The inflammatory phases of Atherosclerosis The WritePass Journal

The inflammatory phases of Atherosclerosis Abstract The inflammatory phases of Atherosclerosis Abstract IntroductionAimsRationale of the aimsRelated Abstract Aim This review describes recent investigations in to the impact of atherosclerosis on the vessel using four inflammatory stages eventually leading to cardiovascular complication. Research in to atherosclerosis has intensified globally as it has become one of the main reasons for increased mortality among individuals particularly within western societies. Inflammation has been established as the principal concept due to it stimulating progressive lesion development. As a result it is known as a chronic inflammatory disorder. Numerous cellular and molecular inflammatory mediators participate in the formation, development and rupture of the atherosclerotic plaque. Several experimental studies have demonstrated that monocyte- derived macrophages as well as T-lymphocytes are the most distinctive cells to accumulate within progressive plaques and induce the production of pro-inflammatory components, more recently, potential anti-inflammatory mediators have been identified in the inflammatory response. The rate of progressive plaque development varies in different types of people. Risk factors increase the development of this condition and promote the occurrence of physical symptoms on the patient. Conclusions (1) Inflammation attacks arteries systematically within phases and (2) the significance of the role of inflammatory molecules, linking inflammation to atherosclerosis. Introduction The management of cardiovascular diseases has significantly improved, however it is still not clearly understood as to why atherosclerosis remains the leading pathological cause of both morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Atherosclerosis is known to be a type of arteriosclerosis, but in addition to the hardening and narrowing of the arteries, cholesterol begins to deposit within their walls. It is a multifactorial disease which includes build up of atheromatous plaque and accumulation of more complex lesions within the arterial walls specifically in the intimal layer leading to the rupture of these vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques (Skjot-Arkil et al, 2010). This process is initiated in childhood and according to the results of PDAY   (pathobiological determinants of atherosclerosis in youth study), visible symptoms of atherosclerosis will occur between ages of 15-54 years (McGill et al.2007). Furthermore this disease can occur in both medium and large sized arteries including the aorta, carotid artery and even the smaller coronary arteries. Due to the fact that it affects multiple arterial locations, it can then lead to clinical diseases such as coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction. Jongstra et al. (2006) demonstrated that within the intima of VCAM-1 positive mice, local chronic inflammation predisposed to atherosclerosis. This provided further evidence to support previous studies that inflammation participates in the atherosclerotic process. Consequently, inflammation is progressively involved in the plaque formation, resulting in an inevitable stenosis (Vidal-Vanaclocha, 2009). Numerous epidemiological studies have revealed many risk factors that accelerate atherosclerosis development including age, male gender, obesity, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Moreover, a recent study (Holvoet et al, 2007) found that a positive correlation exists between an increased amount of oxidised LDL and the quantity of calcium built up in the coronary artery. Therefore showing that increased amount of oxidised LDL is a unique risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. The factors that facilitate this plaque formation are inflammatory mediators. As the endothelial cell is activated, this results in expression of many cell surface adhesion molecules including cytokines, chemokines, monocytes, immunoglobulins. These promote endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis as well as inducing foam cell formation with the assistance of macrophages. However, the functional mechanisms of cytokines in initiating and prolonging atherosclerosis are still not clearly un derstood. Aims To explore the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis To explore the mechanisms of inflammatory cell recruitment and accumulation within the plaque. To explore the function of various different mediators in this process, including both pro and anti-inflammatory mediators. Rationale of the aims To investigate the effects of the inflammatory cycle on arteries using atherosclerosis as the central condition. Hence, following the aims and objectives of the literature review, an overview of numerous meta-analyses of mediator involvement in this process is provided. This would be performed by reviewing the most relevant literature for the past five years using Pubmed, Science direct and Google Scholar. Table 1 Methodical reviews on the involvement of inflammatory components within the development of atherosclerosis. Type of component Mediator Experimental source Inflammatory effect Effect on Atherosclerosis Author, year Immunoglobulin ICAM-1 Human plasma Human aortic SMC Human aortic endothelial cells ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ Bielinski et al, 2008 Burton et al, 2009 Roth et al, 2007 Immunoglobulin VCAM-1 Human plasma Human aortic endothelial cells ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ Bielinski et al, 2008 Roth et al, 2007 Cytokine TNF-alpha APoE-/- mice ↓ ↓ Bhaskar et el, 2011 Cytokine IFN-gamma Human RNA ↑ ↑ Niedzielska and Cierpka, 2010 Cytokine M-CSF Human platelets ↑ Siezer et al, 2010 Cytokine IL-6 Human aortic endothelial cells Human Plasma APoE-/- mice ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ Roth et al, 2007 Hoshi et al, 2008 Bhaskar et al, 2011 Cytokine IL-1 (beta) Human aortic SMC APoE-/- mice ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ Burton et al, 2009 Bhaskar et al, 2011 Chemokine CXCL16 Human and murine   macrophages APoE-/- ↑ ↑ ↑ Lehrke et al, 2007 Wen-Yi et al, 2011 Chemokine CXCR6 Human and murine macrophages ↑ ↑ Lehrke et al, 2007 Ligand CD40 L Human umbilical vein endothelial cells ↑ ↑ Chakrabarti et al, 2010 Monocyte Protein MCP-1 Human aortic endothelial cellsAPoE-/- mice ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ Roth et al, 2007 Bhaskar et al, 2011 Toll-like receptor TLR-2 ↑ Doherty et al, 2006

