Friday, November 29, 2019

The Impact of the A380 Project on the Financial Performance free essay sample

Abstract Airbus has been making headlines in the past few months for all the wrong reasons. This iconic European corporation has undergone a turbulent period due to the problems surrounding the Airbus A380 project. A new flagship product that should have curved out an unassailable advantage for Airbus over Boeing went completely wrong. The Airbus A380 aircraft was a ground breaking concept that was meant to push EADS into a unique market segment. Instead, it threatened the very existence of the company and served as a catalyst for major surgery and a complete reorganization of the corporation starting from the top management down to the production floors. Numerous studies have been undertaken that have documented details of the Airbus A380 project and what, how and why it all went wrong. The company and other stakeholders have been undertaking drastic steps to try and put the company back on track and ensure the survival of the commercial aircraft business unit. We will write a custom essay sample on The Impact of the A380 Project on the Financial Performance or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In this study we look at how the problems surrounding the Airbus A380 project have affected the financial health of EADS. The background to the problems and the financial performance of Airbus is studied and presented. A brief discussion of how the data we collected and used for the study and the data that we could not get access to is also presented early in the paper. From the data and analysis, a comparison of the two dominant players in the commercial aircraft manufacturing industry, Airbus and Boeing, is also undertaken. A brief highlight of the financial impact of a project in the computer/consumer electronics industry is also presented. Finally from these data and prior studies on this subject, we have tried to highlight the impact of the project on the short and long term financial direction of EADS. Table of Contents List of Tables6 6 List of Figures7 1 Introduction8 2 Theoretical Framework14 3 Data Collection25 4 EADS Background and Analysis27 5 Boeing Background and Financial Data50 6 Comparative Analysis of EADS and Boeing 59 7 Other Factors that Affected the Financial Health of EADS69 8 Long-Term Prospects72 9 Comparison to a Project in a different Industry78 10 Conclusions79 81 11 Future Work82 12 Reference List83 List of Tables Table 4. 1 Business Segment Data of EADS 36 Table 4. 2 Consolidated Cash Flow Statements of EADS. 36-37 Table 4. 3 Consolidated Income Statement of EADS.. 40 Table 4. 4 Consolidated Balance Sheet of EADS 40-41 Table 5. 1: Consolidated Statements for Boeing 55-57 Table 5. 2: Income Statements for Boeing. 57-58 Table 5. 3: Consolidated Cash Flow Statements of Boeing 58-59 Table 8. 1: The Order Book for A380 Aircraft 76-77 List of Figures Figure 4. 1: EADS stock ownership. 29 Figure 4. 2: EADS management structure.. 31 Figure 4. 3: Airbus management structure 32 Figure 4. 4: EADS divisions and revenue. 34 Figure 4. 5: EADS share price (25 Nov 05 to 25 Jun 07)†¦. 49 Figure 5. 1: Boeing distribution of stock. 51 Figure 5. 2: Boeing divisions, revenue and activities.. 52 Figure 5. 4: The management structure of Boeing.. 54 Figure 6. 1: Working Capital Boeing Vs EADS 61 Figure 6. 2: Revenue Boeing Vs EADS 64 Figure 6. 3: Airplane Delivery Boeing Vs EADS. 65 1 Introduction The commercial aircraft industry requires huge capital investments in manufacturing and research and development. This is a very competitive sector where industry consolidation has resulted in the emergence of two major players from either side of the Atlantic, EADS in Europe and Boeing in the United States of America. The two form a duopoly with market leadership in the sector largely rotating between these two corporate giants depending on the market dynamics. Commercial airlines and other air transport operators form the bulk of the customers. Governments are also important customers. The government involvement in the sector extends to investing, supporting (Aboulafia, Richard, 2000; O’Neal, Michael, 1990) and regulating. Any problems in the industry have implications that go well beyond the confines of the affected companies. Governments therefore subsidize and invest in aircraft manufacturing and research and development. This also serves to protect the highly skilled jobs in this sector and ensures that the respective countries remain technologically competitive (Wall, R. Sparaco, P, 2007). Big companies play an important role in the economics of the countries they operate in. They influence the conditions in the industries and directly impact employment rate in the countries where the manufacturing takes place. EADS and Boeing are the leading competitors in the aircraft manufacturing industry and demonstrate the high level of political interest in this sector and the way governments try to influence the business decisions made by such corporations (Wall, Robert Jens, Flottau 2007; Barrie, Douglas 2007). 1. 1 Problem Definition Airbus is a subsidiary of EADS that has been a global leader in the manufacture of commercial aircraft. The launch of the A380 aircraft project was expected to become a huge success and elevate EADS to a new level of market domination. But following production delays and the cancellation of some orders for the A380 aircraft by some customers, the company found itself in a difficult position. The failure of a challenging project such as the A380 project can have far reaching financial consequences that could lead to bankruptcy. It could also serve to expose weaknesses and inefficiencies in the structure of an organization that could be a major hindrance to the success of a company. The popular media and professional journals have been full of news and articles concerning the problems with the A380 aircraft and Airbus in particular. The list of problems include workforce discontent, possible reduction in production activities, delivery delays, customer dissatisfaction and a lack of new orders, to mention only a few. The complex set of problems extends to the influence EADS has that can cause significant economic problems in the concerned countries. Numerous studies and articles have been written about EADS and the A380 project that catalogue the various organisational, technical and financial problems associated with the manufacture of the A380 super-jumbo aircraft. A systematic evaluation of the financial consequences of the project has not been carried out. 1. 2 Purpose The purpose of this research work is to evaluate the impact of the A380 project on the financial health of EADS. The following questions will be addressed: In the short run, what effect has the A380 project had on the financial performance of EADS? In the same period, what was the financial performance of Boeing, the direct competitor of EADS? Should EADS continue supporting the A380 project with additional financing? What long term financial impact will the A380 project have on the future of EADS? Finally, in order to fulfil the purpose we will also briefly discuss other factors that influenced the financial health of EADS, in addition to the A380 project 1. 3 Research Methodology The first stage of this research will involve reviewing the information that is available about the aircraft manufacturing industry with a focus on information about EADS and Airbus. Our focus will be on financial information. As a public company, EADS is obliged to publish financial data about the corporate structure and financial information containing revenues, profits and sales orders per EADS division such as Airbus. The A380 has been a major project at EADS for the past few years that has taken substantial preparations and investments amounting to significant annual expenditures (Thomas, J. , 2001; Gummesson, E, 2006). The main thrust of our research will be quantitative for aspects where we shall obtain the financial data needed to do the analysis. We shall also employ a qualitative approach to evaluate the leadership and organizational structure at EADS. To evaluate the financial impact of the A380 project on EADS, our primary focus will be on financial and ratio analysis of the company. We will examine the financial statements from EADS. This quantitative analysis will include the period from 2004 to 2005 that preceded the initial announcements delivery delay of the A380 as well as the period following the announcements, from 2006 to the first quarter of 2007. To analyze the changes in profits, revenues and cash flows, we will perform a comparative analysis of the years from 2004 to 2006 and evaluate the first quarter of 2007 in comparison to the first quarter of 2006. We will explore what influence the Airbus A380 project has had on the financial health of EADS. In order to get a clearer picture of the financial health of EADS, we will compare the financial performances of EADS and its main competitor, Boeing. The financial statements of Boeing Company are also generally available as it is a public corporation. Boeing has a similar structure, is engaged in the same activities and is comparable in size with EADS. Boeing also operates in the aircraft manufacturing industry, with its commercial aircraft unit also being the major part of the company’s activities. Therefore, the cross-company financial analysis between EADS and Boeing will provide some useful insights into the scale of the finanicial problems. Some A380 aircraft customers have already cancelled their orders and moved to Boeing instead. Since these two companies form a duopoly, most customers that leave EADS for Boeing increase the market share for Boeing. The foreign currency exchange rates between the US dollar and the euro have had an impact on the competitiveness of EADS. The manufacturing plants of EADS are located in Europe. The basic bills are paid in Euros (salaries, taxes etc), while customers outside Europe settle their contractual obligations in US dollars. The lead time between contractual agreements and actual aircraft deliveries, coupled with fluctuating US dollar versus euro exchange rate influence the financial performance of EADS. Depending on the direction the change takes, it can add to the losses from the A380 project, especially with the lead time from the date of agreement to the date of delivery being stretched by the delays The US dollar to euro relationship is therefore an area of interest, we will therefore analyze trends in exchange rates and evaluate its impact on EADS. We will also evaluate trends in stock prices of EADS and compare them to ones of Boeing. This will allow us to see how the market value of the company was affected by the A380 crisis and delivery delays. The market values of stocks are important indicators of financial stability and are of special interest to investors. Trends in the stock price will also show the possible direction of the company. A review of the financial position of EADS, that will include cash flows, revenues in total, total revenues and profits, revenues and profits by divisions in the period starting from 2005 to 2007 (both within the company and in comparison with Boeing), together with review of stock prices and exchange rates in 2005-2007, will help paint the picture of the A380 project impact on the short run financial performance of EADS. Evaluation of trends in profits and cash flows of EADS and review of order and delivery book of Airbus, the major source of revenues and cash flows for EADS will reveal the possible future direction of the company. Upon reviewing the trends in financial position of EADS (through ratio analysis) and examining the order or delivery book of Airbus, taking into account that this type of business involves cash transfers and recognition of revenues upon fulfilment of contracts, we will be able to determine how much of a burden the A380 project is for EADS and if the company can carry on without significant financial reorganization. Finally, we will briefly examine other factors which could additionally influence financial health of EADS. The corporate structure and leadership issues have important bearing on the operations of a company and could also influence financial state of a company. Our evaluation will be based on information from the companies on the existing organizational structures and scientific articles where available. Among others, the following issues will be examined: the composition of the Boards such as the number of independent directors and how focused the Boards are on business activities and how independent they are when making decisions. This will give us some insight into the efficiency of EADS as an organization, which has an indirect influence on profitability as well. The dynamics of exchange rates influence financial health of EADS as the company is based in Europe but sells big part of its products overseas. We will use data on exchange rates obtained from business media sources for this analysis. 1. 4 Possible Limitations We will be unable to accurately estimate certain values without sufficient data. This is a complex case, with several interrelated issues. We will use the available data. The available data will be sufficient to make qualitative conclusions as is usual in case studies. For example, without knowing the values of discounts offered to some customers, the values of penalties incurred, the impact of some customers exercising the option to buy alternative aircraft from Airbus, we may be unable to make exact quantitative conclusions on losses and net cash outflows from the project. We cannot definitely determine sources and values of external (from other projects) financing for the A380 project. We would liked to look at the A380 project appraisal (preferably with more comprehensive appraisal method, like NPV), but it will not be possible to do this as we will lack exact data necessary for this type of evaluation. The A380 project is an evolving story that has new developments all the time. The data from primary data that we sourced from some company’s websites may be skewed in favour of the respective companies as there is tendency for companies to put emphasis on positive information. 2 Theoretical Framework 2. 1 Introduction According to Brealey et al, 2006, managers are agents of the owners of the company, the shareholders. The manager’s main goal is to increase the value of the shareholders’ wealth. The board of directors are part of the corporate governance system and are meant to oversee the performance of the managers and strategic direction of the company. The board ensures that the managers are adequately compensated for the day to day running of the corporation and have the mandate to replace the managers if they do not deliver shareholder value or , among other reasons do not conduct the operations ethically or legally. There are several methods to evaluate potential success of a project in a company. This is an important step. In a large company and/or if a significant investment opportunity is considered, investment appraisal methods, such as NPV (Net Present Value) are applied. To analyse the impact of the A380 project on EADS, our approach was to look at the problem from three angles: the financial angle, the organisation structure (leadership and governance) and to compare EADS to a similar organisation. The theoretical foundations that we base our analysis on are described in the following sections of this chapter. 2. 2 Assessment of the Financial Health 2. 2. 