Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Free Essays on E-retailing

E-Retailing Retail is one of the more obvious market areas on the Web. In retail, vendors sell items and administrations legitimately to a purchaser. E-retail, additionally called e-tail, happens when retailers utilize the Web to sell their items and administrations (Sanchez 16). E-retailers continually challenge the old methods of directing business as they carry new items and administrations to the market. All retailers, in any case, work along these lines. A client (customer) visits an online business at what might be compared to a showroom: the electronic retail facade. The electronic customer facing facade, likewise called an online inventory, is the Web website where an e-retailer shows its items. It contains depictions, illustrations, and at times item surveys. Subsequent to perusing through the product, the client makes a determination. This actuates a second zone of the store known as the shopping basket. The shopping basket is a product segment on the Web that permits the client to gather buys. Things in the truck can be included. Erased, or even put something aside for a future visit. At the point when prepared to finish the deal, the client continues to the checkout. At this, the client enters individual and money related information through a protected Internet association. The exchange and budgetary information naturally are checked at a financial Web website. On the off chance that the bank supports the exchange, the client gets an online affirmation notice of the buy. At that point, the e-retailer forms the request and sends it to the satisfaction place where it is bundled and delivered. The e-retailer advises the bank of the shipment, and installment is sent through electronic channels to the e-retailer. Stock frameworks are refreshed. Transportation data is posted in the Web, so the client can follow the request. The client regularly gets the request a couple of days after the buy (Microsoft Word 2002 Project 2). E-retailing presents another approach to shop. The store is open 24 hours every day. With a couple of snaps of th... Free Essays on E-retailing Free Essays on E-retailing E-Retailing Retail is one of the more obvious market divisions on the Web. In retail, dealers sell items and administrations straightforwardly to a purchaser. E-retail, likewise called e-tail, happens when retailers utilize the Web to sell their items and administrations (Sanchez 16). E-retailers continually challenge the old methods of leading business as they carry new items and administrations to the market. All retailers, in any case, work along these lines. A client (buyer) visits an online business at what could be compared to a showroom: the electronic customer facing facade. The electronic customer facing facade, likewise called an online inventory, is the Web website where an e-retailer shows its items. It contains depictions, designs, and some of the time item audits. Subsequent to perusing through the product, the client makes a determination. This initiates a second territory of the store known as the shopping basket. The shopping basket is a product segment on the Web that permits the client to gather buys. Things in the truck can be included. Erased, or even put something aside for a future visit. At the point when prepared to finish the deal, the client continues to the checkout. At this, the client enters individual and money related information through a protected Internet association. The exchange and money related information naturally are checked at a financial Web website. On the off chance that the bank affirms the exchange, the client gets an online affirmation notice of the buy. At that point, the e-retailer forms the request and sends it to the satisfaction community where it is bundled and sent. The e-retailer tells the bank of the shipment, and installment is sent by means of electronic channels to the e-retailer. Stock frameworks are refreshed. Transportation data is posted in the Web, so the client can follow the request. The client normally gets the request a couple of days after the buy (Microsoft Word 2002 Project 2). E-retailing presents another approach to shop. The store is open 24 hours every day. With a couple of snaps of th...

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Exam questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 2

Test questions - Essay Example The utilization of innovation upgraded the development of machines that expanded the efficiency of laborers. Innovation likewise improved the development of undertakings to huge scope makers. Food items were, along these lines, delivered in masses that took care of the general public. Final results were delivered at less expensive expenses and less time than in the ongoing occasions. Because of the progressions the ways of life of the residents were improved and furthermore recorded a social change. Individuals moved from suburb territories to the urban communities along these lines land was left empty for creation of food. On occasion individuals who lived in the urban zones and worked in the production lines lived in soiled conditions because of overpopulation in the urban territories (Goloboy 2008, p.58). Expanded food creation is basic for industrialization in any state. Work is basic for the development of businesses and the state to keep up an adequate number of workers it needs to gadget methods of creating enough food to take care of the populace. Industrialization in Europe was because of supportable strategies for food creation. Industrialization in Britain happened somewhere in the range of 1750 and 1830. England had ideal conditions for industrialization to happen. Mineral assets, work and innovation, were available in Britain and encouraged the modern transformation (Goloboy 2008, p.67). England had utilized wood as a wellspring of warmth for quite a while it subsequently had a lot of coal stores remaining and were utilized in new thoughts. The wellspring of warmth was utilized in the businesses. England was additionally a pilgrim ace of numerous countries, the crude materials that couldn't be found in Britain could be imported from the states at modest expenses. The settlements additionally gave markets to the finished results. Different elements that added to industrialization in Britain were the bounty normal assets in Britain. The administration of Britain additionally improved the transportation in Britain upgrading the developments of completed merchandise and crude materials. The developing populace in

Friday, August 21, 2020

Learned Helplessness - What It Is and Why It Happens

Learned Helplessness - What It Is and Why It Happens Theories Behavioral Psychology Print What Is Learned Helplessness and Why Does it Happen? By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on June 19, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on January 08, 2020 Verywell / Nusha Ashjaee More in Theories Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Developmental Psychology Personality Psychology Social Psychology Biological Psychology Psychosocial Psychology In This Article Table of Contents Expand Overview History Adults Children Mental Health Conditions Overcoming View All Back To Top When bad things happen, we like to believe that we would do whatever necessary to change the situation. Research on what is known as learned helplessness has shown that when people feel like they have no control over what happens, they tend to simply give up and accept their fate. What Is Learned Helplessness? Learned helplessness occurs when an animal is repeatedly subjected to an aversive stimulus that it cannot escape. Eventually, the animal will stop trying to avoid the stimulus and behave as if it is utterly helpless to change the situation. Even when opportunities to escape are presented, this learned helplessness will prevent any action. While the concept is strongly tied to animal psychology and behavior, it can also apply to many situations involving human beings. When people feel that they have no control over their situation, they may begin to behave in a helpless manner. This inaction can lead people to overlook opportunities for relief or change. The Discovery of Learned Helplessness The concept of learned helplessness was discovered accidentally by psychologists  Martin Seligman  and Steven F. Maier. They had initially observed helpless behavior in dogs that were classically conditioned to expect an electrical shock after hearing a tone. Later, the dogs were placed in a shuttlebox that contained two chambers separated by a low barrier. The floor was electrified on one side, and not on the other. The dogs previously subjected to the  classical conditioning  made no attempts to escape, even though avoiding the shock simply involved jumping over a small barrier. To investigate this phenomenon, the researchers then devised another experiment. In group one, the dogs were strapped into harnesses for a period of time and then released.The dogs in the second group were placed in the same harnesses but were subjected to electrical shocks that could be avoided by pressing a panel with their noses.The third group received the same shocks as those in group two, except that those in this group were not able to control the shock. For those dogs in the third group, the shocks seemed to be completely random and outside of their control. The dogs were then placed in a shuttlebox. Dogs from the first and second group quickly learned that jumping the barrier eliminated the shock. Those from the third group, however, made no attempts to get away from the shocks. Due to their previous experience, they had developed a cognitive expectation that nothing they did would prevent or eliminate the shocks. Learned Helplessness in People The impact of learned helplessness has been demonstrated in different animal species, but its effects can also be seen in people. Consider one often-used example: A child who performs poorly on math tests and assignments will quickly begin to feel that  nothing  he does will have any effect on his math performance. When later faced with any type of math-related task, he may experience a sense of helplessness. Learned helplessness has also been associated with several different psychological disorders. Depression, anxiety,  phobias, shyness, and  loneliness  can all be exacerbated by learned helplessness. For example, a woman who feels shy in social situations may eventually begin to feel that there is nothing she can do to overcome her symptoms. This sense that her symptoms are out of her direct control may lead her to stop trying to engage herself in social situations, thus making her shyness even more pronounced. Researchers have found, however, that learned helplessness does not always generalize across all settings and situations. A student who experiences learned helpless with regards to math class will not necessarily experience that same helplessness when faced with performing calculations in the real world. In other cases, people may experience learned helplessness that generalizes across a wide variety of situations. The Role of Explanatory Styles So what explains why some people develop learned helplessness and others do not? Why is it specific to some situations but more global in others? Many researchers believe that attribution or explanatory styles play a role in determining how people are impacted by learned helplessness. This view suggests that an individuals characteristic style of explaining events helps determine whether or not they will develop learned helplessness. A pessimistic explanatory style is associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing learned helplessness. People with this explanatory style tend to view negative events as being inescapable and unavoidable and tend to take personal responsibility for such negative events. Learned Helplessness in Children Learned helpless often originates in childhood, and unreliable or unresponsive caregivers can contribute to these feelings. This learned helplessness can begin very early in life. Children raised in institutionalized settings, for example, often exhibit symptoms of helplessness even during infancy. When children need help but no one comes to their aid, they may be left feeling that nothing they do will change their situation. Repeated experiences that bolster these feelings of helplessness and hopelessness can result in growing into adulthood ultimately feeling that there is nothing one can do to change his or her problems. Some common symptoms of learned helplessness in children include: Low self-esteemPassivityPoor motivationGiving upLack of effortFrustrationProcrastinationFailure to ask for help Learned helplessness can also result in anxiety, depression, or both. When kids feel that theyve had no control over the past events of their lives, they gain the expectation that future events will be just as uncontrollable. Because they believe that nothing they do will ever change the outcome of an event, kids are often left thinking that they should not even bother trying. Academic struggles can often lead to feelings of learned helplessness. A child who makes an effort to do well but still does poorly may end up feeling that he has no control over his grades or performance. Since nothing he does seems to make any difference, he will stop trying and his grades will suffer even more. Such problems can also affect other areas of the childs life. His poor performance in school can make him feel that nothing he does is right or useful, so he may lose the motivation to try in other areas of his life as well. Learned Helplessness in Mental Health Learned helplessness is thought to contribute to feelings of anxiety and may influence the onset, severity, and persistence of conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). When you experience chronic anxiety, you may eventually give up on finding relief because your anxious feelings seem unavoidable and untreatable. Because of this, people who are experiencing mental health issues such as anxiety or depression may refuse medications or therapy that may help relieve their symptoms. As people age, learned helplessness can become something of a vicious cycle. When encountering problems such as anxiety or depression, people may feel that nothing can be done to ease these feelings. People then fail to seek out options that may help which then contributes to greater feelings of helplessness and anxiety. Overcoming Learned Helplessness So what can people do to overcome learned helplessness?  Research suggests that learned helplessness can be successfully decreased, particularly if intervention occurs during early onset. Long-term learned helplessness can also be reduced, although it may require longer-term effort. Therapy can be effective in reducing symptoms of learned helplessness. In one study, for example, some participants were asked to try to complete an unsolvable task. Those who received a therapeutic intervention after failing at the task were more likely to try again and successfully complete a follow-up task. Those who did not receive an intervention were more likely to experience learned helplessness and give up. So what can people do to overcome learned helplessness? Cognitive-behavioral therapy  is form of psychotherapy that can be beneficial in overcoming the thinking and behavioral patterns that contribute to learned helplessness. The goal of CBT is to help patients identify negative thought patterns that contribute to feelings of learned helplessness and then replace these thoughts with more optimistic and rational thoughts. This process often involves carefully analyzing what you are thinking, actively challenging these ideas, and disputing negative thought patterns. A Word From Verywell Learned helplessness can have a profound impact on mental health and well-being. People who experience learned helplessness are also likely to experience symptoms of  depression, elevated stress levels, and less  motivation  to take care of their physical health. Not everyone responds to experiences the same way. Some people are more likely to experience learned helplessness in the face of uncontrollable events, often due to biological and psychological factors. Children raised by helpless parents, for example, are also more likely to experience learned helplessness. If you feel that learned helplessness might be having a negative impact on your life and health, consider talking to your doctor about steps you can take to address this type of thinking. Further evaluation can lead to an accurate diagnosis and treatment that can help you replace your negative thought patterns with more positive ones. Such treatment may allow you to replace feelings of learned helplessness with a sense of learned optimism instead.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Samsungs Key Features Of Their Operations Management