How To Make Homemade Drain Cleaner

How To Make Homemade Drain Cleaner Why pay for expensive drain cleaners when you can apply chemistry to make the products yourself? Here is how to make homemade drain cleaner to unclog your drain cheaply and effectively. Homemade Drain Cleaner Method #1: Baking Soda and Vinegar The same chemical reaction that makes bubbles for the classic science fair chemical volcano can be used to loosen gunk from a slow drain. When baking soda and vinegar are mixed, carbon dioxide is produced. This agitates material in the clog, making it easier to flush away. Remove as much excess water as possible.Pour a liberal amount of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) into the drain. You can use half a box, if you like.Pour vinegar (weak acetic acid) into the drain. The reaction between the chemicals will produce bubbles.If you have a plunger, try to loosen the clog.Rinse with hot water.Repeat if desired. Mixing baking soda and vinegar is safe and non-toxic. The products are also easy to find and inexpensive, so if your drain is just slow rather than seriously clogged, its a good option to try. If no water is draining at all, you may need to break out the big guns. Drain Cleaner Method #2: Sodium Hydroxide The active ingredient in serious drain cleaner is sodium hydroxide or lye. If youre a true do-it-yourself type, you can actually make sodium hydroxide from the electrolysis of sodium chloride (table salt) in water. Another way to make lye is from ashes. You can purchase sodium hydroxide (also called caustic soda) at any hardware supply store.  Some commercial products also contain small metal flakes, which react with sodium hydroxide to produce hydrogen gas and a lot of heat. The heat helps melt greasy clogs. Fill a plastic bucket most of the way full with cold water. Sodium hydroxide can react with metal, so a glass bowl is fine too, but  dont use a metal pot.Add 3 cups sodium hydroxide. You can stir it with a plastic or wooden spoon. The mixture will fizz and heat up.Pour this solution into the drain. Let it work its magic for 30 minutes,Rinse with boiling water. Safety Information The sodium hydroxide dissolves organic material, like hair and grease. This is a highly effective chemical, but as with commercial drain cleaner, you need to follow safety instructions. Sodium hydroxide can burn your skin and evolve caustic vapors. So, wear gloves and avoid handling sodium hydroxide or putting unprotected hands in the water after adding this product. Make sure air circulation in the room is good and avoid using more product than you need.  While you could simply pour sodium hydroxide in your drain, its much safer for you and your plumbing to mix it with water first to dilute it. Not that you would, but dont drink it or leave it where children or pets might get into it. Avoid inhaling the fumes. Basically, follow the safety precautions listed on the container. Additional Tips A common problem with bathroom sinks, showers, and bathtubs is hair caught in the drain. Remove the drain and pull away any hair or other matter that has become trapped. If you havent tried it already, clear the U-shaped trap below the drain, Put a bucket under the drain and use a wrench to unscrew the trap from the plumbing. Shake it out or use an old toothbrush to push debris through the joint. Rinse it with water before screwing it back into place.

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 129

Assignment Example e policy focused on reallocation of resources to reflect market forces which was followed by reduction and removal of tariff protection in addition to corporatization and privatization of government business enterprises (Australia 1998). The microeconomic reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of industries and therefore impose competition (Gittins & Forsyth 2008). When more and more industries become efficient per unit production the costs will eventually be lowered (Gittins & Forsyth 2008). This will automatically results to increased profit made by the business. The main objective is to ensure that producers transfer and supply their resources to the industries that are efficient. This will see abandonment of those industries which are not using the resources efficiently. The implementation of the microeconomic reforms basing on the 5 sector flow model has seen sharper competition develop between lower and foreign investments. More and great incentives are now available for local investors to improve their productivity by reducing costs and seeking new markets (Gittins & Forsyth 2008). There is great openness to trade and many people are encouraged even to specialize in business. Moreover, prices of commodities have also lowered and things are much affordable to the domestic consumers. Competition in communication sectors has seen advancement since the reforms ended monopoly discrimination of single business (Gittins & Forsyth 2008). The microeconomic reform policies have one major advantage. It is upon individual businesses to come up with the best strategies to sell and overcome competitors. This has seen service delivery and quality of products improve. One of the shortcomings is conflict among competing business companies (Budget.gov 1998). The free business environment needs to have regulation. This will ensure there is respect among competing companied as far as competition is concerned. Australian microeconomic policy has a major

