Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Problems Related to Steroid Abuse free essay sample

This paper exams the problem of steroid abuse among students and professional athletes. It gives historical perspective on this problem going back to 668 B.C. It further exams the health hazards associated with steroids abuse. Anabolic steroids enable athletes in certain sports to build up muscle tissue during training more quickly than in training without drugs. Many athletes believe they can win in competitions only if they use steroids to enhance their training. Steroid abuse spread to other sports over time . Now, the only two Olympic sports which have never had an incident of steroid detection are womens field hockey and figure skating. (Kleiner, page 163)

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Marching on Essay Example

Marching on Essay Example Marching on Essay Marching on Essay Essay Topic: Everything Is Illuminated As I walked through the schools doors the summer before tenth grade into the blazing sun, I wondered if the choice I had made would be worthwhile. I wondered if I was going to fit in and be accepted. I instantly realized those few moments of worrying where a pointless waste of time as the Marching Band welcomed me as the newest member of the color guard. Over time, I was taught drop spins, a multitude of tosses, Jazz running, as well as spinning rifles, but little did I know I was learning so much more than the physical. The mental and moral example of hard work, ordination, and acceptance of others was impressed upon me. Marching band has equipped me with lessons and values that will stay with me for a lifetime. I immediately learned the definition of hard work. Beginning in mid July, I invested innumerable hours and days practicing in the elements. Those practices where filled with frustration, bumps and bruises, and the occasional want to give up, but I drove on. The time and duties of practicing tirelessly, nursing sore muscles, and spending more time than preferred at school progressed into an amazing show for fans present at the Friday night football games. The practicing stopped only after I stepped off of the field after the last show of the season, but the time put in was worth the rush and pride of the amazing feature I had displayed as a member of the color guard. Through color guard I was introduced to my desire and capacity to work tirelessly toward a goal that will benefit my happiness and success. Second, the necessity of team work was instilled within me. Vive learned that as a whole we are much more than what an individual could hold. One may look at me as I toss a six foot flag into the air and say, anemia, thats pretty cool. But if we cooperate with each other I could spin through the drum line into the toss and make the crowd catch their breath in anticipation. I was also taught the downfalls of not working together while working on executing the same move on a different day as the drum line did not coordinate their footwork with mine, and the defenseless horn line suffered from a flag to the head. The stressful and smooth moments during our practices and shows have illuminated the importance of working with others as a team player. Lastly, I learned to look beyond the label pressed upon me by others. A superficial glance would reveal to many that I was a part of a stereotypical group of nerds, but in reality Marching Band is an accumulation of several different walks of life. We are implemented with a sense of community that reveals to us that, together, we are much more than any one of the individuals comprising the band. I was part of a family that consisted of artists, musicians, and athletes alike. What brings the diverse group together though, is the rejection of the preconceived idea, enjoyment of performing, and the dignity in knowing we gave everything we could despite the action that marching band consists purely of geeks. Marching Band provides a sense of recognition that far too many kids are deprived of today. When the season, the applause, and the bonding of a family came to a close I walked away from the field a different person. Friends were made and my life was altered for the rest of my life. I will always remember my days as a guard girl, but more importantly I will that needs to be reintroduced into todays youth. From now on if someone wants to truly know me, they cannot walk a mile in my shoes, they must march.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Disaster Risk Management (Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment) Essay

Disaster Risk Management (Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment) - Essay Example The techniques like Vulnerability and Capability Assessment (VCA) would be very effective in identifying local perceptions about the disaster and also in the evaluation of the capability of the community to face during such an catastrophe. Either well structured means - qualitative, quantitative or their combination or unstructured and participative methods could be used for proper identification of interrelationships of the local settings. The utility of using VCA for identification and quantification of vulnerability besides measuring the regional capabilities has been widely accepted. Among the various methods often adopted for undertaking the VCA process, the participatory methods have had considerable success when compared to other means of identifying the exact factors involved in most issues. When a calamity or the disaster strikes a region, the impact of these events are borne by the entire population and hence the potential of vulnerability of entire cross section of the people need to be mapped to understand the magnitude of effect. Also, the perception of the people towards these events which could be frequent would also help the policy makers and support agencies to prioritize the action process. Even in the cases considered the though the common problems perceived in the regions were water shortage. The local community in these countries not only have different perceptions on the risks but also anticipates different type of problems they might have to face due to this. Further , variation in the type of demographic profile and socio-political conditions might make all bureaucratic approaches to identify the priority programme ineffective. As in the case considered, Palestine a small country involved with continuous military interventions with the neighboring country Israel is said to have very poor infrastructure facilities like roads, power supply and also water and waste water management systems. A well structured VCA analysis, conducted using local community and organizational systems, to identify the potential hazard facing them into various aspects of the country have revealed interesting facts. The techniques adopted had a blend of different methods like interviews, focus group discussions, workshops besides separately involving children also. The method had given rich information that have helped to map the vulnerability in the region and also in the identification of their capability. Further, local level workshops to create a base awareness to help them to generate opinions and remarks too shows the extended mechanism present in these approaches for information generation. Similar approached were adopted in t he case of Afghanistan to assess the issues of food security and in the identification of potential hazards in the countries like Albania and Vietnam. In addition to identification of vulnerability spots in the society they would also help the decision makers to identify and envisage the future course of action very effectively. The regional strength of in all the cases considered in the analysis have been identified and ranked appropriately. This would help to identify the prevailing dogma in the region which other wise would have hindered the success of any developmental initiative. Also as assessment of the capability of the people and systems in these places

