Nursing metaparadigm Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Nursing metaparadigm - Essay Example In the changing socio-cultural environment and holistic nursing takes into consideration the wider implication of the environment within which the patient lives. I believe that nursing needs to go beyond the precinct of medical intervention to include external environment that influence patient’s welfare and decision making. My definition of nursing metaparadigm is closely aligned to the nursing theory of ‘The Stability Model of Change’. The theory primarily relies on the fact that change is consistent and people tend to adapt to changes to maintain equilibrium with the changing environment for improved healthcare and well being. In this instance, Jean watson’s Human Science and Human Care theory becomes highly relevant. It insists that major aim of nursing is to help individuals to gain harmony within mind, body and soul (case study, p140). Thus, caretive factors become facilitators of healing process. For example, when a cancer patient is encouraged to be happy and enjoy his present, he is more like to get well and challenge death. Thus, environmental factors that are aided and abetted by positive attitude considerably bring harmony of mind, body and

Black People and James Baldwin Essay Example for Free

Black People and James Baldwin Essay In Toni Morrison’s â€Å"Recitatif,† the story is about two girls, Twyla and Roberta. They grow up in an orphanage because their mothers could not care for them. Morrison makes it clear the girls come from different ethnic backgrounds but never states which one is black or white. At one point in the story Twyla comments, â€Å"We looked like salt and pepper. † I grew frustrated with the story and had to read it several times. I could never determine who was black and white and the lesson I learned should have been it doesn’t really matter. The story begins with Twyla’s mother dropping her off at the orphanage. She meets Roberta and they become best friends. The bond they share occurs because they were not considered real orphans. They were abandoned kids unlike the other children whose parents had died. One of the last times the girls see each other was the day of a visitation. On that night, Twyla’s mother was wearing â€Å"those tight green slacks that made her butt stick out. † Many people have labeled blacks as having larger butts. She could have been black, she could have been a heavy white woman with a large butt, or a Hispanic woman like me. But I automatically stereotyped and went with Twyla has to be black. During the visitation Roberta’s mother â€Å"had brought chicken legs. † Twyla notices Roberta does not eat the chicken legs. I always thought black people liked chicken more than white people which means Roberta was white since she did not eat the chicken. Or maybe she just wasn’t hungry. Shortly after that visitation Roberta’s mother came to take her home, leaving the girls devastated. They see each other several times throughout the years. At their first meeting, Roberta was rude and distant because she was high. Roberta tells Twyla she is on the way to see Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was an infamous black guitarist. I thought at this point Roberta has to be black. However Hendrix’s band was interracial with a diverse audience. Roberta could have been white due to the diverse audience. I am a huge Hendrix fan and I am not black so why would I think Roberta is. Twelve years later they meet again at a grocery store. Roberta married a rich man and was extremely friendly to Twyla. Twyla cannot hold back her emotions and asks Roberta about the last time they saw each other. Roberta shrugs it off, â€Å"Oh, Twyla, you know how it was in those days: black—white. You know how everything was. † I can relate to this. In 1980, the Cuban Mariel Boat Lifts came over bring thousands of Cubans. I am Cuban but I was born here. Kids I had known since kindergarten treated me as if I just come over on the boats. It had a lasting effect on me and matured me beyond my years. The third time they meet is at the school where their children attend. Roberta and other mothers were picketing because they did not want their kids to be segregated. This led to a fight severing any last chance of a friendship for them as it would not be resolved until Twyla and Roberta meet for a final time. As the story ends I do not get a sense of closure. The question of which girl is white or black remains unanswered. It opened my eyes and made me question how prejudice I really am. I try to not stereotype as a result of what I went through as a child but I found myself doing just that. I can understand why Morrison wrote the way she. I am not sure what her goal was overall but to me it seemed as if she were teaching me about prejudices. â€Å"Recitatif† challenged me to not judge either girl by their race but accept them for who they are. In the end, what difference did it really make about the girls’ races? The story is about how their friendship develops and then deteriorates. Nothing more; nothing less.

