GDP of the United States Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

GDP of the United States - Assignment Example The United States economy, with regard to recent trends, therefore, should be going forward and getting better. However, the United States is trying to recover due to the fact that the trend is not going as expected, and the question of why America down remains to be answered (Cobb, 1995) is. As regards to above trends in the current account as a percent of united states GDP, of 1980-2010, it is clear that the GDP rates keep fluctuating as it did in past recessions in the United States. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the real gross GDP recorded an annual increase rate of 1.8 percent in the third quarter of 2011 (News Release, 2011). This trend of increase from the second to the third quarter has been a notable release by the Bureau of economic analysis. The second quarter of the year 2011 saw the real GDP increase by 1.3 percent. The gross domestic product refers to the output of goods and services that labor and property located in the United States produce (News Release, 2011). In the United States, the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate is an essential component of the economy. For this case, the future of the economic activity is predicted by the yield curve slope and the spread between the interest terms (News Release, 2011). This is because the shifts of the slope are key determinants and indicators of high and low GDP growth. In determining GDP, there are three different approaches, which must carry out similar results. Therefore, the â€Å"total value of production†, the â€Å"total value of income† and the total value of expenditure should reflect equilibrium or simply be equal (News Release, 2011). The first method involves deriving a residual value and is referred to as the production approach (Krugman, 2001). Production approach involves taking an estimate of each industry’s gross output from other industries, and this is used to derive each industry’s residual value.

Hamlet - historical and political context Essay Example for Free

Hamlet historical and political context Essay The political and religious upheavals before and after the death of Henry VIII had left their mark on the people of England. The King had done previous un-heard of things: He had divorced two wives and had had two executed. In the brief reigns which followed, persecution, first of the Catholics and then of Protestants, split family allegiances and brought very real danger of imprisonment, torture, even execution. Claimants for the thrown jockeyed for position. Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558 the first successor to her father, Henry Viii had been his young son Edward, ten years of age. As he was still very much under age, he had to rule through Regents. They persisted with the Protestant reforms instituted by his father after his break with the Roman Catholic. Edward died six years after coming to the throne. He was succeeded by his half-sister Mary (Tudor), who died childless after five years as Queen. She had tried to reinstate Roman Catholicism as the state religion. Elizabeth, Marys half sister, although not considered a legitimate heir to the throne, became Queen in 1558 and ruled for 45 years. Although she had been brought up as a Protestant she understood that in view of the recent religious upheaval some compromises some compromises had to be made. The country needed stability and a strong ruler. Her life had been in danger before she became Queen and there were the inevitable conspiracies to usurp her position. The tragic figurehead of one of these and the object of Elizabeths suspicion and jealousy for many years was Mary, Queen of Scots; Elizabeth at first kept her under arrest but eventually had her executed in 1587. Late in her reign, in 1601, the Earl of Essex, formerly her favorite, made his bid for power. He failed in his attempt to cause a popular up rising, was imprisoned and executed. It is not difficult to trace this atmosphere of suspicion and treachery in Hamlet, nor the reassuring promise to royalty contained in the suggestion at the end of the play that strong and humane rule will be reasserted. There were also serious threats from abroad. In 1588 Phillip II of Spain sent the Armada, a large fleet of ships, sailing up the Channel in an attempt to conquer England by force. Another foreign threat was marriage. Elizabeth constantly resisted attempts by her counselors to contract any politically advantageous marriage and she died unmarried, naming James, her Scottish cousin, already established for many years as King in Scotland, as her successor. Social and Context Elizabeth I built on the foundations laid by her father and grandfather until her power, the power of the Crown, was almost unquestioned. To help achieve the security which she and the country, needed it was important to encourage an articulate and educated aristocracy. Education and in particular classical scholarship assumed a fresh importance. In the grammar schools it is assumed that Shakespeare attended the Stratford Grammar school- Latin Language and literature were studied; prose and verse, composition, rhetoric, orations and declamations. Much was learnt by heart and in the upper school Greek was added. Shakespeares knowledge of the classical theatre, poetry and legend is evident throughout his whole body of work. How does this relate to Hamlet? The Players speech, which Hamlet has remembered, is part of the Dido and Aeneas story, the sack of Troy and the slaying of King Priam. Also, Hamlet and Horatio have been fellow-students at the University of Wittenberg. The others, to address the ghost, call upon Horatio. Hamlet clearly wanted to return to Wittenberg, to turn his back on the whole situation at the castle, and possibly to become a perpetual student and scholar until his father demands the revenge which he is unfitted to deliver. Exploration There was vitality; a fresh interest in foreign countries in the sixteenth century and exploration by sea had led to an increase in foreign trade. European foreign countries hardly seemed far away. Laertes lives very happily in Paris, away from his fathers influence. Hamlet is casually packed off by his uncle to a planned death in England. There was an extension of experience and an opening up to fresh influences, which included a new vocabulary of classical and foreign words. Printed books and pamphlets circulated more widely, so that information was more easily obtained. The Elizabethan age was establishing a feeling of national community and confidence. At the same time an increase in prosperity and a raising standard of living for many. This prosperity was also reflected in the newly built theatres and the audiences who flocked to entertainments of all kinds This is not to say that dissent and uneasiness did not exist. There will still disputes over religion and new ideas can be worrying as well as exciting. Persecution of religious minorities of the mainland caused a large influx of refugees from France and the Netherlands. It is also important to remember that some of the entertainments mentioned above were public executions. Bloodthirsty pastimes such as bull- and bear- baiting were popular. The streets were filthy and away from the main thoroughfares, in the poorer parts of the city, they resembled open sewers and rubbish dumps. The plague, spread by black rats, struck in 1592 when it ravaged the city for two years, and again in 1603, wiping out whole families and forcing those Londoners who could afford to do so to flee to the country. Theatres and all public places of entertainment were closed down. This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Hamlet section.

What is this? Essay -- Technology

The use of computer technology in the classroom is growing to be a major concern for parents and educators. How much time should children be allowed to browse on the Internet? Is the Internet affecting the children, the future of our society, and the ability to focus? Should parents and educators trust the websites that students get their information from? Although the Internet provides access to live video chatting, music streaming, and online books, it is not the miracle cure that many believe that it is. The Internet does an absolutely fabulous job of making what may have seemed impossible possible; it is responsible for a reduced attention span, ability to read in-depth and analyze literature. First amongst the problems is the speed. The Internet can access an enormous amount of information in less than a few seconds with a few typed letters and the click of a button. Search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and Ask offer an endless number of links leading to what an individual is inquiring about. The danger there is that students do not necessarily know how to select their sites wisely. Also, there are websites including GoogleMaps and Mapquest that make finding a destination and/or direction to such destination a â€Å"piece of cake.† Such websites are without a doubt handy and provide a driver with step by step directions. However, when the satellite is out or a GPS malfunctions, the driver is out of luck. The Internet is making society’s ability to remember and do such tasks as driving to an unfamiliar place essentially impossible to do without its help. In Nicholas Carr’s article â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid?† he writes about how he notices more and more how his ability to focus and find research on his own has deeply... ...ary†. Education Digest 67-1 (2001): 46-49. Academic Search Elite. Web. 13 March 2012. Keen, Andrew. â€Å"The Cult of the Amateur†. Perspectives on Argument. Ed. Nancy V. Wood. Boston. Pearson, 2012. 503-504. Print. Kirshenbaum, Matthew. â€Å"How Reading is Being Reimagined†. Perspectives on Argument. Ed. Nancy V. Wood. Boston. Pearson, 2012. 508-510. Print. O'Hear, Steve. "The Internet Can Increase Learning." Has Technology Increased Learning? Ed. Roman Espejo. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. At Issue. Rpt. from "E-learning 2.0—\ How Web Technologies Are Shaping Education." www.readwriteweb.com/archives/e- learning_20.php. 2006. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 19 Mar. 2012. Wells, Melissa. â€Å"Internet-Related Problems Coming to The Attention of School Social Workers†. Children & Schools 28.4 (2006): 237-242. Academic Search Elite. Web. 13 March 2012.

Philippine’s Political Dynasty Essay

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines states in Article II Section 26, â€Å"The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. † How can we define political dynasty? Political dynasty is a family, clans or group that maintains power for several generations. These clans root themselves into our national and local governments for many decades. Almost every position in the government has been posted either by relatives, or friends who are indebted to the clan for appointing them into position. In a sense, they have already established political kingdoms throughout the country. In the course of the rising and expanding political kingdoms ruling over the country, it has become hard to tell where democracy is to be found. With rules unclear and morality questioned, people can never tell if they deserve more than what they are getting from the government. Political dynasties inhibit democracy, further adding instability and weakness of political institutions that are supposed to be working on their sense of rationality and individualism for the country. With political dynasties, it is no longer a question on qualifications and slogans, it will now be a question on connections and guns. The establishment of political dynasties is an effective way of monopolizing and perpetuating power. With various seats in the government occupied by a single family it would be easy to manipulate the system to benefit their family. The concept of check and balance will be thrown out the window. More often than not, politicians get to be elected not because of their merit, but because they belong to a family that is been in the government for generations.

