WordPress Widgets 101 What They Are and How to Use Them

As you begin designing your first WordPress site, there are a few basic features youll want to become familiar with. For example, youll need to learn how to use default content types such as pages and posts. In addition, its essential to understand the ins and outs of WordPress widgets.Widgets are simple elements you can use to build your websites sidebars  (and potentially other areas, as well). They enable you to easily add text, links, and various types of information to designated areas (determined by your theme). The default WordPress widgets are sufficient for many sites, but you can also download additional options if youd like.In this post, well tell you everything you need to know about widgets. This includes what they are, how to use them, and what options they provide. Plus, well introduce a few plugins you can use to add even more widgets to your site. Lets take a look! Understanding how widgets work is essential, since they are a very simple way to customize your site and include the exact elements you want.How to add a widget to your WordPress siteTo add a widget to your site, youll need to log in to your dashboard, then navigate to Appearance → Widgets:Here, youll see a list of the default WordPress widgets, each with a title and brief description. On the right, youll find one or more designated widget areas, with headers (such as Sidebar or Footer) to tell you where theyre located. Depending on your theme, there may already be some widgets in these areas.To add a new widget, simply click on it and drag it over into a widget area:You can do the reverse to remove widgets from your site. And you can also drag individual widgets up or down to reorder them. Thats it! If you view the front end of your site, you should see the new feature:In addition to the method above, its also possible to add widgets to your site using the WordPress Customizer. The process is quite similar, just located inside the WordPress Customizer. And the advantage of that approach is that you can see what your widgets will look like on the front end of your site in real time.Beyond that, many of the default widgets include various customization options as well. Lets take a look at some of the most important features you have access to.WordPress default widget optionsOut of the box, WordPress comes with a small but useful collection of widgets. The ones you use will depend on your sites needs and audience, but there are a few that are worth checking out regardless.First up, the Text widget is the most versatile of these modules. If you drag one over to your widget area and open it by clicking on the arrow in the top right corner, youll see two boxes:Theres a space for a title, then a miniature version of the WordPress editor. Using this widget, you can add nearly anything to your sidebar. This could be simple text, a collection of links, or a media file.Next, take a look at the Search widget:This module is as simple as they come. The only customi zation choice here is the title (which is optional). However, this widget is crucial, since it will add a fully functional search bar to your site. Providing visitors with a search feature helps them more easily find what theyre looking for.Finally, check out the Recent Posts widget:As the name suggests, this will add a list of your most recently published posts to your widget area. This is a smart way to encourage visitors to explore your latest content. You can add a custom title, configure how many posts will be displayed (up to ten), and decide whether to display each posts date.We recommend taking some time to look through the rest of the basic widget options. Youll find that they provide a lot of flexibility. If you want even more choices, though, there are some handy plugins that can help you out.How to expand your widget selection WordPress Popular Posts Author(s): Hector CabreraCurrent Version: 4.2.2Last Updated: December 6, 2018wordpress-popular-posts.4.2.2.zip 90%Rati ngs 3,510,683Downloads WP 4.7+Requires While the default WordPress widgets are sufficient for many sites, some users may want additional options. Fortunately, it isnt hard to find plugins that will expand your collection of widgets.For example, there are a number of plugins that simply add a single new widget to your dashboard. These include:WordPress Popular Posts: This plugin provides you with a customizable widget that shows off your most visited posts within a particular time range.Image Widget: With this widget, youll get a more flexible and customizable image module than the default WordPress option.Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails: An upgrade to the existing Recent Posts widget, this one lets you add a thumbnail image to each post in the list.If youre looking for something more comprehensive, you can also find plugins that overhaul the entire widget experience. Wed recommend checking out:SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle: With this plugin, you get a whole new collection of wid gets, such as a Slider Widget and a Social Links Widget.Custom Sidebars: This plugin makes your existing widget areas more customizable, such as by enabling you to add different widgets to specific pages.Whatever youd like to do with your widgets and sidebars, its likely theres a plugin that can help. With a little effort, youll have your widget areas customized to perfection in no time!ConclusionWidgets are a simple WordPress feature, but one that should not be overlooked. Using widgets, you can customize your sidebars with no knowledge of design or coding. Plus, adding them to your themes widget areas is as simple as dragging and dropping them, then tweaking a few settings.To start using WordPress widgets on your site, youll simply need to navigate to Appearance → Widgets in your dashboard or access the WordPress Customizer. Then, you can drag whatever widgets youd like to use into your sidebars or footer. There are plenty of default options that enable you to include text, a search bar, and more. For additional flexibility, you can turn to plugins such as WordPress Popular Posts  and  Custom Sidebars.Do you have any questions about how to use WordPress widgets on your site? Give us a heads-up in the comments section below! Learn what #WordPress #widgets are and how to use them on your site

Articles review Essay Example

Articles review Essay Example Articles review Essay Articles review Essay Articles review Head start This program provides finances to agencies involved in offering comprehensive services to underprivileged children. They specifically concentrate on children who are preschoolers and they teach them basic skills in reading and mathematics. These are important skills for children since they will need them in further learning. The program concentrates with children from birth up to when they are three years. The program prepares children socially and cognitively for school life. They do this by providing health, nutrition and social services (Bierman et al, 2008). Head start does not only mind children but also families. The most involve families are those with children who are enrolled in this program. The agencies encourage parents and guardians to participate in the development of their children. When parents take part in their children’s learning, they also improve their literacy level and progress on their employment targets. This program started during President Lyndon Johnson era. He campaigned for great society and it was justified as an investment in education. The council of economic advisors approved it and operations began. Impact of the article This study is essential to general educators, parents and guardians. These parties will learn how to assist children with bad behavior. Some children do not reform from bad behavior because their parents or guardians do not follow an effective criterion of intervening. This article teaches parents and guardians that it is vital to follow –up after consulting and implementing behavior management techniques (Noelle, 2002).

Does power inevitably corrupt the powerful Essay

Does power inevitably corrupt the powerful - Essay Example From this perspective it could be argued that the simple ability to control others is by its nature a corruption of other peoples will and as such, power is inherently corruptible. However in practice this may not be true. Ultimately it could be argued that power does often corrupt however it does not necessarily have to corrupt. There is little question that in many circumstances in history people have been greatly corrupted by power. According to Haddock (2006) there have been several examples in history of people exerting their power over others. On one side of the spectrum one finds powerful men such as President Lyndon B. Johnson who would often hold meetings whilst he was sitting on the toilet (Demonstrating a kind of contempt over his coworkers) to a megalomaniac such as Joseph Stalin who killed millions. One issue regarding power that has arisen is the idea that people may be hardwired for egocentric power rather than simple institutional power. However it remains the case th at many people do achieve a great deal of power yet do not necessarily have to demonstrate their egocentric power over others. Many people who achieve professional success remain quite humble in their regular life. Bailey & Dash (2006) Highlighted that Billionaire Warren Buffett has lived in the same home in Omaha, Nebraska for over forty years. Moreover the billionaire remains committed to homespun values such as shunning executive payouts, avoiding investing in technology companies and frequently criticizing tax policies that benefit the rich. Having demonstrated that some powerful people do not necessarily exert egocentric power it is the case that according to haddock (2006) there are many people that do flex their ego muscles once they reach a certain level of power. This may be achieved through taking childish liberties, through sexual dominance over weaker people or through making outlandish purchases. Ultimately stride to egocentric power can be manifested through any number of mechanisms. The question of how the exercise of egocentric power affects followers can cover a wide range, owing to the fact that people respond differently to different treatment. On one end of the spectrum people could respond very negatively to egocentric behavior, such as creating deep feelings of insecurity, negative self esteem issues etc. However it could be argued that strong negative reinforcement from a leader could ultimately motivate the underlings to perform better. Anybody who has trained extensively for competitive sports would have likely experienced the effect of a trainer or coach shouting critiques and personal insults designed to motivate the trainee to do almost anything to win approval. However it could also be that people simply do not respond one way or the other and simply not strongly affected by egocentric behavior whatsoever. The issue of whether or not a leader can do anything to help combat the effect of power corrupting it long and storied. Accordi ng to Tertullian as espoused by Wehner (2009) it was a classical Roman tradition that generals would tour the streets after a military success (Much like the veterans parades today). However in the Roman tradition the Imperator (Equivalent to a commander) would be trailed by his servant who would be paid to whisper into the ear of his master â€Å"

