Buying Behaviour Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Buying Behaviour - Research Proposal Example They gave maximum importance to time saving, followed by ease of preparation, family health, and taste. Their choices of brands were entirely different. The non-working women gave maximum importance to taste, followed by family health, ease of preparation, time saving, whereas the working women gave maximum importance to saving, ease of preparation, good taste, and good for the family. Their choices of brands were entirely different. 1. Needs - Needs of both working women and non-working women are different. A working women would need coffee during her breaks whereas a non-working women needs coffee only in the morning during breakfast. So, their needs are entirely different from each other. As coffee satisfies her hedonic needs for example, consumers who drink coffee feel refreshing, which an emotional response. Also, her symbolic need to be fast, modern, confident, sophisticated etc. which is related to her status symbol and functional need to reduce the need of thirst. Whereas for cakes the they satisfy the functional need to reduce hunger, and hedonic need for example it satisfies the taste buds of the consumers and can be classified as a feel good factor. a) Brand awareness: For coffee the brand awareness among the working women was very high as they personally preferred coffee as compared to non-working women for them it was a low involvement purchase and hence the awareness is not that high. For cakes the brand awareness among the non-working women was high as they consider it to be a special occasion preparation and thus wants the most information about the cake. b) Perception: Perception is the process of selecting, organizing and interpreting information inputs (sensations received through sight, taste, hearing, smell and touch) to produce meaning. Selective Exposure - select inputs to be exposed to our awareness. More likely if it is linked to an event, satisfies current needs, intensity of input changes (sharp price drop). Selective Distortion - Changing/twisting current received information, inconsistent with beliefs. Advertisers that use comparative advertisements (pitching one product against another), have to be very careful that consumers do not distort the facts and perceive that the advertisement was for the competitor. c) Role of emotions: Generally working women show great involvement while purchasing coffee as she a habitual drinker of coffee everyday and feels connected to the brand and they generally stick to one brand whereas non-working women usually prefers taste and experiments with various brands and are not very emotionally connected to the brand. Working women usually prefers cakes with low calories and hence go for products for cake preparation that are low in fat but are that brand loyal whereas the non-working women prefer cakes with better taste and thus it becomes a high involvement product for them and tend to stick to one brand providing the taste they want. d) Attitudes: Individual learns attitudes through experience and interaction with other people. Consumer attitudes toward a firm and its

Answers follow questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Answers follow questions - Essay Example 2. There was growing tension in the college after one of our beloved student was mugged and killed by people believed to be from the surrounding community. Students planned a peaceful demonstration to pass their messages of condolences and bereavement. The peaceful demonstration turned into a riot. As a student leader, I was able to influence the rioting students and controlled the tempers. I reminded them of the importance of dialogue in solving such problems. Striking and demolishing properties would not help bring our friend back but only cause more harm to our surrounding community. The students adhered to my speech and continued with a peaceful demonstration. 3. I come from a poor community where most of the students are unable to raise fee for their education. I am a good example of those helped by Imani Education Fund Group for needy students to attain their education. Every year the group conducts a thanks-giving ceremony. The ceremony provides a platform for raising more funds for needy students. I have been participating actively in this activity by soliciting funds and encouraging the society to contribute and help raise the next generation. With the help of my friends, I also organize and visit children orphanages. We usually give them our physical, mental, and spiritual support. 4. Once I am through with my college, I intend to be employed by big companies like Google, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Microsoft and may others in the department of marketing or human resource manager. Completion of my education successfully will furnish me with good skills and knowledge on how handling such multinational companies in terms of human resource management and marketing. My knowledge of management will help me in controlling, directing, staffing, evaluating my staff at work. My knowledge of marketing will furnish me with knowledge of understanding the aspects of supply chain, comparative