1 Financial Statements – Ratio Analysis Potential investors, as well as other interested parties, always analyze past/present financial performance of a company before making investment. This is necessary to evaluate possibility of future returns. Trends in profits and cash flows of past few years not only show how effective was a company in the post, but can also indicate future direction of a company. Probably the best way to evaluate possible return from investment is by analyzing data available from financial statements of a company (40). The major financial statements are: Statement of Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and Income Statement. Income Statement is intended to disclose revenues and expenses, as well as profits of a particular period. It should be noted, that profits are often different from cash flows, as items like depreciation of fixed assets are not taken into account in net cash flow calculations, but they do influence profits. Statement of Balance Sheet shows the financial position of a company at a particular point in time. Namely, it shows the values of assets (both current and non-current), liabilities (both current and non-current) and equity. Following balance of Balance Sheet components is always maintained, if the statement is correctly prepared: Assets-Liabilities=Equity Statement of Cash flows discloses the way all cash resources have been used throughout a particular period of time. Cash Flow Statement consists of three basic parts: Cash Flows from Operating Activities, Cash Flows from Investment Activities and Cash Flows from Financing Activities. Income Statement, Statement of Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement can be analyzed to find out how effective the performance of a company in the past was and to forecast, what can be expected in the future. It should be pointed out, that basic financial statements of listed (parent) companies are readily available to general public (through company web sites, etc), while financial statements of subsidies (â€Å"daughter† companies), like Airbus, usually are not readily available. A. Millichamp, 1997, suggests three methods for assessing financial performance. Each figure (or number) in the financial statement should be compared with: 1) The corresponding figure of previous statements 2) The corresponding forecasted (budgeted) figure 3) The corresponding figure of another company in the similar business While comparison of subsequent statements of a company is important (to see improvements/backward steps etc), it is sometimes even more important and interesting to see how well a company is performing in comparison with direct competitor (e. g. in our case Boeing vs. EADS). The first method of assessment shows trends within a company, while cross-company evaluation shows if those steps are more effective than the ones taken by a competitor. Third method of an evaluation (i. e. comparison with budgeted values), while definitely being important, usually cannot be performed by an outsider, as budgets (i. e. internal data) are rarely disclosed by companies. While comparison of absolute values of financial statements is often performed, comparison through financial ratios is frequently more relevant. Many financial values are inter-related. Besides, some trends are better seen through relative analysis of values, for instance, when two companies construct their financial statements in different currencies. Boeing does this in US dollars while EADS uses the euro. According to Williams et al, 2005, (p606): â€Å"Ratio is a simple mathematical expression of the relationship, of one item to another. Every percentage may be viewed ad a ratio-that is, one number expressed as a percentage of another†. 2. 2. 1. 1 Ratio Analysis Assessment of three basic types of activities can be conducted to evaluate overall financial performance of a company (35). Changes since previous period show short term improvements/steps backward, while overall trends in years can also indicate what can be expected in the future. These three activities are: Liquidity, Profitability and Gearing/Leverage. It should be noted, though, that this is not a strict classification and some ratios may â€Å"belong† to more than one performance appraisal subgroups. For better representation of subsequent statements, they are usually placed next to each other and percentages of each corresponding values are also given. 2. 2. 1. 2 Liquidity Measures Liquidity of a company refers to its ability to manage short term obligations. Short term obligations are those ones, which should be repaid within a year. In other words, it is an ability to repay current liabilities with available current assets. Current assets are assets readily convertible into cash. While current liability is an obligation which should be settled within a year. The basic term often used in relation to Liquidity is Working Capital. Simply, it is an excess of current assets over current liabilities. Basic ratios used to assess liquidity of a company are: 1) Current Ratio=Current Assets/Current Liabilities It is a measure of how well are current liabilities covered by current assets. To some extent, the more it is (hopefully over 1. 5), the better it is for a company, but too high Current Ratio may imply that current assets are not entirely utilized. 2) Quick Ratio=(Current Assets-Inventories)/Current Liabilities It is a similar measure to Current Ratio, but with the exclusion of inventories-the least liquid current assets. Sometimes it is a more relevant measure. Again, a value of Quick Ration in excess of 1 is usually expected, but it varies from industry to industry. 3) Working Capital Cycle is considered to be an important illustrative measure of Liquidity. It is calculated in days/months. By Working Capital Cycle we measure the period from the date purchase of raw materials to the date of cash collection from products manufactured from those materials. Working Capital Cycle equals: Period to collect cash from customers+ period to turn over inventories- period to settle trade liabilities Days to collect cash from customers= (Average Receivables/Sales Revenues) x 365 Days to turn over inventories = (Average Value of Inventories/Cost of Sales) x 365 Days to settle trade obligations = (Average Payables/Cost of Sales) x 365 If average values are not available, year end values can also be used. Generally, the shorter is the Working Capital Cycle, the better it is for a company, as it is an indicator of effective performance. 2. 2. 1. 3 Profitability Measures Profitability ratios can help us evaluate trends in profitability and help us find out if a company earns sufficient profits in comparison with available resources. One thing should be noted here. If a company has a very high profitability but low cash balance, it can lead to a collapse-company can run out of cash. It is called Overtrading. On the other hand, excessive cash balance with corresponding low profitability is an indicator of Overcapitalization-sign of inefficient use of available resources (assets do not generate sufficient profits). Trends in Profitability can be measured both in absolute terms and with the use of ratios. Following measures are used: 1) Gross Profit Percentage: Gross Profit/Sales Revenue It is an indicator of what is percentage of Gross Profit from Sales Revenue Earnings per Share: Earnings for Ordinary Shareholders/Number of Outstanding Shares is an indicator of earnings for one share. Two important measure of profitability are also used to evaluate the efficiency in use of assets and equity to generate profits. Return on Equity = Net Profits/Value of Equity Return on Assets = Operating Profit / Value of Total Assets Maintenance of high levels of profitability is the primary objective of a company. It is a sign of relatively safe continuity. But as it was stated above, high levels of profitability should not be confronted with low Liquidity. 2. 2. 1. 4 Measures of Gearing and Leverage By Gearing we mean the ability of a company to meet long term debt obligations. Debt composition of Balance Sheet is an important indicator of Gearing. Higher share of long term debt in comparison with to equity is an indicator of higher Gearing. While, generally, long term debt is considered to be the least expensive source of finance (less expensive than common stock issue), too much reliance on debts puts accompany into danger, as interest on debt should be repaid (unlike dividends) regardless of profitability level. Good indicator of Gearing is the Debt Ratio: Debt Ratio= Total Liabilities/Total Assets Another indicator of Gearing is Interest Cover: Interest Cover= Profit before Interest and Tax/Interest Expense The higher it is, the easier it is for a company to settle its long term debt interest. This ratio is also related to Liquidity of a company. All above mentioned ratios are calculated from Statements of Balance Sheet and Statements of Income. Additionally, examination of Cash Flow Statements can reveal how cash is used in a company, which items of the statement are seem to generate more/less cash than was expected and by how much has cash decreased/increased in the considered period. 2. 2. 2 Limitations of Financial Evaluations using Ratios Financial analysis through ratios is an important and useful method to evaluate financial performance of a particular company. But this type of evaluation has its limitations. One can never make convinced conclusions purely based on ratio analysis. One of the reasons can be so called â€Å"window dressing†, i. e. a case when a company intensively â€Å"improves† performance by the end of accounting period to make year end financial statements look â€Å"attractive†. This can lead to incorrect assessment of a company. Besides, measures used in financial analysis are relative measures, which indicate to relative changes and therefore do not always allow us to make absolute judgments on companies (Millichamp A, 1997; Williams R. et al, 2005). Nevertheless, comprehensive (including cross-company) evaluation of company performance through financial ratios can disclose not only past problems of a company but even allow us make forecasts on future financial health of the company. This evaluation is well supplemented by other non-ratio financial indicators, like stock price trends and (where relevant) trends in currency exchange rates. 2. 2. 3 Stock Prices The wealth of shareholders in a company is generated from: 1) Dividends received; 2) Market values of shares Return from investment to shareholders can be generated from both received dividends and from capital gain due to increase in value of shares. Very important measures a company value is market value of all its outstanding shares. In order to increase the value of a company, management should achieve high profits so that it could distribute higher dividends and insure high values of shares (to allow higher capital gains). When market value of shares is low, the possibility of takeover from an outsider company is more likely. What is also significant, value of shares and trends of share prices are very important indicators of a company financial health for a potential investor. It is taken into account together with financial statements of a company (Millichamp A. 1997, Brealey R. et al, 2006). 2. 3 Additional Factors that can affect the Financial Health In this section we look at other factors that can have a bearing on the finances of EADS as factors like corporate structure, leadership and foreign exchange rates can have an influence on the financial stability of a company or indirect impact on projects within a company. The indirect influence of factors like corporate structure and leadership is reflected in the ability to avoid or reduce the negative impacts caused by a project while fluctuations of exchange rates can magnify losses or profits from projects when exchange rates are either favorable or unfavorable. However, the primary purpose of this thesis is to look at the impact of the A380 project. 2. 3. 1 Leadership The corporate culture, leadership and governance of a corporation influences the way the success of a company. Dubrin A. , (2007) has further catalogued the types of leadership characteristics that are needed for organisational success. These are especially relevant in organisations of the scale and complexity of EADS or Boeing that depend on the creativity and the innovation of the workforce. Dubrin also describes leadership traits needed to effectively manage international or geographically dispersed companies that are also culturally diverse are also. Other characteristics that have relevance to our subject matter relating to Airbus and EADS include teamwork, leadership development, succession and transformational leadership skills are required to lead an organisation through a crisis. This list is not exhaustive, it only seeks to provide a brief background to some of the leadership failures that could have led to the problems at Airbus, impacted on organisational efficiency and subsequently translated into financial woes for the company. 2. 3. 2 Corporate and Governance Structure Organizational structure can play a vital role in the performance of a company. The way the board of directors coordinate performance of top management and the manner it communicates with groups of shareholders is often as important as contemporary financial health of a company. The central role in organizational structure belongs to board of directors which usually consists of 8-15 members in a large corporation. The board should be independent to ensure independent and objective reporting and decision-making of the board (15). According to Walter J. Salmon: â€Å"Inside directors are often too committed to tradition and their new ideas. Outside directors, without independent sources of information are usually only capable of anaemic discussion and dissent. The result: consumers, competition, technology, and the economy may all change, but the company fails to keep up† (15, p4). According to Walter J. Salmon, a board of 8-15 members is optimum, with at least 2/3 of it being outside directors. An empowered board (15) has the ability and independence to monitor activities of management and to influence top management to revise their activities if their performance does not correspond to the strategic direction of a company determined earlier. The board should monitor the performance of the CEO and interfere if the company moves in the wrong direction to improve things before further damage occurs. The following steps are essential for Board empowerment (15): Directors receive independent and competent information on the performance of a company in the most easy-to-understand format The board consists of independent, competent members. It is an integrated board. Members of the board freely and frequently communicate with each other The board members also monitor the performance of the board itself. They set objectives for themselves and try to achieve them. 2. 3. 3 Governed Corporation vs. Managed Corporation According to John Pound, there are two types of organizational structures: a governed corporation and a managed corporation. The board of directors has a passive role in a managed corporation. Its main tasks are monitoring and selection and appointment of top management. The managers retain all leadership and decision-making rights (15). It is not considered to be the best governance model nowadays. Today many problems of large organization do not stem from power imbalances, but rather from poor decision-making. The governed corporation model proposed by John Pound is designed to remove the imbalances of the managed corporation model. It is centred on the decision making process in the company. The board of directors, top management and shareholders are more integrated and share responsibilities in decision making and formulation of the strategic direction of a company. Managerial duties are retained by CEO’s, but the board is not a passive onlooker. 2. 3. 4 The Impact of Foreign Exchange Rates Exchange rate of a currency is a rate at which one country’s currency can be traded in exchange to another country’s currency. Basically, exchange rate is determined by supply and demand of currencies at exchange markets. Following factors influence exchange rates: Government policy to influence exchange rates (limitation of maximum exchange value etc) Interest rates in the countries of those currencies The rates of inflation in those countries Trends in exchange rates (Euro to Dollar) can become a source of troubles for both importers and exporters of products, because â€Å"actual† amount received by them can fluctuate as exchange rates vary (35). There are some measures to be taken in order to avoid or reduce negative influence of exchange rates: 1) Contrac

