Saturday, August 31, 2019

The Effects of Drugs on Our Society and Youths

While most People use drugs to help, some choose to abuse them. This is what leads to crime, and it affects our kids and society. The increasing phenomenon of drug abuse in society impacts American society in ways that economically cost society almost $100 billion a year. Illegal drug use has to stop! It hurts the society, it hurts us, and mainly, it hurts the user. Drug users feed of society’s money, insurance, and taxes. If we let this behavior continue the crime rate will shoot sky high. Drug use has increased over the years at an alarming rate and can be fatal to a person’s health. In this paper, I haven’t chosen to elaborate on any particular drug; just drugs in general and the effects they have on our society and our youths. A survey was conducted and showed that most people found it to be true that youths between the of 14-22 use recreational drugs. Recreational drugs are not limited to any particular group in society, meaning that a very wide variety of people choose to use the drugs; including teenagers, parents, business people, and often very dedicated students. As we possess an interest in how drugs affect a number of social groups. These groups range from teens to high-class elderly individuals who will have different reasons. It is generally known that most drugs do have negative effects on people. No matter race, sex, or age. Addiction is blind Drugs are substances used without medical supervision to alter a person’s feelings, or behavior, especially teens with a family history of substance abuse. Most drug use begins in the preteen and teenage years. During these years, teens are faced with difficult tasks of discovering their self-identity, learning to cope with authority, and searching for something positive that would give their life meaning. One of the most important reasons of teenage drug usage, is peer pressure. This is what represents social influences that effect teens. It could have a negative or positive effect, depending on a person’s social group. References The Journal of Early Adolescence, Vol. 14, No. 1, 24-48 (1994), Retrieved August 4, 2009 from http:/drugsandyouth. adolescence. com

Friday, August 30, 2019

The Influence of the Internet on Modern Society.

?The influence of the internet on modern society. CSC 1015 By Ryan Foreman 091811594 Introduction This essay focuses on the impact that the interent has had on modern society. I will give a brief history of the internet, talking about its origins and the key developments that have occured up until now. Then look at how the internet has changed society so far, including how it has changed social interactions, e-commerce and jobs. Also discussing the advantages and disadvatages of the interent and if we are better of with the internet, how i think the internet will develop and finally drawing my own personal conclusion. History of the internet – Before the invention of practical computers, people had visioned concepts of the internet Mountbatten, (1946 cited in Naughton,2000) thought that â€Å"Morse operators would be replaced by automatic apparatus . . . a single unified world-wide network of stations would be set up over which messages would be passed automatically. † Mountbatten's theory is simular to the function of e-mails. The term â€Å"father of the internet† has been thrown abouut, this is because so many people have contributed to the development of the internet three names always occur Vannevar Bush, Norbert Wiener and J. C. R Licklider. My personal opinion is that it was Paul Baran, this is because of his work on packet switched networks Naughton, (2000) â€Å"The core of Baran's algorithm was a constantly updated table containg data about how many ‘hops' were needed for a message to reach every other node in the system. † This is the idea of packet switching. The first form of the public internet was developed by CERN and invented by Tim Berners-lee he was the first person to communicate from a HTTP client to a server via the internet. Since the internet has become avaliable it has had millions of users, the internet have expanded vastly from being able to communicate from one computer to another to having television channels broadcasted live. How the internet has changed society so far. Society has been able to become socially active online with social networking sites such as facebook, myspace and Instant messaging services, i think the reason this has become popular is because these websites and programs are free and the ease of access, allowing people anywhere to talk to anyone in the world providing they have internet access. High street stores, have developed websites to advertise what they have instore online, giving the user the abilty to buy the product online and have it delivered to their house without having to go to the high street, i see this as a great advantage to people who live in remote locations, do not have mobile transport or are unable to travel, having an online store appeals to alot more people and gives the comapny a larger market. The internet has created many jobs, with the development of servers people are needed to maintain them, well as website developers and people needed to develop new technologies for the internet. Banks now allow customers to monitor their accounts online,[6] â€Å"49% of internet users access internet banking. † giving them more control over their account and they can check themselves. I personally think that this is a bad idea because of the risk of fraud and people becoming paranoid about their money, on the other hand account holders can also keep track of their finances incase illegal transactions are taking place. Thanks to the internet employees can work from anywhere, saving office space and capital costs on bulidings, i think that this has changed alot of workplace ethics, social workplace interaction has changed because employees are not working together in one place, although if employees are happy to work from home they may have higher job satisfaction. The benefits of the internet In the following paragraph i will discuss the advantage of the internet in modern day society. The interent has created new was of communication, such s instant messaging and video confencing but i think that the biggest influence is e-mail [1]†The use of e-mail is having a great impact on society. † E-mail has changed communication that now businesses use it. [1] â€Å"E-mail is a very fast way to work that reflects very well the nature of business today. † because of its efficiency, cost and ease of use e-mail has become a favoured method of communication. Business has thived on the intern et, internet business are able to reach a wider market [2]†Through the internet, a business of any size can compete in the global marketplace. In fact, on the internet, the size of an organization's operation makes little difference because the internet is an open environment. † because anyone has access to the internet businesses can reach anyone also giving the customer a wider choice of products. The internet has also seen new markets for jobs appear [3]†over the last decade or so the Internet has created 1. 2 million jobs, many paying higher salaries than average. † because of the new developments there are more people needed to perform research maintain and manage these areas of the internet. The dangers of the internet. In this paragraph i will be looking at the disadvantages of the internet. There are dangers of online communication such as social networks where users can lie about who they are [4]â€Å"Megan thought she was being abused by 16-year-old Josh Evans, she was actually talking to Lori Drew, the 49-year-old mother of one of her former friends who, it is alleged, had set up a fake profile to taunt Megan. † in social networking sites it is very easy for people to lie about who they are and trick other people. Businesses using online transactions have become victim to cyber-crime, there are many forms of cyber-crime, hacking involves gaining information without the users permission and misusing it, Cyber-crime is a huge part crime in todays society and is still growing [5]â€Å"Online theft costs $1 trillion a year, the number of attacks is rising sharply and too many people do not know how to protect themselves† because many businesses don't know how to protect themselves are being preyed on by hackers. Since e-mails have become mainstream less letters have been sent [6] â€Å"The impact of the internet and other communication technologies, such as mobile phones, has been so great that it has actually severed the link between the postal market and economic growth. † this decline in the postal market may be [6] â€Å"the rapid increase of internet access, with 70% of homes in the UK now online. † and also [6] â€Å"87% of internet users send e-mails. † because so many people have access to the internet and e-mails post is becoming redundant. If the benefits outways the dangers In this paragraph I will draw a conclusion on whether the benefits of the internet outway the dangers. Businesses have hugely benefitted from the internet with the access to a wider market, but a major disadvantage is cyber-crime one crime in specific fraud. I beleive the advantage outways the disadvantage because there are many ways businesses can protect themselves against fraud with software and training. Social networks have a huge advantage of being able to communicate with vast amounts of people from anywhere at any time, but people many younger internet users are targeted and negatively influenced over these sites, these influences can be stopped if the correct action can be taken a careful use of these sites. There have been so many jobs created by the internet because of all the new markets being created, aswell as all of these jobs being created many jobs have been lost [6]â€Å"55,000 jobs lost since 2002. . There have been many more jobs created than lost so far so i see the internet being an advantage. Summary The internet has vastly changed society through the many different areas that i have looked at, communication has greatly benefitted by having fast, easy and cheap communication, businesses have been able to reach a larger market and customers can choose from a wider range of products, more skilled jobs have been created. The internet has also created negative aspects such as communication and businesses have xperienced crime and online bullying, also many jobs have been lost because less people are using some services that the internet can now provide. My own personal experience of the internet has been of all of the areas discussed and i have always had good experiences. In conclusion the internet has created so many new jobs and markets rather than taken them away, as [6]â€Å"70% of homes in the UK now online. † it has affect a huge amount of the UK society and had a positive affect or people wouldn't use it.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Critical Review of the Literature of the role that Dietary Factors Play in Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Essay

