The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald - 1331 Words

Wilma Rudolph, an American track and field sprinter, once said, â€Å"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us† (â€Å"Wilma Rudolph Quote.†). The Great Gatsby starts off with the narrator Nick Carraway who is a nice young gentleman from the Midwest. He moves to the Midwest where he meets his neighbor James Gatz also know as, Jay Gatsby. Jay throws many lavish parties for Daisy, his longtime love that left him before the war. Gatsby sets up a tea date for Daisy at Nick’s house where Gatsby stops by. This leads to many days of Daisy stopping by and hanging out with Gatsby. Daisy never fully commits to Gatsby, but she gets his hopes up as long as it lasts. Her husband Tom has had many affairs with other women. One day Tom, Daisy, Nick, Gatsby, and Daisy’s friend, Jordan all go to the Plaza Hotel. Things get heated and Daisy leaves wit h Gatsby and accidently runs over Tom’s mistress, Myrtle. Tom tells, Myrtle’s husband, George that Gatsby was the one who killed Myrtle. He goes to Gatsby’s house and kills him then kills himself. The story ends with only three people showing up to Gatsby’s funeral and Nick moving back to the Midwest. In William Faulkner’s novel, The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby is great. Gatsby is a great man because he is optimistic and passionate about Daisy. Today ladies dream of a guy that is as passionate about them as Gatsby is about Daisy. SomeShow MoreRelatedThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald1393 Words   |  6 PagesF. Scott Fitzgerald was the model of the American image in the nineteen twenties. He had wealth, fame, a beautiful wife, and an adorable daughter; all seemed perfect. Beneath the gilded faà §ade, however, was an author who struggled with domestic and physical difficulties that plagued his personal life and career throughout its short span. This author helped to launch the theme that is so prevalent in his work; the human instinct to yearn for more, into the forefront of American literature, where itRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1343 Words   |  6 PagesHonors English 10 Shugart 18 Decemeber 2014 The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald s 1925 novel The Great Gatsby is a tragic love story, a mystery, and a social commentary on American life. The Great Gatsby is about the lives of four wealthy characters observed by the narrator, Nick Carroway. Throughout the novel a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby throws immaculate parties every Saturday night in hope to impress his lost lover, Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby lives in a mansion on West Egg across from DaisyRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Gatsby The Jazz Age was an era where everything and anything seemed possible. It started with the beginning of a new age with America coming out of World War I as the most powerful nation in the world (Novel reflections on, 2007). As a result, the nation soon faced a culture-shock of material prosperity during the 1920’s. Also known as the â€Å"roaring twenties†, it was a time where life consisted of prodigality and extravagant parties. Writing based on his personal experiences, author F. ScottRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1166 Words   |  5 Pagesin the Haze F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in a time that was characterized by an unbelievable lack of substance. After the tragedy and horrors of WWI, people were focused on anything that they could that would distract from the emptiness that had swallowed them. Tangible greed tied with extreme materialism left many, by the end of this time period, disenchanted. The usage of the literary theories of both Biographical and Historical lenses provide a unique interpretation of the Great Gatsby centered aroundRead MoreThe Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald845 Words   |  3 PagesIn F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, colors represent a variety of symbols that relate back to the American Dream. The dream of being pure, innocent and perfect is frequently associated with the reality of corruption, violence, and affairs. Gatsby’s desire for achieving the American Dream is sought for through corruption (Schneider). The American Dream in the 1920s was perceived as a desire of w ealth and social standings. Social class is represented through the East Egg, the WestRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald Essay970 Words   |  4 Pagesrespecting and valuing Fitzgerald work in the twenty-first century? Fitzgerald had a hard time to profiting from his writing, but he was not successful after his first novel. There are three major point of this essay are: the background history of Fitzgerald life, the comparisons between Fitzgerald and the Gatsby from his number one book in America The Great Gatsby, and the Fitzgerald got influences of behind the writing and being a writer. From childhood to adulthood, Fitzgerald faced many good andRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald2099 Words   |  9 Pagesauthor to mirror his life in his book. In his previous novels F. Scott Fitzgerald drew from his life experiences. He said that his next novel, The Great Gatsby, would be different. He said, â€Å"In my new novel I’m thrown directly on purely creative work† (F. Scott Fitzgerald). He did not realize or did not want it to appear that he was taking his own story and intertwining it within his new novel. In The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, he imitates his lifestyle through the Buchanan family to demonstrateRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1607 Words   |  7 Pages The Great Gatsby is an American novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald. One of the themes of the book is the American Dream. The American Dream is an idea in which Americans believe through hard work they can achieve success and prosperity in the free world. In F. Scott Fitzgerald s novel, The Great Gatsby, the American Dream leads to popularity, extreme jealousy and false happiness. Jay Gatsby’s recent fortune and wealthiness helped him earn a high social position and become one of the mostRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1592 Words   |  7 PagesMcGowan English 11A, Period 4 9 January 2014 The Great Gatsby Individuals who approach life with an optimistic mindset generally have their goals established as their main priority. Driven by ambition, they are determined to fulfill their desires; without reluctance. These strong-minded individuals refuse to be influenced by negative reinforcements, and rely on hope in order to achieve their dreams. As a man of persistence, the wealthy Jay Gatsby continuously strives to reclaim the love of hisRead MoreThe Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1646 Words   |  7 PagesThe 1920s witnessed the death of the American Dream, a message immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. Initially, the American Dream represented the outcome of American ideals, that everyone has the freedom and opportunity to achieve their dreams provided they perform honest hard work. During the 1920s, the United States experienced massive economic prosperity making the American Dream seem alive and strong. However, in Fitzgerald’s eyes, the new Am erican culture build around that

Othello, By William Shakespeare - 931 Words

Perhaps the most interesting and exotic character in the tragic play Othello, by William Shakespeare, is Honest Iago. Through some carefully thought-out words and actions, Iago is able to manipulate others to do things in a way that benefits him and moves him closer toward his goals. He is the main driving force in this play, pushing Othello and everyone else towards their tragic end. Iago is not your ordinary villain. The role he plays is rather unique and complex, far from what one might expect. Iago is smart. He is an expert judge of people and their characters and uses this to his advantage. For example, he knows Roderigo is in love with Desdemona and figures that he would do anything to have her as his own. Iago says about Roderigo, Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. [Act I, Scene III, Line 355] By playing on his hopes, Iago is able to swindle money and jewels from Roderigo, making himself a substantial profit, while using Roderigo to forward his other goals. He also thinks quick on his feet and is able to improvise whenever something unexpected occurs. When Cassio takes hold of Desdemona s hand before the arrival of the Moor Othello, Iago says, With as little a web as this will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. [Act II, Scene I, Line 163] His cunning and craftiness make him a truly dastardly villain indeed. Being as smart as he is, Iago is quick to recognize the advantages of trust and uses it as a toolShow MoreRelatedOthello, By William Shakespeare957 Words   |  4 Pagesinnocent person kills himself while not knowing the truth. The best example of that would be the play Othello by the great William Shakespeare. As little as a handkerchief could make a difference if it is a symbol for something. In the play Othello by Shakespeare, handkerchief is first introduced by Othello to his beautiful mistress, Desdemona, as a sign of their love. At the end of the play what gets Othello to take extreme measures by the location of the handkerchief. As the symbol of the handkerchiefRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1599 Words   |  7 Pages William Shakespeare’s 16th century play Othello is a duplicitous and fraudulent tale set alternatingly between Venice in act 1, and the island of Cyprus thereafter. The play follows the scandalous marriage between protagonist Othello, a Christian moore and the general of the army of Venice, and Desdemona, a respected and intelligent woman who also happens to be the daughter of the Venetian Senator Brabantio. Shakespeare undoubtedly positions the marriage to be viewed as heroic and noble, despiteRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1218 Words   |  5 PagesIn a historical time period where emphasis was shifting from religion to race and ethnicity, key indicators of differences that perpetuated into racial prejudice and racial ideologies are evident in Othello by William Shakespeare. Although racism was not fully formed at this moment in history, Othello can be interpreted as a representation and an exploration of this shift in ideology. In the past, before this change to ward racial differences, religion was the major segretory factor in signifyingRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare894 Words   |  4 Pagesthose that which occurred in Othello written by William Shakespeare. Throughout the play Othello, we see the struggles of a marriage that is not accepted by their society. Othello is a extremely cherished black general living in a primarily white community. The play begins with Othello secretly becoming married to a white woman named Desdemona. This reasons others who are white to become angry and excuse to dislike this black man further more than they already do. Othello is a downward spiral from loveRead MoreOthello by William Shakespeare790 Words   |  3 PagesThroughout Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello makes numerous poor decisions due to his jealousy. Hitting Desdemona, trusting Iago, and killing Desdemona are among a few of the poor decisions that he makes. The word jealous can be defined as feeling or showing suspicion of som eones unfaithfulness in a relationship. Othello feels suspicious of Desdemona’s and Cassio’s relationship because of the lies that Iago tells him. Many people try to tell Othello the truth but he only believes the wordsRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1923 Words   |  8 Pagesdissatisfaction or complication is shown. Firstly in Othello love is presented as ephemeral and transient while atonement love is presented as unrequited and finally in cat on a hot tin roof love is presented as painful and troublesome due to unreciprocated feelings. The tragic plot of Othello hinges on the potential of the villain, Iago, to deceive other characters, above all Roderigo and Othello, through encouraging them to misinterpret what they see. Othello is prone to Iago s ploys seeing that he himselfRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare941 Words   |  4 Pageswas Williams Shakespeare’s play Othello which depicts the tragedy of Othello, a Morris Captain. What is different about Shakespeare play is that the tragic hero is the black Othello and the villain a white Iago. Therefore, Shakespeare depiction of Othello as a tragic character and Iago as a villain, challenges Elizabethan’s stereotypes regarding individuals of African descent. Shakespeare challenges the stereotypical â€Å"type –casting of the black man† in Elizabethan society by depicting Othello asRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1152 Words   |  5 Pages‘Othello’ was a tragedy of incomprehension at the deepest level of human dealings as no one in the play came to an understanding of himself or any of the surrounding characters. The play ‘Othello’ by William Shakespeare focused on tragedy through the anguish of the main character ‘Othello’ which lead to the suffering and death of numerous characters including himself. Appearance Vs. Reality challenged human dealings within the play ‘Othello’ as no-one came to see anyone’s true self and no-one seesRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1178 Words   |  5 Pagesprofitable in condition of good and immorality. Othello is presented as good and Iago as evil, but Iago and Othello’s relationship also shares a distrust of their wives. The overall logical argument is based on love, jealousy and betrayal between two lovers that ultimately leads to their separation because of Iago’s evil plan. I am using this article to agree with Berry s view on how Iago separates two lovers just so he can take retaliation on Othello by manipulating everyone to unmasking their trueRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1825 Words   |  8 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s plays transcends time and is renowned for their captivating plots and complex characters. Othello by William Shakespeare is a tragedy play that portrays major themes such as racism, manipulation, and jealousy just to name a few. Throughout the whole play, these themes are represented through the conniving character from the play, Iago. Out of all the plays Shakespeare has written, Iago is believed to be the most complex villain of all times. During the play, Othello, a black