Monday, November 25, 2019

Geography and History of Costa Rica

Geography and History of Costa Rica Population: 4.906 million (July 2017 estimate)Capital: San Josà ©Area: 19,730 square miles (51,100 sq km)Bordering countries: Nicaragua and PanamaCoastline: 802 miles (1,290 km)Highest point: Cerro Chirripo at 12,500 feet (3,810 m) Costa Rica, officially called the Republic of Costa Rica, is located on the Central American isthmus between Nicaragua and Panama. Because it is on an isthmus, Costa Rica also has coastlines along the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The country features numerous rainforests and a plethora of flora and fauna which make it a popular destination for tourism and ecotourism. History Costa Rica was first explored by Europeans beginning in 1502 with Christopher Columbus. Columbus named the region Costa Rica, meaning rich coast, as he and other explorers hoped to find gold and silver in the area. European settlement began in Costa Rica in 1522 and from the 1570s until the 1800s it was a Spanish colony. In 1821, Costa Rica then joined other Spanish colonies in the region and made a declaration of independence from Spain. Shortly thereafter, the newly independent Costa Rica and other former colonies formed a Central American Federation. However, cooperation between the countries was short-lived and border disputes frequently occurred in the mid-1800s. As a result of these conflicts, the Central American Federation eventually collapsed and in 1838, Costa Rica declared itself as a fully independent state. After declaring its independence, Costa Rica underwent a period of stable democracy beginning in 1899. In that year, the country experienced its first free elections which have continued until today despite two problems in the early 1900s and in 1948. From 1917-1918, Costa Rica was under the dictatorial rule of Federico Tinoco and in 1948, the presidential election was disputed and Jose Figueres led a civilian uprising which led to a 44-day civil war. Costa Ricas civil war caused the deaths of more than 2,000 people and was one of the most violent times in the countrys history. Following the end of the civil war though, a constitution was written which declared that the country would have free elections and universal suffrage. Costa Ricas first election following the civil war was in 1953 and was won by Figueres. Today, Costa Rica is known as one of the most stable and economically successful Latin American countries. Government Costa Rica is a republic with a single legislative body made up of its Legislative Assembly whose members are elected by popular vote. The judicial branch of government in Costa Rica is comprised only of a Supreme Court. Costa Ricas executive branch has a chief of state and head of government - both of which are filled by the president who is elected by popular vote. Costa Rica underwent its most recent election in February 2010. Laura Chinchilla won the election and became the countrys first female president. Economics and Land Use Costa Rica is considered one of the most economically prosperous countries in Central America and a major part of its economy comes from its agricultural exports. Costa Rica is a well-known coffee producing region and pineapples, bananas, sugar, beef, and ornamental plants also contribute to its economy. The country is also growing industrially and produces goods such as medical equipment, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products, and high-value goods such as microprocessors. Ecotourism and the related service sector is also a significant part of Costa Ricas economy because the country is highly biodiverse. Geography, Climate, and Biodiversity Costa Rica has a varied topography with coastal plains that are separated by volcanic mountain ranges. There are three mountain ranges running throughout the country. The first of these is the Cordillera de Guanacaste and runs to the Cordillera Central from the northern border with Nicaragua. The Cordillera Central runs between the central part of the country and the southern Cordillera de Talamanca which bounds the Meseta Central (Central Valley) near San Josà ©. Most of Costa Ricas coffee is produced in this region. The climate of Costa Rica is tropical and has a wet season that lasts from May to November. San Jose, which is located in Costa Ricas Central Valley, has an average July high temperature of 82 °F (28 °C) and an average January low of 59 °F (15 °C). The coastal lowlands of Costa Rica are incredibly biodiverse and feature many different types of plants and wildlife. Both coasts feature mangrove swamps and the Gulf of Mexico side is heavily forested with tropical rainforests. Costa Rica also has several large national parks to protect its plethora of flora and fauna. Some of these parks include the Corcovado National Park (home to large cats such as jaguars and smaller animals like Costa Rican monkeys), Tortuguero National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. More Facts Costa Ricas official languages are English and Creole Life expectancy in Costa Rica is 76.8 years Costa Ricas ethnic breakdown is 94% European and mixed native-European, 3% African, 1% native and 1% Chinese References Central Intelligence Agency. (2010, April 22). CIA - The World Factbook - Costa Rica. Retrieved from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cs.htmlInfoplease.com. (n.d.) Costa Rica: History, Geography, Government, and Culture - Infoplease.com. Retrieved from: infoplease.com/ipa/A0107430.htmlUnited States Department of State. (2010, February). Costa Rica (02/10). Retrieved from: state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2019.htm

Friday, November 22, 2019

Organisation leadership Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Organisation leadership - Case Study Example 207). Traditionally, ineffective leadership has been considered as the absence of leadership, while research on leadership’s destructive aspects indicates that destructive leadership comprises a host of behaviors which is more than simply the absence of leadership (Ashforth, 1994). An example of destructive leadership in the workplace is the bullying offered to the employees by the leader or manager. Since they have the power and the decision making authority, seniors tend to inflict this power over the subordinates in an attempt to direct their actions. Bullying has a negative effect on the psychology of the employees and affects the organizational culture adversely. Other examples of destructive leadership behavior at the workplace include theft, corruption at the top level, and sabotage. The processes of socialization and assimilation administered by transformational leadership may, in effect, prove destructive. Some of the most unethical leaders with destructive behaviors in the history have been charismatic leaders, that have used their charisma for negative purposes rather than positive purposes (Luthans, Peterson, and Ibraveva, 1998; Padilla et al., 2007). A potential example of such charismatic leaders seen in the history is Hitler who although was very effective as a leader, yet made â€Å"a prime example of destructive leadership† (Padilla et al., 2007, p. 179). One of the values of Inquiro is to â€Å"focus on the user and all else will follow†. This means that Inquiro works according to the needs of the users and can go to any length to address those needs. Users’ needs may not always be ethical. Users may require information access to which, they are legally denied. For the same reason, Inquiro developed a stormy relationship with China. In its attempt to address the needs of the users, the company did not fully comply with the media censorship policies of China. Inquiro should have its own standards that should be consi dered the most important. According to Padilla et al. (2007, p. 179), dysfunctional leader behaviors interact with the susceptible followers in the contributing environment’s context to yield negative organizational results so that the followers are unable to resist and must consent to the destructive leader. In such a case, the destructive leader does not pay attention to the environmental context or the roles of the followers. As a result of this, an organizational petri dish is created in which unethical and destructive behavior is perpetuated in people who otherwise behave ethically. Inquiro should not require its employees to address those needs of the users that are not consistent with its established standards. Inquiro’s leadership is manipulative when it comes to paying the taxes. For the same reason, Inquiro was subjected to parliamentary scrutiny in the year 2012 because of its tax affairs. In the year 2011, the tax bill of Inquiro’s corporate was no m ore than 3.5 million pounds in spite of the fact that the company made a turnover of 396 million pounds. Inquiro manages to pay lesser tax by

