Warm Occlusions - Occluded Fronts - Types of Fronts

Warm Occlusions - Occluded Fronts - Types of Fronts A warm air occlusion or occluded front is less common than a cold occlusion. A warm occlusion occurs as cool air moves rapidly into an area with an existing warm front. The difference from a cold occlusion is that the approaching cool air is not as cold as the retreating cold air in the existing front. In other words, the fast-moving, incoming air is cold, but not as cold as the air mass ahead of it. Precipitation can usually be expected when an occluded front passes through an area. Whats an Occluded Front? Sometimes a cold front will catch up to a warm front and overtake both it and the cooler air out ahead of it. If this happens, an occluded front is born. Occluded fronts get their name from the fact that when the cold air pushes underneath the warm air, it lifts the warm air up from the ground, which makes it hidden, or occluded.   Occluded fronts usually form with mature  low-pressure areas. They act like both warm and cold fronts. The symbol for an occluded front is  a purple line with alternating triangles and semi-circles (also purple)  pointing in the direction the front is moving. Sometimes a cold front will catch up to a warm front and overtake both it and the cooler air out ahead of it. If this happens, an occluded front is born. Occluded fronts get their name from the fact that when the cold air pushes underneath the warm air, it lifts the warm air up from the ground, which makes it hidden, or occluded.   Updated by Tiffany Means

10 Signs You Shouldnt Take the Job

10 Signs You Shouldnt Take the Job You’ve been searching and searching and finally you find yourself with a job offer in hand. Trouble is, there are a few red flags. How do you know when you should really turn a job down instead of taking it? Remember: you’ll spend a significant chunk of your adult life at work. You might as well not be miserable. Here are ten ways to tell if you should pass and hold out for something better:1. Unprofessional/Untimely CommunicationIf your perfectly reasonable emails with questions go consistently unanswered. If you receive communications that are not clear, thorough, or respectful. If appointments or interviews are cancelled at the last minute without explanation or apology. If your questions are dodged or not answered to your satisfaction†¦ None of this bodes well. If a company can’t get it together in the hiring process, chances are the job itself will be even more frustrating.2. Ghost companyYou’ve Googled and Googled and you still can’t find any substantive information about the company. Or worse- what information you can’t find is bad or negative press. Or bad Yelp reviews! Or worst- bad reviews from former employees. One or two outliers shouldn’t be a big deal; but consistently negative information? Run.3. Aggressive InterviewerIf your interviewer starts giving you the hard sell and trying to convince you to take the job on the spot, that’s not a great sign. It smacks of desperation. Similarly if a recruiter tries to push you in the direction of a particular job. No job is immediately perfect without going through the proper process. And you can always take time to think it over and say no.4. TurnoverYou’re looking at an old company, but none of the employees have been there for more than a year. Ask yourself why the company has such a hard time keeping good people on long term? This is especially true if your interviewer starts badmouthing her current team.5. Repeat AdsYou keep seeing the same job posting popping up on job sites. Over and over again. This is never a good sign.6. Asks for moneyAs outlandish as this sounds, it does happen, and you should be wary of it. If anyone asks for money for background checks or training, just cut and run.7. Defeated workersIs the climate in the office chilly, doomy, or gloomy? Do all the employees look hunched over and defeated? Read their body language and the energy in the room. Does it look like they want to be there?8. No path forwardThere’s no mention of how you might grow into and beyond your position. Don’t let yourself get stuck in a dead end job. Similarly, if there’s no clear description of the job’s duties or your role. If they can’t tell you what success would look like in your position, it will be impossible for you to succeed in such a place.9. Bad bossHonor that feeling in your gut that says you just don’t like your potential supervisor. Either they don’t seem to t rust you or you get a bad vibe from them. Trust this instinct and save yourself months or years of unhappiness.10. Instant hireBe wary of any company that wants to hire you on the spot without calling any of your references or doing a background check. It could just be a super casual company policy, or it could speak of desperation on the employer’s part. Which, again, is never a good sign.

Strategic Management_ Acer Computers company Essay

Strategic Management_ Acer Computers company - Essay Example d). Sony, Hewlet Packard, Dell etc are some of the competitors of Acer. Acer is not without its problems though, while market shares in Europe continue to go up, the market shares listed in North America have been slipping over the last few years (The History Of Acer, 2009). The current global financial crisis has affected the business of Acer in North America. Computer industry is one of the worst affected segments because of the recession. At the same time the business of Acer in the Asian region has increased a lot because of the comparatively less damage, the recession has done to the Asian countries like India and China. Acer is utilizing the merger and acquisition strategies to strengthen their wings across the world. In 2007, Acer announced their plans to acquire their US rivals Gateway Inc. In 2008 they have acquired more than 75% shares of Packard Bell. Acer has started to use Linux as the operating system in their notebooks and laptops from 2008 onwards in order to promote the free software Linux and also to minimize the cost of laptops. Acer and HP have recently engaged in severe law suit of patent violation which they settled amicably outside the court later. A global firm is an organization which is having multinational branches across the world. It should be remembered that a firm which produce the products domestically and market them internationally need not be a global firm. Operating in more than 100 countries and employing around 40000 people worldwide, Acer is definitely a global firm. It operates in Asia, Africa, North America, Australia, Europe, Middle East, etc. Acer, at present has 12 factories and 39 assembly centers operating in different countries. It was able to sell around 7.5 million personal computers in 1998. Moreover, Acer has an excellent global sales network with over 200agents and

The Current Citibank Status Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Current Citibank Status - Essay Example One day the Dow Jones is up, the next day it plunges down. Those who are holding out for economic stability seem to be optimistic that the highly controversial and recent national cash infusion of $3.5 trillion approved by Congress is going to put at least a mild set of spare brakes on the ride. Its primary purpose is to move working people in to more updated and viable industries based on changes in today's world; and hopefully, to get them spending and borrowing again. The government is also underwriting the virtual flotation devices for lending money to cash-strapped small businesses until a stalled economy can get moving. The only remaining question is in whether or not the average consumer is going to risk borrowing (or spending freely) in order to restart the flow once a checked economy makes its next move. What was "up slightly" on March 31 became a "multi-year low" on April 1. The high road seems to be a willingness to take the middle ground approach and state that consumer confidence is "relatively pessimistic," according to Scott Andron of the Miami Herald.[1] Most important in the consideration are the investors, national and global individuals and smaller corporate conglomerates who put up the money that underwrites the tangible assets so that loans can be withdrawn and used to sustain the economy. Without them, no one wins. U.S. officials have pressed their European counterparts to spend substantially more public money in an attempt to revive economic growth and global trade. Some countries, led by Germany, have strongly resisted, predicting that such a path could lead to unsustainable debts and runaway inflation. Luxembourg's prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads a coordinating body of countries that use the euro currency, said European countries had already spent enough to jumpstart their economies. "The European stimulus plans are muscular, they are demanding, they are important in volume and in quality," Juncker said Wednesday in an interview with France's Europe 1 Radio. He said there was "no question" that the European Union would reject requests from Obama to spend more.[2] As recently as March of 2009, Citibank began to predict its own demise.[3] Michael Shedlock, a registered Investment Adviser for SitkaPacific stated [paraphrased] "Citigroup is essentially telling investors to bet against thema whole slew of financial stocks have been smashed to smithereens."[4] It is hard news to bear for a company that was once considered eternally solvent, particularly with all of the assets (and debts) that it acquired