Social networking in a multinational corporation investment

Social networking in a multinational corporation investment In recent years Social Networking is very popular in eyes of youngsters and teenagers but is also grabbing attention at workplace. Social Networking Sites have given a rise to new communication vehicle which facilitates an innovative way of sharing information, interacting and collaborating different users. Today, there are more than 100 social sites available in the world, but out of all the most popular once are Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, MySpace and Blogs. Within the illumination of the global recession, organisations are using every possible means of equipment to survive the economic downturn; companies are implementing cost saving methods. These, in turn, have increased the workload on the employees affecting employees satisfaction, productivity and efficiency while increasing stress levels. Therefore in order to reduce their stress, employees are declining towards social networking sites as a stress-buster tool. Implementation of social networking at workplace will provide both formal and informal interaction to help foster knowledge and enhancement communication. This will give a greater shift in culture of Knowledge congregation to Knowledge contribution. The dynamic changing natures of the business environment have contributed to knock down the barriers obstructing communicational flows (Cross, Nohria, Parker, 2002). Social networking is spreading at a lightning pace having a multiplier effect with the help of word of mouth, where one colleague encourages and invites other colleagues to join the modern ways of keeping-in-touch technique at the workplace. This has both positive and negative effect on productivity of the employees raising concerns for the organisation. Since there is no geographical restriction on sharing information, there are growing concerns for organisation for leakage, breach in security and privacy of the information. This rings the bell in everyones mind whether it is appropriate to integrate social networking at workplace. This argument will be revisited in literature review section (section 3) of this report. The researchs major source of information will be through primary data collection such as conducting interviews, survey and questionnaires. Secondary source will also be used and the list is mentioned in section 4.1. Many general views have been given by different researchers on impact of social networking at workplace but very few research have been conduct in sectors such as technological. This research will be based on Multinational Corporation (MNC) which is an investment banking sector where no prior research has been conducted. The report consists of 7 sections. The next section will discuss research objective, questions and boundaries in order to evade the uncertainty. This is followed by literature review in section 3 where previous research will be analysed. Research methodology and research limitation will be discussed in section 4 and 5 respectively, followed by the research time lines in section 6. The final section contains of conclusion. 2. Research Objective, Questions and Scope 2.1. Research Objective The main purpose of this research is to critically examine the impact of social networking in a multinational corporation (MNC) investment bank. This research will aid to analysis the effect of social networking sites on the productive, data security and trust between employers employee relationship. The outcome of the research will prove beneficial to the organisation in understanding the role of social networking and assist the organisation to make a decision whether to continue with the current policy to allow the access to social sites or will have to amend the policy. 2.2. Research Questions The research will provide answer to the following particular questions: Will the use of social networking sites at workplace enhance the productivity? What are the other advantages and disadvantages of using social networking sites at workplace? 2.3 Research Scope Due to time constrain it is necessary to restrict research only to one multinational company and therefore the research will be an action based research. The company is the worlds largest investment bank which has its presence in 74 countries but the research will be based on the companys head office situated in London city, United Kingdom. The name of the company will not be disclosed due to confidential reasons and will be referred as Company X throughout the research. The research will be based on three departments which are: Human Resources Finance Information Technology Each of the above mentioned departments will be analysed to identify the impact of social networking on flow of information in the departments and security levels desired for each of the departments. 3. Literature Review 3.1. General Many researchers have correctly said that the growing technology has twisted the traditional features of the workplace (Bennett, Owers, Pitt, Tucker, 2010). It has also been argued that the growing importance of networking and socialising in modern days is becoming more flexible and dynamic day-by-day (Cross, Parker, Prusak, Borgatti, 2001). This is due to integration of social sites and social media in the working environment which has broadened the view of the employees in the organisation. This has facilitated organisation to build up new networks and help employees to connect to each other in the diverse geographical location having different time zones which helps to reduce the cost and time taken for information to be transmitted. Social Networking Site can be defined as web-based service that allows individuals to (Boyd Ellison, 2008): (1) Construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) Articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection and (3) View and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system. At workplace the social networking can be referred in two ways: external and internal social networking. External social networking refers the use of external social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace and so on at the workplace, which are not within the control of the organisation. On the other hand, there are some organisations that have developed internal social networking tools such as Beehive at IBM, Watercooler at HP which provides social networking within and controlled by the organisation. Company X uses Reuters and Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 as the internal social networking tool and Facebook and LinkedIn as the external social networking at the workplace. This research will only focus on impact of external social networking. 3.2. Effect of Social Networking From past 5 years, social networking has sneaked into the business organisations due to the increased popularity and availability of social networking amongst office workers. (Shirky, 2008); (Tapscott Williams, 2006). This has lead to informal connection in the organisation and has transformed the ways of the knowledge sharing making it easier and more flexible within the companies. The research done in 2008 by Skeels and Grudin has shown that around 37% of employees were using Facebook occasionally and about 17% were using it daily at workplace. Also around 50% of employees had their account on LinkedIn but only 4% were using it daily (Skeels Grudin, 2009). According to the ClearSwift publications in January 2011, the exposure to social networking invites many threats to the companies. The research highlights that 42% of U.K. office workers admitted discussing work-related issues via social networking applications and 83% of the office workers were using office resources to access social networking websites (ClearSwift, 2011). Some researchers have also said that employees spend 6 hours a week on Facebook at work time (Shepherd, 2011). The research conducted in companies such as Microsoft and IBM by different researchers has highlighted some of the benefits of using these social networking sites at workplace which are listed below (Skeels Grudin, 2009); (DiMicco Millen DR, 2007): LinkedIn, being a professional social networking site, helps to maintain professional network. Employers often refer social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook for recruiting employees by reviewing their profile, pictures, personal details, wall posts and comments either put by them or by others on their profile. Facebook was helpful for building and strengthening knot between colleagues and also maintain contacts with the ex-colleagues. On the flip side, the research has also shown some concern and worries about using these social sites at workplace which are listed below (Skeels Grudin, 2009); (DiMicco Millen DR, 2007): Staff indulging in social networking and wasting time during working hours. A cause of security concern for the organisation. Risk of disclosing confidential data in public. Integration of professional and personal life and conflicts arising from them. Some senior managers felt that employees were crossing boundaries of the organisation. Most of the company in UK have opposed the use of social networking at workplace and have banned these sites. However, ZDNets writer Alan Calder have argued that blocking or restricting access to social networking site at workplace will demoralise the employees and make them less effective and productive (Calder, 2010). Some research have shown that social networking sites have reduced productivity and have cost companies lose of about  £1.38 billion annually (Manpower UK, 2010). Therefore, some companies are looking forward to strengthen the controls in the organisation. But companies need to be very careful in placing the controls seeing that social networking has become an important part of every ones life and has been growingly encouraged by different smart-phones such as Blackberry, I-Phones and many more. If the social networking sites are completely banned at the workplace, employees tend to use their smart-phones to access social networking sites which will consume more time and ultimately end up in devoting less time to work eventually affecting their productivity and incurring losses for the organisation. Therefore, employers need to weigh these strengths and opportunities with weaknesses and threats to make a meaningful decision. Similar, views have been shared by (Fried Hansson, 2010) that the organisation will not be able to achieve anything by limiting or banning the social network sites at workplace because the time which they are devoting to the social networking sites will not get convert to productive work but and employees will find some alternative sources to spend this time. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) claims that handling carefully and allowing internet access for staff during break hours can be valuable for employees and can help them maintain relationships (TUC, 2007). According to the researchers observation while previously working in Company X it was seen that there was a blend of employees from lower level to top management using social networking websites such as Facebook and LinkedIn at various intervals during their work shift. The research will throw lights on the benefits and concerns affecting productivity by using of social networking sites in banking sector during working hours. Apart from deteriorating and/or enhancing the productivity, social networking sites are playing a major role for recruiting employees. Employers use various sites to check the background of the candidate by making a judgment on their post and photos uploaded on the sites. According to study conducted by Deloitte in 2009, 23% of companies were using social networking sites for hiring employees (Allen, Deloitte LLP 2009 Ethics Workplace Survey results Social networking and reputational risk in the workplace, 2009). Now-a-days, LinkedIn is popularly used for recommending friends or co-workers for jobs and recruiting staff. In near future, it may emerge to be incorporated as an official site for recruiting in the organisation but till date no evidence can be found to trace the reliability of LinkedIn as a source for hiring people. On the other hand there has been evidence that people are laid-off due to unethical behaviour demonstrated while using social networking site (Vadlamani, 2009); (Remala, 2010). The other major concern of social networking at workplace is that it has placed trust on stake. The survey conducted in Deloitte in 2010, highlights that only 34% of employees agree and 49% of employees disagree that social networking helps to build up the trust at workplace (Allen, Deloitte LLP 2010 Ethics Workplace Survey Trust in the workplace, 2010 ). One of the major problems of the organisation due to social networking is the security of the private and confidential data. Employees tend to merge their personal and professional life while networking and intentionally or unintentionally tend to sometimes leak out the company secured data which otherwise needs to be protected within the realm of the organisation. On 14th July, 2010 Infosys figured out that some of the employees were discussing important details about their project on Twitter and Facebook and so company had to sack their employees. So in order to control this activity they have incorporated the social media policy in which employees are strongly advised not to breach the policy (Remala, 2010). The data collection and literature review will help to critically analysis and gain a greater insight of effect of social networking sites in investment banking sector. 4. Research Methodology The research will follow the deductive approach as described by in (Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill, 2009). The research will explore a new dimension of using social networking in a Multinational Company for their business development in short term and long term and develop a good analysis based on the data collection as discussed below. 4.1. Data collection In order to achieve the research objective and question (mentioned in section 2) the subsequent data collection methods will be followed: Secondary Data Collection The secondary data will be collected from press release and academic literature such as journals, white paper and publication from internet sources and news channels. The data collection will be qualitative data. The research conducted by other researcher in Microsoft and IBM, technological companies will act as a base for this research. Primary Data Collection The forms of primary data which will be collect are as below: Face-to-face Interviews: Ten non-standardised face to face interview will be conducted split between Vice President (VP) and managers of three departments in company X. This will help to analysis the role of social networking in the organisation for different departments giving different viewpoints and a better insight of the matter. The interviews will also help to generate qualitative data which will be transcribed but will not be recoded due to ethics of the company. The time line for conducting interview is specified in research timelines section (section 6). Online Survey: Online survey will be conducted with the help of the website named Survey Monkey which will help to give a holistic view of the organisation as the survey will be filled in by VP, managers and subordinates. The layout of the questionnaires which will be formed for online survey will fulfil all the main attributes of questionnaires as recommended by Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill (2009). This will provide quantitative data for analysis. The permission to gain access to the organisation has been agreed. In order to improve the response rate of online survey, questionnaires and face-to-face interviews the recommendation from Bryman and Bell (2003) will be followed. 4.2. Analysis of Data The quantitative data which will be collected through online survey will be analysed by using computer based software named Minitab 15. The quantitative data will be divided in to two separate groups: categorical data and numerical data (Saunders, Lewis, Thornhill, 2009). The survey and interview results will help to produce a comparison between three departments within the MNC under the research study. 5. Potential Problem and Pitfall While undertaking the research following are the limitation and potential problem which are anticipated: Poor response to interview: Face to face interview or telephonic interview will be conducted, which will not be recorded due to confidentiality. The respondents might be bias answering in socially desirable way. Poor response to online questioner: Respond rate might be lower as online questioner because they are perceived to be spam. It would be difficult to determine whether respondents have understood the question correctly and have replied honestly. Inadequate Sample: Since only one organisation will be examined and so there will be limited sample to be examined. However, the research will be useful because practical evidence will be provided. 6. Research Time lines The research will commence from 6th June 2011 and will continue till 12th September 2011. It will be conducted for 15 weeks as shown in Table 1 below: Table 1: Research time lines 7. Findings Social networking is tremendously growing its presence at the workplace. As discussed in the literature review, it highlights that social networking site has a greater influence on productivity of the employees and have also increased the concern about the companys reputation and data security for the organisation. It can also conclude that social networking at workplace does not only have the negative effect but if handled correctly it can be used in a beneficial way. The research question and objective can be fulfilled by following the research methodology and plan as mentioned in section 4 and 6 respectively. The data collected will be analysed by using Minitab 15 and the actual finding will give a deeper insight and can also help the organisation to revise their policy.

Breaking Free in The Matrix Essays -- Movie Film Essays

Breaking Free in The Matrix      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Eighteenth-century Enlightenment philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau begins his infamous discourse The Social Contract by stating, "Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they." Both Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" from The Republic and the Wachowski Brothers' hit film The Matrix discuss man's efforts on his journey towards illumination to break free of his chains and then liberate others imprisoned. While definite connections exist between the allegory and The Matrix, Plato and the Wachowski Brothers present different paths that one may take to achieve that end. The Matrix utilizes the symbolic figure of a hero, Nietzsche's ÃÅ"bermensch, who through fate acquires the responsibility of enlightening all, while Plato presents an individual journey in which others may act as guides but one attains enlightenment through one's desire for knowledge.    Throughout The Matrix, the Wachowski Brothers insert obvious hints of unusual skills that separate Neo from the other rebels. The film tells the story of the search for "the One" who will free the human race from its enslavement by the machines. "The One" possesses unique abilities and can manipulate the Matrix in ways that no other human has been able. Despite Neo's claim that "I'm nobody," he exhibits more "superhuman" qualities as the film progresses. Tank indicates, "He's a machine," able to spend hours learning kung fu, and Mouse notices while Neo fights Morpheus that "his neural kinetics are way above normal." Ironically at the beginning of the movie Neo's boss reprimands him for tardiness, saying, "You think you are special, th... ... Plato and the Wachowski Brothers' interpretations of the course to enlightenment differ greatly in their perspectives. As the ÃÅ"bermensch, Neo must challenge the ingrained values of society, wake the sleeping human race, and free it from the grasp of the Matrix. Plato dismisses Nietzsche's idea and instead describes a path similar to that of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha, who realizes that an enlightened one cannot enlighten others but merely lead the way. While sporadically man still follows the ÃÅ"bermensch, Plato's process has entered society's mainstream, serving as the most frequently traveled path to enlightenment.    Sources Cited    Plato. The Republic. Trans. Benjamin Jowett. Mineola: Dover Publications, 2000. The Matrix. Dir. The Wachowski Brothers. Perf. Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne. Videocassette. Warner Home Video, 1999.   