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Assess and discuss Hospital Equipment Libraries giving consideration Essay

Assess and discuss Hospital Equipment Libraries giving consideration to current Medical Equipment Management guidance and policy - Essay Example These equipment assist and impact on the ability of the health organizations in effectively treating, monitoring and supporting patients care and in the general management of their respective medical conditions. It further allows proper management of healthcare in facilities and community settings by facilitating self-care for patients in difference circumstances. The hospital library operations functions are in tandem to the current medical equipment management guidance and policy. Medical equipment libraries are managed by clinical engineering team who ensure that all equipment are available for loaning any time of the day. They therefore, ensure provision of quality healthcare services by providing this equipment to the patients and staffs that need them in their service provision (MHRA 2013). To ensure that equipment are safeguarded in the libraries, medical management guidance and policies are important. The world health organization is one of the bodies that recognize the important of health organization having in place appropriate policies that can better address issues pertaining to equipment in the hospital libraries. These policies and guidance help to foster good governance in health organization which later impacts positively on the delivery of health services. Technology is advancing at a fast pace and many medical facilities are embracing these technologies. The technology has enabled positive performance of services but led to increase in prices (Device Bulletin DB2006 (05), 2006). Accessing medical care among many people earning low salary is out of their rich. The medical equipment management policy need to factor such issues in their plans to ensure that they provide good health care service to all people that requires good health. Policy guides management on various stages of equipment life cycle, including acquisition, utilization, maintenance as well as disposal. Therefore,

Monday, November 18, 2019

Legal Profession in Private Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Legal Profession in Private Practice - Essay Example If such private practice is unregulated and left to the vagaries of the market, it leaves it susceptible to abuse. Unlike other commodities and services where the harmful effects of deregulation are minimal, and in some cases deregulation is actually better, the legal profession has to contend with the fact that ultimately, its aim is the dispensation of justice. It seeks to correct redresses committed against individuals and seek accountability from the wrongdoers. It plays an integral and important part in our justice system, and the justice system in turn plays an important part in the maintenance of social order and the promotion of human rights. Hence, the legal profession can in no wise be treated as simply a commodity or a service to be provided to those who can pay, without regulation or State intervention. In July 2003, Sir David Clementi was tasked to carry out a review of the regulatory framework of the legal services in England and Wales. The terms of reference were:†¢Ã‚  To consider what regulatory framework would best promote competition, innovation and the public and consumer interest in an efficient, effective and independent legal sector.†¢Ã‚  To recommend a framework which will be independent in representing the public and consumer interest, comprehensive, accountable, consistent, flexible, transparent, and no more restrictive or burdensome than is clearly justified. Among his recommendations were the setting up of a Legal Services Board that has oversight powers. to regulate front-line bodies like the Law Society and the Bar Council, the creation of an Office for Legal Complaints that will be tasked to handle all forms of complaints lodged by the public against members of the front-line bodies, and opening up the system to alternative structures that will allow lawyers and non-lawyers to work together and provide legal internvention. The summary of all this is that the underlying reason behind the initiatives of Parliament is to introduce a Legal Services Bill that aims, in essence, to provide an oversight of the legal profession so that the greater public could best be served with legal services that are effective and accessible. To quote from the Written Ministerial Statement of Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The draft Bill sets out our detailed plans for the creation of a strong independent oversight regulator the Legal Services Board which will ensure that front line regulators discharge their duties effectively. In addition, legislation will provide the LSB with a wide range of powers including those to authorise

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Effect of Globalisation on Communication in Tourism Industry

Effect of Globalisation on Communication in Tourism Industry Globalisation and the Internet have changed every aspect of the tourism and leisure industry – from marketing and communication channels to booking and hospitality services. Many of the previous strategies employed by the industry no longer are effective because of these new market forces. Organisations within the tourist and leisure industry must be attuned to the shift in consumer and business trends related to where they seek information and book their travel in order to maintain or grow their businesses. Companies should also be aware of how various communication channels can be leverage to attract specific regional tourist markets. This paper examines both traditional and innovative communication channels – print, media, Internet, agencies and booking companies, and word-of-mouth – to distinguish between what is effective and non-effective now and in the near future based on specific trends that are currently influencing the industry’s evolution. As t he research found will illustrate, the effectiveness or non-effectiveness of each channel is linked to the travel stage – from planning and booking to the destination experience and journey home. Traditional communication channels within the travel industry have centred on booking agencies an shops, print media and advertising, marketing collateral, and television and radio. When it comes to the destination experience, word-of-mouth, travel kiosks, and tourist centres are other traditional channels that seem to work well.[1] These channels were – and, to a certain extent, still – able to provide brand promotion, nurture customer relationships, and offer a â€Å"value proposition.†[2] In relation to marketing efforts, traditional channels â€Å"follow a passive one-to-many communication model, whereby a company reaches current and potential customers through the broadcasting of the same message.†[3] However, in terms of today’s marketing strategies, there are a number of reasons why this channel is not effective: â€Å"uncustomised message to every consumer, wasted exposures to uninterested audiences, and ‘noise’ distraction fro m competing and conflicting messages.†[4] Additionally, traditional mass media formats of print, television and radio do not offer the new demands for interactivity, flexibility, and accessibility.[5] In terms of booking travel, these channels may still attract a certain demographic of travellers, but they mediums do not reach the potential audience that might be possible if more innovative channels were utilised. This is because of a movement related to consumer preferences from the â€Å"High Street† to the Internet.[6] In addition, these channels could also be considered ineffective based on their inability to maximise monetary resources. These channels can also be ineffective in that they do not build repeat business or encourage long-term relationships with customers because there is an inability to develop specific, customised communications. Print, television and radio tend to be more expensive while booking agencies and shops tend to produce higher overhead costs, making these more expensive than some of the newer methods of communication that rely on technology to reach more people while minimising the cost of using these channels. The traditional methods of commun ication tend to be more fragmented, reducing the level of brand recognition and equity that could be achieved through some of the more innovative channels.[7] One aspect where traditional communication channels may still be effective is with destination guides and services once travel has been booked and the trip has commenced. For example, it is estimated that 60-70 per cent of visitors to the UK will still use travel books and guides while 10-20 per cent will still seek Tourist Information Centres or related â€Å"in person† service to get their information.[8] While 25 per cent may utilise the Internet or a mobile device while others will use a combination of traditional and technology communication channels to find information about their destination while travelling,[9] traditional channels seem to be more effective during this part of the experience. There are signs, however, that indicate that technology may enable these communication channels to become more effective in addressing travellers who are seeking unique destination experiences and on-demand information. While basic information, such as specifics on major attractions, hotels, restaurants, and the like, will still be sought, there may be a need to also supply information on unique places, opening and closing times, special exhibitions, and smaller attractions.[10] As travellers become more technologically savvy, the traditional methods may no longer satisfy demand. As one study noted: For example, growth is being realised in handheld devices that â€Å"combine cell phone voice communication, Internet access and global positioning – enabling visitors ‘en route’ to a destination to access product information and make bookings; to put together itineraries; and to relate their position quickly to nearby services (theatre, restaurants, attractions, events, etc.[11] Those destination service organisations currently focused on traditional communication channels may want to start strategising on how to incorporate new channels into their offering to retain their customer base. More than other industries, tourism is an â€Å"information-intensive† industry that consists of numerous producers that need to work together to serve their clientele.[12] As such, it was one of the first industries to widely adopt[13] some of the emerging communication channels, such as the Internet, which has increased the â€Å"interactivity between consumers and suppliers.†[14] Not only does it provide an inexpensive delivery channel for information, but it also â€Å"empowers the marketing and communication functions of remote, peripheral and insular destinations as well as small and medium sized tourism enterprises which become able to communicate directly with their prospective customers and differentiate their product according to their needs.†[15] Traditional communication channels could not provide the geographic reach that a channel like the Internet has now been able to do in creating an infrastructure that enables information convergence. One niche where the Internet has been particularly effective as a channel for the tourist and leisure industry is marketing communications and advertising by creating a â€Å"narrowcast.†[16] In terms of addressability, those utilising this channel can also provide unique experiences for the consumer. Customisation of information and the ability to create unique sales propositions make newer communication channels, such as the Internet and database management, more effective than its traditional predecessors. The Internet can effectively mirror the benefits of personal selling techniques â€Å"but with much more flexibility, better memory and less cost.†[17] This need for customisation comes from the growing shift in the demographics of today and tomorrow’s traveller. As one research firm noted: â€Å"More attention will need to be given to tailoring propositions to suit the ageing population, those with more time and money to spend on leisure, the childless cou ples seeking quality time, or the emerging traveller nations of China and Central Europe.†[18] Strategies now must address â€Å"multi-generational needs, wants and desires.†[19] The introduction of mobile handsets and high-tech communication channels has helped the industry â€Å"develop and leverage customer relationships and to interact with more customers across more channels than ever before.†[20] The ability to achieve this also creates effective cross-selling opportunities that might not have been possible using traditional channels.[21] Related to these demographic trends, consumer and business demand is also now on an instantaneous cycle. Provide the information that they need or they will move onto the competition. Traditional methods cannot adapt to these lead times[22], making the Internet and real-time answers via web sites a more effective method. Online travel agents are an excellent example of just how effective the Internet is as a communication channel. As one research firm explained, â€Å"The global reach of the worldwide web brings the massive network of suppliers, such as airlines, hotels and tour operators, within the reach of millions of customers.†[23] Unlike a traditional travel agency, online channels provide 24/7 access, real-time updates, and the ability for multiple brands and travel products to be offered simultaneously for the lowest price, reducing the time that the consumer or business has to spend searching for their travel needs.[24] There is also a degree of transparency in pricin g that has never been possible.[25] No traditional communication method can deliver this type of effectiveness. Despite the effectiveness that the Internet and technology have brought to the travel industry, one aspect that illustrates the advantage of traditional methods comes down to personal service. Unfortunately, technology removes the intimacy of face-to-face communication channels. In response, many organisations utilising technology are providing telephone support so that customers still feel that connection.[26] An interesting aspect of business that is becoming a growing part of the tourist industry is environmentally based and involves Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This becomes especially important in new and emerging economies.[27] In looking at other aspects of the travel and leisure industry that utilise communication channels, the use of local community groups, community leaders, and media organisations[28] are two channels that work effectively to help develop a sustainable tourist trade in developing countries, such as those in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. These channels can help create a tourist trade in less modernised areas through such â€Å"grassroots† tactics as â€Å"training; participatory workshops; community, group, and individual meetings; local radio; school newsletters; and local events.†[29] In these areas, more advanced channels, such as the Internet, may not be effective except for attracting travellers from Westernised cultures that rely o n this technology to find information. If the goal is to attract more foreign tourists, investment in tactics utilising this type of channel might then become an effective mechanism for a sustainable tourist and leisure industry. The Internet could then become an important way â€Å"to put local tourism micro-enterprises into direct contact with the global market of travellers.†[30] The changing levels of effectiveness in the various travel and leisure communication channels have had the greatest negative impact on smaller, niche travel agencies. They cannot compete with larger online entities that have the resources to participate in the newer, more effective channels created through technological advancements and the globalisation efforts of travel and hospitality firms. Other aspects of the travel and leisure industry can look to utilise both traditional and emerging communication channels for effective coverage and interaction with their customers by enhancing their marketing and promotional efforts while expanding the capabilities of their service offering. The tourist and leisure industry will need to continue utilising a multi-pronged approach through the power of multiple communication channels to serve all its customers. WORKS CITED Buhalis, Dimitrios. â€Å"Information Technology as a Strategic Tool for Tourism and Hospitality Management in the New Millennium.† Tourism Review, No. 2, 1996, pp. 34-36). Grenna, Lucia; Hilbruner, Roberta; Santi, Emanuele; Scuppa, Gianmarco; and Vereczi, Gabor. â€Å"Communication and Sustainable Tourism.† USAID, 2006, pp. 1-27. Kyriakidis, Alex. â€Å"Tourism, Hospitality Leisure – Executive Report.† Deloitte Touche UK, 2003, pp. 1-26. Liu, Zhenhua. â€Å"Internet Tourism Marketing: Potential and Constraints.† Hotel Online. 2000. http://www.geocities.com/luke1980nz/intermet_tourism_marketing_full.htm?20071>. Raleigh, Lori. â€Å"Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007.† International Society of Hospitality Consultants. November 2006. http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2006_4th/Nov06_ISHC.html>. Wright, Tom. â€Å"Customer Contact Services.† VisitBritain. October 2004, pp. 1-33. Footnotes [1] Wright, â€Å"Customer Contact Services,† VisitBritain (2004), 6. [2] Kyriakidis, â€Å"Tourism, Hospitality Leisure – Executive Report.† Deloitte Touche UK (2003), 1. [3] Liu, â€Å"Internet Tourism Marketing: Potential and Constraints.† Hotel Online. (2006), 3. [4] Ibid, 3. [5] Ibid, 4-5. [6] Kyriakidis, Deloitte Touche UK, 4. [7] Ibid, 4. [8] Wright, VisitBritain, 3. [9] Ibid, 3. [10] Ibid, 8. [11] Ibid, 8. [12] Liu, Hotel Online, 7. [13] Ibid, 7. [14] Buhalis, â€Å"Information Technology as a Strategic Tool.† Tourism Review. (1996), 35. [15] Ibid, 36. [16] Liu, Hotel Online, 3. [17] Ibid, 4. [18] Kyriakidis, Deloitte Touche UK, 1. [19] Raleigh, â€Å"Top Ten Issues in the Hospitality Industry for 2007.† International Society of Hospitality Consultants. (2006), 6. [20] Kyriakidis, Deloitte Touche UK, 1. [21] Ibid, 5. [22] Ibid, 1. [23] Ibid, 4. [24] Ibid, 4. [25] Ibid, 5. [26] Ibid, 7. [27] Grenna et al. â€Å"Communication and Sustainable Tourism.† USAID (2006), 7. [28] Ibid, 7. [29] Ibid, 7. [30] Ibid, 8.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Essay --