Decision Making and Favorite Poem free essay sample

My absloute favorite poem we studied was â€Å"The stone† The way Wilfrid Wilson Gibson tells about the sorrow a woman goes through after the loss of her loved one is unmatched by anyone else. My third and final favorite poem was â€Å"Song† by Garcia Lorca. â€Å"Song† tells of â€Å"The girl of beautiful face† who â€Å"goes gathering olives†. The way Lorica paints a picture of content in the girl is what strikes me most about this poem. Many eligible men come by to take her away to their country. â€Å"Four rides on Andalusian ponies [say] come to Cordoba, lass†. But â€Å"the girl pays no heed†. Man after man comes to bring her home but she does not accept. This is because she is happy where she is, and she does not need anyone to make her feel content. I also liked the way the author uses personification, he writes â€Å"with gray arm of the wind encircling her waist†. We will write a custom essay sample on Decision Making and Favorite Poem or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Here he implies that the wind can grab the girls waist, when in fact that is not true. The author also uses free verse because there are no patterns in his writing. His writing sounds more like a paragraph then a poem to me. My second favorite poem was â€Å"Ordinance On lining Up† by Naomi Lazard. This is due to the message behind Lazards words. I believe that the authors message in the poem is that people have to make many life altering changes in their life. Each decision, a metaphorical â€Å"path† they have to take, each have their perks and each have their downfalls. An example of this is â€Å"In joining the line to the right you ill end life as a beggar. If you decide on the line to the left everything you believe will become nonsense†. I also liked the use of metaphor in this poem. In fact, this whole poem is a metaphor. There are two lines, one on the right and one on the left. The author is saying you must make a decision, and comparing the decision to two lines. She uses free verse in her writing. This poem is written like a paragraph that has been cut at random places. There are sentences that end in the middle of lines, and there are sentences that go for more then two lines. The reason I liked this liked this poem is because I could relate to it closely. Every day I must make big decisions and small ones. Which ever way I choose, I will never know the outcome of the other one, but that is the risk we take getting out of bead in the morning. One of the biggest decisions I have had to make so far is whether go to go to Stuyvesant or go to the high school next to my house. They both had positives and negatives. Stuyvesant was farther away from my home, and is a much harder school that would require much more focus and work. The other school was ten minutes from my house and would not be as taxing on my brain. Although I could relate to this poem greatly, the message behind is was very obvious and did not require much thinking. Because of this it was only my second favorite poem out of the sixteen we studied. The poem which intrigued me the most was the first poem we studied, â€Å"The Stone† by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson. This poem was my favorite simply because of the use of language and visual imagery. An example of this is, â€Å"three days before, a splintered rock had struck her lover dead† this quote paints a picture of death in my mind that is unlike any other sentence I have read before. Another reason I loved this poem so much was the way Gibson shows you the lovers feeling of sorrow after the death of her loved one. The author states, â€Å"She did not sigh nor moan. His mother wept: She could not weep. Her lover slept: She could not sleep. Three days, three nights, She did not stir: Three days, three nights, Were one to her, Who never closed her eyes From sunset to sunrise, From dawn to evenfall, Her tearless, staring eyes,That, seeing naught, saw all. This shows how the heart reacts to devastating news. She was in such shock and sorrow that she could not even bring herself to cry. Among the other poetic devises used, I epically like the way the author uses personification, â€Å"The two of us were chiselling, Together, I and Death. † The author uses the word death so freely, it almost makes me feel like death is such a common thing. Through Gibsons use in language, visual imagery and overall feel of the poem, he has created a timeless masterpiece.

The Aboriginal People Of Newfoundland Bibliography Grabowski, Jan. Lec

The Aboriginal People of Newfoundland Bibliography Grabowski, Jan. Lecture His 2401, October 4, 1996. Email address: Howley, James Patrick. The Beothuks or Red Indians: The Aboriginal Inhabitants of Newfoundland. University of Cambridge Press., Cambridge, England. Marshall, Ingeborg. History and the Ethnography of the BeothukMcGill)Queens University Press.: 1996, Canada. Marshall, Ingeborg C.L.. Reports and Letters by George Christopher Pulling: Relating to the Beothuk Indians of Newfoundland Breakwater Books.: 1989, St.John's, Newfoundland. Marshall, Ingeborg. The red Ochre People: How Newfoundland'sBeothuk Indians Lived. J.J. Douglas Ltd.: 1977, Vancouver. Rowe, Frederick W.. EXTINCTION: The Beothuks of Newfoundland McGraw)Hill Ryerson Limited.: 1977, Toronto. The Beothuk people of Newfoundland were not the very first inhabitants of the island. Thousands of years before their arrival there existed an ancient race, named the Maritime Archaic Indians who lived on the shores of Newfoundland. (Red Ochre Indians, Marshall, 4.) Burial plots and polished stone tools are occasionally discovered near Beothuk remains. Some people speculate that, because of the proximity of the artifacts to the former lands of the Beothuk, the Maritime Archaic Indians and the Beothuk may have been related. It is not certain when the Beothuk arrived on the island. In fact little is actually known about the people, compared to what is known about other amerindian civilisations, only artifacts and stories told by elders tell the historians who these people really were. Some speculate that they travelled from "Labrador to Newfoundland across the strait of Belle Isle, which at one time was only 12 miles wide. By about 200 AD the Beothuk Indians were probably well settled into Newfoundland."(Red Ochre, 8) The Beothuk were not alone on Newfoundland wither. The Dorset Eskimos, who came from Cape Dorset regions of the north around 500 BC also shared the island. They presumably had contac t with the Beothuk, exchanging tools or engaging in battle. In any case the Dorset Indians died out leaving Newfoundland empty to the control of the Beothuk people who now had no enemies and a wide vast territory. The Beothuk, although part of the Algonkian family developed their own language and culture. The 400 words that are still known from their language prove their Algonkian heritage. The development of their culture was a great success. The success of the Beothuk people as a whole was in part because of their skills in fishing, hunting and travel. They were the "only amerindian group to navigate on the high seas."(Grabowski lecture Oct 4,`96.) This was because of the construction of their canoes. Normally paddling on the high seas is dangerous, but Beothuk canoes were so designed to with stand high waves and stay accurately on course. The canoes "were made of a frame work of spruce and then covered with birch bark."(Red Ochre, 9) They curved high at the sides and a sharp bott om acted as a keel. The high sides protected as a barrier from wave swamping the boat. Because of hunting expeditions on the Funk islands, 60 kilometres from shore, ocean travel was evident and sea worthiness was essential. The knowledge of these canoes is only from documents produced by explorers and early settlers, all that is left of the original canoes are models of canoes found in burial sites. "The Beothuk were a migratory people..."(Red Ochre, 14) they moved with the seasons and with the hunt. In fall they hunted caribou inland, in spring seals on the coast, the summer months seafood and birds eggs were harvested. The fall hunt was the most important, as it would determine their success in surviving the winter months. The Beothuk followed the patterns of migration of the caribou and laid out large traps of fallen trees along the river banks. Trees would be left leaning against their stumps creating a triangle to the ground. The trees would be piled one over the next and so on and produced a "thicket that the caribou could not penetrate or jump over."(Red Ochre, 15.) Trapping the caribou in the water was the objective as " the animals could not move quickly in the water."(Red Ochre,15.) Indian people of North America have been called "red skins" for many years. This expression comes from the european settlers who arrived in Newfoundland and were met