Hcl Project Report Essay Example for Free

Hcl Project Report Essay Before I begin my documentation I must thank all the people behind the successful completion of my project. I am especially thankful to my industry guide Mr. Vinod Rai for his valuable and enlightened guidance. I am highly grateful to him for providing me an opportunity to undergo the project in his presence. Despite his hectic schedule he showed a keen interest in my research and helped a lot in broadening my vision for the topic. My thanks again go to him for providing me all the required help to compile the data and other information to materialize the study. I am also grateful to my faculty mentor Mr. Tarun Kumar Vashisth for his guidance and kind support throughout the project. I must also not forget to mention the names of people in the organization who pumped me with immense confidence and support without which it would have been impossible to complete the project, hence with warm regards I would like to thank Mr. Sunil Bhatt Mr. Shammi S. Bhatia Ms. Priyanka Ms. Parbhaker PREFACE This project is based on the study of working capital management in HCL Infosystems. An insight view of the project will encompass – what it is all about, what it aims to achieve, what is its purpose and scope, the various methods used for collecting data and their sources, including literature survey done, further specifying the limitations of our study and in the last, drawing inferences from the learning so far. HCL Infosystems Limited (HCL) is a leading domestic computer hardware services company. HCL is engaged in selling manufactured (like PCs, servers, monitors and peripherals) and traded hardware (like notebooks, peripherals) to institutional clients as well as in retail segment. It also offers hardware support services to existing clients through annual maintenance contracts, network consulting and facilities management. The working capital management refers to the management of working capital, or precisely to the management of current assets. A firm’s working capital consists of its investments in current assets, which includes short-term assets— cash and bank balance, inventories, receivable and marketable securities. This project tries to evaluate how the management of working capital is done in HCL Infosystems through inventory ratios, working capital ratios, trends, computation of cash, Inventory and working capital, and short term financing. DECLARATION I Ajay hereby declare that research project submitted to punjabi university, patiala in partial fulfillment of the degree of BBA on Working Capital is the result of my own hard work under continues guidance of Mr. Vinod Rai , HCL CDC Chandigarh.

What is Worldview? Essay examples -- Christian Worldview, Biblical Wor

After reading the fourth chapter heading of Consider, the first definition of worldview that came to my mind was â€Å"view of the world† just from a literary perspective. The co-authors defined worldview as â€Å"a framework a person brings to decision-making† (Weider & Gutierrez, 2011, p.51). Everyone has a worldview with main characteristics that are ever changing. Different sources influence this framework such as parenting, friendship, telecommunication or internet media, educational and religious sectors. Hindson and Caner (2008) propose standardization methods of worldview are measured either by emotions and feelings, socialism, or the truth (Hindson & Caner, 2008, p.499). Recognition of a person’s worldview can be found based on ones answer to several reality questions surrounding God (origin), human nature (identity), reality (meaning/purpose), after life (destiny), values (morality or ethics). My own definition of worldview is set of beliefs about the most important issues in life and my reaction to it. While in agreement with Jeff Baldwin’s eyeglass concept, I choose to compare my Christian worldview to an internal navigational system. When I am lost and need to be found, Christ is omnipresent. He knows my location and guides me into another direction. â€Å"It’s a roadmap, a guide for getting around in life, for interpreting reality, and for making choices† (The Importance of Worldview, 2011, p.11). Hopefully my final destination will be in the â€Å"city of gold, as clear as glass† (NLT, Revelation, 21:18). â€Æ' BIBLICAL/CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW The Question of Origin As the first book of the Old Testament convey, Genesis, and its Greek meaning â€Å"in the beginning,† life originated with God in the Garden of Eden. Accor... ...concerns that I have for others. Work Hard From Genesis throughout the New Testament, God put us humans to work. The Bible condemns laziness (Proverbs 19:15) and every man or woman should be providers of their household through hard work (Proverbs 14:23). Personally, I cannot find anything in the Scripture that will guide me towards a certain career path. However, in all jobs Christians must work wholeheartedly by exceling in performance not for the employer but for Christ (Colossians 3:23) â€Æ' References A Sure Foundation. SMI Healthcare Bible Study (The Importance of Worldview, 2011, p.11) Retrieved from http://www.thesmi.org/HCBS/hcbs2.PDF Hindson, E., & Caner, E. (2008). The Populer Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Eugene: Harvest House Publishers. Weider, L., & Gutierrez, B. (2011). Consider. Virginia Beach: Academx Publishing Services, Inc

Brian Thorne Counselling Review

Louise, a young woman, presented to Brian Throne with a great deal of physical and mental pain and had been subjected to cyclical depression for a umber of years, usually occurring during the month of February. Before providing details under a number of skills subheadings I would like to make a general comment on Throne's capacity to summaries that which had been said by Louise at various stages throughout the session.A common criticism of the person-centered approach is that it is merely re-hashing what the client has Just said, resulting in a very slow and not very dynamic process, Brian Throne shows here how both reflection and summarizing can have very quick and positive impact on the client, when carried out tit skill. When Throne summarizes he manages somehow to add an extra layer of understanding and complexity to his summary. Which seems to allow the client to not only agree but open to further exploration.At one point during the session, Louise physically changes her posture and facial expression when Throne managed to not only reflect what had just been said but also added a layer of meaning that seemed hidden to the client. It is as if his reflection and summarizing has a synergistic and additive affect. In one particular instance he does this with a single word, ‘Personae? [22:01]. On other occasions he deftly follows his summaries with a gentle probing and allows the client enough silence and space to contemplate on what has been said and subsequently offer a reply.I can only hope that someday I can apply even a tiny fraction of the skill shown by Brian Throne. Attending and Active Listening I have combined examples of these two skills since as Throne seamlessly applies these skills throughout the session. His body language, which includes a forward- leaning posture, mirroring of Louse's facial expressions and genuine laughter at the appropriate times, all show a counselor staying in the present moment with his client throughout. He frequentl y verbalizes that he understands what she is saying and follows this up with impressive reflection and summarizing.Reflective skills Although Throne applies this throughout I have chosen a particular time [37:38], which I believe is a good example of this skill. Throne says ‘It doesn't seem genuine to you to plan anything? ‘ he Is asking this question since Louise describes how she has learned to adopt strategies in order to cope socially. She has done this for so long hat she is no longer sure which is the real her. She is taken aback by this summary and Throne Immediately states that he Is merely ‘holding it up to you'.Although this almost literal example of reflecting skills, I believe it is very apt. Being Concrete Louise finds it difficult to start the session and Throne Immediately Jumps in to Empathy When Louise describes her constant planning and strategist for every social situation, Throne replies with ‘That's so wearying? [23:38]; this to me is one of many obvious displays of empathy, which almost always get a positive response from the linen. Probing Throne probes throughout, always in a gentle and non threatening way.These probes are almost always preceded by a brief summary and/or reflection. A very good example of this is when Throne asks Louise Why did you want to drink alcohol on the train? [27:07]. Asked by another counselor, this question might elicit a defensive response but Louise tentatively supplies an answer, which is subsequently expanded on after more gentle probing. Feedback When Louise asks Throne why he asked the question about why she wanted alcohol n the train, he provides succinct but gentle feedback, which allows the session to enter a new area.He replies by saying ‘Because it seemed to me that you wanted to escape. ‘ [28:17]. Conclusion There are other examples of the skills described above throughout the session but I have tried to include the ones I felt allowed for a deeper relationship b etween counselor and client. I enjoyed this session very much and it has focused my attention on the skills required to help our clients acquire a greater awareness of themselves and their environments.