Compare and contrast between the philosophical thoughts of Booker T Essay

Compare and contrast between the philosophical thoughts of Booker T. Washington and W. E. B. Dubois - Essay Example He sympathized with the black community to accept discrimination until such time they had material wealth to sustain their struggle. Moreover, Washington argued that the problem of black people could only be solved through hard work that lead to economic prosperity (Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B DuBois). Furthermore, Washington believed in education of the black people. He understood that education was an important tool in harnessing craftsmanship, farming skills, and enterprise. He believed that if people were educated they would easily cultivated the virtues of patience and thrift. Washington argued that these values would help black people win over the respect to the whites and make them integrated in the society. Du Bois was a political philosopher and an intellectual who lived from 1868 to 1963. He disputed Washington ideas and argued that they would aggravate discrimination of the black people rather than deliver them from servitude. Instead of perseverance Du Bois pursued political agitation and civil movement agenda. He helped form the NAACP. Moreover, Du Bois argued that social change can only be brought about by the influence of black college and university students. Du Bois referred to student as’ the Talented Tenth’ (Karenga 368). Washington and Du Bois agreed on the role of education, but they differed on how it would help the black community. For Washington, education was all good for everyone. However, Du Bois argued that education would only help a small group of the talented youth. Therefore, educated secured the plight of students only (Karenga 369). This called for civil rights movement to secure the rights of other black people from the white’s supremacy. Washington was more compromising while he requested the whites to offers the black people jobs and education and in return give up the demand for social equality. On the other hand, Du Bois was a militant who overturned the philosophy of Washington to a halt and made it