INTRODUCTION This essay attempts to identify and analyse Samsung’s key features in their operations management. Operations Management is defined as the process where resources, flowing within a defined system (Kumar Suresh 2009), are combined and transformed in a controlled manner to add value. These incorporate elements such as products, processes, technology, and equipment or quality control systems (Garrido, Martà ­n-Peà ±a Garcà ­a-Muià ±a 2007, p. 2119). In addressing these elements the essay wishes to capture, which of these influence Samsung’s abilities successfully to obtain their competitive priorities (Garrido, Martà ­n-Peà ±a Garcà ­a-Muià ±a 2007, p. 2120) and process strategies. Add more to the introduction †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. KEY PRODUCT STREAMS Samsung products range from mobile devices, TV, audio and video, home appliances, cameras, PC and peripherals and print solutions (Samsung 2014). This essay will predominantly look closely at Samsung’s mobile phones market. Value add For any business to successfully add value they either do so through lower costs or superior benefits to the consumer by offering product differentiation (Singh 2012). Samsung was a late starter into the smart phone industry, while, this has not prevented them from successfully positioning their product at the forefront against those offered by their competition such as Apple. Gary Armstrong (2011) defines a product’s position as â€Å"the complex set of perceptions, impressions and feelings that consumersShow MoreRelatedSamsung Marketing11795 Words   |  48 PagesJOHN QUELCH ANNA HARRINGTON Samsung Electronics Company: Global Marketing Operations Company Background and Strategy The Samsung conglomerate’s roots dated back to 1938 when the company produced agricultural products. In the 1970s, the company focused on shipbuilding, chemicals, and textiles. Samsung Electronics Company (SEC)2 was founded in 1969, primarily as a low-cost manufacturer of black and white televisions. In the 1970s, Samsung acquired a semiconductor business, thereby settingRead MoreEssay on Samsung 5forces1418 Words   |  6 Pagesthe strength of Samsungs strategic position will be demonstrated. Introduction Samsung Electronics, Apple and Nokia are the competitive mobile companies. To compare each companys strategic position Samsung was chosen. Although many components are needed to make mobile phones; semiconductors and the operating systems (OS) which companies use will be mainly discussed because these factors have an effect on the function of a mobile phone. Therefore this essay analyses Samsungs strategic positionRead MoreUnderstanding the Essence of Strategic Management3400 Words   |  14 Pagesunderstanding of the essence of strategic management of people resources in an entity, alongside the manner in which this relates to a wider organizational context and business strategy. The PMA is based on the postulation that people are not only the key, but also the most essential resource in any given organization and usually translate other resources into benefit. The student writing this PMA attempts to explore every element of successful and effective people management practice. Cit ing Armstrong (2012:55)Read MoreSamsung Inc. Lee Byung Chul4531 Words   |  19 Pagesever produced, was a black and white television set. Over the years, Samsung acquired Hanguk Jeonja Tongsin, based out of Gumi, and developed its electronics based companies (Samsung, 2015). This Gumi manufacturing facility would one day become Samsung’s main cellular phone manufacturing plant. It began producing products such as switchboards, telephones, and fax machines (Kovach, 2013). When the founder of Samsung passed away in 1987, Samsung Group was divided into four separate and independentRead MoreMarketing and Samsung7047 Words   |  29 Pages 11 3.1 Key Success Factors of the Tablet Industry 11 3.2 Assessment of Samsung’s Sources of Advantage 12 3.3 Assessment of Samsung’s Positional Advantage 13 3.4 Match between Industry Key Success Factors and Samsung’s Sources of Advantage Read MoreSamsung Strategic Management5130 Words   |  21 PagesStrategic Management assignment Question 1 Samsung’s strategic direction is now focused on tapping into the growth of the enterprise market. Given the latest developments as stated in the case, conduct segmentation of the enterprise market and discuss the strategic action plans that Samsung’s could undertake to increase its market share in each of these segments. Introduction Pioneering the Digital Edge The digital age has brought revolutionary change – and opportunity – toRead MoreStrategic Hr in Samsung5902 Words   |  24 PagesSamsung Strategic HRM Case Introduction: â€Å"In the recent time human resource management (HRM) has assumed new prominence because of continuing concerns about global competition, the internationalisation of technology and the productivity of labour. It is argued that these market imperatives require manager to change the way in which they manage the employment relationship in order to allow for the most effective utilization of human resources (HR). Managers and academics argue thatRead MoreInternational Business Environment4226 Words   |  17 Pagesproductivity, reliability, and economy of operation. The productivity denotes the quantity of goods produced, processed, or shipped per unit time. The reliability of technology is characterized by the capacity to produce itemized quantity of goods without interruption. As the name suggest economy of the operation is determined by the consumption of materials, power and by the cost of supporting facilities necessary for the operation to take place. The indexes of any operation can be improved by perfectingRead MoreSamsung Marketing Plan Essay2535 Words   |  11 Pagesexport, selling dried Korean fish, vegetables, and fruit to Manchuria and Beijing. In little more than a decade, Samsung-which means three stars in Korean-would have its own flour mills and confectionery machines, its own manufacturing and sales operations, and ultimately evolve to become the modern global corporation that still bears the same name today (Samsung , ). During the 1970’s, the company also took steps to enhance its competitive position in the worlds textile industry, integratingRead More1) Factors That Triggered the Growth of Samsung in the Global Handset Market2366 Words   |  10 PagesStrategic Management UC3F1301IBM Lecturer name: Chia Su Aie Student name: Khamzin Zhassulan (TP023113) Submission date: 8th April Contents Introduction 3 1) Factors that triggered the growth of Samsung in the global handset market 4 SWOT analysis 4 Factors of growth 5 2) Strategies adopted by Samsung as the second largest handset market in the global mobile market. Corporate strategy, business level strategy 6 Samsung business strategy 6 3) Samsung overtakes Nokia in a handset