Look at Ginsberg's Howl. How would you characterize the world that Essay

Look at Ginsberg's Howl. How would you characterize the world that Ginsberg describes Is he being accurate or is he using hyp - Essay Example The characters he mentions are called â€Å"angelheaded hipsters† (Part 1 Section 3) which makes me think of films about flower power and Woodstock. Many of the incidents he mentions such as being â€Å"expelled from academies† (Part 1 Section 7) or going â€Å"whoring through Colorado in myriad stolen night-cars† may well refer to actual incidents which occurred. I found the details of drug use and car stealing quite shocking. The structure of the first section of the poem in a long single sentence means that the reader experiences it all as a rushed and jumbled stream of consciousness. Piling one image upon another makes it into hyperbole. In the second section the repetition of the name â€Å"Moloch† gives the catalogue of â€Å"visions! omens! hallucinations! miracles! â€Å"ecstacies!† a sinister connotation, suggesting that some evil god is influencing American society for the worst. This is a Judeo-Christian concept, and it contrasts with ot her multi-cultural references such as â€Å"negro streets at dawn† (Part I, Section 2), â€Å"Mohammedan angels† (Part 1, Section 5), â€Å"the Chinaman of Oklahoma† (Part 1 Section 28). Section three was a very sad lament for Carl Solomon where the poet leaves aside all the flourishes and just repeats his solidarity. This part was quite moving. References Ginsberg, A. (1955) â€Å"Howl†. [Poem] Available online at: http://www.wussu.com/poems/agh.htm

Advanced Persistent Threats Against RSA Tokens Case Study

Advanced Persistent Threats Against RSA Tokens - Case Study Example Likewise, in the entire hoax, there was a requirement of evaluating homeland security that also pertains to Information technology infrastructure. The Information technology infrastructure was not the only consideration, as these attacks affect vulnerabilities pertaining to federal information systems and any organization that acquires information systems. However, there were several laws that were passed in the congress after September 11 terrorist attacks. In the process, a series of homeland security presidential directives were issued for sustaining domestic security. However, on the other hand, despite an economic turmoil from September 11 attacks, the aviation industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and is considered as a fundamental transformation. Moreover, there is also a significant change for managing air traffic via net-centric approach. The acquisition of this change will replace the traditional approach for controlling air traffic that is constructed on Information t echnology solutions. By focusing on security, there is a significant increase in utilizing computerized systems onboard of an air carrier. Likewise, these systems facilitate high airborne and internally located system connectivity, operational and maintenance requirements. Moreover, the net-centric ATM connectivity raises concerns for cyber security threats and vulnerabilities. Propagation threats are critical because it is capable of rapidly broadcasting traffic on the Internet along with bypassing intrusion detection systems. Likewise, for augmenting the primary phase of work propagation, it uses a ‘hit list’ comprising of overflowed users i.e. users consuming heavy bandwidth. By identifying users, worm spreads itself at a rapid pace when compared to traditional spreading worms. Moreover, this type of attack saves a considerable amount of scanning time by only attacking a visible target. In the context of any cyber threat to an airport, the airport cannot be the prima ry target, as the Spanair flight JK5022 crash was successful by one of the contributions from a Malware. Vulnerabilities Existed in the System / Attack Methods Computer network intrusions are becoming very sophisticated and advanced and they have enforced a challenge for modern computer network based organizations. Likewise, a new class of challengers called now as ‘Advanced Persistent Threats’ (APT) demonstrates a well-planned and sponsored, highly skilled hackers targeting highly classified data for gaining competitive edge specifically in corporate businesses, law firms, military networks, national or international politics (Cole, 2012). Likewise, these highly skilled cyber criminals utilize sophisticated tools and methods that are constructed to disrupt computer network defense semantics without being detected. As per Mr. Mike Cloppert, is a Co-Chair of the cyber threat intelligent summit says that the cyber threat intelligence can facilitate organizations to mainta in an information classification and protection mechanism based on the priorities of these cyber criminals. As a result, the likelihood of success for these hackers will become low. Moreover, organizations can than plan accordingly for the targeted information and can counter these complex advanced persistent threats. Information security management team requires authentic and on time information for constantly monitoring new and potential threats and techniques. Likewise, exploiting the received information will improve a resilient defense posture of an organization. The number of RSA tokens implemented up till now exceeds 40 million and another 250 million are mobile software, as that leads the market for enabling

