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indians and alcohol essays

indians and alcohol essays Peter C. Mancall, Deadly Medicine; Indians and Alcohol in Early America. (Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, Inc., 1997). Peter C. Mancall is currently a Professor of History at the University of Kansas. He attended Harvard College and received his Ph. D. in history in 1986. He received the W.T. Kemper Prize Fellowship for teaching excellence in 1998, the inaugural Research Fellowship awarded by the Alcohol Advisory Council of New Zealand in 1998, and a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for 2001-2002. He has written many books on the subject of early America and its interaction with the Native American population. He is also the advisory editor for Native American History at Routledge, and serves on the editorial board of Reviews in American History. His research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the NEH, the Library Company of Philadelphia, the AHA, and the American Philosophical Society. This book covered the affects of alcohol on the culture, lives, and future of the Native American population. Mancall got his information on this subject from documentation of missionaries, trading posts, and courts of the time. As most of the information came from the white man records most of the book was a little fact driven. Even so the majority of the facts showed the devastating effects that alcohol had on the Native American population. It also includes information on the trading of alcohol. As well as the early temperance movement the early missionaries and their Christian converted Native Americans started. Mancall used a myriad of resources, which made one believe the facts and details that he put forth. However this also tended to give him somewhat of an impersonal view to the subject. While an even more important question is raised during this discussion, as to why the white man himself did not seem to face the same problem with drinking as the Native Ameri...

The cognitive and biological approaches to Panic Disorder Essay

The cognitive and biological approaches to Panic Disorder - Essay Example Donald Klein's biological view of PD as a medical disease and David Clark's cognitive view of panic as an escalation of physiological activation due to catastrophic misinterpretations of bodily symptoms was a main point of argues about PD nature. The common features of PD include a racing or pounding heartbeat; dizziness and lightheadedness; feeling that "I can't catch my breath"; chest pains or a "heaviness" in the chest; flushes or chills; tingling in the hands, feet, legs, arms; jumpiness, trembling, twitching muscles; sweaty palms, flushed face; terror; fear of losing control; fear of a stroke that will lead to disability; fear of dying; fear of going crazy, etc. Sometimes stomach disorders are seen (Lydiard, 1994).A panic attack typically lasts several long minutes and is one of the most distressing conditions a person can experience. In some cases, panic attacks have been known to last for longer periods of time or to recur very quickly over and over again. The aftermath of a panic attack is very painful. The greatest fear is that the panic attack will come back again and again, making life too miserable to bear (Warshaw,2000). Panic is not necessarily brought on by a recognizable circumstance, and it may remain a mystery to the person involved. At other times, excessive stress or other negative life conditions can trigger an attack (Katerndahl,2000). Much research was carried out to understanding the biological and psychological mechanisms of PD and to developing effective treatments. A working consensus has been reached regarding its clinical features (as laid down in DSM-IV) and guidelines for its psychological or pharmacological treatments are delineated in documents from the NIH and the American Psychiatric Association. A number of theories have been suggested and tested. The majority of them are based on biochemical or physiological markers. Still, the exact etiology has not been found. The aim of this paper is to review the main theories of PD and to discuss them. Classification of theories 1. The serotonergic model suggests an exaggerated postsynaptic receptor response to synaptic serotonin. Recent studies report subsensitivity of 5HT1A receptors. The 5HT system or one of its subsystems may play a role in the pathophysiology of panic disorder, the precise nature of which must be delineated by further investigation. 2. The catecholamine model postulates increased sensitivity to adrenergic CNS discharges, with hypersensitivity of presynaptic alpha-2 receptors. 3. Similarly, the locus ceruleus model explains that panic symptoms are due to increased local discharge resulting in adrenergic neuron stimulation, similar to the more general catecholamine theory. Locus ceruleus activity also affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which can respond abnormally to clonidine in patients with panic disorder. 4. The lactate model focuses on symptom production by postulated aberrant metabolic activity induced by lactate. 5. The false suffocation carbon

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 7

Personal Statement Example The university’s commitment of creating, disseminating and applying knowledge to the betterment of humanity particularly drives my desire to be part of its community. My short-term professional goal is to obtain a CPA certification and license with which I should be able to enhance my word and corporate experience. Through building on my short-term goals I should be able to gather invaluable experience and knowledge towards my long-term goal of becoming a professional auditor. As a stronger believe in the quality of knowledge in transforming life, I as a professional accountant I will be able to work in the corporate world and contribute solidly to the society’s wellbeing which will answer my desire of positively influencing lives of many people. It is on this backdrop that I am applying to the George Washington University’s Master of Accountancy Program. A masters degree in accountancy, I believe will contribute tremendously not only to my professional development but also to the realization of my short and long-term goals. I want to gain my graduate degree at the George Washington University Business School being a disciple of lea rning in a dynamic, challenging and open environment. The University’s value of creating a student focused community, appreciation of diversity both culturally and intellectually and fostering creativity in an open learning environment particularly interests me. I have previously studied at the University of Delaware, Newark, De from where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and attained a cumulative GPA of 3.27. During the undergraduate I studied courses such as investment, finance, accounting, operations management, micro & macro economics and business communications which I believe have prepared me for more challenges in the field. The knowledge gained during the bachelor’s degree opened my

