Grandma’s House Essay

My favourite topographic point to be when I was turning up was my Grandma’s House. Some of my most precious memories of my childhood were created at that place. The minute I would walk in the door and see Grandma and Grandpa sitting in their duplicate brown corduroy reclining chairs. any concerns or jobs would travel from my head. All that mattered from that point on was that I was at Grandma’s. Grandma’s house was located on about 20 estates on South Military Rd. . in Winlock. WA. It was the cutest small two narrative white house on her route. On a good twenty-four hours you could see it from a twosome stat mis off because it had a bright. ruddy Sn roof. It was at Grandma’s house where our whole household would come together on Christmas twenty-four hours to hang out with household. portion in a delightful banquet. and unfastened nowadayss. It was normally entire pandemonium. while grownups where seeking to acquire dinner ready. The kids were traveling br ainsick teasing everyone until they were eventually allowed to open nowadayss. The nowadayss. to look at. were nil you would believe a adult female with as many old ages of wrapping experience would look like. It did non count how many nowadayss each one of us got. Grandma managed to acquire everything wrapped in one large bundle with normally two different sorts of wrapping paper because she would run out and utilize whatever she had on manus. Heaven forbid she should blow wrapping paper. Once the mayhem of present gap was done. we would all sit down to a fantastic Meleagris gallopavo dinner. My favourite portion of dinner was my Grandma’s paste gravy. It was made with existent bacon lubricating oil. flour. and a mixture of milk and H2O. Just thought of it makes my mouth H2O. Although Grandma was non the best cook. I still crave her cookery to this twenty-four hours. Summers at Grandma’s were every bit memorable. These were much more particular times with merely the cousins and Grandma and Grandpa. My cousins and I would pass hours up the stairs in my pa and aunt’s old sleeping rooms playing frock up and feigning like we were the parents and re-arranging our â€Å"houses. † The babe doll I ever used. while we played house. was one that had been passed down for many coevalss. His name was Mr. Peabody ; the hapless thing had his fingers chewed off and balls taken out of his caput. nil particular by any agencies. but I loved him. I still have him to this twenty-four hours. When it was nice out. we liked to play out in the barn. There was so much old material out at that place that they had collected over the old ages. It was a gold mine for kids with nil to make and a superb imaginativeness. My most graphic memory of the barn was a hot summer twenty-four hours in 1980. My two cousins and I were playing kitchen in the barn. There was an old portable two burner stove that I decided needed to be moved. As I picked it up. I started to trip on something. so I instantly let travel of the range. The minute it slammed down. 100s of bees’ flew out of there and headed heterosexual for me. Within seconds. before I could even respond. I was covered from caput to toe with bees. I screamed and ran madly out of there. towards the forepart of the house. Grandma heard my shrieks and comes running out to see what the commotion was all approximately. Equally shortly as she got to me. she started rending off my apparels and hitting me with them seeking to acquire the bees away. This twenty-four hours was besides memorable because it was the first twenty-four hours I wore my new preparation bandeau. At the clip. I did non cognize which was worse. the hurting from the 100s of bee stings I had received. or the embarrassment of standing in the front pace. stripped down to my panties and new preparation bandeau. With all the fantastic memories I had turning up all I could of all time conceive of was to someday populate at that place. That twenty-four hours came much sooner than I could hold of all time imagined. In 1992 my Grandma was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. It was a really hard clip cognizing that there is no remedy and holding no thought how much clip will be left with the stone of your household. Grandma’s house became even more particular. In January of 1993 my Grandpa passed off. At the same clip. I found out I was pregnant with my first kid. In June of the same twelvemonth. we lost Grandma besides. Although it was a truly unsmooth twelvemonth. it made things easier cognizing that when my boy was born I was traveling to be conveying him place. to Grandma’s house.

The Fall of Rome: Political and Economic Corruption

Roman Empire kneeled to the power of political and cone mimic corruption, foreign invasions, along with natural disasters and diseases. The Roman Empire was assumed to be a sturdy empire, however, Rome expel oriented much corruption, both politically and economically. Rome had a total of 19 e emperors from 235285 CE ( Document A ). Thirteen of the nineteen emperors either were, or were assumed to have been, assassinated. A pattern Of assassination in royalty alludes to the FAA CT that people were unhappy with their rulers.Along with that, a constant change of emperors ma ekes it hard for anything to get done, because as the new emperor takes over priorities often change. The Roman economic and justice system was very much in favor of the wealthy: â€Å"†¦ A [wee Itty lawbreaker]†¦ Is not punished for his injustice, while a poor man.. Undergoes I gal penalty. † ( Document E ). This injustice caused for the poor people to reject their own home, the peep eel became less willing to fight to keep their empire thriving.Rome, though viewed as this large, strong, and unbreakable empire, this was not the case. Negligence lead to the abandonment of the customary armor and parade grog undo drills. The Roman soldiers fought without armor because the armor became too heavy, f or the men never wore them.. Michael Grant states that, â€Å"There can be little doubt that the wee nesses of the late Roman army was largely due to the eventual failure† ( Document B ). The lack of trained soldiers resulted in many issues, as illustrated in Document C Rome was open to many different invaders.Rome lacks the natural borders some ancient civilizations such as G rice possessed. Due to the lack of borders The Hunks easily overthrew the Roman people. Sins e â€Å"The Hunks exceed any definition of savagery† ( Document D) he untrained, lazy, and unprotected Roman soldiers had no chance of victory. Natural disasters and plagues caused for a quick drop of Roman population; † Fifty thousand persons had lost their lives in the flood [in the city Of Alexandria all en]†¦ ( Document With so many lives lost the amount of people to help protect the country fell greatly. This lack of people make it even easier for the already brutally superior Hunks to ova retorts the â€Å"almighty' Rome. If Rome had not been affected by such strong disasters and disease more soldiers would have been able to contribute to fighting the Hunks. Rome could have lasted for a longer period Of time if not for the political and economic corruption.The empire may still be striving today if the Roman soldiers would have remained diligent, still practicing their marches. Growing accustomed to their armor so t hey could actually wear it in combat. If it weren't for the lack of natural borders in the large MME ire the Hunks may not have been able to inundate the land. Another document that would be into resting to read would be about how the Hung warriors felt whi le invading and conquering this foreign land.

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Thesis Writing Essay

1.1 Background of the Study An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of academic learning known as elementary or primary education. In most countries, it is compulsory for children to receive proper education although it is permissible for parents to provide it. The major goals of education are achieving basic literacy and numeracy amongst all pupils, as well as establishing foundations in science, mathematics, geography, history and other social sciences. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elementary_school) The education system of the Philippines includes formal and non-formal education. Compared to other Asian countries, the Philippine education system differs in a number of ways. Basic education in the Philippines is only 10 years as against 12 in other countries. The Philippine education system is closely related to the American system of formal education while other Asian countries are influenced by the English, French or Dutch system. The Philippines is using a bilingual medium of instruction. Certain subjects are taught in English and the rest in the national language which is Filipino. However, since June 4, 2012, DepEd started to implement the new K-12 educational system, which includes the new curricula for all schools. In this system, education is now compulsory. K-12 means â€Å"Kindergarten and the 12 years of elementary and secondary education.† Kindergarten points to the 5-year old child who undertakes the standardized curriculum for preschoolers. Elementary education refers to 6 years of primary school (Grades 1-6) while secondary education means four years of junior high school (Grades 7-10 or HS Year 1-4). In addition to this, two years are now allotted for senior high school (Grades 11-12 or HS Year 5-6). Northside Christian Academy is one of the well-known Christian elementary schools in Bacolod City. It can be located at They provide good teaching aid and services for pupils in elementary. Through the dream and aspiration of the founders of the school, it became into existence. The researcher chose it as her course study because as an institution that offers needs for pupils, it should also provide an attractive, functional, stable and green environment for the children to learn and to be educated. The school had been there for almost 2 decades but the school hasn’t changed much since then. It needs proper planning of the spaces, ventilation and a stable design that would fit for an elementary school. As a student designer, working to aim this goal will achieve to answer the stated problems through gathering data, analyzing and planning. This proposed study does not only provide for their children’s care but also a workable environment for the teachers and also for other working facilities and parents. It could accommodate a space where in they can be comfortable and relaxed and a space where each unit has its function of its services. This would affect a better development of the school and also it will benefit to them to receive more credits and many visits from new visitors and enrollees. 1.2 Statement of the Problem Parents know what’s best for their children. They want their children to send them to school because it is their learning experience with teachers and having groups of friends. It’s an opportunity to learn to share, follow instructions and begin learning that will occur in a school. But sometimes parents have their common worries about the space being uncomfortable get intimidated by the institutional ambience of the schools which sometimes children would usually get scared of entering or left there. In creating an interior environment of the proposed, the researcher will aim for a functional, stable, attractive, and organized space for the parents to bring their children by seeking answers to the following questions during the course study: 1. Considering the design standards, what will be the appropriate interior design concept for the school? 2. What will be the color schemes that will give the school’s students and teachers a more effective and comfortable environment for education? 3. What will be the proper interior treatment and finishing material for the following? 3. a. Furniture 3. b. Floor 3. c. Ceiling 3. d. Walls 3. e. Lighting 4. What are the additional changes needed to pay attention as a researcher? 5. What is the proper lighting plan for the school offices and classrooms? 1.3 Theoretical Framework The concept planning for the improvement of the interior environment of Northside Christian Academy is to study the given spaces and conduct a research towards redesigning and improving the school’s interior by getting sources of inspiration out of other concepts and abiding to its design principles which can be suited. For the users’ benefit, the proponent is trying to create a design that considers, creative aesthetics, functional, stable and organized environment. This would enhance the school’s working environment for both students and teachers and staff. Before the proponent plans out the concept, she first gathered some of her sources. There is no perfect classroom design. However, Lippman (2002, 2003) in his study of schools mentions that providing a variety of spaces within a classroom supports student-teacher / child-adult relationships. With the understanding that schools are learning centers for development, and building on his research findings, Franklin (2008) recognized that non-traditional, modern learning environments could encourage students to fully participate in activities with others as they acquire knowledge for themselves. He then developed the following criteria for the modern classroom: †¢ The classroom layout should have the amount of space a child will need varies with the activity, such as reading, writing, working or simply listening. Therefore, the plan has to be able to accommodate instruction, experimentation, or group related activities. †¢ It has to accommodate the formation and functioning of small learning groups while providing a sense of separation, because groups working together will experience distractions and non-productive interaction. †¢ It has to be flexible enough to allow the continual reorganization of the whole class into various sizes and number of small learning groups. This means the space must be as free as possible of permanent obstructions. †¢ It has to be manageable by a single teacher who has command of the entire space. This means the space must be compact and open (Dyck 1994) In terms of school design, connection, on one hand, involves pathways between spaces within the school building. In this case, safe, easy movement and allowing surveillance are three basic requirements. On the other hand, connections also refer to the allowance of school and community functions to be integrated into a cohesive network of closely adjacent facilities, creating an involvement and awareness of the educational process. Circulation such as hallways and corridors are a costly percentage of a school building. The circulation provision has to create gentle transitions from different spaces, taking advantage of turns and bends to create unique areas of learning. Conversely, for issues of safety, circulation paths also need to ensure supervision by, not only administrators, but also students, teachers and parents. Poorly designed circulation can make movement around the building difficult and even facilitate bullying. It is not just a corridor. It is a critical dimension where good design can make a real difference to spatial quality. Lying behind the detail of design elements for general and particular needs there is also a recurrent theme around the general level of stimulation that is appropriate for given situations. In broad terms this may vary from buildings designed for relaxation, such as, homes, to those designed to stimulate, such as theatres, but also variation will be appropriate within buildings. So in a school, classrooms may need a different approach from assembly areas. Children of kindergarten through elementary-school ages are mostly extroverted by nature. A warm, bright color scheme complements this tendency, thereby re- ducing tension, nervousness, and anxiety; color may be light salmon, soft, warm yellow, pale yellow-orange, coral and peach. Colors of opposite temperature should also be introduced as accents. Under no circumstances should it be believed that by pinning drawings, cartoons or the like on the wall, the child’s need for changes in hue, color intensity, and lightness, is satisfied, or that it will reduce a monotonous room experience. 4. Significance of the Study A. To the Students This newly planned, functional and sustainable interior environment of Northside Christian Academy will be beneficial for the students. It presents that for a small institution; it will be a place of comfort and created to enrich their minds with the use of the interior design, conducive for effective learning. B. To the Parents This proposed interior space will be improved and at the same time will be the suitable design for their children’s environment. To create a second home for their children that will always bring them to comfort and safety. C. To the Principal, Teachers and Working personnel It will help the school’s interior to be improved and at the same time to present a good working environment for them. Creating a safe place will bring them to the warmth of home and belongingness. And also to which it will be beneficial for their interaction with the children. D. To the Proponent As the proponent, this study is significant for me to learn in enhancing my skills, to utilize my knowledge for research and to share my ideas to those who will benefit. And a stepping stone for me to achieve what I want by applying this project as my experience for me.