Good will definition Essay Example for Free

Good will definition Essay An account that can be found in the assets portion of a companys balance sheet. Goodwill can often arise when one company is purchased by another company. In an acquisition, the amount paid for the company over book value usually accounts for the target firms intangible assets. Goodwill is seen as an intangible asset on the balance sheet because it is not a physical asset like buildings or equipment. Goodwill typically reflects the value of intangible assets such as a strong brand name, good customer relations, good employee relations and any patents or proprietary technology. Method: There are three methods of valuation of goodwill of the firm; 1. Average Profits Method 2. Super Profits Method 3. Capitalisation Method 1. Average Profits Method: This method of goodwill valuation takes the average profit of previous years as its basis. This average profit is multiplied by the number of purchases made in that year. Goodwill = Average Profit x Number of Purchases in the year Before calculating the average profits the following adjustments should be made in the profits of the firm: a. Any abnormal profits should be deducted from the net profits of that year. b. Any abnormal loss should be added back to the net profits of that year. c. Non-operating incomes eg. Income from investments etc should be deducted from the net profits of that year. Example: An Ltd agreed to buy the business of B Ltd. For that purpose Goodwill is to be valued at three years purchase of Average Profits of last five years. The profits of B Ltd. for the last five years are: Year| Profit/Loss ($)| 2005 | 10,000,000| 2006| 12,250,000| 2007| 7,450,000| 2008| 2,450,000 (Loss)| 2009| 12,400,000| Following additional information is available: 1. In the year 2008 the company suffered a loss of $1,000,500 due to fire in the factory. 2. In the year 2009 the company earned an income from investments outside the business $ 4,500,250. Solution: Total profits earned in the past five years= 10,000,000 + 12,250,000 + 7,450,000 2,450,000 + 12,400,000 = $ 39,650,000 Total Profits after adjustments = $ 39,650,000 + $ 1,000,500 $ 4,500,250=$ 36,150,250 Average Profits= $ 36,150,250à ·5=$ 7,230,050 Goodwill = $ 7,230,050Ãâ€"3=$ 21,690,150 Thus A Ltd would pay $ 21,690,150 as the price of Goodwill earned by B Ltd. 2. Super profits method: Super profit refers to a situation where in the actual profit is higher than what is expected. Under this method, Goodwill = super profit x number of years’ purchase Steps for calculating Goodwill under this method are given below: i) Normal Profits = Capital Invested X Normal rate of return/100 ii) Super Profits = Actual Profits Normal Profits iii) Goodwill = Super Profits x No. of years purchased For example, the capital employed as shown by the books of ABC Ltd is $ 50,000,000. And the normal rate of return is 10 %. Goodwill is to be calculated on the basis of 3 years purchase of super profits of the last four years. Profits for the last four years are: Year| Profit/Loss ($)| 2005 | 10,000,000| 2006| 12,250,000| 2007| 7,450,000| 2008| 5,400,000| Total profits for the last four years = 10,000,000 + 12,250,000 + 7,450,000 + 5,400,000 = $35,100,000 Average Profits = 35,100,000 / 4 = $ 8,775,000 Normal Profits = 50,000,000 X 10/100 = $ 5,000,000 Super Profits = Average/ Actual Profits − Normal Profits = 8,775,000 − 5,000,000 = $ 3,775,000 Goodwill = 3,775,000 Ãâ€" 3 = $ 11,325,000 3. Capitalisation Method: There are two ways of calculating Goodwill under this method: (i) Capitalisation of Average Profits Method (ii) Capitalisation of Super Profits Method (i) Capitalisation of Average Profits Method: As per this method, Goodwill = Capitalized Value the firm Net Assets Capitalized Value of the firm = Average Profit x 100/ Normal Rate of Return Net Assets = Total Assets External Liabilities For example a firm earns $40,000 as its average profits. The normal rate of rteturn is 10%. Total assets of the firm are $1,000,000 and its total external liabilities are $ 500,000. To calculate the amount of goodwill: Total capitalized value of the firm = 40,000 Ãâ€" 100/10 = 400,000 Capital Employed = 1,000,000 − 500,000 = 500,000 Goodwill = 500,000 − 400,000 = 100,000 (ii)Capitalisation of Super Profits: Under this method, goodwill is calculated as: Goodwill = Super Profit x 100/Normal Rate of Return For example ABC Ltd earns a profit of $ 50,000 by employing a capital of $ 200,000, The normal rate of return of a firm is 20%. To calculate Goodwill: Normal Profits = 200,000 Ãâ€" 20/100 =$ 40,000 Super profits = 50,000 − 40,000 = $10,000 Goodwill = 10,000 Ãâ€" 100 / 20 = $50,000 Partial Goodwill Method In the partial goodwill method, goodwill is calculated as the difference between the purchase consideration paid and the acquirers share of the fair value of the net identifiable assets. In partial goodwill method, only the acquirers share of the goodwill is recognized. Goodwill under full goodwill method exceeds goodwill under partial goodwill method by the non-controlling interest share of the goodwill. Partial goodwill method is not allowed under US GAAP but it is allowed as an option under IFRS (besides the full goodwill method). Goodwill under partial goodwill method differs from goodwill under full goodwill method only in situations in which investment by the acquirer is less than 100%. Example Lets follow the same example that we discussed in full goodwill method. Company A acquired 75% shareholding in Company B for $20 million. Book value of net identifiable assets of Company B is $14 million. The fair value of Company Bs asset is the same as their book value except accounts receivables which are impaired by $1 million. Book value of assets is $54 million while book value of liabilities is $40 million. The purchase consideration is the cash paid to acquire 75% ownership and it equals $20 million. Fair value of net identifiable assets is $13 million ($54 million book value minus $1 million on account if impairment in accounts receivable minus liabilities of $40 million). The acquirers share of the net identifiable assets equals 75% of $13 million which equals $9.75 million. Goodwill is hence $20 million minus $9.75 which equals $10.25 million. Company A will pass the following journal entry to record the business combination. Goodwill| $10.25 M| | Assets| $53 M| | Liabilities| | $40 M| Cash| | $20 M| Non-Controlling Interest| | $3.25 M| Non-controlling interest is calculated as 25% of fair value of net identifiable assets. It equals $3.25 ($13 million multiplied by 0.25). It can also be arrived at the balancing figure: (goodwill under full goodwill method + assets acquired − liabilities assumed − cash paid). Total goodwill under full goodwill method was $13.67 and non-controlling interest was $6.67 million. The difference is non-controlling interest in case of partial goodwill is only because in partial goodwill method the non-controlling interest share of goodwill is not recorded which equals $3.42 million (0.25 of ($26.67 minus $13 million)). Weighted average profit method This method of goodwill evaluation can be explained as a modified side of the he average profit method. This method involves the relevant number of weights, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4 multiples profit of each year so as to find out value product. The total of products is thereafter divided by the total of weights so as to calculate the weighted average profits. Goodwill = Weighted Average Profits x No. of years Purchase Weighted Average Profit = Total of Products of Profits/ Total of Weights EXAMPLE The profit of X Ltd. for the last five years and the corresponding weights are as follows. Calculate the value of goodwill on the basis of 3 years’ purchase of the weighted average profit. Solution: Weighted Average Profit = Rs. 21, 30,000 à · 15 = Rs. 1, 42,000. Value of Goodwill = 3 years’ purchase of weighted average profit: Rs. 1, 42,000 x 3 = Rs. 4, 26,000

Revelations and Parker?s Back Essay -- essays research papers fc

Revelations and Parker’s Back   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The story â€Å"Revelations† by Flannery O’Connor portrays the character of Ms. Turpin as a very hypocritical Christian. It’s absurd how obvious she is in her view of society; it could not be less unchristian like. Her opinions towards other people and their intelligence are Ms. Turpin’s greatest flaw. â€Å"Parker’s Back† also written by Flannery O’Connor is just the opposite of Revelations, Parker spends his entire life trying to fill a void that has grown so deep inside him it becomes unbearable. His continual dislike and downgrading of Christianity plays into his problems even more. The stories have very unique approaches, both of which prove to be very intriguing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The character of Ms. Turpin shows from the very start that she is going to encounter many problems as the story progresses. Her dislike for Negroes or as she referred to them as â€Å"niggers† and her constant distinction of social class ranking showed that she was not the Christian she claimed to be. When she talks about cotton she says â€Å"you can’t get the white folks to pick it and now you can’t get the niggers-because they got to be right up there with the white folk.â€Å" When she looked at herself she saw a very good Christian. She always congratulated herself on how she always helped everyone and was always there to take care of her slaves. Nevertheless she had hidden meaning for all of these; she only helped the slaves so that she co...