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Jaws Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Jaws - Case Study Example Both the anterior and posterior facial heights, inclination of the mandible and the angle of the gonial are considered. The maximum force of a bite is produced by the combined effect of jaw elevator muscles which are produced by jaw biomechanics and reflex mechanisms. The modification and elevation of jaw muscles results in higher magnitude of bite force. The masseter-temporal muscle is thicker in individuals with short faces hence stronger bite force. With a more vertical ramus and an acutely gonial, a greater mechanical advantage is produced by the elevator muscles. However, a long face cranial morphology based on mandibular inclination produces smaller bite force values (Koc et al, 230). 2. Size is one of the cranial facial factors since it plays a vital role in establishing the magnitude of a bite. This is because they control the muscle forces. For instance, in mammals the masseter-muscles comprises 60 to 80% hence easy adaptation to their feeding habits that require maximum bite force (Cox et al. 2012). 5. The other findings that are consistent with this information include experimental studies, observations, tests and other model based forces used to estimate the exertion of muscle forces (Erdemir et al, 140). 7. The resolution of the case regarding the relationship between jaw size and muscle thickness and the magnitude of the bite is correct. We might, therefore, expect to find that larger animals that require high magnitude bites have thicker muscles, and larger jaw sizes to enable them in proper chewing. Raadsheer, M. C., van Eijden, T. M., van Ginkel, F. C., & Prahl-Andersen, B. â€Å"Contribution of Jaw Muscle Size and Craniofacial Morphology to Human Bite Force Magnitude†. Journal of dental health. (1999). Vol. 78 (1): Pp.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Teamwork and Motivation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Teamwork and Motivation - Research Paper Example Leaders work to enhance the internal force in employees that eventually manifests itself in all the above sectors of the organization. Motivational theories are sometimes used as tools to measure the manifestations of motivation efforts in workplaces. Consequently, an effective motivation plan is essential towards the success of any organization in relation to the dynamism in the market and the ever-growing competition. The WooWoo manufacturing company requires an effective motivation plan that would encourage high job satisfaction, low turnover, high productivity and high quality of work within the organization. This plan should bring together more that self-interest to all employees to attain success. Moreover, the motivation should also improve the relationships among all staff in this small organization to ensure both individual and group strengths. The organization’s motivation design contains several components namely organizational structure and culture, intangible rewa rds, communication, and trust among all employees and the management. The combination of all these components would result to success in the establishment and implementation of the motivation plan. Many organizations today implement the horizontal structure that incorporates transparency and open environment for employees. This clears communication and results to efficiency in allocation and completion of assigned tasks and projects. This form of openness motivates the employees and inspires loyalty to leaders. The employees work as a team in accomplishing the mission and organizational objectives with ease (Bruce, 2006). The horizontal structure helps in eliminating the mental barriers and employee-management myths. A motivation plan with this component boosts employees’ motivation leading to improved loyalty and minimal employee turnover. Intangible rewards are part of the motivation plan and entails looking beyond the monetary compensations. Intangible rewards help in achi eving employees’ confidence in their jobs. This is done through the creation of a platform that helps them to grow on their careers and develop to their next level. They include clear job descriptions that create a conducive environment for assuming an employee’s responsibilities (Bruce, 2006). Receiving career development support, being well informed on the affairs of the organization and just compensation are part of intangible rewards that boost the performances through high job satisfaction with respect to employees. Communication is a crucial part of any organization because it determines the efficiency of all operations, completion of assigned tasks and projects. Keeping the employees updated on all issues, rewards, promotions and change of command avoids negative reactions towards changes. Communication also entails feedback that ensures a message was received and any forms of instructions were followed (Lauby, 2005). Passing on information regarding an individu al’s personal achievements and expectations boosts the workplace relationships thus motivating them to improve their performances. Effective communication motivates employees towards high productivity through passing on the requirements of any task and giving the necessary feedback on the progress and completion. The management should build on trust to ensure they trust the employees and are trusted. Trust entails keeping of promises, upholding integrity and fairness in the workplace. Trust