Critical Review of the Literature of the role that Dietary Factors Play in Preventing Type 2 Diabetes’ Introduction Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a rapidly growing international public health issue. It has been reported that 285 million 20–79 year olds had the disease in 2010 worldwide and this is estimated to grow to 439 million by 2030. (19) T2D has been associated with a variety of other health problems such as cardiovascular disease, blindness and shortened life expectancy. (4,40) The prevalence of the disease is associated with obesity and overweight as well as a ‘Western’ dietary pattern and lack of exercise. (17) It has been reported that approximately 80% of people who develop T2D are obese or overweight prior to diagnosis.(8) Diabetes is a preventable disease, (19) with weight loss being identified as one of the most powerful interventions. (4) Diet and physical activity (PA) are effective interventions in attaining this (25) and have also been linked with reduction in risk independently. (40) The primary focus of this paper will look at diet and review the evidence on whether diet alone can help to prevent T2D. As a secondary theme it will also look at the evidence that diet can help to prevent the development of and help to control symptoms after T2D has been diagnosed. 8 papers will reviewed, (26-33) with a purpose of identifying some practical, evidence based dietary guidelines. Dietary guidelines are easier to follow when they indicate specific foods and patterns rather than nutrients and properties of foods and greater compliance can be achieved . (29,31) For this reason the studies reviewed focus on specific foods and diet styles rather than macronutrients and or micronutrients which do not translate into dietary guidelines as easily. Literature Search A literature review using the following databases was carried out; Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, British Nursing Index and Medline. The following keywords were used in various combinations; Diet, prevention, food, T2D, interventions, dietary, fruit, vegetables, nutrition. Other resources such as ‘Google scholar’ and NHS Choices ‘behind the headlines’ were also utilised. Because T2D is an international issue, papers from around the world were considered. The criteria for inclusion was less than 10 years old, the intervention had to be a specific food group or diet style, measuring new incidents of T2D, or changes is symptoms associated with T2D and adults as the sample group. Diet as a tool to prevent T2D 6 Studies looked at whether diet can prevent T2D. Please refer to Table 1 for details of all the studies. Villegas et al (26) and Bazzano et al (27) looked at fruit, vegetable and fruit juices consumption and fruit and vegetable consumption respectively. Both of the studies used women only in their sample groups, limiting the generalizability of the findings to the wider population. (5) Dietary assessment was achieved through Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) in both studies. Villegas et al (26) provided evidence of their FFQ having been validated, (21) however reported using it only 3 times within a 4.6 year timeframe, questioning the accuracy of their collected data. Bazzano et al (27) data collection was retrospective in that the FFQ was designed in 1984 and followed up at 4 year intervals. The concern with such a dated questionnaire is that it has not accounted for different trends that have occurred over time, affecting the accuracy of the results. Villegas et al (26) confirmed incidence of T2D through subjects meeting the criteria set out by the American Diabetic Association.(2) Bazzano et al (27) used criteria set out by National Diabetes Data Group for all participants up to and including 1997.(16) The Criteria for participants after 1998 was set out by the American Diabetic Association. The reason for this was due to new criteria being published at this time. (2) The main difference being the plasma glucose reading changing from 7.8mmol/l or more to 7.0mmol/l or more. (9) The Criteria Set out by the World Health Organisation in 1985, (24) could have been used to confirm incidence of T2D in the Bazzano et al (27) study . It was published 1 year after baseline data was taken and would have resulted in a higher percentage of participants being diagnosed with the same criteria, increasing consistency and reliability in the results. Villegas et al (26) reported that a higher consumption of vegetables was associated with a reduced risk of T2D. Participants who had a higher vegetable intake were also less likely to smoke and have higher levels of PA, both factors that can reduce the risk of T2D questioning the causality of the reduction in risk. (4) Participants with a higher fruit intake were also less likely to smoke and have higher levels of PA. There was no association made between fruit intake and risk of T2D therefore it is possible to consider that confounders like PA and smoking may not have effected the level of risk to T2D in this study. Bazzano et al (27) reported an inverse association between whole fruit and green leafy vegetable intake. Women who had a higher intake of fruit and vegetables were older, less likely to smoke and more likely to have higher levels of PA. Fruit Juice was positively associated with incidence of T2D which could be due to high sugar content.. (22) Also participants who had the highest fruit juice intake had the lowest levels of PA which is associated with increased risk of T2D. (20)Salas-Salvado et al (28) and Martinez-Gonzalez et al (29) both studied the risk of T2D and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet). A MedDiet is characterised by high consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, nuts, pulses, fish and reduced consumption of red and processed meats, high fat dairy refined gains and foods high in sugar and starch. (11) Salas-Salvado et al (28) compared adherence to a MedDiet supplemented with either olive oil or nuts with a low fat diet (control group). The supplemented items in the MedDiets were given to participants. Participants in the control group were given non dietary gifts to encourage adherence. There are concerns about the ethics of using incentives and gifts in research. (6)Within this study the use of gifts appears innocuous, the concern lies with how adherence to the diet is reliably measured. When participants are given vital ingredients, this will influence their dietary intake, making it difficult generalize the results. (13) The sample population in this study were older and had at least 3 risk factors relating to cardiovascular disease again making it more difficult to generalise results. Participants were given 7 goals, including;  increasing vegetable and fruit consumption, reducing red and processed meat and increasing the consumption of either olive oils or nuts. The control group were asked to reduce all types of fat. Results showed that participants in the MedDiet groups had a greater reduced risk of T2D. Risk was reduced by 51% in the olive oil group and 52% in the nut group. These findings are backed up by other studies. (38-39) Diabetes incidence was lower in those who attained ≠¥ 4 of the 7 goals. PA levels and changes in weight did not differ through all 3 groups, although the participants in the both the MedDiet groups were associated with higher levels of PA. This study was carried out on Spanish participants, who traditionally follow a MedDiet. The control group may have had a strong adherence to a MedDiet naturally, which could impact on the reliability of the results. Martinez-Gonzalez et al (29) used participants who were nurses and university graduates. Prevalence in T2D is associated with lower socioeconomic status, (1) so by using the participants from a higher socioeconomic group may bias the findings. (13) Participants were not excluded if they had Diabetes at baseline. Data was collected via FFQ which consisted of 136 items with 9 responses ranging from never to more than 6 times a day. Points were allocated to determine a score indicating level of adherence. Questions covered areas such as cooking methods, supplements and fats and oils. This FFQ goes into a lot of detail to obtain the most information it can about participants diets, increasing the validity of the data. However reliability is compromised as participants are asked to recall food intake from the previous year decreasing the accuracy of data collected. (5) The results indicated a significant reduction in risk of developing T2D in those who with strong adherence to the MedDiet after adjustment for age and sex. Participants with a score of ≠¥ 6 had an 83% reduction. Although participants in this group had the highest levels of physical activity, which is a known factor in decreasing the risk of T2D, they also had a higher baseline prevalence for increased risk factors for Diabetes such as age higher BMI and higher blood pressure. This adds weight to the findings the MedDiet can reduce the risk of developing T2D. Fung et al (30) and VanDam et al (31) looked at more generalised dietary  patterns. VanDam et al (31) used a 131 item FFQ specifying specific foods, portion sizes and frequency of intake. Over a space of 12 years data on food intake was collected 3 times. In order to make these results more reliable data collection should have occurred more frequently. The participants were all male health professionals making the sample group quite specific reducing the ability to generalise the findings to the wider population. (13) Foods were classified into groups based on nutritional profiles. Factor analysis was then applied in order to identify food patterns. Two dietary patterns were identified ‘Prudent’ and ‘Western’. Prudent was characterised by high consumption of vegetables, fish and whole grains and Western by high consumption of red and processed meat, high-fat dairy and eggs. Men with higher Western patterns were younger, more likely to smoke and did less PA. Men with higher Prudent diet patterns were older less likely to smoke and engaged in more PA. The Prudent diet was associated with a modest reduction in risk in developing T2D with wholegrain foods having the highest inverse association. Fruit and vegetables were not considerably associated with reduced risk. The Western diet was associated with considerably higher risk of developing T2D. Processed meat, other processed foods and refined grains indicating the most significant association. This could indicate that cutting out specific foods could me more beneficial in reducing the risk of T2D than increasing intake of other foods. Fung et al (30) used participants from the Nurses Health Study which was established in 1976. This is the same study from which Bazzano et al (27) took their participants. The same FFQ was used in this study with baseline also being the 1984 FFQ as this was the expanded 116 item version. The information obtained was then used and classified in the same way as the VanDam et al (31) study producing the same Prudent and Western dietary patterns. The results from this study focus mainly on the Western diet pattern. Similarly to the men in the VanDam et al (31) study, women who scored high in the Western diet pattern were more likely to smoke. The results also mirrored that of the VanDam et al (31) study in that it reported an increased risk of developing T2D and a Western diet pattern. This study investigated the characteristics of the Western dietary pattern further and found positive associations between red and processed meats and  the development of T2D. This could also add weight to the previous comment that cutting out specific foods, such as red and processed meats could be more beneficial than adding other food groups in preventing T2D. A replica study using the same FFQ and Prudent and Western diet pattern and using a sample group that consisted of both men and women could add strength to the finds of both of these studies.(5) Diet as a tool in preventing the development of and giving greater control over the symptoms of T2D Elhayany et al (32) compared a low carbohydrate Mediterranean diet (LCM) a traditional Mediterranean diet (TM) and the 2003 American Diabetic Association diet (ADA) on health parameters. Glycemic control for people with T2D diagnosis was one of the outcome measures. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups, given recommendations for daily intake on nutritional elements such as calories and protein and advised to engage in 30-45 minutes of PA a week. The LCM and TM diets included only low glycemic index carbohydrates, with LCM having a lower %. The TM and ADA diets had the same % of carbohydrates but the ADA also included mixed glycemic index carbohydrates. FFQ were used asking the participants to recall the last 24hour food intake. It is felt this data will be more accurate than those studies asking participants to recall food intake from the previous year, making results more reliable. Data was collected 3 times over a 12 month period. Results showed all groups had reduced weight and BMI with no significant difference. All 3 dietary interventions reduced factors that increase glycemic control such as HbA1c and triglyceride levels. The LCM diet was the most effective in increasing glycemic control. Esposito et al (33) compared a LCM and a low fat calorie restricted diet (LFD) on glycemic control and the delay on needing to commence antihyperglycemic medication in people newly diagnosed with T2D. The LCM diet was rich in fruit vegetables and whole grains and low in red meat. There was also a requirement that no more than 50% of calories was from  carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates rather than low GI carbohydrates were stipulated. Some complex carbohydrates can have high GI levels, which are associated with increased risk of Diabetes. (10) The LFD was based on American Heart Association guidelines. (12) Participants were randomized into 1 of 2 groups asked to keep food diaries and given guidelines on increasing physical activity. Data was collected through reviews of the diary. Food diaries could provide more reliable information than FFQ if they are filled out daily. There is still a risk that they could be filled out inaccurately, and that participants may modifies their intake as a result of keeping a diary. The study reported that both groups lost weight, but reduction was greater in the LCM. Overall there was a significant difference in the need to commence antihyperglycemic medication between the LCM and the LFD; 44% and 70% respectively. Potentially this result could have shown more significance if low GI carbohydrates were stipulated instead of complex carbohydrates. Discussion The findings coming out of this review indicate that certain dietary interventions maybe helpful in reducing the risk of developing T2D and may also help with glycemic control after diagnosis.(26-33) Some food groups and dietary patterns provide more consistent evidence than others. The results regarding fruit intake and risk of T2D are inconsistent within this review with Villegas et al (26) reporting no association between fruit and risk reduction, where as Bazzano et al (27) did. High consumption of fruit and vegetables are a major component in the Mediterranean diet and the Prudent dietary pattern, both of which were associated with an inverse association. Vegetables are more consistently associated with a reduced risk, in this review and a recent meta-analysis, (3) particularly green leafy vegetables. (27) More research studying the effects of fruit and vegetables separately is needed. This inconsistency is reflected in other studies and systematic reviews. (7) High intake of fr uit and vegetables has often been associated with higher PA levels within this review, (26-29,31) which is a risk reducing factor in itself. Part of the problem could be that many studies that look at dietary interventions are prospective cohort studies and  although they can provide an association they can not prove whether the cause is due to the dietary item or another factor such as PA or weight loss. More experimental designed research is needed so that a direct cause between diet and the reduction of T2D can be established. (13) While it is unclear the exact role that fruit and vegetables play in reducing the risk of T2D there is an abundance of evidence that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables is beneficial in overall health (34-35) and weight reduction, (23) so including them as part of a healthy diet may indirectly help to reduce the risk of T2D. Red and processed meat has been more consistent in its positive association to developing T2D. Fung et al (28) and VanDam et al (29) found strong associations between consumption and increased risk of T2D. One of the characteristics of The Mediterranean diet is the absence or reduction of red and processed meats, and this diet has been associated with reduced risk. These findings were backed up in a recent meta-analysis paper (18) studying 3 cohorts who’s conclusion suggests that red meat consumption, particularly processed red meat is linked to higher risk of developing T2D. Meta-analysis produces level 1 evidence, providing increased confidence in the conclusions and good grounding for providing evidence based information such as dietary guidelines.(13) Diets high in red and processed meats are linked to high cholesterol (14) which is one of the leading causes of death in people with T2D (15) and other serious health conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. (36) So while increasing fruit and vegetable intake may have a more beneficial and holistic effect on health, the same could be said for reducing the intake of red and processed. Salas-Salvado et al (28) produced higher level evidence being a randomised control trial giving more weight to their findings;(5) following a MedDiet can reduce the risk of T2D. One of the studies that looked at the effect of diet after diagnosis, (32) was also a randomised control trial providing the same level of evidence and weight to their findings that LCM can delay the need for hyperglycaemic medication therefore having a positive beneficial effect on T2D. Although these two studies looked at the effect of diet after diagnosis it could be reasonable to suggest that following the dietary  patterns associated with these findings, prior to diagnosis could help prevent T2D as they are similar dietary patterns to two of the other studies.(28-29) While the findings from this review indicate that making changes to ones diet may help to reduce the risk of Diabetes occurring, it also suggests that implementing the same kind of dietary changes may help with glucose control after Diabetes has been diagnosed, preventing the further development of the disease and the need for antihyperglycemic medication. (32-33) One study has implied that dietary changes in the form of energy restriction can actually reverse beta cell failure and insulin resistance, symptoms found in T2D. (37) It is a very small study and the dietary intervention is severe energy restriction making it difficult to generalise to the wider population, but it is a controlled study and could provide interesting findings that further research could be built upon, that dietary interventions may be able to reverse the symptoms of T2D. Collating this information together it seems reasonable to suggest that making positive changes to dietary habits could have benefits pre and post T2D diagnosis. Dietary Guidelines The findings from the 8 studies in this review can not all be discussed in detail due to word limitation. However recurring themes seem to be occurring, providing information on which to base a set of guidelines. Going by these findings the following guidelines are recommended: Reduce intake of red meat and processed meat (all colours) Substitute these with white meats and fish Reduce intake of other processed foods Reduce intake of refined grains Reduce intake of high sugar foods and drinks including fruit juices Carbohydrate intake should be based on items with a low GI score Increase intake of olive oil Increase nut intake Increase intake of pulses Increase wholegrain intake Increase vegetable intake especially green leafy vegetables Increase fruit intake A Mediterranean style diet is characterised by much of this advise and is therefore a recommended diet style to follow. Conclusion The prevalence of T2D is growing around the world. It has been associated with many other health problems and reduces quality of life and life expectancy. It is a preventable disease and diet is one of the ways in which this disease can be combated. Dietary guidelines have been recommended from the findings of this review, based on following a Mediterranean diet, reducing intake of red and processed meats and other processed foods and increasing intake of foods such as fruit and vegetables, wholegrains and olive oils and nuts. While it has been acknowledged that more research needs to be carried out to further examine the cause and effect between diet and T2D, it is reasonable to suggest that one may find these dietary changes beneficial in helping to reduce the risk of T2D and other areas of health, possibly helping to indirectly reduce risk of T2D. It is also reasonable to suggest that a change in diet may bring beneficial changes once diagnosis has been given. Table 1 Reference list 1. Agardh E, Allenbeck P, Hallqvist J, Moadi T and Sidorchuk A. Type 2 Diabetes and Socioeconomic Position: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. International Journal of Epidemiology. 2011: 40(3) 804-818 2. 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European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004:58:17–23 22. Shulze MB, Manson JE, Ludwig DS, Colditz GA, Stampfer MD, Willet WC, and Hu FB. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, Weight Gain, and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Young and Middle-Aged Women. The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2004: 292(8):927-934 23. Tohill B, Seymour J, Serdula M, Kettle-Khan L, and Rolls BJ. What Epidemiological Studies Tell Us about the Relationship between Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Body Weight. Nutrition Reviews. 2004: 365 -374 24. WHO Study Group on Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Mellitus: Report of a WHO Study Group. Geneva: World Health Organisation: 1985 25. NICE Public Health Guidance. Preventing Type 2 Diabetes: Population and Community Interventions. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. 2011: Issue 35 26. Villagers R, Shu OX, Gao YT, Yang G, Elasy T, Li H and Zheng W. Vegetable but Not Fruit Consumption Reduces the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Chinese Women. The Journal of Nutrition. 2008: 138 574-580 27. Bazzano LA, Kamudi JJ, Hu FB, and Li TY. Intake of Fruit, Vegetables and Fruit Juices and Risk of Diabetes in Women. Diabetes Care. 2008: 31(7) 1311-1317 28. Salas-Salvado J, Bullo M, Babio N, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Jurado NI, Basora J, Estruch R, Covas MI, Corella D, Aros F, Gutierrez VR, and Ros E. Reduction in the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes With the Mediterranean Diet. Diabetes Care. 2011. 34:14-19 29. Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Fuente-Arrillaga CDL, Nunez-Cordoba JM, Basterra-Gotari FJ, Beunza JJ, Vazquez Z, Benito S, Tortosa A and Bes-Rasrollo M. Adherence to Mediterranean Diet and Risk of Developing Diabetes: Prospective Cohort Study. British Medical Journal. 2008: 336:1351 30. Fung TT, Schulze M, Manson JE, Willet WC, and Hu FB. Dietary Patterns, Meat Intake and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women. Archives of International Medicine. 2004:164:2235-2240 31. VanDam RM, Rimm EB, Willet WC, Stampfer MJ and Hu FB. Dietary Patterns and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in US Men. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2002:136: 201-209 32. Elhayany A, Lustman A, Abel R, Attal-Singer J and Vinker S. A Low Carborhydrate Mediterranean Diet Improves Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Diabetes Control Among Overweight Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A 1-year Prospective randomized intervention Study. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. 2010: 12:204-209 33. Esposito K, Maiorino IM, Ciotola M, Palo CD, Scognamiglio P, Gicchino M, Petrizzo M, Saccomanno F, Beneduce F, Ceriello A and Guigliano D. Effects of a Mediterranean-Style Diet on the Need for Antihyperglycemic Drug Therapy in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2009: 151: 306-314 34. Van Duyn MAS and Pivonka E. Over view of the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption for the Dietetics Professional. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2000: 100(12) 1511-1521 35. Anderdson JW, Baird P, Davis RH, Ferreri S, Knudtson M,Koraym A, Waters V,and Williams CL. Health Benefits of Dietary Fibre. Nutrition Reviews. 2009: 67(4) 188-205 36. Sinha R, Cross AJ, Graubaed BI, Leitzmann MF, and Schatzin A. Meat Intake and Mortality. A Prospective Study of Over Half a Million People. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009 169(6) 562-571 37. Lim EL, Hollingsworth KG, Aribisala BS, Chen MJ, Mathers JC and Taylor R. Reversal of type 2 Diabetes: Normalisation of Beta Cell Function in Association with Decreased Pancreas and Liver Triacylglycerol. Diabetologica. 2011: 54:2506-2514 38. Jiang R, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Liu S, Willet WC, Hu FB. Nut and Peanut Butter Consumption and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2002: 28(20) 2554-2560 39. Riserus U, Willet WC, and Hu FB. Dietary Fats and Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes. Progress in Lipid Research. 2009: 48(1)44-51 40. Tuomilehto J, Lindstrom J, Eriksson JG, Valle TT, Hamalainen H, Ilanne-parikka P, Keinanen-Kiukaanniemi S, Laakso M, Louheranta A, Rastas M, Salminen V and Uusitupa M. Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus by Changes in Lifestyle among Subjects with Impaired Glucose Intolerance. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2001: 344(18) 1343-1350

