China Yuan Becoming Reserve Currency Essay

In recent years, China has maintained that it’s â€Å"special† economy is pursuing a â€Å"market economy, but with Chinese characteristics†. Some of these characteristics include encouraging more of an international use of the currency, while being famous for their inflexibility with exchange rates, and not fully opening up the economy to the free flow of capital. However, the Yuan’s acceptance as a reserve currency will be based on China’s economic size, macroeconomic policies, flexible exchange rates, financial market development, and finally having an open capital account. It seems that with time, it is inevitable that China’s Yuan will one day become a global reserve currency. Depending on the development of these five criteria, China’s currency may become a global reserve currency sooner than predicted. China’s Economic Size The Chinese economy is now the second largest economy in the world, and estimated to have 10 – 15 percent of the world GDP. Further, in 2011 China accounted for almost 25 percent of the world’s GDP growth (Briscoe, 2012). Despite this, GDP and economic size are not the main determinants of a country’s reserve currency status. If we remember US history, we will note that the United States surpassed the United Kingdom in terms of GDP in 1870, but still did not become a reserve currency until 1944 (Prasad, 2012). Thus, economic size in not the most important factor in becoming eligible for world currency status. Macroeconomic Policies The continued role of the government in the banking system is a limiting factor when trying to encourage a more open capital account. However, the government maintains that keeping a tight control over their currency prevents economic crisis.

Gilgamesh Vs Nature - 1082 Words

One of the many themes that can be read in literature is the relationship between Nature versus Man. These two forces distinguish how one factor impacts another over the course of a character’s journey. In the poem, â€Å"The Epic of Gilgamesh,† translated by Andrew George, the protagonist, Gilgamesh goes on this physical and mental journey as he encounters nature through the gods creation, known as Enkidu. Over the course of the poem, Gilgamesh begins this process of adapting and learning about nature and morality, based upon Enkidu’s upbringings. In the novel, â€Å"Frankenstein,† by Mary Shelley, the creature embodies how it can physically alter in certain climates, as well as the creature being able to understand how people adapt to their†¦show more content†¦In Tablet I, Enkidu’s physical traits are described as him being, â€Å"Coated in hair like the god of the animals, with the gazelles, he grazes on grasses, joining the throng wit h the game at the water-hole† ( pp. 5 ) . This is a prime example as to how Enkidu can be viewed embodiment of nature, based on the fact that he is the direct creation from the gods and his sole purpose is to challenge Gilgamesh. Relative to this journey, the novel â€Å"Frankenstein,† demonstrates how the surroundings of nature help adapt the creature on the physical journey . For instance, in chapter 13, the creature describes to its creator, Victor Frankenstein, about the physical journey it takes and how nature’s elements strengthened the creature. â€Å"I was more agile than they and could subsist upon coarser diet; I bore the extremes of heat and cold with less injury to my frame†¦Ã¢â‚¬  ( pp. 108 ). This description of natural forces highlights that nature has aided the creature in survival, which can be viewed as beneficial due to surpassing strenuous conditions. This physical account proves that the relationship between nature and man shapes the c haracter’s journey, physically, which results in a higher chance in adapting to surroundings quickly for both characters. The two literary works offer how each character grows as other elements nurture the protagonist. In the case of Gilgamesh, the poem highlights the attachments between him and Enkidu. Towards the end of Tablet IV,Show MoreRelatedExamining the Different Versions of Epic of Gilgamesh861 Words   |  3 PagesSource 1 Abusch, T. (Oct-Dec 2001). The development and meaning of the Epic of Gilgamesh: An interpretive essay. Journal of the American Oriental Society, 121(4), 614-622. Type of Source Source 1 is a journal article paginated by volume. Summary This journal article examines 3 versions of the Gilgamesh Epic: the Old Babylonian version; the Eleven-Tablet version; and the Twelve-Tablet version. Though all 3 versions deal with the issues and choices of human beings and also with the inescapableRead MoreEssay on Epic of Gilgamesh971 Words   |  4 PagesTitle: Gilgamesh Type: Epic Author: Anonymous Theme: The central idea of Gilgamesh was the greed that he had to receive eternal life. Gilgamesh was a selfish person who was half god and half man and wanted to keep his youth after seeing Enkidu die. Gilgamesh knew his destiny was not to receive eternal life because he was half man. He decided to go against the odds to fight against not having eternal life searching for the secret despite what the Gods told him. Exposition: The storyRead MoreThe Between Humans And The Gods1515 Words   |  7 Pagesfocuses most of their tales on a man named Gilgamesh. A king who reigned over the Sumerian city-state of Uruk. He was two thirds a god and one third a man and created by the god’s themselves to guide humans. The relationship between humans and the gods was complicated, the Gods come off as very powerful and interfere with the lives of humans as they chose, For example ,when people complain about Gilgamesh being a ruler who does not treat his people well â€Å" Gilgamesh sounds the tocsin for his amusement Read MoreEssay on Gilgamesh vs. Genesis1436 Words   |  6 PagesGilgamesh vs. Genesis In our society, which is overwhelmingly Judeo-Christian, students often find it difficult to compare Bible stories with tales from other cultures, because our own belief system is wrapped up in the prior, and it is hard for many of us to go against our traditional faith to evaluate them objectively. But in a comparison of the Biblical book of Genesis with the ancient Sumerian text, Epic of Gilgamesh, many parallels suggest that the same type of spiritualRead MoreBiblical Vs. Classical Phenomenon2078 Words   |  9 PagesBiblical vs. Classical Phenomenon Throughout the semester, we have analyzed various texts that constitute some of the most important publications in the history of humankind. These myths and legends are known as the oldest in centuries and possibly the first sight of written text that humans have encountered. Dating back to the times of traditional oral-based stories, texts such as The Epic of Gilgamesh have given humankind a sense of emergence in the old times of script and literature. The EpicRead MoreReligion Vs Ramayana1528 Words   |  7 Pagesimportance placed on duty, or in Hindu terms, dharma. Found in the Bible as well, importance is placed on duty. Another theme shared by both the Bible and the Ramayana is the concept of good vs. evil. This themes prevalence can be found anywhere in today’s culture, and the concept dates back to the Epic of Gilgamesh, the first story ever recorded in history. The final theme shared by both is the theme of love, specifically but not limited to brotherly love. Both t he Bible and the Ramayana share commonRead MoreThe Afterlife Of Ancient Greece1955 Words   |  8 Pagesinteresting to study, and belongs to perhaps one of the most influential belief systems to emerge within the ancient world. Rife with mythology and magic, the beliefs of the afterlife that were held by the ancient Greek people included the idea of a heaven vs. hell, reincarnation and the notion of ‘katabasis’, and were so powerful they paved the way for future religions’ ideologies. The ancient Greeks were a highly superstitious and spiritual people. As the Greeks had no written book or scripture of theirRead MoreGeron Essay7094 Words   |  29 PagesScientific Revolution * Challenge to traditional authority * Death is an event that can be manipulated and shaped by human beings. * Religion is less prominent in the mind of a dying person * Emphasis on thy death * Oxymoronic nature of death * Emphasis on the survivor    20th Century * Death is invisible, forbidden, denied * People no longer patiently wait for death, in silence * Most cemeteries do not encourage large grave markers (monuments) * Funerals