Writing seminar Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Writing seminar - Assignment Example This was achieved through consultation with scholarly, professional and primary sources. The paper also sought to relate the relevance of Johnson’s patterns of innovation with our test environment. Steven Johnsons observes, most innovations come from improving and modifying all possibilities. He strongly argues with examples that you cannot reap from an engine that is powered by steam to fly a jet rather improvements on innovations. In his theory, Johnsons notes that most innovations and discoveries are replicated independently within a period of short duration. For instance according to Johnson, four individual carrying out their normal activity discovered sunspots at a same point. Two of them worked on developing a battery while the rest importance in genetically mutation. Another observation from this man was the size of the city. He holds that cities that are bigger are more innovative than small cities. However, he attributes this to more idea sourced from universities in these cities and the fact that they have more creative people. (OECD 2011, 329) It is however fascinating to note that his theory, contends that when people remain in close doors tend to be more creative. The important implication being, stuffing people in private offices would result into innovation. According to (Milton et al 2005, 98), there is a memory enhanced power that is gained from operating in a common place. Reading from Darwin’s book created a desire to discover links of association. Archimedes notes that taking mind away from the main task sometimes helps in building creativity. People sometimes wonder how you can free your mind. You can achieve this through taking a walk, answering a mail or helping children do their homework. Another way of facilitating innovation is reading. This include following great thoughts from authors of books and to some extents internet. When professional work closely or in a close proximity there is improved

Ethical issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ethical issues - Essay Example onted by Don Marquis in his ‘Future-like-ours argument with regards the morality of abortion, an assertion which was later on opposed by Bonnie Steinbock in his ‘Interest View’ argument. While Marquis argues that abortion is immoral as killing deprives the fetus of its future and Steinbock believes that abortion is not wrong based on the moral status of the unborn and its lack of consciousness, their arguments continue to confound rather than illuminate the morality or immorality of the issue. Marquis contends that abortion is seriously immoral as taking another person’s life, as for instance, an adult’s, as it dispossesses him of his future. This is akin to the killing of a fetus. Marquis asserts that fetuses are in the same category as adults with regards moral value. Thus, the immorality of abortion rests on strong presumptions such as on the dogma that killing is wrong. The concept that killing is brutal and thus, it is wrong does not explain the depravity of the act. For Marquis, what makes killing unacceptable is its consequences on the victim as the loss of one’s life is considered the greatest loss. This loss constitutes loss of activities and gratifications which make up the valuable future of the victim. As death divests a human being of the ‘value of his future,’ the most justifiable reason against killing an adult individual is the consideration of the ‘loss of his future.’ In addition, Marquis argues that other l iving entities and species have similar ‘future’ like our and believes that it is likewise wrong to kill animals. Although he does not support active euthanasia, he admits that killing the ‘very ill or the dying’ cause no wrong. The heart of Marquis’ arguments, however, lies on his contention that killing an infant or fetuses amounts to immorality as they have acquired ‘futures of value.’ As the personhood theory does not put to light the immorality of killing, this notion should be replaced by the idea that

Dr. Kings Letter from the Birmingham Jail Assignment

Dr. Kings Letter from the Birmingham Jail - Assignment Example o gauged by commentaries in Bible which became apparent after Professor Glenn Sunshine’s and Professor Robert George’s discussion referring to the beliefs of equality in Christianity. Even though these commentaries, necessarily, do not coincide with the practices of social segregation on the name of religion or ethnicity, the ideologies hidden beneath the meaning of these commandments indicate Jesus’ message towards human equality irrespective of their belief of God through Jesus Christ or any other pronouncer of truth as per the scriptures. The phrase â€Å"work of the law† in this respect directs the compassion or sentiments perceived by a human character to abide by the norms mentioned in his believed scriptures treating those as God’s law and act accordingly. This further resembles the prominence of such beliefs being imbibed within a human character and the society at large which is phrased as â€Å"written in their hearts†. As was explained by Craig Bluemel, followers of Jesus Christ have often misunderstood the commandments to inscribe a segregation of the followers of Jesus from the believers of another pronouncer of Godâ€℠¢s verses. In his words, â€Å"...Christians say that unless a person repents and believes in God ONLY thru Jesus Christ, that he or she is going to spend eternity in hell... For years, I avoided answering this question directly, because, quite frankly, I had no proof from Scripture that such a notion by Christians exists (i.e. that God sends people to hell that never hear the gospel)† (Bluemel, â€Å"Q & A Series: Please explain Romans 2:14-15†). A quite similar depiction can be obtained from the social phenomenon inscribed in Dr. King Jr.’s letter, where tribes were being segregated on the basis of their â€Å"work of the law† built with strong belief on God through Jesus Christ or rather Christianity; thus indicating social segregation grounded on racial as well as religious differences (King, Jr., â€Å"Letter from Birmingham

Employee Reinstatement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Employee Reinstatement - Essay Example Asthmatic Oshawa, an employee in the Ontario automotive parts manufacturing plant is an example of employee dissatisfaction. The employer never met the terms and conditions agreed in the employer-employee contract. I do not agree with the employer’s decision of firing the employee regardless of the medical evidence. The grievor’s doctor records said that the employee could return to work although careful measures were necessary to avoid reinjures. The employer could return him to work and make sure that his working environment is safe from those factors that could facilitate worsening of his condition; for example, ensuring effective ventilation and clean air, inspection in the working environment to ensure everything is all right. This will avoid putting the health of the employee and others at risk. The employer should allow the employees to make their own decision in resigning or returning to work. The employer must take the responsibility because it is simply ethical and the right thing to do. The decision of firing the employee will have negative implications for the organization and other employees. It will destroy the corporate image of the organization in the society and this will directly affect the market. This is by scaring away its customers and its stakeholders. In addition, the unethical action can affect the other employees by discouraging their efforts. This will reflect directly on the organization’s production.

