Describe the Social, Economic and Cultral Factors

These days children and young people are involved in many issues in society which can/may affect their lives. Religion is all across the UK now and many children who live here have a different type of religion. Religions have different rules to others and this can affect children because of them (rules). For example if a Muslim child is friends with a child who doesn’t have a religion and that child can go out in the street or can sleep out, the child who is Muslim might not be able to do that and that might make them feel isolated and upset.Or children who have come from another country, their parents have a different cultural background to other people which mean the child will be raised differently and have different views, which can cause conflict among other children who have been brought up in the British culture. Personal choice is another thing that could impact a childs life, if a childs parents make a choice to live in a different way e. e same sex parents or travell ing a lot then this could affect a childs education because they’d have to travel loads as part of the travelling community.Another factor could be social, a child or young person could have only 1 friend and stick to them but that friend might want to go off with other children sometimes which can make a child feel lonely and they might find it hard then to make new friends. Or a child could be with everyone always and this is good because it’s good to develop social skills and how to socialize but this could also be bad because they aren’t as independent as they should be.Also family has a big impact, a child could be a ‘young carer’ because there mum or dad is disabled this could make them feel upset and worried all the time, which would affect school work and could affect health, if no money is coming in to feed or shelter them. Some families may have different styles of parenting, they might expect highly of their child, if there is lack of sup port that can lead to low self esteem. Other things that could affect social factor is disabilities, children who may have a disability might find it hard to fit in or make friends.If children are suffering from problems at home, then if a child attends a setting (nursery, school, youth clubs) then they could get social services involved which could then result in children taken into care. Another part of economic factors can include addictions, parents might have a drug addiction which would mean all the income being spend on drugs and then not being able to afford a house in a decent community, this could affect a childs development if they are living in cramped conditions or poor quality housing.

Biodegradable Plastics Contribution To Global Methane Production Environmental Sciences Essay

