educator’s role. QUESTION 9 The implication of the structured interview is that the interviewer and the learner encounter each other as equal partners. QUESTION 10 Individual counselling is predominantly used as a mode of counselling in school settings. QUESTION 11 In the teaching of Life Skills education the learner is the centre. ETH203Q/101 13 QUESTION 12 In educational support the content should be presented in such a way that the learners themselves achieve personalization. QUESTION 13 Study methods and reading skills are categorized as personal skills. QUESTION 14 Compiling a budget and writing a CV are categorized as survival skills. QUESTION 15 Imagining are dependent upon the senses and is a precondition for learning. QUESTION 16 The learner is able to transcend reality and enter a world of â€Å"nonreality† through the process of personalization. QUESTION 17 The composite interview method is made up of the best elements from the direct and indirect interviews. QUESTION 18 The three main considerations governing a career choice are job description, working conditions and job opportunities. QUESTION 19 In the decision making process the delaying decider is the â€Å"whatever will be, will be† type. QUESTION 20 During observation the learner is always the object. (20)

Personal Effectiveness Essay

Organisations today are witnessing high levels of competition. In the advent of the recession we have seen many organisation struggles to survive and some have gone burst. Organisations today are on a look out for employee that can demonstrate their ability to learn and develop innovate ideas, products and services that can give them an edge on competition. With so many graduate and not enough jobs, its all about you and your ability to sell yourself, that can take you to the next level of you career. This establishes the need for Personal development. Understanding the nature of learning, and the different styles in which people learn, is crucial, in order to promote individual personal development and business profitability within organizations credo reference (2009a) What is Personal Development According to Guirdham (2002) Personal development is about satisfying our potential, increasing our ability and continuous improvement at work and life with meaning and satisfaction. This can be distinguished from organisational development which looks at the individual fulfilling organisation needs, while on the other hand Personal development addresses individual work development and lifestyle issues (David and Stephen, 2010). Guirdham (2002, p. 132) goes on to argues that the choice to develop our self is in our own hand. ‘ Other can set the scene, supply role models, give encouragement, provide support, propose methods and means, set up mechanism, give advice, impart knowledge and provide contacts but the learner is a the heart of the development process. Examples of this situation can be seen at work place environment where some certain individuals can make use of a particular technology i. e. computer program and yet another can’t despite working in that organisation for a long while. From the individual perspective, Personal development is about how you deal with life; control your feelings, emotions, and reactions. Personal development enables you acquiring high level of transferable skill; like critical refection, working creatively with others, self-direction, self-disciple, management of time and resource, and learning to deal with all situation in a positive manner. These skills can be transfer to the work place. Guirdham and Tyler (1992) list some of these skills as follows: * Self Management. Involves accountability for own live, and getting to know ourselves. * Learning. acquiring new knowledge, behaviours, skills, values, or preferences and drawing on cognitive, behaviourist and experimental learning theories. * Obtaining and using good quality information. * Recognising, creating and evaluating opportunities. * Performing . satisfying other by what we produce. * Changing. Adapting and assisting other to adapt to change from the environment. For Personal development to be achievable it must be carefully planned, structured and reflected upon, this is otherwise know as Personal Development Planning. This process also involves acquiring skills and knowledge. This brings too the fore the importance of Continuous Learning, which is a learning process that does not cease, and will lead to the process of attainment of personal development (Carter McNamara, 2010). Learning Theories Burns (1995) cited in Lee Dunn (2002) defines learning as ‘a relatively permanent change in behaviour with behaviour including both observable activity and internal processes such as thinking, attitudes and emotions. ’ It also should be noted that learning can be informal of formal. They are four models of learning that are important to work. These are cognitive learning, the behaviourist, experimental and double-loop learning (Guirdham, 2002) Cognitive learning Cognitive Learning is a term usually used in the academic field but of late it has been integrated to organisational learning. Cognitive learning involves acquiring knowledge through present perception and interpreting in the light of past information, which is now stored in the memory for future use. Cognitive learning enables people to learn by using their intuition and perception. Cognitive involves facilitating factors (meaning, motivation, contextual cues) that enable learning process, this will determines if information is stored in the long term or short-term memory (Guirdham, 2002). Behaviourist Learning: This involves learning from experience. Here learning occurs as a result of a reaction to stimuli. The assumption is that human respond to stimuli from the environment (MDP, 2010). Pavlov (1846-1936) was investigating the conditioned reflex, his findings led to the formulation of the theory of classical conditioning, which involved a natural reflex to stimulus (unconditioned) and a new stimulus you want to associated with the response (conditioned) (Guirdham, 2002) . Double-loop Double-loop learning is based on the assumption that they are two types of learning. First is the single-loop which occurs when errors are detected and corrected, however without examining the appropriateness of the current way of learning. Mason (1993) sees considers this non-strategic process of learning. On the other hand, double-loop learning takes place when detection and correction of errors is questioned and modification of exiting norms and assumptions are carried out. Fiol and Lyles (1985) see this as higher level learning. Experimental learning: Kolb’s experiential learning model is another widely used model. This four stage learning process involves learning from experience and reflecting on what has happened, then forming out principles and testing out idea in a new situation see figure 1. 0 (Guirdham, 2002). Figure: Kolb’s experiential learning cycle cited in Dunn (2002) For example if a receptionist is accused of being rude by a client dressed in traditional wear for addressing him as ‘Mr’ rather ‘chief’, then the a learning process is likely to occur whereby the receptionist reflects on the experience, from the refection he then makes he assumption that clients dressed in traditional wears demand to be addressed in line with there culture. At this point he has now completed the conceptualisation stage, the next stage with be testing out his idea by addressing in the demanded way (Guridham, 2002). Reflectors learners make sense of experiences by reflecting on them, and take their time to reflection and make decision (Honey and Mumford 1986, cited in Steve Wheeler, 2001). However the Learning Style is not without its criticisms as problems about its reliability, validity and the learning cycle were found by the Coffield research team (Coffield 2004, cited in Stan d.  Lvie 2009) On the other hand using your preferred learning style will allow you to learn and gain new experience. However, you can make learning more effectual by embracing different learning styles in addition to your preferred learning style. One learning style cannot be considered adequate credo reference (2009b) argues that the use of one learning style put you in the danger of getting in a repetitive cycle, where learning slow down or stop altogether These are the results of your inventory. The scores are out of 20 for each style. A score of 20 indicates you use that style often.