A PhD in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences - Statement of Purpose Essay Example for Free

A PhD in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences Statement of Purpose Essay Statement of Purpose I am determined to pursue a PhD in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences with an emphasis on formulation and development of new drug entities. During pharmaceutics lab sessions in my second year as an undergraduate, I was engaged in making different drug formulations (Pharmaceutics). It was here I began to wonder how these dosage forms were being formulated to achieve optimum therapeutic response which led me to the goal of pharmaceutical technology. During my B.pharm in Pune University, my appetite for pharmaceutics led me to pursue a masters in pharmaceutics. I worked hard, studying various Novel drug delivery systems such as Micro-particulate systems, chrono-modulated drug delivery systems, various polymeric dosage forms, etc. Not to negate this hard work, I couldnt be more proud of what I accomplished in my research on the Development and evaluation of Floating microspheres of Pioglitazone hydrochloride and developed new dosage form for the delivery of the anti-diabetic drug. As compared to conventional dosage form (tablet) of Pioglitazone hydrochloride, this new dosage form prolongs the delivery of drug and retains it for nearly 12 hours in the stomach region, where maximum release of the drug is possible. My mark on the field has just begun My interests grew as I viewed at close quarters current developments in pharmaceutics, in particular as it relates to formulation and development of drug molecules. It is marvellous to see how a molecule, inefficacious in conventional formulations, can do wonders when used in a Novel Drug Delivery System like Microparticles. I feel the need to delve more deeply into my Masters research topic of Microparticles and do more research into areas of Micro/nanotechnology, to study in detail the development of Micro/nanoparticles as carriers to deliver aniticancer agents, genes, vaccines, etc. I have published 2 research papers, 1 other is accepted for publication and another one under revision, which gave me intense experience of the overall procedure for publication from designing experiments 25/8/2013 2:13 PM a PhD in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences Statement of Purpose http://www.essayforum.com/graduate-essays-4/phd-field-pharmaceutic Inspiration and enthusiasm well up in me when I am at work; I have gained professional experience by working for about 1year as Trainee chemist (FD) at Zest Pharma and about 6 months as Chemist (FD) at Aristo Pharma in India. During this period I become completely familiar with Preformulation studies, Formulation development and standardization of different oral solid dosage forms. Of course now I want to move forward ahead toward a Ph.D. I chose National University of Singapore (NUS) because of the exceptional research projects in the field of Pharmaceutics. I am mostly intrigued by Dr. Chans project concerning study of different techniques of microencapsulation and also Dr. Liews projects on Granulation and pelletization techniques. I am confident of making an original contribution to the field of Pharmaceutics and also because the facilities at NUS seem to foster a healthy research environment as I could gather from the brochure of your department. Also NUS provides a very thorough and effective foundation for work in the Industrial/Organizational field. I intend to pursue a career in the area of research and development for private industry; therefore NUSs high placement rate, along with all above qualities, is imperative to me and my career. It is my intention to make a significant contribution to my chosen field and I look forward to our relationship with great eagerness. Â  Nov 7, 2011, 06:43am #2 any one can please take a look at my SOP and comment on possible changes EF_Susan [Moderator] Nov 10, 2011, 12:25pm #3 My mark on the field has just begun. I feel the need to delve more deeply into my Masters research topic of Microparticles and to do more research into areas of Micro/nanotechnology, to study in detail the development of Micro/nanoparticles as carriers to deliver aniticancer agents, genes, vaccines, etc. I have published 2 research papers, and one other is accepted for publication and another I have taught lectures have taken practicals of Physical Pharmacy (Pharmaceutics-II) of second year under-graduate students. Of course n Now I want to move forward ahead toward a Ph.D. Looks like theyll be very lucky to have you as a student! Â  Similar discussions: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (Rejected for the last time when applied) Reasons for applying Master of Science (MSc) programme in the Pharmaceutical Sciences Dynamic research group of UF; University of Florida/ PhD(Pharmaceutical Sciences)-SOPÂ   Thesis statement for my sop (field of lifesciences/clinical sciences) Need ideas! Research on Jacalin plant; Study Objective for Fulbright Pharmaceutical Sciences Statement of Purpose for a major in Fluid/Thermal Sciences (MS Mechanical) Statement of Purpose for Graduate School in Bioarchaeology field in the UK Statement of Purpose for Chemical engineering in smart polymers field (the field of Oncology) Statement of Purpose Masters in Physician Assistant The burgeoning field of Computer Science my Statement of Purpose Random: Obeying to the demands of Mrs. Sanderson; Significant Experience/ UC This thread has been closed. 25/8/2013 2:13 PM a PhD in the field of Pharmaceutical Sciences Statement of Purpose 4 of 4 http://www.essayforum.com/graduate-essays-4/phd-field-pharmaceutic 25/8/2013 2:13 PM

Land Rover Marketing Mix