SWOT Analysis Indian Pharmaceutical Industry

SWOT Analysis Indian Pharmaceutical Industry Strengths 1. India is regarded as having an edge over China in terms of qualified, English-speaking manpower and fair protection of intellectual property rights supported by well-developed judicial system. (Appendix IV gives more information on IPR status in India). 2. India has skilled scientists/technicians/management personnel at affordable cost leading to low cost of innovation/ manufacturing/capex costs/ expenditure to run cGMP compliance facilities and high quality documentation and process understanding. 3. The country has well developed chemistry, R D and manufacturing infrastructure with proven track record in advanced chemistry capabilities, design of high tech manufacturing facilities and regulatory compliance. 4. The healthy domestic market with rising per capita expenditure is another significant strength enabling achievement of economies of scale. The country also has a strong marketing distribution network. 5. India is considered a desirable destination for off shoring of data management functions for clinical trials and also due to its rich biodiversity and strength in Chemistry which are essential for drug discovery. 6. The country has significant ability to circumvent API Patents. India has filed a number of non-infringing process patents. The country has a recent success track record in circumventing formulation patents. Proven Legal skills to evaluate IP and commercial strategies are available at least in select top companies. 7. The present domestic regulatory environment though in need of further improvement has been conducive to the growth of an emerging pharmaceutical industry. Weaknesses 1. Low investments in innovative RD continue to be a major weakness of Indian pharmaceutical industry. 2. Diffused nature of the Indian pharmaceutical industry means that only about 20 to 30 companies are large enough to bear the transactions costs associated with sustained exports to and compliance with entry regulations of the developed markets. 3. Majority of companies lack the ability to compete with MNCs for New Drug Discovery, Research and commercialization of molecules on a worldwide basis due to lack of resources. 4. Strong linkages between industry and academia which are essential for growth of the industry is lacking in India. 5. Comparatively small domestic market size due to low medical and healthcare expenditure in the country. 6. The country has at times shown inadequate regulatory framework or compliance and enforcement regime, reflected in occurrences such a production of spurious or low quality drugs. 7. Competency in API/Formulation, intellectual property creation, facility design and maintenance, global regulatory affairs, legal intricacies, and managing international work force is limited to a few players among the big players. 8. Rapidly increasing costs of skilled manpower such as scientists/ regulatory compliance personnel / pharmaceutical lawyers/ international business development personnel is pushing up the cost of innovation. Ability to evaluate contracts/alliances etc., is available only in top companies. Significant lacuna in this area exists and companies are falling into traps created by the competitors. Institutionalisation of learning in the following areas is restricted: Regulatory affairs knowledge for different countries and continents Process and product patents procedures knowledge for different countries and continents. 9. Sales and marketing knowledge is inadequate due to lack of understanding of international Pharmaceutical marketing/pricing practices and market environment in various countries. 10. Inadequate manufacturing practices in comparison to those accepted in developed world such as change of API source, change of manufacturing locations, equipment etc, with out proven stability/ bioequivalence may be creating inadequate technical work force for exports. The national drug regulatory system though evolved substantially, has been in the need of strengthening its manpower and systems requirements. 11. Inadequate emphasis on Biosciences in education system leading to slower development in areas related to Biology giving away advantage to China. Opportunities India is faced with significant export opportunities, such as: i. US$40 billion worth of drugs in the U.S.A and US$25 billion worth of drugs in Europe are expected to go off patent soon. Assocham estimates that Indian manufacturers may capture 30 percent of that market. This translates to an opportunity of US$19.5bn which is significant considering the countrys current exports of approx. US$7.25bn. However the figures need to be appropriately deflated since Indian opportunity will lie in generics equivalent of branded or patented drugs, which would be cheaper. ii. Generic launches by Indian manufacturers have increased in the United States from 93 in 2003 to 250 by 2008. iii. Compulsory licensing provisions negotiated in the Doha Round, allows for countries to import cheaper generic versions of patented drugs in the interests of public health. Thailand and South Africa have already started such initiatives from which Indian firms have benefited. 2. Due to the cost advantage in contract manufacturing Research multi-national companies find it compelling to shift their production bases to countries offering such cost advantage. Typical of the industry which requires approval of manufacturing facilities by various drug regulatory agencies of the world involving a very high cost, once such business finds base in India it would continue with it for at least one half to two decades. 3. Licensing deals with MNCs for NCEs (New Chemical Entities) and NDDS (New Drug Delivery Systems) offer new opportunities for Indian manufacturers. 4. Marketing alliances for MNC products in domestic and international market is another emerging opportunity. 5. Contract manufacturing arrangements with MNCs is estimated at 10% of patented markets estimated at US$450bn which is approx. US$45bn. 6. India has a very high potential for developing as a centre for international clinical trials due to its rich diversity. 7. India can become a niche player in global pharmaceutical RD and possibilities exist for expansion of biotechnology generics (also known as bio-similars) and biopharmaceuticals. 8. There is a possibility of greater returns from an Indian entry into mature and more remunerative markets like Brazil, Japan, CIS, Russia, etc. 9. The Work Programme for the European Medicines Agency 2007 identifies greater co-operation with India especially in the field of traditional and herbal medicines and remedies. Emerging preference for traditional medicines and herbs in the developed markets including lifestyle products and food supplements also presents an opportunity for the country in traditional medicinal systems Herbal based products. 10. A rise in life expectancy generally, and increase in the population of the old, particularly in the developed world is causing higher expenditure from respective national health budgets compelling them to move to cheaper APIs and formulations which are Indias forte. 11. Unleashing of a plethora of preferential trading arrangements, both bilateral and regional, offers opportunities for India to negotiate preferential access to partner markets for Indian pharmaceuticals in the long term and in a sustainable manner. Threats 1. Product patent regime poses serious challenge to domestic industry unless it invests in research and development. 2. RD efforts of Indian pharmaceutical companies are hampered by lack of enabling regulatory requirement. 3. Drug Price Control Order puts unrealistic ceilings on product prices and profitability. 4. Export effort is hampered by procedural hurdles in India as well as non-tariff barriers imposed abroad. For example: i. Indian manufacturers are prevented from bidding for government contracts as US permits bidders only from countries that are signatories to WTO Agreement on Government Procurement. ii. Indian manufacturers have to submit separate state level applications for marketing drugs in the United States as there is no nation-wide system of application even where FDA approval has been received. 5. Lowering of tariff protection has increased competition in domestic markets resulting in erosion of profitability. 6. Mergers and acquisitions by foreign companies particularly multinational corporations of afew Indian generic leaders may completely change the direction of Indias pharmaceutical movement neutralising its thrust on generics and cost competitiveness. 7. The generics market in developed countries may be affected by a number of factors: i. The release of authorized generics by major drug manufacturers. ii. New mid-sized players, establishing themselves in the generics market. iii. Increased competition due to newer Chinese and East European manufacturers. (E.g. there has been massive state level investment by China in the biotechnology sector though at present India still has the edge due to IP laws.) iv. TAs entered into by the United States of America with third countries (e.g. the Morocco-U.S.A FTA) may be harmful to Indian pharmaceutical exports because of provisions for increases in patent terms, etc. The United States enters into a number of FTAs with different countries and while the exact text of these agreements differ from country to country, each of these agreements contains provisions which can be damaging to Indian exporters of pharmaceuticals partly also because of their provisions on patents. These FTAs contain a large number of provisions which increase patent terms for pharmaceuticals by allowing for patentability of new uses of discovered inventions and by increasing patent terms by taking into account the time taken to process claims (evergreening). These provisions go beyond TRIPS and hence it may not be possible to challenge these under the WTO Dispute Resolution process. However, the compatibility of these provisions with Article XXIV of the GATT needs to be examined. 8. Specific non-tariff and para-tariff barriers being increasingly adopted by other countries such as long transaction time taken for registration of drugs, insistence on completing long process for registration when the drug may actually have gone through the most rigorous process of registration such as the USFDA; insistence on allowing imports of only those drugs which are registered in some developed countries, etc. PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL (a) INDUSTRY COMPETITION The Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is highly fragmented with around 250-300 manufacturing and formulation units in organized sector which contribute to only 70% of the market share of the total sales in the country. The concentration ratio (proportion of total industry output by the largest firm in the industry) for the industry is very low. Also government subsidies have led to the proliferation of many small players. Since the Product Patents were not valid in the country till 2005, the differentiation in the product is very low. The key driver in this industry is the cost-competitiveness. After 2005, major MNCs like Pfizer GSK started introducing newer products in the market thereby increasing competition in the industry. Many small players that are focused on a particular region have a better hand on the distribution channel, making it easier to succeed, albeit in a limited way. An important fact is that, pharmaceutical is a stable market and its growth rate generally tracks the economic growth of the country with some multiple (1.2 times average in India). Though volume growth has been consistent over a period of time value growth has not followed in tandem. Earlier it was easy for Indian pharmaceutical companies to imitate pharmaceutical products discovered by MNCs at a lower cost and make good profit. But today the scene is different with the arrival of the patent regime 2005 which has forced Indian companies to rethink its strategies and to invest more on RD. Also contract research has assumed more importance now. (b) BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS The unique feature of pharmaceutical industry is that the end user of the product is different from the influencer (read doctor). The consumer has no choice but to buy what doctor says. However, when we look at the buyers power, we look at the influence they have on the prices of the product. In pharmaceutical industry, the buyers are scattered and they as such do not wield much power in the pricing of the products. Due to the extremely fragmented nature of industry government policies like DPCO ( Drug Price Order Control), 1970 under which the power to control prices is with the NPPA ( National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) the low power of buyers does