Intersection of energy and international transport management Thesis

Intersection of energy and international transport management - Thesis Example Countries around the world have realized the fact that they are interdependent on one another, and their survival is dependent upon sharing of resources or in simple words exchanging the resources. As no country on this planet earth is self sufficient in all regards. It requires help and assistance of other countries in order to achieve development and to provide ameliorating ambiance for the masses. Considering this concept globalization came into existence, which has resulted in changing the shape of the world. with the advancement in different fields of life for instance technology, transportations, industries, health and care etc., and through sharing of cognition, experiences using computers and internet have revolutionized this world. As a result countries around the world on the daily basis share resources through import and export. Conventionally orthodox approach was put into practice i.e. they only traded basic necessities of life, however this approach was later changed (w ith the passage of time) with the modernization and globalization of the world. At present countries around the world are importing and exporting varieties of different products, no matter its cars, railway engines, airplanes, electronic gadgets, arms and ammunition, medical and healthcare equipments, agriculture and livestock, clothing, construction materials or it may be even the sources of energy like petrol, solar panel cells, bio gas, uranium, nuclear energy etc. Albeit there are varieties of products that countries export or import, however key focus is given in this research paper on the trade of energy sources with reference to international transport management. Abundance in Energy is the integral, prime and key most requirements for any country in order to entertain the purpose of development. As there is no concept of a developed country if that particular country does not have enough resources in terms of catering its energy needs. However countries in order to cope up w ith this problem import energy sources (different types of energy products like oil, bio gas etc.) from other countries and store these different energies in their reservoirs so that these energy products can be succinctly used in the future. As energy plays significant role in terms of contributing towards the economy of the country, with it, energy is the basic driving force for the innovation in technology or it is the basic requirement for technological advancements. Moreover since technological advancement has been carried out all over the world these days, therefore massive resources of energy should be available for them as the advancement in technology is dependent upon the availability of energy. Consequence this has not only resulted in increasing the use of energy but it has also resulted in creating more demand of energy as well. As energy is utilized in carrying out industrial and home work or if it is said that energy is the basic ingredient for the survival of the cou ntry or masses, that this statement would not be wrong. In terms of consumption of energy by different people or countries around the world, energy consumption or the demand of energy varies across the globe. If generalizing the situation one can classify easily that the countries that are developed or first world countries they consume more energy as compared with the third world or under developing countries. Moreover according to Yergin (2011) another classification can be made in terms of climatic conditions.

Effect of cooking on amylose content of rice Essay Example for Free

Effect of cooking on amylose content of rice Essay In diabetes type 2, there is a deficiency of insulin which results in improper/ slow breakdown of food. This results in sugar level spikes immediately after a meal, which can be harmful. Hence, diabetics must have food stuffs which have a slow release rate so as to not cause any spikes. In order to find out the most suitable method of cooking rice for diabetic patients, we found out the amylose content of rice cooked by different methods and co-related it with Glycemic Index (GI). Glycemic Index is release of glucose in the blood by the breakdown of carbohydrates. Higher the glycemic index, faster breakdown of food and thereby more release of glucose in the blood, so immediate requirement of insulin, which can be toxic for diabetic patients. Glycemic index and amylose content are inversely proportional to each other. There is a wide variation in the amylose content of rice depending on the way it is cooked. In this paper, the effect of cooking on amylose content of rice is described using various experimental approaches. Various method of cooking involves traditional method, microwave and steam cooked method. The amylose content of the rice is then co-related with its glycemic index. Keywords: Rice; Glycemic Index; Amylose Content; Diabetes; Cooking. INTRODUCTION Rice is the most important staple food for a large part of the worlds human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies [6]. The awareness of the general public related to health foods has been on the rise recently and people are looking for the right variety of rice and more efficient methods of cooking it for diabetics. Due to the low insulin concentration in the body, the release of sugar into blood is less controllable than normal, leading to spikes in blood sugar after meals for them. High blood sugar, if left untreated, can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance etc. over short term and retinopathy, nephropathy over long term. Hence, this is an acute problem faced by all diabetics. Brown rice is obtained directly from the plant and is rich in nutrients like vitamin B1, B3 and minerals like iron which can be used in preventing deficiency diseases like beriberi etc. [8]. The nutrient content of consumable rice varies with the processing techniques. For example, brown rice undergoes minimal processing and thus retains most 385 Pelagia Research Library Ashish Jain et al Euro. J. Exp. Bio. , 2012, 2 (2):385-388 of the original nutrients within the grain, whereas white rice or polished rice is devoid of most of the nutrients as they are pushed into the husk of the grain during processing which is then removed during polishing [9]. Similarly, the starch content also varies with the cooking methods viz., traditional methods or home-made or microwaved method etc. [6]. Rice contains two types of starch in rice: amylose and amylopectin. Amylose is a long straight starch molecule that does not gelatinize during microwave cooking [4] and hence rice with more amylose content tends to cook fluffy, with separate grains. Besides, amylose also hardens and forms during crystals during cooking and melts when the rice is re-heated. Rice that is high in amylose has a lower Glycemic Index number [1, 7]. This is because amylose is harder to break down than simple sugars like glucose etc.and ensures a sustained release of sugar into blood without spiking immediately after a meal. MATERIALS AND METHODS The following reagents are used for estimation of amylose content and for preparation of standard: 95% Ethanol: Prepared from 100% Ethanol 1N NaOH, Iodine Potassium iodide solution Standard amylose: Obtained from HIMEDIA 1N Acetic acid: From NICE Chemicals Glassware: Borosil Water bath: High Precision water bath from Acmas was used Spectrophotometer: From Amersham Biosciences to measure OD Cuvette: Quartz Cuvette to measure OD. Software: HandyGraph Software to draw graph 1N NaOH solution: Dissolve 40g of NaOH in 1000ml distilled water 1N Acetic acid solution: Dilute 57. 5 ml glacial acetic acid to 1000ml using distilled water Iodine Potassium iodide solution: Dissolve 0. 26 g of Iodine in 10 ml of Potassium iodide solution containing 2. 6 g of KI Standard Amylose Solution: Take 40mg of pure potato starch (amylose) in a 100 ml volumetric flask and add 1 ml of 95% ethanol and 9. 0 ml of 1N NaOH. Shake well and boil over water bath for 10 minutes and make up the solution to 100 ml using distilled water. Method: We weighed 100 mg well powdered milled rice into 100 ml volumetric flask and to it 1 ml 95% ethanol and 9 ml 1 N NaOH was added. The sample was heated for 10 minutes in boiling water bath, cooled and the volume was made up to 100 ml. 5 ml was pipetted from the 100 ml into another 100 ml volumetric flask. To it 1 ml I N acetic acid and then 2 ml iodide solution were added and the volume was made up to 100 ml. The mixture was stirred and allowed to stand for 20 minutes and the per cent Transmittance at 620 nm was determined using a colorimeter. A series of standard starch solution containing 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% amylose was prepared as in the steps 1 to 5. The transmittance of the standards was read at 620nm and a standard graph was plotted. Amylose content of the sample was determined in reference to the standard curve and expressed on percent basis. RESULTS In Table 1, five different amylose solutions were prepared at different concentrations and the absorbance values at 620nm were noted down. The absorbance readings were triplicated for standard amylose and standard graph was obtained as follows: 386 Pelagia Research Library Ashish Jain et al Euro. J. Exp. Bio. , 2012, 2 (2):385-388. Table 1: Preparation of Standard Graph from Amylose Amylose Concentration (mg/mL) Blank 8 16 24 32 40 Abs @ 620 nm T1 T2 T3 0 0 0 0. 079 0. 072 0. 077 0. 156 0. 156 0. 149 0. 239 0. 24 0. 239 0. 321 0. 32 0. 33 0. 40 0. 40 0. 40 Avg. Abs 0 0. 076 0. 153 0. 239 0. 323 0. 40 Std. Deviation T1 T2 T3 0 0 0 +0. 003 -0. 004 +0. 001 +0. 003 +0. 003 -0. 004 0. 000 +0. 001 0. 000 -0. 002 -0. 003 +0. 007 0. 000 0. 000 0. 000. This table is used in making the graph shown below. The procedure followed to obtain these readings is described in the Materials and Methods section. T1, T2, and T3 are the triplicated values. Scale X Axis: 1cm 8mg/ml Y Axis: 1cm 0. 08OD A b s o r b a n c e A b s o r b a n c e Amylose concentration Amylose concentration A b s o r b a n c e Amylose concentration Figure 1: The above graphs are obtained by taking Concentration on the X-axis and Absorbance at 620nm on the Y-axis for each of the set of values. 387 Pelagia Research Library Ashish Jain et al Euro. J. Exp. Bio., 2012, 2 (2):385-388. Table 2: Extrapolated values of rice cooked by different methods Cooking Method Steam Cooked Traditional Method Microwaved Raw Abs @ 620 nm T1 T2 T3 0. 169 0. 172 0. 171 0. 195 0. 194 0. 196 0. 227 0. 227 0. 230 0. 258 0. 259 0. 259 Avg. Abs 0. 171 0. 195 0. 228 0. 259 Amylose Concentration (mg/mL) 17. 35 19. 67 22. 98 25. 99 This table lists the amylose content of rice which is cooked by different methods. The values are obtained from extrapolating from the standard amylose curve. DISCUSSION. Table 3: Co-relation between amylose content and Glycemic index of rice [8] If Amylose content is high Amylose content is low Then Low Glycemic Index and the rice grains will show high volume expansion (not necessarily elongation) and a high degree of flakiness. The rice grains cook dry, are less tender, and become hard upon cooling. High glycemic Index and the rice grains will cook moist and sticky It is seen that amylose content is inversely related to the Glycemic index. From table 2, it is observable that the amylose content of microwaved rice is highest after raw, uncooked rice. Hence, this method of cooking rice is the most suitable for diabetic patients as the Glycemic Index will be lowest. Since the Glycemic Index is low, the breakdown rate is slower, which prevents the sugar levels in blood from spiking just after a meal. REFERENCES [1] DJ Jenkins et al. (1981). Am J Clin Nutr 34; 362–366. [2] Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al. , N Engl J Med. 2002;346(6):393–403. [3] Brouns et al. (2005). Nutrition Research Reviews 18; 145–171. [4] Chiu CJ, Liu S, Willett WC, Wolever TM, Brand-Miller JC, Barclay AW, Taylor A. , Nutr Rev., 2011 ;69(4): 231-42. [5]. Temelkova-Kurktschiev TS, Koehler C, Henkel E, Leonhardt W, Fuecker K, Hanefeld M. , Diabetes Care. 2000 Dec;23(12):1830-4. [6] White Rice, Brown Rice, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in US Men and Women. †Arch Intern Med 2010 170: 961969. [7] International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values: 2002. †Am J Clin Nutr 2002 76: 5-56 [8] Brand-Miller JC, Pang E, Bramal L. Am J Clin Nutr 1992;56:1034–6. [9] Srisawas, W. and Jindal, V. K. (2007), Journal of texture studies, 38: 21–41. doi: 10. 1111/j. 17454603. 2007. 00084. x 388 Pelagia Research Library.