The Paradoxical Relationship Between Atheism and Communism Term Paper

The Paradoxical Relationship Between Atheism and Communism - Term Paper Example On the other hand, communism was a sociopolitical movement which was made famous by Karl Marx in the early 19th century. This movement was related by Marx as the solution to the problems which the world was facing back then, and still is, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Marx suggested that there should be a system in which all material goods are owned by the entire community so that the poor are not working to make the rich even richer. The society would have no class and the resources would be used keeping in mind the best interests of everyone (Marx & Engels, 1948). The relation between communism and atheism emerges where Karl Marx states, â€Å"Religious suffering is, at one and the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.† It needs to be noted here that communism, th e idea which was proposed by Karl Marx is the one which incorporates atheism into it. Atheism does not incorporate into it any kind of social or political belief or agenda. Thus the relationship which is being discussed here is of the involvement of the idea that religion is detrimental to the human in communism. While atheism negates the idea of a religion being in anyway beneficial to man, it itself provides a belief system along with a set of rules to follow, in short, it provides a religion. While religion may make a man secondary to a deity or a God, it makes every man secondary to a power which is far greater than man himself where as communism in giving man the power to make his own decisions, provides him with a system to which he is secondary, a system that is ultimately run by a human. And as someone so eloquently put it, as long as it is human, it is flawed (Markham, 2010). While supposedly giving humans who are poor the freedom to not be forced to bring up their children in less then desirable conditions, communism impresses upon them the importance of following the system, again, where it gives freedom in one way, it takes it away on the other hand. One can say, while looking at this, that atheism while denying religion and grading it the root of all evils, provides to the people a system of belief. One very much like a religion, that would give people hope that someone up their, whether in the skies or sitting on a chair is looking out for their freedom and betterment. Here, atheism in relation to communism contradicts itself. While it denies people the right to follow a deity of their choice, it forces them to follow one which it puts into place. And while it claims that the human mind is free and should be developed enough not to believe in a deity or anything supernatural, it also makes it very clear that there is indeed a higher power which is communism (Marx & Engels, 1948). The problem which arises when communism and atheism are discussed i n relation to each other is the fact that all definitions of communism are decidedly vague. While it explains very clearly why communism would work, it does not say how. It explains how religion could be detrimental, but does not say why. There are no set of rules which put communism into action, thus the derivations of communism were many and varied. And by co-incidence or by pure irony,

Media Literacy and Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Media Literacy and Ethics - Essay Example Media Literacy is a subject that is gaining relevance in the Information Age that we inhabit today. This is because a passive digestion of news content that is offered on a platter is unlikely to lead to a healthy understanding of that content. This is especially true in the highly privatized and commercialized environment of today, where much corporate and political propaganda gets passed on as objective news. Hence, there is no doubt as to the importance of Media Literacy to the general public. Yet, it is only a fraction of the population that could claim to possess a critical understanding of how different mediums of information operate. (Pavlik & McIntosh, 2011) The rest of this essay will foray into what all comprise Media Literacy and also analyze how media literate the author of this essay is. Firstly, media literacy seeks to address the proliferation of new literacy practices â€Å"in an increasingly mobile, global, digital world. Broadly analogous to print literacy,  medi a literacy  promotes the analysis (reading) and production (writing) of texts in a variety of forms. In practice, conflicting assumptions about the definitions, practices, and impact of  media literacy are at the heart of contentious debates about its fundamental aims, purposes, and value. Consequently, as  media literacy promotes greater access to a wider range of tools and texts, it is increasingly mired in age-old debates about the uses of literacy to frame, shape, and control public discourse. In the process, it touches on the relationships between  media literacy, cultural narratives, and the arts.† (Tyner, 2009, p.3) One of the key features of Media Literacy is the cultivation of strategies for a scientific analysis of media content. In this sense, Media literacy can be said to offer the citizens a range of critical approaches to gain insight into the nature of media content. Those studying the media should understand that it is merely the messenger of informatio n without any inherent moral character. What ascertains the value is the list of attributes attached to it, including â€Å"who is producing the message, what the function is, and the target audience.† (Silverblatt, 2007, p.4) Several academics in the field of Media Studies have defined Media Literacy in various different ways. Some claim that a comprehensive understanding of how news and program content is produced, including selection, edition and presentation are essential. In the case of news media, for example, without a complete understanding of these behind-the-scene processes, the audience/reader would not be in a position to critically evaluate the quality of journalism. Some of the criteria for measuring quality of journalism are objectivity, editorial neutrality, standard of presentation and detail. It is only a Media Literate person who would be able to evaluate how the medium he/she is using is performing on these counts. Such an evaluation will help him/her in d eciding to continue with the medium or switch over to another medium or actively engage with its managers in order to improve its overall standards. (Pavlik & McIntosh, 2011) It used to be the case when the term Media Literacy was used entirely in the context of print media. But ever since the invention of the Internet and other digital technologies the methods of information transmission have changed greatly. So, where Media Literacy previously meant the ability to â€Å"decode, understand and communicate in print†

Exam paper---read the requirement I send you carefully Essay - 1

Exam paper---read the requirement I send you carefully - Essay Example In this sense, everyone produces and consumers determine the market price of a product (Johansson, 2004). Similarly, the determined price defines and determines what is to be produced and the consumers who can afford the products. Prices provide incentive to consumers and producers, albeit in different ways. That is, whereas high prices encourage producers to create more goods and services, high prices result in reduced consumption by consumers (Johansson, 2004). On the other hand, low prices discourage production but encourage consumers to consume more of the concerned goods and services. These high and low price incentive result in a balance between demand and supply, the forces of consumption and production respectively, resulting in equilibrium (Johansson, 2004). This demand and supply mechanism results in the efficient market outcomes in which consumer satisfaction in society is maximised and minimum cost. This paper explores the concept of a perfect market with regards to how i t responds to changes in consumer demands. In addition, the paper compares a perfect market and a market with which one is familiar. The paper first explores the various types of market structures within which these factors interact. Market Structures Among the conditions or factors that create and define market structure are buyers, sellers, and entry and exit barriers for sellers and buyers, size of the firm, its market share and competition (Sayantan, 2010). The table below summarises the various types of market structures that a business entity may operate in. From the tabel, it is evident that competition increases from monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition and perfect competition. Structure Buyers Sellers Size of firm Product differentiation Market share Competition Perfect competition Many Many Relatively small Homogenous product Small Fierce Monopolistic competition Many Many Relatively small Substitutes with different branding Small Fierce Oligopoly Many Few Average Homogenous Average High Monopoly Many One Relatively large No substitutes Highest No competition Monopsorry One Many Relatively small Substitute good Average Imperfect competition In a monopoly, state-owned companies run the market and states bar the entry of other players whereas in oligopoly, consumers buy products of different sellers (Sayantan, 2010). On the other hand, in monopolistic competition, companies sell similar products but brand them differently. The different branding is indeed the catch for monopolistic competition. By knowing the market structure, business can measure its market share and the forces operating in the identified market not to mention the competitors and the type and range of products (Sayantan, 2010). This information is quite helpful for investment, having known the risks therein. A business can also develop its vision, values and mission after studying the target market. A perfect Market Responds to Consumer Demand Changes    In economic terms, for a market to be defined as perfect, it should have certain characteristics. These features are collectively referred to as perfect competition and they include absence of externalities, profit maximisation, equal access to production factors, absence of barriers to entry and exit, no participant with power or influence to set prices and perfect market information. The idea of a perfect market is based on the

In-depth analysis of the great military leader George S. Patton from a Research Paper

In-depth analysis of the great military leader George S. Patton from a biographical and characteristic analysis prospective - Research Paper Example Background information Having been born in 1885, George S. Patton rose to become one of the finest officers in the army wing of the United States military. General George Patton, born in San Gabriel to George Smith Patton Sr. came from a Scots-Irish and English descent, according to the study of Wilcox (2010). As a little boy, he was a devoted reader; he particularly liked military stories and classics. This is because he grew up in a military family, though some of his relatives died earlier during the war. According to Wellard (2006), George Patton acquired the motivation to venture into military studies from his family members, who had the love of protecting the people and the entire country. George Patton joined Virginia military institute to pursue his ambitions for one year, and there he undertook studies on the Kappa Alpha Order. Having completed the one year course, George Patton enrolled in the United States Military Academy, which made it mandatory for him to repeat his fir st year as a result of poor performance in some subjects including mathematics. Due to George Patton’s enthusiastic attitude, he repeated the subject and received an honor declaring him a Cadet Adjutant, which was the second highest position a cadet could hold. Having shown dedication in his quest for being in the military, George Patton finished his studies in 1909 and was in a position to become cavalry officer. Literature review The essay focuses on the efforts that George Patton made to ensure that one day he becomes an artistic military officer. This is through enrollment in military schools as seen in the book by Sutcliffe (2005). The thesis places emphasis on the achievements of George Patton from the time he was working as a junior officer until the time when he climbed to become a general in the army. The essay focuses on the various expeditions that George Patton went through, the decisions that he was making that would negatively and positively affect various parti es, and the controversy surrounding him. Having been in the World Wars I and II, George Patton’s character depicts exemplary leadership; the essay explains his qualities that depict able leadership, including the decisions made during the attack on France and Mexico. Visiting injured soldiers shows that he was a praiseworthy leader. The essay focuses on the ways and methods used by George Patton in his quest to secure the nation through the military. The findings in the research regarding the efforts done by George Patton are in consideration. This is because they help link the research question with the previous works written by other researchers. Methodology Among the most important expeditions that the general led is the first mobilized military attack by the United State of America. In this punitive expedition, George Patton had a duty of conducting border patrols around the Fort Bliss. During the expeditions, some militia men made an attack on Mexico, killing a number of American citizens. The attackers faced retaliation from the armed forces led by George Patton. The attack mission was under his leadership; as a result of his enthusiasm towards the mission, according to the study work of Rice (2004), George Patton gained the title of personal aide to the general. General Patton also took part in the World War I, according to Rejai and Phillips (2006); at the onset of the war, when America made a decision to participate,