Thursday, May 14, 2020

The New Imperialism During the 19th Century Essay

The New Imperialism during the 19th century throughout Africa and Asia was an influential prompt to the rise of colonialism and powerful European empires. Consisting of raw materials, markets for European business, and provided resources made the African and Asian colonies extremely ingenious for European empires. However, as the 20th century emerged, imperialism suddenly faded and became a sentiment of the past. Surely even one of the most influential empires at a certain point in time – Britain, gradually came at ease with dropping its imperial rule over some colonies. Likewise, following gory and extensive battles, a parallel approach was taken by France. Nevertheless, the utmost spark to the 20th century decolonization was primarily†¦show more content†¦In contrast, England’s countries recognized their rising lack of world influence, and initially responded in peaceful matters. Furthermore, the lack of martial dominance and economical control on colonies by European nations was ultimately the underlying of decolonization in the 20th century. The carnages that Europeans could in fact execute were thoroughly exposed during both world wars. The sense of innate and ethical supremacy was lost during the rise to â€Å"Social Darwinism† ideals. Prominences were shifting and their apprehensions were progressively more and more emphasizing on ethnic and national identity. Infuriation grew among the European people, due to the suppression of foreign civilizations. Hence several people at this point suggested it was unclear to why a nation, such as Europe, would provide a distant suppressing race with supplies. The symbolism of power, which was once bestowed by the colonies to dominating nations, was no longer plausible. Instead, they became merely a safety risk due the conflicting global powers in the Cold War. As a result of European countries gradually declining in their global-impression, the contentment upon decolonization amplified amid a variety of nations. Held accountable for the additional significant influence of decolonizing European Empires, was the sentimentality upheaval of nationalism throughout Europe. For instance, it can be seen regarding the conflict whichShow MoreRelatedThe 19th And 20th Century Imperialism1297 Words   |  6 PagesThe 19th and 20th century imperialism was substantially about the exploitation of the empires colonies and thus was not a necessarily an ‘civilizing mission’. During the 19th and 20th century European powers tried to justify their actions, by claiming that they were trying to re-educate the native population through education, this included Christian missionaries which were placed throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, it became apparent that these powers gained significant wealth byRead MoreImperialism DBQ Essay examples636 Words   |  3 PagesII DBQ What role did Imperialism play in shaping U.S. foreign policy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries? Prior to the late 19th century, the United States was preoccupied with domestic affairs and simply used the Monroe Doctrine as their lone foreign policy. By the late 19th century, however, domestic concerns suppressed just enough to let foreign issues take the spotlight. The Industrial Revolution brought mass production, which forced the United States to seek a new global market for tradeRead MoreWestern Imperialism and Modern East Asia Essay example1188 Words   |  5 PagesWestern imperialism in East Asia caused many tribulations for China, Japan, and Korea but also helped them to become contemporary nations. The East Asian countries were tremendously affected by unequal treaties, extraterritoriality, and above all, technology. Great Britain encroached upon China their greed for open trade with the Chinese empire resulting in the deterioration of the Chinese culture, which led to the emergence of a modernized civilization. Japan was co-subjugated by Russia and theRead MoreAP Us History DBQ977 Words   |  4 PagesDBQ American expansionism in the late 19th century and early 20th century was, to a large extent, a continuation of past United States expansionism, while also departing with previous expansionism in some aspects. During the period of time between the late 19th century and early 20th century, America was going through significant changes. After a revolution in Cuba against the Spanish, as well as the Americans starting the Spanish-American War, the Americans received several territorial concessionsRead MoreEssay on Imperialism: From Europe to The West1514 Words   |  7 PagesEarly in the twentieth century, imperialism was brought up by European powers of the time; Germany, Great Britain, France, and Russia. These nations were after raw materials in Asia, Africa, and South America and when they realize that they could not retrieve it, they began to colonize smaller counties that contain the many resources they need and used it for their benefit. Western values played a big part in Euro pean imperialism. European civilization experienced a period of extraordinary rapidRead MoreAn Icon of American Expansionism Essay1092 Words   |  5 Pagesa nation born out of the desire to reject despotic rule and reinvent a new, non-Eurocentric model of the nation state, Americans during the nation’s nascent decades subscribed to a notion of anti-imperialism and relied upon a closed door approach to national foreign policy. Yet simultaneously, the United States engaged in acts of global expansion throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, and by the arrival of the 20th century, the nation had reached an ideological crossroad. Following a series ofRead MoreNorth Asi A Relationship With The Western Countries1487 Words   |  6 Pageswar known as the Opium War. A relationship with the Western countries at times caused tension in Japan with threats of imperialism when they did not appreciate that Japan was isolated. The threat of imperialism and isolation in Japan went hand an d hand, China questioned if they should be isolated or not, and Korea was isolated with a few exceptions. In the 19th and early 20th century, Japan and China looked on the people of other countries as uneducated people who would die if Japan or China did notRead MoreImperialism : The Age Of New Imperialism1048 Words   |  5 PagesImperialism is defined as a strong economic and political empire takes over a weaker economic and political empire. Stronger empires conquered weaker empires to industrialize the land and to weaken other threating empires. To build a strong empire, a nation must use their military power to conquer a weaker nation, take the supplies and goods to support the mother nation, and use the supplies and goods to benefit your own empire by conquering even more empires. Imperialism did not begin in the twentiethRead MoreAmerican Imperialism the United States (U.S.)1562 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century’s the United States (U.S.) pursued an aggressive policy of expansionism extending its political and economic influence around the world. What is imperialism? Why this policy was adopted and how it was rationalized. The major events that took place and which countries of the world the U.S. became involved due to this policy. Finally, we will see, not everyone supported foreign affairs by theRead MoreImperialism: the White Mans Burden890 Words   |  4 PagesImperialism: The White Mans Burden and the The Real White Mans Burden Well in order to show how imperialism was used in the nature of those two poems, I have to define it. Imperialism is the extension of sovereignty or control by one people or state over another. The objective is the exploitation of the controlled people or state. Imperialism has four major components: economic, military (strategic), political, and humanitarian. Imperialist powers are not bound to follow the laws, international

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Childhood Obesity A Serious Health Problem Essay

Childhood obesity is a serious health problem that is associated with future diseases. Early mortality is also a result of childhood obesity. An obese child is more likely to develop chronic diseases in adulthood (Hood, Emie, 2005).Having obesity can increase the likelihood of Type 2 diabetes, kidney diseases, high cholesterol, cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea, liver diseases, orthopedics problems, and cancer (Sahoo, Sahoo, Choudhury, Sufi, Kumar Bhadoria, 2015)(Yim Yoo,2014)(Xu Xue,2015). CKD or chronic kidney disease is a result of obesity which may lead to the increase in the rates of cardiovascular disease, premature death, and end stage renal disease (Yim, Yoo,2014). There is also a clear connection between obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction. Obesity may bring vascular changes which indicate early atherosclerosis, ventricular stiffness and hypertrophy (McCrindle,201 4). Among Canadians, CVD (cardiovascular disease) is the leading cause of death (Brigder,2009). Dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance are all examples of complications of cardiovascular dysfunction in obese children(Mcrindle,2014). The correlation between Type 2 diabetes and childhood obesity have been shown in many studies. There was aShow MoreRelatedChildhood Obesity : A Serious Public Health Problem3682 Words   |  15 PagesIntroduction Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem in Canada that needs to be addressed in a timely manner. For the past few decades, the prevalence of childhood obesity in Canada has been on a steady rise, and up until now, it is still increasing and becoming an epidemic. Canada was ranked as the third most overweight and obese G-7 nation in 2005, following United States and the United Kingdom (ref?). The rise in the prevalence of childhood obesity in Canada between 1978 to 2004Read MoreChildhood Obesity : One Of The Most Serious Public Health Problem981 Words   |  4 PagesChildhood obesity is one of the most serious public health problems in the 21st century. According to PMC, the US Library of National Health and Medicine and National Institutes of Health, over 42 million children under the age of five are obese worldwide in 2010, and that number continues to ascend at an alarming rate. Obesity occurs the body stores an excess amount of fat, and is more than what the person n eeds to survive. Some scientists have argued that males are considered obese when they areRead MoreChildhood Obesity : A Serious Medical Condition That Affects Children And Adolescents878 Words   |  4 Pages Research Paper on Childhood Obesity Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is overweight and well over the normal weight for his or her age and height. Child obesity is an important issue because the extra weight can lead children down the wrong path to health problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes to name a few. Childhood obesity can cause children to become depressed and have poor self-esteemRead MoreObesity : Obesity And Obesity1334 Words   |  6 PagesHealth Factors Related to Obesity in Adolescence Childhood obesity is a worldwide epidemic that has increased dramatically over the past few years. There are many reasons this could be and research shows that as cultures are developing kids are spending more time indoors than being active outside. Technology is becoming so advanced that people are now able to play sports right from the comfort of his or her living room couch. Although these technological advancements are quite outstanding and hasRead MoreChildhood Obesity: A Growing Problem795 Words   |  3 PagesChildhood obesity is a growing problem that needs to be resolved. Many people may say it is the Child’s fault, he is weak willed. This is just a common misconception; there are hundreds of different reasons for childhood obesity. I will just be scratching the surface of this paper. By the same token childhood obesity is a growing problem that needs to be resolved. We can achieve this by understanding some common misconceptions, understanding health problems, and understanding fitness. ThereforeRead MoreChildhood Obesity Leading to Adult Obesity and Health Problems1200 Words   |  5 Pages Childhood Obesity is becoming More Significant and leading to More Adult Obesity and Health Problems Introduction: Childhood obesity is an escalating issue in all over the world and particularly in the United States children and adults. This issue has received more attention in last thirty years as the number of flabby and obese children and adults has increased to double in the entire world. According to a report of Centers of Disease Control (2001), the number of obese children and adultsRead MoreObesity And The United States1430 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to an article, â€Å"Obesity in Children†, published through the medicine health website, the issue on childhood obesity in the United States has increased within recent years. â€Å"Today, nearly a third of youths are overweight or obese. That’s more than 23 million children and teenagers,† (Childhood Obesity in the United States). Obesity can eventually lead to different and more serious health issues. Fast food restaurants attract the attention of our younger generation and are some of the mainRead MoreThe Causes And Implications Of Childhood Obesity873 Words   |  4 Pagesargued that childhood obesity has gained a lot of attention in the recent years especially in the 21st century. It has the ability to affect a child in many ways, including physically, mentally, sociologically and psychologically. Childhood obesity is a serious health concern that is partially causes by the careless decisions about food intake, physical activity and lack of parental concerns and knowledge towards a child’s health. According to World Health Organization (WHO) childhood obesity is definedRead MoreConsumption Of Processed And Convenience Foods And Our Dependence On Technology1119 Words   |  5 Pagesincrease in obesity and reduction in the fitness level for children. This is concerning since obesity can cause a decrease toward life expectancy and result in other health conditions to occur. With the one million dollar grant I plan to use the money to donate to the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, (also known as MSDF). Their main goal focuses to improve children’s health along with access to healthy opportunities and options. Children that are overweight are more likely to have serious illnessesRead MoreThe Childhood Obesity Epidemic Essay1242 Words   |  5 PagesChildhood obesity it is a huge problem. Over the past years, the number of obesity in children has increased. The number of obese children in the U.S. has increased over the past years. The number has obviously also grown due to the video games, computers, and televisions, which are considered to be needed now-a-days, and have begun to take over the importance of exercising. The lack of exercise can lead to obesity, which approaches lots of negative effects. Obesity continuously puts these children