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Knowledge, Truth, and Belief Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Knowledge, Truth, and Belief - Case Study Example Hence, assumption of burnt bulb cannot be taken as final but considered along with the issue of fuse. Only when the fuse is also tested, that the reality of bulb being burnt or not can be conclusively defined. Thus, rational approach of problem, where well articulated or logical arguments become basis for problem solution, needs to be adopted. (words: 158) Russell’s approach of looking at things is hugely important because it uses empirical knowledge to interpret the world around from wider perspective of rational approach. He believes that perceived reality is important part of human interaction with the world which is often interpreted in context with the real life situation. While perception is linked with the sensory organs, its interpretation and understanding hugely depends on cognitive processes that relies on manipulation of information as stored in memory. At the same time, Russell also employs skepticism to understand emotional and metaphysical reaction. The expanding knowledge promotes rational approach where skepticism facilitates in coming to the right conclusion. As part of experience, skepticism helps to evolve options that support not only accrued knowledge comprising of scientific and priori knowledge but also the intuitive and inductive knowledge that comes from experience. Hence Russell’s approach lends credibility to the wider empirical knowledge of rationalization process. (words: 151) Out of the variety of considerations that Reid presents in support of his common sense position, I believe the strongest argument is that human intellect is most important factor in social interaction. The human intellect takes into consideration the conscious and unconscious working of mind along with the ability to rationalize events based on construction and deconstruction of object reality. The cognitive theory helps to explain why and how the events take place and subsequent pattern of