not have much effect on the manufacturers. Except in generic OTC medicines, the buyer does not normally switch medicines. (c) BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS The pharmaceutical industry depends upon several organic chemicals. The chemical industry is again very competitive and fragmented. The chemicals used in the pharmaceutical industry are largely a commodity. The suppliers have very low bargaining power and the companies in the pharmaceutical industry can switch from their suppliers without incurring a very high cost. However, what can happen is that the supplier can go for forward integration to become a pharmaceutical company. Companies like Orchid Chemicals and Sashun Chemicals were basically chemical companies who turned themselves into pharmaceutical companies. The fragmented nature of the organic chemicals industry prevents it from having much bargaining power over the manufacturers as the switching cost is low for the manufacturers. (d) BARRIERS TO ENTRY Threat of new entrants in the Indian Pharmaceutical sector during pre-2005 era used to be low as the capital requirement for the industry used to be very low from 1970s till 2005 because of the absence of product patents and heavy dependence on reverse engineering or Process Patent phenomenon but post 2005 it has become a huge burden on the part of new entrants to establish Manufacturing facilities of International Regulatory standards to tap the potential of generic exports and domestic consumption demand . That major barriers to entry are : The presence of economies of scale in manufacturing, RD, marketing, sales etc capital requirement financial requirements. The existing companies have advantage in terms of costs involved in launching new drugs formulations. The new companies would find it difficult to achieve this. Differentiation of products from the existing products in the market creating brand awareness in the minds of doctors pharmacists. New entrants will face difficulties in gaining trust of doctors/patients and they also need to develop efficient distribution channels preferred arrangements with doctors/pharmacists. Regulatory policies including patents, regulatory standards. The Indian Patent Act, 1970 recognized process but not product patents. The introduction of Product Patent 2005 of TRIPS part of WTO agreement has led to huge barriers for potential entrants. But to be noted it is unlikely to discourage new entrants, as market for generics will be huge in the near future as the demand for generics by all the developed economies has increased by leaps and bounds as their governments are drawing plans to effectively manage the health expenditure budget by switching from branded drugs to generic versions. (e)THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES This is one of the great advantages of the pharmaceutical industry. Whatever happens, demand for pharmaceutical products continues and the industry thrives. One of the key reasons for high competitiveness in the industry is that as an ongoing concern, pharmaceutical industry seems to have an infinite future. However, in recent times the advances made in the field of biotechnology, can prove to be a threat to the synthetic pharmaceutical industry. Also in developing countries like India, the traditional medicines also play a major substituting role. CONCLUSION This model gives a fair idea about the industry in which a company operates and the various external forces that influence it. These five forces of competition interact to determine the characteristics and the attractiveness of an industry. The strongest forces become dominant in determining profitability and become the focal points of strategy formulation. However, it must be noted that any industry is not static in nature. Its dynamic and over a period of time the model, which we have used to analyse the pharmaceutical industry may itself evolve. Going forward, we foresee increasing competition in the industry but the form of competition will be different. It will be between large players (with economies of scale) and it may be possible that some kind of oligopoly or cartels come into play. This is owing to the fact that the industry will move towards consolidation. The larger players in the industry will survive with their proprietary products and strong franchisee. In the Indian context, companies like Cipla, Ranbaxy and Dr.Reddys are likely to be key players. Smaller fringe players, who have no differentiating strengths, are likely to either be acquired or cease to exist. The barriers to entry will increase going forward. The change in the patent regime has made sure that new proprietary products come up making imitation difficult. The players with huge capacity will be able to influence substantial power on the fringe players by their aggressive pricing thereby creating hindrance for the smaller players. Economies of scale will play an important part too. Besides government will have a bigger role to play. PEST ANALYSIS To understand the implications of the environment on any industry it is imperative to study the four cardinal influencers on the industry namely Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors. It is rather unfortunate that in India these factors have a rather disproportionate influence on the functioning of a commercial organization. From the days of independence the business environment has been overly regulated by a handful of bureaucrats, middlemen, businessmen and politicians. Its only a decade since the country has seen an emergence of a political thought that encourages free enterprise. A welcome change indeed! (P)olitical Factors 1. Today there is political uncertainty in the air. A combination of diverse political thought have got together to cobble together a rag-tag coalition, that is riddle with ideological contradictions. Therefore, any consistent political or economic policy can not be expected. This muddies the investment field. 2. The Minister in charge of the industry has been threatening to impose even more stringent Price Control on the industry than before. This is throwing many an investment plan into the doldrums. 3. DPCO which is the bible for the industry has in effect worked contrary to the stated objectives. DPCO nullifies the market forces from encouraging competitive pricing of goods dictated by the market. Now the pricing is determined by the Government based on the approved costs irrespective of the real costs. 4. Effective January, 2005 the country goes in for the IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) regime, popularly known as the Patent Act. This Act will impact the Pharmaceutical Industry the most. Thus far an Indian company could escape paying a patent fee to the inventor of a drug by manufacturing it using a different chemical route. Indian companies exploited this law and used the reverse-engineering route to invent a lot of alternate manufacturing methods. A lot of money was saved this way. This also encouraged competing company to market their versions of the same drug. That meant that the impurities and trace elements found in different brands of the same substance were different both in qualification as well as in quantum. Therefore different brands of the same medicine were truly different. Here Branding actually meant quality and a purer brand actually had purer active ingredient and lesser or less toxic impurities. Product patent regime will eliminate all this. Now, a patented drug would be manufactured using the same chemical route and would be manufactured by the inventor or his licentiates using the chemicals with same specifications. Therefore, all the brands of the same active ingredient would not have any difference in purity and impurities. The different brands would have to compete on the basis of non input-related innovations such as packaging, color, flavors, Excipients etc. This is the biggest change the environment is going to impose on the industry. The marketing effort would be now focused on logistics, communications, economy of operation, extra-ingredient innovations and of course pricing. 5. In Pharma industry there is a huge PSU segment which is chronically sick and highly inefficient. The Government puts the surpluses generated by efficient units into the price equalization account of inefficient units thereby unduly subsidizing them. On a long term basis this has made practically everybody inefficient. 6. Effective the January, 2005 the Government has shifted from charging the Excise Duty on the cost of manufacturing to the MRP thereby making the finished products more costly. Just for a few extra bucks the current government has made many a life saving drugs unaffordable to the poor. 7. The Government provides extra drawbacks to some units located in specified area, providing them with subsidies that are unfair to the rest of the industry, bringing in a skewed development of the industry. As a results Pharma units have come up at place unsuitable for a best cost manufacturing activity. (E)conomic Factors 1. India spends a very small proportion of its GDP on healthcare ( A mere 1% ). This has stunted the demand and therefore the growth of the industry. 2. Per capita income of an average Indian is low ( Rs. 12,890 ), therefore, spending on the healthcare takes a low priority. An Indian would visit a doctor only when there is an emergency. This has led to a mushrooming of unqualified doctors and spread of non-standardized medication. 3. The incidence of Taxes are very high. There is Excise Duty ( State Central), Custom Duty, Service Tax, Profession Tax, License Fees, Royalty, Pollution Clearance Tax, Hazardous substance (Storage Handling) license, income tax, Stamp Duty and a host of other levies and charges to be paid. On an average it amounts to no less than 40-45% of the costs. 4. The number of Registered Medical practitioners is low. As a result the reach of Pharmaceuticals is affected adversely. 5. There are only 50,00,000 Medical shops. Again this affects adversely the distribution of medicines and also adds to the distribution costs. 6. India is a high interest rate regime. Therefore the cost of funds is double that in America. This adds to the cost of goods. 7. Adequate storage and transportation facilities for special drugs is lacking. A study had indicated that nearly 60% of the Retail Chemists do not have adequate refrigeration facilities and store drugs under sub-optimal conditions. This affects the quality of the drugs administered and of course adds to the costs. 8. India has poor roads and rail network. Therefore, the transportation time is higher. This calls for higher inventory carrying costs and longer delivery time. All this adds to the invisible costs. Its only during the last couple of years that good quality highways have been constructed. (S)ocio-cultural Factors 1. Poverty and associated malnutrition dramatically exacerbate the incidence of Malaria and TB, preventable diseases that continue to play havoc in India decades after they were eradicated in other countries. 2. Poor Sanitation and polluted water sources prematurely end the life of about 1 million children under the age of five every year. 3. In India people prefer using household treatments handed down for generations for common ailments. 4. The use of magic/tantrics/ozhas/hakims is prevalent in India. 5. Increasing pollution is adding to the healthcare problem. 6. Smoking, gutka, drinking and poor oral hygiene is adding to the healthcare problem. 7. Large joint families transmit communicable diseases amongst the members. 8. Cattle-rearing encourage diseases communicated by animals. 9. Early child bearing affects the health standards of women and children. 10. Ignorance of inoculation and vaccination has prevented the eradication of diseases like polio, chicken-pox, small-pox, mumps and measles. 11. People dont go in for vaccination due superstitious beliefs and any sort of ailment is considered as a curse from God for sins committed. (T)echnological Factors 1. Advanced automated machines have increased the output and reduced the cost. 2. Computerization has increased the efficiency of the Pharma Industry. 3. Newer medication, molecules and active ingredients are being discovered. As of January 2005, the Government of India has more than 10,000 substances for patenting. 4. Ayurveda is a well recognized science and it is providing the industry with a cutting edge. 5. Advances in Bio-technology, Stem-cell research have given India a step forward. 6. Humano-Insulin, Hepatitis B vaccines, AIDS drugs and many such molecules have given the industry a pioneering status. 7. Newer drug delivery systems are the innovations of the day. 8. The huge unemployment in India prevents industries from going fully automatic as the Government as well as the Labor Unions voice complains against such establishments.