Gender And Education Comparative Education - 953 Words

Gender and Education – Kara Janigan and Vandra Lea Masemann Gender and Education in Comparative Education In the field of comparative education, analysing the ways in which teaching and learning can be gendered is an important topic of discussion. Recent studies surrounding girl’s schooling in the developing world, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, raise questions about the relevant of gender parity as a means to obtain educational equality. The number of out-of-school children consisted of disproportionately of girls in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, comparativists often use quantitative data to analyse the female-to-male ratios on enrollment, access, and educational achievement. The Millennium Development Goals (2000) also focused on increasing access to primary school (Goal 2), and eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary schooling (Goal 3). Yet, such quantitative data does not reveal whether gains in enrollment translate into gains to the social status of women’s livelihood in developing countries. In contrast to the traditional methods o f analysis in comparative education, Kara Janigan and Vandra Lea Masemann’s studies provides a new way of looking at the issue of gender and education. Rather than focusing on the results of quantitative studies, the authors stress the importance of qualitative studies. According to the authors, â€Å"gender parity refers to the actual number of girls and boys, women and men, participating within anShow MoreRelatedGender And Education : Comparative Education937 Words   |  4 PagesCritical Memo 2 Gender and Education – Kara Janigan and Vandra Lea Masemann Gender and Education in Comparative Education In the field of comparative education, studies surrounding girl’s schooling in the developing world, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, raises questions about the relevant of gender parity as a means to obtain educational equality. The number of out-of-school children consisted of disproportionately of girls in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, comparativists oftenRead MoreFeminism And The Social Movements Of The Twentieth Century1413 Words   |  6 Pagesaddressing the issue of gender equity in higher education in Egypt, it is using the Feminist theory as a theoretical background for driving research goal. It is one of the major contemporary sociological theories, which analyzes the status of women and men in society with the purpose of using that knowledge to better women s lives. Feminist theorists also question the differences between women, including how race, class, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, and age intersect with gender. Feminist theoryRead MoreIii . Family History. The Two Groups Of People That I Focus1619 Words   |  7 Pagesthat I focus on for this project are my maternal grandparents and my parents. I specifically focus on these two groups because they allow me to understand how decisions about educational investment and labor market experiences differed between the genders across generations. They also allow me to understand whether other social institutions like marriage, which determines existence of a household, had changed across time. Everyone in my family was born in Nepal. My maternal grandfather was the firstRead MoreA Comparative Study Of The Status Of Women1016 Words   |  5 Pagesbased on certain ideology changes, it is not necessary that it will spread in the course of time, it can gain in strength and it can also lose its vitality either because it is considered irrelevant or because it is suppressed by the government. Comparative Study of the status of Women in the Period of Pre and post Independence:- If we will examine the status of women and distinguish the position of women in the post independence period with the pre independence period, we must be in a confuse stateRead MoreAsdfghjkl894 Words   |  4 PagesSociology Research Area * * Aging and the Life Course * Alcohol and Substance Abuse * Asia amp; Asian America * Collective Behavior and Social Movements * Community and Urban Sociology * Comparative and Historical Sociology * Sociology and Computers * Crime, Law amp; Deviance * Economic Sociology * Environment amp; Technology * Family amp; Marriage * History of Sociology * International Migration * Latino/aRead MoreOntario School Council System Of Aboriginal Parental, Elder Of Native And Non Native Canadians762 Words   |  4 Pagesspecifically to Aboriginal peoples. The findings reveal the need of a school council system of Aboriginal parental, elder and community participation and involvement as a strategy leading to improved Native inclusiveness and education relevancy, excellence and equity in the public education system, pertaining specifically to Aboriginal children, youth and adults. In their paper â€Å"Spielraum and Teaching,† Roth, Lawless, and Masciotra claim that the concept of reflection-in-action, as articulated by DonaldRead MoreA Difference in Parenting Techniques889 Words   |  4 Pages Children swearing chastised based on gender The education of children in the modern day society is more and more emphasized upon as the parents focus more on the emotional and future wellbeing of their offspring. The literature in the field of child education has increased exponentially throughout the past recent decades, as more and more psychologists share their knowledge and seek to transform it into practical advice for the parents (Moran and Malott, 2004). Children are for instance educatedRead MoreThe Key Dimensions Of Gender Equality920 Words   |  4 PagesThe key influences/dimensions of gender equality in the workplace comparing UK and Greece Introduction The aim of this essay is to critically analyze the key influences/ dimensions of gender equality in the workplace comparing U.K and Greece. There are many dimensions of gender equality in the workplace that have been researched and studied carefully over the years. This study will critically examine and highlight the importance of the key dimensions of gender equality in the workplace in these twoRead MoreSex Work : A Negative Impact On A Person s Lifetime Essay716 Words   |  3 Pageseither in a negative or positive way. According to the authors of Sex Work: A Comparative Study, â€Å"experiences from early in the life course can have long-term consequences influencing development and decisions in and throughout adulthood†¦ the oppression paradigm, working in the sex industry was associated with a number of negative experiences from childhood and adolescence†(Pg. 1387). Authors of Sex Work: A Comparative Study, utilize three table charts that presented detail research of the studyRead MoreDifferent Types Of Research Methods1106 Words   |  5 Pagesinvestigation of the study of materials in order to establish facts, and help get to new conclusions. There are four types of research used to help with answering many questions in science. The four types are causal comparative, descriptive, experimental, and correlational researches. Causal comparative researches look for the cause of some type of effect. Descriptive researches look for a common characteristic within a similar population and determine how various characteristics affect behavior or achievement