Industry of biodegradable Plastics is a freshly emerged sector, which originated to plan degradable plastics by common biological beings such as, bacteriums, algae and Fungi. Invention of bioplastics specifically resulted to suppress the monopoly of petrochemical plastics in the market since ; petrochemical plastics have become a onerous issue due to economic emphasis, environmental impacts and resource deficit caused by use of non-renewable crude oil oil. Since biodegradable plastics are designed to degrade in the biological environments, the most common and executable method of terminal of life scenario is landfills. Objective of the present survey is to gauge maximal extra methane coevals via biodegradable plastics under landfill anaerobiotic conditions. Literature was reviewed on presently available types of biodegradable plastics, single polymers comprised, production capacity ( twelvemonth 2007 ) and methane production informations from single polymers. Empirical information fo r methane coevals were based on the published experimental literature on single polymers under research lab simulated landfill conditions utilizing thermophilic anaerobiotic sludge digestion. Methane coevals in organic molecules was theoretically calculated based on derived presently available chemical equations, presuming standard temperature and force per unit area conditions. Global methane part by biodegradable plastics was calculated merely utilizing theoretical values since no sufficient informations were available at experimental conditions. Study demonstrates 0.011 % of planetary part of methane by biodegradable plastics if full production capacity in twelvemonth 2007 is assumed to be landfilled and wholly biodegraded. 1.52 % of methane is contributed to planetary emanations, if 90 % of petrochemical plastics are substituted by biodegradable plastics, which the per centum of petrochemical plastics could be technically substituted harmonizing to the studies of PROBIP ( 2009 ) . In comparing of theoretical and experimental informations, experimental information was in the scope of 55.9- 68.84 % upon theoretical informations. The estimated values demonstrate a low degree of methane emanation compared with other anthropogenetic methane beginnings, showing a negligible impact to planetary methane emanation and/or planetary heating by biodegradable plastics. Introduction Plastics are man-made, typically long concatenation polymeric molecules. Substitution of natural stuffs by plastics came about to the scenario back in 1907 after innovation of man-made polymer â€Å" Bakelite † from phenol and methanal ( Thompson et al. , 2009 ) . Improvement of the synthesis methods and techniques have ameliorated the quality of plastics with more stable and lasting belongingss ( Shah et al. , 2008 ) . Today plastics have become an indispensable portion of the worlds ‘ life peculiarly due to their extended usage in packaging, cosmetics, chemicals, and detergents. Plastics we use today are synthesized stuffs extracted from rough oil, coal and natural gas ( Seymour, 1989 ) which is termed as Petroleum based plastics. Property of high doggedness ( really slow biodegradation rate ) of plastics have created being immune to environmental degradability which mounted social consciousness and concerns of proper disposal and direction ( Albertsson et al. , 1987 ) . Wide assortment of plastics are manufactured including polypropene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polythene, polyurethane and rayonss with estimated planetary production of about 140million dozenss per twelvemonth ( Shimao 2001 ) . Therefore inordinate utilizations of plastics have exerted a immense force per unit area globally in footings of salvaging of confined petroleum oil, waste disposal and direction, and environmental diversion. To get the better of the jobs related to petroleum based plastics attending of scientists have devoted their attending that lead to advance research activities to give rise to alternate stuffs, intended to degrade through biological procedures ( Shah et al. , 2008, Lenz and Marchessault, 2004, Amass et al. , 2001 ) . A new type of thermoplastic polyester was foremost produced by Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd- London in 1982, which was considered to be wholly biodegradable ( Anderson and Dawes, 1990 ) . The invented merchandise is known as biodegradable plastic since, it ‘s degraded by environmentally available micro-organisms. Term Bioplastic ( BP ) is perplexingly used today to construe bio-based and bio-degradable stuffs. However the survey will chiefly see on the Biodegradable plastics ( BDP ) , which is intended to utilize as a promising solution for the crude oil based plastics. Harmonizing to ASTM definition of BP, BP is a degradable plastic in which the debasement con sequences from the action of naturally-occurring micro-organisms such as bacteriums, Fungis, and algae ( Narayan, 1999 ) . Many different types of BPs have been successfully produced and have invaded the market during past few old ages. BPs are synthesized utilizing works extracted polymers or usage of growing of micro-organisms. Tailoring the belongingss of works extracted polymers via chemical alteration of the chief polymer by hydrolysable or oxidisable groups and utilizing polymer blends ( Amass et al. , 1998 ) have amended BP to utilize in a wide scope of applications contained with novel and good features. The primary end expected over innovation of BPs was the environmental concerns including waste direction, decrease of nursery gas release, and salvaging of non-renewable energy ( petroleum oil and gas ) . Apart from that secondarily, economic facets and new proficient chances came into scenario ( PROBIP, 2009 ) . Today BPs are popular compounds used in packaging stuffs, wetting agents, as biomedical stuffs ( eg: lesion dressings, drug bringing, Surgical implants ) , and agricultural compounds ( eg: command the fertiliser and pesticide release ) . BPs used as packaging stuffs has led to first-class direction scheme chiefly to forestall environmental accretion ( Amass et al. , 1998 ) . Merely 0.3 % ( 0.36 million metric dozenss ) of the world-wide production of conventional plastics has replaced by biodegradable plastics by the twelvemonth of 2007. In twelvemonth 2007 universe plastic coevals was reported as 205 million dozenss ( Gervet and Nordell. , 2007 ) . However 90 % of the conventional plastics are estimated the per centum is capable of technically substituted by BPs. There is an rush in coevals of bio based plastics globally that resulted in an estimated planetary growing of 38 % from 2003 to 2007 ( PROBIP, 2009 ) . Initially when BPs were come ining to the market ( 1990 ) no standard processs were existed to look into the biodegradability of the plastics. To forestall misconceptions with biodegradability of BPs, criterions have been developed by standard organisations to place the actual biodrgradability of BPs in trade good ( Mohee et al. , 2007 ) . At the terminal of the service life BPs wind up in landfills, anaerobiotic intervention workss or composting installations. Based on the degradable belongingss and the belongingss of the material terminal of life, the options vary. Landfill disposed BPs will finally undergo anaerobiotic biodegradation where, the stuffs are disintegrated to methane, C dioxide, H sulfide, ammonium hydroxide, H and H2O as a consequence of series of microbic metabolic interactions ( ATSDR, 2010 ) . Methane gas is a well-known and of import by merchandise which public attending has paid as a planetary heating gas and besides as an economically feasible biofuel. The surv ey is a preliminary effort to look into the degrees of extra methane gas released if terminal of life option is chosen to be a landfill utilizing normally available types of BPs globally, with different biodegradability degrees.Back landTypes of BPs Literature studies legion types of BPs in the market today, such as amylum plastics, Poly glycolic acid ( PGA ) , Poly lactic acid ( PLS ) , poly lactic acid-co-glycolic acid, poly 3- hydroxybutanoate ( P3HB ) , Poly 3- hydroxyl valerate ( PHV ) , Polyethylene succinate ( PES ) , Poly butylenes succinate, Poly propiolactone ( PPL ) , starch blends, etc ( Figure 1 ) ( Shah et al. , 2008, PROBIP, 2009 ) , derived from renewable resources such as amylum, works based oils, or cellulose ( Beta analytic, 2010 ) . The survey covers 5 major groups of BDPs presently available in the market with inside informations on different makers engaged in fabricating procedure ( Table 1 ) . Except these chief groups mentioned, chitin ( polyose ) , protein ( collagen, casein ) , and amino acid based BDPs are manufactured in undistinguished degrees, which are non covered in this survey. Main group of polymer contributes the planetary BP production is Cellulose plastics, which the production capacity is ab out 4000Mt per annum. To be considered as a bioplastic, it should be certified lawfully through criterions, EN 13432 or EN 14995 in Europe, ASTM D-6400, ASTM D6868, ASTM D6954, ASTM D7081 in United States, DIN V4900 in Germany or ISO 17088 in other states ( Beta analytic, 2010, ASTM, 2010 ) . As mentioned earlier all BPs are non biodegradable and the biodegradability is based basically on the molecular construction of the compound. ASTM D-6400 requires 60-90 % decomposition of BPs within 180 yearss in natural environment in order to be considered as a biodegradable plastic. ASTM has demonstrated both aerophilic and anaerobiotic criterion methods to place ( severally in composting environments and anaerobiotic digestion procedures ) the extent of biodegradability of BDPs ( Narayan, 1999 ) . Decomposition Degradation and possible degradability of a peculiar BDP varies depending on the environment exists: anaerobic or aerobic ( Ishigaki et al. , 2004 ) . Based on the debasement belongings of a peculiar BDP, terminal of life option should be chosen, whether it is to be disposed in a landfill or composting installation. Different types of dirt micro-organisms ( bacteriums and Fungis ) are responsible for the biodegradation of different types of BPs specifically ( Shah et al. , 2008 ) . Rate and procedure of biodegradation of BPs rely on the Soil belongingss, nature of the pretreatment, features of the polymer such as tactual sensation, mobility, molecular weight, functional groups present, additives, handiness and optimum growing of specific micro-organisms ( Artham and Doble, 2008, Glass and Swift, 1989, Gu et al. , 2000 ) . Initially biodegradation starts with decomposition of the polymer via physical and biological forces. Some fungous hyphae are able to perforate the polymer construc tion and cause clefts and swelling of the stuff ( Griffin, 1980 ) . Heating, chilling, stop deading melt, wetting and drying like physical forces besides contribute the mechanical debasement procedure ( Kamal and Huang, 1992 ) . By and large high molecular weighted polymers have a lesser possible to biodegrade than the low molecular weighted compounds. Broadly extracellular and intracellular microbic enzymes are responsible for biodegradation procedure, and so converted into oligomers, dimers and monomers which can be easy penetrable into bacterial cells. Therefore utilizes for bacterial energy production let go ofing CO2, CH4, and H2O ( Hamilton et al. , 1995, Gu et al. , 200 ) . Present survey will be given accent landfills, as the terminal of life clip option. Less information is available on the biodegradation of BDP in landfill anaerobiotic conditions than aerophilic composting. Thence more probes have to be implemented and few have been reported ( Yagi et al. , 2009 ) . In a l andfill high per centum is readily degraded by anaerobiotic communities in anoxic conditions. As a consequence of series of physical, chemical, cubic decimeter and biological reactions that take topographic point in a landfill, landfill gas is produced, with changing composings based on the type of waste contained ( Barlaz et al. , 1990 ) . Anaerobic debasement of C, Hydrogen and Oxygen incorporating substance is given by the Buswell equation as follows ( Yagi et al. , 2009 ) . CnHaOb + ( n- a/4 – b/2 ) H2O ( n/2 + a/8 – b/4 ) CH4 + ( n/2 – a/8 + b/4 ) CO2 ( A ) Anaerobic decomposition of Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen incorporating substance is given as follows ( Behera et al. , 2010 ) . CaHbOcNd + ( ( 4a-b-2c+3d ) /4 ) H2O ( ( 4a+b-2c-3d ) /8 ) CH4 + ( ( 4a-b+2c+3d ) /8 ) CO2 + vitamin D NH3 ( B ) CO2 and CH4 are the chief gaseous substances released during anaerobiotic debasement of any compound. Methane produced in landfills is recovered as an energy beginning where provides an economic advantage. However if non recovered, methane would readily come in to the ambiance, which is listed as one of the major subscriber to planetary heating. Methane is an effectual heat pin downing agent in the ambiance and over 20 times more powerful than CO2 ( USEPA, 2010 a ) . Surveies have reported on methane outputs obtained via anaerobiotic biodegradation for few polymers ( Cellulose ester, Polycaprolactone and Poly lactic acid ) and most are yet to be studied.Methane as a potent planetary heating gasGlobal heating is understood as the chief causing of planetary clime alteration. Global heating is caused due to increase of green house gases in the ambiance such as Carbon dioxide, methane, Nitrous oxide, and H2O vapour ( US composting council, 2009 ) . Methane is considered as a green house gas with high heat pin downing capacity which lasts about 9- 15 old ages in the ambiance. Global warming possible ( GWP ) of green house gases are represented in relation to a mention gas, CO2, where GWP is considered as 1. Global warming potency of methane gas is 21 which infers, 21 times more effectual heat pin downing agent than CO2. Methane is emitted to the ambiance chiefly from anthropogenetic and natural beginnings. 50 % of methane in the ambiance is attributed to anthropogenetic beginnings such as fossil fuel burning, biomass combustion, rice cultivation, carnal farming, and waste direction. Contribution of anthropogenetic methane to planetary green house gas emanation was 282.6 million dozenss in the twelvemonth 2000 ( 22.9 % ) as declared by USEPA ( 2006 ) . Natural beginnings of methane emanations include emanations from wetlands, permafrost, white ants, oceans wild fires and fresh H2O organic structures. Degrees of methane emitted from each part or state depends on facto rs, such as climatic conditions, industrial and agricultural lands, energy type used and godforsaken direction processs. Largest methane emanation homo related beginnings in USA are landfills, carnal farming, and manure direction where the 2nd highest of the list goes to landfills. In the facet of planetary methane production, landfills attributed the 3rd highest beginning of emanation and globally methane part by landfills was over 12 % for twelvemonth 2000 ( USEPA, 2010 B ) . Organic compounds in a landfill, upon decomposition release methane as mentioned above and recent appraisal suggests that 72 % of MSW watercourse contained with organic substances: paper, nutrient garbages, yard dust, textiles/ leather, and wood. Percentages of each MSW constituent landfilled was severally, 34 % , 12 % , 13 % , 7 % , and 6 % ( US composting council. , 2009 ) . Thus methane coevals from each MSW constituent may be assumed being in the same order as above from each MSW constituent, since methan e production is relative to the C sum in an organic substance. Thus paper is the chief methane gas subscriber to the ambiance from a landfill while others play a minor function. BDPs is fresh emerging organic compound set in the landfills and besides a new planetary beginning of methane breathing from a landfill.Gas Generation theoretical accountLandfill gas appraisal is utile for landfill operators, regulators, energy users and energy recovery undertaking proprietors to look into how gas is produced and recovered in a peculiar clip period. USEPA has generated a Landfill methane gas appraisal theoretical account to imitate the gas production in landfills utilizing first order decay curve, which is written as, M ( T ) = M0 vitamin E -kt. Where M ( T ) is the mass of a batch waste staying at any clip, M0 is the initial mass of waste, K is the decay rate ( clip -1 ) and T is the clip since decay was begun. Gas production is straight correlated to mass doomed, which is termed as L0 ( M3 of methane per metric ton of waste ) . Entire Volume of gas ( G0 ) that can be produced by the debasement of mass of weight ( M0 ) is, calculated utilizing the equation, G0 = L0 M0. BDP is a freshly emerging landfill constituent which contributes the planetary methane coevals. The survey will supply an appraisal of extra methane produced upon this new reaching.MethodsStudy was based on appraisal of extra methane gas sum produced from landfills with subsequent outgrowth of BDPs to the market. Literature was reviewed related to trade name names, measure, polymer types incorporated and biodegradability ( particularly in footings of methane production ) of BDPs normally found in the planetary market ( Table1 and Table 2 ) . Manufacturer and measure informations obtained were associated with the twelvemonth 2007. This survey has considered merely biobased and non biobased BDPs and not degradable bio based or non biobased plastics have non been used for analysis as they are incapable of degrade in a landfill and release methane. Study was carried out in 4 stairss. Measure 1: Methane production per twenty-four hours was calculated utilizing published experimental informations on methane gas production in fake landfill conditions presuming entire manufactured BDPs were being landfilled ( Table 2 ) . Biodegradability of a peculiar BDP is likely to change based on the per centums of single polymers contained in the blend. Although production capacity was available in regard to a peculiar trade name name, no production informations was available for single polymers individually. Since a peculiar manufacturer industries different types of BDP stuffs related to fabric, agribusiness, biomedical points and packaging, per centums of single polymers used for blends vary mostly from each other even within the same trade name name. Therefore it ‘s hard to nail a distinguishable per centum for each polymer in a peculiar BDP being manufactured. Further information on per centums