Essay on Lack of Meaning in Catch 22 -- Catch-22

Lack of Meaning in Catch 22 Â   Â   Â  Most of what we say has no meaning. This idea is supported on every page of Joseph Heller’s Catch 22. Almost every scene in the novel contains dialogue where the people speak aimlessly and have no explanation for why they are talking. Â   Colonel Cargill addresses his men by saying, "You're American officers. The officers of no other army in the world can make that statement. Think about it."Â   Even though the remark is true, it has no meaning. These type of random statements and dialogues occur throughout the whole book. Another situation when two people speak without making any sense is when Clevinger is being questioned. "I didn't say you couldn't punish me," said Clevinger. "When?" asked the colonel. "When what, sir?" "Now you're asking me questions again." "I am sorry, sir. I'm afraid I don't understand your question."Â   Later in the interrogation, the colonel is so twisted in his conversation that he no longer wants to know when Clevinger said that he could not be punished. He now wants to know when Clevinger did not say that he could not be punished. Clevinger quickly rebuts and states, "I always didn't say you couldn't punish me, sir." Finally, the colonel is satisfied with that answer even though Clevinge r's statement did not answer the question and has no meaning. Â   Major Major often spoke with a lack of meaning. He simply did not make sense. For instance, he told Sergeant Towser, his assistant, "From now on, I don't want anyone to come in to see me while I'm here."Â   According to this statement, when would anyone be able to see him if they could only go to his office when Major Major was out? When Appleby once went to see Major Major, he started to talk to Sergeant Tows... ...ent wave lengths. This is seen when Clevinger is being questioned. The colonel and Clevinger are thinking so differently at the time, that there is no way they would be able to understand one another. This book definitely makes one realize how difficult it is to communicate, the problems people have trying to understand one another, and realizing that sometimes what we say has no meaning. Â   Works Cited: Â   Frank, Mike. "Enos and Thanatos in Catch-22." Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz. Vol.11. (77-87) Â   Heller, Joseph. Catch-22. Detroit: Gale, 1990. Â   Kennard, Jean E. "Joseph Heller: At War with Absurdity." Contemporary Literary Criticism.(75-87) Ed. Roger Matuz. Detroit:L Gale 1990. Â   Pearson, Carol. "Catch-22 & the Debasement of Language."Contemporary Literary Criticism. (277)Matuz . Detroit: L Gale 1990. Â  

Moral Sainthood Essay

The concept of moral sainthood quickly becomes a negative one, simply because no one can be perfect. When we hold high expectations for people, they will inevitably fail to meet these criteria for perfection. When this occurs, individuals who hold high expectations of their moral saint will experience a huge let down. Also, a mere onlooker may get the wrong idea, and value the immoral decisions that this person made, or at least view their mistake as acceptable behavior. One of the main arguments against moral sainthood is that there is a limit to how much morality we, as humans, can take. A true moral saint would carry through with their virtues to an excess. You would not be able to make a negative assessment to an immoral person, or a positive one to moral one. A true moral saint can not gain any skills, or glean any joy from non-moral events, like winning a football game, or finishing a painting. â€Å"The normal person’s direct and specific desires for objects, activites, and events that conflict with the attainment of moral perfection are not simply sacrificed but removed, suppressed, or subsumed† (Wolf 350). These would be pointless attempts at folly. Moral perfection is not only impossible, it’s not desirable socially. The qualities that a true moral saint would possess, if saints did exist, are qualities that are unattractive to society. A true moral saint cannot go through the normal social experiences we go through, like developing a sense of humor, or getting into an intimate relationship. A moral saint would not conform to any of the molds society creates. Given many of these molds may be inappropriate or immoral, there are some you can not overlook as necessary. Your overall characteristics as a person would suffer as well, seeing how the well-rounded qualities we all need would not be present. These moral saints can often cause tension among ‘average citizens’ because of the uncomfortable feeling they may bring to the table. These people of ‘perfection’ highlight the natural flaws we, as humans, all have. A small mistake soon becomes a huge ordeal, and these ‘higher beings’ are eventually making us feel inferior, instead of people we should be looking up to, and aspiring to be. Humans are not willing to condemn themselves, so this process of being frowned upon is, well, frowned upon. When people develop into role models, they attain the admiration of others. Although media portrayal may transform these everyday people into super heros, they are not. When we value other people’s morals and opinions instead of considering our own, we are being shallow. Although some may say we base our role models on our own morals, we have a certain expectation for role models that, as humans, they can not always fulfill. These people many hold as role models, are individuals we do not even know personally. Athletes and movie stars are people that we do not know on a personal level, so we don’t even know if their behaviors are worth valuing. These heroes are being judged based on how the media portrays them. When we judge a person based on their media presence, we choose to view them only in the light, not the dark. As humans, we are often afflicted with an obsession of power. This obsession with power causes us to create heroes out of everyday people with ordinary characteristics. When we put them on a pedastol and look up to them, this undue admiration is given out far too easily. These ‘leaders’ we establish will eventually conform to the group they’re in charge of and act the way they think people want them to act. Expectations then soon lead to pressure, and this will cause the person to act differently. What people fail to realize is that there are ordinary individuals who are doing better things, achieving higher standards, and living their life more ethically and morally than those we call super heroes. People such as movie stars, sports stars, and the rich and famous person will, in our society, be more of a hero than the ordinary person, until they make a mistake. The process of becoming a moral saint simply does not work within our society. Social norms do not lend themselves easily to one seeking unattainable qualities of moral sainthood.

Gods or God?

1. Mary Lefkowitz responds to the charges by some secular commentators that religion â€Å"‘poisons’ human life and causes endless violence and suffering† by stating that the â€Å"poison isn't religion; it's monotheism. † 2. â€Å"Openness to discussion and inquiry† and â€Å"[r]espect for a diversity of viewpoints† are some attitudes that contributed to the Athenian idea of â€Å"the cooperative system of government †¦ called democracy. †3. The existence of many different gods offers a more reasonable explanation than monotheism of â€Å"the presence of evil and confusion in the world. † A mortal â€Å"may have had the support of one god but incur the enmity of another, who could attack when the patron god was away†; however in the monotheistic traditions, â€Å"God is omnipresent and always good† and â€Å"mortals must take the blame for whatever goes wrong,† even though God permits evil to exist in t he world he created. 4.The separation between humankind and the gods made it possible for humans â€Å"to speculate about the character and intentions of the gods. † Greek theology allowed people to ask hard questions and encouraged others to learn and to seek all the possible causes of events. Such questions brought philosophy and science to the world. 5. Lefkowitz writes, â€Å"Ancient Greek religion gives an account of the world that in many respects is more plausible than that offered by the monotheistic traditions.† In this context, â€Å"plausible† seems to mean â€Å"reasonable. † The Greek account may be more â€Å"plausible† because â€Å"Greek theology openly discourages blind confidence based on unrealistic hopes that everything will work out in the end. † 6. Lefkowitz certainly makes an excellent point and I definitely agree with her. Religion today seems to be focused too much on blind belief. Thinking seems to create a healthie r environment and some â€Å"healthy skepticism† would definitely be helpful currently in such a stubborn world.

Two Truths and a Lie 35 Good Lies for Tricking Others

Two Truths and a Lie 35 Good Lies for Tricking Others SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Throwing a party or looking for an icebreaker to use at a work event? Whatever the case, Two Truths and a Lie is a unique game that's useful for getting to know other people- and for seeing how good you are at lying! Read on to learn what the game entails and what makes for a good lie. We also give you tons of Two Truths and a Lie ideas to help you have a wildly fun time! What Is Two Truths and a Lie? Two Truths and a Lie is a fun group-based game you can play at parties or use as ice breakers. No special equipment or preparation is needed, though you might want to use pencil and paper to keep track of scores (if playing for points). To play, everyone sits or stands in a circle. One by one, each person in the circle says three statements about him/herself. Two of these statements must be facts, or "truths," and one must be a lie. The other members then try to guess which statement is the lie. What Makes for a Good Lie? A Good Truth? A good lie is one that's ultimately believable: it'll sound like something you might've done or might want to do (but haven't actually done). A lie that's too farfetched will clearly sound fake, so try to think of lies that are similar to truths to make them as plausible-sounding as possible. For example, don't say, "I can speak 22 languages." This statement is clearly a lie (unless you're a famous polyglot!). Rather, say, "I can speak three languages fluently." This statement is just plausible enough to make people doubt whether you're telling the truth or not. When it comes to telling truths, you'll want to tell the truth in such a way that others think you're lying even though you're not. Therefore, a good truth will sound like something you usually wouldn't do or wouldn't want to do (but have actually done). For example, if you're normally a shy person but have been the first to get out on a dance floor, this would be a good truth to tell since other people won't expect you to have done it. 35 Two Truths and a Lie Ideas Below are tons of Two Truths and a Lie examples you can use for lies (or truths if applicable!). Just remember this: when choosing lies, always opt for those that will be most convincing for you! Likes/Dislikes My favorite animals are peacocks. I hate spicy food. I can't stand it when people pay with exact change. I am a vegetarian. My favorite place in the world is New York City. Skills I can play the piano. I'm really good at cooking Italian food. I can juggle. I never learned how to ride a bicycle. I'm a great whistler. Experiences I went to Europe as a high school student. I've met Tom Cruise. I've never seen any of the Star Wars movies. I've eaten poisonous puffer fish. I've never gotten a speeding ticket. Wishes/Dreams When I was younger, my dream was to be a firefighter. I've always wanted to try paragliding. One of the places I want to visit most is Thailand. I hope to eventually run a marathon. If I could, I would pay to visit the moon right now. Family I am a great-great grandniece/grandnephew of Abraham Lincoln. I am the youngest of five siblings. My mother has worked for the same company for 30 years. I own a pet hamster named Murray. I have 18 first cousins. Random/Weird I am colorblind. I am legally deaf in one ear. I was born with a tail. I still own a huge collection of Beanie Babies. I've never broken a bone. I am deathly afraid of clowns. I brush my teeth four times a day. I never use public restrooms. I'm allergic to strawberries. I am incredibly superstitious. Feel free to tweak these Two Truths and a Lie ideas so that they work better for you. Once you've got some ideas ready, get out and have fun!