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Byzantium Civilization Essay Research Paper The Byzantium free essay sample

Byzantium Civilization Essay, Research Paper The Byzantium Civilization started cause of overcrowding in the eight century B.C. that led Grecian city states to direct out settlements throughout the Mediterranean basin. In the twelvemonth of 667 B.C. ; Byzas, from the Greek metropolis of Megra, founded Byzantium Civilization at the oral cavity of the Black Sea. Alexander the Great dominated Byzantium as he built an imperium around it stretching from Greece to India. Byzantium was the Christianized eastern portion of the Roman Empire. Constantine the Great was a critical figure in the early phases of this civilisation. He established acceptance for Christianity throughout the Roman Empire and lawfully transferred his capital from Rome to Constantinople, which is the site of the Greek City of Byzantium. Roman jurisprudence and political establishments ruled the people at that place and they spoke Latin and Greek linguistic communications. Merchants at this metropolis were able to turn rich cause of its strategic location between t he Mediterranean and Black Seas. We will write a custom essay sample on Byzantium Civilization Essay Research Paper The Byzantium or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Constantine liked to import Greek-Roman art from throughout the imperium. Byzantium art focused on human figures. The most outstanding figures that were created were Christ, the Virgin Mary, the saints, and the apostles. The emperor was believed to be divinely sanctioned by God. Human figures were portrayed in sculptures in two different manners. One manner expressed power, authorization, and magnificence. The other manner expresses worship, understanding, supplication, and hurt. The Attarouthi Treasures consist of 15 objects: 10 goblets, three thuribles, a vino strainer, and a dove. The artefacts were found buried in the locality of the ancie nt town Attarouthi. This town was a stopping point on the trade paths. The goblets were used to keep vino during the Liturgy. Upright frontal figures decorated most of the goblets with Christ looking as a beardless immature adult male. The dove represents the Holy Christ that descended over Christ when Saint John baptized him. Crosses and bust-length figures of Christ decorate the thuribles. The emperor Maurice Tiberius had a medallion that when set together with 12s gold coins and three other medallions that were indistinguishable formed a griddle. Griddles of this type were worn as belts or cuts and sometimes even necklaces. Traditionally the Roman emperor would give medallions and coins as gifts to high-level functionaries or Lords. The Processional Cross is decorated on both sides with silver-gilt medallions. On the forepart of the cross, Christ has his right manus raised in approval and is flanked by Mary on the left side with John the Baptist on the right. The clergy in imperial ceremonials, military runs, and liturgical emanations carried these crosses. They were besides given to the church as gifts for mending and remittal of wickednesss. The beginning of these crosses is unknown. The enkolpion is a devotional pendent or medallion that was meant to be worn around the cervix. On one side of the pendent bears a image of Christ and other the other side is the Virgin. Christ holds a book in his left manus and raises his right in blessing. The lettering, on the Christ side reads, Jesus Christ King of Glory. The virgin, on the other side of the medallion, extends her weaponries in supplication and the lettering reads, Mother of God.

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Nonprofits That Help Kids Get Into College

College admission, even with a scholarship in tow, can be downright expensive. Regardless of bright personalities and inquisitive minds, many high school graduates never achieve post-secondary degrees because they cant afford the tuition and lack access to support services. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics showed that as of 2014, just 52 percent of low-income students were enrolled in four-year colleges, and 57 percent were enrolled in two-year community colleges. This number is substantially lower than that of higher-income students, at 80 and 83 percent enrollment, respectively. With statistics only marginally better than 25 years ago, there is a clear need for change. The price of tuition continues to rise each year, and without assistance, many low-income students will continue to struggle with the cost of college admission. The good news is that nonprofit organizations exist that help students just like you get into and graduate from college, without letting low funds bar the way to success. How to Search for Nonprofits Your first step is to conduct a basic internet search; you could use a search phrase like how to get into college or nonprofits to help with college. Your search should readily turn up organizations designed to put students first, regardless of family income levels. These nonprofit organizations help create strong support groups with other students, and they offer guidance where none has been provided. These organizations are staffed with caring individuals who understand your difficulties and work to give you the support you deserve. They also help seek out scholarships you might have missed and may advocate for eliminating educational barriers. A Look at Nonprofit Assistance Organizations Students know of the connection between income and post-secondary attainment, but all too often they cant make inroads. Nonprofits that help you get into college were founded to bridge the gap between lower funds, student enrollment and degree attainment. Here are just a few nonprofits for you to consider: The Posse Foundation This organization supports students with great potential, inviting them to join a support group – posse – of fellow students through one of its chapter offices. Through this group, students become Posse Scholars and receive a full scholarship to one of the Posse Foundations partner colleges. The organization continues to support students until college graduation. Students must be nominated by a school or community organization with Posse membership. Contact: Local Offices for Posse Foundation OneGoal OneGoal wants every student to succeed, and it recruits teachers to become Program Directors. These teachers receive additional training and work to motivate low-income or struggling students (in their own public schools) to maximize potential via coaching and credit-based OneGoal classes. Struggling students with hidden potential are given first priority to become OneGoal Fellows, where they receive personalized support, best matches for OneGoal partner colleges and college assistance for the first year. Contact: Local Offices for OneGoal College Possible This organization offers support beginning in students junior year of high school, with the Junior Curriculum. The Senior Curriculum serves students in their final year of high school, and the College Curriculum is designed for assistance from college admission to graduation at one of the College Possible partner colleges. Coaches are AmeriCorps members committed to student success. Students not near one of the local offices may be qualified to receive virtual advising through CollegePoint. Contact: Local Offices for College Possible How to Determine If You Qualify Not all nonprofit assistance programs have eligibility requirements set in stone. Some nonprofits work with specific schools and identify students in need, while others support selected metropolitan areas. Other nonprofits may require student nomination first. Your best bet is to reach out to the local offices of each nonprofit organization to inquire about any eligibility requirements or how you can submit your name for assistance. With a little help, you could be one step closer to your dream career. is working with non-profits to bring more accessible college information to all so all students who want to pursue higher education. Love the work many other non-profits are doing to make it easier for students to reach their dreams and make better and more informed college decisions.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Lifestyles -- Compare And Cntrast Essays - Lifestyle, Personal Life

Lifestyles Compare And Cntrast Essays - Lifestyle, Personal Life Lifestyles Compare And Cntrast Outline Thesis Statement: There is always a tendency to compare our person lifestyle to that of many years ago. Introduction: Education In past, students face less pressure from teachers and parents. Today, students are much pressurized to perform I) Community Living in village In past, community living in village was more attractive and successful and standard of living was low. Today, people are suspicious of their neighbors and it is common to see closed doors in most high-rise flats. II) Advance Technology In past, there were no computers. Today, we have laptops or notebooks; we can carry it everywhere III) Telecommunications In past, we have to travel a lot from one place to another to convey a simple message Today, world is very small we can make calls wherever we like. Conclusion: Thus, lifestyle and society of today and that in the past have their own positive and negative issues. There is always a tendency to compare our person lifestyle to that of many years ago. To a certain extent, things were much better in earlier times. Firstly, in the aspect of education, students faced less pressure from teachers and parents. Expectations of these people were often realistic and achievable and this helped to be relaxed and cool as individuals. Today, students are much pressurized to perform well in school to meet to the expectations of their teacher and parents. This is reflected by the numerous tuition sessions and additional lessons they have to attend the more often than not, the academic aspect overrides the importance of social and emotional development. Secondly, community living in village was more attractive and successful in the past; people were drawn together naturally despite their religion or race. They were spontaneous in helping one another. Today, people are suspicious of their neighbors and it is common to see closed doors in most high-rise flats. There is no communications among neighbors in some cases. Thirdly, the purchasing power of a consumer is higher. In the past, standard of living was very low, where as, consumer goods were cheap. Today, a consumer needs to possess more money to purchase basic necessities of life. Of course, the present time has its appeal too. Firstly, with the impressive advance in technology, our life is made more comfortable. The computer system enables one to edit a complete work repeatedly and serves various functions as well. Information can be saved in files and easily retrieved if desired. Even the computers of today are more portable and compact in their designs. A laptop or notebook can be carried around easily. Secondly, the telecommunications services are so advanced that there is greater accessibility to make international calls whenever we like. There is no need to travel overseas to make personal visits when important messages need to be conveyed. Another important positive trail of todays society is the improvement in public transport. With the invention of MRTs, road reduction, noise and air pollution are reduced. With the present increasing focus on environment issues, this is an essential step taken by us. Thus, the lifestyle and society of today and that in the past have their own positive and negative issues. It is important for one to remain objective to see and appreciate the strengths of both times.