Ecstasy and Memory Impairment Neurological Correlation

Ecstasy and Memory Impairment Neurological Correlation Introduction The three articles chosen for analysis focus on the neurological correlation between ecstasy and memory impairment; one by Simon and Mattick (2001) assessed the relationship between ecstasy use and memory impairment. The second one by Zakzanis Young (2001) dwelt on memory impairment in abstinent MDMA users over one year. Lastly, a study done by Bolla et al. (1998) focused on memory impairment in abstinent ecstasy users.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Ecstasy and Memory Impairment Neurological Correlation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Biological psychology methodology Simon and Mattick (2001) used a correlational analysis to determine whether a relationship exists between prolonged ecstasy use and memory function. The researchers were also interested in comparison of this memory function with that of regular cannabis users. Therefore, this research method revolved around establishment of a r elationship, definition of what the relationship was and how strong it was. This was a cross sectional study because the researchers sampled the population and studied all the concerned measured at one point. Although the researchers were interested in analyzing the effect of prolonged usage of MDMA, they did not measure level of drug use for a prolonged period of time. The authors recorded the histories of the participants and collected information about their average lifetime drug use and psychological well being. They tested their memory function using standardized tests. All these variables were collected using structured interviews. Bolla et al. (1998) utilized an experimental approach in their analysis. They focused on a control group that did not use MDMA (drug-naà ¯ve participants) and one that used the drugs. They measured their memory scores and then compared the results. This allowed them to establish whether a cause and effect relationship existed between ecstasy drug u se and memory impairment. The authors carried out a retrospective study. Zakzanis Young (2001) used a longitudinal approach in their analysis. Such an approach is quite sensible because it minimizes the effect of past difference in memory functioning. This method allowed the authors to show the causal direction of effects. During a twelve month period, participants were analyzed twice for memory functions and only MDMA users were employed. Strengths and weaknesses of the biological hypotheses The key strength with the research conducted by Simon and Mattick (2001) is that it acknowledges the possibility of cannabis as a confounding factor and thus analyses it. Possibilities of the effect of other drugs such as alcohol were considered, as well. Additionally, the researchers tried to narrow down the demographic variation and lifestyle differences between the test and comparison groups by focusing on members of the same age group.Advertising Looking for research paper on healt h medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These researchers also studied the psychological robustness of the subjects in order to ascertain that the variable would not interfere with memory functioning. The key weakness in this study is the fact that it is a correlational study in which the test subjects are subjected to a series of other confounding factors. Consequently, one cannot determine cause and effect relationship unless all the possible variables that affect memory are controlled. First, this experiment uses subjects with different memory capabilities. No analysis of the subjects was done prior to their use of cannabis or ecstasy in order to determine their previous memory scores. This should have been compared with their current memory status (after prolonged ecstasy use) in order to determine whether there was any change. Furthermore, only average ecstasy dosage levels were considered for the entire group, yet individual consumption variations do exist. Some people may take 30 tablets of ecstasy a month while others may only take two. Education plays a vital role in one’s performance during memory tests. Persons with tertiary education are more likely to remember certain things that those without it. This study did not acknowledge that difference, and randomly selected test subjects. Lastly, the researchers did not consider the effect of lifestyle in patterns of use. Ecstasy is a drug that is associated with the ‘rave’ culture while cannabis is not. People who engage in prolonged dancing and are sleep deprived may report relatively low scores in memory tests, so this should have been considered. The critical problem with Bolla et al. (1998) was that they allowed the control subjects to have experimented with other drugs. They claimed that this was only fair since members of the test group also used other drugs. Instead of incorporating two confounders, the scientists should have tried to eliminate the use of other recreational drugs from both subjects. If this was impossible, then they should have included prior recreational drug use in the regression analysis. Another major problem that was also noted in the previous study was failure to measure underlying memory function differences between the control group (non MDMA users) and the test group. No incorporation of lifestyle differences between the control and test subjects was also made. One of the vital strengths of this study was that it included the effect of drug dosage levels during the analysis. It also considered other demographic factors such as age, gender and vocabulary use. Furthermore, the effect of MDMA dosage concentrations on memory concentrations also validated their claims.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Ecstasy and Memory Impairment Neurological Correlation specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Zakzanis Young (2001) research was advantageous because it was longitudinal, so it eliminated problems with differences between the test subjects. Additionally, it used participants within the same age group; that is, 17- 31. Education level was also considered as all had to have at least 14 years worth of education. Since these factors were incorporated in the analysis, then the possibility of confounding factors in memory scores was eradicated. Additionally, because the study only focused on ecstasy users, then there was no need to include lifestyle differences between the test subjects. The major challenge with this study was that the sample size was small; only 15 participants were employed in the study. In addition, no reference was made to psychological factors that could have affected the test subjects in the past; this may have impeded their memory during the study. Assessment of the research findings conclusion Simon and Mattick (2001) found that there was no correlation between me mory impairment and regular MDMA use. However, they found an association between lifetime cannabis use and memory impairment. They explained that cannabis has a confounding role in other tests that measure memory impairment and MDMA use. One may question these findings because adjustments for lifestyle differences between cannabis and MDMA were not done. Failure to incorporate other confounding factors such as education level, age and memory capabilities before the study also place doubt on these findings. Bolla et al. (1998) found a strong relationship between memory impairment and drug use. However, the challenges in proving a cause and effect relationship in studies of memory impairment were not overcome in this paper. No consideration for recall differences was done and no incorporation of lifestyle variations was included in the research, so one might question these findings. Zakzanis Young (2001) found that continued ecstasy use led to a decline in delayed recall. One may cou nt on this research because its design was the least problematic among the three. The authors eliminated inaccuracies that stem from lifestyle variations, and preexisting memory differences between non MDMA users and MDMA users. Besides these, problems with sample size can easily be corrected. Study plan The study plan under consideration will be a correlational longitudinal study. It will be longitudinal because such studies allow authors to study effect patterns over long periods of time. They can authoritatively make cause and effect correlations owing to these patterns.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This study design was borrowed from the one done by Zakzanis Young (2001). It will use correlational analysis because a group that will possess the characteristics under analysis will be compared with one that does not have these characteristics, and a conclusion will be made. The latter correlational section is similar to Simon and Mattick (2001). Hypothesis The hypothesis of the research is â€Å"The lifestyle of MDMA users causes memory deficits†. Many analysts acknowledge that ecstasy users have an exclusive way of life that is not found among other drug users. These individuals often engage in prolonged dancing and visual stimulation. Users may lack sleep and may eat minimal quantities of food. These are all factors that may affect how a person’s memory functions. Few researchers have considered this factor in their research, let alone use it as the main research variable. Only a a small number have tried to exclude its confounding effects from their findings. Co nsequently, the line of research is worth pursuing. How to design a study to verify the hypothesis The research will involve 50 individuals. All participants will be MDMA users, but 25 of them will have a relatively dormant lifestyle while the other 25 will have a lifestyle that is identified with ecstasy users. The study will last for a period of one year, and the memory scores of test subjects will be measured at the beginning of the study and at the end of it. A longitudinal analysis of memory functioning will be done for these two groups and their t-test values compared. If the group with the typical ecstasy lifestyle has higher declines in memory than the one without the active lifestyle, then the hypothesis will be confirmed (refer to the section above for the hypothesis statement). Independent and dependent variable The hypothesis will provide a guideline on the dependent and independent variables in the study. First, the dependent variable is memory decline or memory deficit s while the independent variable is the lifestyle of MDMA users. People who manifest this lifestyle will be persons who lack sleep and food due to dancing and participation in the rave subculture. Those who do not possess this quality will belong to the control group. How to assure validity of the research In order to ensure validity in the research, it will be imperative to avoid most of the pitfalls that researchers in this field often fall into. First of all, the research will employ a longitudinal analysis that will eliminate the problem of comparing separate groups of people whose previous memory scores were not known. The paper will not compare discrete memory scores between the control and the test group; instead, it will look at the patterns of memory decline in these two separate groups. This will eradicate any possible psychological factors that may alter individual memory scores among these groups. Another method for ensuring validity will be to use participants of the sa me age group, gender and educational background. Such an approach would eliminate possible confounding effects on memory. Additionally, since prior drug use of other recreational drugs may affect outcomes, it will be imperative to include these in the correlational analysis. Characteristics of drug use will also be included in the calculations so as to preclude the effect of this exposure on the dependent variable. Criteria for conducting the study safely and ethically Only participants who give informed consent will be used in the research. They will be informed about the purpose of the research, procedures involved and the duration. Furthermore, their identities will remain anonymous, and those who feel uncomfortable with any of the research procedures will be excused. The matter under analysis is MDMA drug usage. Since this substance has neurological effects, then no participants will get the substance from the researcher. It would be unethical to subject participants to biologic al harm through this avenue. Consequently only those individuals who take MDMA out of their own accord will be considered for the research. During analysis of the results, findings will be used as is. In other words, no manipulation of outcomes will take place in order to confirm or nullify the hypothesis. Acceptable data analysis techniques will be used in order to come up with the most accurate results. References Bolla, K., McCann, M. Ricaurte, G. (1998). Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA (Ecstasy) users. Neurology Journal, 51(6), 1532-1537. Simon, N. Mattick, R. (2001). The impact of regular ecstasy use on memory function. Addiction Journal 97, 1523-1529. Zakzanis, K. Young, D. (2001). Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA (Ecstasy) users: a longitudinal investigation. Neurology Journal, 56, 966-969.