Human Resource control Essay Example for Free

Human Resource control Essay I want to first start off by saying thank you for the opportunity to handle such an important and sensitive matter such as the internal control for the LJB Company. First and foremost I want you to be aware of the requirements of your company if you do decide to go public. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) which was passed by congress requires all publicly traded U.S corporations to maintain an adequate system of internal control. Corporate executives and boards of directors like yourself must ensure that these controls are reliable and effective. In addition, independent outside auditors must attest to the adequacy of the internal control system. Companies that fail to comply are subject to fines, and company officers can be imprisoned. LJB Company is currently doing some things well that I suggest they continue. The use of pre-numbered invoices allows for missing or undocumented invoices to be caught quickly. This practice is considered a documentation procedure under internal controls. Having two managers approve new hires helps ensure a good fit. It’s good that the accountant completes bank reconciliation. While using a bank is a form of control for cash, the reconciliation enables LJB to make sure there are no errors between what the bank and what they have on the books. There are a number of practices by LJB that don’t deter fraud and would need to be changed before considering going public. Segregation of duties: The duties for handling assets need to be separated amongst multiple employees. Employees that handle cash should not be involved in the bank reconciliation or invoices. Employees responsible for purchasing should not have any payment or reconciliation duties. By segregating duties, there is more than one person involved in the sales and purchasing cycle so that one person cannot be behind a fake transaction or remove cash or purchased assets without it being noticed by another. Access to assets: All employees should not have access to petty cash. The cash should be locked and those with a key should ensure proper documentation for cash distributed to be sure it is authorized. The person responsible for reconciling the petty cash should do so randomly to deter its abuse. As far the indelible ink machine I see no problem printing your own checks as long as you use pre-numbered check stock paper to write the checks. Otherwise you will not know that you have accounted for every check written. Also, this is an area of responsibility that should be segregated. The person responsible for printing the checks should not have the authority to sign them. This will help insure they are not writing checks to themselves. LJB should consider purchasing the indelible ink printer once they have the manpower to have the duties segregated. By using indelible ink, the checks printed will be harder to change once printed, which is a good physical control of cash. Paycheck Lock-Up: Although the accountant is locking the employee’s paychecks over the weekend, he should actually be locking them at all times. Anytime the accountant steps away from their desk and these checks are not locked, sensitive employee information is vulnerable. Background checks: I recommend that LJB implement the Human Resource control of conducting background checks of all employees before officially hiring. This way they will discover if the potential employee has a past that could negatively impact the company (fraud, theft, other criminal activity) Passwords: Passwords are a key control preventing employees from accessing data outside of their duties and changing transaction data from initial amounts to cover up errors, fraud or theft. Everyone should have an individual password and not reveal it to another. Changing passwords periodically is a best practice. I hope that LJB finds this report helpful and that it prepares them for potentially going public.