Procrastination Essay - 526 Words

Procrastination Procrastination is the act or habits of putting things off till the end out of laziness. Almost every student knows this dreaded word. They know if it becomes a habit, disaster happens with a sharp decline in school grades. But what they don’t realize is that procrastinating can actually benefit you in school. It can make you work harder, faster, and more efficiently on school assignments. Even life skills in the real world can be created from procrastinating. Procrastination can actually help you work harder, faster, and more efficiently. It sounds like an impossible thing, however if you’re like me or any other person that wants a fairly good mark on the next assignment, procrastinating can help you. While your†¦show more content†¦It actually helps you, because it gives that need of drive to actually still maintain a good mark on it. Efficiency comes in when you have your daily homework piled on to your assignment, the need to get the assignment done kicks in. You will feel less of a need to do other things that you normally do, and cut down on the breaks, including the old rest up and watch TV, one. Also essential life skills in the real world become developed through procrastinating. In the busy world of work, everyone knows that that boss of yours will always set impossible deadlines. The knowing of having to get it done perfectly and fast is always on the employer’s mind. When already experienced through procrastinating, you will already know the field of trying to cram a lot of work into a very little time frame. Procrastination can honestly boast you to higher levels of achievement. It makes you nervous and deadlines will be hanging from your head. It helps set a planning stage for you, and makes you aware of all the other tasks that is needed to be completed. The management of time will also be used. Time managing of what to do first and last including dividing the assignment into steps, or knowing what to do to get the best result within a smaller amount of time is very handy in the feature. This habit is not so dreaded at all. I feel that procrastinating isn’t all that bad, and actually benefits you. Like I said, it givesShow MoreRelatedProcrastination : The Problem Of Procrastination Essay1091 Words   |  5 PagesMany people believe that procrastination is derived completely from laziness but the culprit could be multiple things, including perfectionism. This can become a huge problem for perfectionists, especially perfectionist students. They most likely will overthink projects and put off getting started because they’re afraid they won’t be able to make them as perfect as they want them to be. Luckily this is a common issue among students and there are many different techniques to cope with it. StudentsRead MoreProcrastination And Procrastination Is Not My Problem Essay1668 Words   |  7 Pagesthink of procrastination the first word that comes to most of our minds is lazy. Laziness and procrastination seem to go hand in hand and often procras tination is caused by us simply being lazy. However, procrastination is a chronic and constant problem for many of us and while some of us may also be chronically lazy as well, most of us aren’t. I am, unfortunately, a person that battles procrastination and I can say that laziness is usually not my problem. I believe that procrastination comes downRead More Procrastination Essay1020 Words   |  5 Pagesto stay committed to doing so because I am a procrastinator. I’ve gotten some help with my procrastination from various web sites. That’s why this evening I would like to talk to you about three important aspects of procrastination. These include the reasons for procrastinating, some symptoms of procrastination, and how to cure procrastination, but first, let me explain what procrastination is. Procrastination, though not officially classified as such, is a complex psychological behavior that affectsRead MoreProcrastination On College Students : Procrastination 2056 Words   |  9 PagesProcrastination in College Writing Out of all of the different questions I could think of regarding writing among college students and how each individual goes about doing their work in different ways, I decided the best topic that I could focus on was procrastination. Procrastination on college campuses seems to be a force of nature in and of itself, and seems to be prevalent in almost every students’ academic affairs. I surveyed a total of twelve students around the student center over a periodRead MorePerfectionism And Procrastination919 Words   |  4 Pages â€Å"Procrastination is a common form of self-regulatory failure with substantive connections† where the tendency is to put off tasks. (Steel, Farrari, 2013) Perfectionism is when one sets very high expectations often in an â€Å"overly critical manner† (Frost, Marten, Lahart,Rosenblate,1990). There’s two types of perfectionism, adaptive and maladaptive where adaptive components are beneficial to the situational and maladaptive components will be detrimental to the individual. (Piers Steel, Thomas BrothenRead More Procrastination Essay1141 Words   |  5 Pages Procrastination nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished. Procrastination has a high potential for painful consequences. It may interfere with our personal or academic success. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; There are those of us who wait until the due date is a day away. I am not talking about making sure the money is in the bank. I am talking about putting it off because it is a tedious chore that we do not enjoy doing. ProcrastinationRead More Procrastination Essays932 Words   |  4 Pagesobjectives in your life which can effect others. Procrastination is almost like a drug in your life, because once you start doing it a little bit, it slowly adds up to a dependency that you will find to be common habit. Although this is what we all perceive procrastination to be bad, there are some benefits to it. It can have beneficial impact on how you take pressure, or how well you can act when time is limited. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Procrastination is something that you don’t naturally haveRead MoreProcrastination Essay982 Words   |  4 PagesI have many flaws, one of which being procrastination. Procrastination has been a flaw of mine since I was three years old just learning to tie my shoe. When my dad told me that we were going to learn to tie my shoes today I would says something like, â€Å"I’m Hungry† or â€Å"I don’t feel too good today†, and I would make these excuses up all day until it was bedtime so by then it was too late to tie my shoes. Now just like avoiding and putting off tying my shoes I also put off my bedtime. As soon as myRead MoreThe Causes Of Procrastination815 Words   |  4 PagesProcrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished. It is a common issue most Americans face today. Procrastination can be argued whether or not if it’s caused by choice. There are various factors that lead to procr astination such as; our being brain programmed to procrastinate, feeling like you aren’t in the right frame of mind to do a particular task, and the lack of self-confidence. Procrastination doesn’t happen just because, it is a result of our brain being programmedRead MoreEssay On Procrastination1405 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"I have a ton of homework to do, but let’s go hang out anyways!† This is an example of procrastination. Procrastinating is an action of delaying or postponing something. The problems of procrastinating effects a lot of students in college and can sometimes keep them from receiving better grades on their assignments. Procrastination affects around 90 percent of college students. (qtd in Hubbard) Procrastinating occurs when students feel lack of motivation, not having accountability for their â€Å"extra