Jesus Christ: The Importance of his Miracles Essay examples -- Religio

Jesus Christ: The Importance of his Miracles Throughout history many people have given messages. They were trying to make people consider the messages. They would say that they would do something with out actually backing it up, or they would say they are someone with out proof. Jesus had made many messages that said that he was â€Å"the messiah†, the son of god. The performance of miracles had strengthened Jesus’ message. Because Jesus had done miracles to back up his message, people actually believed he was the messiah, Son of God. Many people believe Jesus actually performed miracles but some people believe he did not. In the book by Washington F. Jarvis (p 65) it defines miracle as â€Å"an occurrence which we cannot explain in terms of our present knowledge and understanding of how things work in the world around us.† Many people believe that Jesus did perform the miracles but few still believe they were phony. In the book by Washington F. Jarvis (p 65) it states that â€Å"many dispute this portrait of Jesus; many deny the possibility of miracles and find the gospel miracle stories embarrassing fairy tales.† There were people who were not too confident that Jesus actually performed the miracles. Many people also thought that Jesus was a troublemaker, if in fact he was the messiah, the son of god. In the book by Washington F. Jarvis (p 66) it says that â€Å"because Jesus broke the law by healing on the Sabbath, and because he attracted many adherents, he came to be regarded by the establishment as a dangerous trouble maker.† Many people thought if he could heal people he should know when to do it or when not to do it. They believed that he could perform miracles but that he was a trouble make or that he was working for the devil or something evil. Many people did think he could heal people. In the book by Washington F. Jarvis (p 65) it says that â€Å"but the gospels portray Jesus as a miracle- worker and credit him with the power to heal sickness and to alter the natural order.† Even though people could see that he could heal people, some still wanted to deny that he was a miracle worker. People knew that he was a miracle worker in the book by Washington F. Jarvis (p 66) it says that â€Å"when we read the gospels accounts, what strikes us the most is the fact that no one in Jesus’ time, friend or enemy, ever indicated the slightest doubt that Jesus did miracles.... ... his fingers in to his ears, spat and touched his tongue. He looked up to the heaven and said ephphatha, ‘be opened’ in Aramaic, and the man was cured (mark7: 31-7). Jesus also performed another miracle with a blind man. In the book by E. P. Sanders (p 145) it says â€Å"in Bethsaida a blind man was brought to him. He took him outside the village, spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him. The man’s sight was partially restored: he could see people, but they looked ‘like trees walking’ Jesus again put his hands over his eyes, and his sight was restored (mark 8:22-6). In conclusion Jesus could perform miracles and the way he did them strengthened his message. The performance of miracles did strengthen his message because of the witnesses that had seen him. Even though there were many doubts about Jesus there were also people who knew he was working for God. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Jarvis, Washington F. And still is ours today the story of Jesus New York: The Sea Bury press1980 2. Porter, Roy J. Jesus Christ the Jesus of history, the Christ of faith England, London: Duncan Baird publishers ltd 1999 3. Sanders, E. P. The historical figure of Jesus England: The Penguin group 1993

Enhancing Employee Job Satisfaction Essay

1.Executive Summary Communication problems often become apparent due to their consequences. If a department suffers from high staff turnover, this often can be a sign of poor communication between and supervisor and the team. If the team doesn’t understand what is expected from them, received unclear instructions or is not sure about the overall strategy and why they are asked to do what they do – all issues down to poor communication – they often feel dissatisfied and this can result in employees leaving the business after a relatively short period of time. Another cause that can justify reviewing if there are any departmental communication problems is low motivation, productivity and poor business performance. If staff does not receive the information they require or do not feel appreciated, valued and kept informed they might not go the ‘extra mile’ for their employer. They might feel frustrated and can’t see the point of what they are doing and this in turn leads to poor performance. Open and regular disagreements between managers and the team, such as open conflict or rejected appraisals, are also a clear sign of communication issues and should be looked into. But suspecting that a departmental issue is down to poor communication is not sufficient to bring improvement about. Once you suspect that there are communication problems how do you find out for sure enabling you to target them? A good method of identifying if there are communication problems is to talk to the involved parties and try to gain an understanding about their opinion. Why do they think the department underperforms? Do they feel they get all the information and feedback they need to do the job? What would they change if they could? Are their opinions heard and accepted? I is important to keep this feedback confidential in order to ensure that honest feedback is received – either through anonymous surveys or through individual conversations with a neutral party such as an HR manager. Another method is to question staff about the things they should know, e.g. how their work fits in with the business strategy and why they do what they do. If they are not able to answer these questions, it is likely that communication is insufficient or ineffective. Identifying communication problems between managers and staff can be easily identified using above suggestions. By rectifying these major positive impacts on business performance and employee satisfaction can be achieved. A final suggestion on how to identify communication problems between managers and staff is to observe how both parties interact. Are conversations kept courteous and respectful and show trust or are they sharp and without showing signs of a good relationship. Body language should also be observed to identify if both parties listen to each other and communicate effectively or if information is not taken in and heard or offered effectively. A review of the key communication channels used can also be very valuable, e.g. email should be used for clear step to step instructions to ensure understanding, but at the same time direct communication face-to-face or per telephone is needed to ensure a relationship is developing and queries can be easily resolved. 2.Background of the study To avoid the consequences of job dissatisfaction. Employees lack motivation, perform poorly and possess negative attitudes means that they are dissatisfaction on the jobs. These symptoms can directly affect a company’s profit and vision. We should understand the reasons why employees are unhappy at work. Understanding the causes can help us find the right solutions. To improve employee motivation and performance, we wonder how to get employees to work with a higher degree of effort. What motivates an employee to perform varies from employee to employee. Some people work to satisfy needs, meet goals or fulfill accomplishments. Motivation to perform is not a rule that can be enforced; it comes from within the employee. To inspire motivation, we must create a work environment that encourages employees to feel motivated. Improve employees’ engagement to prevent unhappiness, turnover and even profit declines. To improve teamwork, is to realize the importance of teamwork and become proactive about having colleagues work together as an important element of the business. We need to improve and enhancing employee’s job satisfaction, engagement, collaboration and teamwork to resulting in increased productivity. Employees are a company’s livelihood. How they feel about the work they are doing and the results received from that work directly impact company’s performance and, ultimately, its stability. For instance, if employees are highly motivated and proactive, they will do whatever is necessary to achieve the goals as well as keep track of performance to address any potential challenges. Employees have low motivation is completely vulnerable to both internal and external challenges because its employees are not going the extra mile to maintain the company stability. An unstable ultimately underperforms. 3. Introduction and background of Hotel 3.1 Introduction & background of Hotel We are one of Hong Kong’s best designed hotel are perfect choice for travelers who demand the best short term stay and long term accommodation. Since we opened in 1997, our hotel in central Hong Kong has been recognized by guests and the hospitality industry for its outstanding performance. The 350 guest rooms are all tastefully furnished and are completed direct telephone line with voice mail. Our equipped kitchenettes include microwave, induction cooker and refrigerator and broadband internet access are available in our hotel. Location Situated in the heart of Hong Kong Island, superbly located in the mid-levels commanding spectacular views of Hong Kong Island and Victoria harbor. It is also a prestigious address that enjoys the proximity to prime business districts of Central and Admiralty. Attraction The Hong Kong Park and Botanical Garden are in the proximity, with lush greenery and ample open space nearby Central MTR station and Hong Kong’s popular nightspot Lan Kwai Fong are also within 10 minutes walking distance. Well connected by public transport to the main shopping district areas, Causeway Bay Hong Kong. It is perfectly located in an area with a mix of history, art & culture, and a touch of stylish contemporary. Antique shops, art galleries and designers boutiques scattered around, together with high rise office buildings, massive shopping centre and party venues of Lan Kwai Fong and SoHo. 3.2 Hotel Structure The Hotel structure that’s split into two basic groups: administrative and operations. The administrative side of the structure includes such departments as sales and marketing, accounting and human resources. The operations side is generally split further into food and beverage and rooms. Both administration and operations report to the general manager. The administrative group is fairly straightforward. Any