Friday, February 21, 2020

The evolution of strategic intelligence analysis beginning in WWII Essay

The evolution of strategic intelligence analysis beginning in WWII trhough the Korean war - Essay Example Strategic intelligence involves acquiring information pertaining to military strategy and operation plans at the national level. In strategy intelligence, more focus is shifted on factors such as geography of foreign countries, long-term future planning trends and tactics. According to the DIA, strategic intelligence is a crucial implement in anticipation of future threats globally (Andrew 45). The World War II made America to realize the need for military intelligence in particular in terms of strategy. According to the Defense Intelligence Strategy (DIA), the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japans came as a huge surprise to the U.S presumably as result of inability or total failure by the government to predict the attack (Defense intelligence Agency). This is considered as one of the most noteworthy intelligence letdowns that subsequently led to the evolution of strategic intelligence. In the awakening of the Second World War, Andrew points out that the U.S. faced what he termed as a re volution in intelligence. In his opinion, both former presidents Truman and Roosevelt were incapable of grasping the full repercussions of the revolution. Roosevelt was, however, interested in human intelligence that was more spy-based instead of signal intelligence such as radio transmitter (Defense intelligence Agency). ... to an American and British Treaty that saw to the authorization and subsequent commencement of the development of the covert operations that were to gather relevant military information (Andrew). This also set up the foundation for the formation of government intelligence units such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as well as National Intelligence Agency (NSA). This was further augmented by Eisenhower who greatly contributed towards the development of strategic intelligence especially imagery satellites in an era where space explorations had not been launched. To do this, through the CIA Eisenhower deployed U-2 panes that surveyed the U.S. borders as well as some parts of the enemies’ territories (Prouty and Ventura 42). According to Prouty and Ventura, these steps marked a significant evolution of intelligence as the CIA started to invade areas that it was familiar with and in which it could establish its operations without being seen or observed by other parties with in the U.S. government as well as other enemies. Prouty and Ventura describes the CIA’s activities as a water spillage that spread quite fast. By the late fortes, the U.S. Air Intelligence Force was established by General Vandenberg that consisted of a number of units that was well equipped with military weaponry ranging from flight machineries to printing correspondents and leaflets distribution units. Upon their establishment, they were taken through a rigorous during training exercise, before being deployed to various parts of the world such as Japan. Some aspects of these units were greatly incorporated in the Korean War with some of the specialized sections made to work with the CIA in Asia, the Middle East and Europe as well (Johnson 163). Strategic intelligence was further boosted by

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Importance of Radioisotopes and Isotopes Research Paper - 1

Importance of Radioisotopes and Isotopes - Research Paper Example Some of the isotopes undergo radioactive decay over time, therefore, known as radioactive isotopes. On the other hand, those isotopes not been observed to undergo any form of decay are known as stable isotopes. In general, isotopes have similar chemical properties but different physical properties. For example, hydrogen has three different isotopes (fig 1); 1H, 2H, and 3H. Hydrogen 1 or protium is the most abundant isotope. As they all have similar chemical properties they can form similar bonds. H2O and D2O are some examples but they have different physical properties. H2O has melting point of 0.0oC and boiling point of 100.0oC but D2O melts at 3.82oC and boils at 101.4oC. (Stoker 55). Isotopes have various applications in different sectors. In the medical field, radioactive and stable isotopes are used in medical procedures for the purpose of diagnosis and therapeutic use. Isotopes have a significant application in biomedical research field as well as research in physics, biology, chemistry, geosciences and other branches of science and technology. Isotopes can be used in various ways in the various fields discussed above. They are generally helpful because of their emission properties. Isotopes with short half life decay and emit various radiations such as beta emissions which can be detected by various means. Therefore, they can be used as ‘tracers’. For example, scientists can measure the uptake of nutrients in a plant by using a radioactive isotope of phosphorous. 32P containing compound can be introduced in the soil which is taken up by the plant. It has a short half life of about 2 weeks and the rate of uptake can be found my measuring the time taken for it to appear in the leaves. It can be traced in the leaves by detecting the beta emissions. (Kotz, Treichel and Townsend 1086). Many other applications of radioactive isotopes apply similar technique. There are many applications of isotopes in the field of medicine. Iodine is an essential

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Systems Development Life Cycle