Land Rover Marketing Mix How marketing mix lead to the success of Land Rover Jun Lu Introduction The traditional marketing mix has received wide approval in past 60 years. It is orientated towards physical products and is beginning to lose its position (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994). However, the ingredients of the marketing mix can be altered and they vary from the product to product (Hodder EduIcation, n.d). Booms and Bitner (1980) mentioned that the marketing mix for services should be extended to cover other aspects of marketing. Therefore, MaGrath (1986) added three new Ps (people, process and physical evidence) into the marketing mix. This essay firstly aims to analyse the impact of the traditional marketing mix on the success of Land Rover through information obtained from company websites. Secondly it analyses the shortages of traditional marketing mix and introduces this new concept of marketing mix (7Ps), and finally analyses the impact of the 7Ps merged with the relationship marketing on this company. The traditional marketing mix The concept of marketing mix was first introduced by Neil Borden in the 1950s and McCarthy in 1964 developed it into the four Ps, including product, price, place and promotion (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994). This marketing mix summarized by McCarthy is commonly referred to as the traditional four Ps (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994). The traditional marketing mix has had a substantial effect on informing the development of both marketing theory and practice (Mà ¶ller 2006). Applying the marketing mix makes it easy to handle and organise marketing activities, including market analysis, marketing planning, advertising, sales, sales promotion, pricing, distribution and product packaging (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994). Meanwhile, marketing mix is also a conceptual framework that facilitates the exchange or transfer of goods or ideas so that it can help managers to satisfy consumers’ demands better than their competitors (Zineldin and Philipson 2007). Although the traditional 4Ps are not sufficient to satisfy the demands of the marketing concept (Gummesson 2000), they have become an indisputable paradigm in theoretical research and are still in effect and helpful in some industries (e.g. manufacturing) (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994, Zineldin and Philipson 2007, Brooks and Simkin 2012). So the marketing mix can still explore its utility in automotive sector firms. Next, this essay will explore the relationship between the traditional marketing mix and the success of Land Rover. Firstly, products involve tangible products (e.g. cars) which are capable of satisfying customer needs or wants (Johan et al 2011). Considering that a broader product line would help to provide products to different customers with various characteristics and to meet their heterogeneous needs (Kekre and Srinivasan 1990), Land Rover involves such a product line with a group of brands that are closely related in terms of the capabilities and the functions they provide. These include Ranger Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque discovery and so on. A broader product line is closely related to the company’s market share and profitability (Kekre and Srinivasan 1990). According to the data from TATA Company, Land Rover has achieved record-breaking global sales in 2013 and sold 425,006 vehicles in 2013 – up 19% on 2012 – setting new sales records in 38 international markets. In terms of prices, companies often set different prices in various market segments, including different customers, products and locations. As a result, implementing segmented pricing strategies can involve various market segments and cover large number of customers (Kotler 2007). For example, Range Rover Evoque adopts distinctive pricing strategies based on the different types of engines with the mix of penetration and prestige pricing, they use penetration pricing for pure version of the car and prestige pricing strategy for the prestige and dynamic version of the car. Excluding the customers who are not sensitive to prices and care more about brand value, appearance, comforts and environmental friendliness than prices, a great number of customers have high price sensitiveness and prefer lower prices and high quality products. However, this mixed pricing strategy will confuse the consumers about the brand value to some extent (Mitchell and Papavassiliou 1999). Furthermore, Land Rov er also has its own price distinctiveness all over the world. Using Range Rover Evoque as an example, in the UK, the minimum price of SD4 Diesel is  £29205; the same types in United Stated and China are  £25482 and  £58383 respectively. Thirdly, A more efficient distribution channel would bring less cost in delivery and help to enhance service quality and customer satisfaction (Jobber 2001). It could be found that a traditional exclusive distribution channel would lead to inconvenience for customers when they needed repairs or maintenance services, so channel integration with international networks was formulated. As stated in the company’s annual report, Land Rover has overall 174 markets, through a global network of 18 national sales companies, 83 importers, 61 export partners and 2241 franchise sales dealers. For further penetrating Chinese market, Land Rover co-branded with its partnership Chery Automobile China to set up the biggest parts distribution centre in China in order to facilitate delivery and rapidly response to the dealers and the end consumers’ parts ordering with this centre being capable of supporting 2,000 outbound lines per day. Nevertheless, co-branding will influence a brand†™s positioning when customers blame the originated brand with their dissatisfaction towards] new products, and bring with it a number of risks to damage the originated brand equity (Washburn et al 2000). Finally, Chu and Keh (2006) has stated: â€Å"without adequate capitals invested in promotion, it might be difficult for firms to build their own brand value†. All the entire effort Land Rover has exerted on promotion is to improve consumers’ loyalty towards its brand value and deliver its brand spirit-adventure. Land Rover organised a series of activities, such as off-road challenges, fun drives and rallies. A specially designed off-road simulation test track was constructed outside the showroom in Kollupitiya, to demonstrate the brand’s off-road supremacy. Besides these, Land Rover has one of the most active owners club – the LROC. With its membership, the LROC renders yeoman service towards promoting the link between Land Rover and the spirit of adventure. On the other hand, improving corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an approach to enhancing customers’ awareness of brand value, thus improving the sales of products. Melo and Galan (2010) c oncluded that when CSR is optimally conducted in the business context, it will maximally contribute to the improvement of brand value. Through Land Rover’s community and global CSR, the