Grey Market

A  grey market  or  gray market  also known as parallel market  is the trade of a commodity through distribution channels which, while legal, are unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended by the original manufacturer. Unlike  black market  goods, grey-market goods are legal. However, they are sold outside normal distribution channels by companies which may have no relationship with the producer of the goods. Frequently this form of  parallel import  occurs when the price of an item is significantly higher in one country than another. This situation commonly occurs with electronic equipment such as  cameras. Entrepreneurs  buy the product where it is available cheaply, often at retail but sometimes at wholesale, and import it legally to the target market. They then sell it at a price high enough to provide a profit but under the normal market price. International efforts to promote  free trade, including reduced  tariffs  and harmonized national standards, facilitate this form of arbitrage  whenever manufacturers attempt to preserve highly disparate pricing. Because of the nature of grey markets, it is difficult or impossible to track the precise numbers of grey-market sales. Grey-market goods are often new, but some grey market goods are  used goods. A market in used goods is sometimes nicknamed a Green Market. The parties most concerned with the grey market are usually the authorized agents or importers, or the retailers of the item in the target market. Often this is the national subsidiary of the manufacturer, or a related company. In response to the resultant damage to their profits and reputation, manufacturers and their official distribution chain will often seek to restrict the grey market. Such responses can breach  competition law, particularly in the European Union. Manufacturers or their licensees often seek to enforce  trademark  or other  intellectual-property  rights against the grey market. Such rights may be exercised against the import, sale and/or advertisement of grey imports. In 2002,  Levi Strauss, after a 4-year legal fight, prevented UK supermarket Tesco  from selling grey market jeans. However, such rights can be limited. Examples of such limitations include the  first-sale doctrine  in the United States and the doctrine of the  exhaustion of rights  in the European Union. Manufactures power towards the Grey Market When grey-market products are advertised on  Google,  eBay  or other legitimate web sites, it is possible to petition for removal of any advertisements that violate trademark or copyright laws. This can be done directly, without the involvement of legal professionals. eBay , for example, will remove listings of such products even in countries where their purchase and use is not against the law. * Manufacturers may refuse to supply distributors and retailers (and with commercial products, customers) that trade in grey-market goods. * They may also more broadly limit supplies in markets where prices are low. Manufacturers may refuse to honour the warranty of an item purchased from grey-market sources, on the grounds that the higher price on the non-grey market reflects a higher level of service even though the manufacturer does of course control their own prices to distributors. * Alternatively, they may provide the warranty service only from the manufacturer's subsidiary in the intended country of import, not the diverted third country where the grey goods are ultimately sold by the distributor or retailer. This response to the grey market is especially evident in electronics goods. Identifying the Grey Market Product * Manufacturers may give the same item different model numbers in different countries, even though the functions of the item are identical, so that they can identify grey imports. * Manufacturers can also use batch codes to enable similar tracing of grey imports. Parallel market importers often de-code the product in order to avoid the identification of the supplier. In the United States, courts have decided that decoding which blemishes the product is a material alteration, rendering the product infringed. Parallel market importers have worked around this limitation by developing new removal techniques. * The development of  DVD region codes, and equivalent  regional-lockout  techniques in other media, are examples of technological features designed to limit the flow of goods between national markets, effectively fighting the grey market that would otherwise develop. This enables movie studios and other content creators to charge more for the same product in one market than in another or alternatively withhold the product from some markets for a particular time. ————————————————- Five reasons for not buying a grey market product ————————————————- ————————————————- The grey market holds a lot of attraction for a number of people looking for tech products. In many cases, it provides people with products that have not been officially released in their countries (consider the iPad) and in others, allows them to buy a product at a much lower rate – a grey market iPhone 3GS for instance comes for around Rs 28,000 as compared to its prim and proper counterpart, which costs in the vicinity of Rs 35,000. However, making a purchase from the grey market comes with its own set of pitfalls, some of which can be significant. Here’s a look at five of the biggest ones. 1. No assurance of authenticity:   No matter how well you know the dealer from whom you have bought the product, you have virtually any way of knowing that what you have got is a genuine, first-hand article. There is a chance that you might end up with a second-hand product that has been repackaged. 2. Absence of warranty and support:  Products purchased from the grey market are not covered by official warranty and support. So the Lord help you if something goes wrong with it – you will have to head right back to the grey market to get it repaired, without any assurance whatsoever that things will be fine. 3. No updates:  In the case of many grey market products, software updates are simply not possible. You therefore run the risk of not getting the latest improvements the company might have made to a product. Many people using pirated versions of Windows have been unable to install the special packages Microsoft released for the software. 4. Limited functionality:  A number of products will work only with limited functionality if you purchase them from â€Å"unofficial† sources. For example, those who have purchased their PS3 from the grey market might have trouble playing games online. 