Systems Development Life Cycle Introduction SDLC, The systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a conceptual model used in project management that describes the stages involved in an information system development project, from an initial feasibility study through maintenance of the completed application. Hence an array of system development life cycle (SDLC) models has been created: Fountain, Spiral, rapid prototyping, synchronize and stabilize and Incremental. Although in the academic sense, SDLC can be used to refer to various processes followed during the development of software, SDLC is typically used to refer to the oldest of the traditional models a waterfall methodology. Software Engineering Process The SDLC supports a list of important phases that are essential for developers, such as planning, analysis, design, and implementation, and are explained more in detail later in this report. Traditionally the waterfall model was regarded as the original: which adhered to a sequence of stages in which the output of each stage became the input for the next. No definitive models exist, but the steps can be describe and divided as follows: Project planning, feasibility study, Initiation: A feasibility study is a quick examination of the problems, goals and expected cost of the system. Projects are usually evaluated in three areas of feasibility: economical, operational, and technical. In addition, it is also used as a guide to keep the project on track and to evaluate the progress of project (Post Anderson, 2006). Thus the goal of the feasibility studies is to evaluate alternative systems solutions and to propose the most feasible and desirable business application for development, (Obrien Marakas, 2006) states that the feasibility of a proposed business system can be evaluated in four major categories Organizational Feasibility: An illustration of how a business supports the strategic business priorities of the organization. Economic feasibility: Identifies whether expected cost savings, increase revenue, increase profits and reductions in required investments will exceed the cost of developing and operating a proposed system. Technical feasibility: can be demonstrated if reliable hardware and software capable of meeting the needs of a proposed systems can be acquired or developed by the business in the required time. Operational feasibility: can be measured by the ability and willingness of management, employees, customers, suppliers and others to operate, use, and support a proposed system. for example if Tescos was to change its software platform at the tills to something entirely different, employees may begin to make to many errors and find ways around using it or just all together quite, thus it will fail to show operational feasibility. Requirements gathering and Systems Analysis: (Hawrzyszkiewycz 2004) This step defines the proposed business solutions and any new or changed businesses processes. The goal at this stage is to find any problems and attempt to fix the system or improve its productivity and efficiency. The technique here is to break the system into smaller pieces as it is easier to be explained to others and can be split up amongst different development team. A draw back of this though is that it takes time and effort to reintegrate all of the pieces (Post Anderson, 2006). Systems design: Functions and operations are described in detail during the design stage, including screen layouts, business rules, process diagrams and other documentation. The output of this stage will be to describe the new system as a collection of modules or subsystems. (Hawrzyszkiewycx 2004) states that system designs is a two step process, Broad design: which indentifies the main architecture of the proposed system which may include the language use to develop the databases, network configurations, software requirements and whether programs are to be developed using internal programmers or external contractors. Detailed design: only after the design phase is completed the detailed design phase can be initiated, during this phase the database and program modules are design and detailed user and system interaction procedures and protocols are documented. Build: Software developers may install (or modify and then install) purchased software or they may write new or custom design programs (Senn 1989). Just like the design phase, this phase is broken up into two separate sub phases, development and implementation. During the implementation phase the components built during the development are put into operational use. Usually this means that the new and old systems run parallel until users are trained in system operations and existing processes converted to the new system. (Hawrzyszkiewycz 2004) Testing: During the integration and test stage, the software artefacts, online help, and test data are migrated from the development environment to a separate test environment. At this point, all test cases are run to verify the correctness and completeness of the software. Successful execution of the test suite confirms a robust and complete migration capability. In addition, reference data is finalized for production use and production users are identified and linked to their appropriate roles. The final reference data (or links to reference data source files) and production user list are compiled into the Production Initiation Plan and the system is used experimentally to ensure that the software does not fail, also the code is tested iteratively at each level (Senn 1989). Installation, Implementation and Deployment: Implementation is a vital step in the deployment of information technology to support employees, customers, and other business stakeholders, the system implementation stage involves hardware and software acquisition, software development, testing of programs and procedures, conversion of data resources and additionally involves the educating and training of end users and specialist who will operate the new system. All together this is the final stage where the project is finally used by the business (Obrien Marakas, 2006). Maintenance: Once a system is fully implemented and is being used in business operation, the maintenance function begins; this involves the life of the system which may include changes and enhancements before its decommissioning. (Obrien Marakas, 2006) states that the maintenance activity includes a post implementation review process to ensure that newly implemented systems meet the business objectives establish for them. (Hawrzyszkiewycx (2004) supports the argument that maintenance is required to eliminate errors in the system during its working life and to improve the system in the light of changes by monitoring, evaluating and modifying operational business systems to make desirable or necessary improvements. Evaluation and Reason for Adopting SDLC for a small Pc Application The adoption of the SDLC for the development of a small application on a pc will not be appropriate because the SDLC is just what is says it is the Life Cycle of the system software. The SDLC is a process use to manage time and resources on a project, from the identification of a need for the system Initiation) to rolling it out to the user (Implementation) to de-supporting or no longer needing it (Disposition), Each phase of the SDLC requires documentation, reporting, and approval. This assures that a project cannot get out of hand either by changing the direction or becoming a financial black hole and the project sponsors are aware at every step of exactly what is going on as it is documented. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that the development of a small application on a pc does not require the adoption of the SDLC model whereas a large systems which have teams of architects, analysts, programmers, testers and users must work together to create the millions of lines of cust om-written code that drive enterprises today, will without a doubt need to adopt an SDLC solution to manage the resources of such a project. Evaluation Of the Traditional SDLC Strengths Limitations The Waterfall Model The waterfall model is the most classical sequential life cycle; each phase must be completed in its entirety before the next phase can begin. (Post Anderson, 2006) states that one advantage of the SDLC is the formality aspect which makes it easier to train employees and to evaluate the progress of the development as well as ensuring that steps are not skip, such as user approval, documentation and testing. In addition with eighty percent of MIS resources spent of maintenance, adhering to standards whilst building the system makes it easier to modify and maintain in the future because of the documentation generated and the sustain consistency, however the formality of the SDLC approach can be problematic as it increases the cost of development and lengthens the development time (Post Anderson, 2006) The formality of the SDLC method also causes problems with projects that are hard to defined, unlike newer methods like Agile which helps software development teams to respond to the unpredictability of building software through incremental, iterative work cadences, known as sprints (Cohn, Mike 2006). Agile Methods aim at allowing organizations to deliver quickly, change quickly and change often. While, agile techniques vary in practice and emphasis, they share common characteristics, including iterative development and a focus on inter-action and communication. Maintaining regularity allows development teams to adapt rapidly to changing requirements, and working in close proximity, focusing on communication, means teams can make decisions and act on them immediately, rather than wait on correspondence. It is also important to reduce non-value adding intermediate artefacts to allow more resources to be devoted to product development for early completion. The SDLC however works best if the entire system can be accurately specified in the beginning. That is, users should know what the system should do long before the system is created. (Post Anderson, 2006) further explains that because of the rigidity of the SDLC, the development of more modern applications are difficult, hence the combination of existing SDLC models and the creation of other alternatives models and methodologies are adopted as outlined later in this paper. Advantages Easier to use. Easier to manage because of rigidity Phases are completed at specific phase intervals Requirements are very well understood. Disadvantages scope adjustment during the life cycle can kill a project Working software is not produced until the life cycle is complete. Not suited for long and ongoing projects. In appropriate where requirements are at a moderate to high risk of changing Alternative development mythologies One management advantage of the traditional SDLC method is the sequential series of tasks; on the other hand using the traditional SDLC has many drawbacks. For example, when adopting a traditional SDLC methodology, the rigid chain of phases may subsequently make it impossible for developers to improved ways to provide functional requirements as the project is being built, which results in the designers redoing their work. Instead programmers should be involved in the planning and design phases, so that they may be able to identify improvements much earlier in the process, thus enhancing the effectiveness of project activities, (FFIEC IT Handbook (2009). Development solutions such as iterative and Rapid prototyping address many of the shortcomings of a traditional SDLC. And a brief description of two the newer methodologies are outlined below along with some advantages and disadvantages for comparison purposes. Agile Development Model Agile software development is a conceptual framework for undertaking software engineering projects. Agile methods attempt to minimize risk and maximize productivity by developing software in short iterations and de-emphasizing work on secondary or interim work artefacts. The key differences between agile and traditional methodologies are as follows: Development is incremental rather than sequential. People and interactions are emphasized. Working software is the priority rather than detailed documentation. Customer collaboration is used, rather than contract negotiation. Responding to change is emphasized, rather than extensive planning. Rapid Prototyping model Rapid prototyping is a process for creating a realistic model of a products user interface (Najjar, L. J. (1990) ,Using rapid prototyping, you model the look and feel of the user interface without investing the time and labour required to write actual code (Najjar, L. J. (1990). Advantages Saves time and money Promotes consistency in user interface design Allows early customer involvement Reduces time required to create a product functional specification Disadvantages Usually does not produce reusable code Lacks an obvious stopping point Conclusion It can be seen from the above comparison that differing philosophies can produce radically different views of a system. Nevertheless, both the Traditional SDLC and the alternatives produce valid working systems as well as their share in drawbacks The one size fits all approach to applying SDLC methodologies is no longer appropriate. Each SDLC methodology is only effective under specific conditions. (Traditional SDLC methodologies are often regarded as the proper and disciplined approach to the analysis and design of software applications but the drawback is that it takes a considerable amount of time and all of the system details have to be specified upfront. Methodologies like Rapid Prototyping alternatively are a compromise of rigidity and no rigidity. These new hybrid methods were created to bridge the gap with the evolution of more modern application developments requirements. Newer the less methodologies like Agile are most appropriate when volatility and uncertainty exist in the development requirements, and the SDLC is good when the requirements are already defined. Bibliography Najjar, L. J. (1990). Rapid prototyping (TR 52.0020). Atlanta, GA: IBM Corporation. http://www.lawrence-najjar.com/papers/Rapid_prototyping.html FFIEC IT Handbook (2009). Alternative development methodologies http://www.ffiec.gov/ffiecinfobase/booklets/d_a/02.html Senn James A. (1989), Analysis Design of Information Systems, Introduction to Information Systems, pg27 32 Ch1 McGraw-Hill Co- Singapore Post. G Anderson. D (2006), Management Information Systems, Organizing Business Solutions, pg 448 459 Ch 4 McGraw-Hill Co- New York Igor Hawryszkiewycz. (1998), Introduction to System Analysis Design, The Development Process, pg120 136 Ch 7 Prentice Hall- Australia Obrien A. O Marakas .M. (1989), Management Information Systems, Introduction to Information Systems, pg27 32 Ch1 McGraw-Hill Co- Singapore Systems development life cycle Systems development life cycle 1. Introduction SDLC, The systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a conceptual model used in project management that describes the stages involved in an information system development project, from an initial feasibility study through maintenance of the completed application. Hence an array of system development life cycle (SDLC) models has been created: Fountain, Spiral, rapid prototyping, synchronize and stabilize and Incremental. Although in the academic sense, SDLC can be used to refer to various processes followed during the development of software, SDLC is typically used to refer to the oldest of the traditional models a waterfall methodology. 