company not only improves the value of its brand, but also gets young people to have the opportunity to access advanced knowledge through education partnership, and gets the lives of millions of people improved. The new marketing mix integrated with relationship marketing However, tangible products are not the only factor in the evaluation of the success of a company. Intangible products or services are as important as tangible ones (Johan et al 2011). An increasing number of corporations throughout the world are beginning to add value to their core products by additional services. This is driven by customer needs or wants and is perceived as sharpening their competitive edges (Vandermerwe and Rada 1988). As a result, an authorized Land Rover service centre was set up to provide a customised route for services and maintenance and to ensure that they will meet Land Rovers rigorous standards for quality and services. It is also guaranteed that your new car and its warranty are fully protected. Furthermore, customising the delivery of service on the product-customer interface is a key to improving customer satisfaction (Bettencourt and Gwinner 1996). There are some additional experiences, such as wining a chance to fly into space (2014), and an annual La nd Rover adventure travel membership (2014) designed for different customers in order to satisfy customers. However, traditional marketing mix focuses on tangible products and does not cover services. Obviously, with the introduction of services, the traditional four Ps are not sufficient to satisfy the demands of the current marketing concept (Gummesson 2000). Therefore, Booms and Bitner (1981) concluded that service needs a different marketing mix and introduced a new marketing mix for service, including the traditional 4Ps and participant (people), physical evidence and process. Nevertheless, GroÃÅ'ˆnroos (1994) stated that the marketing mix separates marketing from other activities, influencing the development of market orientation and customer orientation. Therefore, relationship marketing should be adopted to perform interactive marketing function. Mà ¶ller (1992) mentioned that the function of the marketing mix has extended to the strategic role, integrated with services marketing and interactions in industrial networks. Industries marketing and services marketing demand a relationship-oriented approach to marketing, which aims to establish relationships with both customers and other partners and to satisfy all the objectives of partners (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994). Therefore, People planning tends to be very important in the service sector where staff have a high level of interaction with customers. The interaction between front-line employees, especially the sales person, and customers is likely to critically influence market effectiveness (Palmer 2006). However, the marketing success of a company does not solely depend on â€Å"full-time marketers†, â€Å"part-time marketers†, including technicians and existing customers, often contribute more to influencing the purchase decisions of customers than sales persons (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994). As Yin and Tao (2011) has stated: â€Å"the implementation of strategic objectives, including marketing strategies and the enlargement of distribution channels, cannot be conducted without integrating and developing human capital†. Land Rover has an experienced and integrated team and an international network ready to help customers every step of the way from choosing the right vehicle, to delivery and beyond. Furthermore, to give customer premium service and maintenance, Land Rover made lot of effort to make sure that all the trained advisers and technicians at authorized Land Rover retailers have unrivalled experience, knowledge, and skills. Furthermore, processes are involved in serving the customers, including the pre-sale phrase, sale phrase and after-sale phrase (Hill et al 2002). In terms of pre-sale services, except for offline service, Land Rover also provides online customised services. Consumers would be able to buy a preferred product online. They will have a chance to choose a car’s design theme and specification of engine. Once customers make a purchase decision, Land Rover will provide dealers’ permission and the nearest dealer will process the orders and complete the delivery service. Customers might choose the place where they are living and choose the specific dealership online, with dealers providing different kinds of services, including sales, parts, servicing and repairs. Furthermore, meetings with dealers will be held regularly to receive customer feedbacks after sale. Finally, it can be found that customers tend to rely on physical cues to evaluate the quality of service before they make a purchasing decision (Rafiq and Ahmed 1995). Thus, Land Rover adopts technological innovations to create a premium physical appearance. These innovations include an interior decoration using luxury leather lined interior; with a choice of the available seats to manage weather extremes, new levels of ambient refinement and personalization and the installation of an automatically powered tailgate. On other hand, by offering tangible evidence of promised services may help to reduce the level of risk and facilitate customers’ purchase decisions. Overall, with the application of the new 3Ps, it provides a broader perspective and makes the marketing strategies look comprehensive and more refined and detailed than the traditional marketing mix (Rafiq and Ahmed 1995). Conclusion The marketing mix still has its positive aspects in certain industries, especially in an automotive industry. However, considering that the traditional 4Ps only focus on products and the increase of marketing competition, the traditional 4Ps are not sufficient to help a company to maximise market strategy. In order to integrate customer services, processes, people and physical evidence need to be added into the new marketing mix. Then, through analysing the Land Rover, it can be seen that the new marketing mix (7Ps) is an indispensable factor in deciding its success. However, Traditional marketing mix ignore the internal markets like the employees in the organization and the relationship with suppliers, referrals and ‘influencer‘ markets. Companies need to evolve trends concerning customer relationship and long-term profitability of customer