The assessment framework for children in need and their families consists of gathering information that could potentially be important to look at. Social services would then evaluate the material which has been collected, and discuss whether or not it is valuable. Then decisions would need to be made on how the social services can support the family in need. The assessment needs to be centred on the child, and what is best for them. The assessment should also build on strengths and not focus purely on the negatives. It also needs to be holistic, taking everything into account (where the family lives, what benefits they are getting, what are their neighbours like etc.). It is also a continuing process; the assessment is not a ‘one off’. Social services don't have to help all families with children but they do have a duty to look into your situation to check what help you are entitled to. Social services can provide help for a family, like a placement in a playground or nursery for an infant; they can help with problems with schools or childcare. Social services can also help with a child’s behaviour, and help with any drug or alcohol problems. They can offer friendship and support, and if it is needed, counselling can be offered. A family could be entitled to housing and/or financial support from social services if someone in the family is under the age of 18 and is classed as a ‘child in need’. The child, or children, should be considered as a ‘child in need’ if he or she needs help to manage the things that affect health and development (the Children Act 1989). Examples of which could be lack of money or food, not having accommodation, problems that may affect health or education, or that the child is living with a violent person... ...lves. It is important for children that they are provided with an encouraging and secure environment in both the home and in school. Children need to feel that their parents and teachers value learning. If kids are shown that academic exploration is important, they are likely to develop similar attitudes. Furthermore, it is important to let kids know that failure is often part of the learning process. Kids who are not afraid to fail are more willing to accept scholastic challenges and are less likely to interrupt their own academic efforts. It is also important for kids to have plenty of support at home. The home environment shapes the initial attitudes that children have towards learning. However there are professionals that are available, such as counsellors and psychologists, both in and out of school, paediatricians, and state psychological associations.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Alexander the Great Essay 9

Alexander the Great Alexander the Great was a king and conqueror. He is commonly referred to as â€Å"the most powerful leader of all time. † What is it that makes him such a powerful leader? What has he accomplished that has made him so significant? Were his accomplishments positive or negative? These are all questions that when combined as one create a debate that has been going on for decades. There are those who admire Alexander’s military achievements and ability to carve out the largest empire the world has seen. Then there are those who perceive him as a selfish, cruel madman with drinking problems. This paper will outline the different sides taken on Alexander and the question as to what his significance/influence was and whether it was good or bad. Alexander the Great was the son of Phillip II, king of Macedonia. Phillip had always done much to prepare him for a military and political future (Lewis 48). Alexander served as a regent for his father at the young age of 16 for the start of his military career. After the assassination of his father he obtained the throne in 336 B. C. E. and leader of the League of Corinth. In 335 B. C. E he crushed Macedonia’s borders and destroyed the city of Thebes. This caused Athens to join the league with no fight. 334 B. C. E. was the year of his first great victory, which opened Asia Minor to conquest. He then, in 333, met the Persian King for the first time and caused him to flee by charging even though Alexander was outnumbered. This was the beginning of the end for Persia. Alexander went on and in his 13 year reign was conquering the Mediterranean, forming new cities, and producing an empire touching on 3 continents and encompassing 2 million sq miles (O’Brien 44). Such work is something one should be proud of and many agree that conquering all of Persia in such a short amount of time is Alexander the Greats biggest accomplishment. Balcer obviously agrees with that stating that Alexander succeeded in forming the largest western empire of the ancient world and removing Persian intervention in Greek affairs (Balcer 121-122). Sacks obviously agrees as well saying that his â€Å"principal achievement was the conquest of the empire of Persia,†(14). The perspective of many scholars is that Alexander really was â€Å"the greatest leader† and through the conquering he undertook he achieved many great things. This is the side of the debate in which scholars find Alexander’s significance to be a positive thing. It is argued he was a â€Å"military genius with iron will and boundless ambition,† (O’Brien 45). Scholar Edmund Burke clearly supports this idea in saying that in his accession to the Macedonian throne his foundation of Alexandria, conquest of the Persian Empire and his strategic and tactical genius makes him a â€Å"legend† (Burke 67). He was not the only scholar to refer to him as a legend for a professor at Boise State notes that Alexander exhibited tremendous bravery, didn’t let a wound stop him, never lost a battle, had those around him believe he was invincible, and knew and loved his men. Combining all these factors created an army that could not be stopped and its accomplishments outdid anything that had been seen yet. Alexander and his troops had become a â€Å"legend,† (Knox). Alexander had also been seen as the reason for successfully spreading Greek culture that still exists today. Oriental and Greek cultures blended and flourished as a result of the Empire, making Greek culture his true legacy (Balcer 124). The Hellenistic Era took place right after Alexander’s death and he is said to be the one who ushered this fascinating era. (O’Brien 46). The scholars are right, Alexander truly is a legend for he was the finest battlefield commander of the ancient world and remade the map of the ancient world (Sacks 14). Not just anyone can achieve such success, there seems to be something extraordinary about this man. Yet, not everyone agrees that he was so extraordinary. Yes, he did carve out the largest empire and at an amazingly rapid pace but his aims and ambitions were different than spreading Hellenism throughout the western Mediterranean and near the east. He was a self-confident man who only wanted to conquer for self-pleasure. Alexander is the reason that corruption and peculation were treated with casualness during this time. His pleasure was when his peoples were loyal to him and that was all that was necessary for his approval. It was because of him that Macedonia lost its manpower through the strenuous battles he continuously fought. He left it as a weakened kingdom. His empire is given so much credit but it was only based on rapid military conquest and died right after his death (Stoneman 92-94). It is believed that Alexander conquered to rule, not to blend cultures. Heavy drinking led to disastrous incidents and hastened his death. An example of such a disaster was the burning down of Persepolis in a drunken revel. This is not an attribute of a good leader. He also lacked long-range planning and neglected his kingdoms future by exhausting himself in warfare while he delayed fathering a royal successor. His selfishness is proved by his act of casually killing any threats to the throne at the beginning of his reign (Sacks 15). Those who see Alexander in a negative manner obviously have quite strong opinions about it. They see him as more of a madman than the most powerful leader. It is easy to see where they get their assumptions from for they look at the bloodshed part of Alexander’s reign. Instead of focusing on the rare ability he had to conquer so successfully the use the old journals and other texts used to learn about Alexander and don’t see past the drunken stories and jump to the negative side of his actions to make them cruel. Those who make assumptions about him being the greatest military leader of all time look at the historical records we have of them and analyze his tactics realizing they really are extraordinary. No other person has conquered so much, so fast and left such a legacy. I agree with those who see him as a significantly positive influence so its easier to see where they are coming from. I look at the whole picture; his achievements were unlike anyone else’s in history and as a King he was only trying to do the better for his country. He deserves the credit he has received for spreading Greek culture; there is no other way it would have happened. Scholar Burke put it perfectly when in his article he states, â€Å"when mention is made of a man of action and genius, there is perhaps no one of the ancients who so quickly comes to mind as Alexander the Great† (Burke 67).