The Link Between Racism and Depression

The Link Between Racism and Depression Several studies have shown a link between racial discrimination and depression. Racism victims not only suffer from bouts of depression but from suicide attempts as well. The fact that psychiatric treatment remains taboo in many communities of color and that the healthcare industry is itself perceived to be racist exacerbates the problem. As awareness is raised about the link between racism and depression, members of marginalized groups can take action to prevent discrimination from taking a toll on their mental health. Racism and Depression: A Causal Effect â€Å"Racial Discrimination and the Stress Process,† a 2009 study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that a clear link exists between racism and depression. For the study, a group of researchers gathered the daily journal entries of 174 African Americans who’d earned doctorate degrees or were pursuing such degrees. Each day, the blacks who took part in the study were asked to record instances of racism, negative life events generally and signs of anxiety and depression, according to the Pacific-Standard magazine. Study participants reported incidences of racial discrimination during 26 percent of the total study days, such as being ignored, denied service or overlooked. Researchers found that when participants endured episodes of perceived racism â€Å"they reported higher levels of negative affect, anxiety, and depression.† The 2009 study is far from the only study to establish a link between racism and depression. Studies conducted in 1993 and 1996 found that when members of ethnic minority groups make up small portions of a population in an area they are more likely to suffer from mental illness. This is true not only in the United States but in the United Kingdom as well. Two British studies released in 2001 found that minorities living in majority-white London neighborhoods were twice as likely to suffer from psychosis as their counterparts in diverse communities. Another British study found that minorities were more likely to attempt suicide if they lived in areas lacking ethnic diversity. These studies were referred to in the Fourth National Survey of Ethnic Minorities in the UK, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2002. The national survey measured the experiences that 5,196 persons of Caribbean, African and Asian origin had with racial discrimination in the past year. Researchers found that study participants who had endured verbal abuse were three times more likely to suffer from depression or psychosis. Meanwhile, participants who’d endured a racist attack were almost three times as likely to suffer from depression and five times more likely to suffer from psychosis. Individuals who reported having racist employers were 1.6 times more likely to suffer from a psychosis. High Suicide Rates Among Asian-American Women Asian-American women are particularly prone to depression and suicide. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has listed depression as the second leading cause of death for Asian American and Pacific Islander women between the ages of 15 and 24, PBS reported. What’s more, Asian American women have long had the highest suicide rate of other women that age. Asian American women age 65 and older also have the highest suicide rates for elderly women. For immigrants in particular, cultural isolation, language barriers and discrimination add to the problem, mental health experts told the San Francisco Chronicle in January 2013. Moreover, Aileen Duldulao, lead author of a study about suicide rates among Asian Americans, has said that Western culture hyper-sexualizes Asian American women. Hispanics and Depression A 2005 Brigham Young University study of 168 Hispanic immigrants living in the United States for an average of five years found that those Latinos who perceived that they were targets of racism had sleep disturbances, a precursor to depression. â€Å"Individuals who have experienced racism could be thinking about what happened the previous day, feeling stressed about their ability to succeed when being judged by something other than merit,† said Dr. Patrick Steffen, lead study author. â€Å"Sleep is the pathway through which racism affects depression.† Steffen also conducted a 2003 study that linked perceived episodes of racial discrimination to a chronic rise in blood pressure.

Employee Recruitment Proposal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Employee Recruitment Proposal - Assignment Example Considering the elaborate nature of activities of the company, this proposal seeks to request for hiring of more employees in order to boost efficiency and hence productivity of the company. The Need for Additional Employees There have been many complaints from employees about being assigned too many tasks. The employees are overworked and have a feeling that the company should employ more personnel to ease the current work burden. Employees have grown weary of putting too much effort on overtime. Besides, when critically evaluates the amount of money the company spends in paying dues for overtime performance, it is undisputable that the ultimate solution would be hiring additional staff, which will even help the company to cut down its operation costs. Hiring more employees is undoubtedly the best solution the problems facing the company. Hiring more workers would lower the present work burden on employees and increase their efficiency (Mathis & Jackson, 2011). By having a reasonabl e number of employees in the company, the output per work will greatly increase. The inefficiencies realized in the organization are as a result of strain by employees to get work done (Kleynhans, 2006). Because they are covering even for activities, which are supposed to be handled by other personnel who unfortunately have not been recruited, the workers have been complaining of stretching their efforts beyond reasonable limits to help attain organizational objectives. Coupled with the emphasize of meeting deadlines, it is quite challenging to achieve high standards in task performance when there is still a state of imbalance between the workforce of Beautiful & Handsome and its demanding tasks. From the company’s statistics, the average number of hours worked by employees in the past two financial periods is far much lower when compared with the first quarter of this fiscal year. For example, in the first six months of 2010/2011 financial period, the average hours worked by employees (200) was eight hours a day. This was the year when the company realized high production levels and hence high profits. When this is compared to the first six months of the trading period 2011/2012, the average working hours of employees is thirteen hours a day. This can indicate how strained the employees are and how they are overburdened with work. From the past performance records of the company, this is indeed the cause of high levels of inefficiency and low productivity in the company. Hiring new workers is crucial for the success of the organization. Besides easing off work burden from old employees, it will ensure inflow of new talents and skills into the company. Recruiting new employees will open avenues for hiring highly qualified personnel, who are crucial for the success of the organization. Hiring of new workers with adequate experience may reduced training costs and brings in innovative culture in the company thus providing a source of competitive advantage over rivals in the market. Employee Recruitment Budget The company should establish a recruitment program that contains budget estimates of money that is likely to be used in the recruitment process. The recruitment budget for twenty employees, it would cost around $ 2000 to $ 5500 per employee, factoring in all the expenses that are likely to

Case Analysis Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Analysis - Case Study Example One of the few complaints that have become too regular in the operations of Fresh Direct is the customer claim that products are not sufficiently fresh upon delivery. Online grocery services are still an extremely small market sector in comparison to the massive physical stores that dominate the industry (Hand et al., 2009), so it is vital that Fresh Direct address every possible weakness with the appropriate correction measures. The business obtains, stores, sorts, and delivers items through a detailed process that has been extensively researched to minimize the time until delivery and to keep appropriate products refrigerated as needed. Accordingly, it is possible that the actual freshness is not the problem. Instead, customer perspectives may be biased because they cannot actually touch and physically examine their food prior to purchase, as many shoppers are accustomed to do (Cho, 2011). Fresh Direct can provide daily updates from factory employees that describes the items in the physical terms that shoppers would normally check in person. This addition to the website may ease consumer concern about receiving products that are not sufficiently

Factors affecting the activity of enzymes Essay Example for Free

Factors affecting the activity of enzymes Essay Factors affecting the activity of enzymes Aim: to investigate the factors affecting the activity of enzymes. Factors: The factors that could possibly affect the activity of enzymes are: Temperature: rate of reaction increases as temperature increases. Concentration of enzyme: rate of reaction increases as concentration of enzyme increases. pH: extremes of pH denature enzymes. Surface area: rate of reaction increases as surface area increases. Inhibitors: if there are any impurities, then they will restrict the rate of the reaction. Key Factor: I will be using temperature as a variable, and keeping all other factors constant. Therefore, testing temperature as the key factor. Prediction: I believe, that as the temperature of the starch and amylase increases, as will the rate of the reaction. However, once the optimum temperature is reached, the amylase will stop working. Hypothesis: The reason I believe that as the temperature of the starch and amylase increases, as will the rate of the reaction, is because of the collision theory. The collision theory tells us, that the more the solution is heated, the more the particles inside vibrate. Therefore, if the different particles are vibrating a lot more, it means that they will collide a lot more, and so the reaction will occur a lot faster. So in the case of the experiment we will be doing; the higher the temperature of the starch and amylase, the more these particles will vibrate and collide, and so the faster the amylase will be broken down. I also believe, that once an optimum temperature is reached, the amylase will stop working. This is because, above a certain temperature, enzymes, being proteins are denatured (change shape), and so can no longer combine with the substances. Fair Test: In order to make this a fair test, the following things must be taken into account: Ensure that the volumes of amylase and starch are constant. Ensure that the pH levels of the starch and amylase are the same. Ensure that all the apparatus are totally clean, i. e. have no impurities. Ensure that the temperature of the solutions remain the same as planned. Ensure that the temperatures of the water baths and ice bath are kept as constant as possible. Ensure that the starch and amylase solution is kept in the water bath in between each 30-second gap, so as to ensure a constant temperature throughout. Method: Two test-tubes, one filled with 5mg of starch suspension, and one filled with 5mg of amylase solution, are both put into a tub of ice. Whilst these are left inside the tub to cool down, droplets of iodine solution are put in each cavity of the spotting tray. Once the temperatures of the starch and amylase solution have become constant, then they are mixed together, and a droplet of this solution is then added to the first cavity of iodine. The test-tube is then put back in the ice tub, and then every 30 seconds, another droplet of the solution is added to a different cavity of iodine, until the purple colour that should appear, has disappeared. The time taken for the purple colour to disappear, is then recorded. When the purple colour disappears, it means that the amylase has totally broken down the starch. The same process is then repeated, but in water baths, with temperatures of 30? C, 50? C, and one is also done in room temperature. Everything is then repeated once more, and the average times for each temperature are calculated. Diagram: Apparatus: The following apparatus will be used in the experiment: 3 water baths tub pipette 2 syringes 2 beakers 2 test-tubes spotting tray thermometer test-tube holder Results: Temperature (i C) 0i C 20i C 30i C 50i C Time Attempt 1 450secs 270secs 180secs 210secs taken for Attempt 2 480secs 300secs 180secs 210secs starch to Average 465secs 285secs 180secs 210secs disappear 1/T 1/465secs 1/285secs 1/180secs 1/210secs Graph: Conclusion: To a certain extent my hypothesis was correct, but there still were some unforeseen results. For example, I mentioned in my hypothesis that as the temperature of the starch and amylase increases, as will the rate of the reaction. As the graph shows, the rate of reaction did increase as the temperature increased, but only to a point; after 30? C, the rate of reaction began to decrease. However, in my hypothesis, I mentioned that once a high enough temperature is reached, the amylase would stop working. This of course was incorrect, because once it reached 30? C, the amylase did not stop working, it just became less efficient. One thing I noticed whilst looking at the results table, was that as the temperature increased by 10? C, the rate of reaction doubled. This would explain why the graph increases steadily at the beginning, and then starts to steeply increase. Errors and Improvements: Some of the results may have been inaccurate, due to the 30-second range in between each time another droplet is added to a cavity of iodine. This could have been improved upon, by making it only a 5-second range for example, because the exact time when the starch disappears would be closer to the time recorded than with a 30-second range. An example as to why a couple of the results may not have been proportional, is when the starch and amylase were put in the ice tub. It is very unlikely that the solutions would have reached 0? C and remained constant. This could have been improved upon, by putting the solutions in a freezer instead, because it would keep to the same temperature throughout. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Patterns of Behaviour section.