Kudler fine foods database

A description and justification for tables (permanent and temporary) used in the design of the SQL business application. Data contained in each table along with the characteristics and format and the manner in which the data supports the SQL business application.Customer: Customer table is used to track demographic information about customers. In this tables various attributes will be related to customer information that are address, name, email, phone, birth dates, etc. This table is an important table and will be associated (relationship) with order table.Inventory: this is the table that will contain the inventory information of Kudler Fine Foods Database. In this table various attributes (fields or column) will be Item ID, inventory ID, perishable indicator, perishable date, department ID, category, description, unit of measure, quantity on hand, unit of cost, master pack quantity, supplier ID, assembly item, substitute item and tag along items. This table has relationship with I tem, Department and Supplier table.Item: This table will contain information about each item made and delivered by Kudler Fine Foods. It will contain information about item, item type, price, labor cost, etc. This table will be associated with Order Line and Tax table. In this table taxable field will contain data types as bit i.e. Yes/No.Order: Order table will store information about an order. In this table various attributes will be customer ID, sales person ID, pick up time, etc. This table will be associated with the Store and Customer, Sales Person and tender table.  Order Line: This table will contain the information about order line and units purchased of items. In this table various field will be store code, item ID, price and unit purchased by the customer. This table will be associated with the Item and Store table.Store: Store table will contain demographic information, hours of operation, lease for the building and the contact person information in it. This table will be associated with Order, Order Line and State table.  Supplier: The supplier table tracks information on who supplies Kudler with its products and it tracks their location and contact information.Tax: The Tax table ensures that the applicable tax being placed on each item.  Tender: The tender table records the method of payments used on each order. This table will be associated with Order table.  Department: The Department table contains information on the different departments and will be associated with Inventory table.State: the State table has the state abbreviation as well as its description.  Sales Person: Sales Person table tracks the different employees. It will have information about sales person employed by Kudler Fine Foods.The above mentioned twelve tables will use data types depending upon the information they have to store. For ID purpose the above tables can use data type as Number. For storing date information  Ã‚   in the table the data type for fields w ill be Date. For storing price values the data type will be Currency or Money. And for name address, description the data type used will be Text or long text (Varchar). In case of any decision is based as Yes or No than data type Bit (Yes/No or 1 and 0) can be used.The entire above mentioned table will be associated in the Kudler Fine Foods Database with each other. The various types of information regarding order, customer, inventory, sales person, etc will be taken from the above tables by creating views or running query and report can be generated.ReferenceGavin, Powell (2006). Beginning Database Design. Wiley Publishing, Inc., United State of America.

Roberto Gomez Bolaños, Influential Mexican TV Writer

Roberto Gomez Bolaà ±os, Influential Mexican TV Writer Roberto Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os (February 21, 1929–November 28, 2014) was a Mexican writer and actor known around the world for his characters â€Å"El Chavo del Ocho† and â€Å"El Chapulà ­n Colorado,† among many others. He was involved in Mexican television for more than 40 years, and generations of children all over the Spanish-speaking world grew up watching his programs. He was affectionately known as Chespirito. Fast Facts: Roberto Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os Known For: More than 40 years of writing, acting, and producing for Mexican televisionBorn: February 21, 1929 in Mexico CityParents: Francisco Gà ³mez Linares and Elsa Bolaà ±os-CachoDied: November 28, 2014 in Cancun, Mexico.Television Programs: El Chavo del Ocho and El Chapulà ­n ColoradoSpouse(s): Graciela Fernndez (1968–1989), Florinda Meza (2004–to his death)Children: Roberto, Graciela, Marcela, Paulina, Teresa, Cecilia Early Life Roberto Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os was born into a middle-class family in Mexico City on February 21, 1929. He was the second of the three children of Francisco Gà ³mez Linares, a noted painter and illustrator, and Elsa Bolaà ±os-Cacho, a bilingual secretary. He was obsessed with soccer and boxing as a child and did have some success with boxing as an adolescent, but he was too small to turn professional. Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os studied engineering at the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico but never worked in the field. He began writing for an advertising agency at the age of 22, but soon he was writing screenplays and scripts for radio, television shows, and movies. Between 1960 and 1965, Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os wrote for the two top shows on Mexican television, â€Å"Comicos y Canciones† (Comics and Songs) and â€Å"El Estudio de Pedro Vargas† (Pedro Vargas’ Study). It was about this time that he earned the admiring nickname â€Å"Chespirito† from the director Agustà ­n P. Delgado; it is a version of â€Å"Shakespearito,† or â€Å"Little Shakespeare.† Writing and Acting In 1968, Chespirito signed a contract with the newly formed network TIM- Television Independiente de Mexico. Among the terms of his contract was a half-hour slot on Saturday afternoons over which he had complete autonomy- he could do with it whatever he wanted. The brief, hilarious sketches he wrote and produced were so popular that the network switched his time to Monday night and gave him a whole hour. It was during this show, simply called â€Å"Chespirito,† that his two most beloved characters, â€Å"El Chavo del Ocho† (â€Å"The Boy From No. Eight†) and â€Å"El Chapulà ­n Colorado† (The Crimson Grasshopper) made their debut. The Chavo and the Chapulà ­n These two characters were so popular with the viewing public that the network gave them each their own weekly half-hour series; although slapstick and low-budget, the programs had an affectionate center and were wildly popular among adults and children. First produced by Televisa in 1971, El Chavo del Ocho is about a freckle-faced 8-year-old orphan boy, played by Chespirito well into his 60s, who lives in a wooden barrel and gets into adventures with his group of friends. Chavo, a truth-bearing simpleton who dreams of tasty sandwiches, and the other characters in the series, Don Ramon, Quico,  and other people from the neighborhood, are iconic, beloved, and classic characters of Mexican television. El Chapulà ­n Colorado, or the Crimson Grasshopper, was first televised in 1970 and is about is a cocky but dimwitted superhero who foils the bad guys through sheer luck and honesty. His weapon of choice is a squeaky toy version of Thors Hammer, called chipote chillà ³n or loud bang, and he took â€Å"chiquitolina† pills that shrank him to about eight inches tall. The program opened with the words More agile than a turtle, stronger than a mouse, nobler than a lettuce, his coat of arms is a heart, it’s the Crimson Grasshopper! American cartoonist Matt Groening created his Bumblebee Man, a character in the animated show The Simpsons, as an affectionate version of El Chapulà ­n Colorado.   These two shows were immensely popular, and by 1973 they were being transmitted to all of Latin America. In Mexico, it is estimated that 50 to 60 percent of all televisions in the country were tuned into the shows when they aired. Chespirito kept the Monday night time slot and for 25 years, most of Mexico watched his programs. Although the shows ended in the 1990s, reruns are still shown regularly all over Latin America. Other Projects A tireless worker, Chespirito also appeared in more than 20 movies and hundreds of stage performances. When he took the cast of â€Å"Chespirito† on a tour of stadiums to reprise their famous roles on stage, the shows sold out, including two consecutive dates at the Santiago stadium, which seats 80,000 people. He wrote several soap operas, movie scripts, and books, including a book of poetry. Although he started out writing music as a hobby, Chespirito was a gifted composer and wrote the theme songs for many Mexican telenovelas- including Alguna Vez Tendremos Alas (We will have wings some day) and La Dueà ±a (The Owner). In his later years, he became more politically active, campaigning for certain candidates and vocally opposing an initiative to legalize abortion in Mexico. Chespirito received countless awards. In 2003 he was awarded the keys to the city of Cicero, Illinois. Mexico even released a series of postage stamps in his honor. He joined Twitter in 2011 to stay in touch with his fans. At the time of his death, he had more than six million followers. Marriage and Family Roberto Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os married Graciela Fernndez in 1968 and together they had six children (Roberto, Graciela, Marcela, Paulina, Teresa, and Cecilia). They divorced in 1989. In 2004 he married actress Florinda Meza, who played Doà ±a Florida on El Chavo del Ocho. Death and Legacy Roberto Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os died of heart failure at his home in Cancun, Mexico on November 28, 2014. His movies, soap operas, plays, and books all found great success, but it is for his hundreds of television programs that Chespirito is best remembered. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto wrote of him, Mexico has lost an icon whose work transcended generations and borders. Chespirito will always be known as a pioneer of Latin American television and one of the most creative writers and actors ever to work in the field.   Sources Lopez, Elias E. Roberto Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os, Mexico’s Comedic Artist ‘Chespirito,’ Dies at 85. The New York Times, 28 November 2014.Miranda, Carolina A. Roberto Gomez Bolaà ±os Dies at 85; Mexican Comedian Known as Chespirito. The Los Angeles Times, 28 November 2014.Rott, Nathan. Mexican TV Icon Roberto Gà ³mez Bolaà ±os Dies at 85. All Things Considered, 2014.