Private Health Insurance In Kenya Economics Essay

Private Health Insurance In Kenya Economics Essay Insurance is an arrangement by which one party The insurer promises to pay another party the insured or policy holder a sum of money if something happens which causes the insured to suffer financial loss (Diacon.S.R and Carter R.L, 1998) In the past few years, private health insurance sector in Kenya has been recorded as the highest loss-making insurance class with loss ratios of 74.0 per cent, 80.4 per cent , 81.5 per cent and 83.5 per cent in 2008, 2009 2010 and 2011 respectively (AKI report, 2011). Private health insurance has continued to perform poorly in the year 2011, posting a loss of 650 Million compared to a loss of Kshs. 530 Million in the previous year. According to the Association of Kenya Insurers (2011), only four out of the 20 Private health insurance providers in Kenya made an underwriting profit in 2011, the four include General Accident Insurance Company, Jubilee Insurance Company, Mercantile Insurance Company and Real Insurance Company. The sector has the highest loss ratio in the industry of 83.5% with net earned premiums reaching KES 8.9bn (US$74.5mn) and net incurred claims reached KES 5.4 bn (US$60.6mn). This trend has been consistent for the last 4 years 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, with all indications that 2012 will also be a loss, a situation has prompted the Private health insurance premiums to be increased from time to time but the situation has not been improved much, it is therefore imperative to examine the challenges facing Private health insurance companies and their effect on business performance with a view of informing future insurance policy formulation. This study will seek to investigate the cchallenges facing insurance companies in the provision of Private Health insurance and their effect on business performance because this sector is an important one for the economic development of the Nation hence the need to guard it. This chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research objectives, research questions, justification of the study, significance of the study, assumptions limitations and delimitations, definition of terms and chapter summary. 1.1 Background of the Study Health insurance is a form of collectivism by means of which people collectively pool their risk, in this case the risk of incurring medical expenses. It is a contract between an insurance company and an individual or a sponsor in the form of an employer. The contract can be renewable annually or monthly depending on the agreement between the parties in that contract. The type and amount of health care costs that will be covered by the health insurance company are specified in advance, in the member policy contract. The importance of health insurance cannot be underestimated in any economy. As observed by Wasow and Hill (1986) who argued that health insurance is an important channel for financial capital accumulation. Health insurance companies policies offer policies, which are purchased exclusively to protect the customer against risk. They often involve substantial savings. This is because Insurance companies must accumulate reserves against anticipated future claims which provide for large sums of money, which can be lend to individuals, the government, commerce and industry. According to the World health Organization (World Health Report, 2008), access to healthcare is the right of every individual. Governments all over the world have therefore undertaken various programs in order to realize this objective. The Government of Kenya has also not been left behind on this as Kenya is a signatory to the Abuja Declaration (Institute of Policy and Research, 2005) which requires its signatory member states to spend at least 15% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare. As of the year 2009, Kenya spent 9% of her GDP on healthcare which was far below the recommended proportion (IPAR, 2005). Health insurance schemes are an increasingly recognized factor as a tool to finance health care provision in low and middle income countries. Given the high latent demand from people for health care services of a good quality and the extreme under-utilization of health services in several countries, it has been argued that social health insurance may improve the access to health care of acceptable quality. Whereas alternative forms of health care financing and cost recovery strategies like user fees have been heavily criticized, the option of insurance seems to be a promising alternative as it is a possibility to pool risk transferring, unforeseeable health care costs to fixed premiums. Private health insurance is considered private when the third party (insurer) is a profit seeking organization such as the private insurance companies. In Private Health insurance, people pay premiums related to the expected cost of health services to be provided to them. Therefore, people who are in high health risk groups pay more, and those at low risk pay less. Membership to a private insurance scheme is usually voluntary and is solely based on the decision of the insured. Private Health insurance has been offered by general insurance firms as one of their portfolio of products. One of the overall goals of the Government of Kenya is to promote and improve the health status of all Kenyans by making health services more efficient, available and affordable. The importance of Private health insurance in the provision and utilization of health care cannot be overemphasized. Funding for health care has become a cooperative responsibility shared among the government, employers, and insurance companies because of the importance of the service and the rising costs of medical services. This makes Private health insurance one of the most significant instruments to maintain a healthy workforce to drive the economy. Private health insurance coverage is provided by public and private sources. Public sources include National Hospital Insurance Fund while private sources include private insurance companies such as APA insurance company Kenya limited, UAP Insurance Company limited, Jubilee Insurance Company and Madison Insurance among others 1.1.1 Private health Insurance Health insurance is an institutional and financial mechanism that helps households and private individuals to set aside financial resources to meet costs of medical care in event of illness. It is based on the principle of pooling funds and entrusting management of such funds to a third party that pays for healthcare costs of members who contribute to the pool. The third party can be government, employer, insurance company or a provider (Kraushaar, 1994). Wangombe et al., (1994) identify two categories of private health insurance in Kenya: direct private health insurance and, employment based insurance. Direct private health insurance is very expensive and only the middle and high-income groups afford it (Nderitu, 2002). In the employment-based plans, the employer provides care directly through employer-owned on site health facility, or through employer contracts with health facilities or healthcare organisations. These are both voluntary health schemes and are not legislated by the government. 1.1.2 Private Health Insurance in Kenya According to the AKI report (2011) there was 47 licenses insurance Companies with 20 companies licensed to practice and sale health insurance products. There are additional 23 medical Insurance providers (MIPs) which are more of managed care organization. The total premiums for private medical insurance in 2011 were over 8.3 billion with claims ratio at 83.5 percent. Private health insurance accounts for 15 percent of the gross total premium for all insurance products in 2011. According to the World Bank working paper number 193 (2010), the health insurance penetration stands at 2 percent with about 600,000 people insured with public insurance and over 2 million insured under the public insurance NHIF In the past few years, private health insurance sector in Kenya has been recorded as the highest loss-making insurance class with loss ratios of 74.0 per cent, 80.4 per cent , 81.5 per cent and 83.5 per cent in 2008, 2009 2010 and 2011 respectively (AKI report, 2011). Private health insurance has continued to perform poorly in the year 2011, posting a loss of 650 Million compared to a loss of Kshs. 530 Million in the previous year. According to the Association of Kenya Insurers (2011), only four out of the 20 Private Health Insurance providers in Kenya made an underwriting profit in 2011, the four include General Accident Insurance Company, Jubilee Insurance Company, Mercantile Insurance Company and Real Insurance Company. The sector has the highest loss ratio in the industry of 83.5% with net earned premiums reaching KES 8.9bn (US$74.5mn) and net incurred claims reached KES 5.4 bn (US$60.6mn). 1.2 Statement of the Problem Despite numerous efforts and strategies by insurance companies to maximize profitability, private health insurance has been performing poorly The insurance industry in Kenya is experiencing diverse challenges, key among them being the poor public perception of insurance (AKI Report, 2011 despite being the highest loss making class among the other classes of insurance. In the past few years, private health insurance sector in Kenya has been the highest loss-making class with loss ratios of 74.0 per cent, 80.4 per cent, 81.5 and 83.5per cent in 2008, 2009 2010 and 2011 respectively (AKI report, 2011). Private health insurance has continued to perform poorly in the year 2011, posting a loss of 650 Million compared to a loss of Kshs. 530 Million in the previous year. According to the Association of Kenya Insurers (2011), only four out of the 20 Private health insurance providers in Kenya made an underwriting profit in 2011. The sector has the highest loss ratio in the industry of 83.5% w ith net earned premiums reaching KES 8.9bn (US$74.5mn) and net incurred claims reached KES 5.4 bn (US$60.6mn). The trend has been consistent for the last 4 years 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, with all indications that 2012 will also be a loss, this has prompted the Private health insurance premiums to be increased from time to time but the situation has not been improved much A big proportion of health insurance companies covering Private health insurance have continued to suffer losses and face the risk of collapse unless urgent measures are taken to understand and mitigate against the current the trend of losses where the total premiums collected cannot fund the number of claims incurred thereby forcing insurance companies to finance the claims with other premiums, thereby compromising profitability. The sale of private health insurance products in the Kenyan industry is proving to be a high risk investment for insurance companies. Several companies have collapsed with billions of policyholders funds, causing uncertainty and turmoil in the insurance industry. Examples of some of the insurance providers doing Private health insurance that have collapsed in Kenya include Discovery health, Mediplus and Smart Guard. Discovery Health, Health Plan services, Medex and Mesco consultants There is little empirical data and information available on the challenges and constraints facing private health insurance in Kenya. The study will therefore seek to address this knowledge gap. An explication of the challenges facing Private health insurance will facilitate insurance companies in positioning their products better in the market, and enable them undertake mitigation measures to ensure profitability. The study will seek to investigate the real challenges facing Private health insurance in Kenya, and the effects on business performance with a view of informing the formulation of effective mitigation strategies. 1.3 Purpose of the study The purpose of this study is to examine the the challenges facing insurance companies in the provision of private health insurance and the effect on business performance 1.4 Research Objectives To identify the challenges facing the Private health insurance companies in Kenya. To determine the effects of these challenges on the business performance of Private Health insurance companies in Kenya. To recommend strategic interventions measures to address the challenges facing the Private health insurance sub sector in Kenya. 1.5 Research Questions What are the challenges affecting provision of Private health insurance companies in Kenya? How do these challenges affect the performance of the Private health insurance companies in Kenya? What interventions measures can be employed to address the challenges in the Private health insurance Companies in Kenya? 1.6 Justification Previous research studies on insurance have concentrated on documenting the coverage and impact of insurance products, with little empirical evidence on factors affecting the sustainability of different insurance categories in the long term. It is envisaged that this research study will serve to fill this knowledge gap by identifying and elucidating the challenges that influence the implementation of private Health insurance, and contribute to the existing body of knowledge on insurance. It is hoped that this study will yield data and information that will be useful in formulating sound insurance policies and form the basis for further research and review on the insurance sector in Kenya. As such this study is important as it will identify the challenges facing the private health Insurance sector and how the challenges can be mitigated to ensure the industry grows and does not make losses. 1.7 Significance of the study This study will be important to various stakeholders including Private health insurance providers, future researchers and academicians, Association of Kenya Insurers, Insurance Regulatory Authorities and the General public. 1.7.1 Private Health Insurance Providers The findings and recommendations of this study will be useful to new Private health insurance providers intending to introduce new Private health insurance products by enabling them to formulate and target their products effectively. The study will benefit the existing Private Health insurers in understanding underwriting challenges facing medical insurance and how to address with the problems. Managers of insurance companies will find the findings of this study useful in designing strategic plans to help their businesses gain competitive advantage. 1.7.2 Academia Knowledge seekers in the fields of economics, research methods, management, and development studies will find this research study useful. In particular, this research study will be beneficial to the researchers with research interests in insurance, by serving as a point of reference. In addition, future researchers will be able to formulate further studies based on the recommendations of this study. The author, who is also a knowledge seeker, will be awarded a Master of Business Administration degree by successfully completing this research study. 1.7.3 Government and Regulatory agencies Government and regulatory agencies will find the findings and recommendations of this study useful in formulating future insurance regulations and laws that will aid in regulating and operationalization of the private health insurance industry. 1.7.4 Employers and Members of the Public The study will benefit the members of the public by helping demystify the operation of the insurance business and thereby appreciate the role of private Health insurance as well as challenges facing the Private health insurance sector in Kenya. Employers will find the findings and recommendations useful in understanding underwriting conditions proposed by insurance companies in Private Health insurance covers. 1.8 Scope of the Study The target population of this study will be all the Private health insurance providers currently operating in Nairobi, Kenya. The study will cover all the insurance companies licensed to offer Private Health insurance. Data will be collected by administering a questionnaire to managerial staff in the insurance companies. 1.9 Limitations and Delimitations This research study may encounter a number of limitations. First, the data collection will be subjected to insurance managers who may have their own formed opinions on the challenges of Private health insurance, which they may fail to articulate or tend to overemphasize for fear of the information being used for other reasons other than academic. To overcome this limitation, the researcher will carry along an introduction letter from Daystar University to confirm that the data requested will only be used for academic reasons. Data collection procedure will be restricted to the use of questionnaires thereby locking out other vital data collection tools like document analysis as they may not be availed by the companies for scrutiny. To overcome this, the study will visit the Companies websites and the information filed with the Insurance Regulatory Authority and the Association of Insurance to add on the information collected. The study will also look into other studies that have been done by other scholars on this subject. 1.10 Definition of terms Principle: A principle denotes a general guiding rule, which does not include specific directions, which vary according to the subject matter (Holzheu, 2006). Insure: To make sure or secure, to guarantee, as to insure safety to anyone. It also means to indemnify a person against pecuniary loss from specified perils or possible liability (Chen and Wong, 2004) Insured: The insured is the policy-holder who is entitled to indemnity or monetary compensation on the happening of an event insured against. The insured is also the person who obtains or is otherwise covered by insurance on his health, life or property (Holzheu, 2006). Insurer: He is the party who undertakes in consideration of an amount paid to him by the insured (premium) to pay money to the insured or assured on the happening of a stated (Holzheu, 2006). Underwriting: The process of assessing and classifying the degree of risk presented by a proposed insured or group with respect to a specific insurance product and making a decision concerning the acceptance of that risk. ( Bickley.M,C,Jones H. E, Brown.B.F and Brown J.L 2007) Adverse selection: People with a higher than average risks of needing health care are more likely than people to seek health insurance. Adverse selection results when these less healthy people disproportionately enroll into a risk pool.People with a higher than average risks of needing health care are more likely than people to seek health insurance (De Weerdt and Dercon, 2006). Co-insurance: A form of medical cost sharing in a health insurance plan that requires an insured person to pay a stated percentage of medical expenses after the deductible amount, if any, was paid (Gertler and Gruber, 2002). Co-payment: A form of medical cost sharing in a health insurance plan that requires an insured person to pay a fixed amount when a medical service is received (Leive and Xu, 2008). Deductible: A fixed dollar amount during the benefit period usually a year that an insured person pays before the insurer starts to make payments for covered medical services. Plans may have both per individual and family deductibles (Leive and Xu, 2008). Fully insured plan : A plan where the employer contracts with another organization to assume financial responsibility for the enrollees medical claims and for all incurred administrative costs (Russel, 1996). Premium: Agreed upon fees paid for coverage of medical benefits for a defined benefit period. Premiums can be paid by employers, unions, employees, or shared by both the insured individual and the plan sponsor (Leive and Xu, 2008). Self-insured plan: A plan offered by employers who directly assume the major cost of health insurance for their employees (De Weerdt and Dercon, 2006). CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction This chapter summarized the information from other researchers who had carried out their research in the same study challenges facing health insurance and their effects on busines performance. The study specifically covers the theoretical discussions, conceptual framework and research gap. 2.1 Insurance 2.1.1 Concept of Risk The existence of risk is the fundamental rationale for insurance (Criel 1997). If there is one thing about which we can be certain in this world, it is that uncertainty surrounds all that we do. This uncertainty is at the heart of risk and risk is at the very core of insurance. Risk would be defined as the probability of a cause of an event with negative outcome occurring. The cost of risk can be looked at in at least three different perspective i.e. frequency of risk, monetary cost or financial severity and human cost in terms of pain and suffering (Dickson 2002). In view of the adverse effects of risks there is a need for risks to be managed. Insurance companies are able to provide protection against the financial consequences of loss because the concept of risk pooling 2.1.2 Insurance Device Insurance contract involves two parties including the insurer and the insured. The primary function of insurance is to act as a risk transfer mechanism. Insurance involves transferring or shifting risk from one individual to a group and sharing losses, on some equitable basis by all member of the group (Vaughan, 1989). Insurance has two fundamental characteristics namely transferring or shifting risks from an individual to a group and sharing losses on some equitable basis by all member of the group (Dickson 2002). Insurance rests upon the principal of risk-sharing between many people. It relies on the law of large numbers whereby what is unpredictable for an individual is highly predictable for a large number of individuals (Criel, 1997). The law of large numbers state that typically the more times we observe a particular event the more likely that it is that our observed result will approximate be true probability that the event will occur (Bickley, Jones, Brown. Brown, 2007: 7) Insurance primarily concerns itself with risks which have financially measurable outcomes and whose outcome can only be unfavourable or leave enterprises in the same position as they were before occurrence of an event (Chen Wong, 2004). Insurance deals with fortuitous or accidental losses which must not be catastrophic for example wide spread in nature. To counter the tendency of the persons whose exposure to loss is higher than average to purchase or continue insuring to a greater extent than those whose exposure is less than average, which is referred to as avoidance of adverse selection, there must be randomness in the risks covered (Holzheu, 2006). That is there must be a proportion of good and bad risks in the insured group equal to the proportion of good and bad risk of the group on which the prediction is made. Finally the cost of insuring the risk must not be high in relation to the possible loss i.e. insurance must be economically feasible. The major activities of all insurers include rate-making, production, underwriting, loss adjustment and investment. Rate making is the process of determining the price per unit of insurance which like any other price is a function of the cost of production. The rates must be adequate, not excessive and not unfairly discriminatory (Holzheu, 2006). The premium income of the insurer must be sufficient to cover losses and expenses. Production involves supervision of the sales efforts which is carried by the agents or salaried representatives of the Insurer while underwriting on the other hand is the process of selecting and classifying exposures. If an insurer does not select from among her applicants, the result will be adverse to them (Bickley et al, 2007). The main responsibility of the underwriter is to guard against adverse selection. While attempting to avoid adverse selection through rejection of undesirable risks, the underwriter must secure an adequate volume of exposures in each class. In addition they must guard against congestion or concentration of exposure that might result in a catastrophe (Marwa, 2007). Finally loss adjusting is the loss settlement process which provides for the indemnification of those members of the group who suffer losses. It is obviously important that the insurer pay claims fairly and promptly but it is equally important that insurers resist unjust claims and avoid overpayment of them (Vaughan, 1989). As a result of their operations, insurers accumulate large amounts of money for the payment of claims in the future which are added to the funds of the insurers themselves. It would be a costly waste to permit these funds to remain idle and it is the responsibility of the insurers finance department to s ee that they are properly invested. 2.1.3 Basic principles of Insurance Insurance practice is reputed for its general principles, and the principle of indemnity is one of them, others are insurable interest, utmost good faith, subrogation, contribution and proximate cause (Marwa, 2007). Insurance is an intricate economic and social device for the handling of risks to life and property. It is social in nature because it represents the various co-operations of various individuals for mutual benefits by combining together funds to reduce the consequence of similar risk. Insurance is the placing back of a person who has suffered a loss in the same position he was before loss occurred. It aims to eradicate the consequence of a loss by not allowing the insured to suffer the consequential loss. However, unless one meets the requirements of all the basic principles of insurance, he will be estopped from claiming under an insurance contract (Holzheu, 2006). Risk is the uncertainty about an outcome in a given situation. An event might occur, and if it does, it leaves us in unfavourable position. Insurance therefore is one of the most established techniques of risk transfer. Insurance is a risk transfer mechanism by which one exchanges uncertainty for certainty. It is a risk reducing investment in which the buyer pays a small fixed amount (premium) to be protected from a potentially large loss. An entity seeking to transfer risk becomes the insured party once risk is assumed by the insurer, the insuring party, by means of a contract, called an insurance policy (Shavell, 1979). The fee paid by the insured to the insurer for assuming the risk is called the premium (Dionne and Doherty, 1994). Insurance principles are the basic doctrines that guide the practice of insurance. They include insurable interest, utmost good faith, proximate cause, indemnity, subrogation and contribution (Marwa, 2007). While life assurance is guided only by the fir st three, non-life insurance (including motor) is guided by all the six principles. 2.1.4 Social Insurance Insurance is not always practised in this ideal commercial situation as described above as there are some people in society who face risks that they cannot afford to deal with themselves and require a social approach to insurance. Social insurance (SI) is defined as a device for pooling of risks and their transfer to an organisation usually governmental that is required by law to provide pecuniary or service benefits to or on behalf of covered persons upon the occurrence of certain pre-designated losses (Vaughan, 1989). In SI individual equity is secondary in importance to the social adequacy of the benefits (Carin, 2004). Benefits are weighed in favour of certain groups so that all persons will be provided a minimum flow of protection. SI does not exclude anyone who belongs to a group that qualifies for coverage nor does it charge risk related premiums. SI includes Social Health Insurance (SHI), which deals with the risk of ill health. Health Insurance as a source of financing for health care is a system in which potential customers of health care make an advance payment to an insurance scheme, which in the event of future health service utilization will pay the provider of care some or all the direct expenses incurred (Criel, 1997). The International Labour Organisation (ILO) provides a guideline for an initial minimum package for social health insurance (SHI) which includes general practitioners care such as home visits, hospitalization where necessary, specialists care in hospitals, essential pharmaceutical supplies and prenatal, maternity and postnatal care by medical practitioners or qualified midwives. (ILO, 1952). SHI is guided by the basic assumption that health is a basic human right and insurance is a tool to advance its implementation whereas Private Health Insurance (PHI) on the other hand views health as a cluster of risks, insurance of which is a profitable economic activity. (UN, 1948 1997, WHO 1978). This brings forth the argument that society should provide at least basic health care to all citizens. However, attainment of this status is usually gradual and has to be within a set legal frame work as is illustrated in the examples provided below. For instance in Belgium during 1851 a special law officially acknowledging the sickness funds (referred to as mutual health funds) was enacted. Sickness funds were based on occupational groups and were rather small-scale. During 1894 registration provided the legal foundation of these funds with a broader scope of activities, while they could henceforth benefit from government subsidies. Subsequently mutual health funds from the same political or ideological background combined into national alliances or unions. Until early 1940s membership to mutual health funds had been voluntary. In 1944 a decree was adopted to make health insurance compulsory for all salaried workers. In Israel the first health insurance fund, the KUPAT HOLIM CLALIT (General Sickness Fund), was founded in 1911 by agricultural workers in collective settlements (Kibbutz) which during 1920 was taken over by the HISTANDRUT (General Federation of Labour) and became one of its political power bases (Carin, 2004). In 1920 three other health insurance funds were established and by 1948 when Israel gained statehood, 53% of the population was covered 80% being members of general sickness funds. By 1995 when National Health Insurance Law was voted 96% of the population was covered. Now it is the duty of every resident to register as a member in one of the existing funds (Holzheu, 2006). Meanwhile the origin of SHI in Japan is the development of voluntary community health insurance scheme in the nineteenth century. In 1935 a community health insurance scheme (having rice as a pre-paid contribution and basic care as the main benefit) was established in the Fukuoka Prefecture. In the 1930s government encouraged the replication of community health insurance on a National Citizens Health Insurance law based on community financing principle but with cash-based contribution was proclaimed and implemented. The law was designed to meet the needs of poor in underserved rural villages, the farmers and self-employed workers in rural communities and small companies. It was initially run on voluntary basis (Carin, 2004). In 1922 a law was voted establishing compulsory insurance for selected groups of workers and by 1945 employee health insurance together with National Citizens Health Insurance covered 60% of the population. Legislation establishing compulsory insurance for all wa s finally adopted during 1958 and was implemented in 1961 (Carin, 2004).