Friday, November 15, 2019

Why Britain Able To Win Battle Of Britain History Essay

Why Britain Able To Win Battle Of Britain History Essay In the summer of 1940, the RAF stood alone against the might of the Luftwaffe for aerial supremacy over Britain. Britain was able to win the battle of Britain due to a number of factors; however, the most important reason is that of the error made by Hitler on the 7th of September to change the targets of the Luftwaffe away from aerial bases and to towns and cities. This alone, did not result in the success of Britain in the Battle, other important long term factors such as Britain being an island and RADAR brought considerable triumph as well. Britain was an island, this meant that the Blitzkrieg tactic that enabled Germany to plough through Belgium and France, which relied on close coordination between ground troops and the air force, had to be altered. Germany could no longer use its ground and air forces as one unit of destruction. Britain also had a world renowned Navy, this allowed supplies from the USA and other countries to be protected and imported in to enable Britain to keep up the continual aerial defence of Britain as under the supervision of the Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook, resupply and maintenance became a national priority. Britain also had the home advantage this meant that pilots could bail out of their planes then rejoin their company again so less pilots needed to be trained, however, German pilots were taken as prisoners of war. All of these long term factors gave Britain the upper hand before the Battle had even started. Though the Luftwaffe had nearly double the amount of aircraft as the British, however, there were plenty of indications that the Luftwaffe might face problems in controlling the skies over Britain. Firstly, the Luftwaffe had limited range and was operating from bases some way from Dunkirk, as they underestimated how bigger obstacle the channel was, making the German bombers very vulnerable to the most modern RAF fighters, such as the Spitfire which was an easy match for the ME109, the German bombers escorts, as it was faster and a lot more manoeuvrable so won more dogfights. The German Bombers, therefore were left extremely vulnerable, if their escorts got caught up in dogfights they became easy targets, the junkers also carried a limited supply of bombs so did not cause as much damage as the Germans would of hoped for. The Germans also underestimated the strength of the RAF on the ground, the RAF had a well-organised and extensive air defence system. The British were far from undere stimating their opponents, in fact the overestimated them, the invention of RADAR enabled RAF pilots to get into the air quickly and intercept bombers before they had their chance to drop their loads. This was vital in reducing the damage of the Luftwaffe on Britain and more importantly the morale of the British people to continue the defence of their homeland. However, I think the most important reason, was that British tactics were also far greater thought out then Germanys. Air Marshall Dowding proved to be very masterful in command, he had resisted demands by Churchill to send his fighter reserve to France, holding it back for the defence of the UK, and refused to commit it in large numbers to defending sea convoys. Both decisions were subsequently proved to have been good ones. On the other hand Reichsmarschall Hermann GÃ ¶ering, head of the Luftwaffe, ordered his force to draw the RAF into battle by attacking coastal convoys and bombing radar stations along the south coast, installations of the British aircraft industry, and RAF airfields. The dilution of this effort in retaliation for the bombing of Berlin, was the principal reason why the Luftwaffe eventually lost the battle, as it allowed the RAF to recover when it was near collapse. (600 WORDS) 2) STUDY SOURCE A. DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS INTERPRATATION OD DUNKIRK? USE THE SOURCE AND KNOWLEDGE FROM YOUR STUDIES TO EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER. Source A is a painting by Sir Charles Cunning depicting the evacuation of Dunkirk. The source is accurate in showing the bigger naval vessels waiting out to see, as they could not get as close to the beach, which was why the smaller boats to ferry to the soldiers were used, as shown in the painting. The painting shows the soldiers waiting in lines to be rescued and maintain discipline as bombs are falling down, this is inaccurate as many soldier fled to safety behind bunkers and even buried themselves in the sand to avoid the onslaught of the aerial assault. The loss life at Dunkirk is also not shown as at Dunkirk over 40% of the French army was lost with over 80% of its equipment so this source is a rather sanitised view. However, the source gives us the impression that large numbers of soldiers were evacuated from he beaches this is accurate as over 330,000 soldiers were evacuated by boat from Dunkirk as the source shows. Sir Charles Cundall was the official government war artist this limits the usefulness of the source as he would have been paid to show the evacuation as a success to it would heighten the morale back at home by glorifying the part the British played, this leads to an element of bias. The source could definitely not have been painted the picture whilst the evacuation was in progress, so the picture would have been created from eye witness accounts this means it could lack some accuracy. I partially agree with the impression source A gives but it can only be taken as an impression and not as fact. This is the due to the provenance, which comprimises the validity of the source as it was painted for the purpose of propaganda, because of this, the painting may of been glorified to keep up the morale of the British public. Subsequently, I do agree that the source is accurate to a historian wanting to know what the government wanted the public to believe about the evacuation of Dunkirk. (300 WORDS) 3) DUNKIRK WAS A GREAT DELIVERENCE AND A GREAT DISASTER. (AJP TAYLOR). IS THERE SUFFICIENT EVINDENCE IN SOURCES A TO G TO SUPPORT THIS INTERPRETATION? USE THE SOURCES AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE FROM YOUR STUDIES TO EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER. Sources A-E are all primary sources produced at the time of the evacuation. Sources B and C are photos which means they can be construed to be accurate, however, they do not give the whole story of the evacuation as they are only a picture of one moment, in one area of the beach, so can be misinterpreted. Historians have created sources F and G, in order to produce a balanced view of Dunkirk to educate the reader, the balanced view is lacking in some sources. Source A is a contemporary painting of the events of Dunkirk, therefore, cannot be assumed to be reliable as a painting is only the artists individual impression of events. Consequently, due to the painting being commissioned by the British government, the source is biased and will include spin which suited the political environment of the time. This is why Dunkirk is shown to be a great deliverance as the BEF is prevailing against the onslaught of the German aerial attacks. Source D is also very similar, it puts a very positive spin on the evacuation. Anthony Eden, the war minister, says even though the British Expeditionary Force had lost a lot of men and equipment they have gained immeasurably in experience of warfare and self-confidence. This spirit is the vital weapon of the army. Even though the British lost more men and equipment, Eden, continues to tell the public that the BEF have come out on top and that Dunkirk has the lead to the guarantee of final victory; deliverance. T he source is unreliable as Eden could not have said that Dunkirk was a disaster as then the public would become disheartened and may stop helping in the war effort. Source B is a photograph of a section of Beach with soldiers in regimented lines, soldiers seemingly un-panicked, maintaining discipline showing Dunkirk asdeliverance. However, this source is only of one small section of beach when there were no German aircraft attacking; when they did, soldiers would often take flight to the sand dunes for cover in fright. This desperation is exhibited in Source C showing a soldier who is shooting at planes in the sky in vein with a rifle, showing Dunkirk as a disaster as the BEF were ill-equipped to defend themselves, however, the fact that the BEF are shooting at a plane with a rifle shows great determination and bravery; deliverance. Both Sources, have been produced for propaganda purposes, to keep morale at home by showing the BEF as determined (Source C) and disciplined (source B) this affects the reliability of sources, they only provide a snapshot of events in that one place at that one exact time. Source E is from a British newspaper, the source is accurate in some ways, telling us that tens of thousands safely home already and An armada of ships all sizes, all shapes were used for crossing the channel. However, it gives a very one sided view as it is full of honour and pride and describes the British expeditionary force as unbeatable but does not mention how many people and equipment was lost. As the source is from a newspaper you may expect it to be accurate as a newspaper is meant to inform the reader, however, censorship may have played its part in the report in order to keep the morale of the public high. This source is still quite useful because it gives a lot of information, which is accurate, but is still not adequate enough to agree with the interpretation of Dunkirk found in the quote. Sources F and G give very balanced views of the Evacuation of Dunkirk. Source F was written by A.J.P Taylor; in this source he gives evidence to support his interpretation that Dunkirk was a great deliverance and a great disaster. He gives both positive and negative aspects if the evacuation, he states that the operation succeeded beyond all expectations and that almost the entire B.E.F were saved, the deliverance, however, it also tells us that the BEF lost virtually all its equipment and many other things like planes and boats were destroyed, the disaster. He uses facts the back these up so the source is accurate. Source G also gives positive and negative aspects of the evacuation. Richard Holmes says that the evacuation would be a miracle, and talks about the anticipation of defeat but he also talks about the great determination troops and sailors had, he talks to eye witnesses to back up his view and gives a very reliable and accurate description of the events. Both source were p roduced after the evacuation, this means they would have no political motive and were produced to educate the reader/viewer so therefore are likely to be reliable and accurate. Both sources view Dunkirk as a disaster and deliverance and use key facts to back this up. Therefore the interpretation of AJP Taylor is accurate using these two sources. Due to the provenance of sources A-E no valid conclusions can be drawn from them so we are not able to use them to prove AJP Taylors interpretation, however, they are still useful for telling us ,for example, what the government wanted the public to believe about the evacuation. Source A-G give much more balanced views of Dunkirk giving us both positive and negative views, subsequently, I am able to agree qwith AJP interpretation.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Bloodchild: Oppression in Science Fiction Essay -- Butler Bloodchild E