of each polymer are neither readily available from the makers ‘ web sites nor descriptive surveies have done sing per centums. Therefore trade name names with multiple polymer types were assumed to be every bit distributed, therefore manufactured capacity from each polymer was obtained by averaging the manufactured capacity of the peculiar trade name name. Most published literature was based on the biodegradability of single polymer types instead than the biodegradability of a peculiar trade name name except for Mater Bi amylum BDP ( Mohee et al. , 2007 ) . Measure 2: Methane production per twenty-four hours was calculated utilizing theoretical stoichiometric methane production informations presuming entire biodegradation of the compound and entire manufactured BDPs ( 2007 ) were being landfilled. Trade names with multiple Numberss of polymers, per centums of single polymers are assumed every bit distributed as mentioned in step1 ( Table 3 ) . Methane gas sum released is theoretically calculated utilizing the chemical equations ( A ) and ( B ) . Maximum biogas ( CO2, CH4 and NH3 ) sum produced by debasement of 1 kgs ton of Poly lactic acid ( ( C2H4O2 ) N ) was calculated to be 7.5 ten 10 5 M3 ( ( 106/60 ) x 22.4x 2 ) at standard temperature and force per unit area. CH4: CO2 ratio for poly lactic acid is 1:1. Theoretical maximal volume of CH4 produced calculated harmonizing to the combined gas jurisprudence was reported to be 3.73 ten 10 5m3, presuming entire biodegradation of the compound. Table 3 displays the maximal theoretical methan e volume produced at standard temperature and force per unit area for C, H, O and N related polymers intended to discourse in this survey. Measure 3: Maximal methane production was calculated sing the sum of BDPs being landfilled per twelvemonth when 90 % ( the possible sum that can be technically substituted by BPs from petrochemical plastics in usage today ) of petrochemical plastics were substituted over BPs. All BDPs produced are assumed to be readily ( during a period of twelvemonth ) biodegradable in this scenario. Measure 4: Contribution of landfilled BDPs to planetary methane emanation was calculated utilizing the entire methane emanation informations obtained from measure 3 and step 4.RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONDatas on methane coevals ( Table 2, step 1 ) was obtained from published experiments on anaerobiotic decomposition of single polymer compounds, imitating landfill, thermophilic conditions by utilizing anaerobiotic sludge as the medium in controlled research lab conditions. However, since different writers have used different conditions with different types of sludges and diversed microbic communities, ( affects diverseness of microbic communities ) ( Abou-Zeid et al. , 2004 ) would impact the dependability of the survey in using the values for comparing, due to debut of many prejudices. It was non possible to gauge planetary methane production based on published experimental informations since sufficient informations were non available to cover a sensible figure of polymers attended this s urvey. However, appraisal for planetary methane production from BDPs was able to obtained by utilizing theoretical computation to near the aims as showed in measure 2, Table 3 ( see appendix for computations ) . If assumed the full manufactured BDPs in twelvemonth 2007 were landfilled and entire landfilled is wholly biodegraded, the methane sum produced was calculated to be 8.31 ten 10 8m3. Global part resulted was 0.011 % in this scenario ( see appendix ) . MSW watercourse is declared to be composed of 205 million dozenss of petrochemical plastics in twelvemonth 2003 ( Garnet and Nordell, 2007 ) . The sum of BDPs that could perchance replace to petrochemical plastics was calculated to be 184.5 million dozenss. Assuming equal proportions of different BDPs tabulated in Table 2 are being landfilled, the sum of methane released is calculated to be 1.06 ten 1011m3 / twelvemonth. 90 % permutation scenario is an appraisal undertaken to understand whether methane released causes important part to planetary anthropogenetic methane gas emanation, in its maximal degree of BDP industry. The scenario is responsible for 1.38 % of planetary methane part. This was 116 % of entire landfill methane coevals based on the twelvemonth 2006 sum methane emanation ( USEPA, 2006 ) , which is higher than the entire current landfill methane coevals. The values were obtained on the footing of 2007 BDP industry informations nevertheless expected entire plastic production will besides be raised seemingly at the clip of 90 % permutation petrochemical plastics upon BDPs. Entire BP production capacity amounted to be in twelvemonth 2020 is 1.5-4.4 million dozenss ( PROBIP 2009 ) . In comparing of the methane outputs ( m3/kt ) from theoretical stoichiometric computations and research lab measurings ( Table 4 ) , extremely vary. It is obvious that, experimental methane production in laboratory conditions is lower than the theoretical information. Percentage of experimental methane emanation was in the scope of 55.9-68.84 % of the theoretical values, when compared the methane emanation degrees of available experimental informations ( PCL and PCL ) . Methane sums will be farther diminished if methane emanation is calculated sing the experimental information. Efficiency of biodegradation procedure occur in a landfill governs the rate and sum of methane generated into the ambiance. Numerous factors such as size of waste atom, composing of waste, pH, temperature, design of the landfill, foods and as the most of import factor wet control the methane emanation in a landfil ( Micales and Skog, 1996, Augenstein and Pacey, 1991 ) . Rathje and Murphy ( 1992 ) have demonstr ated mummification of garbage under degrees where, a landfill does non have optimal degree of wet hindering debasement or methane release ( Barlaz et al. , 1987 ) . Bogner and Spokas ( 1993 ) have shown that C transition value of 25-40 % for even readily degradable stuffs in a landfill and Aragno ( 1988 ) reported 35-40 % organic affair debasement to Carbon dioxide and methane under ideal laboratory conditions. However in the present survey Methane coevals resulted was higher than the published literature, showing higher methane emanations from BDPs than other beginnings such as wood, paper, etc. Therefore under existent landfill conditions released methane sums is lesser than the controlled research lab obtained values as confirms by published informations and informations from the present survey. Further debasement procedure in a landfill takes topographic point over decennaries of periods and even after 20-30 old ages of period big measures of non-degraded parts have been observe d even for readily degradable stuffs ( Micales and Skog, 1996 ) . Therefore methane outputs per twelvemonth should be more lessen than the quoted values in the survey. Efficient and effectual usage of landfill methane as a good fuel or enrgt beginning would farther relieve the methane release into the ambiance in landfills ( Gregg, 2010 ) .SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONSThe survey estimates maximal extra planetary theoretical methane resulted from decomposition of BDPs which is a fresh methane beginning emerged from landfills. Result suggest that the planetary part of BDPs to methane coevals is relatively less compared with other anthropogenetic beginnings. However in comparing of the methane emanation from BDPs, with other landfill constituents, BDPs are likely to lend a considerable sum of methane, which demonstrated the highest sum of methane emanation other landfill constituents. Experimental information groundss an overestimate of the theoretical estimations. Study has come across with many premises in each word picture scenario, which weakens the appraisal. However survey provides an appraisal of the extra methane gas released globally due to BDP landfilling, where no surveies or appraisals have done so far in a maximal possible logical and scientific manner using available informations. Further surveies on single polymer debasement are indispensable in order to beef up and verify the consequences obtained for sound actual appraisals.MentionsATSDR ( Agency for Toxic substances & A ; Disease Registry ) . 2010. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/landfill/html/ch2.html. Accessed July 2010. Albertsson, A. C. , Andersson, S. O. , Karlsson, S. 1987. The mechanism of biodegradation of polythene. Polym Degrad Stab 18,73-87. Amass, W. , Amass, A. , Tighe, B. 1998. A reappraisal of biodegradable polymers: Used, Current Developments in the synthesis and word picture of biodegradable polyesters, blends of biodegradable polymers and Recent progresss in biodegradation surveies. Polymer international. 47, 89-144. Anderson. A. 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B. , Mitchell, R. Microbial debasement and impairment of polymeric stuffs. 2000. In: Revie W, editor. The Uhlig Corrosion Handbook. 2nd Edition. New York: Wiley.. 439-60. In: Shah, A. A. , Hasan, F. , Hameed, A. , Ahmed, S. 2007. Biological debasement of plastics: A comprehensive reappraisal. Biotechnology Advances. 26, 246-265. Hamilton, J. D, Reinert, K. H, Hogan, J. V, 1995. Lord WV. Polymers as solid waste in municipal landfills. J Air Waste Manage Assoc. 43. 247-51. Ishigaki, T. , Sugano, W. , Nakanishi, A. , Tateda, M. , Ike, M. , Fujita, M. 2003. The degradability of biodegradable plastics in aerophilic and anaerobiotic waste landfill theoretical account reactors. Chemosphere. 54. 225-233. Kamal, M. R. , Huang, B. Natural and unreal weathering of polymers. In: HamidSH, Ami MB, Maadhan AG, editors. Handbook of Polymer Degradation. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker ; 1992. p. 127-68. Lenz, R. W. , Marchessault, R. H. 2004. Bacterial Polyesters: Biosynthesis, biodegradable plastics and biotechnology. American Chemical society. 6:1. Micales, J. A. , Skog, K. E. 1996. The decomposition of Foresy merchandises in landfills. International Biodeterioration & A ; Biodegradation 39. 2-3. 145-158. Mohee, R. , Unmar, G. D. , Mudhoo, A. , Khadoo, P. 2007. Biodegradability of biodegradable/degradable plastic stuffs under aerophilic and anerobic conditions. Waste Management. 28, 1624-1629. Narayan, R. 1999. ASTM criterions aid define and turn a new biodegradable plastics industry. ASTM standardisation News. 36-42. PROBIP ( Product overview and market projection of emerging bio-based plastics ) . 2009. Europen polysaccharide Network of excellence and European Bioplastics. Rathje, W. , Murphy, C. 1992. Rubbish: The archaeology of refuse, new York: Harper Collins.250. Seymour, R. B. Polymer scientific discipline before & A ; after 1899: noteworthy developments during the life-time of Maurtis Dekker. J Macromol Sci Chem 1989 ; 26:1023-32. Shah, A. A. , Hasan, F. , Hameed, A. , Ahmed, S. 2007. Biological debasement of plastics: A comprehensive reappraisal. Biotechnology Advances. 26, 246-265. Shimao, M. 2001. Biodegradation of plastics. Curr Opinion Biotechnol 12,242-247. Behera, S. K. , park. , J. , Kim, K. , Park, H. 2010 Methane production from waste leachate in laboratory-scale fake landfill. Waste direction. 30. 1502-1508. Thomas, N. , Clarke, J. , McLauchlin, A. , Patrick, S. 2010. Measuring the environmental Impacts of oxo-degradable plastics across their life rhythm. Loughborough University. Thompson, R.C. , Swan, A. H. , Moore, C. J. , Saal, F. S. 2009. Our Fictile Age. Phil. Trans. Soc. 364, 1973-1976. United States Composting Council. 2009. USCC Position statement: Keeping organics out of landfills. USEPA ( United States Environmental protection Agency ) . 2010a. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/climatechange/glossaary.html # GWP. Accessed October 2010. USEPA ( United States Environmental protection Agency ) . 2010b. hypertext transfer protocol: //www.epa.gov/methane/ . Accessed October 2010. USEPA ( United States Environmental protection Agency ) . 2008. Municipal Solid wastrel coevals, Recycling and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures. USEPA ( United States Environmental protection Agency ) . 2006. Global Extenuation of Non-CO2 Green house gases. Office of Atmospheric plans, Washington, DC. EPA 430-R-06-005. Yagi, H. , Ninomiya, F. , Funabashi, M. , Kunioka, M. 2009. Anaerobic biodegradation trials of polylactic acid and polycaprolactones utilizing new rating system for methane agitation in anaerobiotic sludge. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 94. 1397- 1404.List of TablesTable 1 Manufacturers and sums of BDP manufactured in twelvemonth 2007 Table 2 Literature published on methane production, biodegradability of polymers incorporated to BDPs and calculated methane production degrees Table 3 Maximum theoretical methane sums released during anaerobiotic biodegrdation of major polymer types in standard temperature and force per unit area Table 4 Comparison of theoretical and experimental methane emanation degreesList of FiguresFigure 1 Molecular constructions of polymers involved in the production of common BDPsTable 1 Manufacturers and sums of BDP manufactured in twelvemonth 2007.ManufacturerState of productionTrade NamePolymer typePolymer NameWorldwide production ( kt.p.a. ) in 2007BiodegradabilityA Cellulose Plastics ( with regerated cellulose and cellulose esters )AAAA2046A1 Lenzing GLO Lenzing viscose Lenzing modal Tencel Viscose modal and encel fibres Cellulose ester ( CA ) Cellulose acetate propionate ( CAP ) Cellulose ethanoate butyrate ( CAB 590 Fully biodegradable 2 Birla India, Thailand, Indonesia Birla Cellulose Viscose modal and encel fibres Cellulose acetate Cellulose ethanoate propionate Cellulose ethanoate butyrate 500 Fully biodegradable 3 Formosa Chemicals & A ; Fibre Taiwan Sodium Viscose Staple fibers Cellulose xanthate 140 Fully biodegradable 4 Kelheim Germany Danufil, Galaxy, Viloft Viscose Staple fibers Cellulose ester Cellulose ethanoate propionate Cellulose ethanoate butyrate 72 Fully biodegradable 5 Celanese United states Sodium CA flakes, tows and fibril Cellulose ester ( Cellulose ethanoate ) 250 Sodium 6 Eastman United states Sodium CA tows and fibril, CAB, CAP Cellulose ester Cellulose ethanoate propionate Cellulose ethanoate butyrate 200 Sodium 7 Rhodia Acetow Germany Sodium CA tows Cellulose ester ( Cellulose ethanoate ) 130 Sodium 8 Daicel Japan Sodium CA tows Cellulose ester ( Cellulose ethanoate ) 90 SodiumAOtherAA74ManufacturerState of productionTrade NamePolymer typePolymer NameWorldwide production ( kt.p.a. ) in 2007BiodegradabilityBacillus Polylactic Acid ( PLA ) polymers 151A9 PURAC Taiwan PURACAPolylactic acid ( PLA ) 75 Fully biodegradable 10 Nature Works United states IngeoAPolylactic Acid 70 Fully biodegradableAOther 6AC Starch blends 153A11 Novamont Italy Mater Bi Starch blends Starch/ Polycaprolactone ( PCL ) * 40 Fully biodegradable 12 Rodenburg Newzealand Solanyl Fermented amylumA40 Fully biodegradable 13 Biotec Danmark Bioplast amylum blendsA20 Fully biodegradableAOther 53ACalciferol Polyhydroxy alkanoates 2A14 Tianan Canada Enmat PHBV, PHBV and Ecoflex ( petrochemical polymer ) poly ( 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate ) ( PHBV ) 2 Fully biodegradable Tocopherol Polyurethane from Biobased polyol 12.3A15 Dow United states Renuva Polyurethane 8.8 Fully biodegradableAOther 3.5AManufacturerState of productionTrade NamePolymer typePolymer NameWorldwide production ( kt.p.a. ) in 2007BiodegradabilityAF Other biodegradable polymers 140A16 DuPont Japan Biomax PBST/PET copolymer Poly ( butylene succinate terephthalate ) Poly ( ethylene terephthalate ) ( PET ) 90 Sodium 17 Novamont Japan EatBio Polytetramethylene adipate- co- terephthalate ( PTMAT ) 15 Fully biodegradable 18 BASF Danmark Ecoflex Poly butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate ( PBAT ) 14 Fully biodegradableAOther 21AData Beginning: ( PROBIP, 2009 ) , NA-Data Not Available * Data beginning: Bertoldi et al. , 1996.Table 2 Literature published on methane production, biodegradability of polymers incorporated to BDPs and calculated methane production degrees..PolymerInitial mass ( g )Methane volume ( L )Dayss of incubationMethane production ( % )BiodegradaBility ( % )Methane volume ( m3/ karat ) / L0*Global polymer production ( kt/annum ) M0Volume of methane gas ( G0 ) ( m3/day ) **MentionsPolylactic acid 10 2.57 22 53.8 91 257,000 151 3.9 x 107 Yagi et al. , 2009 Mater Bi ( Starch Blend ) 1.96 0.245 32 99.11 26.9 24,500 40 9.8 x 106 Mohee et al. , 2007 Polycaprolactone 10 6.59 22 65.8 92 659,000 20 1.3 ten 10 7 Yagi et al. , 2009 * Calculated methane volume ( m3/kton ) based on published informations. ** Calculated methane sums harmonizing to the USEPA gas appraisal theoretical account.Table 3 Maximum theoretical methane sums released during anaerobiotic biodegrdation of major polymer types in standard temperature and force per unit area conditions.Major polymer typePolymerProduction capacity ( kt/annum )Theoretical methane production ( m3/kt )Theoretical methane production ( m3/yr )Cellulose based Cellulose ethanoate 668.76 6.2 ten 10 5 4.1 ten 10 8 Cellulose ethanoate butyrate 448.76 4.0 ten 10 5 1.8 ten 10 8 Starch blends ( Mater Bi ) Starch 20 4.1 ten 10 5 8.3 ten 10 7 Polycaprolactone 20 7.36 ten 10 5 1.5 ten 10 7 Poly lactic acid Poly lactic acid 151 3.73 ten 10 5 5.6 ten 10 7 Polyhydroxy alkaonates poly ( 3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate ) 20 1.1 ten 10 6 2.2 ten 10 7 Polyurethane based polyol Polyurethane 8.8 5.5 ten 10 5 1.3 ten 10 4 Other Polyethylene terephthalate 45 6.5 ten 10 5 2.9 ten 10 7 Polytetramethylene adipate -co- terephthalate 15 1.47 x10 6 2.2 ten 10 7 Polybutylene adipate -co-butylene terephthalate 14 7.0 ten 10 5 9.8 x10 6 Entire theoretical Methane production due to C, H, O polymers in twelvemonth 2007 if assumed all manufactured polymers being landfilled 1411.32 7.0 ten 10 7 8.31 ten 10 8 Theoretical sum methane coevals per twelvemonth is estimated to be 8.4 x10 8m3 based on twelvemonth 2007 manufactured BDP capacity.Table 4 Comparison of theoretical and experimental methane emanation degrees.PolymerExperimental Methane volume ( m3/ karat )Theoretical methane sum ( m3/ karat )% experimental emanation in relation to theoretical emanationPolylactic acid 257,000 373,333.33 68.84 Polycaprolactone 659,000 1,178,947.37 55.9Figure 1 Molecular constructions of polymers involved in the production of common BDPs