God is Pantheistic Essay examples -- Literary Analysis, Epictetus

Epictetus’s god is pantheistic Because his teachings can be interpreted in different ways, Epictetus’s view of god is unclear. It is unclear whether Epictetus’s god is a pantheistic god who is one with the universe or whether his god is a personal god that answers prayers and watches over his people like the god of monotheism. While there is little doubt that Epictetus views god as all powerful and all good, I will argue that his texts also indicate that Epictetus views god as a pantheistic god possessing none of the defining characteristics of a personal god. There is a significant difference between what Epictetus means by being all good and what monotheism defines as all good. What monotheism defines as all good is perfect morals while Epictetus defines the true nature of good as intelligence, knowledge, and right reason (Discourses 8:2). According to Epictetus, the true nature of good cannot be found in irrational creatures such as animals and plants. Rather, it can only be found in what is rational (Discourses 8:3). Only what possesses rationality can have the true nature of good and since the true nature of god is where the true nature of good is, one can only conclude that the true nature of god is rationality (Discourses 8:1). Epictetus’s god does not merely possess these qualities, but he is goodness, he is rationality itself. That is the defining difference between the good of Epictetus’s god and that of a personal god. The texts make it clear that Epictetus sees god as all powerful. He describes god as being the artificer of the universe and that no one could possibly possess power equal to god (Discourses 6:10, 14:11). This could be interpreted as a personification of god because being an â€Å"artificer† and the ab... ...e of ourselves, but simply to preserve ourselves as nature intended (Discourses 8:23). Epictetus’s god is not a caring, personal god as a cursory glance at the texts might have someone believe. While at first glance it may seem as though Epictetus’s god appears to be a personal god, a closer look at the texts reveal that his god is a pantheistic one who is not at all like the personal god of monotheism. His god is one with the universe and the true essence of his god is the rationality of intelligence, right reason, and knowledge while a personal god is a separate entity from the world but cares and watches over from above. Although both Epictetus’s god and the personal god of monotheism are both all good and all powerful, they are so in very different ways. Epictetus’s god is clearly a pantheistic god possessing none of the traits which define a personal god.

Latvia and Great

Due today : Outline the answers to the following questions: Thesis: Before Peter the Great, Russia was more of an Asian nation than a European nation. A. Give one argument to support this statement B. Bullet two ways by which Peter the Great tried to westernize Russia C. Name one territory he gained for Russia D. Explain one reason why Catherine the Great was interested in extending her empire to the Black Sea. A. Before Peter the Great, Russia was more of an Asian nation than a European nation. a. i. Before Peter the Great, no Russian had the courage to even try to convertRussia into an westernized, European nation. When Peter the Great acquired power, he improved the Russian army, remodeled the social and economic structure of Russia and conquered territory towards Sweden to gain access to the Baltic Sea. B. Peter the Great tried to westernize Russia by: a. i. Applying European culture, including: clothing and life style and even forcing men to shave their long beards. a. ii. Impro ving: industry, military, housing, trading, manufacturing and agriculture by more taxes. C. Peter the Great gained many territories from 1700 to 1721.Peter the Great led Russia in a war against Sweden. From this war, Russia gained control over territory along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. This land gave Russia a direct approach by water to the rest of Europe. Peter attacked Persia and conquered territory along the Caspian Sea. These conquests helped Russia to expand its trade with other countries. D. Catherine the Great was interested in extending her empire towards the Black Sea because: a. i. She wanted to continue the expansionist policies of Peter the Great and conquer the black sea in order to please Russia's demands of sought warm ports.