Bloodchild: Oppression in Science Fiction Throughout American literary history, nearly every form of literature has covered the topic of slavery and black oppression in America. From William Lloyd Garrison’s abolitionist papers to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s controversial Uncle Tom’s Cabin to Alice Walker’s The Color Purple, the exploration of the black position in America has been a theme that engrossed generations. In the past century, as science fiction has established its place in the literary genre, authors such as Octavia Butler have become increasingly popular. In her short story "Bloodchild", Butler extends the discussion of oppression in America into the science fiction genre. In this manner her story, "†¦like almost all science fiction, though it seems to concern itself with human beings and worlds of the far distance and future, it also concerns itself with the here and now" (Asimov 110). Within the first few passages of "Bloodchild", Butler establishes that the Tlic clan has oppressed the Terran clan in the past. Though this history of superiority and oppression exists between the two species, T’Gatoi, a Tlic, is still a friend of this Terran family. "Only she [T’Gatoi] and her political faction stood between us and the hordes who did not understand why there was a Preserve†¦or†¦did not care" (Butler 1036). Gan and his family are forced to live on a preserve, keeping the Tlic from entering in and enslaving his family further. Already, one can see the similarity to the United States of America’s relations with the African-American people. Butler substitutes the race issue with a difference of species, creating an obvious physical incongruity between the oppressed and oppressors. This physical difference was often r... ...d its treatment of those who differ physically from the majority of the population. Through science fiction, Butler has reached another section of the literary audience, and challenged them to open their minds and to change their world. Bibliography Primary Source Butler, Olivia. "Bloodchild." The Prentice Hall Anthology of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Ed. Garyn G. Roberts. Upper Saddle River: Prentice-Hall Inc., 2001.1035-1049. Secondary Sources Asimov, Isaac. "Science Fiction and Society". Asimov on Science Fiction. American Medical Association. 103-111 Du Bois, W.E.B. The Souls of Black Fold. New York: Fawcett World Library, 1903. Litwak, Leon. Trouble in Mind: Black Southerners in the Age of Jim Crow. New York: Knopf, 1998. Rundblad, Georganne and Peter Kivisto. Multiculturalism in the United States. Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press, 2000.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Nexity and the Us Banking Industry