The cold war Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The cold war - Essay Example Truman’s policy, also called the â€Å"containment doctrine,† was intended to suppress and control the spread of Communism worldwide. The containment promptly became the executive U.S. policy towards the USSR (â€Å"The Cold War†). In 1949, Soviet Union had effectively launched its first atomic bomb, thus ending Americas monopoly of atomic weaponry. This event started the Cold War. The US then realized that the country was faced with threats of nuclear warfare.  The government immediately commenced the investigation of the probability of the US atomic secrets leaked to the Russians by American Communists. High-status court proceedings concluded the conviction and execution of  the Rosenbergs in 1953 (â€Å"The Second Red Scare:  Fear and Loathing in High Places, 1947-1954†). Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, under the Espionage Act, were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union from 1944 to 1950. The Rosenbergs had been fundamentally involved in a Communist undercover agent circle that leaked US national defense secrets, particularly blueprints of high-explosive lens patterns and the US atomic bomb Trinity design, to the Soviet Union (Parrish). Truman’s war on communism ignited an anti-communist panic that led to espionage trials, an aggressive communist manhunt, and escalated aggression as the American government questioned, deported and investigated citizens suspected of being communists (â€Å"The Second Red Scare:  Fear and Loathing in High Places, 1947-1954†). Truman’s proposal that the country exercise military force to contain the global communist conspiracy started a chain of armed conflicts and deadly arms race between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. (â€Å"Cold War†). The anti-communist hysteria precipitated the U.S. involvement in the Korean War (Sandler). The Second Red Scare occurred after the

European Union

European Union What are the most important issues facing the European Union today and why? The European Union is an integration of European states that encompasses different histories, institutions, political systems and economies. At present the EU boasts 27 member countries with a combined population of over 500 million. The creation of a single currency, the euro, has led these citizens to depend heavily on the union for the success of their respective economies. Furthermore, many others nations out with EU jurisdiction rely on the EU for trade, finance and investment aid. Political historians such as Leonard (2005) have argued that the EU has been in a state of crisis since its inception. However, despite such problems, the EU has emerged as a strong, steady and powerful force in the global political arena. The dawn of the 21st century has brought with it fresh challenges for the EU to address. Many of these issues were outlined by EU President Jose Manuel Barroso in a speech at the European Parliament in 2007. Barroso cited economic reforms, unemployment, social justice and climate change as being matters of pressing concern (2007). This essay serves to highlight these problems and explain why they are the most important issues facing the European Union today. One of the major problems facing the EU is the ever increasing levels of unemployment affecting the majority of the member states. Barroso (2007) stated that close to 20 million EU citizens were classed as unemployed. More worryingly, Barroso stressed that many of those out of work were of a younger demographic. Modigliani (2005) warned that such rates of unemployment can lead to resources being wasted, a decline in output and thus a loss in savings and investment within the economy. Modigliani also hastened to add that unemployment levels can lead to complicated and long-standing social problems as individuals affected can grow despondent and discouraged by the lack of job opportunities. Therefore, unemployment is an important issue impinging on all of the EU states. Bertola (2000) alluded to labour market participation rates, wage inequality, employment dispersion across EU regions and market performance as being the major causes of high unemployment levels within the EU. Labour market performance is guided by government and institutional policies in the EU which in turn control minimum wages, taxation and unemployment benefits. Room (2006) and Barroso (2007) argue that although there are many ways to reduce unemployment, such as wage differentiation and geographical mobility, such measures could alter the economic and political equilibrium currently in place in the EU. Additionally, Wallstrom (2007) is quick to point out that although the elimination of unemployment subsidies across the EU states would reduce unemployment levels, it would in consequence increase the poverty and crime rates thus leading to accelerated levels of social exclusion. As a result, these repercussions have raised alarming concerns for both public and politicians alike as the EU struggles to implement a programme of reform to address the situation. Access to the member states products, capital and labour resources could provide economic efficiency but the levels of regulation required would prove extremely hard to sustain. In response to the growing problems with unemployment, the EU Commission has proposed some measures designed to tackle the issue. These include a revamp of the member states growth and job strategies as well as increasing investment on research and development. It is hoped that this in turn would lead to increased economic output and thus the creation of jobs in the process. However, Wallstrom (2007) argues this could prove a difficult task given the heterogeneous social and economic structures of the EU member states. Additionally, the collapse of the world economy in 2008 has lead to a global recession and has seen employment levels in the EU increase dramatically. The Employment in Europe Report (2009) estimated unemployment levels in Europe would break the10% mark in 2010 and would continue to rise. The issue of climate change has come to the fore spectacularly in the 21st century and is another important issue facing the European Union. Changes in climate variations are occurring around the globe raising genuine concerns about the stability of the planets ecosystem. According to Schroter (2005) these deviations may have a direct affect on levels of food production and water supplies. For example, Berkhout (2005) noted harvest failure within a country can impact the price of certain food commodities in the EU due to imports. Brandt (2001) explains that these growing concerns lead to the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol an environmentally friendly policy sanctioned via the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change designed to bring greenhouse gas emissions under control in 1997. In the summer of 2003, a heat wave engulfed much of Europe resulting in record temperatures being recorded. Beniston (2004) stated that the heat wave bore a resemblance to the type of temperatures anticipated by the end of the 21 century. Beniston (2004) concluded that due to an enhanced atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gas, summer temperatures could be expected to increase by 4 degrees celsius on average. According to Christiansen Wettestad (2003), the EU generates one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for 25% of the worlds production. Brandt (2001) states the EU expects that there will be a 0.8% increase in CO2 emissions annually. Furthermore, the EU faces additional problems with its failure to persuade its members to adopt the carbon tax due to the many rules and regulations incorporated in the policy (Christiansen Wettestad, 2003). The use of fossil fuels is another factor that leads to global warming and can have a detrimental long term affect on the climate. Kruger Pizer (2004) cite that increased emission levels due to the development of the transport sector have led to further issues for the EU to address. These substantial growths in emission output can have a direct impact on allowance prices if the EU attempted to meet Kyoto Protocol targets by using offset purchases. The growing carbon market is another area of concern for the European Union. Howse Eliason (2008) argue that it is crucial levels of carbon footprint are monitored in order to reduce emissions in the air. According to Kruger et al. (2007) the European Union launched an emissions trading program in 2005 with the aim of meeting the Kyoto Protocol targets for tackling climate change. However, the complexity of the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) is causing the member states to experience various political and economic challenges as they attempt to meet the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol. Howse Eliason (2008) cite that an investigation carried out by the Financial Times concluded that a number of companies operating within EU boundaries receive unjust carbon credits and that this is causing an unfair subsidy distribution in EU states. Howse Eliason, (2008) claim this is an issue because the results do not coincide with emissions reduction. Therefore, the EU needs to devise strategies to regulate such outcomes. The issue of security is another obstacle facing the European Union. Kicinger (2004) writes that external threats to security present far greater problems than those posed internally. To put it simply, this is because these threats cannot be predicted. One such threat is terrorism. Wallstrom (2007) argues that although Europes policy of passport-free travel is beneficial for business and tourism, it allows cross-border terrorists and criminals freedom of access within the member states. Terrorism is a major issue because innocent peoples lives are at stake. Schilder Hauschild (2004) note that EU states are also used as a base to plan and devise terrorist attacks. These criminals deploy state of the art resources, have well maintained networks and are capable of resorting to horrific levels of violence. Kicinger (2004) writes that Al Qaeda an Islamist fundamental group formed in the late 1980s and renowned for its terrorist activities housed logistical cells in the EU member states of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. Therefore, the concentrated effort of the EU to tackle such problems is crucial. Another security concern for the EU is the technological advancements in modern arms. This puts the current security measures in place by the EU in question. Flow of trade and investment within the European states has given rise to the prosperity of the EUs inhabitants. However, in spite of the advantages that free trade has brought, it has also heightened the threat of internal terrorism. Europe is now a playground for organised crime and is rife with drug trafficking, illegal immigrants and prostitution (Schilder Hauschild, 2004). Cross-border and neighboring threats also add to the security concerns of the European Union. Disputes in Kashmir and the Korean Peninsula as detailed by Schilder Hauschild (2004) affected the EU member states both directly and indirectly. The European Union Commission has pledged to combat the security threat and via foreign policy and crisis management initiatives have made provisions for security. According to Barroso (2007), these include securing borders with member states and with international countries more effectively. Moreover, the EU is attempting to forge policies and agreements with their transatlantic partners in order to minimise any threats posed to security although this is proving a difficult task to achieve. In conclusion, since its formation in 1993, the European Union has served to address a great number of important issues. These issues are not solely confined to the borders of EU but are commonly dealt with throughout the world. This essay has highlighted the EUs growing problems with unemployment levels, focused on the pearls of climate change and has detailed the threat of terrorism to the EUs stability. These are just a few of the important issues facing the European Union today.