Pcr And Its Use :: essays research papers

PCR And Its Use Often times, scientists only have a small amount of DNA to deal with when doing genetic research or studies. In these situations, scientists can do one of several things. One is to just try to work with it anyway, but this is nearly impossible (depending on how much there is). Ther are a couple other processes they can use, or they can use PCR. PCR is one of the more complicated, but reliable ways to do tests on DNA when they only have a small amount to begin with. PCR, or Polymearse Chain Reaction, is the scientific process used by genetic scientists to clone DNA. "A 'rapid diagnostic' technique used in the clinical microbiology lab to detect pathogens. It relies upon amplification technology utilizingthe heat stable DNA polymerase from a thermophilic organism." (from http://www.genes.com/pcr/pcrinfo.html) Dr. K.Mullis recently received the Nobel prize for inventing the technique. This is how they go about doing this: They first get their small DNA sample. Then they mix all the chemicals (this includes the primer, etc). Then they have to run it through the PCR machine. Here is a (rather detailed) description of the process: "The cycling protocol consisted of 25-30 cycles of three- temperatures: strand denaturation at 95degC, primer annealing at 55degC, and primer extension at 72deg C, typically 30 seconds, 30 seconds, and 60 seconds for the DNA Thermal Cycler and 4 seconds, 10 seconds, and 60 seconds for the Thermal Cycler 9600, respectively." Basically, that means that they set it to certain temperatures, then put it in different cyles for different amounts of time. PCR machines can be compared with washing machines. There are the different temperatures (here for example, there is 72degC, where in the washing machine you would set it to cold/cold respectively. For it to properly replicate, we must know how to match each of the following: A T G A T A T G G C A G C A A C G A C C A T A the match would be T A C T A T A C C G T C C T T G C T G T A T The whole process is pretty much summed up like this: They heat up the DNA to let the enzymes break it down (or 'unzip' its bonds). Then add specific amounts of the primer (relative to the amount of DNA you have. Then you add the enzyme to sets of 4 nuclotides that will go through the genetic sequence of nucleotides and hook up the matching nucleotide (A goes to T and G to C etc).