Green Tea and Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults Free Essays

Obesity has become a growing health issue which is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, stroke, sleep apnea, and certain cancers (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008; Maki et al. , 2009; Nagao et al. We will write a custom essay sample on Green Tea and Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults or any similar topic only for you Order Now , 2005). In the United States there are an estimated 72 million overweight or obese adults (as cited in Maki et al. , 2009).Currently, the most effective treatment for obesity is a combination of reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure, yet the most popular treatment is pharmacotherapy (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008, Diepvens, Kovacs, Nijs, Vogels, Westerterp-Plantenga, 2005). Recently, researchers have found antiobesity effects in green tea (Maki et al. , 2009). The objective of this term paper is to depict the claim of green tea and its effectiveness on weight loss in overweight and obese adults. Review of the Literature Overweight and Obese and Weight LossThe basic reasoning of overweight and obese individuals is an imbalance between energy consumption and energy expenditure (Diepvens et al. , 2005). To achieve weight loss, a negative energy balance must occur and can be achieved by decreased energy consumption or increased energy expenditure (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008; Diepvens et al. , 2005). Genetics may also be linked to obesity in several ways. Genetics may be associated with susceptibility to fat storing and the controllability of food intake (as cited in Shepherd, 2009).It has been inferred that green tea may reduce body weight and increase satiety which will positively effect body composition (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008; Diepvens et al. , 2005; Maki et al, 2008; Nagao et al. , 2005). Components of Green Tea Green tea contains two major active ingredients which may be contributed to combating obesity: catechin and caffeine (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008; Diepvens et al. , 2005). Research has suggested that green tea catechins block the enzyme catechol O-methyltransferase, thereby stimulating the sympathetic nervous system (Auvichayapat et al. 2008; Belza et al. , 2009). The stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system may be responsible for increased thermogenesis, fat oxidation and satiety (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008; Belza et al. , 2009). Green tea catechins may also contribute to increased antioxidant, antiviral, antiplaque-forming, anticancer activities, and decreased blood pressure and total cholesterol (as cited in Nagao et al. , 2005). Research has suggested that caffeine may promote thermogenesis and fat oxidation that positively affect body composition (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008; Belza et al. 2009; Diepvens et al. , 2005). Caffeine obstructs the degeneration of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate, leading to increased norepinephrine release (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008). The increased norepinephrine may lead to thermogenesis and may enhance satiety (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008). Effects of Catechin and Caffeine Supplementation on Overweight and Obese Adults Maki et al. (2009) conducted a study to investigate whether green tea catechin intake increased exercise-induced abdominal adiposity loss in overweight and obese adults in the United States. The researchers supported previous claims of green tea catechins’ positive effect on general weight loss, but further investigation was needed to conclude that green tea catechin consumption has a positive effect on body composition and abdominal adiposity. The study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial that took place in two clinical research sites – Bloomington, Indiana and St. Petersburg, Florida. The male and female participants were of good general health and sedentary.The participants were between the ages of 21 and 65, had a waist circumference of 87 centimeters or greater (women) or 90 centimeters or greater (men), and a total cholesterol of 5. 2 mmol/L or greater. Participates agreed to consume no more than two caffeinated drinks a day and avoid medication or supplements that contained caffeine or catechin. The eligible participants were randomly assigned a beverage of catechins (625 mg) or a control beverage (0 mg) per day. Both the catechin and control beverage contained the same amount of carbohydrates, sodium, as well as caffeine (39 mg).Since this was a double-blind trial the eligible participants and staff were unaware of the assigned beverages. The eligible participants were asked to maintain caloric consumption, and required to increase their activity level by attending three, one-hour supervised exercise sessions a week for a total of 12 weeks. The Maki et al. (2009) study yielded 107 participates that completed the entire trial and met the set requirements. The average age of the participants was 48 years, about one-half were males (catechin, 49. 2%; control, 55. %), and most participants were of non-Hispanic white ethnicity (91%). Maki et al. (2009) found that the catechin group experienced (P = 0. 079) a greater loss of body weight than the control group at week 12. This supports results of other trials (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008; Belza et al. , 2009; Nagao et al. , 2005). The results of the Maki et al. (2009) study showed no difference in percentage changes in fat mass (P = 0. 208) or intra-abdominal fat area (P = 0. 125). However, total abdominal adipose area (P = 0. 013) and abdominal subcutaneous adipose area (P = 0. 