Fin111 Financial Markets and Economic Principles

[pic] Financial Markets and Economic Principles (FIN111) Assignment Answer Template |Students: Please enter |Word count | | |your word count for this |I have read the Assignment Guide in the Subject Room and have applied the word count | | |assignment |principles to my work. | | |My word count for this assignment is | | | |5368 words | | | | | | Marker feedback Comment on overall performance: |For marker use only. | |Students begin your assignment answers on the following page. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Begin your assignment answers from this point. Section A – Question 1 †¢ Describe the operations of each company JB Hi If – Is an Australian owned and operated company established in 1974. Due to the success of the business model and the growing retail sector in July 2000 JB Hi Fi was purchased by private equity bankers and senior management with the strategy of taking the model nationally. With a strong sign of the success of the business in October 2003, JB Hi Fi was floated on the Australian Stock Exchange.JB Hi Fi has proven to be one of Australia’s fastest growing and largest retailers of home entertainment. Looking to build on the successful model and expand their operations in July 2004, JB Hi Fi bought the Clive Anthony chain of retail stores who competed in the same retail space. Harvey Norman – Is an Australian based retail provider of electrical, furniture, computer, entertainment and home goods. They have over 230 stores in Australia and abroad in countries including New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland, Malaysia, Croatia and Singapore.Harvey Norman has implemented a unique strategy to the Australian retail market through their operating structure, in that each store department is operated by a separate franchise. Therefore these superstores are a combination of more than one business with each franchisee (computer, bedding, electrical) contributing to the gross reven ue of Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd. This is achieved through their individual lease payment and a percentage of their sales. The individual departments have their own checkouts for its products and warehouse space is shared by the separate franchisees.Harvey Norman Holdings Limited is also a franchisor of other well known retail chains including Domayne, Joyce Mayne and others. †¢ Consider the key factors that may affect the performance and the share price of the companies in the short and long term Given the fact both companies are competitors in the retail sector, key factors affecting their performance will be quite similar. They both heavily rely on the consumption of the â€Å"Household Sector†, this helps drives revenue through their operations. A concern therefore would be given the challenging economic times there is a decrease in domestic spending.With households adversely increasing their savings as anxiety over the sovereign debt crisis in Europe escalates and g eneral unease in regards to the global economy. This is also reflected through the â€Å"Business Cycle† as it is my belief we are currently within a â€Å"Contraction to trough† period which is reflective of a decline in retail sales. This decline has been seen nationwide through the whole retail sector as organisations battle to lower prices to remain competitive when demand isn’t strong and still attempt to retain a profit.Some retailers have opted for longer trading hours and there is also concern over the moving trend towards internet shopping. JB Hi Fi currently have a strong focus on online shopping which has helped them maintain consistent sales results. Harvey Norman have moved to online shopping only in July of 2011, and has big ambitions with Gerry Harvey stating â€Å"I’ve told my team I want them to turn over $100 million within 2-3 years and then take it to $1billon within 5-10 years†. The decline is also reflected in the ABS August K ey Figures report for monthly turnover within the retail sector which saw department stores post a -0. % fall in July to August 2011. Also a long term concern for both companies would be that if global equity markets do recover and inflation rises that will lead to a rise in interest rates which would further affect the Household sector through their discretionary spending. The fluctuations of the Australian dollar will impact both companies as the stronger Australian dollar lowers the prices both enterprises can charge consumers. Increasingly consumers are buying electronics online both domestically and international, with the resilient dollar giving them an incentive to shop abroad. Question 2 ) JB Hi-Fi and its network of retail stores is an intermediary. They are an intermediary between the large electronic manufacturers (Sony, Samsung, Panasonic) whose products are sold in store and the general consumer in the household sector. The large manufactures are able to meet the order demands of the organisation and JB Hi-FI in return supplies the broad market with the products. The consumer is provided with a product at a competitive price and JB Hi Fi earns a margin on the product for the service. 2) JB Hi-Fi also uses an additional intermediary to increase their exposure in the sector.They have purchased Clive Anthony which was another established retail electrical chain. They own Clive Anthony however it continues to operate under its original trading name. All revenue is attributed to the JB Hi FI Limited organisation. 3) Harvey Norman Holdings Limited is well known for using a number of intermediaries within their own organisation. They have fragmented each department (bedding, electrical, computer) of their organisation to be an individual franchise or â€Å"intermediary†. With each franchisee contributing to the gross revenue of Harvey Norman Holdings Limited.This provides each department the ability to specialise and deliver expert service to thei r consumers. Other financial intermediaries Harvey Norman would include its acquired retails chain Clive Peter’s and the number of overseas retail operations it owns which contribute to its net profit. Question 3 Question 3: Impact of monetary policy Justify the Reserve Bank’s decision on interest rates announced on 4 October 2011 †¢ The factors that influenced the Reserve Bank’s decision and the likely impacts on the domestic economy The Reserve Bank nominated on the 4th of October to keep interested rates on hold for the 10th straight meeting.The factors influencing this decision were concern over global financial markets and fears world economies may be sent into global recession. Previously during the Aug-Sep meetings there had been a deteriation in the markets and between Sep-Oct meetings that had been a further substantial deteriation of global markets. The RBA acknowledged that domestic growth would weaken in the coming quarters. Europe’s sove reign debt issues are a major concern to the RBA and a contributing factor to rates remaining on hold. It has caused major volatility to global markets, with growing uncertainty in regards to a solution and its impact on banks in Europe.It is also affecting the outlook for Global Economic growth. The RBA will continue to assess market developments as well as the general indicators it follows including economy and inflation data. A benefit for the domestic economy is the RBA stated it had a bias to easing and that a rate cut could occur if September Quarter CPI data due on October 26 showed a moderation in prices †¢ The impact on the share market as a whole and the share price of your chosen companies The immediate impact on the share market following the RBA’s decision was negative. The S&P/ASX 200 closed down 0. % or 24. 9 points to 3872. 1 points, with the All Ordinaries down 0. 6% or 25. 1 points to 3935. 6. Also the Australian dollar slumped to a 13-month low of $94. 6 US cents. Despite an optimistic start to trading on the day with the market overcoming a negative lead from the US, the RBA’s decision had plunged the markets back into negative territory. JB Hi-Fi was down 60 cents to $14. 30 Not a substantial impact to HVN which was up 2cents from the close the previous day. †¢ Whether the impact on the share market as a whole differed from the impact on your chosen companiesThe negative impact of the decision by the RBA was shared by both the market itself and the individual holdings of JB Hi Fi Limited and Harvey Norman Holdings Limited. The decision had a significant impact on the performance of consumer exposed stocks such as JB HI FI and Harvey Norman. Question 4 JB HI FI posted its first profit slide since the stock floated in 2003. There were some contributing factors to this performance including a restructure of its Clive Anthony’s stores and a negative sales growth for July. JB Hi-Fi reported on August 8th 2011 that full year net profit fell 7. 5% to $109. 7 million on sales of $2. 6 billion, up 8. 3%. The slip has been attributed to the $24. 7 million in costs to restructure its Clive Anthony stores. Annual comparable sales fell 1. 2% Despite the daunting outlook for the retail sector JB Hi FI have stated they expect another solid group sales performance for this financial year, with full year sales to rise 8% to 3. 2billion. JB Hi FI is expecting that the Christmas period will be successful also timing with a number of new product releases. However due to the profit results and weak July sales on August 9th JB Hi-Fi shares closed down 35 cents at $14. 00 Harvey Norman announced a net profit after tax of $252. 6 million for the financial year ending 30 June 2011, which is up 9% on the 2010 financial year. These results were released in its 2011 annual report. The franchises within the organisation continued to provide the stability in the overall performance of the group. Owner Gerry Harvey s tated â€Å"we have a strong balance sheet underpinned by a $2. 04 billion property portfolio and generate strong free net cash flows from our franchising operations segment† Total revenue for the year was $2. 7 billion, which has increased from the 2010 figure of $2. 45 billion according to the results statement.Harvey Norman experienced an increase in consumer transactions despite revenue being down, this was caused by the strong Australian dollar reducing prices on imported goods. Despite the retail sector weakening in reflection of global markets Harvey Norman franchisees have experienced strong customer traffic and transactions. Also stronger results generated by retail operations in Singapore, Malaysia and Slovenia have increased profitability by $4. 65 million before tax collectively compared to the previous year. Despite challenging macroeconomic conditions, the outlook the retail, franchise and property system of the company remains positive.An important addition to the business moving forward in the first half of 2012 financial year will be the launching of our e-commerce site for Harvey Norman. Harvey Norman states they are confident there online transactional strategy will produce incremental dollars to the existing channel. Harvey Norman closed 1cent higher after releasing its annual report at $2. 