Compagnie du Froid Analysis Essay

Memorandum Campagnie Du Froid is a summer ice-cream business founded in 1985 by the father of Jacques Truman. In 2007, after the passing of his father, Jacques Truman took over the business and emphasized an aggressive growth strategy. By 2009, Campagnie Du Froid was a market leader in the eastern part of France, northeastern coast of Spain, and northern Italy. Each region had its own manager and the main headquarters was located in Paris. Jacques believed decentralizing the decision making as much as possible. Each region had its own manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales organization. The central office took care of accounting, developing of new products, and sharing of learning experiences across the regions. Each year Jacques met with the regional managers to discuss a profit plan for each region. The profit plans laid out regional goals for the upcoming year and were used as a tool to monitor performance. During the summer months, a profit statement every two weeks was generated and sent to Jacques in order to detect any major problems. The France region is run by Jean Pinoux and had performed exceptionally well in 2009 with profits above budget and sales increasing by 20% from the previous year. Jean had stumbled across a new source of revenue in which he helped deliver packaged food for regional producers using the company’s refrigerated trucks. The incremental cost to provide the service was very low and was seen by Jean as a simple way to increase revenue. Jacques was surprised by Jean’s new initiative, but acknowledged the profit potential in the distribution business. Pierre Giraux is the manager of the Italian region. The 2009 sales goals were met and Pierre had expanded business into most of the western Italian coast, but suffered from higher wages and lower efficiency than expected, which hindered performance of the region. Andres Molas is the manager of the Spanish region and his performance had been outstanding up until 2009. There had been many problems that sprung up in 2009 causing the performance of the Spanish region to decline. The first  problem was the new machines weren’t working correctly until late August which caused them to run out of capacity several times. The Spanish division had to import product from the French division at a transfer price of full cost plus 5% profit for the manufacturer. On top of that, the Spanish division had to absorb expenses of people traveling to France to fit the Spanish packaging to the French production line. Lastly, there were unseasonably cold temperatures that had driven down tourism and demand. As a result, Andres had to cut prices in order to stimulate demand and keep with competition. Traditionally, each manager was given the same bonus of 2% of corporate profits, but the results in 2009 challenged the fairness of this evaluation system. The Spanish region performed extremely poor and had driven down company’s profits to the lowest it’s been in ten years. Jacques thought it was unfair for the French and Italian managers to pay for the problems of the Spanish region but wasn’t sure Andres Molas was to blame for the poor results. Jacques Truman needs to make many decisions regarding the evaluation and performance of each region. In order to properly evaluate the difference between the expected profit versus the actual profit in the Italian region, a causal analysis was conducted on the Italian region. The causal analysis in Exhibit 1 allowed us to better understand the Italian business. First, we evaluated the impact of the change in sales volume. The sales volume variance (Flexible budget in Euros – Static Budget in Euros) produced a sales variance of â‚ ¬119 for Ice Cream sales and â‚ ¬34 for Specialty sales; this represented a profit variance of â‚ ¬58. While the sales volume variance is important, it is also important to understand the amount of sales growth that is attributed to the temperature change versus actual performance of the business. There was â‚ ¬19 worth of growth strictly from the change in temperature between both ice cream sales and specialty sales. The profit side of the causal analysis resulted in a â‚ ¬8 variance attributed to the temperature change and a â‚ ¬5 0 variance related to performance which resulted in a total volume for profit increase of â‚ ¬58. The change in prices also had an impact on the Italian region’s expected and actual profit because the â‚ ¬7 total sales variance  represented an increase of â‚ ¬7 profit for the actual profit. The â‚ ¬7 variance was calculated by the favorable â‚ ¬20 variance for ice cream sales and an unfavorable variance of â‚ ¬13 for specialty sales (â‚ ¬20-â‚ ¬13=â‚ ¬7). This proves that the Italian region can charge slightly more for their ice cream sales given the increase in demand, while the increase in demand of the specialty product could be more attributed to the decrease in price. Overall, the change in pricing came out to make a positive impact on the Italian region’s profit. The cost of raw materials impacted the actual profit through the price variance and the quantity variance of the direct materials. Using the level 3 analysis, it was determined that the price variance was favorable â‚ ¬46 and the quantity variance was unfavorable â‚ ¬17 which represented a flexible budget variance of favorable â‚ ¬29. This impacts the profit because the Italian region was very efficient with their costs of direct materials, but the Italian region came up short in their manufacturing efficiencies as they experienced an unfavorable quantity variance of â‚ ¬17. An overall favorable flexible budget variance of â‚ ¬29 represents a positive impact on the profit for direct materials. The cost of labor impacted the actual profit through the rate variance and the efficiency variance of the direct labor. Using the level 3 analysis, it was calculated that there was an unfavorable rate variance of â‚ ¬2 and an unfavorable efficiency variance of â‚ ¬11. This impacts the profit because the Italian region paid more for their labor than expected, which turned into an unfavorable variance of â‚ ¬2; this variance is related to the changes in the prices of labor. Also, the Italian region was not as efficient with their labor forces which showed in the unfavorable efficiency variance of â‚ ¬11; this is related to the labor efficiency of the workforce. Overall, the impact of the direct labor was negative to the profit as the Italian region was both inefficient and paid more per labor hour than estimated. The fixed costs impacted the actual profit by having an unfavorable variance of â‚ ¬20. This shows that the Italian region was slightly less cost conscious with some of their fixed costs and this negatively impacted the profit. After considering all of the different components of the profit of the Italian region through a causal analysis, the Italian region experienced a favorable variance of â‚ ¬58 on their overall profit. The manager of the Italian region should be evaluated relative to multiple criteria to gain a holistic view of his region’s performance. In order to compare the three regions together, causal analyses were performed for each region, see Exhibits 1-3. The first crucial measure should be sales growth, and this goes for all regions, not just the Italian region. Sales growth year-over-year is crucial to any business because businesses become more expensive to run as time goes on due to inflation. It is best to look at sales quantities relative to changes in price because if you were to just look at changes in quantity sold, the manager could steeply decrease the price just to make his or her performance look stronger. The next crucial measure should be price and quantity variance. Price variance shows how strong of a negotiator a manager is with suppliers, which can result in huge cost savings. Quantity variance shows how efficient workers are in producing products. A favorable qu antity variance evidences workers are not creating much scrap, and therefore are saving money. Another key indicator of manager performance is labor efficiency variance because it shows how productive workers are when producing product. A strong labor efficiency variance shows that the manager is staying on top of workers and demanding consistently strong performance from them. We do not believe that much weight should be put on labor rate variance because the manager often has little control due to unionization and government regulations within the area of operation. The above measurements of effectiveness of the Italian region and more specifically, the Italian manager can be found in Exhibit 1 which breaks down the relevant variances in determining the appropriate evaluation of the Italian manager. The more specific-scope variances mentioned are shown in Exhibit 6. All of the above tie into the bigger picture variances, which are the flexible-budget variance and the sales-volumes variance, which are shown in Exhibit 5 for Italy in 2009. These then roll into the static-budge t, which determines if a manager met the profit plan for the region, which is shown in Exhibit 4 for Italy in 2009. This gives a rather vague view, and can sometimes distort how a manager truly performed unless the variances that roll into it are investigated further. Both the manager of the French region and Spanish region should be judged on  similar criteria as the Italian region manager besides a few small nuances that France and Spain have in their operations. All of the measurements mentioned above in analyzing the Italian region manager’s performance should be used for France and Spain, as these measurements provide the same value no matter the region. A causal analysis for both France and Spain were conducted and can be found in Exhibits 2 and 3, respectively. For France, the more specific scope variances, flexible-budget and sales-volume variances, and the static-budget variance are shown in Exhibits 9, 8 and 7, respectively. For Spain, the more specific scope variances, flexible-budget and sales-volume variances, and the static-budget variance are shown in Exhibits 12, 11 and 10, respectively. France’s revenue from distribution should be taken out of all variance analyses it is considered in because the other regions do n ot have this service in place, and it would distort the view of relative performance. Also, France’s revenue should not include the 5% markup for transferring product to Spain because this is an intercompany sale and is not based on France’s customer demand but instead is based on Spain’s. We believe it is therefore necessary to remove the 5% markup from the purchase price for Spain because this will cause a heavily unfavorable price variance for direct materials. We feel that it is best to instead take this as a qualitative judgment in the manager’s performance in the sense that sales are outpacing inventory. It can also be noted that competitors have generally shown to steeply decrease market prices when demand weakens, but we feel this is best to account for qualitatively instead of through what seems to be an arbitrary measure of change in sales relative to temperature. It should be the regional manager’s job to address the decrease in the demand instead of have it be excused due to temperature change. In evaluating performance, it can be noted that the conditions did not allow for demand as strong as in other regions, but should not allow for a manager’s performance to be comparable to a region with widely stronger sales. Please note the standards used for Compagnie du Froid are listed in Exhibit 13. Based on our analysis of each of the regions’ performance for the year of 2009 and other important information, we believe that Italy’s regional manager did the best job. First and foremost, the region exceeded profit  expectations are set forth in the profit plan, as shown in Exhibit 6. Italy also earned favorable variances relative to both the flexible-budget variance and the sales-volume variance. The more specific-scope variances were strong as well with the only major weakness being in the quantity variance for ice-cream, but the strength of the other variances outweighs this one significant weakness that can easily be improved through training or overall experience. The direct labor efficiency variance is the only relatively weak variance, however Mr. Trumen noted that new machines were causing labor efficiency issues. It was mentioned that this was included in the profit plan already, however it can be expected that this variance will fluctuate until the equipment begins running normally. Revenue growth also exceeded expectations, which as mentioned earlier, is key to growing any business and maintaining positive cash flows. There are three main problems that Jacques Truman appears to be facing. The first problem involves whether or not to change how much each manager receives as a bonus. Each manager’s bonus is currently calculated at a fixed 2% of corporate profits but after the poor performance of the Spanish division during 2009 has Jacques considering new ways to evaluate each manger’s bonus. Jacques is considering whether to link each manager’s bonus to a performance measure such as a profit plan, revenue growth, or some overall economic measure of results. A second problem is how to calculate transfer pricing from one division to another. The Spanish division was charged full cost plus a 5% profit margin from the French division. Andres Molas believed this was way too much for a transfer price and in turn made his division look bad. Jacques needs to decide for current and future purposes on how to handle transfer pricing in case of a similar event happening again. The third problem involves whether or not to allow Jean Pinoux of the French division to continue providing the distributing services to regional food producers. Jean claims the distributing services add extra revenue with very little incremental cost. Jacques needs to decide whether Jean’s claims of the distributing services are true. After careful analysis of all three problems, we’ve developed some recommendations for Jacques Truman to consider. Our first recommendation involves implementing a new way to calculate the performance bonuses managers receive at the end of  each year. We don’t believe that every manager should simply receive 2% of corporate profits. Each manager’s performances can be measured by a variety growth metrics and budget variances while also taking qualitative factors into consideration. The growth metrics that should be considered are things like sales growth year-to-year and sales quantities relative to changes in price. Varian ces that should be considered are: price variance, quantity variance, and labor efficiency variance. Qualitative factors such as unseasonal temperature changes and intercompany transfer of product should also be taken into consideration. For reasons discussed earlier, we believe considering these metrics will give the most accurate view of each manager’s performance. Using these benchmarks will allow Campagnie Du Froid to calculate a more appropriate performance bonus for each manager. The second recommendation involves how transfer prices should be calculated between divisions. Assuming there are no capacity constraints at the French division because of the two new machines it just bought, transfer pricing should be set at the variable cost per litre of â‚ ¬2.76. When the French division has excess capacity, there is no opportunity cost to be lost and it should be indifferent for them to make these extra units for the Spanish division. Fixed costs don’t need to be added to the transfer price because they will be incurred regardless and the 5% profit margin is unnec essary because all profits eventually go to corporate. This will cut transfer costs for the Spanish division by â‚ ¬0.77per litre and â‚ ¬459,000 total. This type of transfer pricing will be beneficial to the buying division in the future and allow it to spend less when it runs into these types problems. The third recommendation involves the new distribution arrangements that Jean Pinoux wants to engage in the French division. In 2009, revenues from distribution were â‚ ¬79,000. The incremental costs for delivery expenses were â‚ ¬47,000 and â‚ ¬3,000 for depreciation of the trucks. The revenues from distribution outweigh the incremental costs by â‚ ¬29,000; therefore we recommend the French division continues with the new distribution arrangements. We believe these recommendations will help Campagnie Du Froid become a more efficient and profitable company.

The Relationship between Microfinance, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in reducing poverty in LEDC (Less Economically Developed Countries). The WritePass Journal