Achilles and Odyssey Compare and Contrast Essay

Larger-Than-Life Heroes: Achilles and Odysseus What are the main characteristics of a larger-than-life epic hero? An epic hero is a brave and powerful warrior who is motivated to fight both internal and external conflicts to achieve glory and ranks above a normal man. In Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey, Achilles and Odysseus are the well-known heroes. Achilles fights Hektor outside the walls of Troy because Hektor killed his best friend, Patroclus. After fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus takes on a journey to return back to Ithaca to see his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus.Through his use of tone, figurative language, mood, and imagery, Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey show how Achilles and Odysseus, despite their struggles with themselves and the world, are true heroes because of their motivation for glory and revenge. Achilles and Odysseus are struggling to be viewed as tenacious warriors because of an empty place in their hearts. F or instance, Agamemnon takes Achilles’ prize, Briseis, and exclaims â€Å"See how the lord of the great plains, Agamemnon, humiliated me! He has my prize, by his own whim, for himself† (Iliad. . 168-169). Achilles feels humiliated because Agamemnon took his prize, Briseis, away from him in order to return Chryseis. He still does not want to go to war after Agamemnon returns her. Achilles’ heart is aching and the thought of never seeing his prize again worries him. Homer uses mood to make the reader feel pity for Achilles. Even though Achilles treats Briseis as a prize, it is depressing that he does not have her in his arms. Achilles and Briseis fell in love with each other and were separated such as in a more modern movie called The Swan Princess.Homer makes it seem like Agamemnon is the villain while Achilles is the hero. Achilles’ internal conflict shows how he must cope with not having Briseis in his arms because he did not want to fight in the war. Ev en so, Odysseus longs to return to his homeland, Ithaca, and â€Å"†¦his sweet life [is] flowing away with the tears he wept for his foiled journey home† (Odyssey. 5. 168-169). Odysseus is depressed because he wants to return to his home in Ithaca and see his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, after fighting in the Trojan War.He feels as if his life is transitioning from sweet to bitter. Homer uses imagery to show how Odysseus is crying for his homeland, Ithaca. It creates a depressing mood for the reader because all Odysseus wants is to see his family and return home after a tiresome war, but has failed. The metaphor of Achilles’ sweet life flowing away demonstrates how his lamentations are characterizing him as homesick and how he might not make it through his journey. Achilles struggles with not having a prize while Agamemnon struggles with not sleeping in his own bed for an extensive time.The difference between the internal conflicts is that Achilles cannot fight in war because Briseis is not with him while Odysseus cannot return home and reunite with his family after fighting in the war. Although they both have concerns for their loved ones, Achilles and Odysseus must set them aside and fight their enemies first. Achilles and Odysseus are both epic heroes because they face their external conflicts or struggles with the world and fight as strong warriors. First, Achilles stabbed Hektor in the neck and then â€Å"†¦had in mind for Hektor’s body outrage and shame.Behind both feet he pierced the tendons, heel to ankle. Rawhide cords he drew through both and lashed them to his chariot, letting the man’s head trail† (Iliad. 22. 467-471). Achilles fights and kills Hektor outside the walls of Troy because he killed Achilles’ best friend, Patroclus. After stabbing Hektor in the throat, he ties Hektor’s ankles to his chariot and rides off, dragging him. Hektor uses imagery to show how Achilles ties Hektor to his chariot, and injures him while riding off. Homer also uses tone to explain Achilles’ anger toward Hektor for killing Patroclus.Even so, after slaughtering all of the suitors in his home â€Å"Odysseus scanned his house to see if any man still skulked alive, still hoped to avoid black death† (Odyssey. 22. 406-407). Odysseus finally returns to his home in Ithaca disguised as a beggar by Athena. He is only one out of all the suitors to string Odysseus’ bow, because he is Odysseus and stronger than any man alive. Athena then reveals Odysseus and he and his son, Telemachus, kill all of the suitors in his home. Homer uses imagery to show Odysseus looking around his house to find any more suitors that were still alive.He wanted to no suitor was still alive so he could be in peace with his wife, Penelope. His external conflict is not being able to return home in peace. He must kill all of the suitors, for they wanted to marry Penelope and become King of Ithaca. Odysseus needed to show that he had returned as King of Ithaca and was more powerful than all of the suitors combined. Achilles’ external conflict is fighting Hektor and Odysseus’ external conflict is conquering the suitors. Achilles and Odysseus deal with their external conflicts by conquering their enemies.Achilles and Odysseus are both motivated to face and conquer their struggles with the world for glory and revenge. In fact, Achilles chased Hektor around the walls of Troy three times and â€Å"†¦ ran full speed, and not for bull’s hide or a ritual beast or any prize that men compete for: no but for the life of Hektor, tamer of horses† (Iliad. 22. 189-192). Achilles chases Hektor around the walls of Troy three times because he wants to kill him as a prize. Achilles wants to receive the glory of a stronger warrior and seek revenge on Hektor for killing his best friend, Patroclus.Homer uses imagery to show Achilles’ determination to have Hek tor’s dead body for revenge. The reader can picture swift-footed Achilles on the heels of Hektor, tamer of horses. Achilles almost reaches Hektor, while Hektor almost outruns Achilles. In the end, Achilles conquers Hektor and gains glory for being the stronger warrior and proving himself to being larger-than-life. And then, Odysseus is determined to be reunited with his wife, Penelope, and says â€Å"Nevertheless I long-I pine, all my days-to travel home and see the dawn of my return. And if a god wreck me yet again on the wine-dark sea, I can bear that too†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Odyssey. . 241-244). Odysseus does not give up returning to Ithaca because he wants to see his family. He will bear anything that comes along his way to his journey home. Homer uses mood to make the reader feel hope for Odysseus on returning home safely and how he is ready to fight obstacles that the gods put upon him along his journey. He is motivated to return home because he wants to conquer the suitors, which will earn him glory and prove him to be larger-than-life. He also wants to seek revenge on the suitors that have caused Penelope harm while he was away.It proves that Odysseus saved his wife with the help of his son and how he ranks higher than the suitors. Achilles fights Hektor for his body and glory from the Greeks. Odysseus wants to return home so he can be glorified after seeking revenge on the suitors by murdering them. Achilles and Odysseus both seek revenge on their enemies for what they have done to their loved ones. Achilles and Odysseus are well-known heroes in Homer’s epic poems The Iliad and The Odyssey. Through both poems, the heroes experience internal and external conflicts such as battles with other warriors and missing loved nes. Glory plays a huge role in these characters and they want to be well-known for their actions such as how Achilles conquered Hektor or how Odysseus conquered the suitors. Achilles and Odysseus have the main characteristics of an epic hero, but gain them in different ways. In their internal conflicts, Achilles misses Briseis while Odysseus misses his home, Ithaca, as well as his wife Penelope, and son, Telemachus. In The Iliad, Achilles and Briseis are separated from each other just as how Princess Odette and Prince Derek and separated from each other in the 1994 movie, The Swan Princess.The internal conflict of Achilles can be related to movies such as The Swan Princess today. In their external conflicts, Achilles fights Hektor, tamer of horses, while Odysseus fights the commanding suitors in Ithaca. Achilles conquers Hektor for his life and to gain glory by becoming the greater warrior. Odysseus along with his son, Telemachus, conquers the suitors and gain glory. Achilles and Odysseus seek revenge on their enemies. Achilles kills Hektor because he killed his best friend, Patroclus. He lost his best friend forever and needed to get Hektor back by taking his life.Odysseus seeks revenge on the suitors for harming his wife and taking advantage of her hospitality, such as making a mess during feasts. People today also seek revenge on people that have caused them harm. Achilles and Odysseus have shaped what an epic hero is and show that even though they lived two different lives, they both showed the characteristics of an epic hero and how they must be a brave and powerful warrior who is motivated to fight both internal and external conflicts to achieve glory. Overall, although Achilles and Odysseus are two different characters, their similar characteristics define what an epic hero is.