15 on August 29th. Question 5 †¢ Explain the correlation of returns from the asset classes – Cash- Is looking to be a stable and reliable asset class in the 2011 calendar year. It will provide necessary stability to investor’s profiles.However will remain relatively unattractive reflecting low interest rates. Some important considerations for the RBA in determining any movement in monetary policy is the strength of the Australian dollar relative to trading partners, in particular the US. It is anticipated the RBA will lift the cash rate to 5% before the end of the year Fixed Interest – Will provide stability with a higher yield than cash given there is an element of risk. Savvy investors will look to this sector as global equities remain volatile and fixed interest provides the ability to stabilise returns.Large parts of the credit market in particular Australian credit offer reasonable value especially if the global growth outlook commences an incline. Equity – Global equity markets outlook remains extremely volatile. This outlook is reinforced by the RBA’s recent decisions to keep interest rates on hold and even suggest they may be deducted in the future. The cause for concern has moved on from the Sub Prime Crisis of 2008 and is now centred on government sovereign debt in the US and particularly in Europe and the PIGGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Spain).Of major concern is whether Greece will default on its loans and the potential impact on world markets. This is playing out at the moment with recent developments within the EU with a bailout fund and more recently revision of the si ze of the fund. This has provided huge amounts of volatility in the market and it seems it will play out most of the year, with a potential default if not avoided of Greece in early 2012. There is plenty of value long term in equities currently with stocks undervalued however you must be prepared to accept volatility in the short to medium term.Property – With improving international economic conditions, a local economy with good foundations and quality property managers achieving attractive terms on financing, prospects for high grade property investment remains attractive. Australian direct property will continue to perform well and prospects for the sector are high especially in commercial and industrial property. The retail sector could be a danger given the challenging times being experienced in the Australian consumer sector †¢ Provide a forecast of which asset class you believe will provide the best returns in 2011Due to global economic growth picking up in 2011 w ith various predictions at around 3. 5 – 4% driven largely by emerging economies, this provides opportunities in the equities sector. Market volatility is likely to continue due to Sovereign debt concerns in Europe and the impact of potential further quantitative easing in the United States. There is concern about equity markets seemingly drifting sideways over the past 12 months, however global share markets have recorded strong gains The economic outlook is likely to be supportive for equities in 2011, while there will be areas of concern.The slowly improving economic environment and a potential solution to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe should see companies begin to expand by borrowing. After experiencing a significant correction in 2010, equities are well positioned to post strong gains in 2011. Shares are good value and continuing economic recovery will contribute to further gains in profit. Question 6 Question 6: Influences on share prices Provide a graph showing b oth companies daily share price and the All Ordinaries index over the four week tracking period [pic] [pic] Explain the performance of the two companies over the four week period.In your explanation consider: †¢ The impact of any significant events or unexpected announcements JB Hi Fi – The announcement of Apple’s launch of its latest handset the iPhone 4s is hoped to have a significant impact on sales and foot traffic through its retail stores. – JB Hi-Fi held its annual general meeting on the 12th of October, it stated total sales were up 6. 6% compared with the previous corresponding period. The timing of this news to the market had investors responding positively with 3. 09% increase for the day with a close at $14. 36 Harvey Norman Holdings Limited There is direct concern for Harvey Norman over debt issues within Europe as they hold operations in Ireland which was the first country in the European Union to ask for a bailout. Harvey Norman’s stor es there made a trading loss of $38. 59 million for the 2010-11 financial year, with the board â€Å"committed to Ireland for the long term† – Harvey Norman have also responded to the online retail sector threat by launching a new e-commerce site in early October – Harvey Norman released its annual report on the 29th of September, revealing a 9% rise in 2011 full-year net profit to $252. 3 million Whether the performances have been similar or different The performance of Harvey Norman has been quite flat with quite limited movement of the stock over the reporting period. They released their annual report with a rise in profits but investors did not respond with any significant movements. JB Hi-Fi hit a low of $13. 87 for the reporting period on the 11th of October as anxiety hit over the release of information from its annual general meeting. The news and results provided were positive and the stock reacted positively reaching close to the peak of the reporting period on the 14th of October closing at $15. 0 †¢ How the companies performed in relation to the All Ordinaries Index There has been limited volatility seen in regards to both JB Hi-FI and Harvey Norman. The reasons for this would be they both have core business which is based in the retail household consumer sector. The All Ordinaries which is based on the movements of the top 500 Australian companies has a much wider exposure to sectors. It is for this reason there has been significantly more volatility on the All Ordinaries as it has been exposed to the market’s recent concerns over the European Sovereign debt crisis. Whether the shares would be considered growth or defensive Both these companies’ shares would be considered cyclical stocks, where sales and earnings are affected by economic or industry cycle They would therefore be considered growth shares. †¢ Your view with justification on whether the companies are a buy, sell or hold JB Hi-Fi (HOLD) â⠂¬â€œ The stock is vulnerable to a decrease in discretionary spending in regards to its electronic goods and also the impact of the volatile Australian dollar. However the organisation is in a growth period with a number of new stores opening in a strategic move.The company has been a popular stock and has proven to be quite resilient, trading strongly through the last few turbulent years and also distributes a strong yield. It is in a good position to see through the current wave of volatility. Harvey Norman (HOLD) – The strength of the Australian dollar has seen a rise in internet commerce. Harvey Norman is launching a centralised online website to respond to this growing trend. International holdings have been performing well and there are talks of a possible expansion into the UK.The stock has been proven to be relatively resilient with a reasonable dividend and is adapting to a changing market by looking at opportunities online and abroad, for these reasons the recommend ation would be to hold. Section B Question 1 Section B – Question 1 Identify and discuss four advantages for AWPL of establishing a factory in New Zealand †¢ Operating costs – Establishing a new factory in New Zealand will save AWPL $A2 million per annum which is a significant savings long term. These additional funds can be used to reduce debt or spent on further product development or research Increase production – With the establishment of the New Zealand facility AWPL will be able to meet the demands of their current production and collectively with its Melbourne location the demands of the new proposed contract in the US. This will add a projected 30% to sales growth. †¢ Save $A 3 million – Establishing the new location at New Zealand would mean the fire upgrade to the current location at Devonport would no longer be necessary and the funds will be used to support the long term functionality and growth of the business as opposed to a mainte nance cost Brand Awareness – Currently AWPL provides production for Australia, UK, Germany and potentially the US. Having a location in New Zealand will promote the brand and create awareness which may lead to business opportunities through production in their domestic sector in the future Also four major funding and/or business constraints that AWPL needs to consider when deciding whether to establish a new factory in New Zealand or upgrade and expand the existing factory in Melbourne Production concerns – Due consideration needs to be made to legitimate concerns over AWPL ability to meet the demand of current production requirements during construction of a new factory in New Zealand. Meeting these demands are imperative to the survival of the business †¢ $1 million payout – Will need to be paid due to the retrenchments of the employees at the Devonport factory, this is a considerable amount of capital and needs to be taken into consideration †¢ Esta blishment costs – AWPL have determined that the establishment costs of the New Zealand venture are high with additional costs that do not exist in Australia Debt Funding – All the proposed developments require capital of $A10 million, AWPL do not have the liquidity to cover this outlay and will need to look at financing options. Their lenders at the moment already have concerns over their current level of gearing, so they will need to look at all their options. Question 2 a) Is AWPL eligible for listing on the ASX given its current structure and financial position? AWPL is not able to list on the ASX given its current structure, as it does not currently meet the requirements of the ASX listing rules. In particular condition 7 which states â€Å" An entity must satisfy either a) or (b)† a) There must be at least 500 holders each having a parcel of the main class of securities with a value of at least $2,000, excluding securities not acquired by those holders unde r a recent prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement b) Both of the following are satisfied †¢ There must be at least 400 holders each having a parcel of the main class of securities with a value of at least $2,000, excluding securities not acquired by those holders under a recent prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement AWPL is unable to meet these requirements as it currently only has 40 shareholders ) Listed companies are required to comply with stringent obligations imposed on them by the ASX Listing Rules. Explain four obligations that AWPL would be required to fulfil if it was a listed company †¢ Under Condition 3 of the ASX listing rules â€Å" A prospectus or Product Disclosure Statement must be issued and lodged with ASIC. If ASX agrees, an information memorandum that complies with the information memorandum requirements of Appendix 1A will be sufficient instead of a prospectus or PDS. This ensures that potential investors have access to critical financial inf ormation about the organisation to make an informed decision to invest or not. 1. 2. 4 of the Profit Test states that the entity’s aggregated profit from continuing operations for the last 3 full financial years must have been at least $1 million. This is to ensure the organisation is successful and has the means necessary to warrant being listed on the ASX †¢ 1. 2. 