Introduction of Nexity3 I. External Analysis3 A. Industry and Demand Analysis3 B. PEST Analysis6 II. INTERNAL ANALYSIS9 A. Resources View Analysis. 9 B. Value chain analysis10 III. Nexity Financial analysis12 A. Nexity bank business model and strategies. 12 B. Nexity Financial Analysis. 13 IV. SWOT ANALYSIS15 V. TOWS ANALYSIS16 Conclusion17 Introduction of Nexity Nexity is an online bank, which was initially called the People State of Grand and it was opened in February 2000. Its headquarters are located in Birmingham, Alabama, USA.Currently, David Long is the President of Nexity and Greg Lee the CEO. The turnover represented an amount of $13,018 millions in 2003. Banking online is a very good opportunity for the banking industry, there was a projection of 67 million of American using it by 2007 compared to 38 millions by 2003. There were a lot of players in this competitive market but Nexity had a generic strategy of differentiation by spreading its geographic and demographic custom er base throughout the US. External Analysis Industry and Demand AnalysisHistorically, there was a rebound of the banking industry and rapid growth in this area after the Great Depression and World War II, with the hope to keep the industry from being highly concentrated. Indeed, the US banking industry was a fragmented and dispersed system but it changed in the 1980’s. These changes were due to financial legislation which wanted to lead to a more integrated financial system in US in terms of activities and products The deregulation led to consolidation and consequently to new rivalry.Helped by the Gramm Leach Bliley’s Act offering extended banking but also by the changes in communication and information technologies, the US banking industry knew a merger mania and a lot of acquisitions were done. All had the same goal : to develop a more national brand recognition in a market newly concentrated. But scandals also appeared due to these new changes. Concerning the size of the industry, it is obvious that the concentration could be seen between 1980 and 2002.Number of institutions declined from 14,434 to 7,887 contrary to their branches which raised a lot from 38,738 to 66,185. However it is important to make the distinction here between two types of banks. At first, there were the brick-and-mortar banks and then appeared the virtual ones, such as Nexity. Now, let’s compare Nexity in the US virtual banking environment by a review of the main actors performances in 2002. |Institution |Assets (in thousands) |Deposits (in thousands) | |E*Trade Bank $17,453,676 |$9,157,328 | |ING Direct |16,142,091 |13,112,826 | |NetBank |4,280,899 |2,479,421 | |Principal Bank |1,967,342 |1,826,018 | |BMW Bank of North America |1,149,732 |156,983 | |National Interbank |645,448 |528,516 | |Nexity Bank |501,167 |368,523 | |American Bank |472,181 |336,288 | Here we can see that Nexity is the 7th virtual bank on the market in terms of assets. More important, we also notice that E*Trade Bank and ING Direct are the first and second ones, with a huge gap separating them from the others, among which competition is really hard. Porter’s five forcesEven though there are less and less institutions since the 1980’s, there is still a high rivalry among the competitors in virtual banks. Clients are more and more oriented to the more rentable channels like internet and ATMs. Virtual banks consequently deliver a lot of services but only through internet that allow to reduce costs in occupancy and salaries in order to offer better rates of interest (to 3 times better than averages). Virtual low-costs positioned banks compete against other virtual banks with good customer service, in-house costumer data and service center operations, strong management teams, a good mix of attractively priced products, and low marketing costs.It’s a price competition which includes lower margins directly. What about the entry barriers with potential entr ants? It is a low threat. The largest barrier to entry is the expenses in founding a bank: a new bank needs to raise 8-12 million to begin operations. But start-up costs for virtual banks are much less expensive than for traditional banks: virtual banks could begin operations for millions less than traditional banks (no offices, etc. ) , even though they’ll have to invest a lot in marketing and advertising budgets in order to attract depositors at the start-up time. The second barrier is loyalty to older, larger, and more established brand-name banks.Here we can talk about a network effect. And third, an existing bank holding company provides investments and backing for the new bank by spinning off a separate banking entity. Concerning the substitutes, the only ones could be traditional banks because people need safety and want to be sure about their money by advices. There would be a switch from virtual banks to brick-and-mortar ones, because people are deceived or want to e xperiment again the first one, with a better consideration of its advantages. But there is less possibility for this than the opposite because people want more and more to gain time. That’s why there is a low threat of substitutes. Clients are the buyers.They have a relative bargaining power especially on the rate of interest on borrows. The first have an interest to bargain and have a bargaining power because of the rate of interest as a complement revenue and because banks need liquidity to operate. He can have some influence on the bank with other clients. Word of mouth works a lot with a service you use daily. Brand recognition also can be negative. Suppliers: They are the companies that provide inputs/services that banks purchase in order to be able to borrow and lend money. It can be a safety certificate for online web, labels†¦etc. With an environment impacted by scandals, they can have a bargaining power but it is still relative because there are a lot of supplie rs. ==> Internal rivalry, Buyers and Suppliers are the strongest forces in the US online bank industry, whereas potential entrances and substitutes are the weakest.Key Success Factors can consequently be defined for this industry: forecasting all the marketing and communication budget for implementing and then keeping talking about the bank for new customers; using the more rentable channels for the customers; offering low rate of interest in borrowing and high for revenues to client and convincing people of the value of virtual banks ; implementing more and more safety with technologies. PEST Analysis One of the main points in the external analysis is the PEST analysis. The goal of this part is to determine which are the main external forces affecting the US banking industry.Then, we will introduce and analyse in the following development which factors impact directly positively or negatively this sector in dividing them on the political, economic, social and technological views . On the political view, the US government has a place of protagonist in the current US banking system. In fact, US government launched series of laws which have completely changed the US banking landscape such as the Reigle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The first one allowed a bank holding company to buy another bank anywhere through the United States without taking into account the state law. The second one allowed affiliation between banks, securities firms and insurance company.Logically, this deregulation, or the opening of state market that it includes, has strongly impacted the US landscape in increasing the competition on the national area. Moreover, the deregulation led to a merger mania that is to say institutions use a process mergers and acquisitions in integrating vertically and/or horizontally in order to have more costumers and so to gain market shares, and to develop the range of products and services. Finally, t he impact of the US government could be seen as an opportunity for banks (the biggest currently) which got out as leaders to the deregulation and merger mania because the market is bigger but as an threat for banks which went to bankrupt.It’s significant to notice how the Fed affects the economy and the US banking system through the actions on the real interest rates. In fact, because the Fed can set the nominal funds rate as a sole supplier of reserves for US banks. But it can influence too the real interest rate thanks to the set of the monetary policy that will operate in the future (the monetary policy of tomorrow influences the real interest rate of today). Then, the Fed has a direct impact on the level of the real rates and consequently on the whole of economy. For example, if the real rates are lower, the activity of banks will increase because borrowing costs will decrease and investments from households will increase in order to buy goods or services.Increasing of co nsumption from householders will boost the different industries which will invest in capital, in production capacity or in labour (decrease of unemployment). Reducing real rates will get investments as common stock more attractive and will boost the US internal business in limiting imports because the foreign exchange value of the dollar is reduced and so, the foreign product get more expensive. On the economic point of view, multiple factors should be taken into account. One of the most significant points is the interest rate which is developed upside. Finally, that represents an opportunity if the real rates are declining and rather a threat if it is growing. Moreover, other non-negligible point is the purchasing power of households.In fact, according to some economic theories, an increasing part of households’ consumption is oriented to service expenses on the one hand, and, on the other hand, other certain part of it matches to savings. Generally speaking, a growing purch asing power represents an opportunity for banks because deposits increase and the banks are more resources for investments on financial markets. But it’s essential to notice that two significant elements have a direct impact on the purchasing power of households: the unemployment rate and the inflation rate. Effectively, if the unemployment rate is increasing and/or if the inflation rate is superior to the increasing rate of wages means that the global purchasing power is decreasing.Social factors impact directly the US banking system because of the diversity of the population, the demography, the differences of client expectations concerning bank services†¦ all of these elements play a role on the behaviour of the clients. The first point that we have to take into account is the fact that an average costumer want to have trust and confidence in his financial institution. That’s why banks have to reassure their clients about the financial health of the institution , about the quality of the offered services and about the security of the operating system. That is a positive impact for oldest bank which have developed a brand name and focused on a client-loyalty strategy or for biggest institution which bring proof to the financial health. But through the analysis of the demography, we can categorise the population.For example, old people prefer to keep a physical contact with the banker in opposition to youngest people which have more confidence and more ability to make financial operations on new channels as internet. Moreover, we can distinguish clients in function of their expectations: long-term engagement combined with quality of services against short-term engagement with profitability (hit-an-run costumer for example). This categorisation of the population linked to a particular behaviour can be seen in parallel to the age, race, social level, kind of job occupied†¦ then we can say that it’s more an opportunity for tradition al banks which offer a largest range of products and channels.Concerning the technological factors what is significant to put in relief is the technological improvements perceived as an opportunity for banks and the threat of hackers linked to this news technologies. In fact, thanks to the technological improvements, banks have more and more ways to meet the consumers themselves and these needs. Banks use different ways to satisfy clients such as ATMs, debit cards, call centers and telephone banking, wireless banking and internet sites. These are channels to keep a constant contact with the client for different reasons and to be all the time available to respond to any demand. Moreover, banks develop strategic technology partnerships (like Fiserv for Nexity for example) in order to save the cost of technology and to have the last updated software.Updating software limits the risk of hacking and restores confidence of clients about the security on the account financial information. B ut even if a regular updating software and a reinforcement of the security, the threat of hacking stays pervasive. Furthermore, with the development of internet, we have seen emerged a new kind of competitors for the traditional banks which are the virtual banks as Nexity or ING Direct. INTERNAL ANALYSIS Nexity gets the opportunity to growth quite fast and its profitability could be High. In order to understand the most appropriate strategy of the company, we will try to highlight its different aspects by presenting its Resources View Analysis and its Value Chain. A. Resources View Analysis.As the matrix exhibit 7 shows us, the company benefit of a high improvement of its assets that reinforce its capacity to provide a high level quality range of products Tangible asset: Due to its activity, the company owns few tangible asset. In fact, its services allow it to only get some offices from its acquisition of People bank of Alabama with 30$ in asset. The company have also a competitive