Asylum Seekers

Imagine you live in a country with an oppressive government and even worse your enthnic group is being persecuted by that government, would you not want to leave even if it means selling all your possessions? This is a scenario faced by thousands of people every year who are classed as asylum seekers. Brindha, the 9 year old Tamil asylum seeker who on a crowded boat off the Indonesian coast, made a heartbreaking plea to Australian journalists to please save them, the prime minister delivered a cold reply: â€Å"I make absolutely no apology whatsoever for taking a hard line on illegal immigration to Australia. The 253 asylum seekers – not illegal immigrants – on that boat had sacrificed everything they had to make a desperate bid for safety from the systematic slaughter being wrought on them by the Sri Lankan government. They are fleeing a situation where the Sri Lankan government is killing 1400 a week of the 300,000 detained in concentration camps. This is a horror that drives people to flee with nothing other than the clothes on their back, is what politicians and media have taken to calling a â€Å"push factor. There is absolutely nothing illegal about seeking asylum, about arriving without authorisation or papers, or about coming by unregistered boats as long as there is a legitimate reason states the United Nations. However the Australian Government still labels them illegal immigrants and places them in Detention Centres which in most cases results in the emotional and psychological damage to a refugee. In 2002, the Medical Journal of Australia described the extreme psychological and emotional damage done to people detained in immigration detention in Australia. The pattern they describe includes â€Å"the development of a psychological state characterised by severe depression, despair, hopelessness, paranoia, chronic rage, persecutory delusions, sub-syndromal psychosis, characterological change and persistent self harming behaviour†. In their sample, â€Å"all but one of the detained asylum seekers displayed symptoms of psychological distress at some time during their period of detention†. Eighty-five per cent had â€Å"chronic depressive symptoms† and sixty-five per cent had â€Å"pronounced ongoing suicidal ideation†. Refugees should not have to stay in conditions conducive to mental disorders and suicidal tendencies. If the Australian government wishes to fix the problem they should fix detention centres, make the facilities more humane and turn off the electric fence,( The electric fences around such centres are more harmful than that of Auschwitz concentration camp). The government should also provide faster processing of refugees so these people are not subjected to what is incarceration with committing a crime. In 2002 protesters tore down the fences of Woomera Detention Centre, assisting people inside to make a courageous and inspiring breakout. They would not hesitate to do it again. Asylum seeking is an issue that cuts right to the heart of everything that’s rotten and inhumane about capitalism – its racism, its hypocrisy, its brutality and its utter contempt for humanity. We should all stand firmly for the rights of asylum seekers.

Science report on the creation of a small transistor radio

Science report on the creation of a small transistor radio Report 1: The RadioAims and Objectives:To aid in my understanding of radio technology I intend to construct a fully functional radio from the electrical components given to me, using tools provided by the university.Background Research:The development of wireless transmission started around the turn of the 20th Century. One of the most pioneering scientists in this field was Guglielmo Marconi. Who achieved the first transatlantic radiotelegraph in 1902. The invention of the vacuum tube diode and the triode tube amplifier helped launch radio broadcasting.During the early years of radio most home listeners were using crystal sets to tune in, also know as 'cats whisker'. These were later replaced with the Transistor radio. The development of the transistor meant that radios could become much smaller and more portable. The first transistor radio was made by Texas Instruments in 1953List of components:Printed circuit board1 X IC MK4841 X transistor BC548B1 X 150pF variable tuning capacito r1 X Ferrite rodEnglish: Mouse printed circuit board SOLDER side2.5m of 0.315mm enameled copper wire2 X 100k resistors (brown, black, yellow)2 X 1k resistors (brown, black, red)1 X 270R resistor (red, violet, brown)1 X ultra-miniature slide switch2 X 100nF capacitors (= 0.1uF)1 X 10nF capacitor (=0.01uF)1 X 47uF capacitor1 X headphone socket1 X AA battery holder1 X AA batteryFlex covered wireThin cardTools:Soldering ironSolder wireClippersInsulating tapeMethodStep one: Making the coil aerialFirstly I took the thin card and wrapped it around the ferrite rod. Then wrapped the enameled copper wire around the ferrite rod approximately 55 times. Leaving about 10cm free at either end so that it could be attached to the circuit board easily. Because of the card the wire was able...

Napoleon essays

Napoleon essays "Napoleon I is sometimes called the greatest enlightened despot." Evaluate this assessment in terms of Napoleon I's policies and accomplishments. During the Enlightenment, many Enlightenment thinkers wanted to educate and enlighten the monarchs, who then could use that knowledge to enforce good laws and promote human happiness. Few monarchs have been considered enlightened monarchs; these include Fredrick the Great, Catherine the Great, and especially Joseph II. Along with these great leaders, Napoleon is also often considered an enlightened monarch. When Napoleon came back to France, he was a member of a small group who plotted and successfully overthrew the five-man Directory. Napoleon then seized power, and he was considered a national hero by the people. During his rule, Napoleon successfully made new reforms and laws that generally kept the people happy. When Napoleon came into power, France was a total wreck, economically, politically, and socially. However, Napoleon used his enlightened knowledge to strengthen France once again. He made changes to policies that kept every class of France satisfied. For example, Napoleon ¡Ã‚ ¯s Civil Code allowed male equality of all male citizens before the law and absolute security of wealth and private property. This kept the middle class and revolutionaries who fought for this right content. Under Napoleon ¡Ã‚ ¯s rule, the Bank of France was established, stabling the economy of France. Also, Napoleon got rid of serfdom and feudal dues. These changes gave peasants more land and status, satisfying these bitter peasants. He also pleased the nobility by creating an imperial nobility to reward his most talented officials. Napoleon also compromised with the Catholic Church to keep the religious authorities and people satisfied, and also to prevent a conflict between the church and the state. After long negotiations with Pope Pius VII, Napoleon and the pope reached an agr ...

Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles Essay Example for Free

Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles Essay Hello my name is Chassidy Mitchem I would absolutely love to be a part of your cosmetology program. I love to do hair and, make up. Doing hair is something I enjoy doing in my free time. It’s a way to get away from people and let my mind explore into better things. I enjoy looking and trying new hair styles and colors. I have done makeup and hair for Homecoming court and Grand March. It would be an absolute dream to get into this school and have some hands on time with the things I love doing while learning more about Cosmetology. Cosmetology is very important to the world because someone will always want their hair done or make up done. Most people only want to go to a professional so they know they will be getting the best of their money. You could also be able to set up your own business around your area. I differ from a lot of my peers because no one really understands the importance of Cosmetology the way I do. Everyone thinks it useless. Cosmetology is just as important as other jobs because someone will always need you. There will always be someone needing their eye brows done or maybe there nails especially during homecoming and prom or even a wedding. I’ve talked to a couple people and got some really interesting opinions. Some people has told me I wouldn’t make it and some people has told me I would, but my motto is â€Å"Never give up, because you never know how close you are to fulfilling your dream.† I plan on getting this degree and opening my own salon and I feel that it will give me knowledge I need to know for success. I learned to do this at a young age and I feel very strong about this career. I believe this will be the field I dedicate myself to. I hope to be attending this college at whatever time the school year would begin Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one singles. (2016, May 06).

The identification of pathological liars in the criminal justice Essay

The identification of pathological liars in the criminal justice system - Essay Example It is very important for the courts to determine whether a witness is telling the truth because he may make the courts sentence an innocent man. Therefore, detection of liars is of paramount significance in order to serve justice. It cannot be said with certainty whether pathological lying is really a disorder. There have been opposing views in this regard. This debate has some serious implications on the criminal law because if pathological lying is not a disorder and is deliberate, it should be punishable by law as far as witnesses are concerned. There is no reliable definition of pathological lying as yet but there is agreement in respect of certain core elements that constitute it. This concept was first described by a German physician, Anton Delbruck, who observed that some of his patients could not help themselves from telling such outrageous lies that he had to put them in a special category. These lies were later described by him as "pseu- dologia phantastica." (Dike, 2008) T he first step to determine whether a person is a pathological liar is to take a look at his history. The history of a pathological liar is full of lies that are told without any purpose. Normally, a lie is told in order to obtain a certain benefit or advantage. For pathological liars, telling lies is a disease and they tell them even if they provide no benefit to them. What makes this behaviour even more questionable is the fact that some lies play a role in incriminating their teller. This means that yet another feature of pathological lying is that lies are told without any regard to what their consequences might be. There are many real-life stories in which people have lost their jobs because of their pathological lying. Probably the biggest problem with a lie is that it needs many other subsequent lies for support. The people who have this problem do not only include the unfortunate; many successful people have also succumbed to this problem. Judge Patrick Couwenberg of Californ ia, for instance, was removed from his office because he lied both in his official capacity and while being under oath to speak the truth during the investigation of his behavior. He was later diagnosed with pseudologia phantastica (Dike, 2008). Being a judge is one of the most prestigious of statuses in the society. One who has achieved this status would never do anything to sabotage it in normal circumstances. Therefore, it was a curious situation that Judge Couwenberg deliberately compromised his position and, all things aside, damaged his reputation. His case makes a strong argument in favor of pathological lying being a mental disorder. Pathological liars are also known as compulsive liars or mythomaniacs. While detecting a pathological liar, there is a great danger of making a wrong diagnosis. However, there are a few very common symptoms of a pathological liar. Firstly, a pathological liar uses a lot of detail in his lie. He fears all the time that he might not be believed by others. This is why he uses a lot of extra information to supplement his lie. Secondly, pathological liars usually want to make their lives look better than they actually are. They feel that they are not being given the right amount of respect by others. Hence, they tell such lies that help them look important and more respectful. Thirdly, pathological liars are in a desperate need of attention. While some of them lie about how great their life is, others lie to make their liv