Functional Foods, health and prevention

Functional Foods, health and prevention Free Online Research Papers Functional food or medicinal food is any healthy or fictional food claimed to have a health-promoting or disease-preventing property beyond the basic function of supplying nutrients.[1] The general category of functional foods includes processed food or foods fortified with health-promoting additives, like vitamin-enriched products. Fermented foods with live cultures are considered as functional foods with probiotic benefits. Functional foods are an emerging field in food science due to their increasing popularity with health-conscious consumers. The term was first used in Japan in the 1980s where there is a government approval process for functional foods called Foods for Specified Health Use (FOSHU). The functional food industry, consisting of food, beverage and supplement sectors, is one of the several areas of the food industry that is experiencing fast growth in recent yearsIt is estimated by BCC Research that the global market of functional food industry will reach 176.7 billion in 2013 with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%. Specifically, the functional food sector will experience 6.9% CAGR, the supplement sector will rise by 3.8% and the functional beverage sector will be the fastest growing segment with 10.8% CAGR.[2] This kind of growth is fueled not only by industrial innovation and development of new products that satisfy the demand of health conceious consumers but also by health claims covering a wide range of health issues.[3]Yet, consumer skepticism persists mainly due to the fact that benefits associated with consuming the products may be difficult to be detected. The industry suggests the establishment of a health claim regulating agency, which may incr ease consumer confidence. It should be noted that strict examination of some of the functional food claims may discourage some companies from launching their products. Ginger Adds More Than Just Taste It is commonly believed that spices were added to foods before refrigeration and other forms of preservation became common, as a way of masking the taste of foods that had started to spoil. Many voyages of discovery were undertaken to find sources of these valuable plants and herbs. MedilinePlus4 Ginger [Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae)] is well known in many tropical countries, both for its taste enhancing properties and also as a traditional medicine. It is the ginger tuber that is used by cooks around the world to add that distinctive taste to food. Ginger is a low-growing tropical plant which is easily grown indoors. A small piece of a mature ginger root can be used to start a new plant. Once it is placed in a pot with good potting soil, the pot should be kept warm and constantly moist during the growing season, since ginger naturally often grows in wet, almost marshy, conditions. Traditionally ginger has been used to help relieve digestive upset/disturbances including lack of appetite, nausea, digestive spasms, indigestion, dyspepsia and flatulent colic (carminative) as well as an expectorant and anti-tussive to help relieve bronchitis as well as coughs and colds. Ginger contains several nonvolatile pungent principles namely gingerols, shogaols, paradols and zingerone, which contribute to its taste and which account for many of its reported beneficial health effects. Studies conducted in cultured cells as well as in experimental animals revealed that these pungent phenolics found in ginger possess anticarcinogenic properties. So, some spices not only make your food taste good, they also are good for your health. Food as medicine Considered a father of Western medicine, Hippocrates advocated the healing effects of food. The Egyptians, Chinese, and Sumerians are just a few civilizations that have provided evidence suggesting that foods can be effectively used as medicine to treat and prevent disease. Documents hint that the medicinal benefits of food have been explored for thousands of years [8]. Hippocrates, considered by some to be the father of Western medicine, said that people should â€Å"Let food be thy medicine.† The modern nutraceutical market began to develop in Japan during the 1980s. In contrast to the natural herbs and spices used as folk medicine for centuries throughout Asia, the nutraceutical industry has grown alongside the expansion and exploration of modern technology.[9] New research conducted among food scientists show that there is more to food science than what was understood just a couple decades ago.[9] Until just recently, analysis of food was limited to the flavor of food (sensory taste and texture) and its nutritional value (composition of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water, vitamins and minerals). However, there is growing evidence that other components of food may play an integral role in the link between food and health. These chemical components are derived from plant, food, and microbial sources, and provide medicinal benefits valuable to longs of these nutraceutical chemicals include probiotics, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. Nutraceutical products were considered alternative medicine for many years. Nutraceuticals have become a more mainstream supplement to the diet, now that research has begun to show evidence that these chemicals found in food are often effective when processed effectively and marketed correctly. Classification of nutraceuticals Nutraceuticals is a broad umbrella term used to describe any product derived from food sources that provides extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods. Products typically claim to prevent chronic diseases, improve health, delay the aging process, and increase life expectancy.[10] There is minimal regulation over which products are allowed to display the nutraceutical term on their labels. Because of this, the term is often used to market products with varying uses and effectiveness. The definition of nutraceuticals and related products often depend on the source. Members of the medical community desire that the nutraceutical term be more clearly established in order to distinguish between the wide varieties of products out there.[11] There are multiple different types of products that fall under the category of nutraceuticals. Research Papers on Functional Foods, health and preventionGenetic EngineeringMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesPETSTEL analysis of IndiaTwilight of the UAWAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfOpen Architechture a white paper

Converting Radians and Degrees in Pre-Calculus

Converting Radians and Degrees in Pre-Calculus You are probably familiar with degrees as a measure of how large an angle is, but another way of describing angles is with radians. As you approach pre-calculus and your upper years of mathematics, degrees will become less and less frequent as radians become the norm, so it’s a good idea to get used to them early, especially if you plan on studying mathematics. Degrees work by dividing a circle into 360 equal parts, and radians work the same way, except a circle has 2Ï€ radians and  Ãâ‚¬Ã‚  or pi radians equal one-half of the circle or 180 degrees, which is important to remember. In order to convert angles from degrees to radians, then, students must learn to multiply the measurement of the degrees by pi divided by 180. In the example of 45 degrees in radians, one can simply reduce the equation of r 45Ï€ / 180 to  Ãâ‚¬/4, which is how you would leave the answer to express the value in radians. Conversely, if you know what an  angle is in radians and you want to know what the degrees would be, you multiply the angle by 180/Ï€, and thus 5Ï€ radians in degrees will equal 900 degrees- your calculator has a pi button, but in case its not handy, pi equals 3.14159265. Identifying Degrees and Radians Degrees are units of measurements valued one through 360 that measure the sections or angles of a circle while radians are used to measure the distance traveled by angles. Whereas there are 360 degrees in a circle, each radian of distance moved along the outside of the circle is equal to 57.3 degrees. Essentially, radians measure the distance traveled along the outside of the circle as opposed to the view of the angle that degree takes up, which simplifies solving problems that deal with measurements of distance traveled by circles like tire wheels. Degrees are much more useful for defining the interior angles of a circle than for how the circle moves or what distance is traveled by moving along the circle instead of merely looking at it from one perspective while radians are more appropriate for observing natural laws and applying to real-world equations. In either case, theyre both units of measurements which express the distance of a circle- its all a matter of perspective! The Benefit of Radians Over Degrees Whereas degrees can measure the internal perspective of angles of the circle, radians measure the actual distance of the circumference of a circle, providing a more accurate assessment of distance traveled than degrees which rely on a 360 scale. Additionally, in order to calculate the actual length of a segment of a circle with degrees, one must do more advanced computations that include the use of pi to arrive at a product. With radians, the conversion to distance is much easier because a radian views a circle from the perspective of distance rather than the measurement of internal angles alone. Basically, radians already factor in distance as part of the basis for the equation for defining a radians size, which makes them more versatile in use than degrees.

Contingency Planning in Action Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Contingency Planning in Action - Term Paper Example The organization specializes with offering cloud-computing services where other individuals and organizations would rely on in matters of keeping sensitive information and easy access and retrieval of the same whenever required at a fee. The organization has its headquarters and the main office in Johannesburg in South Africa though plans are underway of establishing constituent operating sub ventures in the western countries where it supposes the business would thrive. It currently operates with an employee base of hardly forty technicians due to its small capacity in operation and for the reason that few experts are required to carry out the lump some work of handling the data technologically. It therefore provides solutions to small and medium business ventures in Africa in matters of data where the benefit to the clients would be through lowered costs of operations. In order to add capacity or improve capabilities of functionality of an organization having not to invest in person nel training, licensing news software as well as investing in new infrastructure, the emerging trend is in adopting the cloud computing services from such providers as the Africaninvestments data handlers. ... Moreover, a new business niche would be created in offering security as a service, which would specialize in single, as well as multi-tier security provision and which would effective in being unpredictable to the hackers. The primary functions of the Africaninvestments data handlers organization is to offer data storage and handling facilities to the business fraternity as well as to individual persons who would like to have their data stored away from own systems in order to ensure secrecy and security. However, just as is the case with all other businesses, it is worth noting that the organization suffers specific challenges especially those associated with the secrecy and security of the data being handled. Kuyoro and team studied the security issues as well as challenges that are posed by cloud computing with attention on the types of cloud computing services and the types of service delivery. The study found that cloud computing often deal with social networks and online softwa re applications for data storage as well as transfer. The fear of the ‘too much’ exposure of an organization’s data and information raises the concern of exactly how much the environment is within the era of cloud computing. Actually, this has been pointed out to be their major reason of the slow acceptance of the cloud. Cloud providers are definitely hesitant in disclosing their infrastructure to their clients, which confirms the fears of the clients to how much one is to trust the providers with their sensitive data and information. Through intensive review of literature from past studies, the research study established the following to be the main concerns in security of cloud computing. Compromise of data