advantage thanks to the location of its call centre that facilitate the exchange of data between the main office and the call centre. Intangible asset: By getting a top tier award from Bankrate for its High yield on money market accounts and certificate of deposit, the company proves to its customers its efficiency and in capacity to provide good quality products.By acquiring People bank of Alabama, Nexity has get as well a know-how of over 100 years, which gives it a significant advantage compare to its competitors, as it has enjoyed the different expertises made by the former company so it has been able to produce High quality products but also reinforce the formers one adapting them to the new requirement of the market, and it remains also a good point for its advertising with it customers: they can focus it with the over 100 year of experience which people are sensitive with. It also ahs the Web Trust Seal accreditation that is a certification from the services of the American Institute of Certificate Public Accountant and the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accounts. It proves that its website delivers safe services. So it reinforces the trust its customers give it but also can be very useful in order to attract new one and to spread its market.Capabilities  : By getting its break-even point in only 18 month, Nexity has a strong competitive advantage compare to most of its competitors that usually get it in 3 years average. That is to say the company can invest money in R&D for example in order to create and provide highest quality product. It proves that the company realises large economy of scale, that it is highly efficient to get result and it is as well relevant that it is very successful. Its renowned customer service, which has a very good image with its Customer, as it remains friendly and quick, allow the company to keep its customers as they trust it to give them High quality services.It is the result of the proximity between the main office and the call centre: employees are able to provide High quality answers to customers as they keep being updated about the characteristics of the products and services and the evolution of them. The competitors cannot give as quick answer as Nexity does because they might have their call centre farer away from their office, and maybe abroad, sot hey cannot give more relevant answer as Nexity does. By reimbursing customers using other ATM than Nexity’s ones, the company can meet some weaknesses as it costs it quite a lot of money Value chain analysis Firm infrastructure: The firm has a main office with all the facility costs to support, and its call centre with the same type of costs.So all those generic costs are not a constraint for Nexity and they can concentrate their budget to the R&D or to the improvement of its strengths such as the customers service. Human resources management: The main cost is due to the call centre as the company is very focused to give a high custome r service. Technology development: Nexity website is highly renowned as it gets the Web Trust Seal accreditation, which is a proof of quality for a company that uses the Internet for its distribution channel Inbound logistics: As the company provides services, it only has to increase if necessary its tangible and intangible assets. So it has not have to deal with any inbound logistic and it is a strength for its economy of scale politic. Operation:This might be the main department of the company as employees from the call centre with present the different product but also supply strong customer services; and those to point are the most important one for the firm to provide a competitive advantage compare to its rival. Marketing and sales Focusing on an Internet-based advertising channel like Bankrate. com, the company invest quite a lot to improve its visibility in order to attract as many people as possible throughout the 50 states of the USA. The fact that Nexity proposes a lot of products and services constraints them to spend a lot because they want to provide the best services. This is the result of adopting a differentiation strategy based on reducing costs. Services:The company provides a strong customer service in order to keep them as they can be very versatile and find another bank if they are unsatisfied. So it is very important for Nexity to be focused on that and the fact that call centre employees are close to the main office give them a qualitative advantage as people mainly remains satisfied. Nexity Financial analysis A. Nexity bank business model and strategies. Nexity bank is a virtual bank wich works only on internet and earns money from interests rates based on loans. Nexity is build from traditional banking practices, that means this bank is able to deliver all the advantages and financial products[1] as a normal bank but with no branche.David Long and the others managers decided to applied for their bank the  «Ã‚  Blue Ocean Strategy  Ã‚ » wich links at the same time  «Ã‚  differentiation and low costs strategies  Ã‚ ». One can talk about blue ocean strategy, because the market was not established and competitors were not really present in this sector. This strategy aims to create a new market space and to make competition irrelevant. Nexity’s builders knew that, if they were able to propose at the same time good quality products with attractive interest rates coupled with an efficient call centre they will earn market shares and money. These criterias permited to develop the Nexity’s strengh, and one can observe that the differenciation is based on these same criterias  : an efficient call center and good quality product at the lowest price.If Nexity has attractive interest rates, is just because, it doesn’t have to pay high overhead costs (no branche) so Nexity can pay more interest on deposits and charge lower rates on loans. This is the second part of the  «Ã‚  bleu ocean strateg y  Ã‚ », the  «Ã‚  low costs  Ã‚ » strategy because adopting this concept Nexity attracts price-sensitive consumers. Nexity has the lowest interest rate for the cheking but has the highest for One-year Certificate Deposit and Money Market. That means, Nexity wants to keep its consumer. Nexity doesn’t want to be a simple bank where consumers only want to check their accounts. Nexity prefers to have people whose need loans and are engaged with the bank. Moreover, Nexity proposes bank’s services and bill pay online.With these offers, the bank aims to work with people between 32 and 49 years old, with an income average of $81,600 and investible assets of $320,300 and these persons spend at minimum 27 hours per week on the internet. So these people have money and spend many time on the internet that permits to the bank to benefit of  «Ã‚  good quality  Ã‚ » consumers. Finally one can underline that Nexity adopt also the  «Ã‚  low cost strategy  Ã‚ » for its ad vertising. In fact they did all their advertising on the Internet so they benefited of a huge advertising compaign at the lowest price. Nexity Financial Analysis. Previously, one observed the strategies employed by Nexity in order to become an important actor in the US (virtual) banking industry. Now, it’s important to know if these strategies are efficients or not.Firstly, if one look at the bank net income growth, one can observed that the net income had grown by 181% in 3 years, from $-3,032,000 in 2000 to a profit of $2,461,000 in 2003. This is really important growth wich reflects the good health of the business. [pic] Evolution of the net income between 2000 and 2003 One can also observe if the bank respects its strategies. The turnover has grown by 250% in three years wheras the overheads grown by only 16%. So Nexity respects the strategy of keeping overheads costs low in order to offer interesting interest rates. If one looks at the distribution of the turnover betwee n the interest income and noninterest income, it can observe that the Nexity makes 97. 1% of its turnover with interest rates and only 2. 79% with the noninterest rates. Secondly, it is interesting to observe some financial ratios  : – The coumpound annual growth wich gives the annual growth rate. And for Nexity, this ratio is around 30%. It is a good indicator for the company’s development. – The return on equity, wich is relevant for a bank because it gives the bank’s profitability by revealing how much profit the bank generates with the money shareholders have invested. For Nexity, the ROE passed from -32,71 in 2000 to 12,99 in 2003. One can easily observed that in three years Nexity learnt how to make money with shareholders investments. The efficiency ratio evaluates the overhead efficiency structure of a Financial institution. Banking is no different from any industry. If the bank wants to survive the bank has to keep overhead costs down.The effic iency ration permits to measure how the bank is operating, how much money the bank must spend to generate each dollar its bring on. In the Nexity case, this ratio is getting lower and it is good for the bank ans its shareholder. . In fact the ratio passed from 230. 69 in 2000 to 63. 54 in 2003. Lower the ratio, better it is for the bank. So, one can conclude that Nexity respects its commitments because the bank makes money from interest rates and keeps its overhead costs low. SWOT ANALYSIS STRENGHTS |Large range of product | | |High satisfaction of customers | | |High quality of customer services | | |Many awards from Bankrate( high quality of products | | |High efficiency of the website( Web Trust Seal Accreditation | | |Strong expertise thanks to the acquisition of People’s bank of Alabama (over 100 years of | | |experience in the Banking sector) | | |Growth of its assets (over + 400% from July 00 to July 2003) | | Good compound annual growth | |WEAKNESSES |Some costs can b e avoid (ATM reimbursements) | | |Increase of other borrowed funds that has to be controlled | |OPPORTUNITIES |Impact of the American government with the deregulation of the market ( advantages for | | |leaders | | |Internal rivalry buyers and suppliers | | |Forecasting all the marketing and communication budget | | |Bank and bill pay online customers present the most interesting profiles (high income and | | |lots of investable assets) | |THREATS |Hard to attract new customers as they rely a lot on their old financial institutions. | | |Hackers | | |New competitors should appear | TOWS ANALYSIS |STRENGHTS |WEAKNESSES | | |Large range of product |Some costs can be avoid (ATM | | |High satisfaction of customers |reimbursements) | | |High quality of customer services |Increase of other borrowed funds that has| | |Many awards from Bankrate( high quality of products |to be controlled | |High efficiency of the website( Web Trust Seal Accreditation | | | |Strong expertise thanks to the ac quisition of People’s bank of | | | |Alabama (over 100 years of experience in the Banking sector) | | | |Growth of its assets (over + 400% from July 00 to July 2003) | | | |Good compound annual growth | | |OPPORTUNITIES |Improve the advertising on internet and traditional media channel in |Open a new office in another state in | |Impact of the American government with the deregulation |order to get new customers |order to understand the market of the | |of the market ( advantages for leaders |Make advertising on the financial media (magazine, news papers†¦) in |western state that have a different | |Internal rivalry buyers and suppliers |order to target a segment that have high income and asset to invest |demography (different insurance depending| |Forecasting all the marketing and communication budget |(managers, directors, institutions†¦) |on the state( natural disaster) | |Bank and bill pay online customers present the most |To hire a good communication manager t o improve the visibility | | |interesting profiles (high income and lots of investable|Propose investment solutions in order to propose high yield products | | |assets) |(for institutions and high income) | | | |Improve more and more the quality of services given by the call | | | |centre to customers | | |THREATS | | |Impact of the American government with the deregulation | | | |of the market ( advantages for leaders | | | |Internal rivalry buyers and suppliers | | | |Forecasting all the marketing and communication budget |Improvement of the quality of the web platform in order to propose |Invest in getting its own ATM system in | |Bank and bill pay online customers present the most |safe services |order to avoid reimbursement and do | |interesting profiles (high income and lots of investable|Improvement of the back up system |economy in long term keep doing its | |assets) | |strategy based on low costs | |People are mistrustful with bank on line | | | | | | |Even if we could sugg est many recommendations, we would choose the SO strategy: the company has to reinforce his strengths as the market can involve positively and it can really propose a competitive advantage compare to its competitors based on the low prices of its products. Nexity would need to be focused on improving its marketing and communication but as well the quality of the websites to win the trust of customers. Conclusion As one said in this paper, Nexity bank has many strenghts which allow it to be one of the learder on the market. Moreover they apply correctly the blue ocean strategy which allow them to generate more profits and to count more clients, but senior executive can not stay on these basis. If they want Nexity to be the number one into this business they have to improve their capacity of attractiveness towards potentials clients.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Science Experiment - Jean Piaget Experiment - Year 10 Cert. essays