The Relationship between Microfinance, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in reducing poverty in LEDC (Less Economically Developed Countries). Introduction The Relationship between Microfinance, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in reducing poverty in LEDC (Less Economically Developed Countries). IntroductionTheoretical FrameworkEmpirical EvidenceCritique of The LiteratureConclusionsReferencesRelated Introduction Theoretical Framework According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Microfinance can be defined as â€Å"the provision of a broad range of financial services such as deposits, loans, payment services, money transfers, and insurance to the poor and low-income households and their microenterprises† (ADB, 2000).   Another definition is provided in Ledgerwood (1999) who contends that microfinance is â€Å"the provision of financial services (like savings, credit, insurance and payment services) to low-income clients (the poor) including the self-employed†. The aforesaid suggests that there is a positive relationship between microfinance and entrepreneurship or microenterprises. Microenterprises promote income generating activities thus promoting repayment. Being able to repay microfinance loans by income generated from microenterprises enables microfinance to be sustainable. Microfinance is specifically designed to offer financial services to microentrepreneurs. Microfinance enables microentrepreneurs to expand and run their businesses. The foregoing shows that microfinance and entrepreneurship are mutually beneficial to each other. Microfinance witnessed an evolution in the 1970s. This evolution has been regarded as a means of breaking the barricade of access to capital by poor people who are interested in carrying out development projects. Microfinance empowers the entrepreneurial spirits that exist among small-scale entrepreneurs worldwide (Olu, 2009). It facilitates the establishment of microenterprises and encourages best practices among individuals involved in small and medium size enterprise (SMEs) (Olu, 2009).   Governments in developing countries have over the last two and half decades formulated great programmes to promote economic development. Lack of access to finance has been cited in developing countries as one of the major reasons behind the relative absence of SMEs in less developed economies.   Large firms can obtain finance from banks because they have an asset base that can serve as collateral. SMEs on the other hand do not have such and asset base and as such cannot gain access to large b anks. Rather, SMEs rely on small scale financing in the form of microfinance to finance small scale development projects (Olu, 2009). Approximately 90 percent of people in less developed economies do not have access to financial services from banks and other financial institutions. Most people neither save nor have access to credit facilities (Marguerite, 2002). The foregoing suggests that people in less developed countries have limited capacity to invest. Limited investment capacity results in restricted productivity which in turn limits incomes, domestic savings and productivity growth.   The lack of access to financial services reduces the ability of entrepreneurs to engage in new business ventures which in turn limits economic growth. The sources and consequences of entrepreneurial activities are therefore neither financially nor environmentally sustainable. Microfinance serves as a means of empowering the poor and is considered as a valuable means of enhancing the economic development process. Despite the importance of microfinance in development, it has been argued that microfinance; entrepreneurship and su stainability tend not to have a great effect on alleviating poverty in less developed economies. Accordingly, microfinance they say can only successfully alleviate poverty if it is combined with entrepreneurial skills. This means that one should expect a positive link between microfinance and SME development or entrepreneurship. Despite this relationship, microfinance and entrepreneurship may have a negative relationship or may even have no relationship. In addition, some people with entrepreneurial skills tend to be risk-averse. This group of entrepreneurs may not use microfinance credit because they may not be willing to take on high levels of risk. As such their projects may remain unfunded even in the presence of microfinance loans. In addition, the poorest of the poor including the sick, the mentally ill and the destitute cannot adequately handle microfinance projects which means that microfinance cannot be used as a means of alleviating poverty for this group of the population . This group of the population would prefer direct basic assistance to microfinance. They are mostly interested in meeting their daily needs of shelter, food, clothing and food. Empirical Evidence Two competing theories have been advanced with respect to the relationship between entrepreneurship and microfinance. One school of thought advocates that lack of credit hinders the growth of microenterprises, indicating that microfinance and entrepreneurship have a positive relationship. The second school of thought on its part suggests that microfinance has a negative effect on the poorest in society. The first school of thought believes that lack of credit is a major constraint to the development of microenterprise and believes that microfinance plays a positive role in enabling a society achieve   its larger goal of deriving social and economic benefits (Hashemi et al., 1996; 1994; Schuler et al., 1997). According to the International Finance Corporation, more than 500 million poor people across the world are engaged in microenterprises (IFC, 2002). When asked what their major constraint is, most of them conclude that the main constraint to business growth is lack of credit. This evidence suggests that microfinance has a positive impact on entrepreneurship. Similar evidence is provided in Sen (1999) who argue that the greater the financial security of an entrepreneur, the higher is his probability of becoming more successful. Furthermore, Eversole (2000) contends that credit is important for the success of micro businesses. The impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation has also been studied. Nair (1998) identifies two schools of thought regarding the effect of microfinance on poverty alleviation. On the one hand, it has been argued that credit is one of the most important tools for alleviating poverty. This school of thought believes that microfinance credit is always invested in a productive investment which will help in poverty alleviation. However, this school of thought is flawed on because it makes the unrealistic assumption that microfinance credit is always invested in a productive investment. The theory ignores the fact that some investments may not be productive which indicates that not all microfinance credit can actually result in poverty alleviation. Rangarajan (2005) observes that microfinance is important for the evolution of â€Å"Self-Help Group† at three basic levels. These include: Level 1 where microfinance is used by households to satisfy their survival requirements by using small savings and loans as a buffer in emergencies; Level 2 where households use microfinance is used to meet subsistence needs; and Level 3 where households become mature enough to take on a higher degree of risk; at this level, microfinance can be employed in setting up enterprises or facilitating the creation of employment in one way or another thus promoting the sustainability of households. The aforesaid shows that the argument that microfinance cannot help the poorest of the poor lacks empirical support. This argument is further weakened by evidence from India, which shows that a large portion of the Indian population falls in the â€Å"poorest of the poor† category. Despite this, microfinance has had a significant positive impact on this group of the population in India. A study based on 20 microfinance institutions in India provide evidence that microfinance has made a significant contribution to both the savings and borrowings of the poor in India (Sinha, 2005). Kuzilwa (2005) provide evidence that credit has been very instrumental in the success of microenterprises in Tanzania. The study provides evidence that most business start-ups have been financed by own sources while expansion has mainly been finance by microfinance credit. The study further observes that inadequate credit resulted in the abandonment or postponement of entrepreneurial projects. Some st udies have concluded that microfinance credit contributes to the growth of enterprises although the impact of finance has not been very significant. Empirical evidence shows that after receiving finance, the firm’s output increased by 40 percent. This evidence shows just how important microfinance is for the growth and expansion of enterprises and thus emphasises the positive relationship between microfinance and entrepreneurship in poor countries. In order for microfinance to help foster entrepreneurial activity, the activity must be sustainable. This means that only enterprises with the potential to evolve from micro to small and to medium enterprises can be considered entrepreneurial businesses (Harper, 1998; Kuzilwa, 2005). Businesses that are merely surviving to sustain a family cannot be considered entrepreneurial (Harper, 1998). The operating cycle of microenterprises is relatively short compared to that of large enterprises. Microenterprises are therefore in need of short term loans in small amounts. Due to their short-term operating cycles, microenterprises are in constant need of small scale loans to finance their business. Consequently, sufficient and timely capital is necessary for the success of microenterprises. According to Alagappan and Nagammai (2003), any entrepreneur’s main problem is finance. Adequate finance is required at reasonable cost to meet the expectations of any entrepreneur (Alagappan and Nagammai, 2003). Small scale entrepreneurs find it difficult to access large financial institutions. This is mostly because of information asymmetries between large financial institutions and small scale businesses. Moral hazard and adverse selection bias often make it difficult for small firms to gain access to finance from large institutions. The process is often complex and may result in delays. Consequently, the only hope for small scale businesses is microfinance. According to a study by Vincent (2004), an initial loan of approximately $100 helped in reintegrating entrepreneurs into formal networks as well as promoting structural and sustainable development in communities. However, the study observed that only 5% of entrepreneurs in these communities were able to obtain micro credit thus hindering the growth and development potential of communities in less developed economies (Vincent, 2004). Vincent (2004) concludes based on this evidence that sustainable entrepreneurship and microfinance can c ontribute tremendously to poverty alleviation in less developed countries. While credit is important, it is not the only factor that can facilitate entrepreneurship in less developed economies. According to a study by Roy and Wheeler (2006) on 12 microfinance institutions in four West African economies, growth of microenterprises is not restricted only by poor access to credit. Rather, other factors such as poor training, lack of trust and corporation as well as risk aversion are other factors that must be taken into account when evaluating the factors that restrict the growth and expansion of microenterprises in less developed economies (Roy and Wheeler, 2006). While microfinance can help in stimulating growth of microenterprises, its availability is only an important part of the story (Roy and Wheeler, 2006). Microfinance needs to be provided only to entrepreneurs who satisfy a host of other requirements such as adequate training, risk tolerance, trust and corporation. While other factors may affect the growth and expansion of microenterprises in less developed countries, Adams and Pischke (1992) believe that lack of funds is the most important problems facing microenterprises. Adam and Pischke (1992) argue that access to small and short-term credit is more beneficial for poor microenterprises than large long-term credit. The evolution of microfinance has been very important because it has enabled microfinance institutions to handle small scale transactions efficiently as well as establish long lasting links with borrowers. The main focus of microfinance institutions is on small and short-term loans which can help small scale entrepreneurs finance short-term investment projects and thus alleviate poverty in the community as a whole. As mentioned earlier, a second school of thought believes that microfinance has a negative impact on the poorest in society (Adams and Von Pischke, 1992; Buckley, 1997). While microfinance programs can create a positive impact on the poor, these programs often fail to reach the poorest people when trying to achieve sustainability. While the programs can serve the poor, they do not necessarily help the poorest of the poor (Copestake et al., 2001; Hulme 2000; Hulme and Mosely 1996; Mosely and Hulme 1998). While superficial analysis shows that microfinance can foster entrepreneurial growth and thus reduce poverty in society, deep analysis suggests that microfinance credit does not create opportunities. Rather the ability of the community to generate income and thus alleviate poverty depends heavily on the entrepreneurial nature of people in the community (Kulziwa, 2005). This does not amount to saying that credit is not important for entrepreneurship. Credit certainly plays a significan t role in improving the competence of the entrepreneur to make use of the opportunity available. However, the entrepreneurial skills must be there to fully realise the benefits of microfinance. Empirical evidence suggests that microfinance has not had a positive impact on entrepreneurship in very poor countries. Shaw (2004) investigated the impact of microfinance on poverty in Sri Lanka. The study provides evidence that not all microfinance projects have been able to alleviate poverty in Sri Lanka. The study contends while microfinance can work well for those very close to the poverty line, it can only help those who are interested and able to engage in high-value entrepreneurial activities (Shaw, 2004). According to Shaw (2004) microfinance loans are not sustainable in that they only serve to protect current consumption levels while offering limited opportunity for exiting poverty. For microfinance programs to be successful, they must be complemented by investment in physical and social infrastructure. Another argument against microfinance programs is that these programs are capable of pushing the poor into a debt trap. This is because the programs often turn out to be unsustainable if the poor are not able to engage in an activity that can generate enough income for repayments (Mead Liedholm, 1998). A study was conducted on NGO led microfinance programs in several developing countries. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of microfinance programs in these countries using a set of four indicators including their ability to target the poor, their ability to increase assets of the poor, their ability to generate income and their ability create skill employment and financial viability. Comparisons were made with state-led credit based poverty alleviation programs such as the Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP) and the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) in India (Chavan Ramakumar, 2002).   The study provides evidence that microfinance programs have helped in achieving a marginal improvement in the income of their beneficiaries. However, the evidence suggests that the beneficiaries have not obtained any significant benefits in terms of technological improvements because the programs focus primarily on survival skills (Chavan Ramakumar, 2002). Focusing on Ban gladesh, the study observes that microfinance programs which are designed to help customers repay Grameen Bank loans through fresh loans from moneylenders has resulted in the creation debt cycles (Chavan Ramakumar, 2002). Anand (1994) examine the performance of microenterprises in Botswana the balance between lending and borrowing activities of microfinance institutions. The study observes that Microfinance institutions focus more on lending than borrowing. Lending activity constituted 75% while borrowing constituted only 10% of their total activity (Anand, 1994). This clearly shows that finance cannot be considered a constraint for entrepreneurs in Botswana. The foregoing shows that in order for microfinance to be sustainable, it has to be complemented by savings and other factors. There is a common misconception that the poor cannot save. However, the evolution of microfinance has proven that this is a misconception. Microfinance loans are often made based on the saving capacity of the borrower (Stemper, 1996). Savings are used as a means of establishing the history of the borrower and serves as a important input to evaluating the loan application (Stemper, 1996). Savings can also serve as collateral for borrowers who do not have landed property. This view has been reinforced by Buckley (1997) who views savings as the means of achieving financial independence and self sufficiency for micro enterprises. India created Rotating Savings and Credit Associations (ROSCAs) which serve as microfinance institutions in the country. These associations support the need of financial services for the small scale entrepreneurs in India. They are popular because of their simplicity and the freedom that they provide on using funds (Buckley, 1997). Guha and Gupta (2000) provide evidence suggesting microfinance institutions improve the saving habit of the poor by creating income generating activities and improving their loan repayment habits. Critique of The Literature The empirical evidence above suggests that microfinance institutions play an important role in alleviating poverty in developing countries. This is achieved through their impact on entrepreneurship. Microfinance institutions are sustained by promoting savings and investment schemes for the poor. This suggests that microfinance institutions. A key short-coming with the studies above is that most of the studies focus on the relationship between entrepreneurship and microfinance, with little emphasis on sustainability. Sustainability of entrepreneurship and microfinance are important if they have to be used as a means of alleviating poverty in the long run.   Despite the importance of sustainability, the existing literature has not exploited it in great detail. Togo has witnessed significant developments in its microfinance industry. Microfinance was initiated in Togo by the Association for Community-Based Self-Promotion (ACOMB), which operates in two very low-income districts that have experienced excessively high levels of HIV/AIDS with very little government or foreign support (Parker, 2000). The goal of the association was to provide health education, information, and referrals to clients as an important complement to financial services (Parker, 2000). In addition, the Faà ®tià ¨re des Unità ©s Coopà ©ratives dEpargne et de Crà ©dit (FUCEC) is a Togolese-based Microfinance institution which comprises of credit unions aimed at offering credit with eduction as one of its financial products (Dunford, 2002). FUCEC provides underprivileged people (especially poorer women) to join a credit union. The Microfinance institution provides members with the opportunity to save and obtain credit to finance local projects. This means that most me mbers of FUCEC and net borrowers (Dunford, 2002). Despite these developments, the role of microfinance in alleviating poverty in Togo has not been exploited. Likewise, the relationship among microfinance, entrepreneurship and sustainability are yet to be exploited in Togo. It is against this backdrop that this study aims at investing the relationship among microfinance, entrepreneurship and sustainability in Togo. This will help in the formulation of policies regarding microfinance, entrepreneurship and sustainability in future. This paper will look at two hypotheses as follows: Microfinance programs have a positive impact on entrepreneurship in Togo; Entrepreneurship has a positive impact on the sustainability of Microfinance in Togo. Conclusions Based on the literature above, it can be concluded that there is a significant link between entrepreneurship and microfinance. Despite the apparent importance between sustainability and microfinance, very limited research has been conducted to explore this relationship. In addition, most studies on microfinance in less developed countries have focused on other countries thus ignoring Togo altogether.   This study extends the paper by incorporating sustainability into the relationship between entrepreneurship and microfinance using Togo as a case study. References Adams, D.W. Pischke, J.D. V. (1992). â€Å"Microenterprise credit programmes: Dà ©j vu†,  World Development, 20(10), pp. 1463-1470. ADB (2000).  Finance for the Poor: Microfinance Development Strategy.  Manila: Asian Development Bank. Alagappan, V. Nagammai, R.M. (2003). â€Å"Entrepreneurs response to Financial assistance from Institutions†,  SEDME, 30(4). Anand,V. (1994).  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Performance of Microenterprises  in  Botswana: A case study of selected urban and semi urban locations†,  Indian  Journal  of  Economics, 75(296). Buckley, G. 1997. â€Å"Microfinance in  Africa: Is it Either the Problem or the Solution?†Ã‚  World Development  25:1081-93. Chavan, P. Ramakumar, R. (2002). â€Å"Micro-Credit and Rural Poverty: An Analysis of Empirical Evidence†Ã‚  Economic and Political weekly, March 9, 2002. Christen, R.P. (1997). Issues in the regulation and supervision of microfinance in a transforming economy. Paper presented at the 10th  conference of financial Institutions in  Tanzania, Arusha, 7-9. Dunford, C. (2002), Microfinance as a vehicle for educating the poor, Development Bulletin, vol. 57 Eversole, R. (2000). â€Å"Beyond Microcredit- The Trickle Up Program†,  Small  Enterprise  Development, 11(1). Guha, S. Gupta, G. (2005). â€Å"Microcredit for income generation: The role of ROSCA†,  Economic and political weekly, April 2, 2005. Harper, M. (1998). Microenterprise or growth? Which do we want, and which bring development? Paper presented at the conference on the growth of small and medium enterprises in Africa, theKenya  institute of management,  Nairobi, 23-28 March 1998 Hashemi, S., S.R. Schuler, and A.P. Riley. 1996. â€Å"Rural Credit Programs and Women’s Empowerment in  Bangladesh.†Ã‚  World Development  24:635-653. International Finance Corporation (IFC), 2004. Sustainable Financial markets facility.  www.ifc.org Kuzilwa, J.A. (2005). â€Å"The role of credit for small business Success: A study of the national entrepreneurship development fund in  Tanzania†,  Journal of entrepreneurship, Vol. 14 , No.2. Nair,  T.S.,(1998),â€Å"Meeting  the  credit  needs  of  the  micro  enterprise  sector issues   in  focus†Ã‚  Ã‚  Indian  Journal  Of  Labour  Economics,  Ã‚  41(3). Rangarajan, C. (2005). â€Å"Microfinance and its future directions† High level Policy Conference on microfinance in India- May 3, 2005- New Delhi, Keynote Address by Dr. C. Rangarajan Chairman Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. Roy, M.A. Wheeler, D. (2006).â€Å"A survey of microenterprise in urban  West Africa: Drivers shaping the sector†Ã‚  Development in Practice, 16(5). Schuler, S.R., S. Hashemi, and A.P. Riley. 1997. â€Å"The Influence of Women’s Changing Roles and Status in  Bangladesh’s Fertility Transition: Evidence from a Study of Credit Programs and Contraceptive Use.†Ã‚  World Development  25: 563-575. Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom,  Oxford:  Oxford  University  Press. Shaw, J. (2004). â€Å"Microenterprise occupation and poverty reduction in microfinance programs: Evidence from  Sri Lanka†.  World Development, 32(7), pp.1247–1264. Olu, O. (2009) Impact of Microfinance on Entrepreneurial Development: The Case of Nigeria, The International Conference on Administration and Business. Marguerite, R. S., (2002), â€Å"The Microfinance Revolution: Sustainable Finance for the Poor†. Sinha, F. (2005). â€Å"Access, Use and Contribution of Microfinance in  India: Findings from a National Study†,  Economic and Political Weekly, April 23, 2005. Stemper, G.A. (1996). â€Å"Commercial banks and Microentrepreneurs in  Latin America†,  Small Enterprise Development, 7(3). Vincent, G. 2004. â€Å"Sustainable Microentrepreneurship:  The Roles of Microfinance, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Reducing Poverty in Developing Countries†, www.gdrc.org/icm/micro/guy_sustmicro.pdf Parker, J. (2000) The role of microfinance in the fight against HIV/AIDS, A report to The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Luis Alvarez - A Profile of the Famous Scientist