Employment and Unemployment

The employment rate means the number of people that is presently employed divided by the population of working age. Unemployment is a situation where labour force participants are avaible, willing to work and actively looking for a job but are unable to find any jobs. Labor force is defined as the people above the age of 16 and older who are employed or are actively seeking employment. Unemployment rate can be calculated by dividing the number of unemployed with the labor force.Changes in unemployment depend mostly on inflows made up of non-employed people starting to look for jobs, of employed people who lose their jobs and look for new ones and of people who stop looking for employment. The cause of unemployment in Malaysia varies. There are four types of unemployments, which include cyclical unemployment, frictional unemployment, structural unemployment and seasonal unemployment. Cyclical unemnployment of Malaysia happens when there is lack of jobs due to the downswing in a busine ss cycle or a recession.Due to this economy declines, the number of job layoffs crossways the world is rising extremely. The International Labor Organization affirmed that up to 51 million jobs worldwide could be eliminated due to the recession. Malaysia is no exception. Normally with an unemployment rate of 2% to 2. 5%, could rise to 4. 5% in that particular year. Since January 2009 about 10,000 Malaysians have been jobless. Another problem that causes the increasing of unemployment rate of Malaysia is that there are so many new job seekers each and every year.Research shows that every year there are 600,000 new job seekers in Malaysia. This is when the frictional unemployment happens which people are in between jobs, entering and reentering the labor force. For example when people quit their jobs for a better position or higher wages or when fresh graduates are actively seeking for jobs. Even though these people are not working, but they are counted as part of the labor force beca use they are searching for jobs.It is stated that structural unemployment is when jobs are available but the unemployed does not have the skills to fill these jobs. In Malaysia, the case is quite the opposite. There are many highly-qualified candidates, but they are too embarrassed to take on low-paying jobs, although a local spokesperson says that ‘job seekers should accept whatever job positions they can get’. That would decrease the number of people seeking jobs, which would decrease unemployment based on frictional and structural unemployment. Seasonal unemployment takes place hen seasonal variations happens during the activities of particular industries caused by climatic changes, changes in fashions or by the intrinsic nature of such industries. In Malaysia, there are a lot of opportunities in the plantation sector. With the typical weather of Malaysia, people in the plantation sector are able to grow crops all year round. Nonetheless, seasonal unemployment still takes place. For example, the sugar industry is seasonal in the sense that the crushing of sugar-cane is done only in a particular season. Such seasonal industries are bound to give rise to seasonal unemployment.

Mate Selection Theories essays

Mate Selection Theories essays To describe men and women's differential preferences in mate selection, I am going to use the following theories: 1) sexual selection theory, 2) parental investment theory, and 3) social learning theory, and 4) sexual strategies theory. All of these theories have been used to explain why men and women have differential preferences in mate selections. In the evolutionary approach, biological fitness is defined as reproductive success. Therefore, understanding particular behavioral sex differences is of great interest to evolutionists. Reproduction is central to the evolutionary process and no domain is closer to reproduction than sexuality. Darwin (58) adopted phrase "survival of the fittest" to summarize the process of natural selection, but this choice was unfortunate. Survival is certainly critical. Many adaptations of organisms exist because they successfully overcame the forces that impeded survival, such examples are parasites, diseases, food shortages, predators, and Darwin (67) also fashioned the use of term what he believed to be a second evolutionary process, which he called sexual selection. According to sexual selection theory, characteristics that give organisms an advantage in the competition for mates can also evolve. Sexual selection can operate through two processes. The first is intrasexual or same-sex competition. If members of one sex compete with one another, and the victors of these competitions gain preferential sexual access to mates, then these useful qualities lead to success in same-sex competitions will be selected and can evolve over time. These might include athletic ability, social skills to enlist allies, or even a sense of humor that deters a rival. The key point is that whatever qualities lead to success in same-sex competitions can evolve because of the reproductive advantage that accrues to the victor The second component...

An Analysis of Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman essays

An Analysis of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman essays Arthur Miller's play (and book) Death of a Salesman is somewhat hard to follow in spots where it becomes difficult to separate Willy Loman's fantasy world from his reality. It is, however, one of the greatest plays available to watch or to read, and Miller's genius really comes through in the characters and what they go through during the story. The purpose of this paper is to utilize five different sources to analyze this story, and to show how different parts of the story are looked at in different ways. Death of a Salesman has been reviewed quite extensively in books, in journals, and on the Internet. One of these reviews discusses how Loman suffers so greatly as he sees himself and his family slip into ruin. He believed that his family was destined for greatness, but eventually he places all his hope in his children, who also fail him. This is the last straw for Willy, because he finally realizes that nothing he and his family does will ever be good enough (Amazon, 2003). They are not destined for greatness after all, but instead are doomed to misery and failure, which is much the way the human condition is, and this kind of difficulty is shared by a great many people throughout the world. Much of what Death of a Salesman deals with is the morals that society has embedded in it and how they sometimes fail, even though the best of intentions remain. Loman is torn between running for the money and simply running away from everything, and it is taking its toll on his body and spirit (Shurley, 2003). Loman has had several opportunities in his life to have great adventures and make a lot of money, but he has declined the offers each time, not realizing what they could have done for him. Now he regrets that, but it is too late for him to go back and change things (Shurley, 2003). That is why he puts the pressure on his sons to succeed, but they fail as well,...

Branding essay part 2

Branding essay part 2 Branding essay part 2 Branding essay part 2Branding essay part  1Challenges and opportunitiesAt the moment, Natural Kitchen faces the problem of several design challenges. First of all, the company has to focus on the improvement of the consumer trust which is essential for the creation of a reliable and reputable brand. If customers do not trust with the brand, the company cannot gain any considerable success in the market and improve its competitive position (Brown, 2003). As the company can expand its business nationwide as well as internationally, it can use its brand to expand but still keep core identity. The core identity is essential for the maintenance of the brand that means that the company should not change its brand along with the expansion of its business. The creation of a stable, recognizable and popular brand should become priorities of the company. Finally, at the moment, the company faces the problem of the co-operation with other organisations (environmental, fair-trade, lifestyle, c harities, etc.). Such cooperation can influence kids and shoppers to think about environmental and sustainable issues. The interaction with public organisations, wider involvement of the company into community activities and other forms of the cooperation of Natural Kitchen with other organisations contributes to the improvement of the public image of its brand and the overall formation of the positive attitude of the public to the company’s brand.The process for selecting a suitable branding agencyThe selection of a suitable branding agency is very responsible and important process. In this regard, Natural Kitchen should elaborate key criteria for the selection of the branding agency (Peters, 2007). At this point, the selection of the branding agency should match the marketing goals of the company and its marketing strategy. Taking into consideration the opportunity of the development of the company’s operations nationwide and internationally, Natural Kitchen should s elect the agency that operates in the UK and takes one of the leading positions in the UK branding industry (Mohrman, 2009). At the same time, the company should not refer to the branding agency which has a large staff and multiple customers because, in such a case, the company may face the problem of the standard approach used by the branding company to the creation of Natural Kitchen brand. Instead, Natural Kitchen needs the branding agency that uses the personalized approach to each customer and is capable to meet specific needs of the company and understand its uniqueness. Therefore, a relatively small agency may be the right choice for Natural Kitchen. In this regard, Rareform is the right choice of the branding agency for Natural Kitchen because this is one of the most successful branding agencies in the UK, although its annual revenue does not exceed $1 million that means that the company does not involve a large number of serious projects that may distract the best human res ources of the branding agency. Instead, Natural Kitchen may count on the involvement of the best professionals of the successful branding agency for the creation of the new brand of the company or the improvement of the existing one.Chosen branding agency and the approach to the briefThe chosen agency, Rareform, is the successful branding agency which main approach is based on the personalized, customer-centred approach to each customer (Gitlow, 2009). In such a way, Natural Kitchen can gain considerable benefits from the cooperation with Rareform because the agency will take into consideration specificities of the company and meet its branding needs and goals (Bamberg, 2000). Rarefrom can provide Natural Kitchen with an opportunity to create the unique brand that mirrors the vision and mission of the company and helps Natural Kitchen to implement successfully its marketing strategy oriented on the national and international market expansion.Plan  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The rollout of the n ew brand, phases and plan and budgetThe new brand of Natural Kitchen is the brand oriented on the delivery of healthy food products to its customers. The primary concern of the brand is the customer health. This is why the company is supplying organic food products that are healthy and safe for human health as well as natural environment. The first stage of the development of the new brand is the identification of the brand philosophy, which is the philosophy based on the healthy food for mass customers (Viardot, 2001). The next stage is the identification of the target customer group, which is customers in the UK and this customer group may expand steadily internationally. The next step is the elaboration of the methods of the brand promotion. In this regard, the company should identify tools and methods that may be applied successfully. In case of Natural Kitchen, the company should focus on the development of close company-community ties that means that the company can promote it s brand within local communities throughout the UK. For instance, the company can sponsor health programs informing the public of the importance of the healthy food for their health. The company can sponsor meetings of health care professionals with local community members. In such a way, the company will create the image of the socially responsible company that takes care of customers’ health and offers products that may be useful for their health. The budget of the project (See App.) will need to raise funds for the implementation of the plan of the new branding policy of the company but the project will start brining return on investment during first years of the implementation of the project.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   ROI and testingThe company can start receive return on investments during the second and third years of the implementation of the new branding policy. The first year will be the most difficult one since the company will need to invest in the creation and promotion of its brand. The overall success of the project and its effectiveness can be measured with the help of the assessment of the recognition of the brand by customers in the UK. The assessment of the recognition of the brand of the company can be conducted with the help of surveys conducted online or via phones.ConclusionsThus, Natural Kitchen has extensive opportunities to develop its business successfully. However, the company needs to enhance its brand image because the brand of the company is very important for its marketing success. The brand influences the perception of the company by customers and influences its competitive position. Natural Kitchen should use the branding agency’s services to reach the target customer group and create a strong and attractive brand that is recognised nationwide.