Science Experiment - Jean Piaget Experiment - Year 10 Cert. essays According to Jean Piaget, the concrete operations stage develops in children between the ages of 7 and 11 years. They develop a course of thought which allows them to perform some higher mental processes, such as performing simple mathematics operations (like addition and subtraction). Concrete Operations is one of the four stages of Cognitive Development in children that were proposed by Jean Piaget, a renowned child psychologist. Cognitive Development, or Cognitive Structures as they are also known, are patterns of mental or physical action that underlie specific acts of intelligence and correspond to stages of child development. There are 4 primary Cognitive Development stages. Intelligence is based on only motor actions and through assimilations. For example, infants have certain skills in regard to objects in their environment. These skills were certainly simple ones, sensori-motor skills, but they directed the way in which the infant explored his or her environment and so how they gained more knowledge of the world and more sophisticated exploratory skills. These skills he called schemas. For example, an infant knows how to grab his favorite rattle and thrust it into his mouth. Hes got that schema down pat. When he comes across some other object say daddys expensive watch, he easily learns to transfer his grab and thrust schema to the new object. This Piaget called assimilation, specifically assimilating a new object into an old schema. When our infant comes across another object again say a beach ball he will try his old schema of grab and thrust. This of course works poorly with the new object. So the schema will adapt to the new object: Perhaps, in this example, squeeze and drool would be an appropriate title for the new schema. This is called accommodation, specifically accommodating an old schema to a new object. All of this is based on the pr...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