function that does not consistently interact with the guests or impact the service level falls into this group. The operations group is a bit more complicated. Food and beverage, for instance, might include the hotel’s restaurants, bars, nightclubs, banquets department, catering department and sometimes room service. Rooms might include the front desk and front-door personnel, housekeeping, concierge, guest services and sometimes security and engineering. Human Resources Department The human resources department plays a vital role in a hotel’s efficient operation. The functions of the human resources department are employee recruitment, benefits administration and training. Although the human resources department recruits, interviews, and screens prospective employees, the final hiring decision rests within the department in which the potential employee will be working. Accounting Department The accounting department’s responsibilities are include recording financial transactions, preparing and interpreting financial statements and providing the managers of other departments with timely reports of operating results. Other responsibilities, carried out by the assistant controller for finance, include payroll preparation, ac-counts receivable, and accounts payable. Rooms Department Responsibilities of the rooms department include reservations, guest reception, room assignment, tracking the status of rooms (available or occupied), prompt forwarding of mail and phone messages, security, housekeeping of guest rooms and public spaces such as lobbies, and answering guests’ questions. This very department provides the services guests expect during their stay in the Hotel. The front office is usually considered one of the most important departments in a hotel because that is where the most interaction with the hotel guests takes place. Frequent and consistent communication among front-office functions is critical. Reservations, for instance, must communicate with the front desk each day about the number of rooms that have been presold. The front desk must communicate with housekeeping staff members to let them know when guests check out. Management for all front-office departments must stress consistent and frequent communication to ensure a smooth-running operation. The housekeeping department is vital to attracting and keeping guests through its role of maintaining top quality decor, cleanliness and service. The housekeeping department includes many roles in the service staff of a hotel. Aside from room attendants, who tend to room cleanliness, the department includes gardeners, maintenance men, bellhops, laundry staff and floor managers, as well as, occasionally, customer service professionals. Food and Beverage Department Food and beverage department is to provide food and drink to a hotel’s guests. Arrange multiple events scheduled for the guest. A coffee shop, gourmet restaurant, room service, banquet halls and function rooms where food and beverages are served. This department is an integral place in the hotel which is responsible for the systematic and the actual Service of food and beverage to the general public or customers as per the order in any F &B outlets. Marketing and Sales Department The marketing and sales department’s managers who make up the marketing and sales department are sales, or the selling of the hotel facilities and services to individuals and groups. Sales managers sell rooms, food, and beverages to potential clients through advertising, attendance at association and conference meetings and direct contacts. The marketing and sales department is also removed from most of the day-to-day operational problems faced by other departments. The division of work among the sales managers is based on the type of customers a hotel is attempting to attract. Engineering Department The engineering department’s responsibilities include preventive maintenance; repair; replacement; improvement and modification to furniture, fixtures, and equipment; and ensuring uninterrupted provision of utilities (gas, electricity, water). Preventive maintenance involves routine checks and inspection of the key components of all equipment. Maintenance of recreational facilities may be part of the engineering department’s responsibilities. the engineering department’s responsibilities include preventive maintenance; repair; replacement; improvement and modification to furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE); and ensuring uninterrupted provision of utilities (gas, electricity, water). Organization Chart – Appendix I 4.Methodologies 4.1 Questionnaire (anonymous) A staff questionnaire is an effective tool used to find out what the employees feel about the organization, it policies, work environment, job responsibilities, co-workers, superiors etc. In any work environment, it is important for the upper management to be aware of what its staff wants and expects; this will lead to better retention of employees and a mutually productive relationship between the staff and the boss. Staff questionnaires to discover what are employees really thinking. These are completed on an anonymous basis usually once or twice a year. Because the employees can’t be identified we are more likely to get honest answers. This information can be revealing; it may also help to tackle hidden problems quickly and, more importantly, before staff gets blown out of proportion. Sample of Questionnaire – Appendix II 5.Analysis & finding of current problems 5.1Problems in communications Some employees might also be afraid or not feel comfortable to speak up about problems they are having with other co-workers. Some employees might think that if they speak up about trouble they are having they will be frowned upon for future projects. 5.2Employees initiative and commitment Some employee not willing to handle multiple tasks, responsibilities and take on new challenges. Hidden interest in and no enthusiasm for the job and completes assignments slowly and non-efficiently. Not able to adapt to new situations and changing work priorities and responsibilities when needed. 5.3Employee job dissatisfaction Staff expects to get a commensurate reward. The wage should be fair, reasonable and equitable. Employees who feel stuck in their job position are less motivated to maintain high productivity. Managers with poor leadership skills tend to offer little feedback on employees’ performances. 5.4Inter-department conflicts A manager or employee will know an important piece of information, and assume that because he knows it, then everyone else must know it as well. 5.5Employees’ behavior Employees feel threatened by fellow employees, experience workplace burnout, lack respect for management and feel unappreciated. 6. Conclusion Businesses without effective staff communication suffer from lost profits, poor productivity and poor employee morale. In order to solve many business problems, employees need to be able to collaborate and cooperate effectively. Good communication can encourage employees to work harder, solve problems together and work towards a common goal. It is the job of every supervisor, manager or boss to make sure employees are communicating effectively. If a department suffers from high staff turnover, this often can be a sign of poor communication between and supervisor and the team. If the team doesn’t understand what is expected from them, received unclear instructions or is not sure about the overall strategy and why they are asked to do what they do – all issues down to poor communication – they often feel dissatisfied and this can result in employees leaving the business after a relatively short period of time. Another cause that can justify reviewing if there are any departmental communication problems is low motivation, productivity and poor business performance. If staff does not receive the information they require or do not feel appreciated, valued and kept informed they might not go the ‘extra mile’ for their employer. They might feel frustrated and can’t see the point of what they are doing and this in turn leads to poor performance. Employees feel dissatisfied with their jobs at one point or another. Some employees leave their jobs for better opportunities, while others choose to stay. Employees with low job satisfaction can negatively affect a company because they typically lack motivation, perform poorly and possess negative attitudes. These symptoms can directly affect a company’s bottom line. Managers should understand the reasons employees are unhappy at work. Understanding the causes can help managers find the right solutions. One of the primary reasons for job dissatisfaction results from companies underpaying workers. The stress of paying bills with limited income causes many workers to feel dissatisfied with their jobs. A lack of career growth and advancement is another reason why employees are dissatisfied at their jobs. Employees who feel stuck in their job position are less motivated to maintain high productivity than those who do not. Workers feel valued when employers include them in their long-term plans and show their appreciation through promotions. Employees who move up in an organization and receive just compensation to reflect their title and responsibility changes usually commit themselves to the company for the long term. A lack of interest in the work is another reason why employees are unhappy. Most employees want to perform job duties that are engaging and challenging. Monotonous work causes an employee to experience boredom. Bored and unchallenged employees experience little incentive to concern themselves with workplace productivity. The nature of employees’ work accounts for the most situational influence in workplace satisfaction. A key reason employees perform poorly in the workplace is poor management. Managers with poor leadership skills tend to offer little feedback on employees’ performances. Micromanaging and dictating to employees instead of motivating them can cause a decrease in employee productivity. Poor communication is one of the main causes of conflict between employees in the workplace. This can result in a difference in communication styles or a failure to communicate. For example, a manager reassigned an employee’s task to the employee’s co-worker but failed to communicate the reassignment to the employee. This may cause the employee to feel slighted, which can transform into animosity among the two employees and the manager. Failing to communicate in the workplace may cause employees to make incorrect assumptions and believe workplace gossip. Poor communication in the workplace not only causes conflict but decreases productivity and employee morale.