retention. This is through the coordination of external (customers) markets and the collaboration of internal (staff) markets in ord er to make the marketing mix running smoothly (GroÃÅ'ˆnroos 1994, Christopher et al 1991).In the future, Land Rover should continue to think about how to integrate marketing mix with relationship marketing and how to build strong relationships with partners, suppliers and customers based on mutual cooperation-for example, constructing a valuable community. References Andersson, J., Bengtsson, F., Ekman, J., Lindberg, E., Waldehorn, C. and Nilsson, F. (2011). Perception of innovation in companies-measuring the mindset of tangible and intangible innovation in companies. pp.532542. Bettencourt, L. and Gwinner, K. (1996). Customization of the service experience: the role of the frontline employee. International Journal of Service Industry Management, 7(2), pp.3-20. Booms B. H. Bitner B. J. (1980). Marketing strategies and organisation structures for  service firms. In Donnelly, J. George W. R. (Eds.), Marketing of services.  American Marketing Association, 47-51. Brooks, N. and Simkin, L. (2012). Judging marketing mix effectiveness. Marketing Intelligence Planning, 30(5), pp.494514. Christopher, M. et al. (1995). Relationship marketing: Bringing quality, customer service and marketing together. International Business Review, 4(4), pp.538-541. Chu, S. and Keh, H. (2006). Brand value creation: Analysis of the Interbrand-Business Week brand value rankings. Marketing Letters, 17(4), pp.323-331. Clancy, R. (2014). High demand keeps Jaguar Land Rover on its toes Telegraph. [online] Telegraph.co.uk. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/10934229/High-demand-keeps-Jaguar-Land-Rover-on-its-toes.html [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. Furgale, P. and Barfoot, T. (2010). Visual teach and repeat for long-range rover autonomy. Journal of Field Robotics, 27(5), pp.534560. Hill, A. et al. (2002). Research opportunities in service process design. Journal of Operations Management, 20(2), pp.189-202. Hodder Education (n.d). Introduction to the Marketing Mix Pricing. [Online] Available: http://www.hoddersamplepages.co.uk/pdfs/cceabus6.pdf. Gronroos, C. (1994). From marketing mix to relationship marketing: towards a paradigm shift in marketing. Management decision, 32(2), pp.420. Gummesson, E. (2000). Qualitative methods in management research. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage. Jobber, D. (1995). Principles and practice of marketing. London: McGraw-Hill. Johan, A. et al. (2011). Perception of innovation in companies measuring the mindset of tangible and intangible innovation in companies. First International Technology Management Conference, June 2011, pp.pp.532-542. Jones, P., Whale, N. and Meekings, A. (1997). Putting customers in the driving seat: building Roverà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s brand equity. Managing Service Quality, 7(5), pp.218220. Keh, H., Chu, S. and Xu, J. (2006). Efficiency, effectiveness and productivity of marketing in services. European Journal of Operational Research, 170(1), pp.265276. Kotler, P. and Armstrong, G. (2004). Principles of marketing. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Landrover.com, (2014). New Discovery Sport Vehicle Specifications Land Rover. [online] Available at: http://www.landrover.com/vehicles/new-discovery-sport/specifications.html [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. Landrover.co.uk, (2014). Vehicle Specifications and Pricing Range Rover Evoque. [online] Available at: http://www.landrover.co.uk/vehicles/range-rover-evoque/pricing-and-specifications.html [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. Landrover.com, (2014). Find a Land Rover Dealership Land Rover. [online] Available at: http://www.landrover.com/dealer-locator.html [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. Magrath, A. (1986). When marketing services, 4 Ps are not enough. Business Horizons, 29(3), pp.44-50. Moller, K. (2006). The marketing mix revisited: Towards the 21st century marketing by E. Constantinides. Taylor Francis. Melo, T. and Galan, J. (2011). Effects of corporate social responsibility on brand value. Journal of Brand Management, 18(6), pp.423437. Mitchell, V. and Papavassiliou, V. (1999). Marketing causes and implications of consumer confusion. Jnl of Product Brand Mgt, 8(4), pp.319-342. MÃÆ' ¶ller, K. (2006). The Marketing Mix Revisited: Towards the 21 st Century Marketing by E. Constantinides. Journal of Marketing Management, 22(3-4), pp.439-450. Newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com, (2014). Jaguar Land Rover China Parts Distribution Centre Opens In Suzhou. [online] Available at: http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en-in/jlr-corp/news/2009/06/jlr_china_parts_distrib_ctr_opens_080609/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. Newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com, (2014). Jaguar Land Rover China Parts Distribution Centre Opens In Suzhou. [online] Available at: http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en-in/jlr-corp/news/2009/06/jlr_china_parts_distrib_ctr_opens_080609/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. Rafiq, M. and Ahmed, P. (1995). Using the 7Ps as a generic marketing mix. Mrkting Intelligence Plan, 13(9), pp.4-15. Statista, (2014). New dual purpose car registrations in the UK, by model | 2013. [online] Available at: http://www.statista.com/statistics/299209/most-popular-dual-purpose-car-models-registered-in-the-united-kingdom/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. TrueCar, (2014). Land Rover Range Rover. [online] Available at: https://www.truecar.com/prices-new/land-rover/range-rover-pricing/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 2014]. Vandermerwe, S. and Rada, J. (1989). Servitization of business: adding value by adding services. European Management Journal, 6(4), pp.314324. Washburn, J., Till, B. and Priluck, R. (2000). Co-branding: brand equity and trial effects. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 17(7), pp.591604. Yin, Q. and Tao, Y. (2011). The current situation, causes and anti-strategies of FLT FTT shortage in Taizhou private enterprises. pp.34443448. Zineldin, M. and Philipson, S. (2007). Kotler and Borden are not dead: myth of relationship marketing and truth of the 4Ps. Journal of consumer marketing, 24(4), pp.229241.