Strategic Asset Seeking. Chinese Business Groups and their Differences Essay

Strategic Asset Seeking. Chinese Business Groups and their Differences in Oversees Expansions - Essay Example Initially, the strategy of FDI targeted the developed countries, but with the improved technology, research, and development there has been impressive expansion of foreign investment in the developing countries, which contributes to the continued integration and growth in the global economy. However, as foreign direct investment increases and promotes the local communities and governments, the investors are driven by a certain motive; either to seek market, resource, efficiency, or for purposes of strategic assets as an opportunity in a foreign nation. Strategic asset seeking FDI aligns itself for reasons of achieving competitive advantage in the long run. According to Wigdor, its main purpose is to acquire resources or skills which the investors are convinced will offer, secure, and enhance the firms and its products competitive advantages.This type of FDI occurs at various locations to grasp the opportunities of the existing expertise and held knowledge to experience the benefits o f the long term strategic objectives. Sauvant argues that it occurs when firms Trans-nationalize, obtaining proprietary assets of a foreign company wholly or partially, which narrows down to strategic alliances, mergers, and acquisitions. It also occurs when access to local distribution systems, recognized brand names, and managerial practice and expertise are improved by means of proximity of operations, or direct purchases.2 Transnational companies have formed alliances with local companies in different industrialized nations and the global south, not only to respond to the changing market conditions, but to also access the intangible assets in the foreign land, while facilitating development. Sometimes the assets are not directly transferrable through the existing market transactions, hence given that they are characterized of being exploited in their host countries, companies that are willing to access the assets can either invest in the host country, where the assets are create d via the acquisition of the core personnel, or joint ventures that provide a better opportunity of technological exchange and collaboration. This is how foreign companies can tap into the resources and use them into their production processes. Chinese Business Groups and their Differences in Oversees Expansions China has a tremendous structure of business organizations and government enterprise relationship. In the context of the Chinese business groups, State owned enterprises seem to have a founded relationship with the major economic and market institutions of China, which enhance their successful operations and market dominance. With the numerous changes in the world and China’s economies, business organizations in China have evolved. Today, its business groups not only consist of SOEs and Private enterprises, but the foreign funded businesses as well. Like their Korean and Japan counterparts, Chinese Business groups employ the network based group structure, expanding in to different areas and industries, while being backed up by the government in various ways, and under strict management of their established financial companies that provide finances to the member firms.3 There are also affiliated companies to the Chinese business groups (qiyejituan), which bear the costs and benefits accrued from the association. With regard to the economic reforms that began in the late 1970s, China’

Article Critique Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Critique - Article Example ectively in the beginning of the study, as it is evident in the following line, â€Å"The purpose of this study was to obtain the first-person perspective of the students themselves, a perspective†¦about the academic experience of black students† (Davis et al, 2004, p. 420). The literature appears to be pertinent and all-encompassing for the purpose of the study. In a comprehensive way, Davis et al reviewed the literatures that relates the purpose of this study and outlined its salient features. It mainly covers the following areas of the study: a. a full statistical view of the population of black students in the universities if the countries (American Council on Education, 1988; U.S. Census Bureau, 1993), b. the discrepancy between the enrollments of white students and black students (Echols, 1998; Steele, 1999), c. nature of the prevailing â€Å"atmosphere for minority student learning† (Davis et al, 2004, p. 420) in the educational institutions (Sue et al, 1999; Katz & Hass, 1988), d. attitude of white students to black students (Bjerklie, 2001), e. â€Å"important aspects of the black college experience† (Davis et al, 2004, p. 422). These broad descriptions and findings of the literatures assisted Davis et al to prepare the outline of their investigation. The procedure of the study appears to in fair concordance with the subjective purpose. Davis et al approached the participants of the study with phenomenological interviewing process. In the first place, they justified their decision -of using phenomenological interview- by focusing on the salient features of the interviewing process as Davis et al asserted that their interview mainly â€Å"concerns the â€Å"what† of an experience and seeks to capture the specific meanings uniquely characterizing that experience† (Davis et al, 2004, p. 423). Their investigation was based on the clues found within the proceeding of the interview, as they said, â€Å"After the initial question is asked, a phenomenological interview

Fashion History of the corsets, and why is it considered iconic Essay

Fashion History of the corsets, and why is it considered iconic - Essay Example The purpose of the essay "Fashion History of the corsets, and why is it considered iconic" is to critically examine and evaluate the corset as a tool for fashion. The hypothesis of this essay is that the corset is an iconic element of fashion in the modern era and it has always been since the Age of Renaissance several hundreds of years ago. In order to attain this end, the following objectives will be explored critically. The corset is often worn below the chest down to the hips and the knee, therefore enhancing the body of modern-day women. The history of the corset predates the era of writing. The earliest evidence available to scholars of today includes images of gods and women that were printed over 4,000 years ago. The image above provides traces of how corsets existed in different forms in prehistoric societies. This includes Ancient Egypt which is known to have had a civilisation over 4,000 years ago. This picture in figure 2 (left) shows a goddess or an influential leader or both. And the nature of her outfit shows that she was only prepared for the most important and the most influential men in the society. This is because her outfit showed that she was dressed in a much more dignified way and manner and this was obviously meant to show her feminine side. In Ancient Crete though, it appears that the corset was used by normal members of the society to provide a kind of depiction of the clothes they wore. Figure 2 (right) shows people, who look more like commoners adorned in tight clothes.

Communication in business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communication in business - Essay Example Miller (2011) establishes a number of prominent communication barriers. They include physical, system, and attitude barriers. In terms of physical barriers, such divisions are because of actual physical divisions between co-workers or departments; these include workplace cubicles or other such divisions (Miller, 2011). The physical barriers usually occur due to the nature of environment, for example, if staff is located in different buildings or sites – than it is difficult for them to communicate with each other. Similarly, if the management fails to introduce new technology – than it can also cause physical barriers (Miller, 2011). The distractions like poor lighting, background noises, too cold or hot environment can also cause interference in effective communication (Dailey, 2011). Systems barriers are those that are built into the fabric of the organization, preventing employees from clearly understanding who they should communicate concerns, insights, or issues wi th. This barrier usually occurs when there is a problem in the system or structure of an organization. System barriers include inappropriate information systems, lack of training, supervision and duties (Dailey, 2011). Finally, attitude barriers constitute a broad range of personality and cultural differences preventing effective communication (Smith, 2010). ... Within these communication barriers there are a number of further concerns. One such issue is the understanding that much communication is occurring ‘off the grid’. This creates a situation where lower-tier employees are often times left out of important organizational discussions. Guerro (2010) argues that organizations such as Apple Inc. have leveraged such secrecy to great success. Other organizations have additionally created a paternal structure where profits and stability are not shared with employees until the last possible instance (Guerro, 2010). While this approach has the benefit of greater institutional control and strategy, it is clear that a more open organizational culture could be achieved through the establishment of greater personal responsibility. Strati (1999) argues that organizations should establish structures that allow the employees to greater knowledge of business operations contingent on their level of organizational commitment and subordinatio n. Achieving this approach necessitates a fluid and dynamic organizational structure (Strati, 1999). There are a number of elements that could aid the new UK centre of operations communicate more effectively across its UK operations internationally. One important means of encouraging more effective communication is through the establishment of social bonds that go beyond those directly associated with workplace context. Dawn (2010) argues that this can be established through social outings and physical dimensions that encourage a degree of socialization. Dawn (2010) also assets that such practices are applicable to intercultural communication. Still, it is necessary to pay special attention to cultural difference (Dawn, 2010). Taylor and Hanson

Retail Analytics Report Statistics Project Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Retail Analytics Report - Statistics Project Example The number of male and female respondents from Jones Plc is 37 and 33 respectively. On the other hand, the number of male and female respondents from Farmhouse is 23 and 35 respectively. The average weekly wage considering the three companies was 353.9990 with the highest paying company offering $678 weekly wage; while the lowest paid worker earned $123 per week. When asked if they enjoy their job; 4 of the respondents strongly disagreed, 21 disagreed, 69 neither disagreed nor agreed, 83 agreed while 23 of the respondents agreed to enjoy their job. It is clear that those who agreed to enjoying their jobs were many than those who were not enjoying their jobs in the three companies. In terms of how well the respondents work well with the other colleagues; there was quite a positive results with those who agreed and strongly agreed were 70 and 21 respectively. This was great compared to those who strongly agreed (1) and disagreed (24) while those undecided stood at 84. However, it was i nteresting to note that most of the respondents don’t gel on well with other colleagues. According to the results, 14 and 87 of the respondents strongly disagreed and disagreed respectively to getting on well with others. This number is significantly high as compared to 21 who agreed and 7 of the respondents who strongly agreed. It is worth noting that despite most of the respondents agreeing to enjoy their work; quite a number also agreed that their work is not that challenging. 23 of the respondents strongly disagreed that their work is challenging while 71 of the respondents disagreed that their work is challenging. This number is high as compared 23 who agreed and 9 who strongly disagreed. However, 74 of the respondents were neutral on the issue. This result is quite familiar when asked if their work is interested. In this category, 15.9% and 1.5% stated that they disagreed and strongly disagreed respectively that their work is interesting. On the

Communication in business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communication in business - Essay Example Miller (2011) establishes a number of prominent communication barriers. They include physical, system, and attitude barriers. In terms of physical barriers, such divisions are because of actual physical divisions between co-workers or departments; these include workplace cubicles or other such divisions (Miller, 2011). The physical barriers usually occur due to the nature of environment, for example, if staff is located in different buildings or sites – than it is difficult for them to communicate with each other. Similarly, if the management fails to introduce new technology – than it can also cause physical barriers (Miller, 2011). The distractions like poor lighting, background noises, too cold or hot environment can also cause interference in effective communication (Dailey, 2011). Systems barriers are those that are built into the fabric of the organization, preventing employees from clearly understanding who they should communicate concerns, insights, or issues wi th. This barrier usually occurs when there is a problem in the system or structure of an organization. System barriers include inappropriate information systems, lack of training, supervision and duties (Dailey, 2011). Finally, attitude barriers constitute a broad range of personality and cultural differences preventing effective communication (Smith, 2010). ... Within these communication barriers there are a number of further concerns. One such issue is the understanding that much communication is occurring ‘off the grid’. This creates a situation where lower-tier employees are often times left out of important organizational discussions. Guerro (2010) argues that organizations such as Apple Inc. have leveraged such secrecy to great success. Other organizations have additionally created a paternal structure where profits and stability are not shared with employees until the last possible instance (Guerro, 2010). While this approach has the benefit of greater institutional control and strategy, it is clear that a more open organizational culture could be achieved through the establishment of greater personal responsibility. Strati (1999) argues that organizations should establish structures that allow the employees to greater knowledge of business operations contingent on their level of organizational commitment and subordinatio n. Achieving this approach necessitates a fluid and dynamic organizational structure (Strati, 1999). There are a number of elements that could aid the new UK centre of operations communicate more effectively across its UK operations internationally. One important means of encouraging more effective communication is through the establishment of social bonds that go beyond those directly associated with workplace context. Dawn (2010) argues that this can be established through social outings and physical dimensions that encourage a degree of socialization. Dawn (2010) also assets that such practices are applicable to intercultural communication. Still, it is necessary to pay special attention to cultural difference (Dawn, 2010). Taylor and Hanson