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Heroism Beowulf and Sir Garwain

Beowulf and Gawain are both presented as heroic figures in their respective cultures. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, comes to the aid of Hrogar, who is the king of Danes. Beowulf explores his heroism in two separate phases- youth and age- and through three separate and increasingly difficult conflicts- with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon. His youth heroism as an unfettered warrior and his mature heroism as a reliable king. In his youth, he is a great warrior, predominantly by his feats of strength and courage, which reflected by his fabled swimming match against Breca.His defeat of Grendel and Grendel’s mother validates his reputation for bravery and establishes him fully as a hero. In the combat with Grendel and Grendel’s mother, Beowulf completely shows his fearless and bravery. He makes his battle with Grendel more than a simple slay-the-monster task. By announcing that it will be a hand-to-hand combat, he gains extra glory for himself and the Geatis h king, Hygelac, turning the contest into a feat of strength as well as a fight against evil. He also perfectly embodies the manners and values dictated by the Germanic hero code, including loyalty, courtesy and pride.He shows enough respect and loyalty to king which can be seen from the poem, â€Å"Let whoever can /win glory before death. When a warrior is gone/ that will be his best and only bulwark. †Ã‚  (1387-1389). In the second part of the poem, through a series of retrospectives, I can recover much about how Beowulf comports himself as a king and warrior. Instead of rushing for the throne himself, he does not do what Hrothulf did in Denmark, he supports Hygelac’s son, the right heir, which proving his gesture of loyalty and respect. As Beowulf matures, becomes the king.The poet reflects further on how the responsibilities of king, during the encounter with the dragon, he acts for the good of the people and not just for his own glory differ from those of the hero ic warrior. Even through, Beowulf’s moral status becomes somewhat ambiguous at the poem’s end, he is still deserved as a great hero and leader. Sir Gawain is a humble knight of King Arthur’s court, which can be indicated in the poem, â€Å"I am weakest of your warriors and feeblest of wit/ loss of my life would be least lamented† (354-355).His modest claim to inferiority and his high status at court- he is Arthur’s nephew and one of Camelot’s most famous knights- testify to both his humility and his ambition. Loyalty and bravery are also the significant characteristic of Gawain, he is the only knight who steps out to save King Arthur, he takes the challenge from Green Knight, even though the Green knight essentially tricks Gawain by not telling him about his supernatural abilities before asking Gawain to agree to his terms, Gawain refuses to back off the deal.He stands by his commitments absolutely, even when it means jeopardizing his own li fe. Honest is another valuable virtue of Gawain. In the part 3 of the poem, he conceals from host the magical green girdle that the host’s wife gives him, revealing that, he values his own life more than his honest. He confesses his sin to the knight and begs to be pardoned and he voluntarily wears the green girdle as a symbol of sin which is a fully Christian idea. Beowulf and Sir Gawain are both very brave characters.There are many similarities between the two, and the differences between the two characters are also like night and day. The most significant similar is that both Beowulf and Sir Gawain are symbols of loyalty in their cultures. They also have their share of significant differences in this, but the theme of loyalty is so strong in both characters that it would be dishonest not to mention the similarities. Beowulf maintains his loyalty to his original leader, King Hygelac, while, at the same time, taking on another oath of loyalty to Hrothgar.Similarly, Gawain ta kes on an additional oath of loyalty when stays with the lord. Sir Gawain also shows his loyalty by challenging the Green Knight in place of King Arthur. One contrasting quality that can also be considered a comparative quality is pride. Sir Gawain appears in the beginning of the story as a humble knight. Later in the story Gawain gains more pride as he strays from his faith. Beowulf, on the other hand, has pride in himself throughout his story.In the story it is described how Beowulf makes boasts, and how in one occurrence, he has a swimming race with another man and has to stay in the water for seven full days, wearing his battle armor and fighting off water monsters. One of the biggest differences between Gawain and Beowulf are their faiths. Gawain is an obvious Christian. He celebrates Christmas and New Years. He also attends mass every morning, or so it seems. Conversely, In Beowulf s story, references to Christianity are made, but none of the characters seem to be tied to this faith.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Hepatitis-B vaccine Essays