Site analysis on The Piazza de Campidoglio Research Paper

Site analysis on The Piazza de Campidoglio - Research Paper Example At the center of the courtyard stands, Michelangelo designed a statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius whose base. He came up with a design relevant to the original trapezoidal for the squire that had intriguing oval shaped at the center. He came up with Palazzo Nuovo just opposite the Palazzo dei Conservotori. He finished his work by constructing a magnificent Staircase called the Cordonata [3]. The design brought a new dimension in urban planning, and it was seen as a touch of brilliance from Michelangelo to revive the place that was already in ruins and made it the Roman social and political events. The building currently stands as the Rome city hall. Capitoline Hill was an ideal choice of location for building such an important monument of the Roman Emperor and many other significant buildings due to: i) the historical background of the Capitoline hill. Capitol Hill is the most important of all the Rome emperor seven hills. Capitoline hill symbolizes the epicenter of the Rome power (might).It hosts the most important buildings in Rome like Palazzo dei conservatori, Palazzo del senator and Palazzo Nuovo. The hill has very important historical status like Castor, Pollux, horse statue at Capitol Hill entrance and Replica of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. Capitol Hill hosted important temples like Temple of Jupiter, Temple of Veiovis, Temple of Juno Moneta and Temple of Ludi Capitolini. On top of the hill lies the old church Santa Maria in Aracoeli [3]. Therefore, the hill historically has accommodated much important building; therefore, many important personalities frequent it. It also accommodates many Tourists some of them come from as far as Africa and America. The building Palazzo Senatorio is originally known as the palace of senators a name made its original function as seats for the senators which it help until 1870 when finally palazzo became the seat of the renown Rome City. It also

Tesco Company Annual Report Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Tesco Company Annual Report - Coursework Example It is evidently clear from the discussion that Tesco Company was started in the year 1919 from a market stall in East End England by Jack Cohen. The company experience growth and expansion to the Tesco known today, which operates in 12 countries in the world with a number of stores in these countries. It deals with a variety of products including household goods, freshly baked products, and groceries. The company also has a share in the service industry through Tesco bank. The diverse products and services contribute positively to the success of the company through diversifying investments so that when one sector is not performing very well another sector is making up for the difference. With a worldwide market through its various branches, Tesco has grown to be the leading retail outlet in the world. Not all information in a financial report of every company is financial; there are some theory and explanations giving an overview of the company without using the financial figures. Ke y performance indicators divert the attention from the profit earned and focus on the firm’s performance in terms of meeting their goals and objectives. These indicators measure the success of the firm and the potential of the firm to grow in future, this is very important to an investor interested in investing in the firm. They include customer satisfaction that is reflected through repeat purchases and referral of new customers to the store. Tesco is not an exception to this and it has measured the key performance indicators of the firm and availed the information in the annual financial report. Tesco has managed to retain 70% of their loyal customers from the previous year while acquiring 29.1% of the loyal customers in the previous year as new loyal customers. 59.7% of the loyal customers have shopped through various channels, indicating customer loyalty to the firm and the importance of the various channels to customers. Demand for branded Tesco products is also increasi ng with 64.3% of the loyal customers shop for Tesco branded products. In general, all these clients show love for the firm indicating the bright future of the firm with a good customer base in currently and in the future.

Ethical or Unethical Socially and Environmentally Essay

Ethical or Unethical Socially and Environmentally - Essay Example There are various concerns that have been pointed out to be of social interest while analyzing the ethic observed while producing cocoa. Among these issues is abusive children labor, issues with profit and protection as well as lack of proper ownership structures (Berlan, 2009). In regard to child labor, it has been established that a lot of children suffer trafficking and are taken to serve within the cocoa production farms as well as through the processing plants. In spite of increased efforts by the government to control the issues of forced labor on children, children trafficking as well as abusive practices on children within cocoa farms, the activities prevail and this is termed as unethical (Isern, 2006). This therefore shows that the entire process of producing cocoa can be said to be unethical socially as show through the abusive child labor is propagated. On the other hand, profit protection has also been termed as unethical and has been shown to persist within the cocoa farms. This is propagated by all players, right from the farmers, the middle men as well as the people involved in chain of delivery who all strive to maximize on their profit margins. In the process of targeting the high profits, the production has been characterized by unethical behavior hence the support of the thesis statement. Besides, lack of ‘ownership’ as is the common excuse adopted by all players within cocoa production industry has been used to explain propagation of the social vices like the trafficking of children and the unreasonably high prices. Every culprit interjected reasons that he/she has bought the product from middle men and hence the social concern (Blowfield, 2003). Besides the economic sense that is associated with production of cocoa, players within the system of production have been pointed ought on unethical behavior on farming practices which have contributed to environmental pollution through dumping of chemicals and fertilizers on the ground

Corporate Social Responsibility and Disclosure Essay

Corporate Social Responsibility and Disclosure - Essay Example The abstract summarises in a very few words the contents of the paper. It is well written and divulges important and necessary information that is important from a reader’s perspective to decide whether the paper is of his/her interest or not. In the introduction, the author does a good job introducing the research topic and the reason behind choosing this topic. The introduction clearly states the purpose of the research. The research topic chosen by the author is important, mainly because of the target country/sample – Companies in Saudi Arabia. Going forward Saudi Arabia will not only play an important role in Middle East economy but also in world economy. It is one of the most important emerging markets globally and hence, the author’s topic is justified and relevant. The literature review lacks depth as it only lists the studies/research conducted on the topic and its results but fails to discuss in depth the importance of the findings of those researches. T he author has just touched upon each variable wherein in-depth discussion could have been very effective. The sample chosen and the methodology have been designed carefully by the researcher taking into consideration various factors and the population of the research. The author has explained the reasons behind the chosen research strategy. The researcher finds through this research that firm size significantly positively affects the level of disclosure while the other variables are insignificant. The researcher could have again in detail discussed the reason behind the role of different variables but instead only briefly discusses them. This leaves an opportunity for further research, to understand how and why the variables affect disclosure in companies. Article 2 - Contexts and corporate social responsibility: The case of Saudi Arabia The article looks at the different kinds of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) related activities in Saudi Arabia. The content of the topic has been well chosen, as this area of the research has not been explored well in the near past. There are a number of the social determinants that need to be taken into the consideration in critiquing the various facets of the paper. As mentioned previously, this area of the research is very significant due to the implications of the research in this area. The definitive principle of this paper deals with the different kinds of the activities being carried out in the state. The title contents have been well chosen. The key words have been provided for the paper, which makes it easier in terms of referring to the relevant contents in terms of the key words. The credentials of the author have been given, but the previous experience in writing the papers is missing. It deals with the present area of the research. The contextual realities of the ground have been detailed. This paper has been written well in a number of the areas. But, on closer introspection; there are a number of areas that seem half-baked. The key drivers of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) have been mentioned, but the exhaustive definition of each of the levels has not been provided. The weak points of the stakeholder have been mentioned. The characterization of these points is missing. The explanation also seems very theoretical, failing to explain the mechanisms behind it. Overall, the paper has been very well written; but

Ethical or Unethical Socially and Environmentally Essay

Ethical or Unethical Socially and Environmentally - Essay Example There are various concerns that have been pointed out to be of social interest while analyzing the ethic observed while producing cocoa. Among these issues is abusive children labor, issues with profit and protection as well as lack of proper ownership structures (Berlan, 2009). In regard to child labor, it has been established that a lot of children suffer trafficking and are taken to serve within the cocoa production farms as well as through the processing plants. In spite of increased efforts by the government to control the issues of forced labor on children, children trafficking as well as abusive practices on children within cocoa farms, the activities prevail and this is termed as unethical (Isern, 2006). This therefore shows that the entire process of producing cocoa can be said to be unethical socially as show through the abusive child labor is propagated. On the other hand, profit protection has also been termed as unethical and has been shown to persist within the cocoa farms. This is propagated by all players, right from the farmers, the middle men as well as the people involved in chain of delivery who all strive to maximize on their profit margins. In the process of targeting the high profits, the production has been characterized by unethical behavior hence the support of the thesis statement. Besides, lack of ‘ownership’ as is the common excuse adopted by all players within cocoa production industry has been used to explain propagation of the social vices like the trafficking of children and the unreasonably high prices. Every culprit interjected reasons that he/she has bought the product from middle men and hence the social concern (Blowfield, 2003). Besides the economic sense that is associated with production of cocoa, players within the system of production have been pointed ought on unethical behavior on farming practices which have contributed to environmental pollution through dumping of chemicals and fertilizers on the ground