Jean Toomer Biography Essay

Jean Toomer was born as Nathan Eugene Pinchback Toomer on December 26, 1884 in Washington, D.C. His father was a wealthy farmer, who was originally born into slavery in Georgia. Nina Pinchback was also of mixed descent. Jean’s father abandoned his family when he son was an infant, so he and his mother lived with her parents. As a child in Washington, Toomer attended all-black schools. After his mother remarried, they moved to New Rochelle, New York, and he attended an all-white school. After his mother’s death, Jean returned to Washington to live with his grandparents. He graduated from an academic black high school. By his early adult years, he refused to be segregated and wanted to be identified only as an American. Between 1914 and 1917 Jean Toomer attended the University of Wisconsin, the Massachusetts College of Agriculture, the American College of Physical Training in Chicago, the University of Chicago, New York University, and the City College of New York. He majored in agriculture, fitness, biology, sociology, and history but he never completed a degree. After leaving college, Jean published some short stories and continued writing after World War I. In 1923, Toomer returned to New York where he became friends with Waldo Frank, who became his mentor and editor on his novel Cane. In 1923, he published the novel Cane, in which he used material inspired by his time in Georgia. Below is an excerpt from his novel, Cane. â€Å"whisper of yellow globes gleaming on lamp posts that sway like bootleg licker drinkers in the fog and let your breath be moist against me like bright beads on yellow globes telephone the power-house that the main wires are insulate (her words play up and down dewy corridors of billboards) then with your tongue remove the tape and press your lips to mine till they are incandescent† ReadingWoman.com states, â€Å"Cane is one of the works of fiction that announced the arrival of the Harlem Renaissance. Though a slim volume, this collection of sketches, stories and poems makes up a dense and powerful book. Through vivid imagery and authentic dialects, Jean Toomer realistically portrays the lives and experiences of African-Americans, from the Southern peasant to the urban black in the North. Neither glorified nor stereotyped, Toomer’s characters speak in their own voices and are completely themselves, their behavior reflecting the truth about who and what they are. Cane compels the reader to feel its power on a physical level. At the time the book was published, and still today, these full, rich characters and images lead us to a greater understanding of the human condition.† He stopped writing literary works in 1950. Jean Toomer died on March 30, 1967 in Doylestown, PA after years of poor health. Works Cited â€Å"Jean Toomer – ENotes.com Reference.† Enotes.com. Enotes.com. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. . â€Å"Writers of the Harlem Renaissance – Book Reviews.† Great Books for You to Read. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. . â€Å"Jean Toomer Biography.† Department of Mathematics, University at Buffalo. Web. 02 Apr. 2012. .