Staphylococcus Aureus: Structure and Functions

Staphylococcus Aureus: Structure and Functions Introduction 1.1 Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic yet versatile pathogen that can infect almost all types of tissue in the human body. 33-50% of healthy individuals were reported to be S. aureus carriers. The diseases resulting from S. aureus infection range from superficial infections; invasive infections such as endocarditis to the life threatening septic shock and toxic shock. The presence of foreign material greatly increases the risk of infection by providing a base for attachment and biofilm formation. S. aureus appears as clustered gram positive cocci under the microscope. Criteria used to identify this organism include the production of golden pigment on nutrient agar; being positive for coagulase; mannitol fermentation and the production of deoxyribonuclease. The virulence of the infecting strain and the nature of the host immune response are important determinants for the outcome of severe S. aureus infection . 1.1.1 S. aureus genome and regulation of gene expression S. aureus has a 2.8-2.9 Mbp circular genome. House-keeping genes and genes associated with central metabolism and some virulence determinants (e.g. protein A) are highly conserved among strains and make up the majority of S. aureus genome. The rest more variable regions mainly consists of mobile elements such as pathogenicity islands (SaPI, 7 identified), genomic islands (ÃŽ ½SaÃŽ ± and ÃŽ ½SaÃŽ ²), Staphylococcal chromosomal cassettes (SCC) and bacteriophages. S. aureus expresses an array of adhesins, immunomodulatory molecules; anti-inflammatory proteins and as many as 30 toxins to invade, evade and cause host tissue damage. Many of the virulence factors discussed below are encoded by genes located in the variable region. Their expression is under the control of a complicated and interconnected regulatory network . Four main gene regulators have been identified, including the two component regulatory system (agr, sae); the transcription factors (SarA and its homologous); the nutrient regulated CodY regulator and alternative transcription factor ÏÆ'B. agr is an auto-inducible quorum-sensing system, promoting expression of extracellular virulence factors and down-regulating cell surface proteins. ÏÆ'B has been shown to participate in the general stress response, and may be involved in antibiotic resistance; pigmentation; biofilm and micro-colony formation (referenced in ). Many surface proteins/adhesin have been shown to be positively influenced by ÏÆ'B, while the expression of most exoproteins and toxins were down-regulated. Activity ofthe agr system is influenced by other gene regulators and may be regulated by cell density. The transcription of agr components were found to be promoted by SarA and gene products of the sar locus and repressed by CodY. To add up the complexity, transcription o f the Sar locus was controlled by three promoters that can be differently activated during in vitro growth. One of these promoters was demonstrated to be ÏÆ'B dependent . It is generally regarded that exponential growth in vitro is correlated with the colonization phase of infection. Correspondingly, genes encoding surface proteins were found to be expressed earlier, starting during the transition from stationary to exponential growth while the expression of secreted proteins started at late-exponential growth phase. The in vivo situation of infection is likely to be more dynamic. Different stimuli trigger combined and coordinated action of the regulatory network, reflecting the particular state of bacterial growth, host defense and environmental nutrition. For example, phagocytosis by neutrophil triggered differential expression of 21.8-39.1% of S. aureus genes â€Å"at any time† following the event. The suppressive effect of CodY on S. aureus virulence factors lead to the possible suggestion that S. aureus may maintain its virulence factor to low level to ‘co-exist harmlessly with the host until a invading opportunity arise. In any case , it would be interesting to see how host immunological activity ‘feedback on S. aureus regulation of its virulence factors, especially immune evasion molecules. 1.1.2 Antibiotic resistance The rapid spreading of antibiotic resistant S. aureus strains through human communities presents a major challenge for conventional treatment. In 2005, it was reported that methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infection caused more death than AIDS in USA. S. aureus demonstrated amazing ability to â€Å"co-evolve† with the development of antibiotics. The first generation penicillin uses ÃŽ ²-lactam to bind penicillin-binding proteins (PBP, bacterial transpeptidase) and inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis. S. aureus resists this class of antibiotics by producing ÃŽ ²-lactamases (aka penicillinase) that cleaves ÃŽ ²-lactam. Second generation of penicillin, such as methicillin was developed. The structure of their ÃŽ ²-lactam has been modified to resist ÃŽ ²-lactamases. S. aureus soon acquired the mecA operon that encodes a modified PBP (PBP 2a), which showed reduced susceptibility for ÃŽ ²-lactam and thus granted resistance to all ÃŽ ²-lactam containing antibiotics. mecA is located on the staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec), a mobile genetic element that allows horizontal transfer of mecA between strains. MRSA infection shows increasing prevalence in all continents, primarily in healthcare-environments (HA-MRSA). Alarmingly, these strains have been shown to exhibit resistance to other types of commonly used non-lactam antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. Vancomycin, a peptidoglycan polymerization inhibitor, is now considered as the last-line antibiotics for MRSA treatment. However, strains of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) have emerged. Notably, these strains have developed thicker cell walls that require higher concentrations of vancomycin to be effective (minimal inhibitory concentration MIC over 4ug/ml). A vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strain has been reported recently (MIC >32 ÃŽ ¼g/ml). This complete resistance is most likely due to the horizontal transfer of the vancomycin resistant gene (VanA) from En terococcus faecalis. Development of effective new antibiotics against S. aureus has met with only limited success, urging the development of alternative therapies based on better understanding of the pathogenicityof S. aureus . 1.2 Adhesin / ECM interaction as key to S. aureus colonization/invasion Colonization is always the first step in bacterial infection and is an important component in pathogenesis. The wide range of tissues that S. aureus can infect reflects its ability to adhere and therefore colonize many different biological niches. S. aureus is now recognized as an invasive organism, targeting non-professional phagocytes such as keratinocytes, epithelial cells, endothelial cells and osteoblasts. The tasks of initial colonization and invasion are assisted by S. aureus surface anchored and secreted adhesive molecules known as MSCRAMM, microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules and SERAM, secretable expanded repertoire adhesive molecules. The majority of MSCRAMM and SERAM bind extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibrinogen and fibronectin. In general, the interaction with ECM proteins is regarded as providing a ‘foothold for S. aureus to establish and to exacerbate infection. However, it has been reported that in some animal models l oss of fibronectin binding proteins (FnBPs) led to an increase in bacterial virulence, indicating a role of the ECM protein in limiting bacterial dissemination or enhancing bacterial clearance. Due to overlap in target specificity; functional redundancy and the difference in experiment settings, the exact contribution of each isolated staphylococcal adhensin protein remains ambiguous. Nevertheless, fibronectin (Fn) and fibrinogen (Fg) are the most popular targets of known S. aureus adhesins. The interaction between FnBPs and Fn is thought to play a key role in S. aureus internalization by non-phagocytic cells, as FnBP-coated latex beads and non-invasive bacteria expressing FnBPs were readily taken into the human cells (293 cells). Internalization provides several benefits for the bacterium: firstly, protection from host serum defense mechanisms and antibiotics ; secondly, access to nutrient-rich environments after escape from phagocytic vessels; thirdly, facilitating the crossing of the endothelial/epithelial layer and spreading of the infection; and lastly, establishing intracellular bacterial reservoirs for recurrent infection. S. aureus produces two related FnBPs (namely A and B) that contain almost identical Fn-binding domains in the close proximity to their cell-wall-spanning domain. The Fn-binding repeats of FnBPA were crystallized in complex with the N-terminal F1 modules of Fn. FnBPA peptide is inserted along the triple-stranded ÃŽ ² sheets of the Fn F1 module to form an antiparallel tandem ÃŽ ² zipper. Since the C-terminus of Fn interacts with ÃŽ ±5ÃŽ ²1 integrin that are expressed on most host cell surfaces, S. aureus can attach to the host cell through a Fn bridge. The attachment was shown to trigger the accumulation of actin and focal-contact-associated proteins (e.g. tensin) at the bacteria contact site and initiate internalization in a protein tyrosin kinase FAK-dependent manner. It was predicted that one FnBP can bind six to nine Fn molecules. This multivalent interaction was suggested to be important in mediating internalization . The bindings of Fg by the clumping factors (ClfA and ClfB) and FnBPA are mediated by a shared protein structure called the A domain and by a â€Å"dock, lock and latch† mechanism. Interestingly, Clf A is expressed during stationary phase and binds to the ÃŽ ³ chain of Fg. ClfB is expressed at the exponential growth phase and binds to the C-terminus of Fg AÃŽ ± chain. This portion of Fg has been reported to be involved in the coagulation process and wound healing . Fn and Fg interactions have been blamed particularly in S. aureus wound infection and infective endocarditis in humans. Fg binding alone could initiate experimental endocarditis in mice and has been correlated with valve colonization. However, cell invasion and persistence of the infection only occurred when the Fn-binding ability was enabled (via FnBPs). Both interactions were statistically correlated to disease severity. Binding to Fg and Fn simultaneously significantly accelerated the rate of internalization into cultured endothelial cells. In this regard FnBPA that is capable of binding both proteins may play an important role in establishing endocarditis . Platelets accumulation on the heart valve is another critical factor for the development of infective endocarditis. S. aureus-induced platelet aggregation is a complicated and multifactorial process and was suggested to be dependent on Fg or fibrin. FnBPA, ClfA, ClfB and SdrE (serine-aspartate repeat protein) were shown to be able to cause platelet aggregation independently of other S. aureus surface proteins. ClfA displayed the strongest aggregation effect among the last three. SdrE required the presence of plasma to cause aggregation, although the mediator was not identified. ClfA was proposed to interact with platelet indirectly through an Fg bridge or directly with platelet surface protein p118. Other studies have argued that ClfA-specific IgG also participated in platelet activation by cross-linking ClfA to platelet FcÃŽ ³RIIa receptor . 1.3 S. aureus toxinsdirect damage of host cells S. aureus produces a range of cytotoxins, including the ÃŽ ² barrel pore forming toxin (e.g. ÃŽ ± hemolysin); the two component pore forming leukocidins and the exfoliative toxin. Besides the effects of reducing viable phagocytes and weakening host immune system, S. aureus cytotoxins are currently believed to contribute to bacterial dissemination. Lysis of host cells might also provide nutrients for proliferating bacteria, especially iron from hemolysis . These toxins have different prevalence in different diseases. Exfoliative toxin (ET) operates at the epidermal layer of the skin and causes staphylococcal scalded-skin syndrome. ET-A acts as serine protease and specifically cleaves Desmoglian-1 (Dsg-1). Dsg-1 is a cell-cell adhesion molecule expressed on epidermal keratinocytes. Cleavage of Dsg-1 disrupts the superficial layer of epidermis and helps bacterial invasion. ÃŽ ±-hemolysin (Hla) is strongly implicated in S. aureus lung infections. Active and passive immunization of Hla strongly protected mice against S. aureus pneumonia. Hla is released as a water soluble monomer and oligomerises on the host cell membrane to insert the hydrophobic stem domains. Seven Hla monomers are required to form a pore which eventually leads to cell lysis. At sub-lethal concentrations of Hla, host cells produce pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-8; IL-6; vasoregulators (PGI2, PGE2 and thromboxane), which could have detrimental systemic effect. The exp ression of twenty S. aureus virulence factors were disrupted individually or in combination and the virulence of the resultant deletion mutants were compared in a mice pneumonia model. Deletion of argA, which encodes a component of the arg gene regulation system, resulted in almost complete loss of virulence. Only the Hla deletion mutant produced comparable effects, indicating the importance of Hla in causing lung tissue damage. Human neutrophils can resist Hla lysis but these cells are targeted by Leukocidins. Leukocidins are thought to act in the similar way as Hla. Among the leukocidins, Panton-valentine leukocidin (PVL) is found in all CA-MRSA (community acquired-MRSA) isolates and strongly associated with CA-MRSA infection. However in mouse models of abscess, sepsis, and pneumonia, the severity of diseases caused by PVL- deletion strains were not significantly different from that caused by the wt strains. More surprisingly, PVL-expressing S. aureus strains did not lyse human ne utrophils better than that without PVL. However, it is not clear how these experimental conditions resemble the amount and time of PVL production during infection in human. Another significant problem is that PVL might be human specific and might not work in mice. Nevertheless, a new class of leukocidal molecules, the ÃŽ ± type phenol-soluble modulin (PSMÃŽ ±), was produced at a considerably high level by CA-MRSA. They were shown to contribute to the increased neutrophil lysis, skin lesion formation and mortality rate of experimental animals caused by CA-MRSA infection . 1.4 Interaction of S. aureus with host immune system 1.4.1 Brief overview of host defense against S. aureus Host defense against S. aureus mainly relies on the innate immune system, in particular, neutrophil mediated killing. The integrity of skin and mucosal layer is the first line of defense against invading bacteria. They also encounter antimicrobial substances released by epithelial cells and phagocytes (e.g. defensins; cathelicidins and lysosome). Defensins and cathelicidin are positively charged antimicrobial peptides that could permeate the bacterial membrane. Lysozyme is produced by many cell types and secreted into various tissues. It cleaves bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan at ÃŽ ² 1-4 glycosidic linkage between N-acetylmuramic acid (NAM) and N-acetylglucosamine (NAG). Innate pattern recognition receptors (e.g. Toll-like receptor 2) and immunoglobulin also detect the presence of S. aureus. The latter is recognized by C1q and initiates the complement classical pathway (CP) or directly activates phagocytosis through Fc receptor expressed on neutrophils or monocytes. The human comp lement system is discussed in more detail below. One outcome of complement activation is the production of anaphylatoxin C3a and C5a. Together with formyl methionine peptides produced by bacteria, these chemoattractants are sensed by their receptors expressed on leukocytes and attract leukocytes to the sites of infection. Leukocyte recruitment is accomplished through highly coordinated interactions between adhesins on leukocytes and endothelial cells. Leukocytes change from rolling in the blood stream to firm adhesion to the endothelium and then transmigrate through the endothelial layer. Subsequent migration of leukocytes to infection sites is mediated by integrin interacting with ECM proteins. Once they reach the infection site, the phagocytes recognize antibodies or complement fragments deposited on the bacterial surface through their respective receptors. Phagocytosis then occurs. The phagosome is fused to the lysosome to form the phagolysosome for enzyme-mediated and oxygen fre e radical mediated destruction . 