Cave Paintings Essays -- essays research papers

The Cave of Lascaux and Cave Art   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cave paintings might possibly be the oldest known form of communication that exists today. Cave paintings date back to a period of time called the Paleolithic Age. The Paleolithic Age took place from 40,000 to 10,000 B.C. Prehistoric Age is divided into three parts: Paleolithic being the earliest, Mesolithic being the middle at 10,000 B.C. and Neolithic Age being the latest at 8,000 B.C. During the Paleolithic Age it is believed that the cave paintings at Lascaux, France were created.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lascaux, is located in the south central, western corner of France. In 1940 this cave was believed to be found by a group of four boys from Montignac, France and a dog while out walking through the woods. Allegedly the dog fell into the cave and would not answer the owners call. The boys came up to what appeared to be a dark rock but as they got closer they realized they was not the case, it was a cave. The boys entered in an attempt to find the dog and discovered one of the most important cave paintings now known to man. Lascaux quickly became a heavy tourist spot and was forced to be closed in 1963 due to the damage being caused by human beings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Lascaux this elegant cave painting is comprised of almost six hundred figures of different animals. The cave art at Lascaux is comprised of horses, bison, cattle and hinds as suggested by the Columbia Encyclopedia in its article Paleolithic Art. It is suggested that the art â€Å"may have a ritual significance to hunting†. (Columbia) These animal paintings in the cave vary in size but the bulls specifically range from thirteen to sixteen feet long.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is believed that these particular cave works were created sometime around 13,000 B.C. and have remained, for the most part, completely intact. This date is only hypothetical being that the process of dating these cave paintings is slightly inaccurate and limited. As talked about on the Lascaux Cave Official Website â€Å"the range of methods and tools used to date the cave art is somewhat limited, partly because the figures are not in a position favorable to stratigraphic dating most of the time and also because of the nature of the material used†. (Lascaux 11/25/04) Another identical method uses the pigment, which was found on the ground, to ... ...g these paintings. In researching this topic the student learned of the three prehistoric eras and what significance each had to later civilization. This student also learned of the possibility of a scaffolding and/or complex form that was designed to allow a person to paint on the upper wall or ceiling of a cave. This student also found it very interesting how the human body can break down these paintings and how it is hard for even scholars to gain entrance to these places. I think that these cave paintings paved the way for future art with ideas of ritual, creativity, preservation and expression. I feel that the people of this time were extremely intelligent in the fact that they were able to grasp some idea of preservation so these paintings could be viewed for years to come. I also feel that these people showed intelligence in a supreme being. If indeed these paintings are created as a ritual for their hunt then maybe they believed that if they perform this ritual this supreme being will provide them with a prosperous hunt. This topic I found very interesting and informative. Studying this topic really brought light to the existence of art even in the prehistoric culture.

Leukemia Essay -- Cancer Health Medical Leukemia Essays

Leukemia Leukemia is a cancer that has had a significant effect on our society and with the developments of new drugs it may become treatable. Leukemia originates in the blood-forming organs which may include the lymph tissue and bone cells. In a person with leukemia the rate and the number of cells produced is altered. This altering can become fatal, or with proper treatment it can be subdued. There are two main types of leukemia which include "total" and "differential." These are mainly characterized by the appearance of white blood cells. When leukemia attacks the blood cells, the bone marrow (where blood cells are made), the spleen, and the lymph nodes are extremely weakened (Reagan 90). The classification of leukemia is based on what organ it is attacking. Leukemia can be in acute or chronic form, which means it can happen rapidly, or be prolonged and severe (Bourne 996). To diagnose leukemia doctors have to insert a needle into the bone marrow to extract it and then then view it under a microscope to see if it has any abnormalities that relate to that of leukemia. Some of the symptoms that are involved with leukemia include: lack of energy, fever, susceptibility to infection (because of lack of white blood cells), excessive or repetitive bleeding, easy bruising, and also enlargement of the liver, spleen and lymph nodes (997). This disease has been known to cause about "10% of all cancer deaths, about 50% of all cancer deaths in children and adult...