Differences nuclear power between france and germany Research Paper

Differences nuclear power between france and germany - Research Paper Example The first usage of the nuclear energy was to use it as a weapon and the nuclear bomb was thrown on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The World War took a massive step in the history of nuclear energy research and the need of nuclear technology. Nuclear technology was required for the need of making the atom bomb. There was a race between all the powers to use this form of energy to deadly effects. America won and became the first to introduce it on the grander stage. Later as the war ended the race for nuclear technology did not end introducing a new usage for nuclear power-energy. France initially was extremely motivated towards the race of atomic warheads and weapons. However, in the field of energy development France did not concentrate much effort until the first oil supply shock of 1973. After the shock the government decided to concentrate solely on expanding the country’s nuclear power capacity. This decision was taken by the government looking at the fact that France had the engineering expertise and capacity but had very few other energy sources. Nuclear energy was a viable option because of its low output cost and high efficiency if managed effectively. (World Nuclear Association, 2011) Like many other countries Germany started the pursuit of nuclear energy in the 1950s. However, in the decade Germany was only able to develop a few reactors and none of them was on a commercial scale. Between 1960 and 1970 none of the reactors introduced be Germany could produce more than 1000 MW. The first commercial nuclear power station was introduced in 1969. First the reaction of the French will be analyzed. The survey commissioned by the state electricity producer EDF has conducted March 15 and 16 after earthquake in Japan on March 11. 1000 sample, 55 percent said they did not support the argument that the most important French Green Party to abandon nuclear energy. About 42 per cent is worth it. (Reuters, 2011) CÃ ©cile Duflot, leader of the Green Party

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

OHSA Fall Prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

OHSA Fall Prevention - Essay Example After an upsurge in 2007, fatal work accidents were trimmed by 20% down in the following year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (OSHA, 2008). Nevertheless, fall-related occupational deaths are still the major cause of job-related accidents, accounting for about 8% of occupational fatalities. Working at more than 4 feet height poses risks of falling to workers, especially, to those who work in building constructions (OSHA, 2008). Regardless of the falling height, industrial and construction workers must be protected from fall. This paper presented that the key step in the prevention of fall or any work-related injury is the identification and elimination of hazards. Any worker, exposed to fall hazards, is at risk to trauma or death. In industrial works, construction workers are more prone to fall accidents. Fall hazards in construction sites are primarily due to falling debris and elevated working area. Stairways and ladders, for instance, are frequent cause of trauma and fatality among construction workers. Annually, based on OSHA estimates, about 25,000 injuries and around 36 fatalities are recorded from stairway and ladder fall accidents (NC-DOL, 2008). Many of these accidents, on the basis of the assessment, could have prevented if the construction firm has complied with the OSHA safety requirements. Thus, OSHA rules cover every stairway and ladder used in the construction or industrial works, including their repair, structure, and decoration. OSHA also specifies the technical properties, designs, and manufacture of stairway and ladder appropriate for industrial works. Fall accidents may also involve leading edges and floor holes. Still, fa ll may occur on the same level due to tripping and slipping hazards. As mentioned earlier, the effective prevention of falls necessitates the identification and immediate control of fall hazards. This requires the collaborative effort of engineering, safety, estimating, and production personnel,

Monday, August 26, 2019

Sport Tourism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sport Tourism - Assignment Example 24) that "globalisation has helped to create a setting in which English national identity has more sporting opportunities in which to express itself than at any previous point in history. The Olympics survived the Second World War, and have become consolidated as the premier multi-sport event in the world, with their winter version also increasing in popularity." The Olympics and Paralympics 2012 have brought to the doorsteps of UK a tourism opportunity of great magnitude. In the process of welcoming the world in 2012, UK gets a chance of escalating the growth of its economy. As observed by Jowell, "between 50% and 75% of the economic benefits of the Games will accrue to tourism." According to a report prepared by the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) for the Commission on Sustainable Development, the UN Commission has set some principles for development issues in tourism. "These principles can provide basis for effective partnerships for sustainable tourism planning and development in local tourist destinations. (1999, p.10) The authorities responsible for the sport tourism development issues in London should consult these principles to achieve their goals. They should pay attention to the development issues like trying to solve all problems before, during and after the development projects' implementation and evaluation phase. In addition to this they should try to focus their attention on issues like limits of developments, what needs to be paid attention to immediately and what can wait for some time. The ecological problems should also be paid attention to. In all this tourism development measures, the local people should not feel cut off. They should be made an integral part of the development procedures. Their problems like drainage, sewerage, infrastructure requirements etc. should be paid attention to because until and unless the problems of local people are solved; it is impossible to create a good atmosphere for tourists. If the available resources are not sufficient for the local people then how can the huge number of tourists be accommodated comfortably All the local bodies, even those belonging to the grassroots level shou ld be encouraged to participate actively in the sport tourism development issues on the eve of the 2012 games. Apart from the above mentioned issues it should be clear that the development should not be at the cost of degradation of environment and local culture. Environment and culture are the wealth that will attract more and more tourists to the host destination. Impacts and implications for hosting the London 2012 Games There will be a favourable growth of GDP in London when the 2012 games are held but this implies that the rest of UK will not benefit as all the resources and attention will be directed towards the host city. London will have a favourable impact in not only GDP but in other areas too. Unfortunately the implications of the positive impact upon London will be that, the rest of the areas of UK will experience a negative impact. For example all the investments in infrastructure, social work, beautification and creation of new jobs would be restricted to London and as a result the rest of the UK will remain untouched of the benefits. In this

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning models Essay

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Planning models - Essay Example The researcher states that there are various models of business continuity. Some of these models include standards, supporting policies and program development.   There are a number of standard bodies that publish business continuity standards. Some of these standards include ISO, North America, Australia and United Kingdom. ISO standards usually specify a management system that will manage an organization’s business continuity. ISO standards also provide advices and guidance concerning the continuity of a business. On the other hand, North America provides continuity programs such as organizational resilience. This involves preparedness, continuity management and security systems. United Kingdom was a business management continuity standard which was divided into two parts. However, it was replaced by ISO standards. The other model of business continuity is program development. This is a management-level process that ensures that appropriate measures are taken regularly to ensure identification of probable disasters, accidents, threats or emergencies. Program development also involves assessing possible effects of such catastrophes, development of recovery plans and, readiness through plan testing and personnel training. Policies are all the things, which the management of an organization has authorized to always be followed and performed in accordance with a present design plan. Policies are  designed  to  support all the functions in an organization.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Integrated Marketing Communications Programme for the Ashcroft Essay

Integrated Marketing Communications Programme for the Ashcroft International Business School at Cambridge and Chelmsford - Essay Example These campuses attract not only students from the East of England but also in mainland Europe. With its commitment in making the higher education accessible to all, the university is tapping the global market by creating an extensive network of contacts with several institutions across the world. In line with the continuously changing challenges in the market environment as well as the increasingly tight competition within the local and international school industry, the university has to put in extra effort in strengthening its existing marketing communications programme. This study will discuss about the proposed strategy for the AIBS’s market segment, the characteristics of the student body, multi-cultural issues, and the chosen cost of methods using several communication methods. Another highlighted topic is the importance of measuring the effectiveness of each marketing communications used. Comparing the proposed strategy with the ones used by a similar establishment would be useful in determining the possible outcome of the proposed strategy. The market segment of AIBS includes international students planning to enrol in business related courses. The current market of AIBS has a total of 3,000 undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional students. AIBS employs over 80 ‘full-time’ professional teachers to handle the students. The students were given the option to study on a full-time or part-time basis. Among the 3,000 students, 2,000 are foreign or international students coming from more than 100 different countries worldwide.3 Working students are composed of 20% of the total population. Based on UKCOSAi statistics regarding the international students in UK Higher Education (HE)ii, there are a total of 268,295 international students all over England; accounting for a total of 84.26% all over UK. Among the 268,295 international students, 13% or 34,878.35 students are

Friday, August 23, 2019

New article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

New - Article Example The number of cars recalled is staggering and the effect on profits substantial although not yet determined. The drop in profits will undoubtedly make for displeased employees since they had agreed to share profits, as opposed to base increases in their pay in previous negotiations. This is important especially since there had been a steady climb in their take home bonuses in recent years. Information from this article is relevant to management because there reaches a time when organization and company management have to make the tough decisions. In most cases, such decisions are set to benefit the company or organization in the long term. Decision-making is an important part of managing any organization for it to be successful in the market. The fact that the author is a known reporter for CNN makes the article valid and reliable. The author provides information on the reasons for the recall and effects it would have to the company in terms of profits. Despite the recall, the company has still managed to make 1.4 million dollars in third quarter profits. The article does not tell us whether this will have a cushioning effect on the company and workers or not. It also does not say whether the employees have job security worries in their future. It centers around the expected drop in profits for the company and the attendant effect on the employees, giving figures to support this argument. It is very informative on the costs of the recall, and the figures leave no doubt, on how grave the situation is. This must surely be the reason for the initial decision not to disclose the defects. The article describes what led to the recall and its immediate effects on the company. However, the article is scanty on other charges levied to the company by various statutory authorities for failure to recall cars despite being aware of defects. It is also scant on the attendant investigations being