Fruits and Their Tastes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Fruits and Their Tastes - Essay Example A fruit has various chemical compounds in it namely proteins or cellulose, starch, vitamins and fructose. Depending on the amount of each and every one of these chemical compounds present in a fruit the tastes may be different. This is because the content of the fruit dictates the specific taste that is in the fruits. The bitterness of a fruit is determined by the chemical compounds that are available in it. For us to understand why there are variations in terms of the tastes in a fruit as it ripens we must understand the process of ripening. It involves the declining or increasing of the levels of acids or fructose. During the early stages in a fruit formation, the levels of acids contained in a fruit are very high. As the process of formation matures and ripening draws closer, the levels of acids tend to decrease. The acids are slowly converted into fructose as the process of ripening begins and as this happens the fruits start to become sweeter. For instance, mangoes, they are rea lly sour when raw but sweet when ripe. This perfectly reflects the explanation above where the change in composition of acids and fructose is reflected in the change of taste. There are fruits which have no particular taste. Take the water melon for example. They contain the same (equal) amount of fructose and acids; therefore they cannot be classified as extremely sweet or sour. Their tastes tend to be neutral. (Mauseth, 2003, p 81) 2. How does the ripening of fruit affect the process of seed dispersal? Seed dispersal is simply the method of propagation used by a plant. This is importance for the survival of a plant in its environment. The process that entails ripening is very much useful when it comes to the mechanism of seed dispersal to be used by the fruit. Fruits that are dispersed by wind are often very light and easy to detach from the plant. They undergo a lot of dehydration so that by the time they ripen they can easily be carried by the wind. The same case applies to frui ts which undergo self dispersal. They have to be dry enough so that they can burst and get dispersed. Fruits that are dispersed by animals go through a process of ripening that attracts animals to them either by bright colors or by scent. The enzymes that control this process (ripening) end up causing animals to come near these fruits leading to their dispersal. 3. How do humans interfere in this process by consuming grains and fruits? When human beings shake a plant whose seed dispersal mechanism is self, the seed just fall onto the ground. The best example here is the beans. (Note that the shaking is necessitated by the need to consume the grains). When the fruit is fully dehydrated human interference speeds up its self dispersal through explosion. When humans eat some fruits whose seed can be swallowed, then they can either destroy the seed itself (by chewing) or dispose the seed out of the digestive system. Depending on the environment where the seed is disposed, it can die or g o ahead and germinate. For a fruit like banana, when it’s harvested, the plant is disposed but then a sucker is planted as its means of propagation. There are cases where humans consume fruits with a conscious intention to preserve its seeds so that they can be prepared for planting. Though rare this leads to conscious seed dispersal and propagation. Humans wait until some fruits ripen fully while they don’