Kodak vs. Fujifilm Essay Essay Example

Kodak vs. Fujifilm Essay Essay Example Kodak vs. Fujifilm Essay Paper Kodak vs. Fujifilm Essay Paper I began composing to demo how concern can rapidly travel out of concern if the proprietors do non maintain an oculus on its public. Kodak failed to run into its customer’s demands. so the company could non maintain up with demands. Have you of all time gone shopping and found yourself seeking for an point you have seen advertised in another shop. merely to be told that the point was out of stock or this shop does non transport that merchandise. This is what happens when supply does non maintain up with demand. The company goes under. under the strain of their competitor’s reactiveness. Kodak needed to do alterations sooner instead than subsequently when their direction made determinations that could assist or ache Kodak. Fuji invariably made alterations and made the necessary alterations to run into their customer’s demands. As a concern proprietor being able to make and understand each client will assist in gross revenues so net incomes will lift. Many people continue to shop where merchandises are inexpensive and convenient. Staying in concern is cognizing and run intoing different people with different wants and demands and so assisting them with happening an cheap agencies of happening them. That is the nature of concern and a manner to maintain a client satisfied. Constructing a relationship with clients is the most of import facet in concern. If the concern does non talk straight to its customer’s they will shortly hold a loss in clients. Management plays an of import portion in the structuring of a concern if the director is non being active in the hunt for new thoughts. Therefore technics to better the company that company will be lost. New merchandises must be advertised and sold in order to turn successfully. Ideas must be turned into merchandises and jobs refering issues in a merchandise must be changed into betterments for the client. All these things must be completed to do certain there is a changeless grow ing in concern. so its gross revenues could be turned into capital to spread out the concern. Kodak vs. FujifilmTurning up in a large household where parents loved taking images and capturing that particular minute. Kodak and Fujifilm played an tremendous function in many families around the universe. When it comes to history and competition. direction schemes play a cardinal function in the manner two competitory companies embrace invention. Kodak and Fujifilm companies focus on both picture taking and imagination as their nucleus concerns. Kodak had an upper manus by get downing earlier than Fujifilm. 1888 compared to 1934 ( Kodak and Fujifilm. 2012 ) . Fujifilm adapted more to the market alterations and presently still is a taking force in the movie industry. Kodak was in bankruptcy protection since January 2012 under Chapter 11 with hopes to seek to reconfigure its concern schemes. Slow and comp lacey adaptation dominated in Kodak Company’s while Fujifilm embraced diversified spirit in all facets of the market relevancy. Each company’s moralss and societal a ttack clearly reflects their profitableness to give back to the community. Production criterions were maintained that satisfied all consumers. Possible alterations of the decision-making procedure that would encompass flexibleness and be the best manner to guarantee diverseness and invention in any organisation. Describe the History and Core Business of Each Company Kodak Kodak was officially known as Eastman Kodak Company. The laminitis George Eastman ( 1888 ) . patent and developed a engineering that would alter the manner we see things in still life. Eastman launched the easiness to photography. the first simple chink camera. picture taking equipment. movie. paper. and colour chemicals. Kodak was doing a net income by the 1990’s. ( â€Å"Building the Foundation† . n. d. ) . Although Kodak developed the basic engineering for the digital cameras in 1975. the thought was dropped due to the fright that it would endanger the movie concern ( Williams. 2013 ) . Kodak dropped the ball on what would hold been the biggest engineering development in the movie industry because they could non see the hereafter without traditional movie. Digital cameras are much faster and more efficient than the traditional movie. so Kodak gross revenues dropped well. Competition from other companies would finally take to Kodak’s loss of market portions in United States and worldwide. January of 2012. the company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. and a twelvemonth subsequently. the tribunal approved funding. Kodak. they sold patents to a group of companies: Apple. Microsoft. Google. and others. Fujifilm The Nipponese company was founded in 1934 ( Fujifilm. n. d. ) . They focused on picture taking and imagination. The company shortly ruled the Nipponese market. which was ranked 2nd after the United States in movie use ( Fujifilm. n. d. ) . Finally. the company entered the planetary and American market with a bold move. utilizing aggressive selling and low monetary values ( Fujifilm. n. d. ) . The turning point of the Fujifilm’s success in this venture was marked by the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics ( Fujifilm. n. d. ) . when they became the official movie of the event. This placed Fujifilm on the market for good. and the company started taking over Kodak’s market portion by offering equal quality merchandises for a cheaper monetary value ( Fujifilm. n. d. ) . As Fujifilm prepared for the fast changing demands in the market. it widened its concern range to digital cameras. pressmans. photocopiers. and optical devices ( Fujifilm. n. d. ) . It besides tapped into the wellness sector. bring forthing medical equipment that includes X-ray imagination and chemicals ( Fujifilm. n. d. ) . Compare and Contrast the Approach to Management That Each Company has Pursued in Order to Embrace Innovation. Kodak’s failure to encompass invention in a timely manner could be blamed on its management’s attack. They seemed to â€Å"rule† from behind the desk from their Rochester central office. which made them ignorant about the coming alterations in engineering and customers’ demands. and how it would impact them. Even when they were advised that the move to digital engineering was necessary. direction still refused to take action. In fact. avoiding revolutionising the engineering they originally created is the chief ground behind Kodak’s current problems and loss of portion in the market ( Williams. 2013 ) . Although they created the first of all time digital camera back in 1975. top-level direction rejected the thought in fright of losing its nucleus concern in movie. Looking back. this seems to be the turning point in the company’s luck ( Mui. 2012 ) . The predicted alteration to digital engineering 20 old ages subsequently was seen as the far future. and as the company enjoyed success. leading did non see a ground for alteration. In recent old ages. neverthe less. Kodak tried to alter its direction scheme in encompassing invention. They shifted to delocalize research and collect informations. in order to garner more information about consumer penchants. They besides diversified top-level direction to guarantee best accomplishment input in each field. and implemented a more democratic direction manner that listens to staff suggestions and thoughts ( Williams. 2013 ) . Fuji. on the other manus. took a different attack from the beginning ; while they were successful in the movie concern. they prepared for the switch to digital engineering and developed new concern lines. Initially. they started off as a picture taking and imaging company. so diversified into different other merchandises such as digital cameras. cosmetology. and medical equipment. This enabled Fujifilm to accomplish net incomes depending on the penchants of their assorted client bases. After its successful laterality in the Nipponese market. Fujifilm realized the potency in embarking into the planetary market. The 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles marked the discovery point in this venture. when Fujifilm became the official movie of the event. This provided the company the chance to acquire a turning part of Kodak’s market portion ( Schum. 2012 ) . A joint venture with the UK based Xerox ( Fuji Xerox ) helped set up farther planetary production and gross revenues. Their amalgamate financess equipped both companies with capableness for invention. research A ; development. and investings. Determine what other direction differences have impacted the comparative success of Kodak and Fujifilm. Provide specific illustrations to back up your response. Opposing to alter by direction was a major cause for the failure of Kodak. Even though they dropped the ball on the digital engineering. Kodak got the recognition for the digital innovation. They felt their initial programs and scheme worked so good that alteration was non needed. The direction squad believed that its nucleus strength was in the trade name and selling that they could merely spouse up with or purchase into a new industry such as drug or chemicals. But without in-house counsel. Kodak lacked the ability to incorporate the companies it had purchased and to negociate profitable partnerships ( Schum. 2012 ) . Unlike Kodak. Fujifilm implemented its ends and thoughts. and the company’s speedy reaction to alter was an advantage over Kodak. The success of Fujifilm can be chiefly associated with Management’s flexibleness to be advanced and venture into new engineering. which has put the company at the top of the photographic industry since its initiation in 1934 ( K. N. C. . 2012 ) . When Fuji realized that digital picture taking would be the manner of the hereafter. the company went through some alterations to acquire off from the same type of selling that Kodak was stuck on. Fuji still went through a figure of old ages of losing net income because of doing movie fabrication and gross revenues its chief concern. but finally Top Management had to implement new schemes. Evaluate each Company’s attack to Ethical motives and Social Duties and the impact those attacks have had on each company’s profitableness. In 2004. Kodak was ranked 58th out of the top 100 companies surveyed for the listing of. â€Å"Best Corporate Citizens† . This recognition was given by Business Ethics Magazine. and harmonizing to the article. Kodak had been in the running for 5 old ages ( Business moralss names. 2004 ) . Some of the countries that Kodak was recognized for were for the company’s anti-discrimination policies. and its just intervention of adult females and minorities ( Business moralss names. 2004 ) . From a societal duty point of view. Kodak contributes to. and supports a figure of community organisations such as. the United Way. museums. cultural installations. and executing humanistic disciplines organisations ( Community personal businesss. 2013 ) . The lone facet of hapless societal duty that I can use to Kodak would be from the old ages of hapless direction determinations and a waste of money on a division of the company. Kodak did non fix for the hereafter. and ended up holding to register bankruptcy. which stained the company’s image. Hopefully. Kodak direction has learned from the errors of the past and be a well-thought-of trade name. Kodak is committed to environmental. ethical. and societal responsible operations that include keeping safe work environment and supplying quality merchandises. Kodak’s single-use recycling plans help to avoid waste while salvaging resources and cut downing cost of recycling the recycled stuff. All in attempt to advance Kodak’s images as a trustworthy and thorough company. Fujifilm is obligated to moralss and societal duty every bit good. The company’s mini-lab web provided them with benefits of international economic graduated tables for both fabrication and selling operations ( Tsurumi A ; Tsurum. . 1999 ) . For illustration. Fujifilm’s cost of goods sold as a per centum of gross revenues continued to worsen from 1980’s to 1990’s. although it had to absorb perennial cost of imported Ag stuffs. Fujifilm spent 10 times more for advertizement than Kodak did in Japan ( Japan Market Research. 1995 ) . This ensures that these steps and values are integrated in all company processs. They besides implemented a transparence policy to maintain the authorities and clients cognizant of its concern activities. Discuss the extent to Which Management of both Companies adapted to altering Market conditions. From what I have researched and wrote approximately. Kodak stood house in their traditions and was confident in their trade name and selling schemes. Kodak direction had great inability to accommodate to the altering selling conditions when the marks were at that place for the hereafter. That inability led them straight to bankruptcy ( Schumpeter. 2012 ) . Presently. the company is seeking to retrace its schemes with a chief focal point on commercial printing. Fujifilm. on the other manus realized that major alterations were necessary the coming of the new photographic movie. Management made the appropriate moves to fix for the future selling conditions. They ability paid away. Fujifilm direction squad displayed the true value of invention. scheme. and executing compared to Kodak direction squad. There diverse in-house expertness insured a smooth transmutation ( Schumpeter. 2012 ) . Recommend three ( 3 ) ways any company should construct in flexibleness to endorse up its decision-making procedure in order to accommodate to altering market conditions. An unfastened head: Management should hold upward communicating in its companies marketing scheme and determination devising procedure. The lower-level direction squad gives the high-level direction squad positive or negative feedback on the operation issues. jobs. and public presentation of a company in order for all operations to run right and swimmingly. Broad minded employees are unfastened to new ideals and will be a great plus to the growing of any company or concern. Global Expansion to Long Term-Planning: Planing their merchandises harmonizing to the planetary market alterations. Making remarks to increase the merchandises and services by invariably measuring and bettering the procedures used to make those merchandises. By making so. the company could spread out in selling faster. dependable. and satisfactory merchandises in services to do clients return. Teamwork: Directors and non-managers join forcesing with concern proprietors.providers. employees. and clients working together to do betterments and work out jobs in a company. Uniting different accomplishments and leting employees to work together as a squad to acquire a Clients order completed. MentionsBloomberg. ( 1998 ) . Kodak-Fuji in U. S expected to heat up. New York. World Wide Web. articleslatimes. com/1998/feb/16/busines/fuji. bloombergnews Fujifilm. ( n. vitamin D ) . Fujifilm Global. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. fujifilm. com/ Kodak. ( n. vitamin D ) . Constructing the Foundation. Kodak. Retrieved from hypertext transfer protocol: //www. kodak. com/ek/US/en/Our_Company/History_of_Kodak/Building_the_Foundation. htmMui. C. ( 18 January. 2012 ) . How Kodak Failed. Forbes. Retrieved fromhypertext transfer protocol: //www. forbes. com/sites/chunkamui/2012/01/18/how-kodak-failed Schumpeter. ( 2012 ) . How Fuji movie survived. World Wide Web. economic expert. com/blogs/Schumpeter/2012/how-Fujifilm survivedWilliam. C ( 2012 ) . Management: MGMT5. ( fifth erectile dysfunction. ) . Mason. OH ) South-Western Cengage LearningZiemba. S. ( 1996 ) articles about Fuji-chigogotribune. World Wide Web. articles. chicogotribune. com/keyword/Fuji