Teaching Paper - Nursing Considerations for Teaching Patient hope to Research

Teaching - Nursing Considerations for Teaching Patient hope to deal with Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension and Renal Disease - Research Paper Example Since hypertension and type II diabetes is caused by eating habits and lifestyle issues, health teachings should include proper meal plan which focuses on consistent and regulated intake of the following: (1) calories and carbohydrates based on the patient’s age, gender, body weight, and height; (2) vitamins; (3) minerals; (4) increased fiber; (5) low sodium diet; and (6) moderate sugar depending on the patient’s blood glucose level. It is equally important to encourage the patient to lessen or stop the habit of smoking (nicotine), drinking of alcohol, and avoid stressful situations which could lead to the increase of blood pressure (Johnson, 2004, p. 432). Instead of Depending on the patient’s age, nurses should consider the patient’s physical maturation, cognitive abilities, and psychosocial development when conducting health teaching (Habel, 2007). Although the patient is well-educated and prefers all learning styles; the nurse should always consider the age factor and readiness to learn. Since the patient is 65-year old, there is a possibility that the patient is experiencing learning barrier related to loss of hearing. In this case, the nurse should consider the idea of allowing the patient to read the health-related materials. The patient’s readiness to learn is an important factor behind the success of nurse’s health teachings. In case the patient is not interested in learning due to physical discomfort such as pain, the nurse should take more time to teach the patient health information in short details. Pertinent to the patient’s health condition, nursing diagnosis may include high random blood glucose levels of more than 200 mg/dL due to type II diabetes (Johnson, 2004, p. 286). For chronic renal failure, nursing diagnosis will include excessive fluid volume caused by sodium and water retention (decreasing the patient’s urine output) (Johnson, 2004, p. 677). To prove that allowing the patient to read nurse’s health

The business and financial performance of J Sainsbury plc over the Essay

The business and financial performance of J Sainsbury plc over the last three year period - Essay Example fulness, this paper carried out an empirical study where it compared the firm’s stock prices with those of its rivals as well as its own financial position over a span of three years and actually found that such ground of concern of the financial managers is not baseless and that the firm’s position indeed has been deteriorating over the years. J Sainsbury Plc had historically been one of the leading grocery retail chains in the UK. It was founded by John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury in 1869 at Drury Lane, one of the poorest localities in London with just one shop in the beginning, which soon became popular amongst the locals because of the high-quality product they sold at affordable prices. Their popularity among the people helped them gather the funds needed to expand their business and eventually led them to build a chain of about 800 stores throughout the economy that today includes a chain of more than 500 super-markets and about 300 convenience stores built under the brand name Sainsbury. Although their journey started with just a retail store in a small part of London, very soon they started producing their own brand of products – the first among them was bacon which they started producing in their own smoking ovens in 1882. Gradually, Sainsbury, what was a mere firm, started producing and supplying a variety of other types of commodities that today amounts to more than 30,000 products comprising of both food and non-food items; and introduced a variety of services like self-help at the counters meant to avoid the rush and thus ease the efforts of their customers. The company also showed benevolence towards its employees when they began publishing regular store magazines for the counselling of their employees. The versatility of the firm soon became prominent when it showed its concern to the society during the world wars when it adopted some innovative measures for its betterment, which proved its consciousness over the issue. During the world

How to Drive a Teacher Crazy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How to Drive a Teacher Crazy - Essay Example If you were the smartest person in the class wouldn't you be teaching instead of learning In order to successfully drive a teacher crazy, therefore, a student must learn the valuable lesson that nothing causes madness in a teacher more than finding out they made the wrong career decision. The single most effective way to drive an algebra teacher crazy is to simply ask one question. This question can be asked, and probably should be asked, regardless of the problem. And that question is this: How can I use this in real life unless I am working for NASA, or as a writer on Futurama This question is guaranteed to drive any teacher of higher mathematics insane because, of course, nobody except rocket scientists or writers of Futurama ever need to know any kind of math beyond addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. By revealing the great secret of math in American education, that roughly .2% ever use this stuff in real life, you can guarantee that you will drive the teacher crazy because you are suggesting that they have wasted their life. A variation on this method of driving a math teacher crazy can be utilized to enforce the insanity of pretty much any other kind of teacher. A dividing line has always existed between what is useful in school and what is useful in life.

Healthy Diets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Healthy Diets - Essay Example The human body is a complex, living, biological organism that is sustained by nutrients for its continued survival. Without these nutrients, the body breaks down from weakness and disease and eventually dies. Like any living organism, the human body has to be cared for by providing it with the means to maintain the energy it needs to keep its biological functions working. Everything that the human body can do - seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, thinking, moving, reproducing, and so on - would depend on how well its smallest unit called the cell is nourished and maintained. Since the human body consists of some 60 trillion cells (Dunne, 2002, p. 135) that are grouped together into organs, each with its own function and purpose, the whole body will be healthy and able to live for a long period of time if the cells in the body are kept in good working condition. This is what nutrition is supposed to do, to keep each cell healthy and functioning properly. Nutrition provides the body with nutrients that are chemical substances necessary to keep the cell, and therefore the body, alive. There are six types of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats (or lipids), proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Each nutrient participates in at least one of the following functions: providing energy to the body, building and repairing body tissue, and regulating bodily proce sses. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats supply energy. Proteins also build and repair body tissues with the help of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins, minerals, and water help regulate the different body processes such as circulation, respiration, digestion, and elimination of waste. Each nutrient is important and none works alone. Nutrients come from the food we eat, which the body must process before they can be used. What is known as nutrition is the whole series of processes where the body takes in and uses food for growth, development, and maintaining good bodily health. These processes - digestion, absorption, and metabolism - are very important and also need nutrients in order to be carried out properly. Nutrition therefore includes the whole range of activities that starts with the food we eat (our diet), the nutrients contained in the food, and the process of digestion, absorption, and metabolism that break down the nutrients in our diet into chemicals that are sent to all the different cells in the human body. If we want the body to stay healthy, the whole nutrition process must be healthy. This begins with having a healthy diet or food intake. What is a healthy diet This is what doctors, scientists, and health experts have been doing research all these years to determine. Several research studies show that what for us would be a healthy diet depends on many factors, such as our bodily state, age, level of activity, our lifestyles, the antibodies we have developed in our immune systems, and even the way we were nourished when we were still in our mother's womb and our cultural background (different people prefer potatoes, pasta, bread, rice, or noodles with their meat). There are countless definitions of what a healthy diet is. What may be healthy for bush men in the forests of Africa and Papua New Guinea (fresh worms, raw tuber roots, and boiled fish) may not be healthy for a young student living in Europe, and vice

Sigmund Freud Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Sigmund Freud - Essay Example I thought to interview him about this and he responded me as follows: A dream in very early years made drastic changes in his life. He had a dream that he enjoyed an evening with his mother in a nearby park. Though he has often visited the park with mother and father, he found nothing more than just a visit. But later, it has given him greater passion and pleasure to go to park with his mother than what he felt in visit with father. The dream’s effect was more evident when he felt that mother should always accompany him to the school. Mother was that times more than his friends around, and he himself found proud to go to school hanging on mother’s hand. Why couldn’t he find pleasure to go to school with father as he found it with mother? It was, perhaps, a question he asked himself several times. He had no answers, until when he was interviewed and debated of Oedipus Complex. He remembered that he obeyed mother more and he went outside in child hood times along w ith mother more than he did it with father. Some family people around his house called him ‘mother’s boy’ as he couldn’t get away from mother even a single night. He felt it surprising when I told him that all of us, as is the case of our fate, direct our sexual impulse towards our mother and our first hatred as well as first murderous with against our father (Freud, p. 478).

The differences between reading content area material and literature Essay

The differences between reading content area material and literature - Essay Example The reading of the content areas is mainly divided into three parts. The students draw upon a prior experience or knowledge about the text, during reading they identify with the text and after reading they make interpretations. The strategies of the teacher depend on the activities of the students. (Literacy matters, n.d.). The appropriate strategies of the teachers are as follows: The content materials have a different structure than the other varieties of texts. If the preview of the structure is provided to the students beforehand with headings and sub-headings, pictures and captions then it will benefit the students to understand the nature of the text beforehand. A teacher can discuss these features before beginning starting the lesson. Before starting a new lesson, it will be beneficial for the students if the teachers give an idea of the concepts present in the lesson. The teachers should enquire the students about their knowledge of the subject, which will help in the flow of teaching. Various techniques like the Concept mapping can be used to know the prior knowledge of the students about the subject. The content readings have a high level of vocabulary, which has to be made familiar to the students. The meaning of the new words should be clearly explained to the students. (Abromitis, 28th July, 2009). Reading literature is of great importance because it is through reading of literature that the student learns to view the thoughts and actions of the character compassionately. It develops a sense of emotion in the minds of the reader. Therefore, reading of literature is of utmost importance. The appropriate strategies of teaching literature are as follows: The teachers may teach the whole literature through creating mini lessons about the text. It will be easier for the students to relate to the bigger picture and form a generalized idea about the text. This strategy is helpful for both the

Healthy Diets Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Healthy Diets - Essay Example The human body is a complex, living, biological organism that is sustained by nutrients for its continued survival. Without these nutrients, the body breaks down from weakness and disease and eventually dies. Like any living organism, the human body has to be cared for by providing it with the means to maintain the energy it needs to keep its biological functions working. Everything that the human body can do - seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, thinking, moving, reproducing, and so on - would depend on how well its smallest unit called the cell is nourished and maintained. Since the human body consists of some 60 trillion cells (Dunne, 2002, p. 135) that are grouped together into organs, each with its own function and purpose, the whole body will be healthy and able to live for a long period of time if the cells in the body are kept in good working condition. This is what nutrition is supposed to do, to keep each cell healthy and functioning properly. Nutrition provides the body with nutrients that are chemical substances necessary to keep the cell, and therefore the body, alive. There are six types of nutrients: carbohydrates, fats (or lipids), proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Each nutrient participates in at least one of the following functions: providing energy to the body, building and repairing body tissue, and regulating bodily proce sses. Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats supply energy. Proteins also build and repair body tissues with the help of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins, minerals, and water help regulate the different body processes such as circulation, respiration, digestion, and elimination of waste. Each nutrient is important and none works alone. Nutrients come from the food we eat, which the body must process before they can be used. What is known as nutrition is the whole series of processes where the body takes in and uses food for growth, development, and maintaining good bodily health. These processes - digestion, absorption, and metabolism - are very important and also need nutrients in order to be carried out properly. Nutrition therefore includes the whole range of activities that starts with the food we eat (our diet), the nutrients contained in the food, and the process of digestion, absorption, and metabolism that break down the nutrients in our diet into chemicals that are sent to all the different cells in the human body. If we want the body to stay healthy, the whole nutrition process must be healthy. This begins with having a healthy diet or food intake. What is a healthy diet This is what doctors, scientists, and health experts have been doing research all these years to determine. Several research studies show that what for us would be a healthy diet depends on many factors, such as our bodily state, age, level of activity, our lifestyles, the antibodies we have developed in our immune systems, and even the way we were nourished when we were still in our mother's womb and our cultural background (different people prefer potatoes, pasta, bread, rice, or noodles with their meat). There are countless definitions of what a healthy diet is. What may be healthy for bush men in the forests of Africa and Papua New Guinea (fresh worms, raw tuber roots, and boiled fish) may not be healthy for a young student living in Europe, and vice