19) decreased at week 12 (Maki et al. , 2009). Maki et al. (2009) concluded that catechins (625 mg/day) may have positive effects on exercised-induced loss of abdominal adiposity. Auvichayapat et al. (2008) conducted a randomized, controlled, experimental study to investigate green tea and its effectiveness on weight loss in obese Thais. The study included 60 Thai participates who were between the ages of 40 and 60 and had a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or greater. Forty-two participates were females and 18 were males.The participants were required to have good health history with no current or prior metabolic or systemic diseases and not currently taking prescribed medication. The participants were randomized into two groups, a green tea group and a placebo group. The participants in the green tea group consumed a 250 mg green tea (100 mg catechin) tablet after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The participants in the placebo group also received a tablet after breakfast, lunch, and dinner containing cellulose which was identical in appearance to the green tea tablets.The participants’ heights were determined by the use of a wall-mounted ruler and body weight was determined by the use of a digital scale. Body mass index was calculated by body weight (kg) divided by height (m) squared. Body fat percentage was measured by the use of a calibrated skinfold calipers. The sum of the triceps, subscapular, and iliac skinfolds were compared based on sex and age from the Jackson study to determine body fat percentage (as cited in Auvichayapat et al. , 2008). Resting energy expenditure was measured by the use of the Douglas bag system by indirect calorimetry (as cited in Auvichayapat et al. 2008). The air expired by the participants were analyzed by a computerized data acquisition system from which resting energy expenditure were calculated with the use of Weir’s formula (Auvichayapat et al. , 2008). Body mass index, body fat percentage, and resting energy expenditure were measured at baseline, and during the fourth, eighth and twelfth weeks of the study. In comparison, the green tea treatment group exhibited a significant difference (P lt; 0. 05) in weight loss during the eighthand twelfth weeks of the study as compared to the placebo treatment group.Auvichayapat et al. (2008) concluded that green tea can increase energy expenditure and therefore increase weight loss in obese Thais. Nagao et al. (2005) conducted a random, double-blind, controlled, experimental 12-week study to examine the effects of catechins on body fat loss. The researchers included 25 healthy Japanese men between the ages of 24 and 46 who ranged from normal to overweight according to body mass index (as cited in Nagao et al. , 2005). The 25 participants were randomly placed into two groups, a catechins group (n = 17) and a placebo group (n = 18).The requirements for the individuals were to consume 90% of the calculated energy intake requirement, to withhold from consuming large amounts of catechins, polyphenols, or caffeine, and to maintain their current level of exercise. Anthropometric measurements and computed tomography were administered by trained physicians at baseline and every four weeks thereafter for the 12-week study. Waist circumference was measured at the umbilical level while the participants were standing in accordance with the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (Nagao et al. , 2005).The participants’ body fat ercentages were measured by the use of a bioimpedance analyzer and skinfold caliper method. Body fat percentage and lean body mass were derived from the ratio of total body weight to body fat. The skinfold caliper method utilized measurements at the lower end of the scapula and the intermediate region on the lateral side of the arm, and the sum of the two values were recorded. The measurement of fat was calculated by computed tomography. Computed tomography imaging was performed for visceral fat measurement by utilizing FAT SCAN software developed on the method developed by Tokunaga et al. as cited in Nagao et al. , 2005). The use of the FAT SCAN software, subcutaneous fat area and visceral fat area were obtained from abdominal computed tomography image. Subcutaneous fat area and visceral fat area were summed together to obtain the total fat area. The results of the Nagao et al. (2005) study showed that the reduction in waist circumference (P lt; 0. 01), skinfold measurements (P lt; 0. 05), and total fat area (P lt; 0. 05) was significantly greater in the catechin group (690 mg) than that of the placebo group.In conclusion, catechins (690 mg/day for 12 weeks) decrease total body fat and may be useful in preventing and combating obesity. Belza et al. (2009) conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled study consisting of 12 healthy and normal weight male participants (age: 23. 7,  ±2. 6 years). Each participant was instructed to maintain their daily dietary and physical activity habits throughout the study. The treatments being analyzed were in the form of tablets containing 500 mg green tea extract (125 mg catechins), 400 mg tyrosine, 50 mg caffeine, or placebo.Each treatment was separated by a minimum of three days. The main focus of Belza et al. (2009) was to examine the compounds tyrosine, green tea extract, and caffeine, and their individual effects on thermogenesis, appetite sensations, and ad libitum energy intake. A ventilated hood that was tested weekly to ensure reliability was used to assess resting metabolic rates of each participant. Participants were instructed to fast the evening prior to, as well as refrain from medication, alcohol, and strenuous physical activity 24 hours before respiratory assessments.A baseline respiratory measurement was acquired for each participant during the first 25 minutes of each assessment. The assessment then continued with 30-minute intervals in which respiratory measurements were recorded for a total of four hours. Each respiratory assessment for each individual was executed on the same time of day and on an identical schedule. The participants’ appetite sensations were analyzed using the Visual Analogue Scales which included subjective questions about sensations of hunger, satiety, prospective consumption, and fullness (Belza et al. 2009). Each participant completed the Visual Analogue Scales prior to the respiratory assessment to obtain a baseline measurement, and subsequently throughout the respiratory assessment. Another test each participant completed was the ad libitum meal. The participants were instructed to consume the ad libitum meal at a constant pace and to terminate consumption when satiety was reached. The amount of ad libitum meal consumed was used as the assessment of ad libitum energy intake. Belza et al. 2009) found that caffeine produced a thermogenic response of 6% above the baseline assessment as compared to the placebo (P lt; 0. 0001). No significant difference was found for thermogenic response with the tyrosine and green tea extract treatments as compared to the placebo (Belza et al. , 2009). Belza et al. (2009) stated that too small of a sample size was tested to conclude any appetite suppressant value of the treatments administered, and additional investigation with a large sample size is needed. Diepvens et al. 2005) administered a study to investigate the effects of green tea and a low-calorie diet on resting energy expenditure and body weight in overweight females. The researchers hypothesized that green tea would increase resting energy expenditure and decrease body weight. The study was an experimental, double-blind, parallel-design, placebo-controlled trial including 46 overweight females between the ages of 19 and 57 and a body mass index between 25 and 31 kg/m2. All participates were of good health and moderate caffeine-users (200-400 mg of caffeine a day).Two groups were randomly assigned to each treatment: a green tea treatment (n = 23) and a placebo treatment (n = 23). All 46 participants consumed a low-calorie diet consisting of 60% of estimated energy expenditure and consumed three tablets daily (9:00 a. m. , 1:00 p. m. , 6:00 p. m. ) of either placebo or green tea (75 mg caffeine, 375 mg catechins). Diepvens et al. (2005) utilized an open-circuit, ventilated-hood system to assess energy expenditure, as well as fat and carbohydrate oxidation.Anthropometric measurements were assessed using a digital balance (body weight) and a wall-mounted stadiometer (height). BMI was calculated by dividing body weight in kilograms by height (m) squared. Diepvens et al. (2005) concluded