Outline French Revolution Debate Essay Example for Free

Outline French Revolution Debate Essay I. How do you think Louis XVIs qualities as a good leader led to the French Revolution?A. Louis XVI did not have confidence in himself, which made it impossible foranyone to have confidence in himB.A mediocre leader could run any country into debt, but only a miserable leader could let a Revolution happen that is negative for the current governmentC.Many of the people doubted him many times, and he could not fool an entire country into thinking the current system (Old Regime) wasnt broken and didnt need to be fixed II. In your opinion, what were the most major causes for the French Revolution?A.Old Regime1.Third estate treated ridiculously unfairly2.97% of people poor, impoverished and oppressedB.Enlightenment1.3rd Estate had little no say in government2.Prior, they were told what to think3.Enlightenment made people think and rethink all aspects of society4.Challenged church and government5.Led to people taking actionC.Estates-General Meeting1.Gave the 3rd Estate a voice2.Led to the creation of the National Assembly3.Made the 3rd Estate realize they can force change III. How large of an impact did the Enlightenment have on the French Revolution?A.Led to other things; got the ball moving on the subjectB.Let people think everything over for themselves, without a government bias IV. One of the historians in the film called the French Revolution the crossroads of themodern world. What does this mean, do you agree with this claim?A.No, American Revolution1.Happened around the same time, but America went through the Industrial Revolution first2.France declined after the revolution, as America skyrocketed3.America destroyed a world power, France destroyed themselvesB.Still many other monarchys in place at this time V. What kind of leader was Robespierre? Do you think he did a good job representing theFrench people?A.Described as an incorruptible leaderB.Better leader than Louis XVIC.Became power hungry, declined at the end of his reign1.Was reason for Reign of Terror2.Killed people he was afraid ofD.Did a good job, kept the Revolution going and helped it along VI.. Why do you think the initial goals of the Revolution became so distorted during theReign of Terror? Why do you think Robespierre had so much fear of politicaltraitors?A.Not sure if Robespierre was for or against the RevolutionB.New issues came up over timeC.Preoccupied with fearing for your lifeD.Feared political traitors because he was greedy1.Liked being in office2.Didnt want anyone to take that away from  him3.Could trust no one VII. What were the most important long term effects of the French Revolution?A.Democracy in FranceB.Bastille Day