Hepatitis-B vaccine Essays Hepatitis-B vaccine Essay Hepatitis-B vaccine Essay ESCALETED DOSE OF HEPATITIS-B VACCINE IN CHILDHOOD HAEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES WHILE ON CHEMOTHERAPY. Abstract. This prospective survey was conducted to happen out an effectual inoculation agenda against hepatitis B infection for the kids with haematological malignances. 60 patients between 2-15 old ages with haematological malignances on chemotherapy, negative for HBsAg and neer vaccinated for HBV before, were vaccinated with 40 mgm of vaccinum at 0, 1 and 2 months. The antibody titre was measured 6 hebdomads after disposal of last dosage and analyzed. Out of 60 enrolled, 5 died during the class of intervention and 4 dropped out before completion, go forthing 51 for concluding analysis. More than 70 % exhibited protective degree of antibody ( A ; gt ; 10 mIU/ml ) against hepatitis B virus. There was no important consequence of age or sex on the antibody response, although it was higher among misss ( 90.9 % ) than male childs ( 65 % ) . Patients of non-Hodgkin s lymphoma were found to be in a better position to exhibit antibody response, compared to the leukemic kids ( P = 0.024 ) .This surve y concluded that haematological malignant neoplastic disease patients should be vaccinated with escalated doses of the vaccinum alternatively of the conventional doses. Introduction In childhood malignances, hepatitis B infection remains a major co-morbid status, which may impact the result of intervention ( Indolfi P et Al, 1992 ) . The high hazard for developing hepatitis B infection is due to immunosuppression secondary to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, multiple blood transfusions, endovenous medicines, every bit good as repeated invasive probes ( Meral A et Al, 2000 ) . Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs enhances the possibility farther of developing chronic bearer province or reactivation of HBV infection in symptomless bearers ( Ramesh M et Al, 2000 ) . This plays an inauspicious predictive function in their disease-free endurance because of holds in chemotherapy ( Meral A et Al, 2000 ) . Sing this high hazard of infection, kids with malignant neoplastic disease should be routinely vaccinated against hepatitis B. However, several surveies have shown that if vaccinated with conventional doses and agenda, the antibody titre against hepatitis B did non make the protective degree due to impaired immune response ( Indolefi P et Al, 1992 ; Mannan MA and Ghosh NK, 2003 ; Somjee S et Al, 1999 ) . We antecedently vaccinated 131 kids with malignant neoplastic diseases aged 2-15 old ages and 100 otherwise healthy kids of same age as control. All these kids were negative for hepatitis B markers. The dose and inoculation agenda used was 10 A ; micro ; gram for age A ; lt ; 10 old ages and 20 A ; micro ; gram for age A ; gt ; 10 old ages vaccinated at 0, 1 and 6 moths. The protective antibody degree ( A ; gt ; 10 IU/L ) measured 6 hebdomads after the last dosage was 10 % in the studied group compared to 98 % in the controls ( Mannan MA and Ghosh NK, 2003 ) . Several surveies have shown that utilizing the conventional dose of 10 and 20 A ; micro ; gram, a farther 4th, 5th or even 6th dose agenda as 0,1,2 and 6 ; 0,1,2,6 and 12 and 0,1,2,3,4 and 12 did non assist significantly to increase the antibody titre ( Mannan MA and Ghosh NK,2003 ; Drachman R et al,1989 ; Yetgin S et Al, 2001 ) . We, hence, decided to transport out the present survey with an escalated dose of 40 A ; micro ; gram of hepatitis B vaccinum ( Engerix B ) , irrespective of age, in childhood malignant neoplastic disease patients utilizing a agenda of 0, 1 and 2. Antibody titre was measured 6 hebdomads after disposal of the last dosage and if found amp ; gt ; 10 IU/L, was considered as protective. MATERIALS AND METHODS The survey was conducted at Bangabondhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University ( BSMMU ) , Dhaka from January to September 2006. Children go toing the Out-Patient and In-Patient Clinics of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Department at BSMMU and a Private Clinic of a Pediatric Haemato-Oncology Specialist in Dhaka were recruited for the survey. The age bound was between 2 to 15 old ages with a diagnosing of either Leukemia or Lymphoma. All the kids recruited were in the care stage of chemotherapy and antecedently non vaccinated for hepatitis-B. Those with HBsAg positive every bit good as anti HBsAg positive were excluded. A entire figure of 60 kids were enrolled for the survey. An informed written consent was obtained from the parents. The households were besides informed that they would be able to retreat their kids from the survey at any clip they wanted ( Helsinki Declaration for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects 1964 ) . Inoculation plan: Recombinant hepatitis-B vaccinum was given intramuscularly at 40 mgm per dosage at 0, 1 and 2 months, irrespective of age. The generic merchandise of Glaxo-Smithkline Pharmacuticals Ltd. ( Engerix-B ) was used for the survey. Blood trial was performed utilizing Kit- ELISA method to mensurate antibody for HBsAg 6 hebdomads after disposal of the 3rd dosage. Antibody titre A ; gt ; 10 mIU/ml was considered as protective. Detail information about the kid, haematological malignance including type, phase, age at diagnosing, specific intervention for malignance and present wellness position were collected from the medical and research lab records. Inoculation day of the month and blood trial studies were recorded meticulously. All informations were plotted and analyzed utilizing the SPSS for Windows ( Version 10.2 ) . Descriptive analysis was performed that included chi-square trial, mean, average and SD. Cut off p-value or degree of significance was A ; lt ; 0.05. Consequence A sum of 60 patients of were enrolled into the survey. Five of them died of the disease before mensurating antibody degrees and 4 dropped out during follow up. Therefore, entire 51 patients remained for concluding analysis. The age bound was between 2 to 15 old ages ; 17 ( 33.3 % ) were below 5 old ages of age, 28 ( 54.9 % ) were between 5 to 10 old ages and the remainder 6 ( 11.8 % ) were above 10 old ages ( Table I ) . On the other manus, a sum of 40 ( 78 % ) patients were male, and merely 11 ( 22 % ) were female ( Fig 1 ) . Table I. No of per centum of patients by age ( n = 51 ) : Age ( yrs ) # % A ; lt ; 5 17 33.3 5 10 28 54.9 A ; gt ; 10 06 11.8 Average = ( 6.16 A ; plusmn ; 3.14 ) old ages ; scope = ( 2 15 ) old ages. Out of 51 patients, 29 ( 56.9 % ) were diagnosed as holding leukaemia and the remainder 22 ( 43.1 % ) had lymphoma. Out of those 29 with leukaemia, 26 ( 51 % of entire 51 ) had ALL and 3 ( 5.9 % of 51 ) had AML. On the other manus, out of 22 with lymphoma, 20 ( 39.2 % of 51 ) had non-Hodgkin s Lymphoma, and the remainder 2 ( 3.9 % of 51 ) had Hodgkin s lymphoma ( Table II ) . Table II. No of per centum of patients by diagnosing ( n = 51 ) : Diagnosis No % ALL 26 51.0 AML 03 5.9 Hodgkin s disease 02 3.9 Non-Hodgkin s lymphoma 20 39.2 Table III shows the per centum of patients by antibody response in the blood measured 6 hebdomads after disposal of 3rd dosage of hepatitis B vaccinum. Over 70 % of the patients demonstrated protective degree of antibody. The average antibody degree was 125.0 A ; plusmn ; 17.09 mIU/ml. Table III. No of per centum of patients by antibody response ( n = 51 ) : Antibody titre ( mIU/ml ) No % A ; lt ; 10 15 29.4 A ; sup3 ; 10 36 70.6 # Median = ( 125.0 A ; plusmn ; 17.09 ) mIU/ml. Table IV. Association between age and antibody response ( n = 51 ) : Age ( year ) Antibody titre ( mIU/ml ) p-value # A ; lt ; 10 ( n = 15 ) A ; sup3 ; 10 ( n = 36 ) A ; lt ; 5 5 ( 33.3 ) * 12 ( 33.3 ) 0.752 5 10 1 ( 6.7 ) 5 ( 13.9 ) A ; lt ; 10 9 ( 60.0 ) 19 ( 52.8 ) * s in the parentheses denote matching % . # Chi-square ( c2 ) Trial was done to analyse the information ; degree of significance was 0.05. Table IV shows the association of age with antibody response. No peculiar age group was found to be more immunogenic than the others to show antibody response following hepatitis B inoculation ( p A ; gt ; 0.05 ) . Table V. Association between sex and antibody response ( n = 51 ) : Sexual activity Antibody titre ( mIU/ml ) p-value # A ; lt ; 10 ( n = 15 ) A ; sup3 ; 10 ( n = 36 ) Male 14 ( 35.0 ) 26 ( 65.0 ) 0.093 Female 1 ( 9.1 ) 10 ( 90.9 ) * s in the parentheses denote matching % . # Fisher s Exact Test was done analyze the information ; degree of significance was 0.05. Table V demonstrates the association between sex and antibody response. The proportion of misss developing protective antibody was observed to be higher ( 90.9 % ) than that of male childs ( 65.0 % ) . However, the difference did non make the degree of significance ( p A ; gt ; 0.05 ) . Table VI. Association between diagnosing and antibody response ( n = 51 ) : Diagnosis Antibody titre ( mIU/ml ) p-value # A ; lt ; 10 ( n = 15 ) A ; sup3 ; 10 ( n = 36 ) Leukemia 11 ( 37.9 ) * 18 ( 62.1 ) 0.125 Lymphoma 4 ( 18.2 ) 18 ( 81.8 ) * s in the parentheses denote matching % . # Fisher s Exact Test was done analyze the information ; degree of significance was 0.05. Table VI demonstrates the antibody response of patients based on diagnosing. The patients with lymphoma exhibited a higher rate of protective antibody degree ( 81.8 % ) than the patients with leukaemia ( 62.1 % ) , although the difference did non turn to be important ( P A ; gt ; 0.05 ) . Table VII. Association between type of malignance and antibody titre ( n = 51 ) : Type of malignance Antibody titre ( mIU/ml ) p-value # A ; lt ; 10 ( n = 15 ) A ; sup3 ; 10 ( n = 36 ) ALL 10 ( 38.5 ) * 16 ( 61.5 ) 0.024 AML 1 ( 33.3 ) 2 ( 66.7 ) Hodgkin 2 ( 100.0 ) 00 Non-Hodgkin 2 ( 10.0 ) 18 ( 90.0 ) * s in the parentheses denote matching % . # Chi-square ( c2 ) Trial was done to analyse the information ; degree of significance was 0.05. Table VII demonstrates that 90 % of the non-Hodgkin s lymphoma had protective degree of antibody, while 61.5 % of ALL and 65.7 % of AML had protective degree of antibody. The association between non-Hodgkin s disease and antibody response against hepatitis B inoculation was found to be important ( p = 0.024 ) . Discussion Hepatitis B inoculation can bring on seroconversion in 65-95 % of healthy kids ( Jilg W et Al, 1989 ) . The present survey demonstrated that more than 70 % of the topics developed protective degree of antibody titre ( A ; gt ; 10 mIU/ml ) 6 hebdomads after disposal of 3rd dosage of 40 mgm of recombinant HBV vaccinum. No unwanted side-effects, except hurting and inflammation at the site of injection, were encountered by the topics. In our old survey where 10 mgm of vaccinum was used in kids A ; lt ; 10 old ages of age and 20 mgm in older kids at 0, 1 and 6 months, the protective degree of antibody in the malignant neoplastic disease group measured 6 hebdomads after the last dosage was merely 10 % compared to 98 % in the control opposite number ( p A ; lt ; 0.01 ) ( Mannan MA and Ghosh NK, 2003 ) . In the 2nd stage of the same survey, inoculation plan was rescheduled with figure of doses increased from 3 to 4 and were given at close intervals ( 0, 1, 2 and 6 months ) . The consequen ces obtained showed that protective antibody degree in malignant neoplastic disease group reached from enormously low 10 % to 57 % ( unpublished information ) . Three series of surveies therefore conducted show that escalated dose aid a considerable figure of immune-compromised kids grow protective degree of antibody against hepatitis B. Meral et Al utilizing an escalated dosage at 0, 1, 2 and 12 months achieved a serconversion rate of 75 % in patients with haematological malignances following first three doses and 86 % after completion of 4 doses bearing consistence with findings of the present survey. In the present survey a significantly higher proportion of lymphoma patients demonstrated higher degrees of protective antibody ( 90 % ) than that in leukaemia ( 61.5 % ) . Meral s survey, on the other manus, showed that patients with lymphoma had the least response compared to patients with leukaemia and solid tumours ( p = 0.0003, P = 0.0161 ) . The ground of this disagreement might be that in our survey bulk of the lymphoma patients had non-Hodgkin s disease, whereas in their survey most of the kids with lymphoma had Hodgkin s disease, which might play a function in the lessened response to inoculation owing to basic cellular immune upsets associated with the disease ( Goyal S et Al, 1998 ) . Furthermore, in their survey, the kids with lymphoma and solid tumours were vaccinated at diagnosing when they had the most intensive chemotherapy. This might do more immunosuppression in them. Pervious similar surveies besides demonstrated impaired immune response to active inoculation in ki ds with leukaemia during intensive chemotherapy ( Hudson MM and Donaldson SS, 1997 ; Berberoglu S et Al, 1995 ) . In the Meral s survey, 86 % of the to the full immunized kids ( 4 doses completed ) developed lasting anti-HBs positiveness. Serconversion rates with regard to diagnosis were 90.3 % in leukaemia, 74 % in lymphoma and 94.4 % in solid tumours. Serpositivity increased from 48 % to 74 % in lymphoma and from 77 % to 94 % in solid tumours after 4th dosage. Berberoglu et Al, besides demonstrated that seropositivity increased from 56 % at 6 months to 70.5 % at 12 months after the 4th dosage. A inoculation plan was conducted by Indolfi et Al, on 80 patients aged between 1-15 old ages, holding negative serology for hepatitis-B and with normal liver map utilizing a recombinant DNA hepatitis-B vaccinum at doses of 40 mgm at close intervals ( 0, 1, 2 months ) with a supporter dosage at one twelvemonth. A 4th dosage ( 40 mgm ) was given at the 4th month to patients who did non react to three doses. Sixty-one kids, 38 with diagnosing of leukemia/lymphoma and 23 with solid tumours, completed the scheduled class. Over half ( 52.45 % ) of the topics responded with anti-HBs titre of A ; gt ; 10 mIU/ml further stressing the significance of escalated dosage of HBV inoculation in immune-compromised kids. However, studies of low antibody response even after utilizing escalated dose and figure of inoculation is no less. Ramesh et Al, showed that merely 28.6 % of the topics mounted an antibody response making protective value of A ; gt ; 10 mIU/ml after four dual doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccinum. Similar observations were in an earlier survey ( Hudson MM and Donaldson SS, 1997 ) where merely a 3rd ( 32 % ) of the paediatric malignant neoplastic disease patients on chemotherapy mounted a protective response with figure of respondents being similar in haematological and solid malignances. Rokicka-Milewska et Al, administered active immunisation in kids with leukaemia and lymphoma. They showed that antibody titres were much higher in patients vaccinated after surcease of chemotherapy than those vaccinated in the class of care intervention. Goyal et Al, vaccinated leukemic kids at diagnosing, and merely 10.5 % of them had protective antibody titres. In their survey, 48.8 % of kids were infected with HBV. Their informations demonstrated that inoculation during the intensive chemotherapy period was non effectual. This might be a consequence of immunosuppression induced by both the disease and the intervention with cytotoxic drugs that diminished the response to inoculation. Therefore inactive immunisation with hyper Ig followed by active immunisation after the surcease of intensive chemotherapy could be a better option in these kids. Pilecki O et Al, used both inactive and active immunisation in kids with haematological proliferative diseases. They besides reported that usage of both active and inactive immunisation helped cut downing the rate of HBV infection aggressively from 43.3 % to 2.56 % . Surveies sing hepatitis B inoculation in kids with malignant neoplastic disease have observed the effects of age, sex and tumour and vaccinum type on antibody response. This response has been reported to be better in kids younger than 10 old ages and in misss ( Berberoglu S et Al, 1995 and Hollinger BF, 1989 ) . Different surveies stated that highest antibody responses were obtained in solid tumour groups since impaired figure of maps of lymph cells cause hapless vaccinum response in lymphoreticular malignances ( Meral A et Al, 2000 ; Hudson MM and Donaldson SS, 1997 ; Lehmbecher T et Al, 1997 ) .Corapcioglu et Al, nevertheless, did non happen any consequence of age and sex vaccinum and tumour type on antibody response. In our survey, no important consequence of age on antibody response was revealed. However, protective degree of antibody was demonstrated to be higher among misss ( 90.9 % ) than that among male childs ( 65 % ) , although the difference did non make the degree of sign ificance ( p = 0.093 ) . As serconversion was compared in footings of tumour type, patients of non-Hodgkin s lymphoma were found to be in a better place to exhibit important degree of antibody, compared to the leukemic kids ( P = 0.024 ) . Decision This present survey concludes that haematological malignant neoplastic disease patients classified as A ; lsquo ; non-responders after being vaccinated with conventional doses are really non so. Rather, they need a higher dosage to excite their already compromised immune system, because most of these kids responded to the escalated dosage of the vaccinum. Mentions Berberoglu S, Buyukpamukco M, Sarialioglu F et Al. Hepatitis B inoculation in kids with malignant neoplastic disease. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 1995 ; 12: 171-78. Corapcioglu F, Sarialioglu F, Olgun Nuysal KM. A marking system for the effectivity of having intervention for malignant neoplastic disease. Turk J Cancer 2001 ; 31 ( 4 ) : 150-57. Drachman R, Isacsohn M, Rudensky B, Drukker A. inoculation against hepatitis B in kids and adolescent kids on dialysis. Nephrol Dial Transpl 1989 ; 4 ( 5 ) : 372-74. Goyal S, Pai S, Kelkar R, Advani SH. Hepatitis B inoculation in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Leukemia Research 1998 ; 22: 193-95. Hollinger BF. Factors act uponing the immune response to hepatitis-B vaccinum, Booster dose guidelines and vaccinum protocol recommendations. Am J Med 1989 ; 87: 36-40. Hudson MM, Donaldson SS. Hodgkin s disease. In: Pizzo PA, Poplack DG, editors Principles and pattern of paediatric oncology. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven Publishers ; 1997 ; 523-43. Indolfi P, Casale F, Mazzei A, La Manna A, Cutillo L, Calabria C et Al. Response to Hepatitis-B Vaccine in kids with malignant neoplastic disease. PROC twentieth INT CONGR PEDIATR RIO DE JANERIO. 1992 ; 111. Jilg W, Schimidt M, Dienhardt F. Vaccination against hepatitis B: comparing of three different inoculation agendas. J Infect Dis 1989 ; 160: 766-69. Lehmbecher T, Foster C, Vazquez N et Al. Therapy-induced changes in host defence in kids having for malignant neoplastic disease. J Pediatr Hematol-Oncol 1997 ; 19: 399-417. Mannan MA, Ghosh NK. Redeuced Immunocompetence in Children with Cancer Bangladesh Journal of Child Health 2003 ; 27 ( 2 ) : 25. Meral A, Sevinir B, Gunay U. Efficacy of Immunization against Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Children with Cancer. Medical and Pediatric Oncology 2000 ; 35: 47- 51. Pilecki O, Wysocki M, Styczynski J et Al. Efficacy of inactive and active Immunization against HBV infection in kids with neoplastic disease. Pediatr Pol 1995 ; 395-99. Ramesh M, Marwaha RK, Chawla YK, Trehan A. Serconversion after hepatitis B inoculation in kids having malignant neoplastic disease chemotherapy. Indian Pediatrics 2000 ; 37: 882-86. Rokicka-Milewska R, Jackoska T, Sopylo B et Al. Active immunisation of kids with leukaemia and lymphomas against infection by hepatitis B virus. Acta Pediatr Jpn 1993 ; 35: 400-3. Somjee S, Pai S, Kelkar R, Advani S. Hepatitis-B Vaccination in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Consequences of an Intensified Immunization Schedule. Leuk Res 1999 ; 23 ( 4 ) : 365-67. Yetgin S, Tunc B, Koc A, Toksoy HB, Ceyham M, Kanra G. Two supporter dosage Hepatitis B virus inoculation in patients with leukaemia. Leukemia Research 2001 ; 25: 647-49.