Potato Starch

n the past, fields of wheat and rows of potatoes were seldom destined for anything more than a rumbling tummy. But bio-products have come a long way since people first branched out into weaving hemp into clothes and pulping papyrus into scrolls. Today the line between Mother Nature and man made has never been more blurred. Animals are re-engineered into living drug factories, crops fuel our cars and now plants are increasingly being repackaged as the epitome of the synthetic world – plastic. Wheat, maize, vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trusty spud are finding new life as water bottles, car fuel lines and laptops. Wheat, maize, vegetable oils, sugar beet and even the trusty spud are finding new life as water bottles, car fuel lines and laptops. | Bio-plastics harness the natural structures found in crops or trees, such as slightly modified forms of the chains of sugars in starch or cellulose, that share the ability to be easily reshaped that has made conventional oil b ased plastics so useful. Bio-materials scientists are also constantly tweaking these natural structures to try and better replicate the durability and flexibility of conventional plastics.Global business is now turning to bio-plastics for an increasing number of applications, as consumers and governments demand cleaner alternatives to petroleum based technologies and their reckless production of the greenhouse gas CO2. Worldwide players, such as DuPont and Toyota Motor Corp, are making vast investments in new technologies and processing plants with the hope of cornering a multi-billion pound industry. The â€Å"BC† at Bangor University in North Wales has 18-years experience of working with large companies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to find sustainable and viable bio-based alternatives to man-made materials.BC director Paul Fowler  points out that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"practically anything that you can find as polyethene you can find as a bio-plastic. You are talking abou t a whole range of everyday products – cups, combs and wrappers, everything you can think of is out there. There are inroads being made all the time   – on the one hand there is research into trying to get biological alternatives to replicate the properties of conventional plastics and on the other hand people are looking at the natural properties of these plants and trying to find an application for them. Most of the manufacture is happening in the US and continental Europe.The UK is a producer of wheat starch and biotimber but the only major bioplastic producer is Innovia Films in Cumbria, which produces cellulose films. † Innovia Films has an annual turnover of ? 400m, employing 1,200 people worldwide and producing more than 120,000 tonnes of film – used in packaging to protect food. Japan is also forging ahead, from the leading role in bioplastic production played by Toyota to its recent passing of a triumvirate of laws pushing forward environmental initiatives. In South Korea too there is a rapid drive to replace conventional plastic packaging with polylactic acid bio-plastics.Fowler says bio-plastics also offer an opportunity to get a double return for the energy used in their manufacture – first as a useful item and secondly as a fuel source. â€Å"My view is that we should burn them at the end of their life to recover energy, which could be then used to produce new materials,† he said. â€Å"In the first instance you have a valuable resource can use, be it as packaging or a shopping bag, and then you are also getting some energy back at the end of it. The biggest advantage of such bio-materials is the reduction of CO2 emissions in their production over petrochemical-based plastics. He also suggests  that burning bio-plastics would also avoid the problems caused by them breaking down and producing methane, which is 25-times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. The BC is currently looking at developing n aturally-derived alternatives to phthalates, which are plasticisers added to PVCs to make them more flexible in products such as electrical cable flex. It follows concerns that phthalates are metabolised in the body into substances that can mimic the body's own  hormones, including those concerned with fertility.The centre is also developing bio-resins, natural alternatives to synthetic resins such as phenol and formaldehyde. What types of bioplastic are there? The common types of bio-plastics are based on cellulose, starch, polylactic acid (PLA), poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), and polyamide 11 (PA11). Cellulose-based plastics are usually produced from wood pulp and used to make film-based  products such as wrappers and to seal in freshness in ready-made meals. Thermoplastic starch is the most important and widely used bioplastic, accounting for about 50pc of the bio-plastics market.Pure starch’s ability to absorb humidity has led to it being widely used for the production of drug capsules in the pharmaceutical sector. Plasticisers, such as sorbitol and glycerine are added to make it more flexible and produce a range of different characteristics. It is commmonly derived from crops such as potatoes or maize. | FOMA(TM) N701iECO phone made of PLA bioplastics reinforced with kenaf fibres developed by NEC, UNITIKA and NTTDoCoMo  © Paul Fowler| PLA is a transparent plastic whose characteristics resemble common petrochemical-based plastics such as polyethylene and polpropylene.It   can be processed on equipment that already exists for the production of conventional plastics. PLA is produced from the fermentation of starch from crops, most commonly corn starch or sugarcane in the US, into lactic acid that is then polymerised. Its blends are used in a wide range of applications including computer and mobile phone casings, foil, biodegradable medical implants, moulds, tins, cups, bottles and other packaging. PHB is very similar to poylpropylene, which is used in a wide variety of fields including packaging, ropes, bank notes and car parts.It is a transparent film, which is also biodegradable. Interest in PHB is currently very high with companies worldwide aiming to expand their current production capacity. There are estimates that this could lead to a price reduction below five euros per kilogram but this would still be four times the market price of polyethylene in February 2007. The South American sugar industry has commited to producing PHB on an industrial scale. PA 11 is derived from vegetable oil and is known under the tradename  Rislan.It is prized for its thermal reistance that makes it valued for use in car fuel lines, pneumatic air brake tubing, electrical anti-termite cable sheathing and oil and gas flexible pipes and control fluid umbilicals. These are often reinforced with fibres from the kenaf plant, a member of the hibiscus family traditionally used to make paper, to increase heat resistance and durability. At the c utting edge of bioplastic technology lie polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) materials. These are derived from the conversion of natural sugars and oils using microbes.They can be processed into a number of materials including moulded goods, fibre and film and are biodegradable and have even been used as water resistant coatings. What are the benefits of bio-plastics? – Reduced CO2 emissions. One metric ton of bio-plastics generates between 0. 