5. No receipt:  A grey market purchase being not strictly legal, you are unlikely to get a proper receipt for your product, which effectively prevents you from showing it in your accounts, when you head to the taxman to show your revenues and expenses. The Darker Shades of the Grey Market The grey market has long been an issue for manufacturers and their retailers, but the problem has grown exponentially because of the Internet. The simple definition of the grey market is â€Å"the sale of products by unauthorized dealers, frequently at discounted prices. † Grey market worries go way beyond the scuba industry. It is a global issue for manufacturers as large as Sony, Hewlett-Packard and Xerox, and a major worry for retailers as sophisticated as Best Buy. It is also a problem within numerous industries, some of which you wouldn't guess. For example, broadcasting has its grey market resellers of Dish Network and DIRECTV. And consider the wine business — for marketing purposes wine is sold for much less money in parts of Europe. Because of the price disparity it is possible to buy wine from an authorized distributor, say in France, and resell it in the United States, often for less than the wholesale price of a U. S. authorized distributor. No, the scuba equipment industry is not uniquely paranoid. You are not alone in your concernsGrey market goods are not necessarily illegal, so some ask, â€Å"What is the harm, especially when consumers can benefit from lower prices? † The answer is that the grey market undermines normal distribution channels. It does this in a number of ways. The most obvious is that products that are diverted to unauthorized resellers usually end up competing with a manufacturer's legitimate dealers with substantially lower prices. This devalues the products, reduces everyone's profits, and alienates the manufacturers' dealers. It also puts the manufacturers' network of dealers, and thus the manufacturers' future distribution, at risk. Pricing is a big issue. The argument that lower prices benefit consumers is grossly incorrect. In a service business the grey market winds up hurting everyone, including the consumer. As price cutting gets out of hand and retailers have to compete with price their margins suffer. Consider that, as a general rule, a 10 percent reduction in a retailer's gross profit requires the retailer to sell to 50 percent more customers to earn the same profit dollars. In a specialty business like scuba that increase is near impossible to achieve. The grey market puts the business of the legitimate dealers in jeopardy. That pressure goes up the line to the manufacturers who are forced to watch their dealer base dwindle, and/or make concessions to dealers to help them compete. Then manufacturer margins suffer. In diving, many companies work on slim net margins, so when the gross margins suffer†¦. Let's put the price and margin factors aside for a moment. Another large issue is that since manufacturers have no control over unauthorized dealers, products and brands can be devalued not just from (the consumer's perception that results from the) low pricing, but because of negative issues surrounding consumer protection, product integrity, service and warranties, and recall notifications. In short, when a manufacturer loses control of its distribution, negative consumer experiences can damage the goodwill and reputation of a brand. And finally, a manufacturer's product pricing structure includes its costs for marketing, promotion, product research and development, product liability and regulatory compliance. Although unauthorized resellers benefit from selling the products, they do not contribute to these expenses. It's a very important consideration that for consumers, the scuba business is as much about service as it is about equipment. The service component becomes such a tangible part of every product's retail price. The profit represents no less than your consumers' access to this sport. And anyone who thinks that price is the pressing issue for our customers doesn't understand the importance of service in the consumer's perception of a product's value. In other words, in this business consumers expect retailers to supply them all of the other (including the social) aspects of the sport. Of course, there's a limit to that loyalty when it's tested by low grey market prices. In short, anyone who thinks that the grey market's lower prices are good for consumers is wrong. It's a Tactical Issue Unauthorized dealers acquire products in a number of ways. In scuba, as in the wine example above, much of the product comes from overseas, where favorable exchange rates or pricing structures make America an attractive market. Unauthorized dealers also work to acquire product from sources within the authorized dealer network. I would like to emphasize again that people in the diving business tend to see their industry as paranoid, too provincial, too protective of retailers. But you are not. In fact, in all industries afflicted by the grey market, concerned manufacturers use a number of tactics to fight those sales. In the electronics industry, for example, Sony and many others won't honor the warranty on products bought through the grey market. The U. S. division of Nikon goes further. They will only service products that are purchased through an authorized retailer. It declines grey-market repairs even if a customer is willing to pay for them. Another lever that manufacturers use is the threat of prosecution of trademark laws to restrict advertisements for the products. So when grey market products are advertised on Web sites it is possible to petition for removal of advertisements that violate trademark or copyright laws. Our business, Net Enforcers, has been helping companies combat grey-market distribution of their wares. We understand the darker sides of the grey market because we work in a number of industries for some very large companies like Samsung and Sony as well as for many of the manufacturers in the scuba industry. The companies hire us as a private police force to monitor Web sites for illegal use of product photography, copyrighted product descriptions, trademark logos and branding material. We also look for false or fraudulent statements of warranty or statements to the effect that the manufacturer supports the product they sell. We're the plumbers, finding leaks in the distribution pipes through sophisticated methods of investigation. When we find sites that we suspect are illegitimate, we issue takedown notices, a method of copyright enforcement that compels Internet service providers to pull suspected copyright infringements. The purpose of this piece is to explain the problem that the grey market has become in many industries and why you are right to be concerned about it, and to encourage your industry to continue working to keep it in check. This s especially critical because the dive business is so safety- and service-oriented, and its retailers create diving's customers. It's why maintaining the integrity of brands, products and pricing requires an especially strong commitment to stay within the proper distribution channels. PRESENCE OF GREY MARKET: Grey Market is present in many industries. Some of them are: * Automobiles * Cell phones * Computer games * Pharmaceuticals * Pianos * Photographic equipm ent * Broadcasting * With securities * IPO * Electronics * Textbooks