Monday, November 4, 2019

Expansion of Diageo Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Expansion of Diageo Paper - Essay Example Introduction Diageo is world’s top-notch quality drinks company. Through its universal vision as well as local promotional concentration, Diageo provides its customers an exceptional collection of beverage brands including the spirits, wine, and beer types. It was established during the year1997 after its merger with â€Å"Grand Metropolitan Public and Guinness†. Diageo operates in almost185 nations all over the globe and it is listed on both New York and London Stock Exchange. Diageo controls eight of the global top twenty high-quality spirits brand names, together with Smirnoff, the top brand â€Å"by volume† (Lopes, 2007, p. 76) as well as Johnnie Walker, the top brand â€Å"by value† (Lopes, 2007, p. 76). In beer, Diageo possesses the single international solid brand name, Guinness, along with a collection of bigger brand names traded mainly within Africa. Diageo’s wine brands are traded largely within North America along with Great Britain â₠¬Å"across a full range of price points† (Lopes, 2007, p. 77). Within the developed countries such as North America as well as Europe, Diageo has made sturdy ways to marketplace. Moreover, Diageo is the top-notch global spirits business within the developing nations such as â€Å"Africa, Latin America and Asia† (Lopes, 2007, p. 80). These swiftly expanding markets currently consist of more or less â€Å"one third of Diageo’s net sales† (Lopes, 2007, p. 76), rise from 25 percent during the year 2008. By means of persistent ‘organic’ development triggered by infrastructure ventures in addition to focused acquisitions, these markets are likely to chip in 65 percent of Diageo’s net sales by the year 2017. Diageo unites the advantages from universal level with local expertise in user inclinations as well as behaviours to bring outstanding advertising drives. For instance, the â€Å"Keep walking campaign on Johnnie Walker† (Diageo, 2006 , p. 192) has been broadcasting worldwide for more than ten years, supported by the global demand of individual growth. The advertising campaign is accurate to this vision even though the local innovative implementations seem changed universally. In the same way, user information updates Diageo’s improvement drives along with pipeline. The â€Å"premiumisation† (Diageo, 2006, p. 193) of scotch to create demand in clients of high-quality brand names along with the expansion of ‘ready to serve cocktails’ since ‘at-home’ usage raises have been mainly successful. Diageo is focused on creating a sustainable business along its value chain. The techniques with which Diageo supports a constructive part for alcohol within society; values the innate sources, societies as well as individuals it depends on; and supports traditions of excellent supremacy and moral values are all significant factors for growth. The business takes pride in the responsible wa y with which its brands are promoted and the constructive part that reasonable utilization of its brands has in the lives of numerous individuals. Diageo attempts to stay on the top of industry attempts to sponsor sensible drinking and do efforts with other shareholders to fight against wrong use of alcohol. From the time its start during the year

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Law of the European Union Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Law of the European Union - Essay Example The doctrine of pre-emption differs from the Supremacy clause of EC law ruled in Costa v. ENEL4 in that the latter is a guide when two existing norms regulating the same thing are in conflict,5 whereas pre-emption consists in determining whether there is a conflict between a national measure, be it in application or decision, and a rule of Community law. In a further step, in (Case 11/70) Internationale Handelsgesellschaft GmbH6, the Court held that Community law took precedence even over a fundamental rule in the German national constitution. The clearest statement of the implications of the supremacy of Community law came in (Case 106/77) Simmenthal SpA (No. 2)7 where the Court held that national courts, even a lowly court of first instance, have a duty to set aside provisions of national law, which are incompatible with EC law. There was no need to wait for the national law to be amended in line with national constitutional procedures: the national rule had to be set aside immediately if it conflicted with a directly applicable or directly effective Community provision. Nor does the obligation to set aside conflicting national rules only apply to national courts: even an administrative agency dealing with a national social insurance scheme was held to be required to do so in Case C-118/00 Larsy v INASTI8. Although the national me asure is rendered 'inapplicable', this does not absolve the Member State from the need formally to repeal it. In [Case 22-70] the ERTA case (European Road Transport Agreement) the ECJ decided that where the EC concludes a treaty in pursuance of a common policy (Transport, in this case), the possibility of concurrent authority on the part of MS towards non-member states is excluded: and any other purported exercise of concurrently authority will be over ridden to the extent that it conflicts with Community law. However, the ECJ develop pre-emption legal principle. The Court first formulated a principle of pre-emption in the ERTA case where the Court held that "once a Community common policy has been initiated,9 Community competence pre-empts Member State competence". Subsequently in Costa v. ENEL10, the principle of pre-emption has been made pragmatic and more flexible. In the interests of legal certainty, the Court said that Member States must also repeal the offending national rule: (Case 167/73) Commission v France (French Merchant Seamen)11. Even if it is not yet clear whether a person actually has a right which they claim under community law (i.e. it is a 'putative' right, not a definite one), the doctrine of supremacy requires a national court to set aside any national procedural rules which might prevent them from getting the full benefit of the Community right if it IS eventually found that they have it! This was laid down in the case (C-213/89) R v Secretary of State for Transport, ex parte Factortame Ltd and others12. Spanish fishermen claimed that the UK's Merchant Shipping Act breached a number of EC Treaty articles and wrongly prevented them from fishing in British waters. They asked for interim relief (an injunction setting aside the offending clauses of the Act pending the full hearing of the case). The problem was that under English law, courts could not