The Significance of Fish in Chinese Language

The Significance of Fish in Chinese Language Learning the word for fish in Chinese can be a highly useful skill. From ordering seafood at a restaurant to understanding why there are so many fish themed decorations during Chinese New Years, knowing how to say fish in Chinese is both practical and an insight into cultural values. Deconstructing the Chinese word for fish includes learning about pronunciation and its evolution from pictograph to a simplified character. The Chinese Character for Fish   The Chinese character for  fish,  written in the traditional form, is é ­Å¡.  The simplified form is  Ã© ± ¼. Regardless of what form it is written in, the word for fish in Chinese is pronounced like you. Compared to English, the Chinese yà º has a shorter, more relaxed ending, dropping the exaggerated w sound that rounds out the big, full vowel in you. Evolution of the Chinese Character for Fish The traditional form of the Chinese character for fish evolved from an ancient pictograph. In its earliest form,  the word for fish clearly showed the fins, eyes, and scales of a fish. The current traditional form incorporates the four strokes of the fire radical, which looks like this (ç  ¬).Perhaps this addition suggests that fish is most useful to human beings when it is cooked.   Radical This character is also a traditional radical, meaning that the primary graphical component of the character is used as a building block in other, more complex Chinese characters. Radicals, also sometimes called classifiers, ultimately become a shared graphical component for several characters. Thus, the Chinese dictionary is often organized by radical. Many complex characters share the radical that derives from fish. Surprisingly, a lot of them are not related to fish or seafood at all. Here are some of the most common examples of Chinese characters with a fish radical. Traditional Characters Simplified Characters Pinyin English å… «Ã¥ ¸ ¶Ã© ­Å¡ å… «Ã¥ ¸ ¦Ã© ± ¼ bÄ  di yà º octopus é ®â€˜Ã© ­Å¡ é ² Ã© ± ¼ bo yà º abalone æ â€¢Ã© ­Å¡ æ â€¢Ã© ± ¼ bÇ” yà º to catch fish ç‚’é ­ ·Ã© ­Å¡ ç‚’é ± ¿Ã© ± ¼ chÇŽo yà ³u yà º to be fired é‡ £Ã© ­Å¡ é’“é ± ¼ dio yà º to go fishing é ± ·Ã© ­Å¡ é ³â€žÃ© ± ¼ à ¨ yà º alligator; crocodile é ® ­Ã© ­Å¡ é ® ­Ã© ± ¼ guÄ « yà º salmon 金é ­Å¡ 金é ± ¼ jÄ «n yà º goldfish é ¯ ¨Ã© ­Å¡ é ² ¸Ã© ± ¼ jÄ «ng yà º whale é ¯Å Ã© ­Å¡ é ² ¨Ã© ± ¼ shÄ  yà º shark é ­Å¡Ã¥ ¤ « é ± ¼Ã¥ ¤ « yà º fÃ… « fisherman é ­Å¡Ã§ « ¿ é ± ¼Ã§ « ¿ yà º gÄ n fishing rod é ­Å¡Ã§ ¶ ² é ± ¼Ã§ ½â€˜ yà º wÇŽng fishing net é ­ ¦ é ­ ¦ shÄ  shark family(including rays and skates) é ­ ¨ é ­ ¨ tà ºn leatherfish é ®Å¡ é ²â€™ jià © oyster é ®Å¾ é ²â€¢ à ©r caviar; roe/fish eggs é ¯  é ²   gÄ›ng blunt; fish bones; unyielding é ¯â€" é ² ­ qÄ «ng mackerel; mullet é ¯ ¨ é ² ¸ jÄ «ng whale é ±Å¸ é ²Å½ hà ²u king crab Cultural Importance of Fish in China The pronunciation of fish in Chinese, yà º,  is a homophone for â€Å"affluence† or â€Å"abundance. This phonetic similarity has led to fish becoming a symbol of  abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture. As such, fish are a common symbol in Chinese art and literature, and they are particularly important in Chinese mythology.   For instance, Asian carp (as they are known in the U.S.), are the subject of many Chinese lyrics and stories. The character for this creature is é ² ¤ é ± ¼, pronounced lÇ  yà º. Pictures and depictions of fish are also a common decoration for Chinese New Year. Fish in Chinese Mythology One of the most interesting Chinese myths about fish is the idea that a carp that climbs the waterfall on the Yellow River (known as the Dragon Gate) transforms into a dragon. The dragon is another important symbol in Chinese culture. In reality, each spring, carp gather in great numbers in the pool at the base of the waterfall, but very few actually make the climb. It has become a common saying in China that a student facing examinations is like a carp attempting to leap the Dragon Gate. The dragon/carp relationship is referenced in popular culture in other countries through the Pokà ©mon Magikarp and Gyarados.

Change Management Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Change Management Plan - Essay Example The small branch set up has now almost reached 1000 workers other than seasonal internees. As an internee at the HSBC’s branch during last month, I assessed a strong failure in the Human Resource functioning and the need for the revival of Human resource activities, especially for the middle management. The Human Resource Department was operating on weaker edges with slow processing and systematic reviewing of employees’ performance. The employees with low working abilities and inefficient customer handling were assigned high level customer dealing. The Manager Operations had not had his promotion since past 1.5 years despite outstanding performance. Some of the employees with higher level experience to tackle employees were given lesser portion of customer handling and more of technical work. The strategic significance of Human Resource was highly compromised and posed a strong ignorance to the performance appraisal and observation cues. There were ill defined scales t o measure the performance of the employees that further drew them back from showing up to the potential. There is an immediate need for systematic reviewing of Human Resource to uplift the behaviors and beliefs of the employees. Key Human Resource Problems: Performance Appraisal, Proper Placement and Compensation Management Importance of Human Resource Planning Human Resource planning is an ongoing progressive strategic execution for zero defect alignment between organizational goals and human resource management. HRM has to its excellence the privilege of showing Universal Superior approach to manage people (Pirzada, 163-176). Human resource practices merge from the phase of acquiring new employees based upon need assessments till the layoff plans that could be needed in case of ineffective employee management or to clear the unexpected and undesirable results. One of the very important operations of Human resource planning involves posting the allocation of available talent to the best suited destination and reallocating the weaker or tedious minds to rotation (Vanhala, 2011). Most of the activities talked above in the above extract deal with the explicit side of Human Resource Management since another definable role of Human resource is to keep up with motivating the working staff through financial and non financial tools. HR at HSBC A jist of both the phases is coordinately needed to ensure the retention of work force’s interest in the work objectives. In case of the Walnut’s Californian HSBC branch the employees need to be settled with effective placement, suitable to their skills and expertise and further be governed and coordinated for any work assistance, performance bonuses in case of extra performance and redefining of work schedules that get boring after repeated over and over for a long time (Coelho, 455-466). Methodology to Workout HR Issues The key important factor for all the employee motivation related issues is performance manage ment. Performance appraisal is the process of assessing and weighting the efficiency level of employees performance and dedication in their attitude and further communicating it to them (Rudin, 2005). Task I. Performance Rating Scale