At the Crossroads :: Free Essays Online

At the Crossroads In November of 1974, a red headed Bostonian, who looked like she was straight out of Southie, was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. With fifty-nine percent of the vote, Elaine Noble’s victory signified a remarkable emergence, for she was the first openly gay politician to win election to a statewide office (Perry 37-65). Noble’s election was the catalyst for a dramatic series of events, not only for the residents of the Fenway district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but for the entire country as well. Since that historic afternoon, Massachusetts has typically had ten openly gay politicians on its ballot. On a national level, there are more than one hundred and sixty openly gay politicians, with an average of one hundred additional gays seeking office. It is necessary to establish that Elaine Noble and her many followers all come from a viewpoint that recognizes the inherent discrimination and oppression of gays. From this position, a pursuance of change through reform of the status quo is a top priority. Another standpoint, called liberationist, seeks to restructure an inherently oppressing system. Both systems are political means for achieving change- politicians themselves are usually reformers, while political organizations and individuals can function under either realm. The liberationist movement is often critical of the reformers like Noble, accusing them of wanting to be just like the (straight) white male. Reformers see themselves more as multiculturalists- that a number of distinct groups exist, and their differences should be celebrated. Liberationists contradict that assumption with the reasoning that gays are an oppressed minority, and as an oppressed minority, cannot function within the structures created by the large r majority. These assumptions are part of the minority thesis, which in a sense forms the systemic differences of each group. Using the unique geographical space of Washington, DC, I plan to challenge the stereotypical assumption that gay identity is prerequisite to the election of an openly gay politician. When I say "gay identity", I am specifically referring to the sense of community, pride, and progress. The distinct minority theses will be used to convey the implications of identity in the political structure, and in turn the formation of a gay identity in the District of Columbia. Though Elaine Noble was the first successful gay candidate to win elected office, she was by no means the first openly gay politician. Frank Kameny, an activist who had previously lost his federal job because of his sexual orientation, was the first openly gay person to seek national office.

Atlantic Slave Trade Essay

A slave can be defined as a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another, a bond servant or a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person. Slavery was well recognized in many early civilizations. Ancient Egypt, Ancient China, the Akkad Ian Empire, Assyria, Ancient India, Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire, the Islamic Caliphate, the Hebrews in Palestine, and the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Americas all had either a form of debt-slavery, punishment for crime, enslavement of prisoners of war, child abandonment or birth of slave children to slaves. However, as the sixteenth century approached, so did the change in the way slavery would be looked at, for years to come. The Atlantic slave trade became the name of the three part economic cycle that involved four continents for four centuries and millions of people. The Atlantic slave trade or the middle passage, triangular trade and slavery affected the economy of Europe, Africa and the Americas in both negative and positive aspects. Starting in the 1430’s Portuguese were the first to sail down the coast of Africa to search for gold and jewels. The Portuguese had to extend their power across the co+ast because Sub-Saharan Africa’s trade routes were controlled by the Islamic Empire. By 1445, The Portuguese conquered three African countries and created trading posts. This allowed them access to Europe across the Sahara. Initially, the Portuguese traded copperware, cloth, tools, wine and horses for pepper, ivory and most importantly gold. The first slave purchase is said to have taken place in 1441 when the Portuguese caught two African males while they were along the coast. The Africans in the nearby village paid them in gold for their return. Eventually, they developed the idea that they could get more gold by transporting slaves along Africa’s coast. The Muslims were enticed by the idea of slavery as they used them as porters and for profit. Portugal had a monopoly on the export of slaves in Africa for more than two hundred years. This encounter is the beginning of one of the most tragic events in history, the Atlantic triangular trade (Thomas 1997). A triangular trade evolves when a region has export commodities that aren’t required in the region which its major imports come and provides a method for trade imbalances. The triangular trade is named for the rough shape it makes on a map. It worked like a triangle between all the colonies that were involved. For centuries the world was took part in its most successful trading system. There where nearly fifteen million Africans were shipped to both North and South America for more than three-hundred. Slaves, cash crops and manufactured goods were the most traded between the Americas, Europe and Africa. The Europeans controlled the first stage of the trade by carrying supplies for sale and trade such as, cloth, spirit, tobacco, beads, shells, metal goods and guns. This was their method of which were used to help expand empires and capture more slaves. These goods were exchanged for purchased and kidnapped African slaves (www. nmm. ac. uk/freedom/viewTheme. cfm/theme/triangular). African kings and merchants would capture the slaves or organize campaigns ran by the Europeans. The motives of the Europeans were based on one thing; they lacked a major source, a work force. It was stated that the Indigenes people were unreliable and Europeans were unsuited to the climate. However, Africans had experience in agriculture, keeping cattle, content with the climate. Africa soon became reliant on the slavery of their people and the profits that came along with it. The next stage involved the slaves being transported by voyage to the Americas and Caribbean, the middle passage (PBS. â€Å"The African Slave Trade and the Middle Passage. † http://www. pbs. org/wgbh/aia/part1/1narr4. html). The middle passage was a perilous, horrendous journey slaves made