Hong Kong

What about Hong Kong? If we explore the culture of Hong Kong through the lens of the 5-D Model, we can get a good overview of the deep drivers of its culture relative to other world cultures. Power distance This dimension deals with the fact that all individuals in societies are not equal – it expresses the attitude of the culture towards these inequalities amongst us. Power distance is defined as the extent to which the less powerful members of institutions and organisations within a country expect and accept that power is distributed unequally.At 68 Hong Kong has a high score on PDI – i. e. a society that believes that inequalities amongst people are acceptable. The subordinate-superior relationship tends to be polarized and there is no defense against power abuse by superiors. Individuals are influenced by formal authority and sanctions and are in general optimistic about people’s capacity for leadership and initiative. Individualism The fundamental issue addr essed by this dimension is the degree of interdependence a society maintains among its members.It has to do with whether people? s self-image is defined in terms of â€Å"I† or â€Å"We†. In Individualist societies people are supposed to look after themselves and their direct family only. In Collectivist societies people belong to ‘in groups’ that take care of them in exchange for loyalty. At a score of 25 Hong Kong is a collectivist culture where people act in the interests of the group and not necessarily of themselves. In-group considerations affect hiring and promotions with closer in-groups (such as family) are getting preferential treatment.Whereas relationships with colleagues are cooperative for in-groups they are cold or even hostile to out-groups. Personal relationships prevail over task and company. Communication is indirect and the harmony of the group has to be maintained, open conflicts are avoided. Masculinity / Femininity A high score (masc uline) on this dimension indicates that the society will be driven by competition, achievement and success, with success being defined by the winner / best in field – a value system that starts in school and continues throughout organisational behaviour.A low score (feminine) on the dimension means that the dominant values in society are caring for others and quality of life. A feminine society is one where quality of life is the sign of success and standing out from the crowd is not admirable. The fundamental issue here is what motivates people, wanting to be the best (masculine) or liking what you do (feminine). At 57 Hong Kong is a somewhat masculine society –success oriented and driven. The need to ensure success can be exemplified by the fact that many will spend many hours at work.Service people (such as hairdressers) will provide services until very late at night. Another example is that students care very much about their exam scores and ranking as this is the main criteria to achieve success or not. Uncertainty avoidance The dimension Uncertainty Avoidance has to do with the way that a society deals with the fact that the future can never be known: should we try to control the future or just let it happen? This ambiguity brings with it anxiety and different cultures have learnt to deal with this anxiety in different ways.The extent to which the members of a culture feel threatened by ambiguous or unknown situations and have created beliefs and institutions that try to avoid these is reflected in the UAI score. At 29 Hong Kong has a low score on uncertainty avoidance. Adherence to laws and rules may be flexible to suit the actual situation and pragmatism is a fact of life. The people in Hong Kong are comfortable with ambiguity; the Chinese language is full of ambiguous meanings that can be difficult for Western people to follow. They are adaptable and entrepreneurial. Long term orientationThe long term orientation dimension is closely rel ated to the teachings of Confucius and can be interpreted as dealing with society’s search for virtue, the extent to which a society shows a pragmatic future-oriented perspective rather than a conventional historical short-term point of view. With a score of 96 Hong Kong is a highly long term oriented society in which persistence and perseverance are normal. Relationships are ordered by status and the order is observed. People are thrifty and sparing with resources and investment tends to be in long term projects such as real estate. Traditions can be adapted to suit new conditions.

The change essays

The change essays Some examples of bureaucracy in the United States are: the International Revenue Service, which collects taxes from citizens. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, which looks into crimes for American citizens. The Postal Service, which delivers mail to citizens and the Health Care Financing Administration, which reimburses states fro money, spent on health care for the poor. An Iron Triangle is the relationship among an agency, a committee and an interest group. For example the Department of Veterans Affairs is a triangle made up of the house and Senate committees on Veteran Affairs and Veterans organizations. These three would make up a strong alliance with each other. The department would do what the committee wanted them to do and in return get political support and budget appropriations and the committee would do what the department wanted and in return get votes and campaign contributions. The Department of Housing and Urban Developing is also and Iron Triangle because it works closely with mayors and real-estate agents. Another example of this is the Department of Agriculture, which works closely with form agencies. The Small Business Administration works closely with congress and loan programs that make it so strong that even the most popular President cannot beat them. The Federal Communications Commission works with broadcasters and heads of cable-television companies. They however are feeling the pressure of separate demands coming from both the television guys as well as the broadcasters. The common government agency today is not an iron triangle but an issue network. An issue network consists of people in Washington based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media who regularly debate government policy on a certain subject. The networks are split along political, ideological, and economic lines. ...