Leading and managing people Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leading and managing people - Essay Example In my group we were doing a video shoot for companies. We were to act like a company and we were looking for investors to help make those download videos for companies. Therefore of this assignment being that we were coming from different cultural backgrounds we needed a strong and effective leader and was Ross was a one such leader. From the socio grams it is obvious that Ross choose the influencing kind of leadership style. In the appendix from week 4, 6, 7 and 8 more and more focus is directed on Ross as the project becomes more and more demanding. Furthermore, in week 6 even relationships between the groups members have began to be strained and there is tension however, by week 7 and 8 the leader Ross had straightened this tension and communication was smooth. The straightening and smoothening of the relationships in the group was not done by chance but by the leadership style that Ross had chosen. This is represented well by the emotiograms in the appendix which depicts the stress level of the members at different weeks. However, Ross is shown to be on top of the tree in each and every week looking down at his group members. As some members are distracted, some are lazing around, some are detached and some are completely falling Ross is strong and very alert and is on top of his game. This depicts Ross’ leadership skills as being assertive and influencing to the group members. By being influencing she is giving positive directives which will bring the members together. Being on top of all of the group members Ross put pressure on us to do what was expected of the group. However much this leadership style was good and productive it made me feel like Ross was the only important and my ideas and contributions were not valuable. In th e appendix section sociogram 6 portrays our strained relationship and also emotiogram 7 shows me just hanging by dangerously and about to fall. I believe that Ross’ leadership style is caused by his personality which is

Eye of the Albatross Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Eye of the Albatross - Assignment Example A sharp contrast also exists between the perception of sea usage by the Albatross and the Humans. While the Albatross uses the sea as their lifetime habitat, obtain food and shelter from the seas and oceans, the human usage of the sea is quite different. They use the seas to obtain gifts, though piracy, where they capture and terrorize other humans in order to achieve their goals, goals to enrich themselves from the properties and at the expense of others (Mancke, 225). While the Humans perceive the Albatross, as a burden to them, similarly is the Amelia’s perception of human, as a burden to the albatross, they capture them and other sea birds, and then slaughter them for food, sports, or feathers. Any interaction of Humans and the Albatross is of a destructive nature, where the humans capture and kills the birds while taking their eggs, thus threatening their survival. Humans use the hooking lines to capture and kill the Albatrosses for their food. The perception of the sea d iffers between the Albatrosses and the Humans, in that Humans perceive the sea as a trash bin where they can dispose all their wastes. This in turn affects the life of the sea birds by polluting their habitats and eventually causing them inhabitable and poisonous. This further risks the lives of the sea birds and threatens their survival (Safina, 151). While the Albatrosses uses the sea to survive and thrive, owing to it being their habitable environment, Human have always perceived and used the seas and the oceans as a territory through which to exercise their power, eventually controlling the other humans. The Europeans used the sea and the oceans to exercise their powers and eventually colonized the Africans and the Asians (Mancke, 227). The comparison between Amelia and the human perception of the sea is that both utilize it for one goal, surviving and thriving. The proletarians, the poor, and the peasants engage in sea activities to seek for food and other means of survival. Th is is however different from the other group of humans; the politicians, the diplomats and the military who uses the sea and oceans as a platform to obtain dominance over the others. The relationship between humans with each other and Albatrosses with each other sharply defers. While the relationship between the Albatrosses is that of support and assistance, the human relationship is that of master-servant, with the powerful and the well off dominating over their subordinates. The perception on the importance of seas and oceans differs between the Albatrosses and humans. While the albatrosses views the seas and the oceans as the only source of livelihood, with the dry land being used for procreation only, to humans the reverse is true (Lewis, 192). Human perceives the mass of dry land as the most important of the two, since this is where he lives and undertakes all his life activities. To human, the seas, and oceans, if anything, serves to supplement the source of livelihood that ma n has, the land. No wonder therefore, humans have always tried to reduce the size of seas and oceans by increasing the masses of dry land. While the entire Albatrosses population lives and co-exists in the seas and oceans, only a few of the human population lives or even depends on the sea for their livelihoods (Lewis, 212). The few humans that depend on the seas and oce

The dark ages Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The dark ages - Essay Example We will look at some of these inventions to see how they impacted on life and brought light to the dark ages. Ammad Ibn Musi al-Khwarizmi [780-850 AD] was a Persian mathetician, astronomer and geographer. He was born in Chorasmia in present day Iran. Later he studied maths and science at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, Iraq. He is famous for writing the treatise "Kitab al-Jabr Wa l-Mugabala" which translates roughly as "The Book of Reasoning and Balancing† which introduced the first complete system of algebra to the world. Built on the roots of Greek and Hindu systems, the new algebraic order was a unifying system for rational numbers, irrational numbers and geometrical magnitudes. Al-Khwarizmi was also the first to introduce the concept of raising a number to a power. He also introduced the system of decimal positional to the Western world. His work focused on the solving of linear and quadratic equations which was the most comprehensible method of that time. Al-Khwarizmi did extensive work on geography; he compiled the book â€Å"The Image of the Earth† in which he gave more accurate coordinates and information on the Mediterranean sea, Africa and Asia which aided in better understanding these areas by providing their Longitudes and latitudes. He also assisted in determining the circumpherance of the earth. In astronomy he developed tables for the moon, sun and the five known planets of the time. These tables aided in the understanding of celestial movement and became the basis for other astronomers in the Western world. Alhazen was a physicist and mathetician who was Born in 965 AD in Basra which is in present day Iraq. He wrote over 200 books; however, his most famous work was the writing of The Book of Optics. This book dealt with all manner of vision related theories and experiments. For instance, he made a study of the passage of light rays through transparent mediums such as air and water, which led to the discovery of the laws of refractio n. He also dealt with the theories of physical phenomena such as shadows, eclipses and the rainbow. One such phenomenon, twilight, was researched and he established that twilight only begins and ends when the sun is 19 degrees below the horizon. This discovery helped him create other theories about the atmosphere. Alhazen was the first physician to properly describe the parts of the eye and give a scientific explanation on vision. He was the first to use camera obscura. He disproved the previous theory that rays of light are omitted from the eye which allows a person to see an object; rather, he proved that it is the opposite, light refracts off objects allowing the eye to visualise them. In mathematics he developed analytical geometry in which he established a link between algebra and geometry. Alhazen influenced many Western scientists such as Roger Bacon, John Pecham and Johannes Kepler. The asteroid 59239 Alhazen was named in his honour due to his contribution to the knowledge o f physics and mathematics. He died in 1040 AD. Abbas Ibn Firnas [810-887 AD] was an astronomer and poet who lived in the Emirate of Cordoba, in the Spanish region. He is mostly known for an early attempt at aviation. He designed a glider like mechanism which comprised of bird-like wings with feathers; although, it is said that his attempt at flight was somewhat successful, he greatly injured his back when landing. Some of his other inventions include the creation of a water clock, colorless glass,

Improving Operations Management at British Airways plc in the current Essay

Improving Operations Management at British Airways plc in the current economic climate - Essay Example h Airways is still in an open competition with several other airlines, this is to assure its realistic, practical and superior efforts to keep its name high amongst other counterparts. British Airways (BA) contains a formalised composition with a number of predefined policies and measures, and it’s because of its magnitude and the global range of its movement. The objective of this assignment is to analyse the practices and to outline British Airways approach to managing change in its organisation according to the current economic climate all over the world. (Vrana, V, 2006, 510) This issue assumes a particular relevance in an increasingly competitive environment in the service industry. The report is divided in two parts. The first part analyses the strategic approach to the market and the corporate culture of the airline. The second part includes some recommendations to help the current standing of the air line as a result of worldwide economic disaster. British Airways plc (BA) is amongst worlds major international airlines, that carries greater number of passengers from one destination to another than its other competitors. British Airways is a scheduled international passenger airline. (Law, Leung and Wong, 2004, 105) The Companys main activity is the operation of international and domestic scheduled traveler airline services. The Company also gives other services to other parties, for example aircraft maintenance. British Airways have a board and a leadership team. Whilst the structure would lend itself to a hierarchical one, British Airways encourage employee participation, suggesting a top down and bottom up approach. (Lewis, 2008, 960) British Airways are set up as a traditional hierarchical structure; however management is moving into collective decision making, involving all employees. (Strategic Direction, 2006, 26) BA operates from many airports, but its main base is at London Heathrow. BA has improved the range of services it can offer customers