The differences between reading content area material and literature Essay

The differences between reading content area material and literature - Essay Example The reading of the content areas is mainly divided into three parts. The students draw upon a prior experience or knowledge about the text, during reading they identify with the text and after reading they make interpretations. The strategies of the teacher depend on the activities of the students. (Literacy matters, n.d.). The appropriate strategies of the teachers are as follows: The content materials have a different structure than the other varieties of texts. If the preview of the structure is provided to the students beforehand with headings and sub-headings, pictures and captions then it will benefit the students to understand the nature of the text beforehand. A teacher can discuss these features before beginning starting the lesson. Before starting a new lesson, it will be beneficial for the students if the teachers give an idea of the concepts present in the lesson. The teachers should enquire the students about their knowledge of the subject, which will help in the flow of teaching. Various techniques like the Concept mapping can be used to know the prior knowledge of the students about the subject. The content readings have a high level of vocabulary, which has to be made familiar to the students. The meaning of the new words should be clearly explained to the students. (Abromitis, 28th July, 2009). Reading literature is of great importance because it is through reading of literature that the student learns to view the thoughts and actions of the character compassionately. It develops a sense of emotion in the minds of the reader. Therefore, reading of literature is of utmost importance. The appropriate strategies of teaching literature are as follows: The teachers may teach the whole literature through creating mini lessons about the text. It will be easier for the students to relate to the bigger picture and form a generalized idea about the text. This strategy is helpful for both the

Infrared Film and Thermography Essay Example for Free

Infrared Film and Thermography Essay Thermogram of a traditional building in the background and a passive house in the foreground Infrared thermography (IRT), thermal imaging, and thermal video are examples of infrared imaging science. Thermal imaging cameras detect radiation in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum (roughly 9,000–14,000 nanometers or 9–14  µm) and produce images of that radiation, called thermograms. Since infrared radiation is emitted by all objects above absolute zero according to the black body radiation law, thermography makes it possible to see ones environment with or without visible illumination. The amount of radiation emitted by an object increases with temperature; therefore, thermography allows one to see variations in temperature. When viewed through a thermal imaging camera, warm objects stand out well against cooler backgrounds; humans and other warm-blooded animals become easily visible against the environment, day or night. As a result, thermography is particularly useful to military and other users of surveillance cameras. Thermography has a long history, although its use has increased dramatically with the commercial and industrial applications of the past fifty years. Government and airport personnel used thermography to detect suspected swine flu cases during the 2009 pandemic.[1] Firefighters use thermography to see through smoke, to find persons, and to localize the base of a fire. Maintenance technicians use thermography to locate overheating joints and sections of power lines, which are a sign of impending failure. Building construction technicians can see thermal signatures that indicate heat leaks in faulty thermal insulation and can use the results to improve the efficiency of heating and air-conditioning units. Some physiological changes in human beings and other warm-blooded animals can also be monitored with thermal imaging during clinical diagnostics. Thermogram of cat. The appearance and operation of a modern thermographic camera is often similar to a camcorder. Often the live thermogram reveals temperature variations so clearly that a photograph is not necessary for analysis. A recording module is therefore not always built-in. Non-specialized CCD and CMOS sensors have most of their spectral sensitivity in the visible light wavelength range. However by utilizing the trailing area of their spectral sensitivity, namely the part of the infrared spectrum called near-infrared (NIR), and by using off-the-shelf CCTV camera it is possible under certain circumstances to obtain true thermal images of objects with temperatures at about 280 °C and higher.[2] Specialized thermal imaging cameras use focal plane arrays (FPAs) that respond to longer wavelengths (mid- and long-wavelength infrared). The most common types are InSb, InGaAs, HgCdTe and QWIP FPA. The newest technologies use low-cost, uncooled microbolometers as FPA sensors. Their resolution is considerably lower than that of optical cameras, mostly 160120 or 320240 pixels, up to 640512 for the most expensive models. Thermal imaging cameras are much more expensive than their visible-spectrum counterparts, and higher-end models are often export-restricted due to the military uses for this technology. Older bolometers or more sensitive models such as InSb require cryogenic cooling, usually by a miniature Stirling cycle refrigerator or liquid nitrogen. | Thermal Energy This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008) | Thermal images, or thermograms, are actually visual displays of the amount of infrared energy emitted, transmitted, and reflected by an object. Because there are multiple sources of the infrared energy, it is difficult to get an accurate temperature of an object using this method. A thermal imaging camera is capable of performing algorithms to interpret that data and build an image. Although the image shows the viewer an approximation of the temperature at which the object is operating, the camera is actually using multiple sources of data based on the areas surrounding the object to determine that value rather than detecting the actual temperature. This phenomenon may become clearer upon consideration of the formula Incident Energy = Emitted Energy + Transmitted Energy + Reflected Energy where Incident Energy is the energy profile when viewed through a thermal imaging camera. Emitted Energy is generally what is intended to be measured. Transmitted Energy is the energy that passes through the subject from a remote thermal source. Reflected Energy is the amount of energy that reflects off the surface of the object from a remote thermal source. If the object is radiating at a higher temperature than its surroundings, then power transfer will be taking place and power will be radiating from warm to cold following the principle stated in the Second Law of Thermodynamics. So if there is a cool area in the thermogram, that object will be absorbing the radiation emitted by the warm object. The ability of both objects to emit or absorb this radiation is called emissivity. Under outdoor environments, convective cooling from wind may also need to be considered when trying to get an accurate temperature reading. This thermogram shows a fault with an industrial electrical fuse block. The thermal imaging camera would next employ a series of mathematical algorithms. Since the camera is only able to see the electromagnetic radiation that is impossible to detect with the human eye, it will build a picture in the viewer and record a visible picture, usually in a JPG format. In order to perform the role of noncontact temperature recorder, the camera will change the temperature of the object being viewed with its emissivity setting. Other algorithms can be used to affect the measurement, including the transmission ability of the transmitting medium (usually air) and the temperature of that transmitting medium. All these settings will affect the ultimate output for the temperature of the object being viewed. This functionality makes the thermal imaging camera an excellent tool for the maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems in industry and commerce. By using the proper camera settings and by being careful when capturing the image, electrical systems can be scanned and problems can be found. Faults with steam traps in steam heating systems are easy to locate. In the energy savings area, the thermal imaging camera can do more. Because it can see the radiating temperature of an object as well as what that object is radiating at, the product of the radiation can be calculated using the Stefan–Boltzmann constant. Emissivity Emissivity is a term representing a materials ability to emit thermal radiation. Each material has a different emissivity, and it can be difficult to determine the appropriate emissivity for a subject. A materials emissivity can range from a theoretical 0.00 (completely not-emitting) to an equally-theoretical 1.00 (completely emitting); the emissivity often varies with temperature. An example of a substance with low emissivity would be silver, with an emissivity coefficient of .02. An example of a substance with high emissivity would be asphalt, with an emissivity coefficient of .98. A black body is a theoretical object which will radiate infrared radiation at its contact temperature. If a thermocouple on a black body radiator reads 50  °C, the radiation the black body will give up will also be 50  °C. Therefore a true black body will have an emissivity of Thermogram of a snake held by a human. Since there is no such thing as a perfect black body, the infrared radiation of normal objects will appear to be less than the contact temperature. The rate (percentage) of emission of infrared radiation will thus be a fraction of the true contact temperature. This fraction is called emissivity. Some objects have different emissivities in long wave as compared to mid wave emissions. Emissivities may also change as a function of temperature in some materials.[3] To make a temperature measurement of an object, the thermographer will refer to the emissivity table to choose the emissivity value of the object, which is then entered into the camera. The cameras algorithm will correct the temperature by using the emissivity to calculate a temperature that more closely matches the actual contact temperature of the object. If possible, the thermographer would try to test the emissivity of the object in question. This would be more accurate than attempting to determine the emissivity of the object via a table. The usual method of testing the emissivity is to place a material of known high emissivity in contact with the surface of the object. The material of known emissivity can be as complex as industrial emissivity spray which is produced specifically for this purpose, or it can be as simple as standard black insulation tape, emissivity 0.97. A temperature reading can then be taken of the object with the emissivity level on the imager set to the value of the test material. This will give an accurate value of the temperature of the object. The temperature can then be read on a part of the object not covered with the test material. If the temperature reading is different, the emissivity level on the imager can be adjusted until the object reads the same temperature. This will give the thermographer a much more accurate emissivity reading. There are times, however, when an emissivity test is not possible due to dangerous or inaccessible conditions. In these situations the thermographer must rely on tables. Difference between infrared film and thermography IR film is sensitive to infrared (IR) radiation in the 250 °C to 500 °C range, while the range of thermography is approximately -50 °C to over 2,000 °C. So, for an IR film to work thermographically, it must be over 250 °C or be reflecting infrared radiation from something that is at least that hot. (Usually, infrared photographic film is used in conjunction with an IR illuminator, which is a filtered incandescent source or IR diode illuminator, or else with an IR flash (usually a xenon flash that is IR filtered). These correspond with active near-IR modes as discussed in the next section. Night vision infrared devices image in the near-infrared, just beyond the visual spectrum, and can see emitted or reflected near-infrared in complete visual darkness. However, again, these are not usually used for thermography due to the high temperature requirements, but are instead used with active near-IR sources. Starlight-type night vision devices generally only magnify ambient light. Passive vs. active thermography All objects above the absolute zero temperature (0 K) emit infrared radiation. Hence, an excellent way to measure thermal variations is to use an infrared vision device, usually a focal plane array (FPA) infrared camera capable of detecting radiation in the mid (3 to 5 ÃŽ ¼m) and long (7 to 14 ÃŽ ¼m) wave infrared bands, denoted as MWIR and LWIR, corresponding to two of the high transmittance infrared windows. Abnormal temperature profiles at the surface of an object are an indication of a potential problem.[4] Thermal imaging camera screen. Thermal imaging can detect elevated body temperature, one of the signs of the virus H1N1 (Swine influenza). In passive thermography, the features of interest are naturally at a higher or lower temperature than the background. Passive thermography has many applications such as surveillance of people on a scene and medical diagnosis (specifically thermology). In active thermography, an energy source is required to produce a thermal contrast between the feature of interest and the background. The active approach is necessary in many cases given that the inspected parts are usually in equilibrium with the surroundings. Advantages of thermography * It shows a visual picture so temperatures over a large area can be compared * It is capable of catching moving targets in real time * It is able to find deteriorating, i.e., higher temperature components prior to their failure * It can be used to measure or observe in areas inaccessible or hazardous for other methods * It is a non-destructive test method * It can be used to find defects in shafts, pipes, and other metal or plastic parts[5] * It can be used to detect objects in dark areas * It has some medical application, essentially in kinesiotherapy Limitations and disadvantages of thermography * Quality cameras often have a high price range (often US$ 3,000 or more), cheaper are only 4040 up to 120120 pixels * Images can be difficult to interpret accurately when based upon certain objects, specifically objects with erratic temperatures, although this problem is reduced in active thermal imaging[6] * Accurate temperature measurements are hindered by differing emissivities and reflections from other surfaces[7] * Most cameras have  ±2% accuracy or worse in measurement of temperature and are not as accurate as contact methods [8] * Only able to directly detect surface temperatures * Condition of work, depending of the case, can be drastic: 10 °C of difference between internal/external, 10km/h of wind maximum, no direct sun, no recent rain, Applications Kite aerial thermogram of the site of Ogilface Castle, Scotland. * Condition monitoring * Digital infrared thermal imaging in health care * Medical imaging * Infrared mammography * Archaeological Kite Aerial Thermography: Kite_aerial_photography * Thermology * Veterinary Thermal Imaging * Night vision * UAV Surveillance[9] * Stereo vision[10] * Research * Process control * Nondestructive testing * Surveillance in security, law enforcement and defence * Chemical imaging * Volcanology[11][12] * Building [13] Thermal imaging cameras convert the energy in the infrared wavelength into a visible light display. All objects above absolute zero emit thermal infrared energy, so thermal cameras can passively see all objects, regardless of ambient light. However, most thermal cameras only see objects warmer than -50 °C. The spectrum and amount of thermal radiation depend strongly on an objects surface temperature. This makes it possible for a thermal imaging camera to display an objects temperature. However, other factors also influence the radiation, which limits the accuracy of this technique. For example, the radiation depends not only on the temperature of the object, but is also a function of the emissivity of the object. Also, radiation originates from the surroundings and is reflected in the object, and the radiation from the object and the reflected radiation will also be influenced by the absorption of the atmosphere.