across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas. The final stage of the Atlantic slave trade was the return to Europe from the Americas with the produce from the slave-labor plantations. Most regions of North and South America were used to provide these raw materials to Europe for manufacturing. This wasn’t the first or only slave trade, but it was the cruelest. What began as a quest for gold ended as a quest for slaves, leaving a major stamp on African and American history (Thomas 1997). Before undergoing the middle passage, slaves faced human misery and suffering. Kidnapped slaves were forced to walk shackled in slave caravans to European coastal forts. Due to the lack of food and energy, half of the slaves became sick and were killed or left to die. Some had the strength to make it so they were left in underground dungeons. For years, Africans were stranded in these dungeons across the coast of Africa.. There, they wait on the embarked horrid encounter of the entire slave trade, the middle passage. None of the previous passengers returned to their homeland so none of the Africans knew what they were about to endure. The voyages were generally organized by companies and investors because they were a huge financial burden(â€Å"The African Slave Trade and the Middle Passage). Two theories show the packing of slaves in the European ships; loose and tight packing. Loose packing carried less slaves with the hopes of more room and more slaves making it to the Americas alive and in fair condition. This was exchanged for tight packing. Captains believed despite more casualties, this would yield a greater profit. On occasion, veterinarians inspected the slaves before the voyage to determine which slaves could make it across the Atlantic Ocean. The enslaved Africans were chained together by hand and foot, not even being able to lie on one’s side. They ate, slept, urinated, defecated, gave birth and died all in that one spot. There was overcrowding, inadequate ventilation and little to no sanitation. Twenty percent of every hundred died along the way from either suffocation, starvation, amoebic dysentery, scurvy or a disease such as small pox. The slaves that died were thrown overboard as well as the slaves that showed illness. Some threw their self-overboard risking their life rather than deal with these horrific measures. Approximately fifteen million captured Africans were sent to the Americas. The middle passage was the longest, most dangerous part of the Atlantic slave trade (â€Å"The Middle Passage Experience†). From the seventeenth century on, slaves became the focus of trade between Europe and Africa. Europe had already colonized North and South America as well as the Caribbean islands from the fifteenth century onward. This created an insatiable demand for African laborers, who were deemed â€Å"more fit† to work in the tropical conditions of the New World. The numbers of slaves imported across the Atlantic Ocean steadily increased, from approximately 5,000 slaves a year in the sixteenth century to over 100,000 slaves a year by the end of the eighteenth century (www. mariner. org/captivepassage). Upon their arrival to the Americas, the slaves were washed, greased and placed inside dungeons. The grease added a more appealing look making the slaves appear healthier so the profit would be much higher. European slave traders made sure all of their potential properties were in well condition before bidding. They were branded with a hot iron to keep their identity as a slave. There were two main types of slave auctions; highest bidder or grab and go auctions. Highest bidder was a bidding process which the buyer with the highest bid would get the slave. Grab and go auctions was the process in which the buyer would give the trader an agreed amount of money in exchange for a ticket. This process was where the slaves were released from their dungeon and the buyers would rush and grab the slave they wanted, Each slave would be sold to an owner who owned a great deal of land and worked on either a plantation or mine and there, the living conditions were still only barely better (Curtin 1969) A prominent African, author and a major influence on the enactment of the Slave Trade Act of 1807, Olaudah Equiano was well aware and very familiar with the Atlantic slave trade. At the age of eleven, Equiano and his sister were kidnapped from his village in Nigeria. He survived the middle passage, and taken to the West Indies. He tells how he was bought by Captain Pascal, a British naval Officer as a â€Å"present† for a cousin. He tells how was enslaved in North America for ten years, working as a seaman. In 1766, he bought his freedom and wrote an autobiography, â€Å"The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano,† Equiano gave a firsthand look of the conditions enslaved Africans were forced to live. This document was one of the first documents that explained, thoroughly, the terrible human cruelty of the Atlantic slave trade (Wright et al. 001). Although many lives were taken or at risk, The Atlantic slave trade fulfilled its major goal, profit and change the three continents. Europe, America and Africa’s economy were all affected by the slave trade. Europe’s economy was suffering before the slave trade. The Atlantic slave trade was during the time of recovery for Europe and completely recovered their economy. Because of the success of the trade, they needed more people to manufacture raw materials and export them to Africa. The great supply of jobs created many exports and the income to buy imports. By the end of the slave trade, Europe’s economy was in well standings as one of the wealthiest continents in the world. The America’s economies rose too. They were honored with a free workforce that provided many resources from sugar to cotton. The free labor allotted for them to received one hundred percent of the profit. They were importing more slaves and exporting the goods made by them to gaining wealth. America’s economy became agriculturally stable and soon industrialized. Europe and the Americas economies were affected in a positive way. However, Africa’s economy received a negative effect. Many, for years lived in fear due to slavery. African villages became small and poor. All of the kingdoms that were strong at one time, collapsed and were conquered. They received raw material goods from the slave trade but with nothing shown. The African kings prospered only because they were heavily involved in the slave trade. As the kings’ wealth grew, their economy was at a standstill and eventually failed. The Atlantic slave trade, human cruelty and evil at its finest, had a substantial effect on Europe, the Americas and Africa (www. understandingslavery. com).