8 and 3. 2 fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than one metric ton of petroleum-based plastics. Electronic giant Sony uses PLA in several of its smaller components, including one of its new walkmans, but in future hopes to use PLA-based polymers to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 20pc and non-renewable resource input by 55pc compared to oil-based ABS. Rising oil prices Despite currently costing more to produce than conventional plastics bio-plastics are becoming more viable with increasing and instability in oil prices, which are in turn triggering spikes in conventional plastic costs, illustrated in a sharp upturn two years ago. Dwindling oil supplies means that man will eventually be forced to turn to a sustainable basis for plastics. – Waste Bio-plastics reduce the amount of toxic run-off generated by the oil-based alternatives but also are more commonly biodegradable.The US’s second largest biopolymer producer Metabolix, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, claims that its plastics are biodegradable in composting bins, wetlands and the oceans. On the flip side not all bio-plastics are biodegradable and there are a growing number of conventional plastics that can naturally break down. The downside of their biodegradability is the methane that can be released as the bio-plastics decompose is a powerful greenhouse gas. – Benefit to rural economyPrices of crops, such as maize, have risen sharply in the wake of global interest in the production of biofuels and bio-plastics, as countries across the world look for alternatives to oil to safeguard the environment and provide energy security. – Enhanced properties In some fields engineered bio-plastics are now beating oil-based alternatives at their own game. Multinational materials giant Arkema has produced a form of Rislan PA11 that is being used in Europe and Brazil in fuel lines to carry biofuels as it is better able to withstand the corrosive effects of biofuels than oil-based alternatives such as polyamide 12.Rislan is widely used in oilfield applications as well as automotive brake lines. Elsewhere innovations in PA11 production are helping increase car passenger safety and reduce the risk of accidents by inhibiting spark ignition in the fuel lines. US car giant General Motors has replaced its non-conductive fuel-pump modules for new North American car models as it felt it was the best material for the job.In the US chemical multinational DuPont says it has developed a bioplastic derived from corn sugar that has superior stiffness and strength to its naturally based competitors. Global electronics corporation NEC has produced a kenaf-reinforced laptop casing, made of 90pc PLA, which helps reduce overheating by conducting heat better than stainless steel coupled with high temperature resistance and increased strength. Who are the flagwavers? Bio-plastics are not being produced by a group of hippies brewing up in their garage.Some of the world’s largest companies including multi-billion dollar chemicals company DuPont, car manufacturer Toyota, UK-based Innovia, US food processing behemoth Cargill and electronics giants NEC and Fujitsu are pouring money into driving the technology and production forward. NEC and its partners Unitika and NTT DoCoMo produce mobile phone and laptop casings based on plant-derived bio-plastics, mostly PLA. NEC plans to expand its green credentials by substituting more than 10pc of the oil-based plastics in its electronic products with bio-plastics by 2010.Toyota Moto r Corp uses mainly PLA bio-plastics, derived from sweet potatoes corn and sugar beet, reinforced with kenaf to produce components for its cars such as the Prius and Lexus. It hopes to grow its bio-plastics division into a four billion yen business by 2020 and capture two thirds of the global market for petroleum free plastics. Fujitsu introduced its FMV BIBLO notebook PC series two years ago, which it has manufactured using a material called Ecodear, a combination of 50 pc PLA and an oil-based plastic.Fujitsu is now developing a castor oil derived PA 11 plastic with Arkema, which is more flexible and will help expand its use of bio-plastics in notebook computers. The material can withstand repeated bending thanks to scientists weakening the interaction of the chain molecule in PA 11 and relaxing the stereoregularity of their organisation. The improved durability means its prototypes of PC cover components consist of 60-80 percent of the new bioplastic, an unprecedented achievement t o date.Fujitsu is also using high density fillers to increase strength and extend its use into notebook covers and other applications requiring high impact resistance. The new material is expected to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 42pc compared to oil-based nylon 6/6. DuPont in particular is continuing to expand the market for bio-plastics and plans to continue to offer hybrid bio/conventional plastic materials until the market matures, which could eventually cost less than the oil-based alternatives.DuPont has teamed up with sugar giant Tate ; Lyle to build the world’s largest aerobic fermentation plant in Loudon in Tennessee in the US for the production of bio-PDO, with a capacity of 45,000 metric tonnes a year. The largest commercial producer of bioplastic in the US is NatureWorks, owned by Cargill. The company’s plant in Blair, Nebraska uses corn sugar to produce PLA plastics packaging material and its own Ingeo-brand fibres. What lies ahead?With US President Geor ge Bush’s recent pledge to produce 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuel by 2017 – driving the price of maize up 60pc in the past two months – the farmer’s field is fast turning into a high tech bio-battleground. Mr. Fowler warns that the still fledgling industry will have to fight for space and commercial viability as millions of hectares are given over to corn, rapeseed and sugarbeet for bio-fuel production. â€Å"There is a real tension between the use of agriculture for fodd versus plastics and other non-food uses and this whole move to produce new fuels,† he said.Whereas only two years ago plant materials were at the cheap end of the market and bio-products such as straw had little value, now it is really much more costly. There would have to be a step change in the extent of the production to match oil-based plastics. The amount of bioplastics produced worldwide is less than 200,000 tonnes a year; contrast that with the more th an 30 million tonnes of oil-based plastics. You can see we have a long way to go before they replace conventional plastics†. – July 2007