1.4.2 The human complement system The human complement system is a sequentially activated proteolytic cascade that involves more than 30 fluid phase and surface bound proteins. It is one of the key elements of the innate immune system that connects bacterial recognition, leukocyte chemotaxis; phagocytosis as well as adaptive immunity . Three main activation pathways are utilized to recognize foreign and danger signals. The classical pathway (CP) senses antigen bound antibody by C1q. Bacterial carbohydrate ligand is recognized by mannose binding lectin (MBL) or ficolins and initiates the lectin pathway (LP). Upon ligand recognition, both pathways use their specific proteases to cleave C4 and then C2. The resultant C4b2a (the C3 convertase) converts C3 to C3a and C3b. The Alternative pathway (AP) starts by direct binding of C3b to the bacterial surface generated by spontaneous lysis of C3 to C3b called â€Å"tick-over†. Factor B that associates with surface-bound C3b is subsequently cleaved to Bb and forms the alternative pathway C3 convertase C3bBb. The amplification loop of C3 activation is started. C3 cleavage is the central event and merging point in the three pathways. Accumulation of surface bound C3b changes the substrate specificity of C3 convertase to C5. C5 cleavage produces C5a and C5b. The latter m ediates the formation of the membrane attack complex C5b-9 (MAC), which inserts into the target cell membrane and ultimately causes lysis of target cells. C3a and C5a are powerful anaphylotoxin that trigger neutrophil homing. The overall picture of this complex system is depicted in Fig. 1.1 MASP: mannose-binding lectin–associated serine proteases. Figure adapted from Walport et al 2001 (Ref.). Three main outcomes of complement activation are: 1, chemotaxis of leukocytes via C5a and C3a; 2, C3b mediated phagocytosis via complement receptors on phagocytes; and 3, lysis of bacteria by MAC. It is also suggested by recent studies that the C3b presented on bacterial surface are critical factors for B cell activation and the production of specific antibodies. Although the MAC complex cannot function on gram positive bacteria like S. aureus, leukocytes mediated killing is critical for fighting against S. aureus infection . 1.4.3 S. aureus Immune evasion molecules 1.4.3.1 Resistance to antimicrobial substances S. aureus circumvents antimicrobial substances by three main strategies: 1, changing surface charges; 2, modifying the substrates of antimicrobial substances and 3, inactivating antimicrobial substances. S. aureus employs two enzymes to change the highly negatively charged teichoic acid in its cell wall (WTA). DltABCD (Dlt operon) adds D-alanine to WTA and the multiple peptide resistance factor F (Mprf) participates in the modification of membrane phosphatidylglycerol with L-lysine. Both modifications increase bacterial surface charges and thus reduce the attraction to the cationic defensins. dlt or MprF defective strains were killed more efficiently by neutrophil oxygen-independent killing. The former was much less able to cause arthritis and mortality in mice sepsis and arthritis models . S. aureus avoids lysozyme cell wall cleavage by modifying its cell wall peptidoglycan. O-acetyltransferase (OatA) was proposed to mediate this response. OatA catalyses the acetylation of muramic acid, which results in the addition of an acetyl group on S. aureus peptidoglycan. An oatA- strain was sensitive to lysozyme, while complementary expression of the enzyme restored its resistance . Two enzymes have been reported to directly inactivate antimicrobial peptides. Aureolysin (a metalloproteinase) could cleave and therefore inactivate cathelicidin LL-37. Staphylokinase (SAK), a secreted plasminogen binding protein, was reported to form a complex with ÃŽ ± defensin and almost completely blocked its antimicrobial activity. This activity was independent of plasminogen binding. S. aureus strains that produce SAK had a higher survival rate in vitro and higher virulence in a mouse arthritis model . 1.4.3.2 Prevent phagocytosis and opsonision 1.4.3.2.1 General anti-opsonin molecules S. aureus clinical isolates produce a capsular polysaccharide outer cell wall. Serotypes 5 and 8 of the capsular polysaccharide are associated with increased virulence. The capsule is anti-opsonic via blocking of surface deposition of opsonins and their receptor/ligand interaction. Immunoglobulins are targeted by protein A (SpA) and its homologues Sbi (S. aureus IgG-binding protein), SSL7 (Staphylococcal superantigen-like protein 7) and SAK. SpAis a 42 kDa surface anchored molecule. It has four to five IgG binding units that could interact with IgG Fc portion. This interaction presents IgG to leukocytes Fc receptor in the wrong orientation and therefore prevents recognition. In the present of IgG, strains expressing high level of SpA were shown to be more resistant to leukocyte phagocytosis than SpA-poor strains, especially when the sole source of opsonin was purified IgG. Opposite results occurred with IgG-deficient serum, indicating SpA confers protection against neutrophil through IgG interaction. Sbi contains two IgG binding sites at the N-terminal domain. The significance of the Sbi/IgG interaction remains to be fully established. SAK forms a complex with plasminogen and converts plasminogen to plasmin. Plasmin cleaves IgG and C3b deposited on S. aureus resulting in reduced recognition by phagocytes and likely impaired initiation of C1q mediated CP activation . 1.4.3.3 Complement inhibition S. aureus is now recognized as ‘a master of complement evasion. Unlike other bacteria which use host factors to ‘disguise the bacteria or inhibit complement activation, S. aureus produces a group of proteins to attack the key elements of the complement cascades. The list of anti-complement virulence factors is growing. So far, five complement inhibitors have been demonstrated and well characterized: SCIN; Efb; Ehp; SSL7 and Sbi. Interestingly, SCIN, Efb, Ehp and Sbi all use a triple ÃŽ ± helix bundle as their functional domain while their modes of action are markedly different (Fig. 1.2). SSL7 belongs to the SSL protein family. Its function will be discussed in context with other members of the family in a later section. 1.4.3.3.1 SCIN SCIN (staphylococcal complement inhibitor) is a human-specific 9.8 kDa secreted protein with a trip ÃŽ ± helix structure (Fig. 1.2) and is produced by 90% of S. aureus strains. SCIN was shown to inhibit all three complement activation pathways. In the presence of SCIN, the deposition of C3b and MAC were prevented, so was the C2b and Ba release. However the amount of surface bound C3 convertases (both forms) were increased, suggesting SCIN had a stabilizing effect on this complex. SCIN bound to surface-immobilized C3b directly and the binding site was predicted to involve the C3b MG7 and MG8 domain and the area nearby. This was confirmed by the co-crystallized SCIN-C3bBb complex. In vitro binding studies suggested the complex was likely to form in a 1:1 or 2:2 ratio. Indeed in the crystal structure, the complex appeared as a SCIN2C3b2Bb2 heterodimer that was bridged by the two SCIN molecules cross-linking the two C3b fragments. However this cross-linkage was not critical in SCIN compl ement inhibition as monomeric interaction also resulted in stable and inhibited C3 convertase. Native C3 could still associate with the SCIN-C3 convertase complex, but the production of C3b was largely inhibited, suggesting the convertase was likely trapped in a dysfunctional yet stable state by SCIN. Moreover, SCIN exerted a partial competition for factor B binding to C3b and a complete competition for factor H/C3b binding. The significance of the inhibition on factor H was not clear although reducing iC3b (inactive product of the cleavage of C3b) mediated downstream signaling could be beneficial for the bacterium. Physiologically, C3 convertase decays shortly after assembly. This disassociation is required for further cleavage of C2 and factor B. Thus SCIN functions by preventing C3 convertase decay; hindering conformational activation of C3 convertase and possibly by blocking C3b/iC3b mediated signaling . 1.4.3.3.2 Efb Efb (extracellular fibrinogen-binding protein) and the recently discovered Ehp (Efb-homologous protein aka Ecb) have been shown to inhibit C3b deposition in AP and C5 convertase activity in all three pathways. The efb gene is present in 85% of S. aureus isolates sequenced to date. Its inhibitory effects on complement mediated lysis and neutrophil activation in response to C5a have been demonstrated. The Efb complement binding domain (Efb-c) is also a triple ÃŽ ± helix huddle, although the arrangement is different from SCIN (Fig.1.2). It binds both C3 and C3b via the C3d fragment. However, which of the C3 forms is the primary target of Efb is debated. Structural-biochemical analysis suggested the binding affinity of Efb-C to native C3 was higher than that to C3b. The binding was proposed to induce conformational changes in C3 and prevent proper cleavage of the molecule. This view was challenged by Jongerius et al based on the observation that C3 cleavage was not influenced by Efb-C in CP/LP. Instead, they suggested Efb-C attacked complement intermediates that contain C3b. Therefore, in CP/LP, C3 convertase (C4b2a) was not affected by Efb but C5 convertase (C4b2aC3b) was inhibited, as evidenced by the decreased C5a production. Ehp was found to contain two C3d binding sites and showed higher levels of inhibition compared to Efb, though the mechanism of action was proposed to be similar. Nevertheless, the C3d fragment carries another important task: mediating interaction with complement receptor 2 (CR2) on B cells and facilitating B cell activation. Both Efb-C and Ehp were shown to completely inhibit C3d:CR2 interaction and its stimulatory effect on a B lymphoma cell line. The predicted binding site of CR2 on C3d was in close proximity to the residues that have been shown to be involved in Efb-C:C3d and Ehp:C3d binding. The exact competition mechanism remains to be confirmed . 1.4.3.3.3 Sbi Sbi is another secreted S. aureus protein that targets C3 activation. Sbi binds C3b but has a stronger affinity to C3dg. The binding was shown to be improved when the C3a domain was also present. These observations suggested the C3dg and C3a portion of C3 were important for Sbi/C3 interaction. By comparing binding profiles of different domains of Sbi, the C3 binding site was proposed to be located in its fourth domain (Sib IV). Interestingly, Sbi IV alone inhibited AP activation in a dose-dependent manner. However when the third domain was also present, incubation of human serum with this recombinant protein induced activation of complement, as shown by the degradation of native C3. A distinctive C3 derivative was present in Sbi-III-IV treated serum, whose molecular weight and migration behavior on two dimensional SDS-PAGE correspond to a transacylation product of C3b and Sbi. The cleavage of C3 activates an internal thioester moiety in the C3b fragment, which allows C3b to form cova lent bonds with hydroxyl groups in close proximity (e.g. bacterial surface). Thus it was proposed the Sbi III-IV provided a fluid-phase transacylation target for C3 cleavage and cause non-effective activation of the alternative pathway. Since mutational study confirmed the Sbi-IV was responsible for the complement inhibitiory effect, Sbi-III was proposed to be important in consumptive complement activation. Once again, Sbi IV adopts the triple helix structure, arranged in a similar fashion as Efb-c and Ehp (Fig. 1.2). Just like Efb and Ehp, the binding of C3dg to CR2 was inhibited by Sbi-III-IV, implying that Sbi may also influence adaptive immunity . 1.4.3.4 Preventing phagocyte extravasation and chemotaxis 1.4.3.4.1 CHIPS; FLIPr and FLIPr-like CHIPS (the chemotaxis inhibitory protein of S. aureus) was identified for its ability to prevent neutrophil chemotaxis to formylated peptide and C5a. CHIPS encodes a 121-amino acids (aa) secreted protein and presents in 62% of S. aureus clinical isolates. Postma et al demonstrated that CHIPS selectively and directly bound to C5a receptor (C5aR) and formylated peptide receptor (FPR) expressed on cell surface and competed with their respective ligands for binding. Receptor activation, as measured by the Ca2+ influx and murine neutrophil migration to the injury site, was inhibited. The two receptors were shown to interact with different areas on CHIPS. The N-terminal 6 residues of CHIPS, F1 and F3 in particular, were identified as the FPR binding sites. While the C5aR-binding domain was mapped to residues 31-121, which forms a packed structure similar to the ÃŽ ² grasp domain. Arginine 44 and lysine 95 were shown to be critical for its antagonizing activity. C5aR binds CHIPS through its N-terminus residues 10-18. These residues were suggested to be either involved directly in C5a binding or were required to stabilize the interaction. Therefore, CHIPS may function by direct competing with C5a or by disrupting the formation of the stable ligand/receptor complex . Two more S. aureus proteins were found to inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis. The secreted FPR-like 1 inhibitory protein (FLIPr) and its homologue FLIPr-like bound FPR and FPR-like 1 receptor (FPRL1). The N-terminal 6 residues of both proteins were important in both interactions but the phenylalanine was not critical for FRP binding. The inhibition of FPRL-1 by both proteins occurred in the nanomolar range. FLIPr-like was shown to be a potent inhibitor for FPR with activity comparable to CHIPS. However, animal infection models with chips or flipr isogenic deletion strains has not been reported. The contribution of CHIPS in bacterial infection is yet to be determined . 1.4.3.4.2 Map Map (MHC class II analog protein a.k.a. Eap) is a multifunctional 60-70 kDa secreted protein expressed by 97% of S. aureus isolates. It is an anti-inflammatory molecule that reduces leukocyte availability and function. Map can interact with a wide range of host ligands, including Fg, Fn and ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1). Map largely blocked ICAM-1 mediated firm adhesion and transmigration of neutrophil. In a peritonitis mice model, intraperitoneal injection of Map or pre-treatment of mice with Map showed 50-75% inhibition of neutrophil recruitment. Neutrophil infiltration in mice infected with a map- strain was 2-3 folds higher than that seen with a map+ strain, demonstrating Map inhibits ICAM-1 mediated neutrophil migration in vivo. Interaction of Map with ICAM-1 may modify signal transduction in leukocytes. NF-ÃŽ ºB activation and tissue factor release in THP-1 cells were diminished by Map treatment. A substantial amount of IL-6 and TNF-ÃŽ ± and a smaller amount of IL- 4 were released from Map treated human CD14+ PBMC in vitro. Anti-ICAM-1 antibody blocked the action, suggesting the induction was also mediated by ICAM-1. It is not clear if cellular processes other than cytokine production are also influenced, although Maps effect on PBMCs appears to be dose dependent . In addition to the cytokine changes, T cell function was impaired by Map. Mice treated with Map showed significantly reduced T cell mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and T cell proliferation. Adoptive transfer of T cells from Map-treated mice to untreated recipients prevented the recipients from developing DTH when challenged with allergen. The Map