The Chernobyl Nuclear Accident

The Chernobyl Nuclear Accident The Chernobyl disaster was a fire at a Ukrainian nuclear reactor, releasing substantial radioactivity within and outside the region. The consequences to human and environmental health are still felt to this day. The V.I. Lenin Memorial Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station was located in Ukraine, near the town of Pripyat, which had been built to house power station employees and their families. The power station was in a wooded, marshy area near the Ukraine-Belarus border, approximately 18 kilometers northwest of the city of Chernobyl and 100 km north of Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station included four nuclear reactors, each capable of producing one gigawatt of electric power. At the time of the accident, the four reactors produced about 10 percent of the electricity used in Ukraine. Construction of the Chernobyl power station began in the 1970s. The first of the four reactors was commissioned in 1977, and Reactor No. 4 began producing power in 1983. When the accident occurred in 1986, two other nuclear reactors were under construction. The Chernobyl Nuclear Accident On Saturday, ​April 26, 1986, the operating crew planned to test whether the Reactor No. 4 turbines could produce enough energy to keep the coolant pumps running until the emergency diesel generator was activated in case of an external power loss. During the test, at 1:23:58 am local time, power surged unexpectedly, causing an explosion and driving temperatures in the reactor to more than 2,000 degrees Celsius- melting the fuel rods, igniting the reactor’s graphite covering, and releasing a cloud of radiation into the atmosphere. The precise causes of the accident are still uncertain, but it is generally believed that the series of incidents that led to the explosion, fire, and nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl was caused by a combination of reactor design flaws and operator error. Loss of Life and Illness By mid-2005, fewer than 60 deaths could be linked directly to Chernobyl- mostly workers who were exposed to massive radiation during the accident or children who developed thyroid cancer. Estimates of the eventual death toll from Chernobyl vary widely. A 2005 report by the Chernobyl Forum- eight U.N. organizations- estimated the accident eventually would cause about 4,000 deaths. Greenpeace places the figure at 93,000 deaths, based on information from the Belarus National Academy of Sciences. The Belarus National Academy of Sciences estimates 270,000 people in the region around the accident site will develop cancer as a result of Chernobyl radiation and that 93,000 of those cases are likely to be fatal. Another report by the Center for Independent Environmental Assessment of the Russian Academy of Sciences found a dramatic increase in mortality since 1990- 60,000 deaths in Russia and an estimated 140,000 deaths in Ukraine and Belarus- probably due to Chernobyl radiation. Psychological Effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident The biggest challenge facing communities still coping with the fallout of Chernobyl is the psychological damage to 5 million people in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. The psychological impact is now considered to be Chernobyls biggest health consequence, said Louisa Vinton, of the UNDP. People have been led to think of themselves as victims over the years, and are therefore more apt to take a passive approach toward their future rather than developing a system of self-sufficiency.† Exceptionally high levels of psychological stress have been reported from the regions around the abandoned nuclear power station.   Countries and Communities Affected Seventy percent of the radioactive fallout from Chernobyl landed in Belarus, affecting more than 3,600 towns and villages, and 2.5 million people. The radiation-contaminated soil, which in turn contaminates crops that people rely on for food. Surface and ground waters were contaminated, and in turn plants and wildlife were (and still are) affected. Many regions in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine are likely to be contaminated for decades. Radioactive fallout carried by the wind was later found in sheep in the UK, on clothing worn by people throughout Europe, and in rain in the United States. Chernobyl Status and Outlook The Chernobyl accident cost the former Soviet Union hundreds of billions of dollars, and some observers believe it may have hastened the collapse of the Soviet government. After the accident, Soviet authorities resettled more than 350,000 people outside the worst areas, including all 50,000 people from nearby Pripyat, but millions of people continue to live in contaminated areas. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, many projects intended to improve life in the region were abandoned, and young people began to move away to pursue careers and build new lives in other places. In many villages, up to 60 percent of the population is made up of pensioners, said Vasily Nesterenko, director of the Belrad Radiation Safety and Protection Institute in Minsk. In most of these villages, the number of people able to work is two or three times lower than normal. After the accident, Reactor No. 4 was sealed, but the Ukranian government allowed the other three reactors to keep operating because the country needed the power they provided. Reactor No. 2 was shut down after a fire damaged it in 1991, and Reactor No. 1 was decommissioned in 1996. In November 2000, the Ukranian president shut down Reactor No. 3 in an official ceremony that finally closed the Chernobyl facility. But Reactor No. 4, which was damaged in the 1986 explosion and fire, is still full of radioactive material encased inside a concrete barrier, called a sarcophagus, that is aging badly and needs to be replaced. Water leaking into the reactor carries radioactive material throughout the facility and threatens to seep into the groundwater. The sarcophagus was designed to last about 30 years, and current designs would create a new shelter with a lifetime of 100 years. But radioactivity in the damaged reactor would need to be contained for 100,000 years to ensure safety. That is a challenge not only for today  but for many generations to come.

How to Write a Sociology Research Paper with Ease

How to Write a Sociology Research Paper with Ease Sociology is a fascinating field of knowledge that studies human social behavior and is focused on human social groups and structures. It involves empirical research and data analysis as well as the studying of social theory. Students who take sociology classes are typically assigned to write different types of papers, for example, essay, textual analysis, literature review, critical thinking. But the most complicated task is writing a quantitative sociology research paper. In this article, you will find a detailed guide on how to write a sociology research paper. We will also give you some easy tips on how to organize planning, researching, outlining, editing, and rewriting to help you succeed in completing this complex and time-consuming assignment. Let’s get started. What Is a Sociology Research Paper? Sociology research paper is typically written in the report format and is based on text analysis, statistical analysis, interviews etc. When completing this complex sociology assignment, you need to: State a question, problem or a hypothesis that should be tested; Perform original research that involves using some relevant Internet websites, scholarly books, and scientific journals and provide qualitative and quantitative analysis of data; Write a research paper in the report format with Title, Abstract, and References. When doing your research, you can analyze different types of data and: compare points of view of sociologists and opinions of the public on a certain issue; apply the theory to current events in the society; provide interpretive analysis of socio-historical changes; perform ethnographic or field research ( interviews, participant research, observational research). You can use different types of evidence (primary and secondary sources) to support your argument, for example, observations, interviews, surveys, books, newspapers, scholarly journals, the internet etc. How to Choose a Good Sociology Research Paper Topic Choosing a topic for a sociology research paper is a crucial step that has a great impact on the success of your project. Here are some quick tips on how you can do it right. Choose a topic that is new to you. It can be challenging to move beyond familiar ideas and take intellectual risks. This experience can be really rewarding for you because you’ll learn something new. You can try to defend a controversial claim, investigate the new idea or question an authority opinion on a particular topic. Select the thing which doesn’t make sense. Don’t be afraid to choose a question that you can’t answer immediately. Other people may not be able to provide an answer to that question either and if you try to explore the issue and provide some analysis, you will be able to learn something new and teach other people as well. Wondering how to deal with open-ended topics? Such topics address topics that are too broad to be covered in the limited space. You should narrow your broad subject to make it manageable. For example, when analyzing sociology text, you can focus on a single text or some texts that have a common topic. Not sure what topic to choose for your paper? Have a look at our short list of effective sociology research paper topics and feel free to use them for creating your own research papers. Interracial Marriage in the Past and Today What Is the Difference between Race and Ethnicity? Impact of Social Media on Young People Impact of Technology on The Way People Eat Why Do Women Like Romantic Comedies? Do Social Media Websites Make People Lonely? Dominant Cultures in Multicultural Societies Patriotism in The United States Bullying in Social Media Deviant Behavior of Youth Extreme Sport Culture Gender Inequality and Job Opportunities Impact Of #BlackLivesMatter on the American Society Research Occupy Wall Street Movement Scientologists in the Contemporary Society Results of Geographical Segregation The Culture of Poverty The Significance of The Ancient Hawaiian Culture Myths and Legends of Ancient Egypt Superstitions in The United States How to Approach Your Writing Assignment: Our Writers Know Best Before you start writing for sociology, you should clarify your thinking, plan your project, and determine what work you need to do, for example, find a new source or read a text. Here are some tips that can help you make writing a less painful process. Think through your topic before you start writing. You have to develop a working thesis, create an outline or contemplate the general topic. When you are thinking about your project, you should take note. You should write down everything that comes to your mind – images, phrase, names, words, fragment sentences even if they seem too simple or insignificant. Pose questions that are based on 5Ws – Who? Where? When? What? Why? Use free writing to explore your research topic. You should write down everything that comes to your mind during a certain period of time and don’t edit it. When you finish writing, you should look over your notes and if you are lucky, you may even find interesting ideas and insights. Make an outline using your ideas. It can be a diagram or a traditional one. A diagram is great for generating new ideas, considering links between certain elements of your argument, and finding relationships between parts of a rather broad topic. Making a good outline is a must because it saves tons of time during the writing and revision processes. It’s a plan of what you are going to say. Components of a Sociology Research Paper Your instructor can give different guidelines for your sociology research paper but it typically consists of the following components: Introduction Literature Review Context Methods Results Conclusion/Discussion Here are some sociology research paper writing tips on how to outline and write these sections. Introduction In this part of your sociology research paper writing, you set up a research question or a problem. After that, you need to briefly explain why addressing this particular problem is important and what the implications might be. Actually, you need to provide an answer to the question: â€Å"So what?† that your readers may ask when they finish reading the introduction. Your task is to give them a compelling answer if you want them to continue reading. Literature Review In this section, you need to provide your audience with an overview of the previous research on your topic. You can organize the literature review in a number of ways. If you are writing a research paper on social change, you’d better use the chronological approach to organize it. You can organize your project by methods if you are going to give the critique of the methods that were used by previous research. If you are building a theory or giving the critique of the existing one, a good idea is to use a thematic approach. For example, you may argue that there are 2 approaches to researching your sociology topic: X and Y. But neither of them takes into account Z. You have to convince your audience that Z is very important and there is a need to explain it. And you may build your study on Z or expand the previous researches. There is one more approach. You can argue that an existing theory doesn’t explain your findings properly. You should give a summary of the existing relevant studies and demonstrate that if the accepted theory was correct, you would get the result X, but in fact, your result is Y. How can finding B be explained. You have to ask a question and build some foundation for an answer. Your research can suggest changes to the existing theories or question the universally accepted theory. When writing your literature review, you should paraphrase ideas created by others and use quotes only when a certain part of the text describes the specific idea you are referring clearly and briefly. Context If the question that you are discussing in your sociology research paper or the case that you use to illustrate your point is unfamiliar to most of your audience, you need to give your readers the background information that explains these aspects to help them understand your paper. You should provide additional information to clarify your point. When you are describing some case, you can also suggest why it is good for finding a relevant answer to your question. Methods Here you need to provide details about what you actually did to give an answer to your research question and about your reasons for choosing a particular method. If you used statistics for your research, you need to explain why you have chosen a specific data set. If you used interviews as a method for your sociological research, you should provide your readers with the information about the people you interviewed, for example, about their gender, age, occupation etc. and explain why you chose those people and the others. If your sociology research paper is based on the analysis of some texts, you have to explain how and why you chose them. In this section, you also need to provide information about the limitations to your research. Then, you have to explain why the readers should trust your results despite limitations. You have to provide convincing evidence and persuade your audience that you are trustworthy and that your sociology research paper is worth reading. Findings Now you need to present what you actually found during your research. You have to provide convincing evidence to show your readers that you have answered your research question. In this part of your sociology research paper, you have to cite sources to provide evidence that proves your point of view. If it was a statistical research, you have to report the results of the regressions. If you performed a textual analysis, you need to cite the analyzed texts and explain what these sentences mean for your project. If you conducted interviews or did participant observations, you have to report what the people said. In the introduction and in the literature review, you presented an answer to your research question. You need to present your answer here and persuade your readers that it is correct. Discussion/Conclusion This section should give a full answer to your â€Å"So what?† question. You should â€Å"think big† and prove that your findings can be applied to a larger population and speak about important implications for public policy, sociological theory or on our ideas about our society. How to Revise and Edit Your Draft All research papers and essays need to be revised more than once if you want to create a strong argument and make a great impression on your readers. During this process, you can expand your argument, improve your analysis, and make connections between different parts. When you rework paragraphs and sentences, you develop a more complex argument. You should also add some additional information to improve the content. Here are some suggestions on how to organize revising and editing: Get feedback from other people to understand how clearly you express your thoughts. Make a backward outline of your sociology research paper. Determine the main idea of every paragraph and rank their importance for your thesis statement. Ensure you have transitions between your ideas. Rewrite your introduction and conclusion. It’s important to begin every paragraph with a topic sentence and link the ideas of your paragraphs to the ideas of your thesis statement. Make changes in the structure to bring the strongest ideas to the beginning of your research paper, cut irrelevant sections, reorder the key points, and add implications. Revise your thesis statement to make it stronger. You may even consider changing it altogether. Proofread your sociology research paper and make changes to make it precise and concise. You’d better read your research paper aloud to notice stylistic infelicities and make improvements. Keep in mind that any revision takes time but you should make an effort to improve your first draft and get a clearer and more sophisticated sociology research paper that will impress your professor and bring you a high grade. Follow our easy tips on how to write an impressive sociology research paper, practice a lot, and you are sure to become a better writer.