Gallimimus Facts and Figures

Gallimimus Facts and Figures Name: Gallimimus (Greek for chicken mimic); pronounced GAL-ih-MIME-us Habitat: Â  Plains of Asia Historical Period: Late Cretaceous (75-65 million years ago) Size and Weight: About 20 feet long and 500 pounds Diet: Unknown; possibly meat, plants and insects and even plankton Distinguishing Characteristics: Long tail and legs; slender neck; wide-set eyes; small, narrow beak About Gallimimus Despite its name (Greek for chicken mimic), its possible to overstate how much the late Cretaceous Gallimimus actually resembled a chicken; unless you know many chickens that weigh 500 pounds and are capable of running 30 miles per hour, a better comparison might be to a beefy, low-to-the-ground, aerodynamic ostrich. In most respects, Gallimimus was the prototypical ornithomimid (bird mimic) dinosaur, albeit a bit larger and slower than many of its contemporaries, such as Dromiceiomimus and Ornithomimus, which lived in North America rather than central Asia. Gallimimus has been featured prominently in Hollywood movies: its the ostrich-like creature seen galloping away from a hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex in the original Jurassic Park, and it also makes smaller, cameo-type appearances in various Jurassic Park sequels. Considering how popular it is, though, Gallimimus is a relatively recent addition to the dinosaur bestiary. This theropod was discovered in the Gobi Desert in 1963, and is represented by numerous fossil remains, ranging from juveniles to full-grown adults; decades of close study have revealed a dinosaur possessing hollow, birdlike bones, well-muscled hind legs, a long and heavy tail, and (perhaps most surprisingly) two eyes set on opposite sides of its small, narrow head, meaning that Gallimimus lacked binocular vision. There is still serious disagreement about the diet of Gallimimus. Most theropods of the late Cretaceous period subsisted on animal prey (other dinosaurs, small mammals, even birds venturing too close to land), but given its lack of stereoscopic vision Gallimimus may well have been omnivorous, and one paleontologist speculates that this dinosaur may even have been a filter feeder (that is, it dipped its long beak into lakes and rivers and snatched up wriggling zooplankton). We do know that other comparably sized and built theropod dinosaurs, such as Therizinosaurus and Deinocheirus, were primarily vegetarians, so these theories cant easily be dismissed!

Global business venture Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Global business venture - Research Paper Example The battery life is the same 10 hours as of it predecessor. This iconic tablet is available in two colours, black or white, and supports HDMI output using a separate cable. It has front-facing cams with the traditional rear camera and a few cool accessories offered first time by Apple (Apple iPad, 2012). Till now, the product has been launched in many different counties but not in Japan. The other products of Apple have been successfully launched in Japan previously. Therefore Apple Incorporation is now planning to introduce iPad 2 in Japan. For this purpose government, political and economic analysis was carried out. Japans government is a constitutional monarchy and has a parliamentary government. Sovereignty, previously embodied in the emperor, is vested in the Japanese people, and The Emperor is the symbol of the state with sovereignty bestowed to the people of the country. Cabinet composes of Prime Minister and State Ministers and holds the executive power. The members of the cabinet must all be civilians and the power to appoint and remove state minister lies with the prime minister. The judiciary here is independent, with judicial system being drawn from civil law, customary law and Anglo-American common law. The final judicial authority is with the Supreme Court, though there are several levels of courts. The Japanese constitution includes a bill of rights similar to the U.S. Bill of Rights, and the Supreme Court has the right of judicial review. The court verdicts are made in accord with legal statutes. Since the 1980’s Japan has faced political instability. To put Japan back on the path of vibrant growth, the nations tax system was changed; there was a cut in corporate tax and a hike in sales tax, to escape sovereign debt crisis. There were a few other changes in government policies to attract investors towards Japan which had given positive outcomes (Takenaka, 2010). The free-market economy of Japan is the third-largest economy in

Oil and gas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Oil and gas - Essay Example The employee’s team will be enticed through the promises of better hours, bonuses and the additional perks. This will ensure that the employees are always motivated and thus they will not leave the company for better payment. Zz company will also prevent the live company from outweighing them by ensuring that they will not handle the main areas of their concern.zz company will handle themarketing,geographical,exploration and production by offering the competitive salary to employees,encouranging growth, open channel of communication, promoting balance,moltivating and engaging employees. The zz employees will not leave their job for the better salary because the company will ensure the personal career growth of all the employees. The company will offer a career advancement opportunity for all the employees through guiding them and placing them in their areas of specialization. This will help the employee to understand that they are much appreciated and it will even attract the employees from the live company to come and be employed by the zz company. The open channels of communication will encourage the employees in the zz company and they will feel more involved in the operations of the zz company. The zz company will develop a good communication channels and network between the employees and the decision makers which will make the employees to feel that they have a big role in the company. This will ensure that the employees are much connected with the management and it will build the credibility and trust between the employees and the company. The zz company will motivate and engage all the employees in the company’s affairs and they will be able to realize that their effort in t he company are realized. This will build a strong relationship which will ensure that the live company does not take advantage of