2. Software Engineering Process The SDLC supports a list of important phases that are essential for developers, such as planning, analysis, design, and implementation, and are explained more in detail later in this report. Traditionally the waterfall model was regarded as the original: which adhered to a sequence of stages in which the output of each stage became the input for the next. No definitive models exist, but the steps can be describe and divided as follows: †¢ Project planning, feasibility study, Initiation: A feasibility study is a quick examination of the problems, goals and expected cost of the system. Projects are usually evaluated in three areas of feasibility: economical, operational, and technical. In addition, it is also used as a guide to keep the project on track and to evaluate the progress of project (Post Anderson, 2006). Thus the goal of the feasibility studies is to evaluate alternative systems solutions and to propose the most feasible and desirable business application for development, (Obrien Marakas, 2006) states that the feasibility of a proposed business system can be evaluated in four major categories Organizational Feasibility: An illustration of how a business supports the strategic business priorities of the organization. Economic feasibility: Identifies whether expected cost savings, increase revenue, increase profits and reductions in required investments will exceed the cost of developing and operating a proposed system. Technical feasibility: can be demonstrated if reliable hardware and software capable of meeting the needs of a proposed systems can be acquired or developed by the business in the required time. Operational feasibility: can be measured by the ability and willingness of management, employees, customers, suppliers and others to operate, use, and support a proposed system. for example if Tescos was to change its software platform at the tills to something entirely different, employees may begin to make to many errors and find ways around using it or just all together quite, thus it will fail to show operational feasibility. †¢ Requirements gathering and Systems Analysis: (Hawrzyszkiewycz 2004) This step defines the proposed business solutions and any new or changed businesses processes. The goal at this stage is to find any problems and attempt to fix the system or improve its productivity and efficiency. The technique here is to break the system into smaller pieces as it is easier to be explained to others and can be split up amongst different development team. A draw back of this though is that it takes time and effort to reintegrate all of the pieces (Post Anderson, 2006). †¢ Systems design: Functions and operations are described in detail during the design stage, including screen layouts, business rules, process diagrams and other documentation. The output of this stage will be to describe the new system as a collection of modules or subsystems. (Hawrzyszkiewycx 2004) states that system designs is a two step process, Broad design: which indentifies the main architecture of the proposed system which may include the language use to develop the databases, network configurations, software requirements and whether programs are to be developed using internal programmers or external contractors. Detailed design: only after the design phase is completed the detailed design phase can be initiated, during this phase the database and program modules are design and detailed user and system interaction procedures and protocols are documented. †¢ Build: Software developers may install (or modify and then install) purchased software or they may write new or custom design programs (Senn 1989). Just like the design phase, this phase is broken up into two separate sub phases, development and implementation. During the implementation phase the components built during the development are put into operational use. Usually this means that the new and old systems run parallel until users are trained in system operations and existing processes converted to the new system. (Hawrzyszkiewycz 2004) †¢ Testing: During the integration and test stage, the software artefacts, online help, and test data are migrated from the development environment to a separate test environment. At this point, all test cases are run to verify the correctness and completeness of the software. Successful execution of the test suite confirms a robust and complete migration capability. In addition, reference data is finalized for production use and production users are identified and linked to their appropriate roles. The final reference data (or links to reference data source files) and production user list are compiled into the Production Initiation Plan and the system is used experimentally to ensure that the software does not fail, also the code is tested iteratively at each level (Senn 1989). †¢ Installation, Implementation and Deployment: Implementation is a vital step in the deployment of information technology to support employees, customers, and other business stakeholders, the system implementation stage involves hardware and software acquisition, software development, testing of programs and procedures, conversion of data resources and additionally involves the educating and training of end users and specialist who will operate the new system. All together this is the final stage where the project is finally used by the business (Obrien Marakas, 2006). †¢ Maintenance: Once a system is fully implemented and is being used in business operation, the maintenance function begins; this involves the life of the system which may include changes and enhancements before its decommissioning. (Obrien Marakas, 2006) states that the maintenance activity includes a post implementation review process to ensure that newly implemented systems meet the business objectives establish for them. (Hawrzyszkiewycx (2004) supports the argument that maintenance is required to eliminate errors in the system during its working life and to improve the system in the light of changes by monitoring, evaluating and modifying operational business systems to make desirable or necessary improvements. 3. Evaluation and Reason for Adopting SDLC for a small Pc Application The adoption of the SDLC for the development of a small application on a pc will not be appropriate because the SDLC is just what is says it is the Life Cycle of the system software. The SDLC is a process use to manage time and resources on a project, from the identification of a need for the system Initiation) to rolling it out to the user (Implementation) to de-supporting or no longer needing it (Disposition), Each phase of the SDLC requires documentation, reporting, and approval. This assures that a project cannot get out of hand either by changing the direction or becoming a financial black hole and the project sponsors are aware at every step of exactly what is going on as it is documented. Therefore it is reasonable to assume that the development of a small application on a pc does not require the adoption of the SDLC model whereas a large systems which have teams of architects, analysts, programmers, testers and users must work together to create the millions of lines of cust om-written code that drive enterprises today, will without a doubt need to adopt an SDLC solution to manage the resources of such a project. 4. Evaluation Of the Traditional SDLC Strengths Limitations The Waterfall Model The waterfall model is the most classical sequential life cycle; each phase must be completed in its entirety before the next phase can begin. (Post Anderson, 2006) states that one advantage of the SDLC is the formality aspect which makes it easier to train employees and to evaluate the progress of the development as well as ensuring that steps are not skip, such as user approval, documentation and testing. In addition with eighty percent of MIS resources spent of maintenance, adhering to standards whilst building the system makes it easier to modify and maintain in the future because of the documentation generated and the sustain consistency, however the formality of the SDLC approach can be problematic as it increases the cost of development and lengthens the development time (Post Anderson, 2006) The formality of the SDLC method also causes problems with projects that are hard to defined, unlike newer methods like Agile which helps software development teams to respond to the unpredictability of building software through incremental, iterative work cadences, known as sprints (Cohn, Mike 2006). Agile Methods aim at allowing organizations to deliver quickly, change quickly and change often. While, agile techniques vary in practice and emphasis, they share common characteristics, including iterative development and a focus on inter-action and communication. Maintaining regularity allows development teams to adapt rapidly to changing requirements, and working in close proximity, focusing on communication, means teams can make decisions and act on them immediately, rather than wait on correspondence. It is also important to reduce non-value adding intermediate artefacts to allow more resources to be devoted to product development for early completion. The SDLC however works best if the entire system can be accurately specified in the beginning. That is, users should know what the system should do long before the system is created. (Post Anderson, 2006) further explains that because of the rigidity of the SDLC, the development of more modern applications are difficult, hence the combination of existing SDLC models and the creation of other alternatives models and methodologies are adopted as outlined later in this paper. Advantages Easier to use. Easier to manage because of rigidity Phases are completed at specific phase intervals Requirements are very well understood. Disadvantages scope adjustment during the life cycle can kill a project Working software is not produced until the life cycle is complete. Not suited for long and ongoing projects. In appropriate where requirements are at a moderate to high risk of changing Alternative development mythologies One management advantage of the traditional SDLC method is the sequential series of tasks; on the other hand using the traditional SDLC has many drawbacks. For example, when adopting a traditional SDLC methodology, the rigid chain of phases may subsequently make it impossible for developers to improved ways to provide functional requirements as the project is being built, which results in the designers redoing their work. Instead programmers should be involved in the planning and design phases, so that they may be able to identify improvements much earlier in the process, thus enhancing the effectiveness of project activities, (FFIEC IT Handbook (2009). Development solutions such as iterative and Rapid prototyping address many of the shortcomings of a traditional SDLC. And a brief description of two the newer methodologies are outlined below along with some advantages and disadvantages for comparison purposes. Agile Development Model Agile software development is a conceptual framework for undertaking software engineering projects. Agile methods attempt to minimize risk and maximize productivity by developing software in short iterations and de-emphasizing work on secondary or interim work artefacts. The key differences between agile and traditional methodologies are as follows: Development is incremental rather than sequential. People and interactions are emphasized. Working software is the priority rather than detailed documentation. Customer collaboration is used, rather than contract negotiation. Responding to change is emphasized, rather than extensive planning. Rapid Prototyping model Rapid prototyping is a process for creating a realistic model of a products user interface (Najjar, L. J. (1990) ,Using rapid prototyping, you model the look and feel of the user interface without investing the time and labour required to write actual code (Najjar, L. J. (1990). Advantages Saves time and money Promotes consistency in user interface design Allows early customer involvement Reduces time required to create a product functional specification Disadvantages Usually does not produce reusable code Lacks an obvious stopping point 5. Conclusion It can be seen from the above comparison that differing philosophies can produce radically different views of a system. Nevertheless, both the Traditional SDLC and the alternatives produce valid working systems as well as their share in drawbacks The one size fits all approach to applying SDLC methodologies is no longer appropriate. Each SDLC methodology is only effective under specific conditions. (Traditional SDLC methodologies are often regarded as the proper and disciplined approach to the analysis and design of software applications but the drawback is that it takes a considerable amount of time and all of the system details have to be specified upfront. Methodologies like Rapid Prototyping alternatively are a compromise of rigidity and no rigidity. These new hybrid methods were created to bridge the gap with the evolution of more modern application developments requirements. Newer the less methodologies like Agile are most appropriate when volatility and uncertainty exist in the development requirements, and the SDLC is good when the requirements are already defined. 6. Bibliography Najjar, L. J. (1990). Rapid prototyping (TR 52.0020). Atlanta, GA: IBM Corporation. http://www.lawrence-najjar.com/papers/Rapid_prototyping.html FFIEC IT Handbook (2009). Alternative development methodologies http://www.ffiec.gov/ffiecinfobase/booklets/d_a/02.html Senn James A. (1989), Analysis Design of Information Systems, Introduction to Information Systems, pg27 32 Ch1 McGraw-Hill Co- Singapore Post. G Anderson. D (2006), Management Information Systems, Organizing Business Solutions, pg 448 459 Ch 4 McGraw-Hill Co- New York Igor Hawryszkiewycz. (1998), Introduction to System Analysis Design, The Development Process, pg120 136 Ch 7 Prentice Hall- Australia Obrien A. O Marakas .M. (1989), Management Information Systems, Introduction to Information Systems, pg27 32 Ch1 McGraw-Hill Co- Singapore