Goodwin Development Trust Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Goodwin Development Trust - Essay Example This demonstrates how Goodwin networks the community in Hull to improve the quality of life for everyone. To sum up, the Goodwin statement â€Å"Our overall goal is to improve the quality of life of people living in deprived neighborhoods. We aim to do this by helping communities and community-based organizations to develop innovative new services through practical learning, knowledge management, and networking†, says it all. (The Goodwin Trust Link) 2 Introduction Nearly any community anywhere comprises of the Haves and the Have Nots. It is a universal phenomenon and has existed from time immemorial. However, in each era, there have been conscious individuals or institutions that have taken care of the needy, poor and deserving. Usually, this was out of pity, religious teachings and occasionally out of love for the fellow brethren. This act of charity was limited to a few of the higher strata and was not universally practiced. In the modern era, however, due to higher levels of education that are now widespread, and also due to more liberal outlooks the community at large has started feeling uncomfortable at the existence of pockets that lag behind in education and resources. There has also been a feeling of resentment from the have not which was duly acknowledged by others. The feeling of obligation to give a helping hand has become more pronounced than ever before. Out of this has born the need to institutionalize the noble act of charity and people from all over the community participate in it.

Kobe Bryant Essay Example for Free

Kobe Bryant Essay Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978), nicknamed the Black Mamba, is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He entered the NBA directly from high school, and has played for the Lakers his entire career, winning five NBA championships. Bryant is a 15-time All-Star, 14-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. As of June 2012, he ranks third and fifth on the leagues all-time post-season scoring and all-time regular season scoring lists, respectively. Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school basketball player in the country. He declared his eligibility for the NBA Draft upon graduation, and was selected with the 13th overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets, then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. As a rookie, Bryant earned himself a reputation as a high-flyer and a fan favorite by winning the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest. Bryant and Shaquille ONeal led the Lakers to three consecutive championships from 2000 to 2002. A heated feud between the duo and a loss in the 2004 NBA Finals was followed by ONeals trade from the Lakers after the 2003–04 season. Following ONeals departure Bryant became the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Lakers franchise. He led the NBA in scoring during the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons, setting numerous scoring records in the process. In 2006, Bryant scored a career-high 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, the second most points scored in a single game in NBA history, second only to Wilt Chamberlains 100-point game in 1962. He was awarded the regular seasons Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) in 2008. After losing in the 2008 NBA Finals, Bryant led the Lakers to two consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010, earning the NBA Finals MVP Award on both occasions. At 34 years and 104 days of age, Bryant became the youngest player in league history to reach 30,000 career points. He is also the all-time leading scorer in Lakers franchise history. Since his second year in the league, Bryant has been selected to start every All-Star Game. He has won the All-Star MVP Award four times (2002, 2007, 2009, and 2011), tying him for the most All Star MVP Awards in NBA history. At the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, he won gold medals as a member of the USA national team. Sporting News and TNT named Bryant the top NBA player of the 2000s. In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault after having sex with a hotel employee in Colorado. In September 2004, prosecutors dropped the case after his accuser refused to testify. A civil suit was later filed and settled out of court.

Diagnosis and Assessment: Patient Presenting Knee Pain

Diagnosis and Assessment: Patient Presenting Knee Pain Stephen Chiang Presenting Complaint Mr X is a 72 year old man who presented to the GP clinic with worsening right knee pain for the past 3 weeks. History of Presenting Complaint Pain has worsened over the past 3 weeks. Pain is around the patella with no radiation of pain. Described as a constant dull ache that worsens at the end of the day after activities. Not relieved by any pain medication. Previous trial on NSAIDs and panadolosteo. Pain and movement does not improve during the day. Denies any morning stiffness. Complains of knee being swollen and restricting the range of movement. Denies any locking or catching of the knees. Pain has restricted his movement causing him to lose balance. No history of falls. Denies any recent injury or trauma to the knee. Past Medical History Abdominal aortic aneurysm2014 Pulmonary Fibrosis2014 COPD infective exacerbation2012 GORD Medications Metoprolol 50mg Panadol Osteo SR665mg Vytorin10mg/20mg Rabeprazole10mg Prednisolone25mg Allergies/ Adverse Reactions Penicillins skin rash Immunisation -VAXIGRIP provided Family History nil known Social History Lives alone in Collie. No support services required. Non-smoker. 1 standard drink several times a week. Limited physical activities No history of substance abuse Examination Pleasant looking elderly man. Not in any obvious distress. Alert and oriented to time, place and person. Good mobility Vitals BP 155/88 mmHg, HR 78bpm and regular, RR 17, afebrile Cardiovascular Heart sound dual, nil added. JVP not elevated, all peripheral pulses are palpable Respiratory symmetrical rise and fall of chest with respiration, bibasal crepitations heard, no wheeze. Not in respiratory distress Abdomen – no scars noted, abdomen soft, non tender, bowel sound present Knee – no deformities, swelling or muscle wasting noted. No obvious signs of effusion. Bulge test and patellar tap negative. No erythema and not warm. Crepitations heard with movement of knee. Not tender on palpation. Full range of movement with active and passive movement with pain. (extension, flexion, rotation). Ligament stability test NAD Investigations Ordered Bilateral Knee X-ray Murtagh’s Diagnostic Model Factors in initial history / examination supporting diagnosis Factors in initial history / examination NOT supporting diagnosis Factors in subsequent history / examination / investigation influencing diagnosis PROBABLE diagnosis Osteoarthritis Swelling of the knee Age, Chronic Pain, Asymmetrical, Weight bearing joint, Worse with movement, Crepitus on movement Ligament strains No previous injuries or trauma Asymmetrical knee pain Serious disorders not to miss Neoplasia primary in bone metastases No night sweats, no weight loss, no indication of previous X-ray constant ache day and night Severe infections septic arthritis No fever, no redness, warmth or swelling of joint. No hx of trauma Vascular disorders deep venous thrombosis superficial thrombophlebitis No long periods of immobilisation No previous hx of clots Nil tenderness around muscle unilateral pain Pitfalls Gout/ pseudogout No previous hx of gout Referred pain back or hip Denies any pain of the back and hip Masquerades Diabetes No polyuria, polydipsia, Normal Fasting BSL Spinal dysfunction Another agenda? Depression Lives on his own, poor supportive relationship, Management Plan (Whole person) 1. Knee pain RICE therapy, Weight loss knee X-ray Adequate pain management Referral to orthopaedic surgeons for review Referral to physiotherapist – strengthen quadriceps 2. Pulmonary Fibrosis/ COPD Prevent infective exacerbations Continue follow up with respiratory physicians in Perth Yearly influenza vaccination/ 5 yearly pneumovax Referral to chest physiotherapist 3. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Yearly monitoring of AAA Continue follow up with vascular surgeon in Perth Preventative Health Activities 1. Nutrition – patient education on maintaining healthy diet. Referral to dietician 2. Weight – review 6 monthly to ensure BMI 2 3. Physical activity – education on appropriate exercise routine. Referral to physiotherapist 4. Alcohol intake – reduction of alcohol intake 5. General – monitor BP 6 monthly, yearly monitoring of FBC UEC Lipid profile 6. Cancer screening – colorectal every 2 years 7. Vision, hearing and fall risk assessment Unable to follow up with patient as patient returned to GP in Collie while I was based in Bunbury. No access to patient’s result from Bunbury. Clinical Evidence Base In patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK), is intra-articular steroid injection more effective compared to other pharmacological treatment such as NSAIDs and glucosamine in terms of efficacy and managing pain? Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease affecting adults older than 65 years old. In Australia alone, osteoarthritis affects more than 1.3million adults.1 Osteoarthritis can significantly impact the quality of life because of the restriction in mobility caused by the pain. In osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK), the main form of treatment remains partial or total knee replacement.4 However, there are still a large number of patients who are unable to undergo such intervention. In such patients, treatments are limited to safer alternatives such as NSAIDs, opioids, glucosamine supplements and intra-articular steroid injection. The OneSearch UWA library database was searched and keywords used were â€Å"osteoarthritis†, â€Å"knee†, â€Å"pharmacological†, â€Å"NSAIDs†, â€Å"steroid†. Other related terms were included in the search. One study was identified, â€Å"short term efficacy of pharmacotherapeutic interventions in osteoarthritis knee pain by Jan Magnus Bjordal, Atle Klovning, Anne Elisabeth Ljunggren and Lars Slordal.2 The study is a meta-analysis of randomised placebo controlled trials with a sample study size of 14,060 patients in 63 trials measuring pain intensity within 4 weeks of treatment and at 8-12 weeks follow up using the visual analogue scale (VAS).2 Results Within 4 weeks oral NSAIDs, pain relief measured 10.2mm on the VAS (95% CI8.8-11.6). Steroid injection showed 14.5mm (95% CI9.7-19.2), paracetamol 3.0mm (95% CI1.4-4.7), glucosamine 4.7mm (95% CI 0.3-9.1), chondroitin sulphate 3.7mm (95% CI0.3-7.0).2 8-12 weeks follow up – oral NSAIDs and steroid injection showed decline in efficacy 9.8mm. Paracetamol did not show change in efficacy. Glucosamine showed 3.8mm efficacy and chondroitin sulphate showed an increase in efficacy of 10.6mm.2 Strength and Weaknesses of this study: 1. Level 1 evidence based on NHMRC 2. Outcome and methods of measure was clearly explained and defined. 3. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were clear. 1. Measuring of pain intensity with the visual analogue scale (VAS) is very subjective. 2. Bias in terms of NSAIDs users selection in certain trials. 3. Comparing different treatment options by assessing separate meta-analyses for each treatment may have different baseline data and prognostic factors. 4. All steroid injection trials were performed in a fixed setting limiting their application into primary care context. Duration of trial of 4 weeks may be too short to analyse efficacy of some treatments. Findings showed that there is better short term pain relieve when using steroid injection compared to the other treatment options. However, steroid and oral NSAIDs have the same efficacy in long term. Chondroitin sulphate also showed a minimal pain relieve in the long term. Application – This study was done in Norway and it showed that there is minimal pain relieve by using current treatment options such as steroid injections, oral NSAIDs and supplements. Further studies should be performed to compare patients in Australia. Patients should be educated about the efficacy of such pharmacological treatment to lower their expectations. We should start reconsidering the role of these treatments in future pain management of osteoarthritis. This patient was started on many treatments that did not offer any pain relieve that corresponds to the results of the study stated above. Hence, he was referred to an orthopaedic surgeon for further review and management plan. References 1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. A Picture of Osteoarthritis.Department of Health and AgeingOctober 2007; Arthritis Series Number 5 2. Jan Magnus Bjordal a,*, Atle Klovning a , Anne Elisabeth Ljunggren a , Lars Slà ¸rdal b. Short-term efficacy of pharmacotherapeutic interventions in osteoarthritic knee pain: A meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.European Journal of Pain8 May 2006; 11, 125-138 3. Carlos J Lozada, MD Director of Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program, Professor of Clinical Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, University of Miami, Leonard M Miller School of Medicine.Osteoarthritis. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/330487-overview (accessed 17/06/2015) 4. S.P. Krishnana, , J.A. Skinnerb. Novel treatments for early osteoarthritis of the knee.Current OrthopaedicsDecember 2005; Volume 19(Issue 6), Pages 407-414