heartworm essays

heartworm essays Scientific name - Dirofilaria immtis Related parasites- Intestinal worms can cause serious problems such as bloody diarrhea and fleas can bite and cause extreme discomfort for your dog. The life cycle of the heartworm begins when an infected dog, carrying tiny immature heartworms (microfilariae) circulating in its blood, is bitten by a mosquito. The mosquito takes in microfilariae (larvae) when it feeds. During the next two-three weeks, the larvae develop within the mosquito into the infective stage. When the mosquito feeds again, it can transmit infective larvae to the healthy dog. The larvae penetrate the dog's skin and migrate through the tissues and develop over the next few months, eventually reaching the dog's heart. Once in the dog's heart, the worms can grow as long as 14 inches and cause significant damage to the heart, lungs and other vital organs. If left untreated, heartworm disease can result in death. Lethargic and generally listless And eventually death due to heart failure. Treatment can be quite involved, with hospitalization, IV fluids and many medications needed to rid the dog of the worms safely. Some dogs may die during and after the treatment from complications including heart failure and blood clots going to the lungs. Geographical area of impact Worldwide, but most common in mild and warm climates. In the U.S. they are prevalent along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts It has a negative impact on both. Sales of over $500 million annually; milbemycin, with sales of over $100 million. Proper pet supplies and heartworm medicine is so important. Though heart ...

Sunday, November 3, 2019

No child left behind act Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

No child left behind act - Essay Example The report states the alarming statistics of how competing15 year old international students were better at math then the Americans’ by of scoring lower than peers among pupils from other industrialized countries. Despite the staggering numbers, and the drop rates of 7000 school children on daily basis, the NCLB refuses to step back. It held public hearings cross the country, these talks taking the commission from Atlanta, Connecticut, Wisconsin, California, Hartford, to Madison, Georgia, Massachusetts and even Cambridge. 46 individuals from state policy makers to teachers, parents, officials and even advocates testified on behalf of thousands of people, reflecting on how the law has affected numerous lives. As Nathaniel Branden says, â€Å"The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance†. As if this isn’t enough evidence for the constantly functioning system, the collection of more than 10000 comments via its website reflects how citizen s are enthusiastic and aware of the reform being taken. Darling Hammond’s essay published in 2007 states the rather bitter sweet side of the NCLB reform, backing her arguments by yet another set of alarming statistics about the American education over the years. ... ccording to Darling Hammond, the â€Å"kill drill† system of MCQS as testing strategy has discouraged students from carrying out research analysis and experimental work which is a better measure of their knowledge and skill. NCLBs initiative according to both the essays, to label or point out more and more schools as â€Å"failing† from Darling Hammond’s view is harmful and unfair. She quotes in her essay the words of principal from Florida who points out that the already sidelined â€Å"failing† schools have little or no hope in getting help from the NCLB. NCLB has in its paradigm the system of accounting the student and the teachers for their performance, however Hammond calls this paradigm incomplete. As the state is not accountable for how the teachers and the students perform. NCLB identifies several ways in which it intends to improve the outlook of education in America in the years to come. It points out how â€Å"effective† teachers form the basis of a system that is foolproof. It also highlights in the commission report that the teacher student interaction, the involvement of presents and community members and their relationship is essential in bringing reform. also, the data systems of evaluating performance and keeping track of student grades and scores is vital to improve the foundations already laid down by NCLB. This however cannot be carried out unless the potential leaders in form of responsible and pioneering principals take hold of the systems in school across America. Drling hmmind colors in our minds a different image of the progress of NCLB one that is stagnant and not good enough. The lack of successful transfer of low performance students from private to public schools has only encouraged more drop outs, as due to lack of proper schooling

Friday, November 1, 2019

Why do you want to study engineering Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Why do you want to study engineering - Essay Example And although after such repairs I was often soiled and not everything worked from the first try, but I liked to watch how after my intervention mechanisms ran like clockwork. Thus, I realized that I’m good with machines which I never learned before. In the 11th grade I moved to the United States. It was another step for me to reach my dream. I got there more freedom, as I had to decide everything on my own without any help from my parents and relatives. As soon as I chose my engineer career, I was looking for University that would fit me ideally. Thus, I found out that Germany is the right place for me to study. So currently I’m preparing to enter the German University. So you can see that there are several reasons why I want to study engineering. Firstly, I am really good deal with different kinds of machines and mechanisms and I like math and physics. I understand that engineers are needed to work with technique everywhere, as we cannot imagine our life without it, and I am really aspirated about helping other people in their daily life improvement. Finally, I have all the necessary skills for successful engineering career: I have technical way of thinking and well-developed spatial imagination, as well as I am able to make independent decisions and have creative in problem solving. Last but not least, I am very curious about different approaches to the engineering in Germany. I am sure this internship fits me ideally as it has a great basic which meet my specific needs – it gives an opportunity to develop my knowledge and abilities for further investigations in the field of †¦ . So this internship may make my dream come true and I will get an opportunity to change the