Structure Function Of Axial Skeleton

Structure Function Of Axial Skeleton The axial skeleton consists of the 80 bones in the head and trunk of the human body. It is composed of several parts; the human skull, the sternum, the rib cage, and the vertebral column. There are also some major bones included in this skeleton. The skull, which is located on top of the vertebral column, is one. The axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton together form the complete skeleton. The axial skeleton transmits the weight from the head, the trunk, and the upper extremities down to the lower extremities at the hip joints, and is therefore responsible for the upright position of the human body. Most of the body weight is located in back of the spinal column which therefore has the erector spinae muscles and a large amount of ligaments attached to it resulting in the curved shape of the spine. The 366 skeletal muscles acting on the axial skeleton position the spine, allowing for big movements in the thoracic cage for breathing, and the head, where they control the minute and complex facial movements. Adults have 12 pairs of ribs, which run between the sternum and the thoracic cage. The ribs are flat bones that create a protective cage around the heart and lungs. An individual will have seven pairs of ribs that both attach to the sternum and vertebrae. These are true ribs. They will also have three pairs that attach from the vertebrae to a cartilage attachment on the sternum and two that attach to the vertebrae but are free as they have no second attachment. These are free ribs. The spine is made up of five different areas; cervical (7), thoracic (12), lumbar (5), sacrum (5), coccyx (4). The seven cervical vertebrae make up the neck and run down to the shoulders. The twelve thoracic vertebrae make up the chest area and the five lumbar vertebrae make up the lower back. The sacrum consists of five vertebrae and these are fixed together and they form a joint with the pelvis and the coccyx is four bones joined together, which are remnants of when we had a tail. The appendicular skeleton is composed of 126 bones in the human body. The word appendicular is the adjective of the noun appendage which itself means a part that is joined to something larger. Functionally it is involved in locomotion (Lower limbs) of the axial skeleton and manipulation of objects in the environment (Upper limbs). The appendicular skeleton is divided into six major areas and contains bones such as; shoulder girdle (scapula and clavicle), the pelvic girdle, upper and lower limbs. It is important to realize that through anatomical variation it is common for the skeleton to have many extra bones (sutural bones in the skull, cervical ribs, lumbar ribs and even extra lumbar vertebrae). Their functions are to make locomotion possible and to protect the major organs of locomotion, digestion, excretion, and reproduction. The appendicular skeleton of 134 bones and the axial skeleton of 80 bones together form the complete skeleton of 206 bones in the human body. Unlike the axial skeleton, the appendicular skeleton is unfused. This allows for a much greater range of motion. The bones colored red are the bones in the appendicular skeleton. Fibula Tibia Patella Femur Carpals, Metacarpals, phalanges Ulna Radius Humerus Scapula, clavicle Ischium, illium, pubis Tarsals, metatarsals, phalanges The functions of the major bones of the appendicular skeleton. Clavicle This bone connects the upper arm to the trunk of the body. One end is connected to scapula. The role of the clavicle is to keep the scapula the correct distance from the sternum. Scapula This bone is at the back of the body. The scapula provides points of attachment for many of the muscles of the upper back and arms. Arm This consists of three bones; the humerus (upper arm), the radius and the ulna (lower arm). The ulna forms the elbow joint with the humerus and runs to the little finger. The radius is positioned opposite the ulna and runs to the thumb side. When the hand moves the radius moves across the ulna. Hand The hand has three areas made up with different types of bones. First, wrist is made up of eight bones called carpals, which are small bones made up into two rows of four; the five long bones between the wrist and fingers are called metacarpals and the bones of the fingers are phalanges. There are fourteen phalanges in all with three in each finger and two in the thumb. Pelvis The pelvis protects and supports the lower internal organs, including the bladder, the reproductive organs, and also in pregnant women, the developing foetus. The pelvis is made up of three bones, the ilium, pubis and Ischium, which have become fused together to form one main area. The Leg The leg consists of four bones; the femur is the longest bone in the body and forms the knee joint with the tibia, which is the weight-bearing bone of the lower leg; the fibula is the non- weight bearing bone of the lower leg and helps the ankle; the patella is the bone that floats over the knee. It lies within the patella tendon and smoothes the movement of the tendons over the knee joint. The Foot Like the hand that has three areas, so does the foot. The seven tarsals form the ankle, the five metatarsals travel from the ankle to the toes and the fourteen phalanges which make up the toes. There are three in each toe and two in each big toe. Compact bone or (cortical bone) Cortical bone, synonymous with compact bone, is one of the two types of osseous tissue that form bones. Cortical bone facilitates bones main functions: to support the body, protect organs, provide levers for movement, and store and release chemical elements, mainly calcium and phosphorous. As its name implies, cortical bone forms the cortex, or outer shell, of most bones. Again, as its name implies, compact bone is much denser than cancellous bone, which is the other type of osseous tissue. Furthermore, it is harder, stronger and stiffer than cancellous bone. Cortical bone contributes about 80% of the weight of a human skeleton. The primary anatomical and functional unit of cortical bone is the osteon. Properties of cortical bone studies using MRI and CT scan are the main field of research in recent years. Cancellous bone Cancellous bone, synonymous with trabecular bone or spongy bone, is one of the two types of osseous tissue that form bones. Compared to compact bone, which is the other type of osseous tissue, it has a higher surface area but is less dense, softer, weaker, and less stiff. It typically occupies the interior region of bones. Cancellous bone is highly vascular and frequently contains red bone marrow where hematopoiesis, which is the production of blood cells, occurs. The primary anatomical and functional unit of cancellous bone is the trabecula. Types of Bones There are 5 types of bone found within the human body. These are long, short, flat, irregular and sesamoid. Long Bones Long bones are some of the longest bones in the body, such as the Femur, Humerus and Tibia but are also some of the smallest including the Metacarpals, Metatarsals and Phalanges. The classification of a long bone includes having a body which is longer than it is wide, with growth plates (epiphysis) at either end, having a hard outer surface of compact bone and a spongy inner known as cancellous bone containing bone marrow. Both ends of the bone are covered in hyaline cartilage to help protect the bone and aid shock absorption. The femur a long bone Short Bones Short bones are defined as being approximately as wide as they are long and have a primary function of providing support and stability with little movement. Examples of short bones are the Carpals and Tarsals in the wrist and foot. They consist of only a thin layer of compact, hard bone with cancellous bone on the inside along with relatively large amounts of bone marrow. The carpals short bones Flat Bones Flat bones are as they sound, strong, flat plates of bone with the main function of providing protection to the bodys vital organs and being a base for muscular attachment. The classic example of a flat bone is the Scapula (shoulder blade). The Sternum (breast bone), Cranium (skull), Pelvis and Ribs are also classified as flat bones. Anterior and posterior surfaces are formed of compact bone to provide strength for protection with the centre consisting of cancellous (spongy) bone and varying amounts of bone marrow. In adults, the highest number of red blood cells are formed in flat bones. The scapula a flat bone Irregular Bones These are bones which do not fall into any other category, due to their non-uniform shape. Good examples of these are the Vertebrae, Sacrum and Mandible (lower jaw). They primarily consist of cancellous bone, with a thin outer layer of compact bone. Vertebrae irregular bones Sesamoid Bones Sesamoid bones are usually short or irregular bones, imbedded in a tendon. The most obvious example of this is the Patella (knee cap) which sits within the Patella or Quadriceps tendon. Other sesamoid bones are the Pisiform (smallest of the Carpals) and the two small bones at the base of the 1st Metatarsal. Sesamoid bones are usually present in a tendon where it passes over a joint which serves to protect the tendon. The patella a sesamoid bone Specific uses for specific bones Specific bones in the body are designed for their own purpose. The femur is the largest bone in the human body. The reason for this is that it has a great number of muscles attached to its surface. These muscles are needed in order for the leg to be able to move. It also has to bear some of the weight of the upper body. The shoulder is another bone that has its own purpose. Its purpose is to allow rotational movement of the upper arm. As a ball and socket joint it does this. It is also a surface for the muscles that allow attaching to. Without these muscles this movement would be impossible. The elbow and the knee can be used as an example of bones of the body that have many functions. The knee is made up of two parts the patella is the part of the knee that allows movement and it rests on a bursae. The second part is the joining of the femur and the tibia and the fibula. This is a meeting of many bones and many muscles and all these muscles control things like the movement of the an kle and the foot. The different types of joints A place where two bones join or meet is called a joint or articulation. A joint is held together with ligaments and these give the joint stability. Joints are placed into three categories depending on the amount of movement available. Fixed/fibrous; these joints allow no movement. These joints can be found between the plates of the skull. Slightly moveable/cartilaginous; these allow a small amount and are held in place by ligaments and are cushioned by cartilage. These types of joints can be found between the vertebrae of the spine. Moveable/ synovial; there are six types of this joint all with varying degrees of movement. The six types of joint are: hinge, ball and socket, pivot, condyloid, sliding, and saddle. A synovial joint is made up of several components; Synovial capsule keeps the contents of the synovial joint in place. Synovial membrane releases synovial fluid onto the joint. Synovial fluid a thick oily substance that helps lubricate the joint and allows free movement. Articular cartilage a bluish-white covering that protects the end of the bones from wearing down. Hinge joint This is a diagram of a knee. This joint is a hinge joint. The hyaline cartilage on the end of the femur is used as an articulating surface when rubbing with the medial meniscus. This movement, controlled by the lateral collateral ligament, is what enables us to be able to walk. The movement of walk is the only movement of this joint and it is flexion (when the joint is pulled back by the lateral collateral ligament) and extension (when the leg swings forward to full extension by the lateral collateral ligament). A sporting example of this range of movement is the kicking of a football or rugby ball. Ball and socket This is a diagram of a shoulder joint, which is a ball and socket joint. The humeral head is covered in hyaline cartilage and is used as a rubbing surface against the inside of the socket. The range of movement for this joint is flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumduction and rotation. A sporting example of the use of this joint is hitting a serve in tennis. Condyloid joint This type of joint can be found at the wrist. It allows movement in two different planes; this is called biaxial. It allows you to bend and straighten the joint (flexion and extension). A sporting example of this joint is using a foil in the sport fencing. Pivot joint This joint can be found in the top two vertebrae of your neck. These two vertebrae are call the atlas and axis. It only allows rotational movement. For example it only lets you move your head from side to side as if you were saying no. A sporting example of this joint is the heading of a football. Saddle joint This joint is found only in the thumbs. It allows movement in three planes, backwards, forwards, from side to side and across. These plains of movement are called, Sagittal Plane, Frontal Plane, and Transverse Plane. This joint is specific to only humans. It gives us manual dexterity. This enables us to hold a cup or to write, among many other skills. A sporting example of the use of this joint is the griping of a racket handle in badminton. Gliding joint This type of joint can be found in the carpal bones of the hand and the tarsal bones in the ankle. These types of joint occur between the surfaces of two short or long bones. They allow very limited movement in a range of directions. A sporting example of the use of this joint is the applying of spin to a pass in rugby. Contrast and Comparison of synovial joints. All these synovial joints allow different ranges of movement. They are all in different places and the joint that is there is designed specifically for that function. Without that joint the body would cease to be the perfect machine that we all rely on. This happens to us when we suffer an injury somewhere in our bodies. These joints allow us different ranges of movement because of all the different bones that they are made up of and their composition. An example of this would be that a ball and socket joint could take the place of a gliding joint and keep the exact function. All the joints in the body are there for the one purpose that they do. This could be seen as a disadvantage but when you have something that foes its job so well, why would want to replace? Effects of exercise on the skeletal system If we were to train for a period of about three months we will start to experience some adaptations to our skeletal system: an increase in bone density, stronger ligaments, and a thickening of the hyaline cartilage at the end of the bones. The bones become denser if we perform a lot of weight-bearing exercises, which is where we put force through a bone. An example of this is if we did a lot of walking or running, it places force through the tibia, fibula, and femur, and the body will respond by laying down higher amounts of cartilage and calcium to strengthen the bones. Weight-bearing exercise will also increase osteoblast activity, which means that more bone is being built or being laid down. As the ligaments become stronger due to the higher amounts of collagen being laid down, they also increase the stability of the joints and make them less prone to injury. All the following activities can help stave off such specific bone conditions like osteoporosis; running, skipping, brisk w alking, aerobics, tennis. However, there can be some negative long term effects on your skeleton from specific sports. Here is an example from the sport of tennis and the common injury, tennis elbow. The most common cause of tennis elbow is repeated overuse of your arm. Playing tennis three times in a week when you havent played for some time is the sort of overuse that could cause tennis elbow. However, most people who develop tennis elbow havent been playing tennis. A range of different activities that involve repeated hand, wrist and forearm movements is more often the cause. This includes activities like using a screwdriver, using vibratory work equipment (such as a drill), or even using a keyboard. Rarely, tendon damage can happen after a single and often minor incident, such as lifting something heavy or taking part in an activity which you dont do very often, such as painting and decorating. These activities can cause a tear in your tendon. Short term effects of sport on the skeletal system A short term affect of exercise on the skeleton is an increase in the secretion of synovial fluid from the joints. Another effect is that the area of the joint may be warmed up and may be easier to move. The joints ligaments and tendons may also become suppler as a result of this. This affects the skeleton by creating the need to replace this lost glucose and thus regaining the lost energy. As we can see there are some differences between the long and short term effects of doing exercise. You can suffer injuries from both and they can have long or short term effects on your body. A plus side is that your body rebuilds itself quickly and can become healthier and fitter through the use of exercise. Therefore the next time you go to do the sporting activity, you are able to perform better. You should not, though, do to much lengthy exercise for a great period of time as this can also have the undesired affect of stress on the skeleton. You should not do to much light exercise as this can have the affect of your body not benefiting from the exercise. Instead you should try and mix up the exercise routine you do so that you can gain the greatest possible outcome of health and fitness for your body.

Conventional Plastic Films vs Sustainable Films Essay -- Environment,

Sustainability has become and important issue in the world as the Green Movement continues to gain popularity. One area where research is being conducted to find a more sustainable production process is plastic films. Plastic films are defined as a packaging material, usually less than ten mils (a mil is 0.001 inch) in thickness, with an average of 0.7–1.5 mils, that can be used as a bag or wrapper. They are composed of a broad range of materials, which can be simple or complex depending on what a particular product or package demands (Osborn & Jenkins, 1992). There are two main categories of films used in packaging, conventional films and sustainable films. Conventional plastic films are much more widely used and have a larger market than sustainable films. The film can be made with different resins, each of which have unique structures and are ideal for specific applications. The films can be clear or colored, printed or plain, single- or multilayered and are often combined with other materials such as aluminum and paper. Examples of plastic films usages include Ziploc bags, trash bags, grocery sacks, drycleaner bags, and plastic wrap. The only common characteristic of all plastic conventional film is that it is flexible in nature. The most common resin used to create these plastic film packages is low-density polyethylene (LDPE). As a film LDPE has decent clarity, is a good moisture and gas barrier, and it can be heat sealed while retaining its strength and flexibility. Polypropylene (PP) is also a common resin used to create plastic film. It has an excellent moisture barrier, good transparency, gloss, and tensile strength. The PP resin also has a high melting point, which makes it appropriate for packages that need to be st... ...petroleum, which has been around for significantly longer and has a strong hold on the market. As sustainability continues to become an emerging concern for consumers bio-plastics will grow in importance in the packaging industry. Similar to auto companies who are searching for alternative sources of energy for automobiles, chemical companies are searching for alternatives to manufacture of plastic materials (Perkins & Lindsay, 2011). We have a limited supply of fossil fuels and ate the rate plastic products such as film are being produced and consumed each year, it is hard to say how long they will last. Bio-plastics currently represent only a small fraction of the emerging area of sustainable development, but their usage is growing. There is great potential for bio-plastics as replacements for the less-sustainable fossil fuel based plastics used in plastic film.