What’s Theory Got to Do With It? :: Movies Media Papers

This is not a book about film, contrary to its title, but a book about a way of seeing social and economic relationships differently. Film is just a convenient vehicle to use to pursue our analysis. It is an entry point, a doorway, into an understanding of the processes that have shaped and continue to shape the world (and remember that we are an integral aspect of the world, not separate from it). This process of shaping and being shaped by is what we call overdetermination. Overdetermination implies that no aspect of reality is insignificant in the shaping of any other aspect of reality. In other words, everything is significant: all processes (whether political, economic, cultural, or environmental) have an effect on all other processes. The dialectic of overdetermination is the dialectic of ceaseless change, of the constant pushes and pulls of the unique influences that come together to constitute each and every aspect of reality. Freud used the concept â€Å"overdetermination† in his analysis of dreams to refer to the way in which the content of dreams was not simplistically determined by a finite set of life-events, but was, rather, the product of the totality or gestalt of life experiences. The formation of our consciousness and unconsciousness is the culmination of the unique interaction of more social and natural conditions than could ever be named or identified. In other words, everything, absolutely everything that we have experienced in life has molded our consciousness and unconsciousness. Film is a medium through which ideas are communicated. Film is an illusion trying to mirror a specific reality or set of realities. Many of us grow up viewing film as a window from which to look out at the world and make sense of it. The images and stories projected into our minds help to form our consciousness about various social and natural relationships. The ideas transmitted through film become part of the knowledge base from which one understands the world. These ideas help form the consciousness as well as the unconsciousness of the individual, shaping her perception of not only herself, but of social relationships, in a more general sense. This is why it is so important to critically examine films. Ideas are transmitted in the blink of an eye, so to speak, instantaneously lodging themselves in the mind---oftentimes unexamined.

Motivational Factor at Tesco Essay

These theories concentrate of the benefits and importance of motivation, however researcher found it necessary for this research to consider that as it is mentioned by Vercueil, 2001 incorrectly implemented motivation management causes a harmful affect on the employees. Watt, 1998 refers to Anon saying that in the past motivation could be identifies as a way to make people want what we want and differs it from manipulation that makes individuals do what we want. However today as it mentioned by Bruce and Pepitone, 1999 modern employees are much more sophisticated and are in search for a greater satisfaction from the job they are doing. Artificial reward or money alone are nor enough. Therefore modern organisations need to learn and understand human nature as it indicates why people in these case employees behave in a particular manner. Managers need to motivate the employee leading to a grater working performances and mainly managers have to understand their employees needs and their life organization in order to meet the employees expectations and motivate ones performance more efficiently. Staff retention is a significant element of every successful business. It is characterized by the employees desire to sustain in the organization and continuing contribution to the business. In times of economic crisis more and more individuals have to stay at their jobs even if conditions are not favorable due to a risk of being unable to provide for a family. However more and more individuals are raising the importance of staff motivation management. Organizations today have realized that a modern employee needs to be rightly motivated and encouraged, not only money wise, to ensure staff retention. Motivation is a force that stimulates people to perform an action. Therefore motivation is a force which compel people go to their work every day and that is why people bring improvement in themselves to satisfy the desire of becoming or accomplishing what they have set out to become or accomplish in their life. More over with motivation any complicated situation can be converted into a simple and learning experience. In his research Watt, 2003 also states that managers must understand that individuals want to be treated fairly and have equal opportunities to advance. He highlights the problem of motivation today. Often organizations do not recognize that the motivation management requires different approaches depending on the industry sectors. The problem of motivation and staff performance as it is stated by Green et al, 1999 might stay undetected, hidden and unresolved by the managers. Therefore managers often don’t realize that it is important not only to appeal to the individual’s intellect but to their hearts as well. Green et all, 1999 also identifies three main problems for motivation: – Lack of confidence – Lack of trust Lack of satisfaction Well designed and implemented motivation strategy leads to employee’s retention therefore employee’s loyalty. Loyalty is a significant and vital part of any organization. As it is mentioned by Daft and Marcic, 2011 management should learn to allow all it s employees make a contribution and use its talents and potential in order to progress and improve their sk ills. This sort of motivation creates employees retention and ensures ones constant grow and contribution to the company. TK MAXX has a well developed reward and development management. Organization believes that its people should be growing as well as the business. From the first time the employee joins the company organization provides a comprehensive induction programs and ensures that whether it is about moving up the career ladder, learning and development of new skills or gaining experience working in different countries there are plenty of available opportunities for the employees. Company has a strong rewards and benefits system, pension scheme, holidays, private healthcare and voluntary benefits as a part of its employee motivation and ensures of employees happiness and satisfaction. All this provides companies growth and efficient performances with a high rate of employee’s retention. Researcher believes that T. K. Max is a real example of a right motivation management. Organization aims at ensuring satisfaction of its employees and at the same time ensures a solid growth and development for the business. Therefore the researcher wanted to examine the motivation strategies used by T. K. Max and analyze its effect on the employees. 1. 3. The Company Background The organization that we have chosen for our research is one of the most successful retailers in the market today. T. K. Max management in the Uxbridge branch were excited and happy to participate in our research and granted us with a permission to use the organization’s name in this investigation. T-K Maxx is a chain of clothing and accessories stores. The company was launched in 1994. It is a subsidiary of TJX Companies Inc. (TJXtra, JUNE 2010) TK MAXX always aimed to deliver frequently changing and best quality products at a price which is 20-60% less than other department and specialty stores regular prices. TK MAXX has label of â€Å"Always up to 60% less† and has target customers who is middle to upper-middle income shopper. But simultaneously who are fashion and value conscious. T. K. MAXX is now 7th largest fashion retailer in the U. K. It introduced the off price concept in the UK and it is now the only major off-price retailer in Europe. It was operating in UK and Ireland. Later on T. K. Maxx opened first stores in Germany in 2007 and also entered in Poland in 2009 (TJXtra, JUNE 2010) The reason why we the researcher choose TK-Maxx as an organization is its market share and the enormous global scale that it’s operate. Having its unique position in UK market T. K.