What will happen to Iraq if the US leaves Essay

What will happen to Iraq if the US leaves - Essay Example One of the most important events in the current world affairs is the invasion of Iraq by the US and there have been several essential voices arguing that it is high time for the US to leave the region to set the Iraqis free to pursue their political and economic destiny. Critics who regard the invasion of Iraq by the US as a serious offence against the freedom of that nation argue that America needs to establish normalcy in the region before they leave the land. "No one can say with confidence what will happen in Iraq if the United States leaves precipitously and without making a continuing effort to compensate for its mistakes and failures. It is easy to talk about intensive civil war, 'blood baths', and an international resurgence of al-Qaida. Such worst cases are possible, but the most likely result is less violent sectarian and ethnic cleansing, and the de facto division of much of the country." (Cordesman and Davies, 2008, p 737). Therefore, the most essential question in the pr esent context is not whether the US invasion of Iraq is justifiable or not, but what happens if the US leaves Iraq all on a sudden. In this paper a careful and reflective analysis of this essential question concerning Iraq's future if the US leaves the region is conducted and the discussion in this regard not only is vital to an understanding of the political system in the US but also to an understanding of some of the most important world affairs as well as affairs in the Iraqi region. In a careful analysis of the current situation in Iraq, it is essential to comprehend that there are several benefits if the US army stay longer in the region. People, who consider that going into Iraq was a big mistake committed by the US, are greatly concerned about what will happen when USA leaves Iraq. To most of them, it will be foolish to consider that the Iraqis are able to defend themselves against all the issues in the country and the region. First of all, there will be great chaos in the nation and the region if the US leaves immediately. Although there are people who argue for the rapid withdrawal of the US troops from the region, on the basis of the unfortunate developments precipitated by the US invasion of Iraq, it is not logical for the army to leave the region before the Iraqi security forces are self-sufficient. Such a rapid withdrawal of the US troops will inflict long term damage on US credibility and ability to deter enemies and would facilitate the objectives of the al-Qaeda. "In Iraq, the United States has demonstrated that it will stand and fight in the face of adversity when it believes that its core interests are at stake. US determination in Iraq has done much to counter previous jihadists' perceptions of the United States as a 'paper tiger' If the United States leaves prematurely, these gains will be lost and Iraq will join Vietnam, Beirut, Aden, and Somalia in the jihadi mantra regarding US weakness." (Forest, 2007, p 47). Apart from these, it is also argued that some of the powerful leaders from within Iraq can emerge in the nation, take over the government and eventually result in another dictatorship. Also there is a possibility that Iran will invade Iraq and take over it if the US leaves the region all on a sudden. There is a serious argument that "Iraq will become a terrorist haven if the United States leaves." (Preble and Logan, 2005). Reports from the Baghdad confirms that the US withdrawal from the region can affect the norma lization process of the country and "Iraq's foreign minister warned that a quick American military withdrawal from the country could lead to a full-scale civil war, the collapse of the government and

Improving Operations Management at British Airways plc in the current Essay

Improving Operations Management at British Airways plc in the current economic climate - Essay Example h Airways is still in an open competition with several other airlines, this is to assure its realistic, practical and superior efforts to keep its name high amongst other counterparts. British Airways (BA) contains a formalised composition with a number of predefined policies and measures, and it’s because of its magnitude and the global range of its movement. The objective of this assignment is to analyse the practices and to outline British Airways approach to managing change in its organisation according to the current economic climate all over the world. (Vrana, V, 2006, 510) This issue assumes a particular relevance in an increasingly competitive environment in the service industry. The report is divided in two parts. The first part analyses the strategic approach to the market and the corporate culture of the airline. The second part includes some recommendations to help the current standing of the air line as a result of worldwide economic disaster. British Airways plc (BA) is amongst worlds major international airlines, that carries greater number of passengers from one destination to another than its other competitors. British Airways is a scheduled international passenger airline. (Law, Leung and Wong, 2004, 105) The Companys main activity is the operation of international and domestic scheduled traveler airline services. The Company also gives other services to other parties, for example aircraft maintenance. British Airways have a board and a leadership team. Whilst the structure would lend itself to a hierarchical one, British Airways encourage employee participation, suggesting a top down and bottom up approach. (Lewis, 2008, 960) British Airways are set up as a traditional hierarchical structure; however management is moving into collective decision making, involving all employees. (Strategic Direction, 2006, 26) BA operates from many airports, but its main base is at London Heathrow. BA has improved the range of services it can offer customers

Response to an article od the new york time Essay

Response to an article od the new york time - Essay Example Having observed in my own community, the variety in the said parental stimulation that occurs from family-to-family has produced diverse results in the cognitive, social, as well as in the emotional development of the children. Parents who gave an enthusiastic interaction—through singing, conversations and acknowledgement of ‘BA BA BAs,’ resulted to more advanced child development; while children who lack parental stimulation and interaction, and had no choice but to learn words on their own, tend to have slow progress. Furthermore, problems in the home, as well as in the child’s hearing, oral motor and understanding, as pointed out by Dr. Klass, were truly linked with, and revealed by, the child response to interaction, which, in the case of babies, babbling. It is in this premise that, I concur with what was presented in the article, â€Å"Understanding ‘Ba Ba Ba’ as a Key to Development,† and trust in its impact in the child’s development. Reference: Klass, P. â€Å"Understanding ‘Ba Ba Ba’ as a Key to Development.† The New York Times. 11 October 2010. 27 May 2011.

A Fully Qualified Domain Name Essay Example for Free

A Fully Qualified Domain Name Essay A Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) is sometimes also called an absolute domain name because it contains specific information about the exact location of the domain, relative to the tree hierarchy of the Domain Name System (DNS). The DNS system resolves Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to names of specific domains, and is the standard naming system for any computers connected to the internet. The FQDN system specifies where in the domain structure the particular referenced domain resides. Therefore the FQDN will show the top-level domain and how it relates to the root domain. For example, in a theoretical domain system, the personal computer of the boss is called bosscomputer, which resides in a domain which is named companydomain. com. Therefore the fully qualified domain name for the personal computer of the boss is bosscomputer. companydomain. com. This is because there may be many different bosscomputers in the world, but there will be only one computer in the world with a FQDN of bosscomputer. companydomain. com. However, if there is more than one boss in the company, the FQDN system is able to be expanded to deal with this problem. Again, using this example, if there is a boss who is the head of marketing, and another boss who is the head of accounting, then two separate domains can be setup within the companydomain. com architecture to deal with this problem. If a domain is added as marketing, and another added for accounting, then the FQDN of the boss of marketing becomes bosscomputer. marketing. companydomain. com, and the boss of accounting becomes bosscomputer. accounting. companydomain. com. The beauty of the domain name system, and subsequently the fully qualified domain name system is that it makes naming computers easy, meaningful and independent of physical location. The DNS server which is working in the example above will only need to hold local records for the local domain but will be able to communicate with external DNS servers and will be able to differentiate the two bosscomputer machines.