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Irony in Sophocles Oedipus the King Essays -- Oedipus Rex Essays

Irony in Sophocles' Oedipus In the play "Oedipus," irony is used frequently as and as eloquently by Sophocles to the reveal theme of seeking knowledge. Not knowing the King of Thebes, Oedipus, gives speeches on finding the murderer of the King of Laias and how wretched the poor soil will be when the truth is revealed. " Then once more I must bring what is dark to light†¦, whoever killed King Laios might- who knows?-might decide at any moment to kill me as well. By avenging the murder of the King, I protect myself, (Sophocles 1109). The speech shows how dedicated Oedipus in the pursuit of the murderer and not only the avenge of the King but to save himself. He will not be saving but adding down to his life. Oedipus doesn't realize he is in pursuit of himself. He continues his speech "Moreover: If anyone knows the murderer to be foreign, Let him not keep silent: he shall have his reward from him," ( 1112). With his own words he asks for the truth. But he can't handle the truth, for he has no idea what he is asking for or for whom he is searching for. He also states that he wants t...

Saturday, January 11, 2020

Hand washing

â€Å"Researchers in London estimate that if everyone routinely washed their hands , a million deaths a year could be prevented†¦ (CDC, 2013)† Studies have shown that hand washing may be the single most important act to help stop the spread of infection. Hand hygiene is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. A lot of diseases are spread by not washing hands with soap and water. sometimes clean running water may not be available, so use soap and the available water or hand sanitizer.Though sand sanitizers may help they may not eliminate all germs and may not be effective when there is visible dirt. Hands should be washed before and after procedures, preparing food, eating, caring for the sick, using the restroom, changing diapers , blowing the nose, coughing and sneezing . People should be taught the right way to wash hands, after touching animal waste or handling pets. By simply hand washing the government can save not only lives but money, that can go to improve people's lives.The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides healthcare workers and patients with a variety of resources including guidelines for providers , patient empowerment materials , latest technology advances and educational tools (CDC, 2002). The findings have changed my nursing practice in that if I have to be a good advocate for my patients I have to educate them on life saving habits.During admissions to the hospital patients are encouraged to wash their hands and to report if or refuse care if they notice a healthcare worker not wash their hands. the staff cannot reason with the patients , we have teams of investigators who watch staff go in and out of patients rooms . Sometimes they take pictures in â€Å"got you in a good act,† it is only the hands that are taken so people are conscious of this health habit that saves lives. The WHO guidelines on hand hygiene in healthcare are a thorough review of evidence on ha nd hygiene in healthcare to improve practices and reduce transmissions of pathogenic microorganisms to patients and healthcare workers (CDC, 2009).Through research there are findings about factors that influence compliance or adherence to hand hygiene practices. Some of these are hand washing agents causing irritation and dryness, sinks being inconveniently located or shortage of the same, lack of supplies, too busy or insufficient time, overcrowding, patients needs take priority, wearing gloves /beliefs that glove use replaces the need for hand hygiene, additional perceived ideas to appropriate hand hygiene and so many more (CDC, 2002).Research examines these factors to provide guidelines through evidence based research, and better ways to help the public and healthcare workers adhere to life saving practice. At my hospital we have two pumps one for the sanitizer and lotion based sanitizer to encourage staff and patients to sanitize without the fear of irritation.

Friday, January 3, 2020

Examining And Analyzing Astrazeneca In The Pharmaceutical Industry - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1304 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Finance Essay Type Research paper Did you like this example? The UK leads Europe in Biotechnology and is second in the world in terms of capitalisation, beaten only by the US. 46% of Europes biotech companies are British. More than 50% of European drugs in clinical trials are British. This is partly due to the consolidation of maturing companies and in the continuing investment by venture capital groups and institutional investors (theÂÂ  venture capital industry has invested some 344ÂÂ  million in biotechnology over the last tenÂÂ  years). There are three distinct types of pharmaceutical companies in the UK: Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Examining And Analyzing Astrazeneca In The Pharmaceutical Industry" essay for you Create order Research and Development (An Integrated Company) Research Only i.e. Biotechnology Contract Pharmaceutical Organization (CPO) The Pharmaceutical Industry is the second largest contributor to Gross Domestic Product behind Financial Services. There are several very big players in the UK with GlaxoWelcome, SmithKline Beecham and AstraZeneca being the three largest UK based companies. In America the largest organization (in capital terms) is Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD), and until recently this was the worlds largest company. In recent years with the merger of Glaxo Welcome and Smith Kline Beecham to form GSK, Merck Sharp Dohme have been relegated to second position. Here in this report we will have a detailed look on AstraZenecas business. ASTRAZENECA AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven, integrated biopharmaceutical company. They discover, develop, manufacture and market prescription medicines for six important areas of healthcare, which include some of the worlds most serious illnesses: cancer, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, infection, neuroscience, and respiratory and inflammation. The company has a senior executive team and highly experienced Board and Senior Executive Team. The Board sets the Companys strategy and policies, and monitors progress towards meeting their objectives. This includes regular reviews of financial performance and critical business issues. The Senior Executive Team, led by Chief Executive Officer David Brennan, focuses on the day-to-day running of our business operations and our Company development, regularly reviewing and deciding all major business issues. They have a global reach but local knowledge, being active in over 100 countries, with a growing presence in emerging markets such as China, Brazil, India and Russia. In 2009 they had sales of $15,981 million in North America, $12,471 million in Other Established Markets and $4,352 million in Emerging Markets. Combining the disease area expertise with country-specific knowledge helps us to market and sell medicines that best meet local needs. Of the 62,700 employees worldwide, 47% are in Europe, 31% in the Americas and 22% in Asia, Africa and Australasia around 11,600 people work in our RD organisation and they have 17 principal RD centres in eight countries, including Sweden, the US and the UK. They have 9,500 employees at 20 manufacturing sites in 16 countries. AstraZeneca sells to over 100 countries mostly through their own local marketing companies and has 10 medicines with sales of over $1Billion each in 2009 and their products are marketed mainly to physicians and other healthcare specialists. AstraZeneca uses the internet to strengthen relationships with their customers, stakeholders and suppliers and to improve their speed and efficiency. AstraZeneca has a major manufacturing presence in Macclesfield, Cheshire and another at Avon, near Bristol, and also Luton is their base for sales and marketing. Astra Zeneca was formed on 6 April 1999 through the merger of Astra AB of Sweden and Zeneca Group PLC of the UK two companies with similar science-based cultures and a shared vision of the pharmaceutical industry. The merger gave the company global power and it is now a leader in a number of specialist markets, including oncology and anaesthesia. Strategy The executive team, with the endorsement of the Board, believes that the most value-creating strategy for AstraZeneca is to remain a focused, integrated, innovation-driven, global, prescription-based biopharmaceutical business: Focused in that they will continue to be selective about those areas of the industry in which we choose to compete, targeting those product categories where medical innovation or brand equity continues to enable them to make acceptable levels of returns on their investments Integrated in that they believe the best way to capture value within this industry is to span the full value chain of discovery, development and commercialisation Innovation-driven in that they believe our technology base will continue to deliver innovative products that patients will want and for which payers will pay Global in that they believe we have the ability efficiently and effectively to meet healthcare needs in both Established and Emerging Markets. AstraZeneca believe that there are continued opportunities to create value for those who invest in pharmaceutical innovation and that AstraZeneca has the skills and capabilities to turn these opportunities into long-term value. 4. Financial Highlights 32.8bn Sales up 7% to $32,804 million ($31,601 million in 2008) 23% Core operating profit up 23% to $13,621 million ($10,958 million in 2008) 7.7bn Strong cash flows reduced net debt by $7,709 million resulting in net funds of $535 million Sales $m (+7%) Net cash flow from operating activities $m Sales growth 7% 2009 3% 2008 7% 2007 Core operating profit $m (+23%) Reported operating profit $m (+24%) Core gross margin $m (+10%) Reported gross margin $m (+11%) Core earnings per Ordinary Share $ (+23%) Reported basic earnings per Ordinary Share $ (+22%) Operational overview Distributions to shareholders $m 2009 2008 2007 Dividends 2,977 2,739 2,641 Share re-purchases 610 4,170 29% Crestor up 29% to $4,502 million 23% Symbicort up 23% to $2,294 million 4 Four major regulatory submissions 4 In-licensing/acquisition of four late-stage projects $1.6bn Annualised savings of $1.6 billion from restructuring 6% Top 6% in the sector in the Dow Jones Indexes In brief Sales Crestor sales were up 29% to $4,502 million; Symbicort up 23% to $2,294 million; Seroquel up 12% to $4,866 million; and Arimidex up 7% to $1,921 million. Nexium sales fell by 1% to $4,959 million and Synagis sales fell by 12% to $1,082 million Sales of Toprol-XL and H1N1 influenza (swine flu) vaccine in the US accounted for 3 percentage points of the global revenue growth Emerging Markets growth was 12%, accounting for 13% of total revenue Pipeline developments include Four major regulatory submissions made Complete Response Letter submitted for fifth regulatory submission In-licensing/acquisition of four late-stage projects 89 projects in clinical development Restructuring programme delivered annualised savings of $1.6 billion in 2009 and expanded to deliver further savings Positioned in the top 6% in the sector in the Dow Jones World and STOXX (European) Indexes Up to $1 billion in Ordinary Shares will be re-purchased by the Company during 2010 Note: All growth rates are at CER. Despite the difficult world economic conditions, 2009 was a successful year for AstraZeneca. Our strong performance and considerable achievement in making a real difference to patient health around the world meant that our shareholders were also able to benefit. Group sales increased by 7% in 2009 to a total of $32,804 million. Reported operating profit was $11,543 million, up 24%. Reported earnings per share for the full year were $5.19 (2008: $4.20). The Board has recommended a second interim dividend of $1.71, a 14% increase over the second interim dividend awarded in 2008. This brings the dividend for the full year to $2.30 (141.4 pence, SEK 16.84), an increase of 12% from 2008. In 2009, cash distributions to shareholders through dividends totalled $2,977 millions. Inventories 2009 $m 2008 $m 2007 $m Raw materials and consumables 445 409 579 Inventories in process 726 631 806 Finished goods and goods for re-sale 579 596 734 1,750 1,636 2,119 Inventory write-offs in the year amounted to $83m (2008: $51m; 2007: $95m). The inventory table above shows the write offs of 2009 and compare them to the previous years. 2007. The Company used double entry method in evaluating the stock and perform inventory as seen in the financial reports by using the trial balance and balance sheet. The method used here for depreciation is a straight line method. The earnings per share for the shareholders are as follow. Dividend for 2009 ÂÂ   $ Pence SEK Payment date First interim dividend 0.59 36.0 4.41 14 September 2009 Second interim dividend 1.71 105.4 12.43 15 March 2010 Total 2.30 141.4 16.84 ÂÂ   $2.30 Dividend per Ordinary Share 2009.However the reported basic earning per share in 2009 was $6.32 while it was $5.10 in 2008 and $4.38 accordingly. Conclusion AstraZeneca is a global company with a great and every expanding profit and looking at the previous annual reports I have observed that its business is expanding day by day and so is the value of its shares as we have seen above a gradual rise in the eps every year therefore I would recommend and would love to buy its shares as there is minimum risk and huge profit.