Supply chain initiatives at Apple Inc

Supply chain initiatives at Apple Inc For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States.[10] Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[11][12][13] The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors labour, environmental, and business practices, 4 COMPETITIVE PRIORITIES AT APPLE INC. APPLE has managed to increase its market price by introducing new products to attract the customers. The recent products are APPLE Ipod and APPLE IPHONE 4G. Usability and Product design are the main key trends and competitive priorities of apple. The key element in manufacturing strategy are to identifying competitors manufacturing strategy research. In this study, Im gonna find which competitive priorities that APPLE used and which one helped APPLE the most in the areas of supply chain, quality and peformances. 1.1 COMPANY OVERVIEW APPLE INC. (NASDAQ: AAPL; previously APPLE COMPUTER, INC.) is an American multinational corporation, which produces consumer electronics, pc softwares and laptops. STEVE JOBS, STEVE WOZNIAK and RONALD WAYNE are the founder of APPLE INC, established in Cupertino, California on april1, 1976 and incorporated January 3 1977, and then the company was known by APPLE COMPUTER, INC. It leads the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, ILife and its range of professional applications. Apple also spearheads the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store. The company recorded revenues of 65.07 billion in the fiscal year ended March 2010, an increase of 34.06% over 2009. The companys operating profit was 18.27 billion in fiscal 2010, an increase of 35.74% over 2009. Its net profit was 14.01 billion in fiscal 2010, an increase of 41.23% over 2009. 1.2 OPERATIONS STRATEGY OF APPLE INC. The Operations Strategy of APPLE INC. Limited has changed as their business has evolved over time. The section below tracks the various key operations strategy such as the Manufacturing ( processes involved and locations), the Supply chain initiatives over the years, Inventory Management, Quality Management, Research and Development Initiatives, Procurement procedure, Vendor Management etc . The section highlights the key defining operational strategies adopted by the company during this period. 1.2.1 MANUFACTURING: When Steve Jobs launched the iMac in 1998, he was quoted as saying, these new product lines give people what they want most, a lightning fast laptop and a striking new consumer Macintosh. Is Jobs correct in this assessment? Is speed, look, and brand really the main drivers for consumers? Did Jobs strategy to capture market share in the personal computer industry focus on the right aspects? This paper will venture to say no and suggest the following alternative strategy: Apple should build a new business in Wintel PCs, while continuing to sell Macs to the design and publishing segment of the market. In order to support this conclusion, Apples competitive advantages and industry forces must be analysed. Apple has been in business since 1976, and released a number of new brands in competitive way. The four key tactis and differentiations are branding, new innovation in hardware design, high expectation in market shares and user friendly. In 1998, the consumers didnt want a MACHINTOSH. APPLES branding to the market is strong and has been since the1970s when APPLES customers waiting for their new innovations. The main component of apple is user friendly to the customers. Adding extra hardware and software to a Mac was almost easy as plugging speakers to the mobile phone. Because of this loyalty, apple was able to form a close relationship with its customers, particularly with the education and design publishing industries, which felt as 80% of APPLEs market position in 1998(Exhibit A). Furthermore, the 1998 Think Different campaign propagated Apples image as inventive and trendy. It enabled Apple to become a substitute based on design alone, giving it a particular edge over its khaki-clad competitors. Albeit these advantages, Apple still managed to lose a large amount of profit, and its market share dwindled from 8% to 3.4% from 1995 1998 (Exhibit B). The company also slipped in the education sector during this time by as much as 14% per year. In order to understand why Apple was losing so much ground, we must look into the power of suppliers and buyers in the industry. Most notably on the suppliers side are microprocessors and operating systems, where Intel and Microsoft are the dominant names. Because of their quasi-monopolies, which enable them to control commodities and manipulate pricing, these two suppliers have tremendous influence. Buyers, who also have strong influence because of the wide array of products available, were drawn to the Intel/Windows package (Wintel) because of the brand names, lower costs, and the wide proliferation of the products. Apple, however, chose to implement a PowerPC/MAC OS combination over the standard Wintel package. The main fallacy in Jobs o utlook was following this proprietary strategy. As a result, Apples reach to customers diminished. In 1998, Macintoshs operating system market share was at 5% compared to Microsofts dominance of almost 90%. Furthermore, this strategy can aid in the foreign arena, where Apple has the recognizable brand name and Wintel is the dominant platform. With analysts predicting the largest increases in growth rates through 2005 to be in the Asia/Pacific and the rest of the world , Apple will have a greater outlook for global success. Overall this strategy calls for Apple to focus on their competencies and move away from inefficient practices of the past. Allowing themselves to think outside of their proprietary boxes will no doubt increase their abilities to see ahead on the road to profitability. 1.2.2 Supply Chain Initiatives at APPLE INC. For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States.[10] Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[11][12][13] The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors labour, environmental, and business practices, The supply chain of the new Apple iPhone and, at some point, the supply chain of the Apple TV, hoping that this might help to demonstrate the complexity involved in manufacturing the Apple iPhone a feature-rich product I wish I could have, if I could afford it (update: Ive had several iPhones now). 1.2.3 Linking the supply chain to the business strategy The supply chain improvements described indicate that supply chain management has the potential to improve a firms competitiveness. Supply chain capability is as important to a companys overall strategy as overall product strategy. Supply chain management encourages management of processes across departments. By linking supply chain objectives to company strategy, decisions can be made between competing demands on the supply chain. Improvements in performance are driven by externally-based targets rather than by internal department objectives. Managing the supply chain means managing across traditional functional areas in the company and managing interactions external to the company with both suppliers and customers. This cross-boundary nature of management supports incorporating supply chain goals and capabilities in the strategic plan of the company. This focus on integration can then lead to using the supply chain to obtain a sustainable competitive advantage over competitors. The impact of managing overall product demand and the supply of product will impact the profitability of the company. The supply chain strategy can be viewed as the pattern of decisions related to sourcing product, capacity planning, conversion of finished product, deployment of finished product, demand management and communication, and delivery. Linking supply chain strategy to the business strategy involves defining the key business processes involved in producing a companys product or service. 1.2.4 Procurement Apple is known for its innovative thinking. They have developed a product line that is both functional and attractive. Their product line has recently expanded to another level. Their iPods will soon be able to communicate with specially designed Nike running shoes where you could receive data such as calories burned and distance ran. This project can benefit both companies and boost the demand for iPods. Apples iPod line will have a clear advantage over all the other mp3 players in the market. In addition to Apples integration with other products, many cars models from all major automakers have equipped their new models with iPod connectivity. In regards to their desktop and notebook sectors, Apple has developed new lines that are less expensive while maintaining its high quality standards. These less-expensive computers should help increase sales in the future. Apple has also changed its chip supplier from IBM to Intel. This change would make Apple more compatible with other systems. It enables Apple to run the Windows operating system, which gives the user more flexibility. 1.2.5 Quality Apple Computer Inc. is one of the oldest hardware manufacturers that control over the product by manufacturing both computers and their operation system. It is known that Apple has a high Quality product which makes Apple different than its competitors. Apple creates its product with unique designs to attract the consumers eyes and increase its market share because Apple success is based on fulfilling customers desires. Apple has one of the top brand names within the technology industry all over the world, and 54% of their profits are from foreign markets. Apple is dedicated to develop new products which will make the use of technology easier and more efficient. Apple always provides easy-use product to the hand of the consumers. Most of its products are light, small, and easy to carry around which make them more competitive. One of the great things about Apple is product diversification; Apple has a large number of product lines to target everyone in the world. In addition, there ar e a huge number of consumers who are loyal to Apple even though the prices of Apple products are higher comparing to its competitors. 1.2.6 Research and Development Apple can definitely expect a prosperous future especially in the near future. Over the past five years, net sales have been steadily increasing with almost a 200% increase from 2004 and 2005. Correspondingly, net earnings have been increasing as well. Apple owns over 80% of the market share with its iPod product. With such favorable trends, it is reasonable to assume that Apple will continue to increase in its sales, earnings, and market share just as long as it keeps developing and acquiring new strengths. For example, Apple has established its name as one of the leading, innovative forces in the computer industry that has a much diversified, high quality products that appeal to many markets. Competitors will find it difficult to compete against the company if Apple continues to strive for innovation, as it is its mission, continuing its well-developed marketing plan, further developing more high quality products, and taking advantage of its opportunities. Thus, the threat of produ ct substitution and high levels of competition would be decreased. However, although it seems that Apple is not in a position where its favorable future outlook is threatened, it is best that Apple works on its weaknesses so as to further increase its sales and decrease the possibility of losing its customers to its competitors. For example, Apple is known for its high quality products, which puts them into a competitive advantage. However some components of its products such as the iPod batteries and the iPod Nano screens are of lesser quality. Apple must increase its RD efforts to really minimize the number of products with faulty components. Thus, customers would not be lost and customer loyalty would be maintained. Another weakness that must be addressed is the high prices of its products. For example, the iPod nano ranges from $150 to $250 depending on the size, the iPod ranges from $300 to $400, and a Mac desktop is at least $1300. Such high prices discourage potential customers from purchasing Apples products. The solution to this weakness is to decrease the prices to the point where profits are still increasing. Likewise, the cost of sales should be decreased but only to the point where the quality of the products is not sacrificed. 1.3 CONCLUSION: With its already well-established name brand and its positive sales/market share growth, Apple will without a doubt continue to increase their earnings and market share. However, by working on at least some of its weaknesses through minimizing the number of faulty components in its products, decreasing its prices, and paying dividends, Apple can tremendously gain a competitive advantage over its competitors II CORPORATE STRATEGY AT RELIANCE RETAIL LIMITED 2.1 INTRODUCTION The Reliance group is founded by DHIRUBHAI H. AMBANI(1932-2001), is Indias one of the largest private sector enterprise, with businesses in energy and materials of value chains. Reliance Retail Limited (RRL) is one of the business sectors in retail chain division of RELIANCE INDUSTRIES OF INDIA, which is headed by MUKESH D. AMBANI. The company is strongly focused on future growth in Indian economy and planned to invest Rs. 25000 crores in the next 4 years in the retail divisions and plans to begin retail stores in 784 cities across the country. RRL launched its first store in November 2006 through its convenience store format Reliance Fresh. Since then RRL has rapidly grown to operate 590 stores across 13 states at the end of FY 2007-08. In each of these store formats, RRL is offering a unique set of products and services at a value price point. Overall, RRL is well positioned to rapidly expand its existing network which operates in 57 cities. 2.2 Corporate strategy CORPORATE STRATEGY is the direction an organization takes with the objective of achieving business success in the long term. Recent approaches have focused on the need for companies to adapt to and anticipate changes in the business environment, i.e. a flexible strategy. The development of a corporate strategy involves establishing the purpose and scope of the organizations activities and the nature of the business it is in, taking the environment in which it operates, its position in the marketplace, and the competition it faces into consideration; most times analyzed through a SWOT analysis. 2.2.1Operation Support Systems: 2.2.2.1 ERP System Various ERP vendors have developed retail-specific systems which help in integrating all the functions from warehousing to distribution, front and back office store systems and merchandising. An integrated supply chain helps the retailer in maintaining his stocks, getting his supplies on time, preventing stock-outs and thus reducing his costs, while servicing the customer better. 2.2.2.2 Advanced Planning and Scheduling Systems APS systems can provide improved control across the supply chain, all the way from raw material suppliers right through to the retail shelf. These APS packages complement existing (but often limited) ERP packages. They enable consolidation of activities such as long term budgeting, monthly forecasting, weekly factory scheduling and daily distribution scheduling into one overall planning process using a single set of data The major reasons behind the development of new trends are:  Ã‚ ¶ Scalable and profitable Retail models are well established for most of the categories  Ã‚ ¶ Rapid Evolution of New-age Young Indian Consumers  Ã‚ ¶ Retail Space is no more a constraint for growth  Ã‚ ¶ Partnering among Brands, retailers, franchisees, investors and malls  Ã‚ ¶ India is on the radar of Global Retailer Suppliers 2.3 Proposed Supply Chain Strategies for Retail Industry 2.3.1 Supply Chain Strategies in Retail 2.3.1.1 Breaking Bulk-: can be done in smaller lots with a good understanding with the supplier. This can be achieved by following ways: Spatial Convenience: Strategically locating the outlet with distribution networks and warehouses located proximally. Supplier holds inventory. 2.3.1.2 Vendor Managed Inventory: In this case, the vendor himself is given the responsibility to handle the inventory. A space for the vendor is rented in the outlet, and he takes care of the shelves and the space. It is a 2-way agreement wherein the vendor gets the space to market his product by interacting one-to-one with the customers. 2.3.1.3 Point of Sale Information System: As soon as one stock keeping unit moves out of the store when purchased by a customer, the information readily flows to the supplier. He is given access to the inventory database. A re-order point can be imposed based on consumption pattern and the supplier is asked to fill the shelf upon inventory reaching the re-order point. 2.3.1.4 SRM Supplier Relationship Management: Relationship with supplier should not be a marriage of convenience. Supplier has to act in ways more than what is required. By providing special offers, discounts and incentives, the supplier savors the relationship. This also serves as a promotion strategy for the outlet. 2.4 Competitive Areas of Importance 2.4.1 Fulfillment: Stock filling is taken care of at both customer end (end product) and at the end of shelves at the shop. Reaching the customer at the right time and constant check on stocks and making sure right quantity is ordered at the right time. 2.4.2 Logistics: Safe and reliable transport at as much low price as possible. Constant contact with distribution teams (trucks, trains, etc.) and track where material is. Partnership with transportation firms so that cost and transport can be shared if the shipment does not occupy the whole truck space. 2.4.3Procurement:  (Vendors side points to take care) Strong Relationship Information sharing and updating plan change Combine vendors by minimizing transportation cost Choose vendors in proximity Optimum lot size taking vendors into confidence 2.4.4Production: Line should run smoothly without delays due to ordering and transportation (fulfillment and logistics have to be met first). 2.5 7 PS OF SERVICES 1st P: PRODUCT Product- refers to the merchandise i.e. the range of clothes. Supplementary services -include a component of fashion, life style and Ambient shopping as an addition to the core product. Today, customers buy experiences and not brands or products. 2nd P : PRICING Cost plus price and Percentage method pricing: Most widely used technique to price apparels. Ex:- COLOR PLUS and IN-HOUSE brands like those of SHOPPERS STOP or WESTSIDE use this technique. 3rd P : PLACE Apparel Retailing Business is driven by one crucial factor: Location Approachable Parking 4th P: PROMOTION Print medium. Loyalty programs In-store Visual merchandising 5th P: PEOPLE Every second a customer spends inside the store has to be viewed as Moment of Truth People is that aspect of the marketing mix which adds tangibility to the service of creating an experience 6th P: PROCESSES 7th P : PHYSICAL EVIDENCE Managing Appearance of the building Location Maintaining Temperature , Music, Lighting and Fragrance inside the store Availability of services like Prams, Wheel Chair, Valet Parking etc Stylish Stocking of Merchandise 2.6 CONCLUSION: The benefits of time-phased inventory planning are numerous. The bulk of benefits contribute to improved gross margins by minimizing inventory carrying costs, reducing lost sales through improved in-stock, reducing markdowns and store-to-store transfers with more timely product availability, and improved productivity at the distribution centers and stores. It is not uncommon for retailers to experience double-digit percentage reductions in inventory while sustaining or improving service levels. Additional benefits are increased sales and customer service as the inventory plan more readily responds to changes in the demand forecast.