that there was not a significant difference between the green tea and placebo groups in reducing body weight. Diepvens et al. (2005) contributes the low thermogenic effectiveness of green tea to the low-caloric diet because of the reduction of sympathetic activity caused by the low-caloric diet.The reduced sympathetic activity reduces noradrenalin release which is partially responsible for thermogenesis (as cited in Diepvens et al. , 2005; Auvichayapat et al. , 2008). Summary In summary, the effects of green tea on weight loss may be attributed specifically to the catechins and caffeine, the active components of green tea. The researchers found that a positive correlation occurred between the consumption of green tea and energy expenditure, fat oxidation, total fat area loss and satiety which will contribute to the prevention and reduction of obesity.Although several studies found that there was not a significant difference in energy expenditure, fat oxidation, total fat area loss and satiety between the green tea and control groups, there was nevertheless a difference. Perhaps with the long term consumption of green tea, the benefit will be exponentially larger. It is beneficial to note that while the consumption of green tea is not a solution by itself, it can be used as part of the process for weight loss and optimizing health for currently overweight or obese adults.References Auvichayapat, P. Prapochanung, M. , Tunkamnerdthai, O. , Sripanidkulchai, B. , Auvichayapat, N. , Thinkhamrop, B. , †¦ Hongprapas, P. (2008). Effectiveness of green tea on weight reduction in obese Thais: A randomized, controlled trial. Physiology Behavior, 93(3), 486-491. doi:10. 1016/j. physbeh. 2007. 10. 009. Belza, A. , Toubro, S. , Astrup, A. (2009). The effect of caffeine, green tea and tyrosine on thermogenesis and energy intake. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 63(1), 57-64. doi:10. 1038/sj. ejcn. 1602901. Diepvens, K. , Kovacs, E. M. R. , Nijs, I. M. T. Vogels, N. , Westerterp-Plantenga, M. S. (2005). Effect of green tea on resting energy expenditure and substrate oxidation during weight loss in overweight females. British Journal of Nutrition, 94(6), 1026-1034. doi:10. 1079/BJN20051580 Maki, K. C. , Reeves, M. S. , Farmer, M. , Yasunaga, K. , Matsuo, N. , Katsuragi, Y. , †¦ Cartwright, Y. (2009). Green Tea Catechin Consumption Enhances Exercise-Induced Abdominal Fat Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults. Journal of Nutrition, 139(2), 264-270. doi:10. 3945/jn. 108. 098293. Nagao, T. , Komine, Y. , Soga, S. Meguro, S. , Hase, T. , Tanaka, Y. , Tokimitsu, I. (2005). Ingestion of a tea rich in catechins leads to a reduction in body fat and malondialdehyde-modified LDL in men. Am J of Clin Nutr, 81(1), 122-129. Retrieved from http://www. ajcn. org. libaccess. sjlibrary. org/cgi/reprint/81/1/122. pdf Shepherd, A. (2009). Obesity: prevalence, causes and clinical consequences. Nursing Standard, 23(52), 51-57. Retrieved from http://web. ebscohost. com. libaccess. sjlibrary. org/ehost/ pdfviewer/pdfviewer? vid=4hid=8sid=44d81a55-f6d5-40b7-808f-239f2569d782%40sessionmgr10 How to cite Green Tea and Weight Loss in Overweight and Obese Adults, Papers

Use Of Information Sources Kellogg Company - Free Sample Solution

Question: Submit the Company's Use of Information Sources assignment. The current business environment provides a plethora of information resources that are essential for companies to develop to understand and reach their customers. In this assignment, you will provide an overview of how your selected company uses these information resources to build their marketing decision support systems and customer relationship management (CRM) environment. Answer: In the current competitive world, a company and their business cannot survive without adequate information. Therefore, it is important for the companies to collect valuable information for their businesses and most of the leading companies such as Kellogg Company have already started collecting useful information for their business. There are various significances of collecting business information. Mainly, the business information is collected for supporting the marketing decision support systems (MDSS) and for strengthening the customer relationship management (CRM). The marketing decision support systems (MDSS) is essential for the modern day companies to take any marketing decisions based upon the coordination of collected systems, techniques and data supported by many advanced tools and technologies (Guelman, Guilln Prez-Marn, 2015). In general, the concept is to gather data or information from various sources such as journals, surveys, audits for making effective marketing decisions. Similarly, CRM or the customer relationship management is also one of the most important aspects of the modern businesses that imply the management or organizational approach towards their customers in terms of marketing, sales, customers support and technical services (Gunasekaran Sandhu, 2010). In case of CRM, it is also important to collect information from various sources regarding the customers to designs, implement and to operate the CRM systems effectively. However, the most important thing is to gather and to consider the sources of the information, which must be valid and reliable for the company. In case of marketing decisions support system, Kellogg Company considers the company accounts, stock analysis, internal report, retail data as internal information sources and government statistics, commercial data, trade publications, surveys, research documents such as publications, journals as the external sources of information. The company various software made using advanced technologies for managing their marketing decisions support systems. As per the software used by Kellogg Company, there is a central marketing information system that has the functionally to upload and to download marketing data including various other advanced features such as marketing intelligence and decisions support analysis. Within the system, there is central database, where the marketing managers and the employees store all the marketing and sales data of Kellogg Company (Investor.kelloggs.com, 2015). The key motive of that system is to develop information based upon the internal records stored by the marketing personnel, marketing research, marketing decisions support analysis and marketing intelligence. The marketing managers of Kellogg Company are using the records inside the system for analyzing, planning, implementing and controlling the marketing strategies. Additionally, the managers not only access information from the database, they also share or distribute and upload the data regarding the implementation and outcome of the marketing strategies (Khodakarami Chan, 2014). The marketing information are consisted with the components of the marketing environment such as the regarding test markets, competitors, customers, marketing channels, macro-environmental forces. These information resources are useful for making marketing related decisions as the statistical, analytical and business intelligence tools and techniques implemented within the marketing information system hel ps to evaluate useful, valid and reliable outcome. Kellogg Company is managing their customer relationship management (CRM) using various software such as Salesforce and their internal CRM tools and technologies. The information resources collected by the company and their CRM systems help generating leads that are mostly valid, reliable and are generating both sales and profit for the company. Therefore, the