Swot And Pest Analysis Of Wal Mart Management Essay

Swot And Pest Analysis Of Wal Mart Management Essay INTRODUCTION This assignment is basically based on SWOT analysis of Wal-Mart, a leading biggest global retail company. Wal-Marts Sam Walton opened the first discount store in Rogers Arkansas back in 1962, and 47 years later, Wal-Mart operates 8,159 units in 17 countries. Wal-Mart employs over 2.1 million people worldwide, making them one of the largest private employers in both the US and Canada, and the largest private employer in Mexico. ² Even in the midst of a recession its estimated that Wal-Mart stores retail market share has raised markedly ³ and they are seeing sales gains for 2009. Wal-Mart has a dramatic story of success from its humble beginnings to its transformation into an industry leader; one can only wonder what the future holds for this corporate giant. One aspect of Wal-Marts structure that has given them a competitive edge is their efficiency in logistics. Beginning in the early 1970s, Wal-Mart utilized a warehouse distribution strategy facilitating bulk purchasing and streamlined distribution processes enabling them to dramatically minimize distribution costs. Today Wal-Mart has more than 147 distribution centres with the average facility serving 75-100 stores. Their truck fleet travels about 800 million miles a year and they move over 5.5 billion cases of products. A Wal-Mart distribution centre can have up to twelve miles of conveyor belts and about 500 1,000 employees. [via : http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/] Wal-Mart has also been able to gain competitive advantage with their embracement of Technology advance. This network included voice and video communication which streamlined the companys communication and facilitated the flow of sales and inventory information to the corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.6 During a period of slower growth in the early 21st century, Wal-Mart made substantial technology investments that were successful in gaining more inventory control and improving company performance. In addition to their technological competitive edge, Wal-Mart continues to make smart strategic decisions to exploit potential new revenue sources as they continually to expand into new markets. Wal-Mart opened the first Wal-Mart Super centre in 1988. Wal-Mart include a complete super-market, garden centre, pet shop, pharmacy, tire and lube express, optical centre, photo processing centre, and some additional smaller shops ranging from hair, nail, video, and fast-food outlets. Today there are over 2,700 supercenters in the US. By 1998 they introduced the Neighbourhood market concept which catapulted them into becoming the largest US food retailer by 2001. [via: http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/] By 1991, Wal-Mart began its international expansion with the introduction of its first store into Mexico. Two years later they formed Wal-Mart International their rapidly growing third division. Today, Wal-Mart has a total of 3,859 international locations and operates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, the United States and the United Kingdom. Wal-Mart is now planning on expanding their operations in India and China even further. [via : The Wall Street Journal] Some innovative products and programs Wal-Mart has created have contributed to their popularity and profitability. Wal-Mart began its site to store program in 2007 which offers free shipping or delivery to a local store for purchases on their website walmart.com. [via : CNET] Wal-Marts signage and logo have recently evolved; in 2007 they revised their long time slogan Always Low Prices, Always with the current Save Money Live Better motto. Wal-Marts three Basic Beliefs and Values as follows are: Respect for the individual, Service to our customers, and striving for Excellence. [via : http://www.walmartmovie.com/facts.php] These long-standing beliefs havent stopped them from becoming the source of some controversy and damaging press over the past decade including involvement in multiple lawsuits involving questionable business practices. There have been multiple allegations of sexual discriminatory practices and cases involving unpaid wages. To achieve a greater understanding of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., it is important to analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as to what one should expect in their future performance as a company. PEST ANALYSIS The way businesses operate is influenced by the wider political, economic, social and technological environment. These are usually referred to as PEST factors PEST is an acronym for political, economic, social and technological By analysing trends and developments in their business environment, firms can spot new market opportunities and threats. Political factor: Wal-Mart is currently operates its operation worldwide. In this operation Wal-Mart need to follow certain rules and regulation of host countries. Last year 2009, international operations generated 27.2% of Wal-Marts net sales. [via : wikiinvest] They are facing big challenge from Chinese government and forced to Wal-Mart to acquire its operation with local firm. Political condition includes political instability, economic condition, currency regulation, legal and regulation constrains, intellectual property rights, tax system etc. Wal-Marts international operations have greater impact of host countries law and regulation like Indian government open door for foreign investment to operate business acquire with local firm. For Eg, currently, Wal-Mart acquired with Bharati Airtel leading Telecommunication Company and open new retail store in year 2009 and shut their operation in Germany and South Korea. Economic factor : Economic condition of host countries has greater impact on any business firm. Recently, Wal-Mart facing high inflation rate and currency devaluations. In US, Wal-Mart facing challenge of high interest rate, higher fuel and energy cost, inflation, higher level of unemployment, higher consumer debt level, unavailability of consumer credit, higher tax rates, economic slow down and other economic factor could adversely affect consume demand of the product or service offering by Wal-Mart. Social factor : Wal-Marts international operation should operates according to local culture of host countries. It includes population growth, age distribution, career attitude and emphasis on safety. Trend of host countries affect demand of Wal-Marts products and services. [via : wikipedia.org] Technological factor : Nowadays, technology has a grater impact on any business. This factors includes ecological and environment aspects. Wal-Mart need to invest in Research Development activities, automation, technology incentives and respond the rate of technological change for remain in competitive market and No. 1 retailer. Wal-Marts spend huge amount behind continuous new advanced technology upgrade program. PEST analysis helps to examine influences macro environment and with the help of PEST analysis, firm can successful examine its strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats i.e. SWOT. Wal-Marts SWOT analysis as follows : SWOT ANALYSIS The internal and external environment scanning is an important part of the strategic planning process. SWOT is acronym, standing for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. A SWOT analysis enables an organisation to place itself and its products into perspective. The analysis helps to highlight the main strength and weaknesses of the organisation, together with any external opportunities and threats. SWOT Analysis Internal Analysis External Analysis Threats Opportunities Weaknesses Strengths Strengths: Marketing Aspect : Wal-Mart emphasis is on its brand image everyday low prices and good quality of products when marketing by using different channels. Wal-Mart is become superior to their competitors by using their expertise core competencies. Wal-Mart involving local communities and they are sponsoring local teams. This is a major competitive advantage Wal-Mart has over the competitors. Wal-Mart has roughly 4000 stores in US. In UK, Wal-Mart takeover Asda on 26 July 1999 for $10.8 billion, internationally it has more than 1300 stores and this number is set to grow dramatically. Wal-Mart has excellent logistic system. They create the ideal one stop shopping experience. Because of conglomeration of its wide product range customers can do one stop shopping products, the typical customer can go into any Wal-Mart and walk out without having to stop at another store for anything that they could need. Management Aspect : Wal-Marts policies and practices are designed to ensure an environment that is inclusive and equitable. Wal-Mart has 2,100,000 employees including international operation. They provide training on working with people, equal employment opportunities, leading skills, diversity and help to achieve career objectives. Wal-Mart has strong community based initiatives. Corporate structure of Wal-Mart is very well rounded and managed with core values like respect for the individual, striving for excellence and service to their customers. The management of Wal-Mart is the backbone to the entire firm and these core values have propelled them to the top of their industry. They have allowed Wal-Mart to be worlds largest company. Finance and Accounting Aspect : The company operates nearly 7,873 stores worldwide, with over 3,000 of them in international markets, where the company has grown its presence at an average annual rate of 30% between 2005 and 2009. The company focuses on offering the lowest prices across its business segments, which together earned $408 billion in revenue in 2010, a 1% increase from 2009 which is rapidly increases in revenue shows good financial position. Key Figures: (via : wikiinvest.org) Operation Growth Rate of Revenue of Operating Income Sams Club 63.7% 79.6% Wal-Mart (International) 11.7% 7.4% Wal Mart (US) 24.6% 21.7% Current share price $ 53.90 Human Resource Aspect : Wal-Mart has more than 2.1 million associates or employees worldwide. They provide continuous training to their workforce to run successful business. Production and Operation Aspect : Wal-Mart