Similarities And Differences Of Buddha And Christ

Religion is somewhat important to a lot of people around the world. It helps us guide in our everyday life. To follow the beliefs and traditions brings faith to whatever religion we are into. In our era today, we come up with a lot of religions and two of the major religions are Buddhism and Christianity. Buddha specifically said not to believe to the things that is passed on and that we’re just written down etc. on face value. He did not urge us to put faith just in texts, or enough faith in their value to trawl through them-quite the opposite.What we’ve known is that, all Buddhist school agrees that one’s salvations from suffering are in one’s own hands. Siddharta Gautama was born into a royal family in the sixth century B. C. His experiences when he was a young adult with the outside world sent him to look out a greater understanding of life and spiritual understanding. Siddhartha achieved the powerful enlightenment through seeking guidance. He was know n as the Buddha from that point which means â€Å"the Enlightened One†.From then on and for the rest of his life, Buddha traveled from great distances to teach people about the one path of salvation. His pupils continued to extend his teachings after Buddha’s death. Hinduism, the most widespread religion in India, had become tightly controlled when Buddhism developed. And today, Buddha’s teachings still followed by a lot of people throughout the world. â€Å"Christ† as the identification, Jesus is not accepted within Judaism.Christians are called â€Å"Nazarenes† in Talmudic Hebrew because in the New Testament, Jesus is described in as being from the city of Nazareth. Being a â€Å"Christian,† one has to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, some believe that an individual must attend a mass and go to church and participate in baptism. Death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is necessary to others, instead of a belief and acceptance in their life. â€Å"Nicene Creed† is the ancient text, which some theologians consider a Christian who accepts this.This is accepted by the Orthodox, Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans and the rest of the mainline Protestant Churches. In spite of important differences of interpretation and opinion, Christians share a set of beliefs that they hold as essential to their faith. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is considered and said to be the cornerstone of their faith among all Christians and the most important event in human history. Within the body of Christian beliefs, the death and resurrection of Jesus are the two most core events on which much of Christian doctrine and theology depend.Christians commemorated these essential doctrines of the Christian faith during Good Friday and Easter Sunday, particularly during liturgical time of Holy Week. One wrote, â€Å"If Christ was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in god is useless. † Christians believe th at one can be saved from sin and have eternal death through faith in Jesus. The Gospel of John said that He â€Å"takes away the sins of the world†. One’s reception of salvation is related to justification. Generally, Christian churches accept and teach the New Testament account of the resurrection of Jesus.A lot of people believe that Christ may have been inspired by Buddhism, and that the texts of the Nag Hammadi and Gospel of Thomas influence this. Apparently, It has also been asserted that the story of the birth of the Buddha was well known in the West, and it was influenced the story of the birth of Jesus. The two major religions which are Buddhism and Christianity are compared and emphasized their differences by a lot of scholars, perceived similarities in the teachings in the spiritual intent and practices.It is said to be that it may be the result of a direct or indirect influence of Buddhism on early Christianity, or arising from separate but similar developme nts, or remain divided whether the religious parallels are coincidental. Jesus is not mentioned in any Buddhist text and so, Buddhist views of Jesus differ. â€Å"That there are startling coincidences between Buddhism and Christianity that cannot be denied, and it must likewise be admitted that Buddhism existed at least 400 years before Christianity.I go even further, and should extremely grateful if anybody would point out to me those historical channels through which Buddhism had influenced early Christianity. † Buddha the new born prince is adored and predicted by seer Asita and is celebrated his birth. Jesus the new born prince is adored and predicted by seers â€Å"from the east† who celebrated his birth. Buddhist Trinity (Tiratna) and Baptism: â€Å"I take refuge, Lord, in the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. † â€Å"Enough, I say, with this external bath. I am satisfied with this internal bath: confidence in the Blessed One. â€Å"Jesus Trinity and B aptism is written as follows: â€Å"baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit†. Lastly, if there are any similarities and differences on people, the faith and respect to each other’s religions is still one of the most important things that should always be present to anyone whether in a Catholic teaching, in Buddhism, or any form of religion. R E F E R E N C E S Woodhead, L. An Introduction to Christianity. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia Lopez, D. S. Jr. (2001) The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History & Teachings. New york: Hyper Collins Publishers Inc

Explain the Muslim idea of Religious Authority Essay

Revelations are the way in which we receive knowledge of God and this is done through the Holy Books. In the Christian tradition there is an understanding that the Bible is a medium of revelation (Prepositional view), this is where the truths recorded by God are recorded, there is also an understanding that revelation is the way in which God acts with human experience through history (non-prepositional view) In Islam religious authority comes from God via the Qur’an through the process of tanzil. The Qur’an tells them about God and gives them guidance ‘this is the book in its guidance is sure without doubt’. The Sunnah and the Hadith are also sources of authority. The Sunnah, which is the life example of the Prophet Mohammad, is a source of authority because he was a wise and trustworthy man who settled tribal disputes. The Hadith is also a source of authority because Muslims look to Mohammad because he showed true obedience to Allah’s commands. The Imam also has authority, the Shi’ites believe the Imam possess spiritual ability and divine light but the Sunnis simply see the Imam as a leader of prayer who has no superior status. The Shariah is also part of religious authority because this is the Islamic law for Muslims and it gives all the basic rules and regulations as to how human beings should live and act in a political, economic, social and collective individual spheres. The Shariah looks at family life, inheritance, marriage, food regulations and divorce for example Muslims must eat halal foods, those that have been slaughtered by the neck vein being slit and blood drained whilst the name of Allah is invoked. Muslims follow the Shariah so that they are doing what is good and right according to God and removing evil from society, which works through the process of Greater and Lesser Jihad. Greater Jihad is about establishing maruf (right) and removing munkar (evil) from yourself ‘A Muslim learns to control his own bad desires and actions’. Lesser Jihad is the struggle of the Muslim community to remove haram from society. Evil will always exist in society and a Muslim must resist this by showing true dedication to Allah’s commands. In Islam Allah is the main source of religious authority and to help Muslims to show they are showing their authority towards God, Muslims believe that Allah allows evil and suffering in the world to see if they do what is right. Muslims have free will and believe that everything is pre-determined and that Allah knows the present, the past and the future of every creature but this does not mean that man has and freedom of will, its just that they have the choice to obey or disobey Allah and that this will show on the day of judgement whether they will go to Heaven/ Hell because all their actions are judged. Religious authority from the Qur’an is seen to govern every aspect of life for example women in Islam are seen as the most important in the family. She is the one who should keep a halal home and to make sure food and dress laws are kept. The teachings of Islam is that women should have total equality in religion and education but they can never be fully equal, for example the husband has more power but with that comes a lot of responsibilities to perform ‘ The man has full responsibility for the maintenance of his family’ therefore a man has more inheritance than a women’s because his need is seen to be greater. Through the 5 Pillars Muslims are seen to be showing obedience to Allah’s commands this is because they are a very intense and personal struggle to abide by and through reading the Qur’an Muslims believe that it enhances there spiritual development because it is the word of God. They believe it is the pure word of God because it is seen to be a perfect copy of a timeless document. In Islam the Qur’an is more important than the Bile/Torah because they where seen to be distorted to suit their believing communities and the revelations in the Qur’an are believed to be recorded when Mohammad received them. The other basic beliefs of Islam such as Tawhid are also seen as authority. Tawhid implies that everything is created by Allah; it is the belief in Allah with all his powers. It is a source of authority because this is one way a Muslim fulfils Allah’s commands as it reveals Gods loving and caring nature. From a non-religious perspective a philosopher would look to reasoning to emphasise human freedom to make moral choices. They would argue that all of humanity relies upon their conscience to decide what is right and wrong, and for many this authority does not come from God. However from a Christian perspective this higher level of consciousness comes from God. In Islamic terms we gain our conscious awareness from Quranic teachings about Akirah which gives us focus for this temporary life on earth, from taw hid which reveals the qualities of God that we should aim to develop in our own hearts (such as love and compassion), and Al Qadr which ultimately points to a pre-determined path which only God knows about he does not dictate.