5A states that the entity must give ASX a statement from all directors confirming that they have made enquiries and nothing has come to their attention to suggest that the economic entity is not continuing to earn profit from continuing operations up to the date of applicationThis is to ensure the organisations admission is based on factual information and aims to confirm the integrity of the organisation and its intention not to commit any acts of fraud or deception †¢ 1. 3. 5 The entity must give ASX each of the following a) Any accounts, together with any audit report or review: – for the last 3 full financial years (or shorter period if ASX agrees); and – if the last full financial year ended more than 8 months before the entity applied for admission, for the last half year (or longer period if available) from the end of the last full financial yearIf the accounts have not been audited or reviewed, the entity must tell the ASX This ensures that there is full disclosure of financial information to the ASX and potential investors Question 3 a) Discuss three reasons why the bank would be reluctant to increase funding to AWPL at this time †¢ Financial Markets – Due to the implications of financial markets over the last few years starting with the Mortgage Sub Prime crisis in the United States and more recently the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, lenders have become tighter with their lending practices.They want extra security and having a signed contract confirming the commitment for production in the US confirms the need for additional funding †¢ Th e bank already has expressed concern over the level of gearing the organisation holds at the moment so without evidence to support the need for expansion there will be hesitancy from the lender †¢ There is also an element of risk involved as there is concern that if the upgrade and expansion plans are not handled effectively then production rates may be harmed which would ultimately mean AWPL would be unable to meet current order demands.If that was to occur then the ability of AWPL to service its current debt commitments to the bank would be placed in jeopardy b) Jack is concerned that the New Zealand project will expose the shareholders of AWPL to a new financial risk (associated with borrowing funds to upgrade the Melbourne factory and to establish the New Zealand factory). Assume that the US contract is signed. Identify the new financial risk. Discuss the implications of the risk on debt repayment schedules and outline the steps AWPL might take to reduce the riskJack is con cerned about AWPL ability to meet current production orders. The fear is that if establishment of the NZ factory and upgrade of the Melbourne location isn’t seamless it will affect the ability of the business to meet current demands and that of the new contract. This exposes the business and current shareholders to potential risk of defaulting on existing debt demands from their lender. AWPL may look at hedging this risk by looking at Business Risk Protection which would cover their expected income if they are unable to meet their demand for various reasons.AWPL should also consider looking at alternate factory locations they can use at short notice if production is impacted for any reason Question 4 a) Identify and discuss three effects that an appreciating Australian dollar (AUD) would have on a decision by AWPL to move its manufacturing operations to New Zealand †¢ An appreciating Australian dollar would be a concern for the core of AWPL business which is exports. If the Australian dollar rises a major implication is the impact on the terms of trade as exports become more expensive and imports become cheaper.A likely result would be an increase in domestic spending on imports and reduced demand for exports in foreign countries. This would be a huge concern for the viability of AWPL’s international production orders. If there is a change in the current revenue streams than it may impact their ability to service their current debt and/or gain finance for expansion plans †¢ Also an appreciation in the Australian dollar will mean AWPL’s exports will become more expensive and may result in them not being as competitive as other international competitors. The impact of this may be felt in loss of contracts, renegotiations and general cost cutting.Severely impacting their ability to implement any expansions †¢ These concerns will not only be felt by AWPL but by their shareholders and lenders. When approaching lenders about furth er debt funding an appreciating dollar and the potential negative impact on the business may very well be taken into due consideration before approval. b) Taking into account current economic conditions and financial market sentiment, identify and discuss two factors that could cause the AUD to move significantly above its current rate against the US dollar in the coming months One impact which could cause the AUD to move significantly above its current rate against the US dollar is the appetite for risk from foreign investors. With extreme volatility being experienced in the market currently and concern for the global economy the Australian dollar can be influence by the risk appetite of foreign investors. During the volatile times in the market we are experiencing currently there are heightened perceptions of risk which leads to a decline in the demand for riskier assets which promotes a move for investors to quality investments and an appreciation of reserve currencies such as th e US dollar.This can see the Australian dollar appreciated when markets sentiment is high and there is positive news about foreign and global development and depreciate on negative news. – An additional factor which may see a further increase of the AUD over the US dollar could be another round of Quantative Easing (QE3) from the United States. This involves the US Federal Reserve effectively prints more money injecting it into the economy The US government achieves this through purchases of bonds and places money into banks which then be loaned to the public.This in turn eases lending constraints and money flows through too small to medium businesses. A consequence for the US is that the increase in the supply of their currency weakens the value and causes further appreciation of the Australian dollar Question 5 – A) Discuss the outlook for global economic growth in 2011. Support your answer with a percentage forecast for global growth International recovery after the Great Financial Crisis has been uneven with markets seemingly moving sideways recently. Risks globally remain high with world economies continuing to recover from its effects.Financial conditions have improved through corporate earnings and financial market volatility has moderated, notwithstanding ongoing concerns over European Sovereign debt and the European Union ability to contain the crisis. The forecast for advanced economies is to continue to consolidate, where as growth in emerging markets is anticipated to deliver higher levels of growth and returns. Therefore in accordance the global economy is widely predicted to grow over 4% in 2011 down from 5% growth in 2010. Although traction has been made global economic recovery also remains vulnerable and a clear resolution to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe ill provide markets with strong sentiment and incentive to return to the equities market. Also failure for the US to develop a viable solution to the unsustainable US Fisc al position also poses a threat to the progress of global recovery – (B) Each of the countries below has a significant influence on global growth. Briefly comment on each country’s outlook for economic growth in 2011 Support your answer with a percentage forecast for each country’s economic growth i) USA The forecast for the United States is that their economy will grow between 3. -4% in 2011. This is an increase from the 3% growth recorded in the 2010 calendar year. The basis of this will be driven from growth in the consumer and business spending and personal consumption expenditure (PCE), an increase in consumer spending. PCE is adding between 0. 7% and 2% to overall US growth has increased for five consecutive quarters. Concerns for the US are European Sovereign Debt, budget concerns at all levels of government and falling house prices. These effects could impact and lead to a slower US recovery. ii) ChinaDue to the unprecedented growth of China, tighter mon etary policy was necessary to reign in growth which is still projected to be close to 9% in 2011. Inflation is a constant concern and will increase over the calendar year. It is china’s greatest concern and most pressing policy issue, their ability to contain this effectively will determine their sustained growth. The present account surplus is set to fall to 4. 5% of GDP, which is a reflection of a decline in export growth and higher commodity prices While high commodity prices pose risks they are unlikely to dent growth.Currency appreciation will continue at a gradual pace as reserves accumulate iii) Japan In March 2011 the Great East Japan Earthquake was the strongest ever recorded in Japan and triggered a tsunami which severely damaged the country and was the impact was felt on world equity markets. A preliminary report by the government estimated damage at between 3. 3-5. 2% of 2010 GDP There are serious concerns about Japans ability to recover from such a traumatic natu ral disaster. The timing and strength of an economic recovery is difficult to forecast.The growing uncertainty about the Japanese recovery, compounded by the ongoing nuclear situation and rising oil prices are adding to the difficulty of the situation. However Japan has experienced natural disasters before and the sentiment from other advanced nations is there will be a rebound in economy as reconstruction spending picks up. Such a pattern will see real GDP growth to 0. 8% in 2011 Bibliography Chris Zappone April 27 SMH – Harvey – Move online. http://www. smh. com. au/business/harvey-norman-reveals-online-move-20110427-1dvl9. htmlPip Freebairn – Australian Financial Review – 4th October RBA holds rates but hints door open for cut http://www. afr. com/p/national/rba_holds_rates_but_hints_door_open_5JEhJP8jKehLd5SsNxQREL Joanna Heath – Australian Financial Review – 4th October Shares fall after RBA rates decision http://www. afr. com/p/markets /shares_fall_after_rba_rates_decision_gYLoKCrItyz0zl5JXVUUQM Eli Greenbalt – August 9th High Flying JB Hi FI experiences the lows of a struggling sector http://www. smh. com. au/business/highflying-jb-hifi-experiences-the-lows-of-a-struggling-sector-20110808-1ij7k. tml Harvey Norman Annual Report http://www. harveynormanholdings. com. au/pdf_files/2011_Annual_Report. pdf Shane Oliver Insights – Review of 2010 and outlook for 2011 http://www. adviservoice. com/2010/12/review-of-2010-and-outlook-for-2011/ David Ramli & Ben Woodhead – Australian Financial Review October 5th Wither retail as Apple touts iPhone 4s http://www. afr. com/p/business/technology/whither_retail_as_apple_touts_iphone_FzmXGsKsIEA3iYW45oG21M Joanna Heath – Australian Financial Review 24 September 2011 Europe’s troubles hit home http://www. fr. com/p/markets/europe_troubles_hit_home_FTVWCTnHmtNXJ90oaRoTsI RBA – The Exchange rate and the Reserve Bank’s Role in the For eign Exchange Market http://www. rba. gov. au/mkt-operations/foreign-exchg-mkt. html Chris Caton – 2 Feb 2011 The Aussie Dollar- Where to from here? BT Insights http://www. bt. com. au/bt-market-insights/bt-latest-updates/2011/02-february/201102-australian-dollar. asp Budget Strategy and Outlook 2011-12 http://www. budget. gov. au/2011-12/content/bp1/html/bp1_bst2-01. htm IB Times Staff Reporter – US Economic Outlook 2011