has strong distribution system and its known as cross docking. They are continuous delivering goods to warehouses and to their stores within in one day. However it gives a faster response to market demands and low level of inventory. This system has allowed them to decrease its sales cost by 2 to 3 % over the industry. Research and development : Wal-Marts innovation keeps it a leading retailer in retail industry as it is regularly turning out new patents/proprietary technology. Development and innovation are high at Wal-Mart with regard to their products/services which give ultimate profit. Computer Information System : Wal-Mart uses satellite based communications for connecting all the network of stores. Wal-Mart is offering safe, secure and informative complete website where consumer can purchase products easily. Through web-site of Wal-Mart, one can find A to Z information of Wal-Mart. Weaknesses: Marketing Aspect : One of the biggest marketing weaknesses seems from Wal-Mart lobbying to expand into new market nationally and internationally. There are many areas across the US tried to block the introduction of Wal-Mart because of the economic impact like local stores, traffic and environmental problem. Wal-Mart has a damaged reputation because when they move into a new location they end up forcing for opening new stores which is unethical at all. Wal-Mart also shut down its underperforming business in South-Korea and Germany in fiscal year 2007-08. Management Aspect : There are few females in top management role and few minorities employed. Wal-Mart is lacking equality demand which is not ethical decision for Wal-Mart to be making. They are really hurting their corporate image by maintaining this position in market. There is also lack of union. Because of perception of treating employees poorly, Wal-Mart does not have any union involvement. There is biggest problem is lack of job security for associates. Finance and Accounting Aspect : Ratio Proposition Fixed Asset Turnover 8.4 % Earnings Per Share 3.35 % Average collection period 8 % As above ratio are presented weak finance condition. Fix assets turnover ratio present high investment but not being used. The EPS ratio is not good as compare to the industry. The collection ratio presents that Wal-Mart allowing their debtors to carry account with above average period of time. It increases the likelihood of non-payment. Human Resource Aspect: Wal-Mart is non-unionized firm. Wal-Mart employees commence at lower wages than unionized corporations. Wal-Mart pays low wages to their employees which affect their standard of living. Wal-Mart is presently involved in class action suit behalf of formal and current female employees across its US retails and warehouses. These employees totalling to 1.6 million alleged that the company showed gender discrimination at the time of pay, promotion, training and job assignment. This is one of the biggest gender discrimination cases in the US. Production and operation Aspect : Since Wal-Mart sell products across many sectors, it may not have the flexibility of some of its more focused competitors. Research and Development Aspect : Wal-Mart is not actively engaged in any R D. Specifically, they do not do prior research before opening a new store in any new area. Opportunities: Economic Aspect : When any countrys government invite foreign investment with new trade agreements, businesses like Wal-Mart have ability to offer products and services. This simply increases the markets available to retailers. Wal-Mart offers all products under private labels. Expanding brand portfolio, Wal-Mart incurs lower operational costs, high quality product and gaining higher margin. Wal-Mart has tremendous opportunities for future business in expanding consumer market by acquisition, merge with, or form strategic alliances with other global retailers. Social, cultural, demographic and environmental Aspect : To fulfil obligation or responsibilities towards social and culture, Wal-Mart announced plans to open in store clinic The Clinic at Wal-Mart to be connect with local hospitals in February 2008. The company could leverage rising health care spending in the US to boost revenues of its pharmacies and health clinics. (c) Political, Legal and Government Aspect: Asian market is virtually untapped by the retail world in many extent. It gives huge opportunities to expand business with unlimited and unexpected potential growth and profits. Technological Aspect : Nowadays, online shopping is growing stage. To take advantage and experience of internet shopping, customers can easily purchase products by receives friendly site designs, efficient order fulfilment, fast delivery and response. It can help Wal-Mart to make huge revenue. Threats: Economic, social, demographic and environmental Aspect : Wal-Mart is facing stiff competition from a large number of companies in the retail market worldwide and local stores. Intense competition could adversely affect the revenues and profitability of Wal-Mart. They face opposition and resistance from communities by local and international market like small retailer in US and opposition of shopkeepers and retailers on introduction of Wal-Mart in India. Growing opposition to opening new stores from local communities and entry into international markets is likely to hold back expansion plans of Wal-Mart. Political, Legal and Governmental Aspect : Being a global retailer, each firm threaten by political problem in the countries where they operate in by nations industrial and general laws, rules and regulations. Like Chinese government does not take kindly open to their country to foreign establishments. Technological : As technological change and advances, products being sold today are gone tomorrow; this provides fewer products to sell and continuous change with technology update. Thus, Wal-Mart has to update technology as per current demand and upgrading requires high investment. CONCLUSION Wal-Mart is the largest retail firm in the world with strong market position in the US. The companys strong market position in the US provides economies of scale and enhances the brand image to the company. It derived almost 75% of revenue from the US market. However, the company faces stiff competition with local players which can adversely affect the revenue and profitability of Wal-Mart. In order for Wal-Mart to stay at the top of their game and follow the company strategy and achieve their key policy goals, they are going to have deal better with their stakeholders and make sure they guard their reputation well nevertheless they are criticized by some community groups, womens rights groups, labour union, grassroots organisations, resistance to union representation and alleged sexism. Key Strengths : The key strengths are employees, financial position, customer oriented, one-stop shopping, satisfaction guaranteed programs, employee stock ownership and profit-sharing, well-rounded business, ease of website, good reputation, and favorable access to distribution networks. Key Weaknesses : The key weaknesses are some ratios are not sufficient, non-unionization, no formal mission statement, few women and minorities in top management, undifferentiated products and services, site research, slow speed of checkout service, and finally a damaged reputation. Key Opportunities : The key opportunities are expansion of business, better segmentation, leverage tech. and financial know-how. Key Threats : The key threats are competition, labour unrest, brand loyalty disappearance, supplier backlash affects performance of company.

How I Will Grow From My MBA Experience Essay -- MBA Admissions Essay

Growth is an essential trait that builds people toward success. That being said, no two individuals are the same. However, like any challenge in life, the more effort and practice dedicated to a specific task, the sharper those skills become. Today’s world is continually altering into an ever more complex and highly competitive place. For this reason, people are being challenged, more than ever before, to pursue more education, increase their background of skills, and to carve their own personal niche that places them ahead of everyone else. Carol Dweck, a researcher at Stanford University says, â€Å"individuals with a growth mind-set believe that intelligence can be developed, like muscles† (Heath, Jul/Aug 2007, Issue 117). With this sort of mentality, you should continually push yourself for results, embrace challenges that test your abilities, and seek opinions about yourself from others. Working at Great American Opportunities has proven to me that growth is an essential part of business success. Knowing this, it becomes apparent that personal growth is the only way to ensure that we can acclimate ourselves for the next obstacle that life has to offer. Understanding of Leadership and Areas of Growth Understanding the process of growth plays an important role within a person’s concept of leadership. Leadership can be understood as an individual’s influence over a particular person or group that enables them to complete a shared and specific goal. Having studied Ken Blanchard’s (May 2008) model of situational leadership, I believe that leadership can be broken down into four main categories: â€Å"directing, coaching, supporting, and delegating† (p. 19). Blanchard then drives his process a little deeper and explains the ... ...m Christian Brothers University. Knowing that growth is not a one-time action, I plan to frequently ask myself the questions surrounding this assignment in an effort to continue my growth beyond the points I have already stated. References Blanchard, K. (2008). Situational leadership. Leadership Excellence, 25(5), 19-19. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.cbu.edu:9000/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=31950744&site=ehost-live&scope=site Heath, C., & Heath, D. (2007). Leadership is a muscle. Fast Company, (117), 62-63. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.cbu.edu:9000/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=25455522&site=ehost-live&scope=site Lombardo, M. M., & Eichinger, R. W. (2009). For your improvement: A guide for developing and coaching (5th ed.) Logimer International: A Korn/Ferry Company.