Christian World Veiw Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Christian World Veiw - Essay Example According to the Book of Romans, Sin leads to our alienation from God, thus destroying our relationship with Him (Romans 5). Paul emphasizes that Sin came about in the world because of the actions of one man, referring to the Original Sin made by Adam, and this Sin brought about death to all mankind (Romans 5:12-13). He adds that while humans try to resist the pull towards Sin, it is only by the grace of God that we will be able to transcend the gap between us and Him. God’s salvation is clearly outlined in the Book of Romans. Chapter 5 promises that humans are now reconciled with God through Christ’s death. However, this is only possible if we likewise conformed to the ways of Christ, in which we do as He did so that we would be sanctified and renewed as images of Christ. The Book of Romans teaches us that God’s ultimate goal is for us to be his Sons just as Christ is. That is, since God created us to be in the image of Christ, we are only able to do this if we also manifest the actions and thoughts of Christ. The Book of Romans tells us Christians are to live just as Christ did. This means that we should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God, and not merely conform to the actions of this world (Romans 12:1-2). Rather, we must aspire to be holy, and transformed by renewing our mind so that we will be able to clearly see what God truly wishes us to be. The Book of Romans reveals that God is a great power and a divine person (Romans 1:20). This is so clearly manifested that Paul says men will be held without excuse if they do not see the mighty power and divination of

The Home As Foundation For Behavioral Development. Major Causes Of Essay

The Home As Foundation For Behavioral Development. Major Causes Of Mis-Behaviors - Essay Example How effective the execution of their rights on the outside world depends on how intact their family system is and how they both practice their rights. This is where we based who is to blame or accredit the behaviors of one against the other, together with one another, or with the entire society they belong. Laws govern boundaries of behaviors in an organized society. In the case of most developed countries 18 years is the age where parents are put in custody of the child. During this stage it is assumed, in the absence of specific laws, that the parents have the right and obligations to take action, within the bounds of the law, to guide and discipline the child according to what the parents deemed necessary for the betterment of the child. Within the parental custody age of 0 to 18, if the parents fall short of expectations and remiss in the physiological, psychological, and social development needs of the child or juvenile, they share the burden and repercussions of the child's or juvenile's actions. Other person can sue the parents, or the children themselves can sue their parents if they found probable cause. Many countries today are focusing on basic social protection of the child's rights that resorted to even penalizing the erring parents and take custody of the juvenile.

INDIVIDUAL project plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

INDIVIDUAL project plan - Essay Example The immediate effect on the families includes affording basic needs among them clean food and education. The learned individuals would as well become a role model to other children in their respective communities. This would consequently improve the society well being and general economy. The project is funded with ?500 which is intended to successfully carry out a golf tournament event scheduled for 1st June 2013. The event is planned to attract more than 5000 interested individuals to raise more than ?600,000 to help fund education for various children living in deplorable conditions. Tables of Contents 1. Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.1.0 2. Business case†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2.0 3. Need assessment†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...2.1 4. The significance of the project†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.2.2 5. Investigating alternatives†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2.3 6. Evaluation†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦2.4 7. Breakdown structure†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦3.0 8. Marketing†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4.0 9. Network diagram †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..5.0 10. ... The problems have been perverse in three main cities. These include Pretoria, Cape Town and Johannesburg. It is well known that South Africa has the highest number of street children. Many governmental and non-governmental organizations in the world have attempted to curb the situation without a complete success. However, it is clear that most of the destitute children have reformed given the highest increment of students at both primary and secondary levels. Although these children attend school, it is reported that there have been a tendency of students boycotting classes without teachers' knowledge. It is further noticed that habit of bhang smoking has led to high level of students drop out. Many of them fail to join high school following the high level of dropout at the primary level. It is also realized that some students drop out of school as a result of malnutrition. Many families rarely experience three meals in a day. The families find it prudent to involve their children in their efforts to search for a meal. Girls are extremely affected as most of them are forced to involve in prostitution as well as working as house girls in well off families. These activities deny the girl child a chance to study as their counterparts. Through various researches done, it was found out that if a single student is provided with adequate fees to cater for boarding facilities it is likely that the levels of school absenteeism and dropout would significantly drop. This would ensure that the chance of a student completing a college course is meaningfully increased. Accordingly, the student would become a role model and furthermore help the

Human Resource Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 1

Human Resource - Essay Example The suggested leadership approach for the resistance effort is LMX, particularly for paternalistic or team-based organisational cultures. Leaders are recommended to develop buy in through tapping initial quality relations and the use of evidence to support their arguments. These leaders have ethos, but they must boost logos and pathos appeals to became convincing to employees and management alike. Through their communication and networking efforts, they are believed to create a scintillating force that can resist harmful or unproductive organisational changes. If changes can be attained through strong leadership, a similarly engaging leadership can also result to powerful resistance efforts to changes. Managing resistance to organisational changes has been examined in numerous management, organisational behaviour (OB), and psychology journals. Van Dijk and Van Dick (2009: 144) noted from their review of literature that several management science and OB articles in particular see resi stance as an obstacle to organisational development and success. Recommendations are commonly provided to avoid, control and reduce the causes of resistance (Cummings and Worley, 2009: 165; Kwahk and Kim, 2008). Moreover, a number of studies wholly focused on the change agent (Kwahk and Kim, 2008; van Dam, Oreg and Schyns, 2008). When journals examine employee perspectives, they do so with the purpose of understanding the causes of resistance, so that they could be identified for resolution later on (Meyer et al., 2007) as if all forms of resistance are problematic and unproductive per se. Scanty research has been done on why employees oppose particular kinds of changes and how they can go about preventing the implementation of unhelpful/damaging change efforts. This essay fills this information gap through exploring existing literature and applying concepts and studies to the process of effectively resisting organisational changes that are unbeneficial or harmful to employees or ot her stakeholder groups. This essay agrees that some organisational changes should be opposed, especially when goals, processes and outcomes are unclear and when potential for harmful/unbeneficial consequences exist. It reviews some of the causes of resistance to organisational changes and what employees can do to effectively resist these changes. Its main objectives are: 1) to review literature on the common causes of resistance to change and 2) to provide recommendations on how employees can effectively resist change without jeopardising their welfare and employment status. This essay does not aim to manage resistance to changes, but to help students and managers understand the conditions, where resisting changes may be good for the organisation, particularly, when the change goals, processes and outcomes would not be beneficial or would be detrimental to stakeholders. The reviewed literature shows how the management can effectively respond to employee resistance to changes while o ther studies and books examined the varied reasons behind resistance to changes. The framework for resistance is presented below (see Figure 1). Nevertheless, these studies do not identify that some of the possible reasons for resistance are due to lack of clarity and/or benefits and misalignment with personal ethical beliefs

Domestic and Regional Regulation in the Airlines Sector Essay

Domestic and Regional Regulation in the Airlines Sector - Essay Example However, the civil aviation sector has only contributed to ~3% of anthropogenic warming in the last 20 years, and therefore, it is a relatively small contributor to the phenomenon of climate change2. While using this argument, it is arguable that any climate policy involving the airline industry must strike a balance between the abatement costs and emissions reductions. The airline sector makes several arguments about aviation’s impact on climate change, including the fact that the industry has improved efficiency of aircraft fuel by more than 70%, which has brought together their environmental and economic goals3. Moreover, aggressive pursuit of increased fuel efficiency means that emissions of greenhouse gases from the sector account for less than 3% of total EU greenhouse gas emissions. However, the sector’s contribution to climate change has continued to elicit heated debate with EU-based environmental groups argue that the figure is closer to 10%4. The examination of these arguments and counterarguments must take metrics and language used into consideration in determining the actual impact of the aviation sector on climate change. Whatever the case, the airline sector in the EU faces a serious barrier to continued growth. Commercial aircraft are almost entirely reliant on jet fuel like kerosene, which means that their combustion by-products are unavoidable and, therefore, their regulation would risk increased production costs5. The lack of commercially viable, alternative sources of energy means that any regulations and policies seeking to mitigate climate change must take on a sectoral or industry-specific dimension to protect the airline sector’s economic viability6. Therefore, climate change deliberations at the Paris 2015 Conference on Climate Change should find policy prescriptions that mitigate climate change, while also considering dominant cost drivers.  