Alternative Medicine

Alternative Medicine Free Online Research Papers Over the last decade, there have been growing concerns over the cost of prescription drugs and the inequitable investments accompanied with it. Consumers are constantly being deceived as they spend money on high priced drugs that tend to keep phony promises. â€Å"Spending in the U.S. for prescription drugs was $162.4 billion in 2002, 4 times larger than the amount spent in 1990† (Kaiser). Imagine if these amounts of money could be spent on something more useful than processed drugs. Money could be spent more intelligently by reinforcing other forms of healing which, can also directly impact the brain just as effectively as drugs. These types of natural remedies have been proven by ample research to be substantially more beneficial than chemical drugs. In fact, the only time ‘medicine’ could ever be harmful is when it contains side effects. Why would anyone want to take risks of harming themselves for the sake of self -healing. Television commercials constantly promote drug use and range from a variety of different drugs, whether it be aspirin or anti-depressants, any type of chemical intake can always have hazardous risks because of it‘s artificial production, it‘s not considered ‘natural’ to the body. Any commercials that are advertising prescription drugs always manages to point out all of the benefits the drug exhorts; such as rapid pain relief, and quick acting substances that will surely alter the user‘s mental state. Except, for some reason they always seem to mention the lengthy list of side effects at the very end of the ad, where it is said in a very low tone, that is ridiculously fast and can barely be understood. The general public is being trained to take â€Å"magical pills† that will â€Å"magically† make a person feel better. This soci ety has taught everyone to be overly rushed. People rush so frequently that they forget about taking care of vital priorities in their lives; such as their mind, body, and soul. Keeping these three important aspects of life balanced, and at healthy states can be extremely helpful. Hence, the definition of health, â€Å"a positive state of physical, mental, and social well-being † (Sarafino p 2). In this modern age, health is not solely seen as just a physical aspect. A healthy body produces healthy emotions, which in turn produces a healthy life style. People are not aware that our brain is a warehouse of chemicals waiting to be put to use to support our actions in our daily lives. For example, those who exercise claim to feel â€Å"very good† after a good work-out. The same neurotransmitter Dopamine, which activates motivation, movement, and reward, can be released while taking a recreational drug and also while doing natural movements of the body such as exercising, laughing, and feeling happy. Lack of this hormone can lead to depression. People have to become aware of the simple movements that can encourage a pleasant state of mind. There have been many cases where therapies and exercises of the mind and body have greatly improved behavior naturally, without use of pharmaceutical drugs. Even though these types of therapies exist, they are generally not recogniz ed by the general public compared to the constant drug exposure that is all over the news, television, and radio broadcasts. It has been made a common belief in the United States that a â€Å"miracle pill† will make all the troubles go away. This, unfortunately, is not always the case. â€Å"Although the prescription drug spending is a relatively small proportion (11%) of national health care spending, it is one of the fastest growing components, increasing at double digit rates in each of the past 8 years. National prescription spending increased from 15% from 2001 to 2002, compared to an 8% increase for physician and clinical services and a 10% increase for hospital care†. (Kaiser) The motives for this dramatic increase in prescription costs are due to devious and heinous acts of crimes that allows the government to take money from it’s loyal citizens who in return receives deceptive medical treatment that at times can cause more harm than good. There are many people who can’t afford any type of health insurance. This often leads certain populations with no options to choose from. People are paying for high priced medication that profits billions of capita per year, from artificially producing toxic chemicals that may cause us harm yet we consume it as if it were a life saver. There are three main factors contributing to these increases; the primary being the aggrandizement of medications being prescribed. From 1993-2003-, the number of prescribed prescriptions purchased increased 70% (from 2 billion to 3.4 billion), compared to a U.S. population growth of 13%; the average number of prescriptions per capita increased from 7.8 to 11.8. (Census Bereau, 2003). Secondly, newer and higher priced drugs are the new replacements for older, less expensive drugs. Retail prescription prices have increased an average of 7.4% a year from 1993-2003 (Nat. Assoc. of Chain Drug Stores). Lastly, since there are newer drugs being produced, the research and development activities of pharmaceutical manufacturers and government-supported research have also sky rocketed. Manufacturer research and development spending increased from $12.7 billion in 1993 to an estimated $33.2 billion for 2003, with research and development estimated to be 17.7% of sales in 2003 (Pharm. Res. Ma nufacturers of America). With all this money being spent, it was no wonder pharmaceutical manufacturers were the nation’s most profitable industry from 1995-2002. Now, although it may be beneficial to have the advantage of being able to purchase medical aid directly with money, at the same time, money is a very large factor why not everyone can afford treatment. How is it that the government can offer excess amounts of medication but will not allow everyone to have vital access to it’s ‘necessary benefits‘. A recent survey found that 37% of the uninsured said that they did not fill a prescription because of cost, compared to 13% of the insured. A 2001 survey of seniors in 8 states (42% of US adults age 65+) found that in the last 12 months, 35% of seniors without prescription drug coverage either did not fill a prescription 1 or more times or skipped doses of medicines to make the prescription last longer, compared to 18% with drug coverage (Kaiser, 2003). This type of behavior is highly inappropriate and most definitely unnecessary for anyone to go through. People should not have to worry about the money they spend on medical treatment. Nor should they ever have to choose whether or not to buy medicine based on their financial situation. It clearly shows that those who have a higher income can easily afford better services, which are not always available to those who have a lower income. Fortunately, there are a variety of other options to choose from if you do not agree on putting harmful chemical substances in your body. There are ‘alternative ways’ of healing where a person can be completely cured through mind and body exercises which can help a person resolve conflicts found within themselves. One type of healing is therapy, however there are several kinds of therapy; such as psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, phytotherapy, acupunctural therapy, couples therapy, divorce therapy, growth therapy, interpersonal therapy, and that is just a few to say the least. Psychotherapy is the treatment of mental and emotional disturbances and disorders using psychological methods. It is used to help people solve problems, achieve goals, and manage their lives by treating a variety of mental health issues. This type of therapy is mainly used to treat conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, phobias, and substance abu se. Unlike some other therapies, psychotherapy is limited to conversations. Drug therapy and any other physiological treatment methods are excluded from these procedures. This practice concentrates directly on the person’s behavior, it helps the person better understand what they are undergoing and the reasons behind them. Yes, it may be a bit more complicated than simply raising an elbow and swallowing a pill. The reason why natural healing is so beneficial is because it can not only be just as powerful as a drug, but it is unquestionably safer than some of the severe side effects or allergic reactions these chemicals can produce in our bodies. In one study of emotional disclosure in people with rheumatoid arthritis, Kelley, Lumley, and Leisen (1997) found that people who had written about their emotions had significantly less physical dysfunction than those assigned to a control condition. There is also some evidence that psychological interventions can help post-heart attack patients who are depressed. In a review of that literature, Linden and colleagues (1996) reported that psychosocial interventions can decrease depression, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol levels in CHD patients. Moreover, patients who did not receive psychosocial treatment were 1.7 times more likely to die from their CHD- and 1.8 times more likely to have another heart attack in a 2 -year follow-up period- than patients who were treated for their depression and anxiety. (Butcher et al.,2007). These positive behaviors include methods such as self-monitoring, reinforcing, and cognitive restructuring. This type of behavior seems to be safer than exposing the body to harmful substances which commonly lead to mental and physical dependence. It was supposed to be a short course of treatment with tranquilizers after the death of her infant son 15 years ago. But Lynn Ray, 46, of Germantown, MD., says her abuse of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and other prescription drugs led to a long struggle with addiction that nearly ruined her life. These tranquilizers, which slow down the central nervous system and cause drowsiness, surely numbed Ray’s agony, helped her sleep, and untied the relentless knot in her stomach. Soon, however, although her doctor prescribed one pill in an eight-hour period, she took two or three in an attempt to intensify the calming effect of the drug. Most patients take medicine responsibly, but approximately 9 million Americans used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in 1999, according the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Also, many people are deceived about the amount of harm these pills