Why American Troops Are Being Sent Overseas :: essays research papers

American troops are being sent overseas to maintain peace in a nation involved in a civil war. Whether the peace troops should or should not be sent overseas, they are being sent overseas. I do not believe that it is the responsibility of American troops to make peace in a country that is at Civil war. A civil war is a war fought within a nation between that nations people. By sending peace troops to East Timor the United States is now becoming involved in this nations war. This could cause the United States to go to war. The arrival of multinational troops could bring more violence, destruction, and chaos to East Timor. On the other hand it could also bring protection to the many people who have fled the violence from the Indonesian Militia. Force should not have to be used to make or keep peace in any country; therefore it is not necessary for American troops to have to risk there lives trying to make peace in a country that won’t make peace until they get what they want, INDEPENDENCE. Sending troops into Dili, East Timor may help persuade the people to make peace, but it is not necessary to send all of those troops. Just a few mediators would be sufficient to help make peace. If the nations at battle would just talk they might be able to negotiate a peace treaty and there would be cooperation without more violence. American troops would not be exposed to the violence either.The United States is a country known for helping other countries in there time of need, and the United States always plays a big role in every country, whatever the situation may be. East Timor is fighting for there independence. The United States should not send more troops to help the Dili militia fight, but send trained people who know how to persuade people to make peace. Then the United States would be setting a good example by not using violence, and would still be protecting the people. The role of the United States is very important, and the United States has quite an image to keep up. Sometimes the United States does not know what the right decision is, and until they try one of there choices they will not know what the right or wrong decision is. It is not the United States responsibility to make peace in a country at civil war.

Genetically Modified Foods and the Labeling Debate Essay

There has been an ongoing debate between consumers and the government regarding the use of Genetically Modified Foods in the market today. â€Å"Since the introduction of the â€Å"Flavr Savr† tomato, biotechnology companies continue to introduce genetically engineered agricultural products to consumers† (Whittaker). The â€Å"Flavr Savor† tomato was the first food available to consumers that was produced using technology involving the recombinant DNA techniques in 1993. This was the dawn of a new generation in food production, and thus a whole new world of genetically engineered foods. At the present time the government, more specifically, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not regulated labeling products that contain genetically engineered foods. Currently the policy for labeling all consumer products must meet the standards of the safety and nutritional assessment. The evaluations of genetically engineered foods by legal authority require that bioengineered foods must meet the same standards set forth for all imported and exported foods marked for human and animal consumption and according to the US FDA genetically modified (GM) foods meet these guidelines. Since the early 1990’s scientists has been researching new and improved techniques to bring plumper, juicer and insecticide resistant agricultural products to all consumers. But research such as this is nothing new to the scientific community and for over 50 years techniques have been used to create strains of wheat, rice, pears and many more crop species to create high yielding products that are capable of growing anywhere and anytime of the year. Currently, only one tenth of the world actually uses GM plants with the countries of Canada, US, Brazil and Argentina growing 90 percent of the GM crops (Freedman). With the majority of these crops being produced in North America, the US is seeing GM foods everywhere and this is drawing attention to different agencies and groups pushing to educate the public by labeling any products that contain genetically engineered foods. The US Food and Drug Administration has been dealing with the battle against labeling products with genetically modified organisms (GMO) for years, but regardless of the consistent scrutiny the FDA sticks firmly to the current regulations that govern the labeling of all foods for human and animal consumption. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, which drives the FDA’s safety regulations for food and food ingredients, â€Å"unless a significant safety risk exists or there is a sincere need for consumers to distinguish between food products before purchase, the FDA hesitates to mandate labeling of food products† (Leggio). Joseph A. Levitt, Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition with the US Food and Drug Administration states in his â€Å"Should the FDA Adopt a Stricter Policy on Genetically Engineered Foods? † testimony that â€Å"bioengineered foods and food ingredients must adhere to the same standards of safety under the FD&C act that apply to their conventionally bred counterparts† (Levitt, 81). With the strict laws set forth, the FDA remains consistent with its decision to maintain their current labeling program as it adheres to all safety standards of any food for consumption. The US FDA also assures the public that they have done significant research for decades on biotechnology foods to ensure it is safe for consumers, and additional testing is conducted years prior to the release of a GM product to the shelves. Scientists address all of the potential concerns to include the potential to adding new allergy causing proteins, removing vital nutrients and the possibility of introducing toxins, in these studies to ensure that unexpected results do not occur, â€Å"this testing provides a way to detect such changes at the development stage† (Levitt, 79) and it will also delay any release of products until they are able to find a solution. The FDA takes such precautions and studying all aspects of this technology to be confident that the risks are non-existent. Although the government has provided the public with research, publications, testimonies and scientific proof that the current law governing the labeling of food and animal products is appropriate and doesn’t require change, there is still much concern of the risks that the technology poses to humans. Barbara Boxer, a US Senator from California, introduced the Genetically Engineered Food Right-To-Know Act in 2001 in her testimony in â€Å"Should the FDA Adopt a Stricter Policy on Genetically Engineered Foods? † which states â€Å"all foods containing or produced with genetically engineered material bear a neutral label† (Boxer, 76). This act was created based on the lack of data and concerns that GM products are introducing risks of exposure to many health issues to include food allergens, lack of nutrition and toxic ailments. These claims are legitimate, however, the US FDA does take precautions as stated by Joseph A. Levitt, specifically with these risks while conducting trials during the developing stages of the product. In 2011 there was a petition filed against the FDA which warranted the need for labeling of GM products. According to this petition â€Å"consumers are misled when food labels do not differentiate foods with known health properties from novel foods with unknown health consequences† (Burgaard). An example of such health concerns come from a study performed in Scotland at the Rowett Institute in 1998. A plant biochemist named Arpad Pusztai conducted an experiment on rats who consumed a genetically engineered potato and his experiment concluded that the rats that were fed the modified potato â€Å"suffered growth and immune system-related changes† (Freedman). Ironically, the genetically modified potato used in this study â€Å"was not intended for human consumption — it was, in fact, designed to be toxic for research purposes,† (Freedman) discrediting the research altogether. Additionally, â€Å"American Medical Association, the National Academy of Sciences, the World Health Organization, and more than twenty-five Nobel Prize-winning scientists have concluded that there is no scientific evidence that GM food carries any risk to human health and that genetically engineered crops are safe,† (Burgaard) which ties into the overall nutrition and safety assessment that genetically engineered foods meet the same standards that imported and exported foods at held too. In the end, the US Food and Drug Administration stands by the current law governing the policy on labeling genetically modified foods. They maintain their standing on mandated labeling even under the microscope of doubters, but most importantly the â€Å"FDA’s process for evaluating bioengineered foods is one in which the public can have confidence that food biotechnology products must meet the law’s safety standards† (Maryanski). The FDA cares deeply of the health and wellbeing of the consumers in America and strive to meet the needs of the public in both food and nutrition education. Until the studies show significant risks or changes in the GM products warranting the need to readdress the process, the government and the US Food and Drug Administration believe their approach is relevant and remain firm to the present policies. Annotated Bibliography Whittaker, Michael A. â€Å"Reevaluating The Food And Drug Administration’s Stand On Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods. † San Diego Law Review 35. 4 (1998): 1215. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This journal review argues that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must reconsider its position on the labeling of genetically engineered food as well as consumer perceptions of the threat posed by genetically engineered foods. Freedman, David H. â€Å"Are Engineered Foods Evil?. † Scientific American 309. 3 (2013): 80-85. Environment Complete. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This article discusses the debate over the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops. It covers comments from agricultural and environmental economist at the University of California, Berkeley, David Zilberman, on the benefits of GM foods compared to their health risks, a ban on GM crops by the European Union (EU), and the difference between selective plant breeding and mutagenic techniques. Leggio, Kelly A. â€Å"Limitations On The Consumer’s Right To Know: Settling The Debate Over Labeling Of Genetically Modified Foods In The United States. † San Diego Law Review 38. 3 (2001): 893. Academic Search Premier. Web. 3 Jan. 2014. This journal review supports the decision of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reject mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods as a solution to accommodate consumer fears. There is a description of an approach designed to evaluate whether mandatory initiatives are appropriate to protect consumer’s right to know and the importance for states to follow guidelines established by the FDA. â€Å"Should The FDA Adopt A Stricter Policy On Genetically Engineered Foods? PRO/CON. † Congressional Digest 80. 3 (2001): Pages 76-95. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This is a two part article that discusses genetically engineered foods and the potential need to adopt a more strict policy. The articles provided information from the perspective of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Joseph A. Levitt, the director of the Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and US Senator, Barbara Boxer who speaks on behalf of the Genetically Engineered Food Right-to-Know Act and additional interviews that were conducted to give the audience an overall understanding of both sides of the debate. Burgaard, Sudhir. â€Å"The Labeling Of Genetically Modified Foods Debate. † Natural Resources & Environment 28. 1 (2013): 55-57. Environment Complete. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This article focuses on the debate on labeling of genetically modified (GM) food which reflects food safety concerns in the U. S. It highlights various legal issues related to use of GM foods which includes increased risk of antibiotic resistant bacteria, increased use of pesticides, and environmental effects. It briefs the audience about the Center for Food Safety filing a legal petition with the U. S. Food and Drug Administration regarding labeling of genetically engineered food. Maryanski, . James H. , Ph D. â€Å"News & Events. † Genetically Engineered Foods. US Food and Drug Administration, 19 Oct. 1999. Web. 2 Jan. 2014. This testimony is from the perspective of the Biotechnology Coordinator with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that discusses the current regulations governing genetically engineered foods and the process that dictates what and how determines what a DNA derived food is labeled. It includes a variety of examples that justifies the current labeling regulations and why GM Foods may not require additional information for the consumers.