What are the Main Limitations of the Solow Model

What are the Main Limitations of the Solow Model Introduction – Explanation of Solow model Solow model is one of the unique theories that explain the long-term national economic growth. In spite of its uniqueness, it has some significant limitations. This paper discusses the meaning and major limitations of Solow model with respect to the available theories and economic references.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What are the Main Limitations of the Solow Model? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The model is based on three major assumptions. First, the two factors of production (capital and efficient labor) possess perpetual returns to scale. Labor as well as knowledge develops exogenously at considerable rates. This means that the number of effectual labor units will grow at a rate given by the sum of population growth (n) and (Output per worker (g). Secondly; it assumes that other inputs apart from capital, labor and knowledge are not significant. And final ly, the portion of the production invested or saved is constant and equivalent to savings in a closed economy (Todaro Smith 2011, p. 82). The fundamental explanation of the Solow model is that simply the promptness of the technical growth is lasting for significant durable economic advancement. Thus, political advancement can only be fruitful in the long run so long as it favors the technical advancement. This model was established by Robert Merton Solow and Trevor Swan in 1956. The Solow model enlightens long-term economic growth based on technological advancement, work, and majors on the national economy. The fundamental support is that economic progression converges on a lasting foundation against equilibrium, where the investments into the capital stock become equivalent to the writings-off from the capital stock. This support is reasonable, because in this equilibrium the discarded machines are instantaneously exchanged with new ones. This implies that, the national economy wi ll develop provided that the investments are greater than the writings-off and the reverse will also be true. In addition, approval is attained to the degree that the pro head capital stock descends with increasing population growth, because the available revenue has to be distributed on more people.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Furthermore, the rate of the technical development is shown in the domestic economy. This lets the available capital stock to come to be obsolete (Krugman 1994, p. 73). This model is also known as neoclassical growth model. It is varies from other economic development models since it comprises of several equations to illustrate how production, capital goods, working time, as well as investments influence each other. It is based on the fact that different nations use their resources effectively, and with increase in labor, there is a decl ine in returns. In addition, Solow model indicates that technology is a very significant factor for economic growth, and capital grows with improvement in technology. As a result the investments of a country increase and then it realizes an overall economic development. Also, it determines that the advancement on each and every national economy meets against a point provided on a long-lasting basis by the investments put into the national economy. The continuous writing-off rate is dependent on population increase as well as the rate of technological advancement. Therefore, for long-term development in the national economy, there have to be technological advancement (Ray 1998, p.100). Main limitations of Solow model There have been numerous denunciations of Solow model, most of them associated with its combined and wholly supply-side nature. It is not practical to explain all economic production in just a single production function (Solow 1994, p.23). Besides, aggregate capital stoc k can never be symbolized by one function as in the Solow model (Solow 1957, p. 315). There are several various kinds of output, most of which are never included in the typical GDP accounts, and investments assume several different forms.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on What are the Main Limitations of the Solow Model? specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Positively, there is no one decrease function, considering the fact that there are several diverse forms of capital. Furthermore, there is no distinct saving function that can be associated with the entire production function since national economy involves numerous different kinds of people, whose combined savings is based on the distribution of revenue and several other factors that diverge liable to the kinds of production outcome. For instance, there is dissimilarity between human and physical capital. Physical capital comprises of tools, machineries, structures, t ransportations, and power plants, among others, that are employed by human beings in production. In contrary, human capital includes skills acquired through schooling, training, practice, and socialization (Ellman 1989, p. 64). The word Human capital is used by economists since, like all capital, it is an expensive resource made in the economy through the process of investments. For instance, in most cases, Economists model training as an investment is a prolific resource. Again, just like physical capital, human capital is dependent upon decline and undesirability. Proponents of the Solow model overlook the awareness and human technologies that have been internalized, and, as technological transformation takes place, some accrued knowledge and experience could become obsolete. Eventually, old people pass away and the younger generation who substitute them must be provided with knowledge from the civilization’s store of knowledge. Just like physical capital, growth in per cap ita human capital necessitates investments that surpass the declining stock of the per capita human capital.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The neoclassical Solow model fails to differentiate between the different kinds of capital and, thus it can never be used to assess the dissemination of returns from investment in physical of human capital. Remarkably, there is an indication that human capital is particularly significant for growing knowledge and technology, a factor the Solow model considers as exogenous. Most of the critics of the Solow model are strong supporters of endogenous growth. One of the major limitations of this theory lies in convergence of the progress of a national economy as advocated in the Solow model. This implies that inferior national economies unlock on a lasting basis to the wealthier nations, because they are able to develop at much faster rate without much difficulties (Bosworth Collins 2008, p. 53). However, this convergence could not be established in every national economy. Some of the nations that experienced converging growth include Europe and North America. Besides, Southeast Asia al so realized converging economic growth up to the financial crisis, which was experienced in the 90’s. Moreover, the calculated convergence speeds are extremely high and the Solow model indicates only significant results for the 20th Century. Solow model is also established on the theory of a closed economy. This means that, convergence theory assumes that a group of nations does not have any kind of relationship. Nevertheless, this problem can be avoided, according to Solow, that each and every model has certain imaginary assumptions but could flourish if the final consequences are not subtle to the generalizations used. Besides the model recommended by Solow, there have been several efforts at building a growth model for an open economy, for instance those developed by Birro, Mankiw and Sala-l-Martin in 1995 (Nelson Pack 1999, p. 418). The major reason why there is a global economic crisis is that people have failed to recognize that they form part of the environment, and i t is their obligation to protect it. Additionally, they have failed to acknowledge that they are responsible for controlling the available natural resources for successful economic advancements (Hunter James 20). Currently, there is a heated debate concerning the viability of the business world. The debate is whether the achievements of a business organization should be determined by the quantity of shares and profits realized or whether some other factors should also be taken into consideration. When evaluating the ability of a business organization to maintain its operation, and the challenges it faces, investors will majorly consider the effects of the business on the local people. Besides, they will consider how the operation will affect the natural resources being used. Precisely, it is notable that Solow model was developed to explain long-term national economic growth in a more precise manner. It