Mystic Monk Coffee Case Analysis Essay

Mystic Monk Coffee is a company established by Father Daniel Mary, the Prior of the Carmelite Order of monks in Clark, Wyoming. The monks are a group of 13 living in a small home. Coffee sales are used to support the brotherhood and to eventually prepare for expansion of the order. Coffee is produced using high quality fair trade Arabica and fair trade/organic Arabica beans. There are many popular flavors such as Mystical Chants of Carmel, Cowboy Blend, Royal Rum Pecan, and Mystic Monk Blend. The company’s traditional target market has been the segment of the U.S. Catholic population who drinks coffee and supports the monastery’s mission. Industry Analysis The approximate number of coffee consumers in the United Stated is 150 million and 89 percent of those drinkers prefer to make coffee at home rather than purchase from franchises. Of the consumers who drink coffee at home, approximately 30 percent prefer premium specialty coffees that sell for $7 to $10 per 12-ounce package. These coffees are made from high quality Arabica beans rather that low quality, bitter Arabica beans. Mystic Monk Coffee is among the distributors that produces a higher quality product. Company Mission The current mission is to produce a high quality product that is marketed to the segment of the U.S. catholic population who drink coffee and wish to support the monastery’s mission. The monks make their appeal by asking the Catholics to use their Catholic coffee dollar for â€Å"Christ and his Catholic church.† This is published on the website. Company Objective Mystic Monk Coffee has a primary goal of transforming the small brotherhood of 13 monks lining in the small home to include accommodations for 30 monks. There is a property in the Rockies with an asking price of $8.9 million. The monks currently have a donation of $250,000 and a plan to raise the remainder of the funds. There are currently more than 500 inquiries who want to be considered to become a Wyoming Carmelite and Father Prior Daniel Mary wished to accept a select few when he is able to expand. Company Strategy The company primarily uses word of mouth as a means of sales and increase of revenue. Sales are generated primarily from online orders. Mystic Monk also offers non-secular websites commissions on sales made to customers directed to the website. The website and its affiliates help the company to earn a net profit margin average 11 percent of revenues. SWOT Strengths: * The price is reasonable. The average premium brand coffee is sold for $7 to $10 dollars per 12 ounce package. Mystic Monk Coffee averages $9.95 per 12 ounce bag and all purchases over $25 qualifies for free shipping. * The monks are dedicated to making the coffee. Everyone at the company has the same goal and this is to further the revenue of the company in hopes of expanding to better serve God. Weaknesses: * The Carmelite Order currently has the production capacity of 540 pounds per day and the demand will soon exceed the production capacity. The production is also limited due to prayer and meditation throughout the day. * Advertisement is primarily by word of mouth. There are consumers who would try the coffee because it is of high quality and good price but do not know about it. Opportunity: * Through the sale of its coffee, the Carmelite Monks may realize their dream of purchasing the Irma Lake Ranch. * Donations made by individual supporters will help to fund the purchase of the land. * Expansion of the brotherhood through the purchase of a larger parcel of land. Threat: * Some people may not purchase the coffee because of the religious affiliation. * The price of the coffee may increase after the purchase of new land. *FINANCIALS NOT AVAILABLE Problem Scope The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming would like to purchase a ranch that would greatly increase its operations. The order currently has 13 monks working to produce coffee for sale and has a production capacity of 540 pounds per day. The company is sustainable because the monks have a specific goal in mind and all are on the same page when trying to reach the goal of the purchase. I selected this problem because although the company makes great sales, sales will not be enough to purchase the land. The company does not effectively advertise itself and will need to improve advertisement to increase sales. Problem: The mission of the company is tied to the vision of the company. Father Daniel Mary realizes that the monastery environment is a unique challenge to the business because of the limited hours of production and also the limited access to the outside world. Although the monks are highly secluded, they manage to sell their coffee although it is mainly sold to Catholic believers. Solution: Mystic Monk Coffee can begin to be offered in small shops in the United States. I would not recommend supermarkets at this time because of the limitations of production. As sales increase, revenue generated from increased sales will help with the purchase of new property and the coffee can then be offered in a limited amount of supermarkets. With the purchase of new land, there will also be an increase in labor and production with the addition of new monks to the order. Problem: Mystic Monk Coffee has a target market of the U.S. Catholic population who drank coffee and wished to support the monastery’s mission. Solution: Mystic Monk Coffee should expand its target market. It can do this by targeting not only Catholics but all coffee drinkers in the U.S. who value price and quality. Most people enjoy a good cup of inexpensive coffee. The emphasis should not be on the support of the monastery’s mission but should focus on great coffee for a reasonable price. By doing this, the Monks would increase sales and eventually be able to purchase a larger property. Challenges: The monks may feel they are compromising their beliefs by focusing more on the coffee than their stated religious mission. If the monks focus on the fact that they are running a company that will eventually generate the sales needed to further their mission, this may ease the feelings. The monks may also want to increase their order by two to increase production and earn more money. Summary Although Mystic Monk Coffee has a unique set of variables, they will be successful in increasing sales and purchasing the land.