can contain because they think since it is coming from a ‘trusted’ source that no harm is involved. One other type of therapy that is very useful is the management of behavior, or behavioral therapy. This is the use of therapeutic procedures based primarily on principles of classical and operant conditioning. Simply put, a person learns to train themselves to behave in a more controllable, appropriate manner by completely transforming the once problematic behavior into a more subtle disciplined reaction. â€Å"Behavioral approaches play a major role in helping people alter dangerous lifestyle choices such as smoking and excessive alcohol use, (Butcher et al). There are thousands of people of varied ages who are uncontrollably addicted to cigarettes and alcohol. Most of them struggle with the addiction, while most do not realize that a problem exists. Cognitive therapy is the form of effectual therapy that essentially, focuses on the client’s thoughts rather than feelings or behaviors. These changes in thoughts aid to solve psychological and personality problems. In 1971, Arnold Lazarus discovered a process that cognitively restructures stress-provoking thoughts and replaces them with more constructive or realistic thoughts (Sarafino). Another cognitive approach is designed to help clients solve problems within their lives. With problem-solving training, clients learn a strategy for identifying, discovering, or inventing effective or adaptive ways to address problems in everyday life (D’Zurilla,1988; Nezu Perri,1989). This type of practice enables a person to clearly define a problem, which leads to generating a variety of possible solutions and choosing the best course of action. Evidence indicates that problem-solving training reduces anxiety and other negative emotions (D’Zurilla, 1988). Some cognitive-based approaches use a variety of methods to help support people coping with any type of problem. Donald Meichenbaum and his colleagues have developed a procedure called stress-inoculation training that is designed to teach people skills for alleviating stress and achieving personal goals (Meichenbaum Cameron, 1983) Researchers have also examined the effects of various behavioral relaxation techniques on selected stress-related illnesses. Therapy can address a wide range of concerns such as depression, relationship crisis, parenting problems, emotional distress, career issues, substance abuse, significant loss, and clinical disorders or conditions. The key to therapy is to provide life-enhancing help in fulfilling aspirations for personal growth and self-improvement. There are numerous relaxation methods that can be used in order to alleviate stressful feelings. Massaging for example, has several forms that vary in the degree of pressure applied, causing different sensations depending on the type of stroke that is applied. Surprisingly, massages have many health benefits. Massaging has been showed to calm the nervous system and promote a sense of relaxation and well being. It also improves blood circulation, which is essential to delivering oxygen and nutrients to cells. Stimulation of the lymphatic system is caused by massaging, this improves the body’s process of waste removal. By stimulating the muscles through massage, it can prevent and relieve muscles from uncomfortable cramps and spasms. Also, massage therapy can also help with pain management in conditions such as arthritis, sciatica, and muscle spasms (Brown 2007). Studies also show that massage therapy can reduce anxiety and depression (Moyer, Rounds, Hannum, 2004). It also helps reduce hypertension, some types of pain, and asthma symptoms; some evidence indicates that it may bolster immune function (Field, 1996,1998). A type of therapy that is familiar to most but tremendously underestimated is meditation. Meditation is an altered state of consciousness characterized by a sense of deep relaxation and loss of self awareness ( Kosslyn Rosenberg 2004). Mediators experience a â€Å"relaxed, blissful, and wakeful state† (Jevning et al., 1992, p 415). Like most other therapies, there are many distinctive forms of meditation that can specifically alter certain aspects of the mind. For example, there is ‘concentrative meditation’ which would challenge a person to concentrate on one single stimulus, while disregarding the rest of the environment. Another form of meditation is called ‘opening-up meditation’ which is a more advanced form of concentration that eventually develops skills to merge with the environment one is in. Regular meditation reduces tension and anxiety (Carlington, 1977) and decreases levels of stress (MacLean et al., 1997) as well as cardiac measur es such as blood pressure (Barnes et al., 2001). Although meditation helps people relax, it has a broader purpose: to develop a clear and mindful awareness, or â€Å"insight† regarding the essence of one’s experiences, unencumbered by cognitive or emotional distortions (Hart, 1987; Sole-Leris, 1986). Meditation aims at the mindful awareness component that essentially helps individuals who suffer from chronic pain to release the cognitive and emotional distortions they have along with their pain. Still, the main question of concern for stress management is whether meditation is a useful procedure for alleviating stress in daily life. Research as generally found that it is (Lichstetin,1988). Concentrating more on how to control the mind rather than depending on a substance can greatly improve behavior. Yoga for example, is a type of mental and physical exercise that prioritizes the mental use of concentration in order to have control over the mind. Practicing yoga can yield a vast array of benefits which practicioners often claim create a complete reversal of medical conditions. The benefits vary based on poses practiced, and the intensity (measured by awareness, not sweat) and duration and frequency of practice. Today, modern scientists confirm the benefits of yoga practice for general health and well-being. The following are a few general health benefits that can be gained by practicing yoga, relieves fatigue, boosts energy levels, boosts immune system, reduces stress, improves focus, alleviates insomnia, normalizes blood pressure, tones heart muscles, improves circulation, prevents osteoporosis, relieves arthritis, reduces gastritis reduces acidity, relieves stomac h aches, improves sinus conditions, and can even alleviate addictions and eating disorders (Cirone, 2001). Although alternative medicine sounds relieving for most symptoms, some people have doubts about what natural medicine can do versus chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery treatments used on cancer. Surgery is a more frequently preferred treatment because if the cancer is localized, surgery can be very effective. However, if not all the cancer is eliminated, the patient’s symptoms may disappear for a time-or â€Å"go into remission†- only to return at a later date (Sarafino 2007). The other form of therapy is radiation, which in high doses damages the DNA of cells. Since radiation affects both healthy and malignant cells, the affected areas of skin may suffer irritation, itching, peeling, blistering, burns, or hair loss. Common side effects are diarrhea, hair loss, nausea, vomiting, mouth problems, sexual changes, swelling, trouble swallowing, urinary and bladder changes, loss of appetite, sterility, and reduced bone marrow function. Most of these side effects go away within 2 months after radiation therapy is finished. Late side effects may first occur 6 or more months after therapy and may include infertility, joint problems, lyphedema, mouth problems, and secondary cancer (National Cancer Institute 2007). In the days preceding radiation treatment, individuals often worry about these side effects and report heightened anxiety (Anderson, Golden-Kreutz, DiLillo, 2001). Out of all these side effects, none of them are beneficiary to the patient. How could someone produce a form of therapy that can simultaneously be highly harmful to the patient. When chemotherapy is requested, patients receive powerful drugs usually orally or by injection, that circulate through the body to kill cells that divide very rapidly (AMA, 2003; Williams, 1990). A major problem with this therapy is that the drugs also kill many normal cells that divide rapidly, which can produce adverse side effects, including reduced immunity to infection, sores in the mouth, hair loss, nausea, and vomiting, and damage to internal organs (ACS, 2004, AMA, 2003). Although most of these effects are temporary, these are not suitable conditions for anyone during any time, especially if one is already physically weak from the cancer itself. It is always important to know that â€Å"cancer is caused by the interplay of genetic and environmental factors, and that high stress can promote progression of the disease. Environmental factors include smoking tobacco, diet, ultraviolet radiation, and household and worksite chemical hazards, among others† (Sarafino 2007). By looking at the information provided earlier, it clearly states that alternative medicine such as cognitive therapies, meditations, or massages can significantly reduce stress and improve well being overall. The difference between natural medicine and prescription medicine is clear, although they both essentially ‘cure’ the person, except one consists of synthetic chemicals which are being forced into the body, causing the body to withdraw the poison by having severe side effects. In conclusion, scientific studies can clearly show the emphasis of positive and negative effects caused by certain treatments. There are most definitely many other different varieties of alternative medicine that do not strictly have to adhere to prescription pills. Whether a pill is ecstasy, or just an aspirin, it’s still a drug and it still means that it can have influences on your thoughts and behavior. I think there is enough money being spent on pharmaceutical drugs, this money should be put to use by figuring out more positive, motivational changes that can be applied to behavior; instead of ignoring it and taking substances to numb the pain. Doctors at this time need to worry less about the money they make and more about the people they save. Research Papers on Alternative MedicineThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductGenetic EngineeringArguments for Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS)Bionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenAnalysis Of A Cosmetics Advertisement