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Cooperating and Communicating Across Cultures Essay Example for Free

Cooperating and Communicating Across Cultures Essay Case Study: Cooperating and Communicating Across Cultures The article Cooperation and communication between cultures, points out the key components in this case study. In the scenario each one of the team members had their own preconceived notions of the right way they should interact with the team in order for the team to move forward. The viewpoints of the team members, in my opinion, were influenced in part by their own cultures in addition to their own corporate backgrounds. Jim upon entering the team considered himself well prepared. He had knowledge of German culture and language, due to the fact that his wife was German and he visited Germany often, however, he was amazed at the detail in which the planning session went. Jim soon lost patience and interest, and the respect of his fellow team members because he was hardly paying attention anymore to the process. The German team used a three-day planning session as a way to lay the foundation for the structure of the entire product launch. Jim never really understands the importance of the initial meetings in the process because he unes out most of what was being said. Because of this, Jim never really understands the way the team is working in that the first analyze the problem, all possible eventualities, and addressing issues, then dividing the work and moving forward, with the team leader checking and controlling the outcome. The German team leader demonstrates that the team had worked together for at several years and so each knew the procedures very well but Jim clearly did not. An important organizational issue Jim exhibited is not showing respect for the Germans methods nd failing to align himself with the culture more rather than removing himself from the process and complaining. Fundamentally, Jim wanted to outline the problem, jump in, adjust and confer during the process but the Germans had different ideas, and a different culture for doing things. Each side saw the others method of operating as wrong, rather than as a possible new and different way to address a product launch. In the scenario concerning Klaus, Klaus had the same issues arriving in America and learning that the project would be put together as a work in progress rather than carefully thought out prior to execution of a plan. This is a cultural difference both sides experienced that could have been addressed by an introduction to work methods before Jim/Klaus started with their new team, which could have avoided the sense of frustration all on the project felt. Outlining the process and the roles each person would play would help the visitor better learn the corporate/national culture.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Flood Measuring System Essay Example for Free

Flood Measuring System Essay

Desulfurization Simulated Gasoil

Desulfurization Simulated Gasoil Desulfurization Simulated Gasoil by Polyoxometalate/H2O2/Ionic Liquid System Arouna Dolo, Yu-Hui Luo, Wen-Wen Ma, Xin-Xin Lu, Yan Xu, Kaiwen Ma, Nah Traorà ©, Hong Zhang Abstract The Keggin-type catalysts (Q)3+nPW12-nVnO40 (n= 1-3) were synthesized by ionic exchange for oil extraction/catalytic oxidation desulfurization (ECODS) of DBT, BT and 4,6-DMDBT. The samples were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectra analysis. The experimental results indicated that (STA)6PW9V3 exhibits superior catalytic activity and durability with about 99.14% desulfurization rate from the 500 ppm model oil within 1 h at 40 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã†â€™, and no obviously decrease in its catalytic performance was observed after five consecutive ECODS recycles with about 98% recovery rate. Therefore, the Keggin-type material is a promising and efficient catalyst for the catalytic oxidation desulfurization of diesel fuel. Keywords: Catalysts, Polyvanadotungstates, Extraction/oxidation desulfurization, Ionic liquid, Keggin-type polyoxometalates 1. Introduction The combustion of hydrocarbon generates gaseous contaminants, such as SOx and NOx species, which lead to environmental hazards, including acid rain, air contamination and ozone consumption [1]. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS), a standard refining technology, is very efficient in removal of thiols, sulfides and disulfides. However, it is less effective when dealing with refractory sulfur compounds such as benzothiophene (BT), dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) [2]. This attracts noteworthy efforts to explore an efficient approach for sulfur removal from oil, including extractive desulfurization (EDS), oxidative desulfurization (ODS), biodesulfurization (BDS) and absorptive desulfurization (ADS) or their combination. Among them, extractive/catalytic oxidative desulfurization (ECODS) has emerged as an intriguing approach due to its superior desulfurization activity, selectivity and stability [3]. Various catalysts, such as commercially available molybdic compound [4], phosphotungstic acid,[5] peroxotungsten complex [6] and polymolybdates [7] have demonstrated good efficiency with ECODS. However, phase-transfer limitation across the interface and lack of adaptive reaction environment in the hydrophobic ILs are the main drawbacks in these systems. The Keggin-type containing-vanadium POMs PMo12-nVnO40(3+n)- and PW12-nVnO40(3+n)− have demonstrated to be an effective and robust catalyst for various oxidation reactions, including ketones, aldehydes, alcohols and sulfur under mild conditions [8, 9]. However, few reports on the catalytic oxidative desulfurization by PW12-nVnO40(3+n)− encapsulated with organic alkyl chains have been reported. In this work, we used Keggin-type containing-vanadium POMs H3+nPW12-nVnO40 (n= 1-3) grafted with a series of alkyl chains, including stearyltrimethylammonium bromide (STA ·Br), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢Br), and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DDA ·Br) as catalysts, [Bmim]PF6 as extractant solvent in the presence of H2O2 as oxidant for desulfurization. The results show that, among the synthesized catalysts (STA)6PW9V3 exhibited superior activity. Reaction parameters, such as the influence of vanadium structure, oil/catalyst mass ratio and H2O2 dosage on the desulfurization were investigated. From our experiments, it suggests that the higher number of vanadium-substituted to the catalyst results the better catalytic activity. 2. Experimental 2.1. Materials preparation Synthesis of H4PW11VO40 (PW11V), H5PW10V2O40 (PW10V2) and K6PW9V3O40 (PW9V3): PW11V , PW10V2 and PW9V3 were synthesized as reported in the literature [11, 12]. Surfactant-Encapsulated POMs (SEPs) were synthesized via ionic exchange of method of PW12-nVn and surfactants (STAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢Br, HDAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢Br and DDAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢B), respectively. PW12-nVn were dissolved in water, whereas surfactants were dissolved in alcohol. The two solutions were mixed, filtered, washed with water and ethanol before drying for 24 h to obtain the final products. All catalysts used in this work were characterized according to the reported literatures. 2.2. ECODS for oil model Synthesis of ionic liquid and model oil: Ionic liquid [Bmim]PF6 was synthesized as mentioned in the literature [10]. The ECODS was conducted via initially mixing model oil with [Bmim]PF6 inside two-necked round-bottomed flask immersed in water bath at various temperature 40, 50 and 60  °C, respectively. The ECODS commenced after addition of H2O2 30 wt. % into the (STA)6PW9V3 under stirring for 3h. Intermediate samples were collected at different reaction times from 10 min to 160 min. The remained sulfur-containing compounds in model oil after the reaction were analyzed by GC. 2.3. Characterization FT-IR spectra were measured on a Mattson Alpha-Centauri spectrometer in the range of 4000-400 cm-1. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed on Perkin-Elmer Thermal Analyzer under nitrogen atmosphere at heating of 5  °C/min till 600  °C. UV absorption was measured with Cary 500 UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer. 3. Results and discussion The ECODS was tested in comparison with other desulfurization systems, such as the extraction, the chemical oxidation and the catalytic oxidation (Table 1). Interestingly, the ECODS system was superior to others desulfurization systems. This is due to the persistence of catalyst with IL and oxidant in the same reaction somehow stimulates legend effect, which stabilizes the oxidant and subsequently enhances activity. In addition, the high oil-model solubility in ionic liquid results in less binding energy of adsorbents on the system, thus contributing to a much higher sulfur removal. Three different surfactants were used to synthesize (Q)6PW9V3, (Q)6PW10V2 and (Q)6PW11V (Q = STAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢Br, HDAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢Br and DDAà ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â€ž ¢Br) to investigate the influence of surfactant alkyl-chain length on the catalytic performance. As shown in Fig. 1, the efficiency of DBT removal in ECODS are about 99.14%, 95% and 81% by using (STA)6PW9V3, (HDA)6PW9V3 and (DDA)6PW9V3 as catalysts, correspondingly. In contrast, surfactant-encapsulated POMs (Q)5PW10V2 and (Q) are slightly less efficient than (STA)6PW9V3. Fig 2 shows the removal of DBT at 40, 50 and 60  ºC, respectively. The results show that removal of DBT via ECODS increases with temperature rising. After 10 minutes for the ECODS reaction, the DBT removal efficiency was 38.47% at 40  °C, while 80.36% at 60  °C. Also, the DBT removal efficiency became stable for all three temperatures after an hour. These results depict the superior catalytic activity at 60  °C. However, the excessive higher temperature will lead to thermal decomposition of H2O2, thus low desulfurization efficiency [14]. As a result, although the catalytic effect is sluggish at 40  °C, which took around 1 h to remove about 99% of sulfur, it is economically preferred due to low energy cost and higher H2O2 stability. In addition, the durability of (STA)6PW9V3 was investigated on DBT removal for five interval cycles. The results show that, the catalyst keeps around 98 % of its activity after consecutive 5 cycles (Fig S8). Furthermore, the catalyst, (STA)6PW9V3 , reserved all its characteristic peaks without significant shift after the durability test (Fig S9). The ECODS capability of DBT, BT, 4,6-DMDBT were evaluated using (STA)6PW9V3 as catalyst. The achieved desulfurization efficiency were about 99.14%, 91.09% and 71.06% for DBT, 4,6-DMDBT and BT at 40  ºC within 1 h, respectively, as shown in Fig 3. The data reflects the superior ECODS efficiency of DBT compared to 4,6-DMDBT and BT resulting from distinct electron density of BT (5.739), DBT (5.758) and 4,6-DMDBT (5.760) [15]. Thereby, high electron density eases up sulfur removal and vice versa. However, 4,6-DMBT is the exception due to the persistence of two methyl groups in carbon chain, which cause steric hindrance [16]. 4. Conclusion In summary, the Keggin-type organic-inorganic framework catalysts, (Q)6PW11V, (Q)6PW10V2, (Q)6PW9V3 [Q=C18H37N(CH3)3 (STA), C16H42N(CH3)3 (HDA], C12H3N(CH3)3 (DDA)], were synthesized by ionic exchange approach for oil extraction/catalytic oxidation desulfurization. Their desulfurization efficiencies were investigated by varing reactants concentration and reaction parameters. Intriguingly, (STA)6PW9V3 with longer carbon chain and higher V content exhibits superior catalytic activity compared to its counterparts. The ECODS presents better performance compared to others systems. Furthermore, (STA)6PW9V3 exhibits a drastic durability. From the experiment, it maintained catalytic activity with 98% recovery rate after five consecutive ECODS cycles. Acknowledgment We gratefully acknowledge financial support by the NSF of China (21271038, 21071027), the China High-Tech Development 863 Program (2007AA03Z218) and analysis and testing foundation of Northeast Normal University. References [1] R. Martinez-Palou, R. Luque, Applications of ionic liquids in the removal of contaminants from refinery feedstocks: an industrial perspective, Energy Environ. Sci. 7 (2014) 2414-2447. [2] W. Jiang, W. Zhu, Y. Chang, Y. Chao, S. Yin, H. Liu, F. Zhu, H. Li, Ionic liquid extraction and catalytic oxidative desulfurization of fuels using dialkylpiperidinium tetrachloroferrates catalysts, Chem. Eng. J. 250 (2014) 48-54. [3] S. Ribeiro, A.D.S. Barbosa, A.C. Gomes, M. Pillinger, I.S. Gonà §alves, L. Cunha-Silva, S.S. Balula, Catalytic oxidative desulfurization systems based on Keggin phosphotungstate and metal-organic framework MIL-101, Fuel Process. Technol. 116 (2013) 350-357. [4] W. Zhu, H. Li, X. Jiang, Y. Yan, J. Lu, L. He, J. Xia, Commercially available molybdic compound-catalyzed ultra-deep desulfurization of fuels in ionic liquids, Green Chem. 10 (2008) 641-646. [5] H. Li, L. He, J. Lu, W. Zhu, X. Jiang, Y. Wang, Y. Yan, Deep Oxidative Desulfurization of Fuels Catalyzed by Phosphotungstic Acid in Ionic Liquids at Room Temperature, Energy Fuels 23 (2009) 1354-1357. [6] X. Jiang, H. Li, W. Zhu, L. He, H. Shu, J. Lu, Deep desulfurization of fuels catalyzed by surfactant-type decatungstates using H2O2 as oxidant, Fuel 88 (2009) 431-436. [7] L. He, H. Li, W. Zhu, J. Guo, X. Jiang, J. Lu, Y. Yan, Deep Oxidative Desulfurization of Fuels Using Peroxophosphomolybdate Catalysts in Ionic Liquids, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 47 (2008) 6890-6895. [8] W. Guo, Z. Luo, H. Lv, C.L. Hill, Aerobic Oxidation of Formaldehyde Catalyzed by Polyvanadotungstates, ACS Catal. 4 (2014) 1154-1161. [9] Y. Liu, S. Liu, S. Liu, D. Liang, S. Li, Q. Tang, X. Wang, J. Miao, Z. Shi, Z. Zheng, Facile Synthesis of a Nanocrystalline Metal–Organic Framework Impregnated with a Phosphovanadomolybdate and Its Remarkable Catalytic Performance in Ultradeep Oxidative Desulfurization, ChemCatChem 5 (2013) 3086-3091. [10] S. Carda–Broch, A. Berthod, D.W. Armstrong, Solvent properties of the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ionic liquid, Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 375 (2003) 191-199. [11] P.J. Domaille, G. Herva, A. Taza, Vanadium(V) Substituted Dodecatungstophosphates, Inorganic Syntheses, New York: John Wiley Sons; 1990, p 96-104. [12] G.A. Tsigdinos, C.J. Hallada, Molybdovanadophosphoric acids and their salts. I. Investigation of methods of preparation and characterization, Inorg. Chem. 7 (1968) 437-441. [13] M. Akimoto, H. Ikeda, A. Okabe, E. Echigoya, 12-Heteropolymolybdates as catalysts for vapor-phase oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutyric acid: 3. Molybdotungstophosphoric and molybdovanadophosphoric acids, J. Catal. 89 (1984) 196-208. [14] D. Fang, Q. Wang, Y. Liu, L. Xia, S. Zang, High-Efficient Oxidation–Extraction Desulfurization Process by Ionic Liquid 1-Butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium Trifluoroacetic Acid, Energy Fuels 28 (2014) 6677-6682. [15] Z. Jiang, H. LÃÅ", Y. Zhang, C. Li, Oxidative Desulfurization of Fuel Oils, Chin. J. Catal. 32 (2011) 707-715. [16] M. Zhang, W. Zhu, S. Xun, H. Li, Q. Gu, Z. Zhao, Q. Wang, Deep oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene with POM-based hybrid materials in ionic liquids, Chem. Eng. J. 220 (2013) 328-336. Highlights A series of Keggin-type catalyst was successfully synthesized; The influence factors for catalytic oxidation desulfurization were discussed in detail; As synthesized catalyst exhibited superior catalytic activity and durability. Figure captions Fig. 1 Influence of surfactant alkyl-chain length on the catalytic oxidation of DBT. Reaction conditions: 5 mL model oil (S content = 500 ppm); time = 1 h; T = 40  °C; H2O2 = 64  µL, [Bmim]PF6 = 1 mL. Fig. 2 Influence of temperature on the removal of DBT. Reaction conditions: 5 mL model oil (S content = 500 ppm); (STA)6PW9V3 = 3.5 mg; time=3 h; H2O2 = 64  µL, [Bmim]PF6 = 1 mL. Fig. 3 Influence of different sulfur-containing compounds. Reaction conditions: 5 mL model oil; S content (BT, DBT and 4,6-DMDBT was 250, 500 and 250 ppm respectively); (STA)6PW9V3 = 3.5 mg; time = 3 h; T = 40  °C; H2O2 = 64  µL; [Bmim]PF6 = 1mL. Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Tables Table 1 Influence of different desulfurization systems on removal of DBT Reaction conditions: 5 mL model oil (S content=500 ppm); t=1 h; T =40  °C; H2O2= 64  µL, catalyst = 3.5 mg, [Bmim]PF6=1 mL 1