is a unique theory and it varies from other economic development models since i t comprises of several equations to illustrate how production, capital goods, working time, as well as investments influence each other as indicated before. Another limitation of Solow model is that technological advancement is the only factor considered for long-term national economic growth but at diverse levels of revenue based upon investments and population growth. However, technological development is considered as exogenous since it not explained as it is by this model. The equilibrium growth rates of the pertinent variables is determined by the rate of technological advancement, which is an exogenous factor, the persons in the Solow model as well as theories developed from it does not have the incentive to create new goods. In this essence, Solow model does not integrate human capital, which not only common sense but also new growth theory, would consider very significant for national economic growth. According to capital acquired from the assessments of the model, inherent share of revenue does not relate closely with national accounting information. Nations that that grow rapidly, especially picking up after a crisis, are likely to have a swift turn-over in technologies since they accumulate more capital. However, most critics put forward that this will make it more challenging to gain sufficient experience with the existing technologies. Moreover, in these instances, zero Solow residual points out to increasing labor productivity. In the Solow model theory, if labor productivity as a factor of production is not declining as new areas of expertise become necessary then it implies that the work force is proficient of adapting. This is likely to have the growth of output undervalued by the residual. In other contexts, organizational turnover is associated with the way businesses change and develop specifically. According to the Solow model, this increases or decreases the number of employees that decide to leave a business. There are problems with the development within a business and lapses in the production that occurs (Mankiw, 2004). More important, there are difficulties with the communication and development within a specific organization. Employee development, commitment, and intention are the three top factors of turnover rates as well as the empowerment that is associated with those who are within an organization. If these do not factor in the correct way, then it leads to difficulties within the workspace, specifically because there are problems with growth and development with individuals and the association, which they carry with career skills. The other employees as well as the organizational environment suffer from the impact because of the human assets which each employee carries in his or her endeavors. In 1998, Lucas tried to solve this complication by enlarging the conception of capital to take account of physical and human factors. Human factors comprise of education, and every so often health. In addition, savi ngs or investments that are the vital variable enlightening what extent of steady state revenue various nations attain, is also exogenous (Solow, 1956). The disapproval to exogenous technological growth assumes the endogenous growth theory. As well, this model does not provide answers to the how and why questions related to the occurrence technological progress. As a consequence of these failures, endogenous growth theory was developed. This explains technological development as well as accumulation of knowledge. Closely related to these critics of the Solow model, in 1992, Mankiw and Romer published a reviewed description of the model, which comprised of the human capital factor and education into the calculation of growth. The challenges of the misplaced convergence and overrated convergence speeds are clarified accurately in this manner (Romer 1993, p. 552). From the understanding of Solow model, it is expected that the economic retention rate is based on various aspects of the o rganization, including communication, information, and job satisfaction. Information is one of the several aspects which changes the level of job satisfaction and which leads to employee turnover rates that are within an economy. The information which is provided by organizations directly affects the Solow model, levels of performance and employee turnover rates. The qualitative and quantitative aspects of Solow model show how information is one of the main variables that links to communication, perceptions, turnover rates, and job satisfaction associated with an economy. The fact that Solow model is established on the theory of a closed economy (as indicated earlier) denotes every model has certain imaginary assumptions but could thrive if the final consequences are not subtle to the generalizations used. Besides the model recommended by Solow, there have been several efforts at building a growth model for an open economy. As indicated before, process evaluation is vital since it d eals with the active monitoring of the activities as well as inputs involved towards the achievement of both long-term and short term goals. The basic aim behind process evaluation is therefore to put the project processes under a streamlined and uniformly objective system of action. Therefore, process evaluation remains a critical monitoring approach that unlike both other types of evaluation occurs immediately after a project has been executed. The process occurs throughout the project phase and is basically the directing evaluative component of the program with a fundamental objective of putting the program into the proper channel (Gertler World Bank 2010). In perspective, Solow model offers a monitoring aspect to several economic projects and is carried out continuously. The process allows projects to identify and recognize the factors that are less pertinent, or the economic indicators of the project that may not be performing well. In the execution of model, the deviant facto rs or processes are identified and adjustments are conducted in the process to channel the program towards efficiency and success (Solow 1994). The basic objective here is to enhance the effectiveness as well as efficiency of the model. Thus, it is crucial to note that a project might go astray or lose its course of model if process evaluation components are not considered. This is because the short term outcome as well as the long term impact evaluations usually occurs after specified intervals while process evaluation is a continuous process right from the program initiation stage. Conclusion Solow model was developed to explain long-term national economic growth in a more precise manner. It is a unique theory and it varies from other economic development models since it comprises of several equations to illustrate how production, capital goods, working time, as well as investments influence each other. However there are several critics of this model. Some of the critics discussed here include; in Solow model, technological advancement is the only factor considered for long-term national economic growth but at diverse levels of revenue based upon investments and population growth, and another limitation of this theory lies in convergence of the progress of a national economy as discussed. Precisely, Solow model is one of the unique theories that explain the long-term national economic growth. In spite of its uniqueness, it has some significant limitations. The paper discussed the meaning and major limitations of Solow model with respect to theory and economic references. Agreeably, the Solow model enlightens long-term economic growth based on technological advancement, work, and majors on the national economy. List of References Bosworth, B Collins, S 2008, Accounting for growth: comparing China and India, Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 45-66. Ellman, M 1989, Socialist Planning, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Krugman, P 1994, The myth of Asias miracle, Journal of Foreign Affairs, vol. 73, no. 6, pp. 62-78. Mankiw, N. G 2004, Macroeconomics, chs. 4 and 5, Elsevier Mosby, London. Nelson, R Pack, H 1999, The Asian miracle and modern growth theory, Economic Journal, vol. 109, no. 1, pp. 416-36. Ray, D1998, Development Economics, Princeton University Press, Princeton. Romer, M 1993, Idea Gaps and Object Gaps in Economic Development, Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 543-573. Solow, M 1957, Technical Change and the Aggregate Production Function, Review of Economics and Statistics, vo. 39, no.1, pp. 312-320. Solow, R 1956, A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth, Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 65-94. Solow, R 1994, Perspectives on growth theory’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 1-32. Todaro, M Smith, C 2011, Economic Development, Addison Wesley, London.