appropriate usage of information resources with the CRM system helps saving valuable energy and resources in terms of both money and workforce. Kellogg Company is using and is storing all the information resources regarding their customers within their CRM system for further analyzing (La Yi, 2015). The company is using their information resources in a way that it also enabling their system to generate more referrals from their existing customers. In addition, the company is considering the feedbacks of their customers as one of the most useful information resources, which is helping the company to improve their products based upon the outcome and analysis of their CRM system. The main purpose of implementing and controlling the CRM system is to enhance the sales, sales productivity and to increase the accuracy of their forecasts. The company is supporting their CRM systems with the information resources obtained through various sources for evaluating reliable and valid outcome. The company has implemented advanced technologies within their organizational environment to help their employees and staff to access their CRM system from anywhere to upload and download customer related data to enhance the operational efficiency and business performance (Shaji, 2015). Reference List Guelman, L., Guillan, M., Prez-Marn, A. (2015). A decision support framework to implement optimal personalized marketing interventions. Decision Support Systems, 72, 24-32. doi:10.1016/j.dss.2015.01.010 Gunasekaran, A., Sandhu, M. (2010). Handbook on business information systems. Singapore: World Scientific Khodakarami, F., Chan, Y. (2014). Exploring the role of customer relationship management (CRM) systems in customer knowledge creation. Information Management, 51(1), 27-42. doi:10.1016/j.im.2013.09.001 La, S., Yi, Y. (2015). A Critical Review of Customer Satisfaction, Customer Loyalty, Relationship Marketing, and Customer Relationship Management. Korean Marketing Review, 30(1), 53. doi:10.15830/kmr.2015.30.1.53 Shaji, S. (2015). Business and Information Technology Confederacy for Customer Relationship. IBMRD's Journal Of Management Research, 4(1), 41. doi:10.17697/ibmrd/2015/v4i1/6034 Investor.kelloggs.com,. (2015). Kellogg Company - Investor Relations - Business Information - Leadership Team. Retrieved 8 June 2015, from https://investor.kelloggs.com/investor-relations/business-information/leadership-team/default.aspx

Perceptions, participation, and change

The Importance of Political Participation It is widely claimed that the United States of America presents itself as a supporter of the democratic principles on the world arena. Although the USA has a long history of the development of the institutions of democracy, the maintenance of their effectiveness requires careful attention to the social and demographic issues. The United States is often called as the ‘country of immigrants’.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Perceptions, Participation, and Change specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is not surprising as the US population is represented by numerous diasporas of different countries. The scholars argue that the active citizenry is one of the most important features of democracy (Dalton, 2000). The active citizenry supports functioning of democracy because it assumes popular interest, involvement in politics, and discussions, which contribute to the realization of the social goals. It is claimed that the legitimacy and the functioning of democracy are achieved only through public involvement in the process (Dalton, 2000). Rosenstone and Hansen (1993) indicate the direct relationship between the turnout decline and the changes in the elite behavior. The authors stress that the mobilization becomes a way of active participation in the American politics. They emphasize the role of choice in the expansion of the pool of political participants (Rosenstone Hansen, 1993). The politicians, parties, and interest groups play a crucial role in this process. A number of studies focus on the participation of the representatives of the foreign diasporas in the American politics. The attitude of the Muslim Americans to democracy and political process in the United States is touched upon in the works of Leonard, Choi, Gasim, Patterson, Aydin, Hammer, and other scholars. The urgency of the problem is obvious due to the cautious and twofold att itude of the Americans to the immigrants from the Islam countries. Such attitude complicates their integration into the American society: â€Å"The April 18, 2008 Chronicle Review †¦ featured on its front page a picture of a young Palestinian man wearing a black headband and holding up a Qur’an and a rifle. The picture was intended to attract attention to an article contained in the issue titled â€Å"How Just is Islam’s Just-War Tradition?† by Evan R. Goldstein† (Aydin Hammer, 2010, p. 1-2).Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The article mentioned above is not unique as the problem is widely discussed in the media. The situation is sharpened by the last military conflicts in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq, and other Muslim countries: â€Å"Not all Muslim-Americans have diasporic ties to these countries, but each instance serves as an example of why some Mu slim-Americans experience frustration or apathy† (Fatima, 2013, p. 346). The rise in the anti-Muslim crimes makes the American Muslims become more assertive of their American identities (Leonard, 2003). They become more mobilized in order to fight for the preservation of their civil rights and liberties. The social connections play an important role in this context. It is argued that the networks should be viewed not only as the set of contacts among people but rather as the mutual obligations among them (Putnam, 2000). The scholars argued that the 2004 presidential campaign showed that the members of the Muslim communities took an active participation in the political process, especially, when they had to express their attitude to the salient issues and when they had the strong opinions on them (Choi et al., 2011). In this regard, â€Å"Muslim American political claims that are not aligned with existing foreign policy and that may speak the language of affective response are often disregarded as epistematically untrustworthy (that is, disloyal and suspect)† (Fatima, 2013, p. 346). Fatima (2013) claims that the Muslim Americans should actively participate in the development of the American foreign policy as well as inform the public about their participation with the purpose of striving for their loyalties and values. The majority of the studies have been focused on the explanation of cross-national differences in the political engagement with a particular emphasis on voting. It is not surprising that the voting takes an important place as it represents not only the vital element of the democratic political process but also the vast range of the turnout data (Dalton, 2000).