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Screening Ticks from Different Counties and Comparing Them Essay

Ticks will be collected from areas in the five counties in the state where Lyme disease and other tick-borne infections are prevalent. Trapping sites will be set in known tick habitats in the five counties to help in trapping and collecting small animals, including the target pests. Sherman live-traps baited with oatmeal and peanut-butter will be set at the sites to ensnare the ticks. All captured animals will be regularly and carefully examined to allow the researchers to extract as many ticks as possible. The trapping of animals and extraction of ticks from the captured animals will take about four weeks. All ticks collected will be placed in vials containing 75% ethanol and sent to parasitology laboratories. The screening process will be done through MasTag polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a multiplication method, which is known for its fast and economic screening of tick-borne pathogens. PCR is also known for efficient and accurate screening of ticks for polymicrobial contagion. Before beginning the PCR procedure, the ticks will be removed from the vials, washed with saline containing phosphate buffer, and then homogenized with Tri-reagent LS. The next step will involve nucleic acid extraction, where total RNA will be suspended in about 30ml of H2O. The generation of cDNA will then follow where 20ml of the solution and 15ml of total RNA will be reacted using Superscript 11 Reverse Transcriptase as a catalyst. The MassTag PCR procedure will then be done using the tick panel, with primers added to the reactants to help detect the Borrelia species responsible for relapsing fever and the Powassan virus. All the MassTag PCR assays that will be done in the experiment will utilize 3ml of cDNA. The final PCR products wi... ...tology 140.1 (2006): 143-147. Print. Koch, KR, and JG Burg. â€Å"Relative Abundance and Survival of the Tick Amblyomma americanum Collected from Sunlit and Shaded Habitats.† Medical and Veterinary Entomology 20.1 (2006): 173-176. Print. Teel, Pete, HR Ketchum, DE Mock, RE Wright, and Otto Strey. â€Å"The Gulf Coast Tick: A Review of the Life History, Ecology, Distribution, and Emergence as an Arthropod of Medical and Veterinary Importance.† Journal of Medical Entomology 47.5 (2010): 707- 722. Print. White, Stephan, and Donald Mock. â€Å"Ixodus scapularis (Ascri: Ixodidae) in Kansas: A New Distribution Record.† Journal of Medical Entomology 28.6 (1991): 872-873. Print. Williams, Christopher, William Davidson, Scott Lutz, and Roger Applegate. â€Å"Health Status of Northern Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginiaus) in Eastern Kansas.† Avian Diseases 44.1 (2000): 953-956. Print.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Web-Based Instruction Essay -- Internet Technology Essays