How Dysons Supersonic Hair Dryer Works

How Dyson's Supersonic Hair Dryer Works Regarding the hairdryer, renowned inventor Sir James Dyson had this to say: Hairdryers can be heavy, inefficient and make a racket. By looking at them further we realized that they can also cause extreme heat damage to hair. With this in mind, he would go on to challenge his team of engineers, designers and creative minds to come up with a solution. The Dyson Supersonic hairdryer, unveiled at press event in Tokyo, was a culmination of four years, $71 million, 600 prototypes, over 100 patents pending and rigorous testing on so much hair that if laid out as a single strand would stretch 1,010 miles. The result, though, was vintage Dyson: a compact, sleek design that quietly packs several finely-tuned high tech advancements meant to address some of the major flaws with most hair dryers currently on the market. Easy and Well-Designed Like many of his inventions, Dysons first foray into the beauty industry combines his signature cutting-edge sensibilities with a pleasingly minimalist aesthetic. Instead of vents and other clunky segmented parts its comprised of a smooth handle that simply extends toward a circular ring that sits on top. When directly facing the blower end, the dryer resembles another signature Dyson product called the Bladeless Fan. That’s not by coincidence, of course. Dyson’s modernist take on hair drying is powered by a smaller version of the hidden motor used inside the companys line of uber quiet cooling machines. The V9, the company’s smallest and lightest motor to date, can run at a speed of over 110,000 rotations per minute, fast enough to produce ultrasonic sound waves that register as inaudible to the human ear. Miniaturizing the technology to the point where its roughly the diameter of a quarter also allows the designers to fit it inside the handle to ensure proper weight balance. That way the user doesnt feel the strain of having to hold and maneuver a top heavy object.   Fixing Common Problems Besides enhanced comfort and ease of use, the Supersonic Dryer was designed from the ground up to eliminate some of the most vexing issues people have with hair drying. For instance,  blown air from hair dryers tends to be uneven and the turbulence can cause strands of hair to tangle, which is more often the case with those who have less than straight hair. Dysons Air Multiplier technology, found in both the Supersonic dryer and Bladeless fan, creates a high-velocity air stream by sucking air upward toward the rim where its joined with air brought in through the back and then channeled outward in a horizontal direction. The result is a smooth, even flow of air.   Another common problem is that overly hot air can ruin the surface texture and resiliency of natural hair to the point where shampoo and conditioning treatments can’t undo. To prevent heat damage, Dyson engineers added heat sensors that gauge and help regulate the airflow temperature by continuously relaying readings at a rate of 20 times a second to the main microprocessor. The data is used to adjust the motor speed automatically so that temperatures are kept within a safe range. The Price of Excellence Rounding out the list of notable enhancements, the dryer also includes a removable filter at the bottom of the handle to catch lost strands of hair (think lint trap) and three attachments that connect magnetically to the blower head. There’s the smoothing nozzle, which spreads a wide air stream across the surface to avoid messy, displaced the strands as you gently dry your hair. The concentrator nozzle creates more of a focused stream of air that’s ideal for shaping different parts while the diffuser nozzle is for reducing the frizz of curly hair by distributing air softly without disturbing the curls. The bottom line, though, is whether any of us  really needs a fancy, futuristic hair dryer and if ultimately such benefits are little more than a luxury. I’d say that for now Dysons hair dryer seems to be something that might appeal to higher-end salons with high-end clientele who will have their own reasons to justify the exorbitant $400 asking price.

Study case L Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Study case L - Essay Example So, basically these are the major stakeholders directly involved in the case. In the event that the prisoner opens a door with a lady behind, then she automatically becomes part of the ongoing case therefore she would also be a stakeholder in the case outlined above. The gardener and his family are likely to be affected as well as they would be strongly attached to the accused who is son and brother to them. The ordinary people who live in the kingdom are also stakeholders as they would also likely to be affected by the same laws that would have been applied on the gardener’s son. These are members of the same community hence they are part and parcel of the kingdom. 2. The pillars of caring and fairness would best support the Princess Royal’s decision to have the gardener’s son select the door that holds the lady. Caring is basically the heart of ethics and it is concerned with the welfare of others. Therefore, a person who really cares feels the emotional response to both the pain and pleasure of others. In this particular case, the gardener’s son and the Royal Princess were in love which entails deep affection of each other from deep down their hearts. However, the judgement that would be passed on the gardener’s son would cut the relationship between the two in either way. In any case, whether he selects the door that holds a tiger or the lady, that would be the end of their affair. The other door would lead to death and the other would lead to a happy marriage with an equally very beautiful lady. If the Royal Princess’s selection would lead to the lady, then it would show that she greatly cares about his w elfare though the gardener’s son would be marrying another different person. It would show that she is concerned about his welfare. On the other hand the pillar of fairness entails the issues of impartiality, equality as well as openness. Whilst it was not appropriate for the gardener’s son to fall in love with the

Looking at Los Angeles from a Dance Perspective Research Paper

Looking at Los Angeles from a Dance Perspective - Research Paper Example   Participants of the dance across disciplines manipulate spaces of their creative and innovative practices that form a network of merging societies. In the Los Angeles dancing culture, the society tends to shape their bodies, societal locations, and fashion identification and lay the basis and grounds to choreograph1 the urban relations. The culture has focused on these protocols where the professionals and amateur understand their stand as agents and creators within their community. The goal of this is to reframe the training scenarios, audience, and performance in the casting of daily practices. The role of dance and performance is to come up with civic infrastructure and position dance as one of the deliberate techniques to place urban making. Therefore, the cultural spectrum of Los Angeles comprises of centers and sites for dancing. The dancing culture is significant since is shaped the environment accordingly. The dancing culture has come to navigate the complex and a ceremonious diversity that features the city. The dancing culture in Los Angeles is a spiritual, political, and social frameworks acting as an archive that preserves the past and looks into the future. For instance, the Pilates training has a duality perspective where the associated techniques are considered as a disciplinary project and their connection of alibi. In Los Angeles, the intimacy of Alibi is gotten from the shared understanding of the physical limits, metaphors in organizing the body.