International Trade Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Trade - Research Paper Example It is worth pondering on the root causes behind the ever increasing global trade. The paper aims at exploring how the trade agreement called NAFTA that the US has entered into with Mexico and Canada has impacted on the domestic industries and the US economy at large. The paper would also explore how the devaluation of the US Dollar against the Chinese Yuan can bring respite to the US manufacturing industries. Suranovic (2010) describes about some important key-reasons that decide about any trade between the nations and they are worth pondering to understand the burgeoning global trade. Resource Advantage Each country is endowed with certain natural resources such as minerals, water, land, fossil fuels, and essential raw materials and accordingly their strength lies in manufacturing those finished goods where such resources are necessary. Obviously, such resource pool will put certain countries in advantage over others. Technological Superiority Technological superiority of one countr y over other in a particular product will facilitate production of better quality goods at lower cost and that superiority puts one country ahead of others in a particular good. If the US produces Boeing aircraft and fighters or other sophisticated warheads then it is because of the technological superiority that the US exerts over others in this field. ... It is a fact that the US has absolute advantage in producing grains as it needs fewer real resources relative to the most of the countries in the world. The availability of huge agricultural land and the use of machines are the major reasons in having absolute advantage in agriculture. The country uses minimal labor per unit area of agricultural land increasing the productivity levels manifold; however, it is essential to note that absolute cost advantage does not determine the production and allocation of labor for producing a good but it is the comparative advantage that gives rise to the production of a particular good in that country. The comparative advantage takes into account the opportunity cost while producing a particular good in that country (Suranovic, 2011). This fundamental reality drives the trade globally and the NAFTA agreement is to be seen in this light. US Trade Balance with NAFTA Partners and the World in the year 1989 and 2009 (In billions of current USD) Source : O’Leary et al, 2012, p13. It is important to note here that there is no appreciable change in balance of trade in agriculture commodity with Mexico and Canada; there is no significant impact on the US labor force involved in agriculture. In all merchandise trade with Mexico and Canada in 2009, imports have increased by almost 45 billion and 11 billion USD respectively but so is the case with world trade which shows negative balance of 500 billion USD. This clearly shows that NAFTA trade has followed the world trend only and nothing specific can be attributed to NAFTA agreement that the US has entered into (O’Leary et al, 2012). Below mentioned table indicates about the employment changes between 1989 and 2008 in the key industries in the US. This

Tourism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tourism - Essay Example The research delves on leisure activities. Leisure activities focus on both physical leisure activities. The physical activities include sports activities. The nonphysical activities include non-sport leisure activities. Leisure activities must enhance one’s interpersonal relationships. In layman’s terms, leisure activity is correctly described as any act done during work breaks. Leisure is the free time during non-nonworking days like Saturdays, Sundays, and official holidays. Leisure is the opportunity given to the person to do whatever he or she wants during the person’s free from work time or unemployed time. Leisure time can be use to rest or recreation (Veal & Lynch, 2001). Further, Lynch and Veal correctly reiterated that leisure is composed of three dimensions. The dimensions include time devoted to leisure. Another dimension includes occupations that constitute leisure. Leisure also includes attitudes that define leisure. Both authors correctly insist th at leisure activities include the love for the outdoor sports. The outdoor sports activities incorporate the leisure activities of the Aboriginal tribes of Australia. The Aboriginal people love the wilderness. Additionally, the Europeans of Australia include organized sports activities as leisure activities. The organized sports incorporate the European cultural and Leisure concepts. The overpowering demands of structured working lives included organized leisure activities. Leisure is done during times when work is finished or on hold recess (Veal & Lynch, 2001). For example, leisure activities are done at night, after the daily 9- 5 work schedule is accomplished. Leisure activities are done during Saturdays and Sundays, during off work days. Furthermore, Godbey rightfully insists that leisure is the act of pursuing the truth and understanding of oneself. The leisure act includes several contemplative ingredients. The contemplative ingredients are aesthetic, philosophical, psycholog ical and religious in nature. Thus, reading several books on philosophy, arts, literature (Shakespeare) are considered leisure activities. Reading books to resolve whether Charles Darwin’s evolution theory is correct is another brain enriching leisure activity (Veal, 1992). On my own, my leisure time is spent on sports activities. I prefer to play basketball games. Basketball gives the quick mind to analyse whether to move forward and shoot the ball or to stop my running and shoot the ball. The game of basket ball allows me to compete with other individuals who love the game of basketball. Basketball is a game of speed. To increase my speed, I continually do speed running. Additionally, my other leisure activity is reading books. I love to read books on topics that are related to my class lessons. I love to read the tragedies of Shakespeare. I also read books related to my school assignments. The books increase my current stock knowledge on the topics discussed in class. Conc lusion Leisure activity can have diverse culture-based meanings. The research shows different leisure activities. Leisure activities include physical leisure activities. The physical activities include perspiring sports activities. The nonphysical activities include sport-exempt leisure activities. Evidently, leisure activities improve one’s interpersonal relationships. Question 2 Introduction: Culture conflict often crops up in everyday situations. The research delves on conflict occurrences. The research delves on conflict resolution. Conflict resolution research involves contribution from different parties. Conflict resolution is the peaceful alternative to more other violent conflict interactions. The author correctly states that managers in event, sport,