Web-Based Instruction The use of computers and communication technologies in learning has a history going back more than 30 years. Along the way, it has been called by many names, such as computer-mediated communication (CMC), computer conferencing, on-line learning, Internet-based learning, and telematics. The advent of the Web provides a new and interesting environment for CMC that offers a host of new possibilities together with the advantages of previous incarnations. (McCormack & Jones, 1998) In just a few years the World Wide Web (WWW) has transformed communication, scholarship, and business. The idea of a global information system and the ease with which it can be used means that the Web has captured the imagination of more people than any other computer innovation. (McCormack & Jones, 1998) The possibility for using the Web for instruction has generated a great interest among educators throughout the world. On the whole, however, the use of the Web for education is a rarity. McCormack & Jones (1998) attribute the limited use of the Web in instruction to the following factors: knowledge, reluctance and resources. Very few educators have the knowledge of technical and educational principles required in constructing Web-based instruction. Also, some educators are reluctant to adopt new methods, particularly those that involve technology. This reluctance may derive from ignorance and misconceptions about the characteristics of new methods and what they have to offer. Moreover, very few institutions will provide the time, support, training, recognition, and infrastructure necessary to implement Web-based instruction. At the same time, even as resources are shrinking, industries and consumers are demanding more ... ...acting with classmates using unfamiliar tools such as chat rooms. (Driscoll, 1998) Web-based instruction is also labor intensive, requiring a design team which should include graphic designers, network managers, server installers, end-user support, and programmers. References Driscoll, M. (1998). Web-based training. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Pfeiffer. Konrad, L., & Stemper, J. (1996, Winter). Same game, different name: demystifying internet instruction. Research strategies, 14(1), 5-21. McArthur, D., & Lewis, M.W. (1998). Untangling the web. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Education. McCormack, C., & Jones, D. (1998). Building a web-based education system. New York: Wiley Computer Publishing. Milheim, W. (1993, Fall). Using computer-based instruction with adult learners. Journal of continuing higher education, 41(3), 2-7.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Neurophysiological Report :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: A Neurophysiological Report Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder categorized as a form of parkinsonism. First described in 1964 by three Canadian neurologists, PSP is sometimes referred to as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski Syndrome, or Nuchal Dystonia Dementia Syndrome (1). Progressive damage to multiple brain cells associated with deterioration of the myelin sheath that speeds up nerve impulse conduction, as well as destruction of the entire nerve (2), result in severe and irreversible problems controlling balance, eye movement, breathing, and voluntary muscle movement (3). The actor Dudley Moore has been diagnosed with PSP and presently works to improve awareness and treatment of this enigmatic disease. Although PSP is frequently misdiagnosed as Parkinson's, the disorder progresses much more quickly, maintaining very unique and exclusive manifestations. Individuals suffering from PSP present clinically with akinetic rigid syndrome, gait ataxia, and supranuclear vertical-gaze palsy (4). Akinesia refers to the loss of control of voluntary muscle movements. This is expressed in loss of balance while walking and recurrent falls. A permanent "Mona Lisa" stare and wide-eyed expression is often described, in addition to guttural, slurred speech and swallowing difficulties (5). These facial distortions result from nerve damage controlling the facial muscles. All PSP individuals suffer from some degree of vertical-gaze palsy, in which the ability to move the eyes up-and-down is impaired (4). Muscles in the back of the neck and spine are usually severely affected, resulting in a retro-collis posture; the individual appears to perpetually look up toward the ceiling. Rigidity in the limbs is al so observed, although to a lesser degree. If rigidity does exist here, it is equal on both sides of the body. In Parkinson's disease, rigidity is more prominent and pronounced in the limbs, favoring one side more that the other (6). None of the tremors characteristic of Parkinson's are observed in PSP. Personality changes and dementia are also noted, particularly later in the development of the disease. PSP affects the brainstem, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. The brainstem controls involuntary movements such as breathing and heart rate. Three divisions of the brainstem have been delineated: the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the midbrain. In PSP, all three sections are affected. The pons controls facial nerves and eye muscles, while the midbrain is the visual center of the brain (3). The medulla (sometimes referred to as the "bulb") maintains speech and swallowing abilities. Paralysis here results in impairment of these functions.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Frankenstein Essay

Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, encompasses every definition of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is not the normal hero a reader always envisions, but rather a character that causes suffering to others. This is shown through Victor Frankenstein himself in this novel. Victor Frankenstein would be classified as a tragic hero in this novel because of his choice to â€Å"play God†. This is shown through him creating the Creature. He knew that this could be dangerous, but he continued to work as if nothing could go wrong for over two sleepless years. He assembled the Creature, hoping that it would be able to help humankind, and be his friend when no one else would. Victor was terrified of the Creature. â€Å"I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the being that I had created, I rushed out of the room, and continued a long time traversing my bed-chamber, unable to compose my mind to sleep†(30). This quote shows how horrific he perceived the â€Å"monster† he had just created. Victor begins to wonder why he had spent so much time creating the Creature, and why he had thought that he would help mankind. Although Victor saw the Creature as a monster, the Creature wanted nothing more than to be loved and wanted by his creator. When the Creature was denied the love and affection he so longed, he did become a killing machine. â€Å" Character, English-language films, At that moment he sees a gigantic figure illuminated by a bolt of lightning†¦ and he instinctively realizes that that it was the Creature who killed his brother William† (Kelley). After the death of William and Justine, and the woman accused of killing William and was sentenced to death for it, the Frankenstein family went on a vacation to the mountains, where Victor runs into the Creature. The Creature describes himself as â€Å"miserable beyond all living things†, and that misery made him a friend. The monster makes a request of Victor to listen to his story and was hopeful that Victor will understand his position. The Creature requests that Victor make him a mate, and if he does, he will run away with her and never return. Victor agrees to construct a mate for Creature, but abandons this in the middle of the project. This c ould show how much of a tragic hero that Victor really is. Since he abandoned the female monster, the original creature kills his best friend, Henry, and his wife, Elizabeth. If Victor Frankenstein had only cared more about the Creature and mankind other than himrself, there might have been a happy ending to the novel. But since this was not true, the novel ended in tragedy, further explaining the role Victor Frankenstein had on the plot as a tragic hero.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Australia vs. China: An Economic Comparison Essay

Australia and China adopt very different economic systems in order to cater the best for their society. However, Australia’s economic system is more successful than China’s and, due to the writer’s right-wing value system, will be measured in terms of environmental efficiency, labour and entrepreneurial resource efficiency and the standard of living. The basic economic problem for any country is that resources are scarce while wants are infinite. This means that countries must decide what to produce, how to produce and for whom to produce in the most efficient and equitable way possible. Australia and China both take different approaches to solving this economic problem, even though both can technically be classified as a mixed economy (Year 11 Economics, 2007). Australia approaches the problem from the perspective of ‘what is best for the individual’ however China believes in doing ‘what is best for the country’ (Year 11 Economics 2007). These ideals are more clearly shown in the importance of market forces to each country. Australia and China allow different degrees of market forces and government interference in order to best solve the basic economic problem. Australia allows a lot more market-based forces to determine what, how and for whom things are to be produced. This means that the competitiveness of the market combined with the need for profit allows Australia to have high quality products at competitive prices (Mixed Economies, 2007). However, market forces also determine for whom things are to be produced, which means people with little or no income can be forgotten and this is where the government interferes. The government works to protect the rights of workers so that they are not abused by large companies and tries to be more equitable by providing welfare to the disadvantaged (Mixed Economies, 2007). China believes in a lot more government interference due to its communist ideals. The government has the most control over what, how and for whom things are to be produced although market forces still play a huge part for the minority of Chinese people who have money. China tries to spread its wealth over its huge population however due to its numbers it is hard to keep track of and provide for its entire population (An Introduction to Economics, 2007). These ideals are both effective in theory however in practice Australia’s economic system is more equitable than China’s. Equity can be determined by two things; equity in comparison to the world and equity within their own country. This is measured with the global living standards and the safety net within the country. The safety net is made up of health, education and welfare; three essential things for each person to have in case they fall ill, have a low income or wish to be educated. The standard of living includes the safety net as well as life expectancy and economic growth and therefore determines equity amongst people in comparison to the rest of the world. This is measured with a single number called the Human Development Index (HDI). Australia ranks very highly in the HDI achieving 0.957 in 2005 making it third in the world (Hamel, 2006). In terms of a safety net, Australia provides free health, education and an efficient welfare program. The government uses programs like Medicare, Centrelink and public school facilities to provide lower income workers, the disabled and disadvantaged ‘a fair go’ (Australian Department of Health and Ageing, 2007). China still has a safety net but it is a very poor one. Health, education and welfare are provided but they are not up to the standards of Australia. In fact, these services do very little to help its incredibly large population. This results in a very low HDI of 0.768, making it 81st in the world (Hamel, 2006) Therefore, as Australia has a more effective safety net and a higher HDI, Australia has a more successful economic system in terms of equity. Australia is also able to use its environmental resources more efficiently than China. Environmental efficiency can be determined by power distribution, the resources used and the social costs. Australia’s power distribution is very effective with very few blackouts and 24 hour assistance in case of emergencies (Metcalfe, 2007). Like any other country, Australia has environmental issues however it is trying to become more environmentally friendly and efficient. Australia is building more infrastructure and becoming more environmentally friendly. China on the other hand does not have effective energy distribution. Blackouts are a common thing in China due to the overwhelming demand for energy (Xinzhang, 2007). Right now China faces the problem that there is not enough  transmission capacity to provide additional supplies which results in poor distribution. Coal is the main resource used for energy supply in China by a staggering 63.4% compared to 6.9% hydroelectricity (China Today, 2005). Coal use in Australia is significantly less than this with only 42% of its energy source being coal (Metcalfe, 2007). China has overwhelming carbon dioxide emissions, so overwhelming that China is accountable for 15% of the world’s emissions (World Fact book, 2007). This has very negative social costs with acid rain being a frequent problem for China. 5% of China’s GDP is spent on trying to fix the social costs of pollution (China Today, 2007). Not only is this not statically efficient, but it is not dynamically efficient either. Therefore, even though both countries have environmental issues, Australia is able to provide a better power supply with less social costs and so its economic system is more environmentally efficient than China’s. As well as environmental efficiency, Australia’s economic system uses its labour and entrepreneurial resources more efficiently than China. The effectiveness of labour and entrepreneurial resources can be measured by unemployment and the degree of allowance of privately owned businesses. Australia had an unemployment rate of 5.6% in 2004 and a 4.9% unemployment rate in 2006 (ABS, 2006). This shows unemployment decreasing and more people entering the workforce. This increase in workforce allows more resources to be given to the business sector and therefore speeds up the economy. As well as this, Australia allows more private businesses than China. In 2004, there were over 3 million privately owned businesses in Australia (ABS, 2004). Not only does this create employment but it promotes consumer sovereignty, giving consumers competitive prices and choice between products. The government only interferes in the case of market failure i.e. national defence and public schools. This is to ensure that the needs of the country are met and to try and create equity amongst those who cannot afford the necessities. Therefore, Australia uses its workforce and entrepreneurial resources more efficiently. China however had a 9.9% unemployment rate in 2004 which shows that a lot of labour is not being used effectively (World Tax Inc, 2007). For many of the people who are employed, they are underpaid and overworked which can lead to poor goods and is not very equitable. Also, China does not utilise its entrepreneurial resources as well as Australia  does. Private business is increasing in China but the state-owned and collective enterprises still out number them significantly. In 2004, China’s first economic census showed that private enterprise had gone up 49% while state-owned enterprise had gone down 48% (Xinhua News Agency, 2005). The government still rules the majority of business which does not promote competitive quality or give people a choice of goods. The government often interferes even in cases where there is no market failure and unfortunately what consumers demand may not necessarily be acknowledged and supplied by the government. Therefore, due to better employment rates and better use of entrepreneurial resources, Australia’s economic system is more successful than China’s. An effective safety net, high standard of living, environmental efficiency and an efficient workforce are key components in any successful economic system. Australia manages to maintain these components making its economic system highly successful. China on the other hand is still developing and trying to improve these components. It is almost unfair to compare the two as they are at different stages of economic growth. Perhaps in years to come China will become more efficient and equitable and be able to compete with the best economic systems in the world. For now, Australia’s economic system is more successful than China’s and only time will tell as to whether it will stay that way. Bibliography Hamel, J.(2006): Human Development Report 2006. http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/Xinzhang, L. (2007): City Faces Prospect of Electricity Blackouts. http://www.zoomchina.com.cn/content/view/25880/138/Metcalfe, L. (2007): Nation Master: Energy Facts. http://www.nationmaster.com/country/as-australia/ene-energyCIA World Factbook (2007)https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ch.htmlAustralian Government: Department of Health and Ageing (2007)http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/HomeAustr alian Beaureau of Statistics (2007)http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/D3310114.nsf/home/Home?opendocumentChina Today (2005)http://www.china.org.cn/english/2005/Jan/117227.htmXinhua News Agency (2005): China Publishes Results of 1st National Economic Censushttp://www.china.org.cn/english/2005/Dec/151159.htmWorld Tax Inc (2007): China’s Unemployment Rateshttp://www.worldwide-tax.com/china/chi_unemployment.aspMarland, G., T.A. Boden, and R.J. Andres(2006): Global, Regional, and National CO2 Emissions. http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_prc.htmHandouts-Year 11 Economics (2007): Tim Riley Publications. -Unit 43: Mixed Economies (2007)-The Market Economy: How Economies Differ (2006)-Introduction To Economics: Chapter 1