Business Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 30

Business Law - Essay Example C.  Ã‚   With one of the legal issues you identified above, check with a legal web-site, as a reference that gives you greater understanding of this issue, so that you can describe the general rule of law about this issue, and any significant exceptions. As an employee, you have the right to raise a claim of discrimination by the employer only if you belong to a protected class. A protected class implies that you are fully qualified for the job. In such a case, the employer takes negative actions against you particularly by filling your position with an unqualified employee who does not fit in the protected class. If you want to raise the claim, you must either have circumstantial or direct evidence. The book serves as a special dedication to employees and employers. It provides guidance and information regarding legal employment issues. The workplace laws enacted by the state legislatures, congress, and local government meant to bring just for both parties. The book also highlights a case law that pertains to decisions made on precedent cases. Other critical issues addressed in the books are such as employment contract, company’s personnel, collective-bargaining agreement, and civil service rules. The book also focuses on federal laws and, in particular, the different kinds of employment laws. In the first category, the book addresses the anti-discrimination legislation. According to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 title VII, employment discrimination based on religion, color, pregnancy, race, sex and national origin is prohibited. The Rehabilitation Act of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employment discrimination against people living with disabilities. The Age Discrimination Employment Act (ADEA) forbids employment discrimination based on age. Discrimination against persons aged 40 and above is an offense. Another category addressed by the book relates to salaries and hours of work. The Fair Labor Standards Act

ECONOMICS FOR BUSINESS Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

ECONOMICS FOR BUSINESS - Coursework Example While these were being implemented, their application had to be prioritised so that the government would offer what was socially and economically healthy to the citizens. These policies were to be implemented to improve the supply side structure of the economy and, therefore, touched on the firms, markets and industries. In this, the government aimed at improving the efficiency of firms, its productivity efficiency and effectiveness as it argued that much of the things that made the country to lag behind were caused by micro economic factors and not majorly from the external environment. The government minimised the distortions that apply in the market so that it remains competitive and productive and have a more efficient allocation of resources. This locative efficiency has allowed the resources to flow to areas where they are used more efficiently. The tariff protections have been removed from the industries which are inefficient. This has allowed the diversion of resources to areas which are more productive and, therefore, increasing the output. The government has subsidised the costs of importation of the new technology in a bid to increase the efficiency in production with minimum costs. This has been the case as the technically efficient industries have had reduced use of resources of which has helped to shift them to other areas of the economy. The reduction of government regulations helped the producers to venture into new markets and to respond quickly to the changing patterns in the economy and demands that come with it. This has set up the pace for the introduction of new technologies and inventions as well as bringing about competition that is fit for the structural changes. The government adopted the trade practices act that is meant to reduce competition through the collusive prices. This has also enabled new firms to enter the market and compete with the already existing firms. The government has removed the rigid regulations which used to control the market movements and has left the flow of the market been regulated by the demand and supply forces. The deregulations included the floatation of the dollar plus the removal of the control of RBA on the banks. These deregulations extended to the transport and telecommunication industries. This led to greater efficiency and productivity in these sectors, which was reflected in the whole economy. These were highlighted in the national economic reform policy which dated back to 1995. The government set up policies to ensure corporatisation and privatisation. This has brought about structural changes in the government business enterprises and has, therefore, ended up working independently from the governmen t eradicating political interference in their working. Industries like Qantas and Telstra have been privatised to be more competitive. The government carried out reforms in the labour market, where there arose a

History of Brazil Essay Example for Free

History of Brazil Essay It is a matter of fact that Brazil is a country of contrasts. One can easily observe that the development of this nation is incredibly uneven. Taking into consideration their past experience, the Brazilians are seeing some very good times as a nation. Certainly, they have overcrowding problems. However, each country has its own difficulties and tries to overcome them. Thus, the diversity of this country and its amazing history has brought a â€Å"mixing bowl† of culture preparing a bright future for Brazil. It is widely known that four major groups make up the Brazilian population. They are the Portuguese, who colonized Brazil in the 16th century; Africans brought to the country as slaves; various European, Middle Eastern, and Asian immigrant peoples who have settled in Brazil since the mid-19th century; and indigenous people of Guarani and Tupi language. (Skidmore, 131) Brazil is the only Latin American nation that takes its language and culture mainly from Portugal. Intermarriage between indigenous people or slaves and the Portuguese was a common phenomenon. Despite the fact that the major European ethnic culture of Brazil was once Portuguese, waves of immigration have greatly contributed to a diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. Admiral Pedro Alvares Cabral claimed Brazilian territory for Portugal in 1500. The early explorers brought back a wood with them that produced a red dye, pau-brasil. This is where the land received its original name. Portugal began colonization in 1532 and made the area a royal colony in 1549. During the Napoleonic Wars, fearing the advancing French armies, King Joao VI left the country in 1808 and set up his court in Rio de Janeiro. He was brought home later in 1820 by a revolution, leaving his son as regent. When Portugal wanted to reduce Brazil to colonial status again, the prince declared Brazils independence on Sept. 7, 1822. Thus, he became Dom Pedro I, emperor of Brazil. Harassed by his Parliament, Pedro I resigned in 1831 in favor of his five-year-old son who became emperor Dom Pedro II in 1840. Emperor Pedro II ruled to 1889 when a federal republic was established as a result of a coup detat organized by Deodoro da Fonseca, marshal of the army. A year earlier, while Dom Pedro II was in Europe, the Regent Princess Isabel had abolished Slavery. Abreu, 311) Dom Pedro II was a popular monarch. Yet discontent grew up and, in 1889, he had to resign because of a military revolt. Although a republic was proclaimed at that time, Brazil was ruled by military dictatorships until a revolt allowed returning gradually to stability under civilian presidents. From 1889 to 1930, the government was a constitutional democr acy. The presidency was alternating between the dominant states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais. This period ended with a coup detat that placed a civilian, Getulio Vargas, in the presidency. He remained as a dictator until 1945. From 1945 to 1961, presidents of Brazil became Eurico Dutra, Vargas, Juscelino Kubitschek, and Janio Quadros. When Quadros abdicated in 1961, he was succeeded by Vice President Joao Goulart. (Abreu, 329) Goularts years in office were marked by high inflation, total economic failure, and the increasing influence of radical political parties. The armed forces alarmed by these developments organized a coup detat on March 31, 1964. The coup leaders chose Humberto Castello Branco a president, followed by Arthur da Costa e Silva (1967-69), Emilio Garrastazu Medici (1968-74), and then Ernesto Geisel (1974-79). All of them were senior army officers. Geisel began a liberalization that was carried further by his successor, General Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo (1979-85). In the last of a long series of military coups, General Joao Baptista de Oliveira Figueiredo became president in 1979. He pledged a return to democracy in 1985. Figueiredo not only allowed the return of politicians exiled or banned from political activity during the 1960s and 1970s, yet also permitted them to run for state and federal offices in 1982. (Alden, 284) However, at the same time, the Electoral College consisting of all members of Congress and also six delegates chosen from each state continued its activities of choosing the president. The election of Tancredo Neves on January 15, 1985, the first civilian president since 1964, brought a nationwide wave of optimism and activity. He was elected from the opposition Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB). (Alden, 287) However, when Neves died on April 21, Vice President Sarney became president. The latter was widely distrusted because he had previously been a devoted member of the military regimes political party. Collor de Mello won the election of late 1989 with 53% of the vote in the first direct presidential election in his 29 years. (Abreu, 378) Mello promised to lower the persistent hyperinflation by following the path of free-market economics. Having faced impeachment by Congress because of a corruption scandal in December 1992, Mello finally resigned. Vice President Itamar Franco took his place and assumed the presidency. Fernando Cardoso, a former finance minister, won the presidency in the October 1994 election having 54% of the vote. He took office on January 1, 1995. (Skidmore, 232) Cardoso has organized the disposal of bad government-owned monopolies in the electrical power, telecommunication, port, railway, mining, and banking industries. His timely proposals to Congress included constitutional amendments in order to open the Brazilian economy to greater foreign participation and to implement such sweeping reforms as social security, government administration, and taxation so as to reduce excessive public sector spending and considerably improve government efficiency. Alden, 298) During his short time in the office, Cardosos economic wisdom has made a measurable progress in overcoming Brazils poverty level. It is remarkable to observe how the Brazilian government makes certain efforts in order to address basic needs of its people such as education, distribution of meals, health care, and the promotion of childrens rights. Co-signed by the President of Brazil and 24 state governors, the Pact for the Children is intended to fully implement the constitutional and legal obligations providing for protection of children and adolescents. Several federal agencies supervise the execution of government programs for children and adolescents aimed to give Brazilian youth opportunities for a better life, shelter, education, and love. Thus, if not forgetting about the past mistakes and taking care of its nation, the Brazilians will surely come to the brightest future.