Luis Alvarez - A Profile of the Famous Scientist Name: Luis Alvarez Born/Died: 1911-1988 Nationality: American (with antecedents in Spain and Cuba) About Luis Alvarez Luis Alvarez is a good example of how an amateur can have a profound impact on the world of paleontology. We put the word amateur is in quotation marks because, before he turned his attention to the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, Alvarez was a highly accomplished physicist (in fact, he won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1968 for his discovery of the resonance states of fundamental particles). He was also a lifelong inventor, and was responsible for (among other things) the Synchrotron, one of the first particle accelerators used to probe the ultimate constituents of matter. Alvarez was also involved in the later stages of the Manhattan Project, which yielded the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan at the end of World War II. In paleontology circles, though, Alvarez is best known for his late 1970s investigation (conducted with his geologist son, Walter) into the K/T Extinction, the then-mysterious event 65 million years ago that killed the dinosaurs, as well as their pterosaur and marine reptile cousins.  Alvarezs working  theory, inspired by his discovery  of a clay boundary in Italy separating geologic strata from the Mesozoic and Cenozoic Eras, was that the impact of a large comet or meteor threw up billions of tons of dust, which circled around the globe, blotted out the sun, and caused global temperatures to plunge and  the earth’s vegetation to wither, with the result that first plant-eating and then meat-eating dinosaurs starved and froze to death. Alvarezs theory, published in 1980,  was treated with intense skepticism for a full decade, but was finally accepted by the majority of scientists after scattered iridium deposits in the vicinity of the Chicxulub meteor crater (in present-day Mexico) could be traced to the impact of a large interstellar object. (The  rare element iridium is more common deeper in the earth than on the surface, and could only have been scattered in the patterns detected  by a tremendous astronomical impact.)   Still, the widespread acceptance of this theory  hasnt prevented scientists from pointing to ancillary causes for the extinction of the dinosaurs, the most likely candidate being the volcanic eruptions triggered when the Indian subcontinent slammed into the underside of Asia at the end of the Cretaceous period.