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Global Context of Modern Business Essay

China is believed to have the oldest continuous civilisation. China has over 4,000 years of provable history. Beijing is the capital of China and is the most important point for the country. The official language is standard Chinese, which is derived from the Mandarin language however most business people speak English. There are many dialects in China however there is only one written language. A communist form of government rules China. The Chinese government promotes atheism although the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. The Chinese practice a variety of religions however Confucianism; despite not being a formal religion is practiced widely throughout the country. China is the most densely populated county in the world with approximately 1. 3 billion people as of mid- 2008. Almost 100 percent of the population are ethnic or Han Chinese. There are strict rules regarding childbirth and each couple is limited to only one child. Opportunities There are lot of trade and investment opportunities for exporters in the China market. Some of the major sectors currently experiencing rapid growth are: processed food and beverages, gambling, transport, IT and telecommunications, minerals and energy, environment protection, building construction products and services. Three of the major growth industries though are the exporting of education, processed food and wine products. Education The foreign education sector in China is split in two – students studying abroad and foreign education service providers establishing a presence in Shanghai. The type of students interested in Australia includes those who desire pure language study and those who wish to study university degrees right through to post-graduate/MBA studies etc. As the cost of overseas study remains high, pursuing qualifications through foreign accredited institutions in China has become more practical and more popular. Course delivery can take two forms. One is the foreign school catering exclusively to expatriates, which can be wholly foreign owned and the investor need not be an education entity. The other is a co-operative arrangement or twinning with a Chinese institution where local students are the target markets. These schools are encouraged to provide vocational education. Foreign investors must have a Chinese partner who can lodge an application with the local education authorities for approval. Processed Food As Chinese become more prosperous, demand for more sophisticated products, with a greater emphasis on quality, convenience and freshness continues to grow. This means that significant unsatisfied demand for richly processed foods exists. There has always been a stable market for imported foods in China, especially in respect to hotels, bars and western style restaurants. Increasingly, Chinese consumers themselves are becoming to lay great stress on brand and brand loyalty than before. This means that companies with a strong international brand and aggressive marketing strategies continue to hold large market shares. Foreign companies that have been given permission by the Chinese government to set up supermarket chains include Yaohan, Wellcome, Parkson, Park ‘N Shop, Careful, Pricemart and CHC. These companies are setting up supermarkets in a limited number of locations. Wine Wine is especially popular in the large cities of China (Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou) and has great potential given the increasing disposable income of local people, the health benefits of drinking wine and the government campaign against grain-based alcoholic drinks. However, many Chinese have little knowledge of table wine, and few people can differentiate quality and appreciate the taste. With this in mind, and excellent promotional tool could be wine appreciation and information courses to educate food and beverage managers, restaurant owners and waiters. This would also attract high-income earners and may ultimately stimulate the consumption of quality wine. The Chinese wine market is price sensitive and consequently locally manufactured wine holds the largest market share. French companies are active in setting up joint venture either growing grapes and manufacturing wine or bottling bulk-imported wine. Better quality wine is limited to hotels and restaurants and consumed mostly by Western diners. To successfully sell wine in China, local bottling of bulk-imported wine is considered the most economical and practical way to supply the local market with a competitively priced product. The opportunities arise from rapid economic growth in the world’s largest market and the availability of a cheap manufacturing base from which to sell to China and the world. From a manufacturing perspective, China in the long run will be distinguished by its overall business strength and structure, including the huge investments made to ensure China has a modern competitive manufacturing sector. All businesses need to be clear about whether they want to sell or manufacture in China. Long-term, China business strategies should not be based on the availability of cheap labour – this is disappearing as China becomes wealthier. The number of high net-worth individuals on the Chinese mainland has hit a record high and they are continuing to spend, according to the Hurun 2009 Wealth Report. The study found 825,000 mainland Chinese – or one in 1,700 – with a personal wealth of at least US$1 million. And now the rich are more likely to be found in second- and third-tier mainland cities. A new generation of consumers is emerging in China – they are young, well educated and familiar with non-Chinese cultures. This ‘Y generation’ of 240 million, born between 1980 and 1990, is now the highest earning age group in the country and is looking for a new way of life. They typically live in the major cities on the Eastern seaboard of China and in particular in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou where GDP per person is now over US$5,000 but corresponds in Purchasing Power Parity terms to four times that amount. Challenges Starting to do business in China is likely to be more costly and time consuming than in other markets. Challenges arise because of China’s size, its gold rush style growth and the fact China has a very different business culture and environment from what businesses in other countries are used to. China is different in size, culture, politics, geography, history and economic structure. These issues can present challenges for companies looking to sell or invest in China which can only be overcome by thorough research, spending a lot of time in-market and following a focused business plan. Language and culture barriers The main challenges of doing business in China would be language and culture barriers. Before you visit China, it will be a definitely good idea to prepare yourself by studying aspects of Chinese language, culture, history, and geography. Your hosts will appreciate your initiative. If you speak Chinese, they will really appreciate your efforts and take your initiative of doing business in China more seriously than if you do not speak any of their language. Moreover, your ability of being able to understand Chinese language will help you to establish a successful business. It is essential for the foreign-funded enterprises to understand the China’s culture, especially regarding the culture of Guangxi (relationship), so as to be able to gain the popularity and trust of China population. With a good relationship, business can become smoother and probability of failure will be greatly reduced. Stronger bonds can also be built with the customers, suppliers and partners. In China, Guangxi is a complicated field. A special feature of doing business in China will be that Guangxi will have to include relationship with the government body, investors, partners and even relationship with your own staff, so when doing business in China, it is important for foreign investors to learn to coordinate with the China government, especially establishing good relationship with government bodies dealing with foreign trade and economic cooperation. Government procedures Governmental procedures for foreign investors in establishing investments in China is extremely complicated, thus if one is unfamiliar of the procedures, one will delay his business opportunities. Therefore it is important for one to be familiar with the investment procedures before carrying out his investment in China. A safer and more appropriate way will be to seek help from local organisations familiar in the same field of business or consultant firms who are able to provide professional advice and assistance. Determination and patience may be essential for an investor to be successful, however it is necessary for one to require help from professional bodies to ensure that success will be achieved. Conclusion China’s labour market very much appeals to many foreign investors. This is because on one hand, labour cost is low, and on the other hand China’s workforce has become matured and their skills have been constantly upgraded, especially in the coastal cities. Educational development is undergoing at a wonderful pace in China, thus it is no longer difficult to hire high quality labour force in China today. Many successful foreign investors have even credited their success in China to their China’s local staff. One big problem that is causing headache to foreign investors is how to maintain good relationship (Guangxi) with the local staff. First of all, top management should cultivate the company’s vision and values into the employees because what the local people are taught under China’s educational system may crash with the foreign management system. Thus only by letting the employees understand the company better can allow the company to function better.