Applications Of Forced Convection Engineering Essay

Applications Of Forced Convection Engineering Essay The experiment was carried out to verify the relationship between Nusselt number , Reynolds number and Prandtl Number using the different concepts of convection. Relative discussions and conclusions were drawn including the various factors affecting the accuracy of the calculated results. The main objective of this experiment was to verify the following heat transfer relationship: Therefore, the experiment is conducted by an apparatus where hot ait from heater is generated and flow through copper tube. Different values of temperatures and pressure were taken and recorded in order to calculate. Besides, graphs plotted and analysed to have a better understanding of convection heat transfer. Thus a Laboratory experiment was conducted where hot air from a heater was introduced through a copper tube with the help of a blower. Thermocouples were fixed in placed at various locations along the length of the copper tube. The different values of temperature and pressure were measured along with the various sections of the tube and other required values were recorded and calculated. Graphs were also plotted with the data obtained and then analysed. INTRODUCTION Heat transfer science deals with the time rate of energy transfer and the temperature distribution through the thermal system. It may be take place in three modes which is conduction, convection and radiation. Theory of convection is presented since this experiment is concerned about convective heat transfer. Convective is the mode of energy transfer between a solid surface and the adjacent liquid or gas that is in motion due to a temperature difference. It involves the combined effects of conduction and fluid motion. There are two major type of convective Forced convection is known as fluid motion generated by blowing air over the solid by using external devices such as fans and pumps. The other type is natural convection which meant by a phenomenon that occurs in fluid segments and facilitated by the buoyancy effect. It is less efficient than forced convection, due to the absence of fluid motion. Hence, it depends entirely on the strength of the buoyancy effect and the fluid viscosity. Besides, there is no control on the rate of heat transfer. Forced Convection Force convection is a mechanism of heat transfer in which fluid motion is generated by an external source like a pump, fan, suction device, etc. Forced convection is often encountered by engineers designing or analyzing pipe flow, flow over a plate, heat exchanger and so on. Convection heat transfer depends on fluids properties such as: Dynamic viscosity ( µ) Thermal conductivity (k) Density (à Ã‚ ) Specific heat (Cp) Velocity (V) Type of fluid flow (Laminar/Turbulent) Newtons law of cooling Where h = Convection heat transfer (W/(m2. °C) A = Heat transfer area = Temperature of solid surface ( °C) = Temperature of the fluid ( °C) The convective heat transfer coefficient (h) is dependent upon the physical properties of the fluid and the physical situation. Applications of Forced Convection In a heat transfer analysis, engineers get the velocity result by performing a fluid flow analysis. The heat transfer results specify temperature distribution for both the fluid and solid components in systems such as fan or heat exchanger. Other applications for forced convection include systems that operate at extremely high temperatures for functions for example transporting molten metal or liquefied plastic. Thus, engineers can determine what fluid flow velocity is necessary to produce the desired temperature distribution and prevent parts of the system from failing. Engineers performing heat transfer analysis can simply click an option to include fluid convection effects and specify the location of the fluid velocity results during setup to yield forced convection heat transfer results. TYPICAL APPLICATIONS Computer case cooling Cooling/heating system design Electric fan simulation Fan- or water-cooled central processing unit (CPU) design Heat exchanger simulation Heat removal Heat sensitivity studies Heat sink simulation Printed Circuit Board (PCB) simulation Thermal optimization Forced Convection through Pipe/Tubes In a flow in tupe, the growth of the boundary layer is limited by the boundary of the tube. The velocity profile in the tube is characterized by a maximum value at the centerline and zero at the boundary. For a condition where the tube surface temperature is constant, the heat transfer rate can be calculated from Newtons cooling law. Reynolds Number Reynolds number can be used to determine type of flow in fluid such as laminar or turbulent flow. Laminar flow occurs at low Reynolds numbers, where viscous forces are dominant. The condition of flow is smooth and constant fluid motion. Meanwhile, turbulent flow occurs at high Reynolds number and is dominated by inertial forces and it produce random eddies, vortices and other flow fluctuations. Reynolds number is a dimensionless number. It is the ratio of the inertia forces to the viscous forces in the fluids. Equation for Reynolds Number in pipe or tube is as below: Where à Ã‚  = Fluid density (kg/m3) V = Fluid velocity (m/s) D = Diameter of pipe ÃŽÂ ¼ = The dynamic viscosity of the fluid (Pa ·s or N ·s/m ²) ÃŽÂ ½ = Kinematic viscosity (ÃŽÂ ½ = ÃŽÂ ¼ / à Ã‚ ) (m ²/s) Q = Volumetric flow rate (m ³/s) A = Pipe cross-sectional area (m2) EXPERIMENT OVERVIEW Apparatus Figure 1 : Apparatus being used The experimental apparatus comprises of a copper pipe, which is supplied with air by a centrifugal blower and heater as figure 1. The test section of the pipe is wound with a heating tape, which is covered with lagging. Six copper constantan thermocouples are brazed into the wall of the test section. Another six thermocouples extend into the pipe to measure the flowing air temperature. In addition five static pressure tapping are positioned in the tube wall. A BS 1042 standard orifice and differential manometer measure the air mass flow rate though the pipe. Experimental Procedure Fully close the valve which controlling the air flow rate. Measure the everage intermal diameter (D) of the test section pipe by using a vernier calliper. Adjust the inclination angle of the manometer bundle ÃŽÂ ± to 30 °. Start the blower and turn the valve to the fully open position gradually, Adjust the power input to the heating tape to its maximum valve and allow the apparatus to attain thermal equilibrium. Take down the data and record Pressure drop through the metering orifice Pressure and temperature downstream of the orifice Ammeter and voltmeter readings Tube wall temperature along the testing section Air temperature along the test section Air pressure along the test section Ambient temperature and pressure. Repeat the foregoing procedure for another four different flow rate and adjust the heater input to give approximately the same wall temperature at each flow rate. DATA AND MEASUREMENT TABLE Property Symbol Units Value Barometric Pressure Pb mm Hg 741.60 Diameter of the test section pipe Dp m 0.038 Density of water (Manometers fluid) à Ã‚  Kg/m3 1000 Angle of the manometers bundle ÃŽÂ ± degree 30 Property Symbol Units Test 1 2 3 4 5 Pressure drop across orifice ΆH mm H2O 685 565 460 360 260 Pressure drop d/s orifice to atmosphere ΆP mm H2O 178 152 120 93 68 Air temperature downstream orifice t  °C 35 38 38 38 39 EMF (Voltage) across tape V Volts 230 200 165 142 129 Current through tape heater I Amps 7.3 6.3 5.5 5.0 4.0 Flowing air temperature t1  °C 35.0 36.9 38.2 40.0 41.4 Flowing air temperature t2  °C 36.1 37.7 38.9 40.6 41.9 Flowing air temperature t3  °C 43.1 43.6 43.4 44.4 45.6 Flowing air temperature t4  °C 42.2 42.4 42.4 43.5 44.6 Flowing air temperature t5  °C 49.6 48.6 47.0 47.3 48.1 Flowing air temperature t6  °C 63.2 59.6 55.7 54.3 54.6 Tube wall temperature t7  °C 38.9 40.0 40.6 41.9 43.0 Tube wall temperature t8  °C 81.20 73.6 65.9 62.2 61.2 Tube wall temperature t9  °C 99.8 89.1 77.5 71.5 69.5 Tube wall temperature t10  °C 105.9 93.9 81.3 74.6 72.4 Tube wall temperature t11  °C 106.5 94.5 81.8 75.1 73.1 Tube wall temperature t12  °C 108.1 95.5 82.3 75.0 72.5 Air static gauge pressure (Άl.sin ÃŽÂ ±) P1 mm H2O 385 324 255 195 145 Air static gauge pressure (Άl.sin ÃŽÂ ±) P2 mm H2O 264 223 175 132 99 Air static gauge pressure (Άl.sin ÃŽÂ ±) P3 mm H2O 210 181 141 108 79 Air static gauge pressure (Άl.sin ÃŽÂ ±) P4 mm H2O 108 97 81 57 42 Air static gauge pressure (Άl.sin ÃŽÂ ±) P5 mm H2O 23 31 20 16 14 Air static gauge pressure (Άl.sin ÃŽÂ ±) P6 mm H2O à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€ 0 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€ 0 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€ 0 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€ 0 à ¢Ã¢â‚¬ °Ã‹â€ 0 Sample Calculations Based on 1st set data, Power Input to the tape heater: Power = = (230 x 7.3)/1000 = 1.679 Absolute Pressure downstream of the orifice: 741.60 + (178/13.6)=754.69 mmHg Absolute Temperature downstream of the orifice: T = t + 273 = 365+ 273 = 308 K The Air Mass Flow Rate: air =5.66x = = 231.88 231.88 Kg/hr = 0.06441 Kg/sec, Since 1 Kg/hr = Kg/sec Average Wall Temperature: = (38.9+81.2+99.8+105.9+106.5+108.1)/6 =90.07 Average Air Temperature: = (35+36.1+43.1+42.2+49.6+63.2)/6 = 44.87 The Bulk Mean Air (arithmetic average of mean air) Temperature: = (35+63.2)/6 =49.1 The Absolute Bulk Mean Air (arithmetic average of mean air) Temperature: 49.1+273 =322.10 K The Properties of Air at Tb: Using the tables provided in Fundamentals of Thermal-Fluid Sciences by Yunus A.Cengel From the table A-18 (Page958), Properties of Air at 1atm pressure at K Density, à Ã‚  = 1.1029 kg/m3 Specific Heat Capacity, Cp = 1.006 kJ/(kg.K) Thermal Conductivity, k = 0.0277 kW/(m.K) Dynamic Viscosity,  µ = 1.95 x 10-5 kg/(m.s) Prandtl Number, Pr = 0.7096 The Increase in Air Temperature: 63.2-35 = 28.2 The Heat Transfer to Air: (231.88/3600) x 1.006 x 28.2 =1.827 Where: = Heat Transfer to air = Mass flow rate = Specific heat capacity = Increase in air temperature The Heat Losses: 1.679-1.827 = -0.148 Where: = Heat losses = Heat Transfer to air The Wall/Air Temperature Difference: 90.07-44.87 = 45.2 Where: = Wall/Air temperature difference = Average air temperature The Heat Transfer Coefficient: = ((231.88/3600) x 1.006 x 28.2) / (3.14 x .0382 x 1.69 x 45.2) = 0.199 kW/ (m^2 .k) Where: = Mass flow rate = Specific heat capacity = Increase in air temperature = Average Diameter of the Copper pipe. = Length of the tube = Wall/Air temperature difference The Mean Air Velocity: = (4 x (231.88/3600))/ (1.1029 x 3.14 x (0.0382 ^2) = 50.9575 m/s Where: = Mean air velocity = Mass flow rate = Density = Average Diameter of the Copper pipe. The Reynolds Number: The Nusselt Number: = Nusselt Number = Average Diameter of the Copper pipe. = Thermal conductivity The Stanton Number: Where: St = Stanton Number = Nusselt Number = Prandtl number Re = Reynolds number The Pressure Drop across the testing section: at Tb = 320.1 K = Pressure drop across the testing section = Absolute pressure downstream of orifice. = Barometric Pressure The Friction Factor: RESULT Power Power kW 1.679 1.260 0.908 0.710 0.516 Absolute Pressure downstream of the orifice P mm Hg 754.69 752.78 750.42 748.44 746.60 Absolute temperature downstream of the orifice T K 308 311 311 311 312 Pressure drop across the orifice à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  H mm H20 685 565 460 360 260 Air mass flow Rate air 231.88 209.31 188.57 166.60 141.18 Average wall Temperature tw 90.07 81.1 71.57 66.72 65.28 Average air temperature tair av 44.87 44.80 44.27 45.02 46.03 Bulk Mean air temperature tb 49.1 48.25 46.95 47.15 48.0 Absolute bulk mean air temperature Tb K 322.1 321.25 319.95 320.15 321.0 Density at Tb à Ã‚  1.1029 1.1058 1.1102 1.1095 1.1066 Specific Heat Capacity at Tb Cp 1.0060 1.0060 1.0060 1.0060 1.0060 Thermal Conductivity at Tb K 2.77 2.76 2.75 2.75 2.76 Dynamic Viscosity at Tb ÃŽÂ ¼ 1.95 1.95 1.94 1.94 1.95 Prandtl Number at Tb Pr 0.7096 0.7096 0.7100 0.7100 0.7098 Increase in air temperature from t1 to t6 à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  t a 28.2 22.7 17.5 14.3 13.2 Heat transfer to air air W 1.827 1.328 0.922 0.666 0.521 Heat losses losses W -0.148 -0.068 -0.015 -0.044 -0.005 Wall/Air temperature difference à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  t m 45.2 36.3 27.3 21.7 19.25 Heat transfer Coefficient h 0.199 0.180 0.167 0.151 0.133 Mean air velocity Cm 50.9575 45.877 41.167 36.394 30.922 Reynoldss Number Re 110096.353 99380. 144 89994. 330 79509. 225 67204. 418 Nusselt Number Nu 274.4 249 232 209.8 184.1 Stanton Number St 0.00351 0.00353 0.00363 0.0037 0.0039 Pressure Drop across the testing section à ¢Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  P 1746.42 1491.59 1176.73 912.57 667.08 Friction Factor f 0.01378 0.0145 0.0141 0.0141 0.0143 Results Plot A Experiment 1 2 3 4 5 Y=ln(Nu x Pr-0.4) 5.75 5.65 5.58 5.48 5.35 X=ln(Re0.8) 9.29 9.21 9.13 9.03 8.89 Y-X -3.54 -3.56 -3.55 -3.55 -3.54 Plot B Experiment 1 2 3 4 5 Y=Nu 274.4 249 232 209.8 184.1 X=Re x Pr 78124.37 70520.15 63895.97 56451.55 47701.69 Stanton number: Reynolds Analogy: Experiment 1 2 3 4 5 Friction factor 0.01378 0.0145 0.0141 0.014 0.0143 Reynolds Analogy 0.00689 0.00725 0.00705 0.007 0.00715 Stanton number 0.00351 0.00353 0.00363 0.0372 0.0386 DISCUSSION In order to get more accurate results, there are some suggestions like cleaning the manometer, checking the insulation on the pipe and making sure the valve is closed tightly. An additional way to prove the heat transfer equation is by re-arranging it. Nu = 0.023 x (Re0.8 x Pr 0.4) Substituting in the experimental values into the above equation from section 5.0 returns the following results below: Experiment 1 2 3 4 5 Y=Nu 274.4 249 232 209.8 184.1 X=Re0.8 x Pr0.4 9415.08 8674.51 8014.48 7258.34 6344.14 Y/X 0.029 0.0287 0.0289 0.0289 0.029 Comparing this to the heat transfer constant, it shows that there is a little difference only which can be negligible. It can also be done by taking the gradient of the line from the plot Nu against (Re0.8 x Pr0.4) as shown below: CONCLUSION A better understanding of the heat transfer was achieved through conducting the experiment. Theoretical sums and experimental values were found to be approximately similar and the different sources of error have been identified. The main objective of this experiment was to verify the following heat transfer relationship: Nu = 0.023 x (Re0.8 x Pr 0.4) Therefore, relation of forced convective heat transfer in pipe is cleared and the objectives were completed.