The Truth To A Ballad :: essays research papers

The Truth to a Ballad   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"At her Redeemer’s throne she’ll stand, And she’ll be cured of woe, And He her bloodied hands will wash, And she’ll be white as snow† (15). This quote concludes the beautifully written ballad located in the first chapter of Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace. By summarizing the events leading up to the murders, the murders themselves, and the ensuing trial, the poem presents the reader with what appears to be a foreshadowing of things to come. However, though the ballad reflects many of the novel’s events, there are several differences which contradict Grace’s narration.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The poetic verse and the story told by Grace contain numerous similarities. As the ballad states at the beginning, Grace says she was sixteen years old when the murders at the house of Thomas Kinnear occurred; James McDermott worked as a stable hand, and Grace was the serving maid. Also alike is the poem’s description of Nancy as a â€Å"no well-born lady†¦.who goes in satin and silk, The finest ever seen† (11). When first meeting Nancy, Grace wonders why â€Å"a housekeeper would be wanting a dress like that,† (200) immediately noticing Nancy is dressed rather well considering her occupation. When the murders take place in the novel, James strikes Nancy on the head with an axe and throws her into the cellar where she eventually died with an unborn baby in her womb. This event was depicted in the poem, as was the scene where James and Grace steal valuables from Mr. Kinnear’s house and fled across the lake to the Lewiston Hotel in t he United States. As the ballad progresses, the two are later arrested at which point Grace states she does not remember seeing the murders take place. Also similar, is James’ declaration of Grace being the one who lead him on, and if not for her the murders would have never happened. When the poem explains how Jamie Walsh marked Grace a murderer at the trial, yet she was given a life sentence while James was hung and dissected at the University, Grace’s tale is reflected perfectly. The ballad concludes with Grace receiving forgiveness and entering a life of paradise. This appears apparent at the end of the novel as Grace is pardoned, and then fulfills her â€Å"apple skin prophecy† of marrying a man with a first name beginning with ‘J.’ Though the above events are comparable to the story Grace tells, the ballad contains several discrepancies as well.

Macbeths Conscience in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- essays research

William Shakespeare’s seventeenth century tragedy, Macbeth, tells the story of Macbeth, whose ambition leads him to murder his close friends. In the play, he is told that he will become king, but to speed up the process he is convinced to kill the current king, Duncan. Although he is portrayed as a vile, evil character, the scene before he murders Duncan, his thoughts after the murder, and his encounters with his friend’s ghost show that Macbeth truly is a man of conscience. After his wife encourages Macbeth to kill King Duncan when he visits their home, Macbeth truly considers the idea. Shakespeare allows his character to mull over the act and consequences in a soliloquy which, â€Å"not only weighs the possible bad practical consequences of his act but shows him perfectly aware, in a way an evil man would not be, of moral values involved: ‘First I am his kinsman and subject Strong as both against the deed, then as his host, Who should against his murderers shut the door Not bear the knife myself’† (Scott 156) Macbeth is fully aware of the crime he commits. Before comm... Macbeth's Conscience in Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay -- essays research William Shakespeare’s seventeenth century tragedy, Macbeth, tells the story of Macbeth, whose ambition leads him to murder his close friends. In the play, he is told that he will become king, but to speed up the process he is convinced to kill the current king, Duncan. Although he is portrayed as a vile, evil character, the scene before he murders Duncan, his thoughts after the murder, and his encounters with his friend’s ghost show that Macbeth truly is a man of conscience. After his wife encourages Macbeth to kill King Duncan when he visits their home, Macbeth truly considers the idea. Shakespeare allows his character to mull over the act and consequences in a soliloquy which, â€Å"not only weighs the possible bad practical consequences of his act but shows him perfectly aware, in a way an evil man would not be, of moral values involved: ‘First I am his kinsman and subject Strong as both against the deed, then as his host, Who should against his murderers shut the door Not bear the knife myself’† (Scott 156) Macbeth is fully aware of the crime he commits. Before comm...