Get 10 Facts About the Element Sodium

Get 10 Facts About the Element Sodium Sodium is an abundant element thats essential for human nutrition and important for many chemical processes. Here are 10 facts about sodium. Sodium is a silvery-white metal belonging to Group 1 of the Periodic Table, which is the alkali metals group.Sodium is highly reactive. The pure metal is stored in oil or kerosene because it spontaneously ignites in water. Sodium metal also floats on water.At room temperature, sodium metal is soft enough that you can cut it with a butter knife.Sodium is an essential element in animal nutrition. In humans, sodium is important for maintaining fluid balance in the cells and throughout the body, while the electric potential maintained by sodium ions is critical for nerve function.Sodium and its compounds are used for food preservation, for cooling nuclear reactors, in sodium vapor lamps, for purifying and refining other elements and compounds, and as a desiccant.There is only one stable isotope of sodium: 23Na.The symbol for sodium is Na, which comes from the Latin natrium or Arabic natrun or a similar-sounding Egyptian word, all referring to soda or sodium carbonate.Sodium is an abundan t element. Its found in the sun and many other stars. It is the sixth most abundant element on Earth, comprising about 2.6 percent of the earths crust. It is the most abundant alkali metal. Although its too reactive to occur in pure elemental form, it is found in many minerals, including halite, cryolite, soda niter, zeolite, amphibole, and sodalite. The most common sodium mineral is halite or sodium chloride salt.Sodium was first commercially produced by thermal reduction of sodium carbonate with carbon at 1,100 Â °C, in the Deville process. Pure sodium may be obtained by electrolysis of molten sodium chloride. It may also be produced by the thermal decomposition of sodium azide.

Terrorism and Nations Security Concerns Assignment - 207

Terrorism and Nations Security Concerns - Assignment Example Summary - According to Jerrold M. Post, religious terrorism has taken center stage in the 21st century with extremist terrorist organizations such as Aum Shinrikyo and al-Qaeda making headlines. Religious terrorism is an extremist ideology where the terror groups hide under the guise of religious factions, especially Islam, to instill fear in innocent civilians through violence. Such terrorists spread their propaganda based on radical religious ideologies. Hezbollah has been running an anti-Israel sentiment for quite a long time and the terrorist organization has thrived because of strong support from the Iranian government. The terrorist organization has extensively used the media to run its campaign. 1 As an Islamic resistant movement, the Hamas has terrorized the Middle East, particularly Palestine, under the leadership of Sheik Ahman Yassin. Although many negotiations have taken place between Hamas and the Palestinian government, the terrorist organization has stuck to its ideolo gy has rarely had it renounced the absolutist ambitions that it undertakes through suicide bombings.2 In a bid to unearth the inner workings of terrorist organizations, Bruce Hoffman assessed the Middle East terrorism and made a number of astonishing findings. By the year 2005, various terrorist groups, with al-Qaeda taking the lead, had struck in 25 countries, including Israel, Kenya, and the United Kingdom. The number of suicide terrorist attacks stood at 350 by the same years. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has seized most of Sri Lankan provinces while al-Qaeda continued to terrorize the Middle East and beyond. Terrorism has evolved over the years to the use of suicide bombers, who have been heavily radicalized into believing that through self-sacrifice they receive greater heavenly rewards and in the process, liberate their victims.