Positive deviance study of malnutrition

Positive deviance study of malnutrition Introduction Malnutrition is the underlying cause of every one out of two deaths in children under 5 years of age. Bryce J, Boschi-Pinto C, Shibuya K, Black RE, and the WHO Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group. WHO estimates of the causes of death in children. Lancet 2005; 365: 1147-52. It is a largely preventable cause of over a third-3.5 million- of all child deaths. Four-Fifths of undernourished children live across 4 regions-Africa, Asia, Western Pacific and the Middle East-. These are high priority nations for action. The first of the millennium development goals was to half between 1990 and 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger. U.N.Mellinium Project 2005. Halving hunger:It can be done. London and Sterling, VA:Task force on hunger, 2005. Nutrition is a neglected aspect of child health which is not justifiable as we know that it is a major risk factor for disease. Lopez AD, Mathers CD, Ezzati M, Jamison DT, Murray CJL. Global and regional burden of disease and risk factors, 2001:systematic analysis of population health data. Lancet 2006: 367:1747-57. Inappropriate feeding practices and their consequences are major obstacles to sustainable socioeconomic development and poverty reduction. Governments will be unsuccessful in their efforts to accelerate development in any significant long-term sense until optimal child growth and development, especially through appropriate feeding practices, is ensured. WHO Global Strategy on Infant Young Child Feeding Report of the Secretariat 55th World Health Assembly, April 2002(5) The indicator by which progress is measured is the prevalence of underweight in children under five, specifically, the percentage of children aged 0-59 months who fall below minus two standard deviations from the median weight for age of the standard reference population. http://www.unicef.org/progressforchildren/2006n4/index_undernutrition.html World Bank Report on 11th May 2006, there is a dominant focus on food supplementation that detracts from aspects that are more crucial for improving child nutritional outcomes, such as improving mothers feeding and caring behavior For example, only 40 percent of Indian mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding. Also delivery of services is not sufficiently focused on the youngest children (under three), who could potentially benefit most from ICDS interventions Growth-faltering starts during pregnancy, and approximately 30 percent of children in India are born with low birth weight, and by the age of two years most lifetime growth retardation has taken place, and is largely irreversible The flowchart below depicts the interactions between underlying and immediate causes of malnutrition The Positive Deviance concept which forms the basis of this study focuses on two direct behavioural causes of malnutrition at the household level, namely inadequate dietary intake and disease prevention. This study measures childhood malnutrition using the new growth standards that have been recently released by the World Health Organization. The new standards are based on children from Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the US and adopt a fundamentally prescriptive approach designed to describe how all children should grow rather than merely describing how children grew in a single reference population at a specified time. Garza C, de Onis M. (for the WHO Multicentre Growth Reference Study Group). Rationale for developing a new international growth reference. Food Nutr Bull 2004; 25 (Suppl. 1): S5-14. Magnitude of Malnutrition Malnutrition is a widely prevalent problem in India and one of astonishing magnitude. According to the National Family Health Survey 3 (NFHS III, 2005-06), about a third of Indias children are born underweight, about 44 percent of children under five are underweight, 48 percent are stunted, 20 percent are wasted and 70 percent are anaemic. NFHS II (1992-93), more than half (53%) of children below four years of age are under nourished. In 1998, 29.1% children between 1-5 years of age suffered from moderate and 12.3% from severe under nutrition. This shows only a gradual decrease in the prevalence of under nutrition in India over twelve years. Nutritional adequacy is one of the key determinants of the health and well being of the children. Under-nourishment not only retardsphysical developmentbut also hampers the learning and cognitive process, leading to sluggish educational, social and economic development, according to Sanjeev Kumar in his study Malnutrition in Children of the Back ward States of India and the ICDS Programme. According to the NFHS III data, Tamil Nadu, although considered one of the better performing states, recorded to have nearly 35% of its rural children as undernourished. This value was certainly lower than the national rural average of 49%, but according to the NNMB survey based on the NCHS standards in 2001, there was a rise in the levels of severe malnutrition in both boys and girls in the under 5 age group in Tamil Nadu Therefore the focus of this study is to investigate how some children living in the same surroundings escape the ill-effects of malnutrition and thrive in spite of poverty and limited resources, and use these practices to eliminate malnutrition among the rest. The Positive Deviance Approach and its benefits Positive Deviance is based on the fact that solutions to some community problems already exist within the community and need to be discovered. It is a strength-based or asset-based approach based on the belief that in every community there are certain individuals (Positive Deviants) whose special, or uncommon, practices and behaviours enable them to find better ways to prevent malnutrition than their neighbours who share the same resources and face the same risks. Through a dynamic process called the Positive Deviance Inquiry (PDI), these practices are discovered to contribute to a better nutritional outcome in under nourished child This intervention is designed to enable families with malnourished children to learn and practice these and other beneficial behaviours. The programme actively involves the mother and child in rehabilitation and learning in a home like situation and work to enable the families to sustain the childs enhanced nutritional status at home. The typical session consists of nutritional rehabilitation and education over a twelve-day period followed by home visits. The development of a community-based nutrition rehabilitation model called PD/Hearth was promoted by USAID and other international organizations such as UNICEF. The Hearth approach In the Hearth approach, caregivers of malnourished children practice new cooking, feeding, hygiene and caring behaviours shown to be successful for rehabilitating malnourished children. The selected practices come from both the findings of the Positive Deviance Inquiry and emphasis behaviours highlighted by public health experts. The Hearth session consists of nutritional rehabilitation and education over a twelve-day period followed by home visits. The Hearth approach promotes behaviour change and empowers caregivers to take responsibility for nutritional rehabilitation of their children using local knowledge and resources. After two weeks of being fed additional high-calorie foods, children become more energetic and their appetites increase. Visible changes in the child, coupled with the learning by doing method, results in improved caregiver confidence and skills in feeding, child care, hygiene and health-seeking practices. Improved practices, regardless of mothers education levels, enhance child growth and development. This approach successfully reduces malnutrition in the target community by enabling community members to discover the wisdom of Positive Deviant mothers and to practice this wisdom in the daily Hearth sessions. Positive Deviance/Hearth is an effective tool in discovering the solutions from within. Need for the Study Maternal and child under nutrition is highly prevalent in low and middle income countries like ours, resulting in increased mortality and overall disease burden. It is well recognised that among the basic and underlying causes of under nutrition include environmental and economic factors with poverty having a central role. Thus for a sustainable solution to this very common problem, there needs to be an ecological and holistic approach rather than the current and commonly used approach of the government giving supplementary feeds to those who are malnourished. The latter approach not only puts a financial strain on the government but also make the community members dependent on this external aid. Therefore this study concentrates on identifying affordable and sustainable solutions within a community which can be used to prevent undernutrition. This approach is also not resource hungry unlike the traditional approaches where the focus is on finding and fixing what is wrong and missing in the community rather than identifying what is already working and build on the strengths of existing healthy practices within the community that is protecting them from undernutrition even though they are faced with same constraints of resources. This approach is known as the Positive Deviance approach. Knowledge shared through this approach not only changes behaviour but also changes how a community perceives malnutrition and their ability to change the situation. The Positive Deviant approach has been shown in other studies and projects to quickly eliminate malnutrition and through the sustainable new behaviour; the younger siblings have also received these benefits. Positive deviance is a successful approach to decrease malnutrition and has enabled hundreds of communities the world over to reduce and prevent malnutrition. This approach is also culturally acceptable which helps bring about change in our society. However, there are only a few studies that use this concept to reduce malnutrition in India, whereas the potential here is very high. And , although Tamil Nadu has shown gains in terms of reduction of the problem of malnutrition, it still has a high percentage of malnourished children and therefore this study was undertaken to estimate prevalence in fourteen villages within the rural field practice area of the department of community medicine of PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research and explore the feasibility, sustainability and effectiveness of combating the problem by using the Positive Deviance concept and approach. Tamil Nadu has a high prevalence of malnutrition. Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in the primary focus from Management of Malnutrition to Prevention of Malnutrition. Towards achieving this, strategies and activities have been proposed under various components for the year 2006-07 with priority for greater attention on the health and nutritional status, by the Government of Tamil Nadu. One of the guiding principles suggested to help achieve Malnutrition free Tamil Nadu, is effective nutrition intervention, and communication to bring about behavioural change. To help achieve this goal, this study was undertaken in fourteen villages under the rural field practice area of the department of community medicine of PSG Institute of Medical Science and Research using the Positive Deviance concept. Objectives To estimate the prevalence of under 3yrs undernutrition in 14 villages of Vedapatti. To identify Positive Deviant practices in the community. To rehabilitate undernourished children identified in the most affected village. To reassess families at their homes after 6 months and ensure sustainability of Positive Deviant practices. Review of literature Classification of under nutrition Under nutrition is defined as the outcome of insufficient food intake and repeated infectious diseases. It includes being underweight for ones age, too short for ones age (stunted), dangerously thin for ones height (wasted) and deficient in vitamins and minerals (micronutrient malnutrition) according to UNICEF. Low weight for age is termed as underweight. Weight for age classifications are widely used in assessing nutritional status of children as it gives a picture of both acute and chronic onset malnutrition. The earlier classifications include Gomez, Indian Association of Paediatrics, and Welcome. These classifications use different reference standards, but the current recommended standards are the WHO references. This study uses the WHO references to classify underweight. In a study done by Bridget Fenn and Mary E. Penny across three countries, fewer children were classified as underweight according to the WHO classification when compared to the NCHS reference standards. Another study done by Marc-Andre Prost et al showed contrasting results. The WHO standards gave a prevalence of underweight 3.6 times higher early in infancy,0 4 months (6.1% against 1.7%) and half the estimated prevalence of the NCHS reference in the second half of infancy, 11 15 months(6.6% against 13.6%) Implication of New WHO Growth Standards on Identification of Risk Factors and Estimated Prevalence of Malnutrition in Rural Malawian Infants Marc-Andre ´ Prost1*, Andreas Jahn1,2, Sian Floyd1, Hazzie Mvula2, Eleneus Mwaiyeghele2, Venance Mwinuka2, Thomas Mhango2, Amelia C. Crampin1,2, Nuala McGrath1,2, Paul E. M. Fine1, Judith R. Glynn1 In a study done by P.R. Deshmukh et al , in Anji, Maharashtra, the prevalence of underweight as assessed by WHO standards was significantly lower when compared with the assessment based on NCHS reference (p0.05). Newly Developed WHO Growth Standards : Implications for Demographic Surveys and Child Health Programs P.R. Deshmukh, A.R. Dongre, S.S. Gupta and B.S. Garg Prevalence of under nutrition The World Bank estimates that India is ranked 2nd with 47% after Bangladesh for the most number of children who suffer with malnutrition (in 1998). The prevalence of underweight children in India is among the highest in the world, and is nearly double that of Sub-Saharan Africa with dire consequences for mobility, mortality, productivity and economic growth. According to the National family health survey -3 the percentage of under 3 children who were underweight in Tamilnadu were 33.2 % (31.3% in the urban areas and 34.8% in rural areas) The National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau observed that in about 40% of the households, the intake of dietary energy by preschool children was inadequate. About 55% of the preschool age children were underweight, 52% were stunted and 15% were wasted. In a study done by Bhanderi D et al, the prevalence of under weight (wt. for age below 2SD) was 43.67%. An epidemiological study of health and nutritional status of under five children in semi-urban community of Gujarat. Bhanderi D, Choudhary SK. A study done to find the prevalence of malnutrition in Uttar Pradesh showed that the maximum over all prevalence of malnutrition was in the age group of 13-24 months. The maximum number of grade IV malnutrition was found in the age group 25-36 months. Harishankar, Shraddha Dwivedi, S.B. Dadral, D.K. Walia, Nutritional status of children under 6 years of age Indian Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine. Vol. 35 No.3 4 2004 Methods of assessing