Recent Trends In Co Branding

Recent Trends In Co Branding Co-branding as an alternative branding proposition is fast making grounds in todays marketing arena all over the world in almost all the industries as well as in international marketing. Apart from the factors like cooperation brands equity, information, category, consumers knowledge, experience, nationality and culture, etc, the success of a co-branding alliance also depends on the COO effect. The country of-origin effect is mainly produced by cooperative brands country of-origin image and plays an important role in the success of co-branding strategy. In this paper, we identify various strategies a company can follow in order to enter a co-branding alliance and critical factors of a successful co-branding strategy with special focus on country-of-origin effect to assist the multinational companies make decisions about co-branding. We also utilise some real-world cases in order to demonstrate our notions. Introduction Nowadays, one of the highly valued assets for a company are its brands (Aaker, 1990), with branding being every companys top priority. But it often costs the companies huge amount of money and takes them a long time to build their brand. Todays market is suffering from a syndrome of sameness where all the products offered to the customers look very similar both in terms of sameness in the physical brand element and in the symbolic value proposition offered to the market. Thus it has become difficult to establish a unique position for new products with markets cluttered with competing brands. Even innovative differentiated products can be imitated quickly, leaving no strategic edge. As globalization phenomenon continues to elevate competition in the marketplace, product introduction has become highly fraught with risk. One reason of such risk is the incredibly high cost of building brands for a product, which in some cases can exceed $100 million (Voss and Gammoh, 2004), and another i s that firms are facing the reality of high new-product failure rates between 20 and 40% per year (Spethman Benezra, 1994). In this situation marketers are searching for alternative method of branding for creating sustainable competitive advantage. Although there are a number of ways for a company to build its own brand, co-branding may be a good branding strategy since it can offer fresh opportunities for companies to gain new markets that may otherwise be difficult to reach effectively, and it is beneficial to the organizations involved to alleviate costs when entering new markets by using the established equity of the second brand (Aaker, 2004; Kapferer, 2004; Keller, 2003). Moreover, it can also help the company to increase consumers perceived quality and image toward their brand (Keller, 2003). Co-branding is a marketing arrangement to utilize multiple brand names on a single product or service (Chang, 2009). Basically, it involves combining two or more well-known brands into a single product. The constituent brands can assist each other in achieving their objectives. Used properly, co-branding has the potential to achieve best of all worlds synergy that capitalises on the unique strengths of each contributing brand. Successful examples include Coach and Lexus, Diet Coke and Nutra Sweet, Pillsbury Brownies and Nestle Chocolate, Crocs and Disney, IBM and Intel, Betty Crocker and Hershey, Breyers and Hershey, Lays and KC Masterpiece, Sony and Kodak, and so forth. These co-brandings have created large benefits for stakeholders. However sometimes co-branding can pose the threat of differential advantage on one partner and generate potential competitors. Many a times, co-branding effects one partner positively and the other negatively. Among many factors (discussed later, in detail) that affect a brands evaluation by its customers and thus affect a co-branding alliances success, country-of-origin is an important factor. Leading research publications have established country of origin information as an indicator used by consumers to infer the quality and reliability of products from a country (e.g., Hong and Wyer 1989, 1990; Klein, Ettenson, and Morris 1998; Gà ¼rhan-Canli and Maheswaran 2000). This notion is typically used to describe the overall quality of goods within a particular product category, such as electronics or automobiles. Country-of-origin fit is described as the consumers perception of the overall compatibility of the two countries of origin involved in the brand alliance. Compatibility is assessed by comparing the consumers overall perceptions of the countries ability to produce quality goods within their respective product category. For example, assume that a consumer is evaluating a brand alliance that involves a Taiwanese computer manufacturer and a Japanese microprocessor chip manufacturer. When analyzing country of origin information, the consumer will rely on his or her perception of the overall quality of computers made in Taiwan and microprocessor chips made in Japan. If there is an inconsistency within this country of origin fit, the consumer may either weigh each country in terms of relative importance to the brand alliance or simply view the alliance unfavourably due to its dissimilarities of perceived product quality of the brands. Therefore country of origin fit will directly influence consumer attitude towards a cross-border brand alliance for specific product categories. That is to say, if the brand had a very strong negative brand of origin stereotype, it would be very difficult for it to build its own brand. In this paper previous research on co-branding is reviewed and recent trends and examples analysed to offer the critical success factors for assessing co-branding opportunities with special focus on the country-of-origin effect. Benefits of Co-branding There are several reasons why some companies would want to pursue co-branding. The first one is that co-branding can attract a wide range of consumers. Because once company adopts the co-branding, for consumers, it means that it provides more selection and more function of products. For example: Nike and Ipod, announced a partnership, which resulted in forming a coopetitive alliance of co-branding named Nike+Ipod. They call the co-brand product Nike + Ipod Sport Kit. The consumers can download the music from the Ipod website for free. They realized that there is one kind of the potential consumers who like to listen to music while can achieve the aim of the exercise. This is the change from a single product to a diverse selection of products. What is more, there are not only bringing more choices to choose brand and product but also bring the convenience for the consumers. In this fast-paced society, more and more people want to purchase the require goods in one place. So co-branding integrates variety of business concepts in order to meet the consumer needs. They can take the less money and time to buy the satisfied products. So co-branded products and services can gain consumer choices, loyalty and ultimately make the brand unique and distinctive. In addition, co-branding can bring more opportunity for the company. It can improve the quality of the product and influence the consumer judgment of the brand. Like innovation, this approach offers opportunity of growth in existing market and exploration of new markets. In such alliance, companies come together to create new offerings for customers. Once the new products can meet the consumers taste, it means that can bring the more profits for the company. So, it must have more space for development. For IT industry, relying on co-branding to gain the trust of consumers is a common marketing strategy. Co-branding can also reduce the risk of company to enter new markets, because they share the risk and responsibility from each other. Most of all, it can help the company reduce the costs and expense of operation. So co-branding provides the opportunities and integrates their resources and makes-up their disadvantage in order for business to achieve the win-win situation. Like Miller Brewing Corporation and Coors Brewing Corporation, which are US second and third largest brewers, combine their operations to create a bigger challenger to Anheuser-Busch Corporation. SABMiller and Molson Coors will each have a 50% interest in the joint venture, and have five representatives each on its board of directors. Based on the value of the assets, SABMiller will have a 58% economic interest in MillerCoors, and Molson Coors will have a 42% economic interest. MillerCoors will have annual beer sales of 69 million barrels, roughly 29% of the U.S. market, and revenue of $6.6 billion. Anheuser-Busch h as a market share of around 48%. (Wei-Lun Chang, 2009, page 4) Collaboration not only increases the number of market share, but also reduces the cost of two companies. Risks posed by Co-branding However, co-branding can also provide bad effect to the company. Because collaborating with your competitors is like a double-edged sword. Firstly, it is difficult for one of the parties to abandon the partnership and re-establish itself in the market independently. Once a co-brand takes position in market, it becomes difficult to dismantle co-brand and even more difficult to re-establish the brand alone. It is not good for the firm future because it more easily bring dependence. Secondly, brands are also exposed to the risk of devaluation, sometimes virtually overnight. At times, both companies can be affected, as in the case of a partnership between a discount chain and an upscale house wares company. At first, the co-brand created significant earnings for both companies-in one year generating more than $1 billion in sales. But when the discounter filed for bankruptcy the announcement depressed the partner companys stock. It also caused the investment community to question the partner about its contingency plans-an unexpected challenge for a co-brand. Subsequent bad press about possible criminal activity by the house ware brands CEO had similar effects and raised similar questions for the discounters managers. Shortly after the allegations were made public, a consumer tracking firm reported that nearly 20 percent of the upscale manufacturers customers said that now, because of the negative media attention, they would be less likely to buy the companys produ cts. Thirdly, when establishing co-branding, choosing the right partner is very important. Sometimes, due to the different cultures and vision and even operational frictions, they are in-compatible. One fast-food chain that serves mostly sandwich fare had unsuccessfully tried co-branding with Italian and Mexican restaurant chains. While these partnerships created great brand synergies, operational friction was created because the co-branded restaurants attracted customers at the same time of day-during the lunch and dinner rushes. The chain went ahead with the deals anyway, overburdening its staff and diminishing the in-store customer dining experience. Finally, the company learned its lesson, and its most recent co-branding partner is a breakfast-food chain. Gary Hamel pointed that Western firms commonly exhibit a lack of strategic intent in collaborative efforts. The contribution of a Western firm in a collaboration effort is often in the form of technology and is relatively easy for the alliance firm to transfer. In many instances, Western firms are less skilled at limiting unintended competency transfer than their Japanese counterparts. So if the company with different culture backgrounds transfer, perhaps it will bring the bad effects (including low profit, internal conflict). Finally, in some extent, co-branding can lead to transfer of competitive advantage to the partner, creating a potential competitor. Collaboration allows two firms to share their resources, tacit knowledge, and know-how to align with a joint goal. (Wei-Lun Chang, 2009, page80) In a word, due to the collaboration they lose their own advantage in strategy. Sometimes co-branding more easily leads to loss of characteristics of their own products and their own strategy. Meanwhile, there is a crisis in co-branding, when they share the same brand, so there is a problem which company can get the ownership of the brand after co-brand. On the other hand, it can lead to transfer of consumers. For example, the per-brands product image and quality can effects the partner. After co-brand it may lose some consumers. So, sometimes, co-branding is a treat for the company. Critical Factors for a successful co-branding strategy In order to achieve a strategic fit, Chang, 2009 suggested five critical factors that must be analysed for a successful co-branding strategy. This can be referred to as a 5C model for evaluating a co-branding opportunity (Figure 1). These factors can assist a company in organising a successful and appropriate co-branding strategy from a macro perspective. Transition Cost Its important to consider the transition costs for two companies embarking on a successful co-branding strategy. For the joint venture type, the two companies have the same responsibility for both profits and liabilities (e.g., Sony and Ericsson). Thus, the transition cost for both parties is symmetric. But in the merger type, one party (e.g., BenQ) must take responsibility for the other (e.g., Siemens). BenQ merged with Siemens and had to provide constant financial support. Unfortunately, BenQs pockets just werent deep enough to absorb the cost of turning around the profit-losing Siemens unit. The cost for both parties was thus asymmetric. Thus the transition costs of co-branding seriously affect the future for the companies involved. Cultural Differences Cultural differences are also a crucial consideration for two companies planning a co-branding strategy. Trying to consolidate companies from different countries creates many unknowns of, especially at the employee level. For example, if one companys culture is conservative while the other is innovative, cooperation will prove difficult. And there are many other potentially problematic cross-cultural factors like power distance, uncertaininty avoidance, etc. BenQs employees worked hard to collaborate with Siemens workers for nine months, but ultimately failed, largely as a result of underestimating the intractability of German labor laws. Cultural differences are a major factor impacting on the direction and outcome (success or failure) of a co-branding strategy. Thus cultural differences between two companies should be considered thoroughly in advance and require very effective management. Consumer Acceptance The third lesson is know thy customers. Consumer-centric design will drive a successful co-branding strategy. Sony and Ericsson is a case in point, having launched several consumer-centric mobile phones in recent years (e.g., embedded with Cybershot technology), they advanced the level of functions (digital video recorder, Bluetooth, etc.) in order to increase competitive advantage. On the other hand, BenQ and Siemens originally targeted teenage customers (based on the slogan enjoy matters) and then attempted to provide diversified models (e.g., classical and business models) for other groups (besides teenagers). However, consumers in Germany and Taiwan are completely different. It was difficult to find a leverage point and common ground for both parties to satisfy the radically different types of consumers in the two countries, the companies should identify, focus on and act concertedly in terms of what specific consumers want and need. Core Positioning The core competence of a brand is fundamental in attracting large numbers of customers. Since each individual brand has its own core competence, the synergy between two brands is extremely important. In the brand alliance situation, a strong brand should clearly and uniquely identify and position its core competence, so that the second brand can integrate with it. The core competence could be either homogeneous or heterogeneous. Ideally, similar core competencies (i.e., homogeneous) will generate a stronger co-branding effect. However, heterogeneous core competencies can complement each other to create a substantial synergy. For example, BenQ has re-positioned its brand as keep exploring to replace the original slogan enjoy matters after that original venture failed. The lesson is that the core competencies of two companies should be clearly identified in order to successfully position the new brand. Capital Restructuring As previously mentioned, co-branding may take on one of two essential operational types: joint-venture or merger. For the former, both companies restructure the capital structures of the original corporations. That is, each member corporation is responsible for the new joint-venture company, especially the financial aspects. In the merger situation, the dominant company should be responsible for the gain and loss after merging. For example, the capital structure of BenQ was reorganized after it merged with Siemens, and this resulted in a loss of around 810 million US dollars between October 2005 and June 2006. The lesson: adequate capital for two companies is critical before they even start evaluating each other and organizing a co-branding plan. Various strategies for co-branding A co-brand is more limited in terms of its audience than a corporate brand. It conveys a specific image and a set of expectations to target customers in a given market. The key decision that the merged firm needs to make regarding its co-brand is to choose the type of tactic it wants to create or maintain with the various strategies previously served by the individual firms. Should it try to maintain all the existing strategies or eliminate them in favor of just one or a few? The issue underlying these choices is how to manage similarities and differences in respect of both customers and the brands that it has inherited through a clear co-branding strategy. The two dimensions that determine a merged firms co-branding strategy are its co-brand name and its intended market. The co-brand name signifies a new or existing brand name for a co-brand. The co-brand name involves a choice for the firm: should it have a same brand name to all its customer segments no matter how different they might be from each other? Or should it create a different brand name, varying the range of specifications and quality accordingly to different customers segments? The intended market dimension signifies the market positioning of the firms products or services that it wishes to convey to a given market. The merged firm may decide to stay in the existing market regard to all its product or service that is, suggest the same positioning across all served segments. Alternatively, the firm could create new opportunities to move to a new market with its product or service that is, adopt different positioning for them depending upon the particular customer and competitive dynamics in each of its served segments. Intended Market. Co-Brand Name Existing Existing Market Penetration Strategy New Global Brand Strategy Figure 2: Co-branding strategies Cross-classifying the two dimensions (Co-brand name: existing or new; Intended Market: existing or new) leads to four alternative co-branding strategies, each representing a particular way to integrate the brand name and customer positioning dimensions: Market Penetration, Global Brand, Brand Reinforcement, and Brand Extension (see Figure 3). Market Penetration Strategy A Market Penetration Strategy signifies a conservative tactic to keep the existing market and the original brand names of two firms. In essence, the co-brand name is either a single brand name (e.g., BMW MINI Cooper) or the combination of two firms (e.g., MillerCoors and DaimlerChrysler). The key assumption that drives the adoption of a Market Penetration strategy is the horizontal convergence of two companies. The merged firms commitment is to take advantage of such horizontal integration, accentuate the desirable goals and benefits by sharing the resources. The merger between HP and Compaq, for instance, has led to the creation of a global brand. HP uses single brand name for the firms image but some products with a dual name such as HP Compaq Presario series of laptop/desktop. However, focusing on existing market and brand names might not cause the synergy to make the merged firm stronger and more efficient (e.g., HP was not superior to IBM much after merging Compaq). Finally, for a Market Penetration strategy to succeed, it is critical that the heterogeneous of customer segments and the reputation of two firms should be sufficiently high. Global Brand Strategy A Global Brand Strategy signifies a firms decision to serve all its customers with an existing co-brand name in a new market. The key assumption that drives the adoption of a Global Brand strategy is convergence of cross-segmental preferences. The merged firms commitment is to take advantage of such convergence, accentuate the desirable goals and benefits by utilizing global recognition. Among recently merged firms in the telecommunication sector, BenQ has actively pursued to extend the market share and global visibility by merging telecommunication department of Siemens with existing brands of the combination BenQ-Siemens. For the merged brand, advantages of a global product brand could accrue at both the supply end when scale and scope advantages substantially outweigh the benefits of partial as well as the demand end, with uniquely and premium than local or regional brands. However, focusing on extending the current market might cause fail and lose the original advantages (e.g., BenQ reduced its assets dramatically after merging Siemens). Finally, for a Global Brand strategy to succeed, it is vital that the universality across diverse customer segments appeal continuously to evolving patterns of preference. Brand Reinforcement Strategy A Brand Reinforcement Strategy signifies two firms decide to use a new name as a co-brand name in the existing market. The key assumption that drives the adoption of a Brand Reinforcement strategy is brand image reinforcement. The merged firms commitment is to take advantage of such attempt of a totally different co-brand name, accentuate the desirable goals and benefits by providing a diverse name and representation style. For the new co-brand name, two firms could reinforce the reputation of their original brands without hurting the original names. However, focusing on creating a new brand name might cause fail lose the advantages (e.g., people have negative image will affect the seed company of a diverse co-brand name). Finally, for a Brand Reinforcement strategy to succeed, it is essential to create an appropriate co-brand name that is totally different from original ones effectively and efficiently. Brand Extension Strategy A Brand Extension Strategy signifies two firms decide to serve a newly co-brand name in a new market. The key assumption that drives the adoption of a Brand Extension strategy is union of cross-segmental preferences (e.g., Sony and Ericsson). The merged firms commitment is to take advantage of such union, accentuate the desirable goals and benefits by extending different segments. The merger between Sony and Ericsson has led a horizontal integration for a strategic purpose. Before merging with Ericsson in 2001, Sony was not (with market share of only 1% to 2%) a leading player in the telecommunication industry. Sony had superior design capabilities, but lacked core telecommunication competences, whereas Ericsson had excellent RD capabilities. The merger began to earn profits in the second merged year (2003). Sony-Ericsson is currently among the top four mobile phone manufacturers. This success can be attributed in part to the fact that the partners had a good co-branding plan including a joint brand name for cellular phones. For the merged brand, positioning a co-brand in an extension purpose might cause by a successful co-branding plan (e.g., Sony-Ericsson). However, it is risky for both firms to position a new brand in an unfamiliar market or customer segments. Finally, for a Brand Extension strategy to succeed, it is vital that two firms have to take advantage of their core competences at the first place, generate the positive synergy as well as draw up an appropriate long-term co-branding plan. Types of Co-branding The uncomplicated type of co-branding can create significant value for companies and their customers, the potential of more durable and innovative co-branding approaches-those that focus on combining the real capabilities of partner companies to create new customer-perceived value-is far greater. While there are many forms of co-branding, before a company can decide which option makes the most sense for its situation, it must fully explore four main types of co-branding. Each is differentiated by its level of customer value creation, by its expected duration and, perhaps most important, by the risks it poses to the company. These risks include the loss of investment, the diminution of brand equity and the value lost by failing to focus on a more rewarding strategy Country-of-origin Effect and its significance Companies all over the world are looking to expand their businesses into foreign markets. With the dropping of trade barriers and improvements in communication, many firms aspire to go global. The safest approach is to build brands with relevant differentiation and value proposition that would encourage customer loyalty. However, the consumers brand evaluation process is a complex one with a number of variables. One key factor proposed by Robert Schooler, 1965, is the Country-of-Origin (COO) of the brand. Al-Sulaiti and Baker (1998) even considered it as the fifth element of the marketing mix. Country of origin refers to information pertaining to where a product is made (the made in concept). It is also defined as the positive or negative influence/associations that a products country of manufacture may have on consumers decision processes or subsequent behaviour (Elliott and Cameron, 1994). According to COO theory, when consumers are exposed to the product which is made from other countries, they will perceive some stereotype images about those countries and these images are subsequently used as information cues in judging products from different origins (Lotz and Hu, 2001). For example, France is associated with fashion, Japan with hi-tech/electronic goods and Germany with high level of technology. Factors affecting influence of COO effects on brand evaluations Research in international marketing has proven that country associations do lead to customer bias. Such bias is based on the image of the country in customers minds. This leads to the next obvious question what constitutes an image of a country? What makes French the best country for wines, what makes Germany the best in engineering and what makes Switzerland the best in watch manufacturing? Many factors contribute to the country image. Here are some of the most important ones: Economic Development One of the main factors that influence customers perceptions towards a country is the level of the countrys economic development. Level of economic growth acts as a main proxy for the countrys other activities. In developed countries, national products are likely to be preferred than imports. On the other hand, in developing countries domestic products are likely to be evaluated less favorably than foreign made products especially from developed countries. Business history This refers to the evolution of business in a country and what a country has specifically been known for historically. Even though countries evolve through time to specialize in successively high-value industries, it takes a long time to shrug off any negative associations of the past. As such, the business history of the country contributes to the overall image of the country. Demographics The consumer perception toward COO can vary by demographics i.e. the effect of gender, age group or education and income. Studies (Kotabe and Helson, 1998) have shown that COO influences would be strong among the elderly, less educated and politically conservative consumers. Another factor is wealth index that refers to the perceived/actual overall wealth of a country as measured through levels of consumption, number of millionaires, number of billionaires, the size of the luxury goods industry, the sophistication of leisure industry, the proportion of individual income spent of leisure and self enhancing activities and so on. Wealth index offers customers a cue to infer the level of product quality, variety, and perceived credibility of the products/brands. Technology Given the extent to which technology and technological innovations impact consumers lives in todays world, it is not surprising that the extent of technological advancement of a country bears heavily on consumers perception of the country. This factor is usually related to the level of economic development of the country. Higher the technological capability of a country, more positive is the COO effect. Ethnocentricity However, in the context of economic development given above, the issue of ethnocentricity of the host country becomes critical. Customers who are ethnocentric are likely to feel that it is inappropriate and wrong to purchase foreign made products (Schiffman and Kanuk, 2002). It is argued by LeVine and Campbell that in developed countries, consumer ethnocentrism is seen as the most important factor because they more knowledgeable therefore they prefer to buy domestic to keep domestic jobs and thus increase their countrys GDP, and as a result, COO effects have a minimal role to play. Hence, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Low ethnocentric consumers are more likely to use COO cue to infer product Quality whereas, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ high ethnocentric consumers looks at COO as a means to express loyalty as so reflected in their purchasing behaviour Regulatory mechanisms With heightened globalization, the existence and effectiveness of regulatory mechanisms have become a major factor in creating country images. Regulatory mechanisms such as Intellectual Property Rights law (IPR), online piracy laws, anti-fraud regulations and others create a sense of perceived security in the minds of businesses and customers about a specific country. Product Categories The usage of COO cue is primarily determined by the specific type of product. Therefore, COO effect varies by product category. Typically, those products that can be categorized as high involvement products (such as durables) are more relevant to the concept of COO than low involvement goods. Consumer Expertise (Related to the above point), COO influences will be stronger when the consumer is not familiar with a product category, which can be categorized in novice group (Novices are the consumers who have the time limitation and lack of sufficient product knowledge). They possibly use COO cue under any circumstances (Usuiner, 2000). On the other hand, expert consumers only rely on COO cue when the product attribute is vague. All of these factors contribute towards the formation of an overall image of a country. As such, a country which is economically well developed, is technologically advanced, has a high wealth index, has stringent regulatory mechanisms, follows a market economy, and has positive hi