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Perceptions, Participation, and Change specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It has been found that the complex set of institutional factors determines the national turnout rates. In particular, such factors as â€Å"voter registration systems, electoral procedures, and the degree of political competition in the society and the party system† play a crucial role in the voting process (Dalton 2000, p. 928). Dalton (2000) claims that the patterns in the participation in the political process change. He also stresses that the participation ratio in the political campaigns and voting decreases in many of the industrialized countries with the developed democracies. However, the frequency of engagement in other activities rises (Dalton, 2000). In addition, the political institutions respond to the changes and new tendencies in accordance with the political moods in the society. The scholars outline the individualization of the modern political process. This tendency reflects the fact that although the citizens become more interested in the political and social activities, they try to engage in these activities in order to obtain some personal gains. Moreover , the citizens tend to make their own political decision regardless of the views of the political and social organizations. In this respect, they try to avoid the structured and institutionalized methods of political participation and to use the methods of direct democracy including the membership in the community groups and social movements. The citizen action becomes a crucial factor in the American politics. Such kind of individualization of the political process leads to the heterogeneity of the public interests (Dalton, 2000). Religion Institutions and political mobilization Some scholars focus their attention on the role of religious institutions in the political mobilization. It has been found that the church embodying the religious tradition takes an important place in the political mobilization (Smidt, 1999). In addition, the attendance of the church may influence people’s attitude to the political process and make its visitors the active participants of the civic so ciety.Advertising Looking for essay on government? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The findings of Jones-Correa and Leal (2001) confirm recent studies. In particular, they prove the important role of the associational membership for civic behavior. The authors claim that the associational membership and the political engagement are two closely connected concepts. In this respect, the membership in churches represents an important civic association engaging its members into the political and social processes (Jones-Correa Leal, 2001). The number of mosques and their participants are experiencing significant increase. Statistics shows that, on average, each mosque involves over 1,625 Muslims actively participating in the religious life (Bagby et al., 2001). Dodds (2002) claims that the mosque itself is more than an architectural construction because it represents an Islamic community with its functions and specific nature supporting the religious life. The majority of mosques are involved in the activities other than the religious support of the prayers. In particu lar, they visit a school or church to present Islam, work with the media, contact a political leader, and participate in an interfaith dialogue (Bagby et al., 2001). The mosques often provide the cash assistance. Interestingly, many of them participate in the counseling and help the imprisoned. They also assist the poor by providing the food and clothing. The statistics shows that more than half of the American mosques are affiliated with other Muslim organizations (Bagby et al., 2001). It should be stated that â€Å"Mosque participants are therefore situated in a unique and multifunctional locale that serves their inspirational, communal, and social needs† (Jamal, 2005, p. 537). The author distinguishes between peculiarities of different Muslim diasporas. For example, the mosques of the Arab Muslims are actively involved into the political activity. They use the opportunities, which the membership in the civic society provides to them. Furthermore, their activity is characte rized by the strong group consciousness: â€Å"For African and Arab Americans, the mosque serves as a collectivizing forum that highlights Muslim common struggles in mainstream American society† (Jamal, 2005, p. 537). In contrast, â€Å"though the mosques of the South Asian nations contribute to the participation of their members in the political process, they do not strive to increase the levels of political engagement as well as the levels of group consciousness† (Jamal, 2005, p. 537). Additional information needed In order to prove the first hypothesis stating that the majority of the American Muslims participate in the affairs of political parties and special interest groups because they believe in democracy and its values, additional information is needed. In particular, the materials reviewed do not provide a clear insight into the political views of the majority of the American Muslims. Besides, it is important to find out to which political parties the most of them adhere or to determine whether a clear stratification of the American Muslim community on the principle of the political preferences exists. It should be determined to which political ideology the most of the American Muslims adhere. Although it is stated that the American Muslims become more active participants of the political process in the United States, their attitude to the democracy is not clear. In this respect, it is vital to understand their interpretation of the term of the democratic society. Furthermore, it is interesting to compare the political views of the American Muslims from the different states. The information presented in the reviewed materials does not address the question of the gender discrimination in the Muslim communities. It is crucial to know whether it exists among the American Muslims. Besides, it will be logical to analyze the differences in the views of the American Muslims on democracy depending on their social and economic status, and educati on. The information presented in the reviewed materials also does not touch upon the opinions of the American Muslims on the most urgent problems of the American politics. It should be stated that the literature reviewed is relevant for the purpose of the research but additional information is necessary to test the stated hypothesis. References Aydin, C. , Hammer, J. (2010). Muslims and media: Perceptions, participation, and change. Contemporary Islam, 4(1), 1-9. Bagby, I., Perl, P., Froehle, B. (2001). The mosque in America a national portrait: A report from the mosque study project. Washington, DC: Council of American Islamic Relations Choi, J. ,Gasim, G. , Patterson, D. (2011). Identity, issues, and religious commitment and participation: Explaining turnout among mosque†attending muslim americans. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, 11(3), 343-364. Dalton, R. (2000). Citizen attitudes and political behavior.Comparative Political Studies, 33(6/7), 912-940. Dodds, J. (200 2). The mosques of New York City. New York, NY: Power House Books. Fatima, S. (2013). Muslim†american scripts. Hypatia, 28(2), 341-359. Jamal, A. (2005). The political participation and engagement of muslim americans: Mosque involvement and group consciousness. American Politics Research, 33(4), 521-544. Jones-Correa, M., Leal, D. (2001). Political participation: Does religion matter? Political Research Quarterly, 4, 751-770. Leonard, K. (2003). Muslims in the United States: The state of research. New York, NY: Russell Sage. Putnam, R. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. New York, NY: Touchstone. Rosenstone, S., Hansen, J. M. (1993). Mobilization, participation and democracy in America. New York, NY: Macmillan. Smidt, C. (1999). Religion and civic engagement: A comparative analysis. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 565, 176-192. This essay on Perceptions, Participation, and Change was written and submitted by user Ayla Brown to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.