nutritional status Nutritional assessments can be done by both direct and indirect methods. The method used can result in a wide variation in the prevalence of malnutrition. P. Mohanan et al in their study evaluated the efficacy of Body Mass Index, Mid-Arm Circumference and Weight-for-age in detecting Malnutrition in terms of sensitivity, specificity and predictive value and concluded that weight-for-age is the best indicator. P.Mohanan, A.Kamath, B.Motha, M.Philip. Evaluation of Anthropometric Indices of Malnutrition in under-five children. Indian Journal of Public Health 1994 July-September;28 (3); 91-94. A Comparison of Anthropometric Methods for Assessing Nutritional Status of Preschool Children in the Philippines was done to identify the most reliable anthropometricmeasurements that reflect nutritional status and the Dugdales nutritional index, weight/height, was a reliable measurement for malnutrition. This is exceptionally useful when the age of the child is not know. A Comparison of Anthropometric Methods for Assessing Nutritional Status of Preschool Children: The Philippines Study Marilyn D. Johnson, MS,William K. Yamanaka, PhDandCandelaria S. Formacion, MS Factors associated with malnutrition Gender A case-controlled study conducted in a rural area in Tamil Nadu, India, on 97,000 children showed that female gender was a significant risk factor for malnutrition. YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 70 (1997), pp. 149-160. Copyright C 1997. All rights reserved. A Case-Control Study of Maternal Knowledge of Malnutrition and Health-Care-Seeking Attitudes in Rural South India Kaori Saito, Joshua R. Korzenika, James F. Jekel and Sara Bhattacharji Also another study in Tamilnadu on a total of 2954 children attending the TamilNadu Integrated Nutrition Project (TINP), showed that there was an association between female sex and malnutrition. In this study the malnourished children were referred to as negative deviants. Use of Positive-Negative Deviant Analyses to Improve Programme Targeting and Services: Example from the TamilNadu Integrated Nutrition Project MEERA SHEKAR, JEAN-PIERRE HABICHT AND MICHAEL C LATHAM Girls showed only a slightly higher level of prevalence of malnutrition in the study done by The Research and Special Studies Division of the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka A study done in the slums of Chandigarh on 1286 preschool children found no significant gender difference. This study shows similar reports as our study in Vedapatti. H.M. Swami, J.S.Thakur, S.P.S.Bhatia, Vikas Bhatia. Nutriotional status of preschool children in an ICDS block of Chandigarh. Journal og Indial Medical Association; 99(10): 554-556 The sex of the child was found to be significantly high in association to malnutrition. The percentage of female children that were malnurished was higher in school going children. Epidemiology of malnutrition in a rural field practice are of Navi Mumbai By Sumedha Joshi and Santosh S. Walgankar Indian Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine Vol 35, 1 and 2, 2004 Mothers Literacy The Research and Special Studies Division of the Department of Census and Statistics, Sri Lanka, undertook a methodological study to investigate the prevalence of malnutrition in children under five years of age, and the factors contributing to such a situation. The study found that 25% of pre-school children that were undernourished had mothers who had not gone beyond the primary level of school education. The effected proportion dropped to 11% when the mother has had at least secondary education. Mother literacy was found in this study to have a positive effect on bringing down the incidence of malnutrition in socio-economically backward villages around Agra. Positive Deviance determinants in Young Infants in rural Uttar Pradesh by Vani Sethi1, Sushma Kashyap1, Veenu Seth1 and Siddharth Agarwal, Department of Foods and Nutrition, Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, India. Indian Journal of Pediatrics Volume 74, June 2007. Sandip Kumar et al in a study among 600 under 5 children in West Bengal showed that illiteracy of both parents was a significant risk factor for malnutrition. Sandip Kumar Ray, Anima Halder, Biswajit Biswas, Raghunath Mishra, Satish Kumar. Epidemiology of Under Nutrition. Indian Journal of Pediatrics 2001 November: 68:1025-1030. Socio-economic status This study in 2003 on 4187 children showed contrasting results in Nigeria. The southeast and southwest regions had large inequalities between the poor and the rich whereas northeast and northwest regions had a considerably small gap between the rich and the poor on malnutrition. Using extended concentration and achievement indices to study socioeconomic inequality in chronic childhood malnutrition: the case of Nigeria Olalekan A Uthmancorresponding author1,2 A study done in 1000 under 5 children in Rajasthan showed that 82% of the malnourished children belonged to the socio economic classes 4 and 5. Nutritional disorders in rural Rajasthan A.L.Soni1, R.N.Singh1and B.D.Gupta. Indian Journal of Peadiatrics, May, 1980,Vol 47: 199-202. A case-control study of maternal knowledge of malnutrition and health-care-seeking attitudes in rural Tamilnadu, showed that socio-economic status was a stronger risk factor for malnutrition than health-care availability and health-care-seeking attitudes. A case-control study of maternal knowledge of malnutrition and health-care-seeking attitudes in rural South India, Saito K,Korzenik JR,Jekel JF,Bhattacharji S. Birth order The study done by Vani Sethi et al also evaluated other factors that contribute to malnutrition in the society and found that third or earlier born infants escaped malnutrition Positive Deviance determinants in Young Infants in rural Uttar Pradesh by Vani Sethi1, Sushma Kashyap1, Veenu Seth1 and Siddharth Agarwal21Department of Foods and Nutrition, Lady Irwin College, New Delhi, India. Indian Journal of Pediatrics Volume 74, June 2007 Another study in Uttar Pradesh observed that grade III malnutrition was absent in the children whose birth order was one and two. A significant rise in Malnutrition was found in the children of birth order IV and above. Health and Population Perspectives Issues 4(2):106-112, 1981 A community based, cross-sectional study was conducted in the Mollasimla village of Hooghly district of West Bengal, showed a significantly higher proportion of malnutrition was found to be present among female children of higher birth order and those belonging to families with lower per capita income compared to the males. Gender inequality in nutritional status among under five children in a village in Hooghly district, West Bengal. Dey I,Chaudhuri RN. PROTEIN ENERGY MALNUTRITION IN CHILDREN A CASEFOR THE NEED OF A PLANNED FAMILY Deoki Nandan*, J. V. Singh** and B. C Srivastava A study done by Harishankar et al showed that the highest percentage of malnourished children was seen in the first born children (47.2%) and the least in children with birth order 3 and above (17.8%) Harishankar, Shraddha Dwivedi, S.B. Dadral, D.K. Walia,Nutritional status of children under 6 years of age Indian Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine. Vol. 35 No.3 4 2004 Spacing The same study in Uttar Pradesh, by Deoki Nandan et al also studied the relationship to spacing and malnutrition showed that there was a direct association between Protein energy Malnutrition and less spacing between sibilings. Health and Population Perspectives Issues 4(2):106-112, 1981. Protein Energy Malnutrition In Children A Case For The Need Of A Planned Family Deoki Nandan*, J. V. Singh** and B. C Srivastava Studies using Positive Deviance concepts The successful application of the PD approach has been documented in more than 41 countries in nutrition and a variety of other sectors from public health to education to business. Positive deviance is not specific to nutrition practices, but can be used for many other behaviours. Ref:http://www.positivedeviance.org/PD_Evaluation_Report_for_DEPKES_FINAL.pdf Positive Deviance was used in two Colombian hospitals to combat the spread of MRSA Infection. All hospital staff up to the security guard involved themselves by reminding the visitors to practice good hand hygiene. As a result the infection rates have dropped down my more than 75% from 1.1 infections per 1000 patient days to less than 0.2 infections per 1000 patient days. Ref: http://www.positivedeviance.org/projects/healthcare.html?id=49 In West Bengal, India, ICDS has undertaken pilots projects in the use of the PD approach in Nutrition and Child Care Program (NCCP) in 4 districts to improve the nutritional status of children under three years of age. The projects substantially decreased the number of malnourished children by promoting good care practices. The PD informed project enabled families to break the dependence on donated food, by identifying cheap locally available and bringing it daily to the NCC session to prepare and feed their malnourished children. Every month the malnourished child is weighed and in most cases, mothers find their children gaining weight between 100 and 600 gm. Ref:http://www.positivedeviance.org/projects/nutrition.html?id=77 Ref:http://www.unicef.org/india/nutrition_1557.htm In 1990 Save the Children initiated a PD program in Viet Nam to enable poor villages to address the pervasive problem of childhood malnutrition. At that time 60% of children under the age of 5 suffered from malnutrition in Viet Nam. The initial pilot project was in the first 4 villages. In each of the villages, six of the poorest families with well nourished kids were chosen and caretakers were questioned and observed. In every instance where a poor family had a well-nourished child, the mother or father was collecting tiny shrimps or crabs or snails (the size of one joint of one finger) from the rice paddies and adding these to the childs diet along with the greens from sweet potato tops. Although readily available and free for the taking, the conventional wisdom held these foods to be inappropriate, or even dangerous, for young children. Along with these food and atypically strict hand hygiene in 5 of the 6 PD households, other positive deviant behaviors emerged, involving frequenc y and method of feeding and quality of care and health-seeking behaviors. Through the PD inquiries, community members had discovered for themselves what it took for a very poor family to have a well-nourished child. Rehabilitation started as for two weeks every month, mothers or other caretakers would bring their malnourished children to a neighbors house for a few hours every day. Together with the health volunteer, they would prepare and feed an extra nutritious meal to their children. This showed great success by reducing malnutrition by as much as 80%. The project was then applied in large scale reaching more than 2 million people and in 250 communities and sustainabily rehabiliteted 50,000 malnourished children under the age of 5. This is probably the best known and best documented large scale application of PD. Ref: http://www.positivedeviance.org/projects/nutrition.html?id=105 In Nepal a PD project to cover more than 8000 children under 3 years of age from 15 very disadvantaged communities was started with an aim of reducing child malnutrition in a sustainable manner. Positive practices regarding child feeding, caring, health seeking and maternity care are identified from the poor families having well nourished children through the PDI and then are made accessible to the families with malnourished children through a learning by doing process. Ref: http://www.positivedeviance.org/projects/countries.html?id=82 In the year 2000 a Positive Deviance Inquiry to identify specific behaviors and strategies that contribute to healthy pregnancy outcomes amongst poor women was conducted. The inquiry determined that mothers-in-law played a central role in assisting women in obtaining medical care. Low-income women with weight gain greater than 1.5 kg per month in the second trimester of pregnancy reported multiple antenatal care contacts, increased rest during pregnancy, and more consumption of meat and vegetables. These results were incorporated into a program for 200 women that resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of low birth weight. Ref: http://www.positivedeviance.org/projects/public_health.html?id=117 The following is illustrative of the impact of Positive Deviance over the last 15 years: Sustained 65 to 80% reduction in childhood malnutrition in Vietnamese communities, reaching a population of 2.2 million people. Significant reduction in childhood malnutrition in communities in 41 countries around the world. Reduction in neo-natal mortality morbidity in Pashtun communities in Pakistan and minority communities in Vietnam with near universal adoption of protective behaviors and social change. Estimated 50% increase in primary school student retention in 10 participating schools in Missiones, Argentina. Community intervention methods to combat under nutrition Traditional nutrition interventions include growth monitoring, counselling and the provision of supplemental foods and micronutrients But over decades the weighing of children undertaken by several National health ministries has brought little or no change to the nutritional status. In fact, in a study done by Sridhar Seetharaman, in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, it was found that the Mid Day Meal did not make any appreciable and significant impact on improving the nutritional status of the children. Impact Of Mid Day Meal On The Nutritional Status Of School Going Children, Sridhar Seetharaman, NIRD, Hyderabad Zulfiqar A Bhutta et al used a cohort model to study the interventions that affect maternal and child undernutrition and nutrition-related outcomes. The interventions included promotion of breastfeeding; strategies to promote complementary feeding, with or without provision of food supplements; micronutrient interventions; general supportive strategies to improve family and community nutrition. They found that these interventions could reduce stunting at 36 months by 36%; mortality between birth and 36 months by about 25%; and disability-adjusted life-years associated with stunting, severe wasting, intrauterine growth restriction, and micronutrient deficiencies by about 25%. Prof Zulfiqar A Bhutta PhDa, Tahmeed Ahmed PhDb, Prof Robert E Black MDc, Prof Simon Cousens PhDd, Prof Kathryn Dewey PhDe, Elsa Giuglianif, Batool A Haider MDa, Prof Betty Kirkwood PhDd, Saul S Morris PhDd, Prof HPS Sachdevg, Meera Shekar PhDhand for the Maternal and Child Undernutrition Study Group, Lancet Volume 371, 8 February 2008, Pages 417-440 Reasons for age selection Care is an important determinant of nutritional status. It determines the delivery of food and health care resources to the child by optimizing the existing resources to promote good health and nutrition in children. Ramakrishnan U. UNICEF-Cornell colloquium on care and nutrition of the young child-planning. F Nutr Bull 1995; 16: 286-92. The first two years of life are the window of opportunity to prevent early childhood undernutrition that causes largely irreversible damage. This is proved by the following studies across the world. Study shows more benefit from reaching all at-risk children