The Importance of Derived Demand in B2B Marketing (Coca Cola) Essay

The Importance of Derived Demand in B2B Marketing (Coca Cola) - Essay Example The objective of the paper is to analyze the derived demand aspects of Coca Cola along with the segmentation and marketing channel used by the company. Several aspects such as competitors’ products, substitute products, raw materials and demographic factors among others can help to analyze the derived demand for Coca Cola’s products in market. Coca Cola, as a reputed band with operations all over the world, uses different channels in order to market its products. Coca Cola mainly segments its market on the basis of geographic and demographic factors. The report describes numerous business segmentation prospects for Coca Cola in the global market. With its effective marketing and segmentation strategies, Coca Cola can strengthen its brand image in order to fortify the product demand. Brief Overview To The Company In the year 1886, John Pemberton a pharmacist in Atlanta created history by forming a soft drink which was named Coca-Cola by his bookkeeper Frank Robinson. Later, in the year 1888, after the death of John Pemberton, an Atlanta businessman Asa Griggs Candler bought the rights of the company for a total of USD 2,300. He became the company’s primary President who brought the real vision to the business and the brand. Thus, Candler’s mission to create the invention of the soft drink into the largest beverage company in the world was being fulfilled, after a century when the company produced in excess of 10 billion gallons of soft drink (The Coca-Cola Company, 2011). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the Coca Cola Company is the world’s biggest beverage company. It employs approximately 146,200 staffs across six operating groups. The product portfolio consists of above 3,000 beverages which are available in excess of 200 countries worldwide (The Coca-Cola Company, 2 011). The main mission of the company and its leaders are to refresh the world. The company through its products wants to bring happiness and encourage moments of cheerfulness among the people of the world. In its large variety of product portfolio, Coca Cola focuses on to make sparkling beverages that will enable the consumers to douse their thirst. Apart from these, the company is also spreading its businesses by developing other products, such as, energy drinks, mineral water and an African juice drink among others. The company’s focus on the soft drink category is evitable as it is selling over 1.7 billion servings of beverage every day all over the world (The Coca-Cola Company, 2011). Soft drinks are non alcoholic beverage that is consumed by larger portion of the age groups, from teens to elders. It is a drink that helps refreshing consumers and brings happiness and optimism in their minds. Thus, the different flavors consisted in the soft drink categories are generally not targeted towards a particular age group or gender, but almost all the population. Statistics reveal that in the year 2011, 92 servings of beverage products were consumed per person worldwide (The Coca-Cola Company, 2011). Drivers of Derived Demand Derived demand is a perception where demand of a specific product comes from or relies on

Production of tpa using eukaryotic n prokaryotic cells Essay

Production of tpa using eukaryotic n prokaryotic cells - Essay Example coli (prokaryotic). This is because of the high cost of the purification scheme required on the tPA produced from E. coli. That from the mammalian cells does not require lots of purifications because the cell environment and content is similar to that of the body cells (in vitro). tPA produced in E. coli required more purification to acquire the required state because it is composed of many components that are naturally not found with tPA in vitro conditions. The contents produced together with tPA in mammalian cells are similar to those in vitro hence are not foreign materials resulting to a less purification process. The E. coli based production process utilizes approximately sixteen purification steps (downstream) as compared to the five purification steps in CHO. Since the purification process in mammalian cells is not that complex less operating labour and supervision is required compared to the E. coli based. The CHO process utilizes nine percent of its total cost on operating labour while E. coli based utilizes twenty two percent. Also, the cost of acquiring the different purification units required for the many purification stages is higher in the E. coli based. Mammalian based process utilizes only twenty five percent of the total production cost on recovery (purification) compare to eighty eight percent on E. coli based. For the solubilization and renaturation step in the E. coli based production, approximately five tonnes of urea and twenty-six tonnes of guanidine are required. The bacteria lack efficient secretion mechanisms for tPA, therefore, the proteins are deposited as inclusion bodies. For the recovery of the proteins, a renaturation procedure is required. Since the proteins in the bacteria are produced in low concentrations (about 2.4 mg per litre) the practicability of a renaturation based production process is limited. The E. coli based production does yield to larger quantities of products that

Asias Slowdown and British Consumers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Asias Slowdown and British Consumers - Essay Example Table 1 below shows China’s trade balance for the gap difference of ten years; 2001-2011 (Techau 2014) Obviously, for the strategy to work, the lifestyle for people in Asia has to increase in quality prompting them to adapt to the economic changes; however, the current position of states such as China and Hong Kong makes it hard for this to happen, as it requires them to fail in some of the leading ventures (Knight 2013). Largely, if Asia experienced bankruptcy, especially in countries such as China, it is a prediction that the whole world would feel the pinch, but some continents such as Europe would experience a blow. The idea that Asia has the ability to reduce the pace of development without affecting trade partners, foreign investors or even local companies is more of a fantasy because the recession is uncontrollable, as proved by past studies. The best tactic would be for China to initiate a long-term strategy that will prepare the possible victims as they look for other ways out of the situation; however, this would also require countries in Asia to liaise with the international policymakers. China seems to have a good idea, and one would think that this is going to be easy for them especially with the current economic status, but after evaluating the forecasts of the target growth rate with the current one, it requires more efforts (Pilkington 2014). Essentially, China aims at reducing its growth to slightly below 8%.

Comparative on Rock & Roll vs Rap Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Comparative on Rock & Roll vs Rap - Essay Example Rap culture involved not only low-class adolescents, but a lot of teenagers from middle-class families Both trends had been popular among young people, but constantly rejected by their parents as "bad" taste music. Rock & Roll and rap are considered as a cultural phenomenon and social change agents bringing novelty and a new vision of cultural norms. Both of them created social movements changing the attitudes of all involved: fans, musicians, managers, record companies executives, critics and magazine editors included. Rock & Roll and rap affected all aspects of culture in a positive and negative way. How people dress, what music they listen to, and what they choose for entertainment. The difference is that rap fans were more aggressive towards others. This was caused by social and cultural context rap emerged. The policy of aggressiveness was important because rap was one of many other styles and had to compete with hip-hop, rock, etc. It encouraged lust, sex, suicide, rebellion against authority, etc.

The Life of Osama Bin Laden and a Wealthy Arabian Family Essay

The Life of Osama Bin Laden and a Wealthy Arabian Family - Essay Example The group has various terrorist gangs around the globe who pledge allegiance to them. The group has carried out many of attacks targeting Western governments and also western owned buildings. They carry the attacks as they are what they call infiltration of the Islamic religion (Hoffman, 2008). His well to do upbringing saw him attend prestigious schools in Saudi Arabia. He schooled in the Saudi port city in an elite school called Al Thagher Model School between 1968 and 1976 (Neumann, 2014). At the institution, he studied British style education alongside daily Islamic worship. According to Steve Coll, a writer for the New Yorker, Osama was introduced to Islamic teachings. This formed the foundation for his political and violent activism in favor of Islamic religion. At the age of 17, Osama was married to his first cousin. At this time, it was a normal convention among traditional Muslims to practice this. His wife was a Syrian woman from his mother’s side. He later on married three other women in line with the Islamic law. He bore between 20 and 30 children (Chossudovsky, 2001). He married at an early age to protect him from corruption. He attended his secondary and university education in Jeddah. He attended King Abdi Al-Aziz University where he studied public administration, economics, business administration as well as civil engineering. While at the university, he was very enthusiastic about religious debates, particularly Islam religion. Mohammed Laden first came to Saudi Arabia from South Yemen where he had spent most of his early years. He started as a very poor laborer, working as a porter in Jeddah port. He later got into the construction building from where he builds much wealth. While working in the constructions business, he developed very close ties with members of the ruling family at the time of King Saud (McAuley, 2005). The close ties with the first family saw his take the risk of building King Saud’s  palaces at very cheap prices, cheaper than the lowest bids.  

Americans Bias Against Muslims Essay Example for Free

Americans Bias Against Muslims Essay Orientalism, simply put, is the perception the West has of the East. The concept was mapped out by Edward Said in his book Orientalism, where he explores the concept, its origin, and how it functions. Said states that Orientalism is the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, [and] ruling over it (3). However, Said points out that even if Orientalism from the beginning was not a creation with no corresponding reality the concept he studies in the book is that of the internal consistency of Orientalism and its ideas about the Orient despite or beyond any correspondence with the real Orient (5). What Said is saying is that the characteristics drawn up about the Orient within Orientalism ar not necessarily compatible with reality. The Western eagerness to characterize the Oriental came from the desire to put a face to the unknown, becoming a political vision of reality whose structure promoted the difference between East and West, them and us, the familiar and the strange (43). Orientalism became a dictionary displaying the characteristics of the Oriental subject, characteristics that were fixed and unchangeable (42, 70). The attributes given to the Oriental helped strengthen the image of Western superiority and justified colonialism. The West was seen as superior to the East, meaning that it had the right to dominate the subject race, since it did not know what was good for it (Said 35). Irrational, depraved (fallen), childlike, [and] different,,4 (40) were words used to describe Orientals. Europeans then became rational, virtuous, mature, [and] normal (40), and the line between the two parts of the world was set; Europe (or the West) as the strong one and Asia (or the East) as the weak one (57). The Orientals were given the role of the Other, ruled by their emotions rather than sense, which made them crueller than the enlightened Western man (Barry 186). The role of the Other made ruling over them justified. The same method is still used by Orientalists today (Said 60), so the hegemony that makes the West believe itself to be superior to the East stays alive in both Western and Eastern cultures. Orientalism is written to explore how and why these ideas have such a central and fixed part in the mentality of the West (and East). In the preface to the 2003 issue of the book Said writes about 9111 and the following War on Terror in this way: Without a well-organized sense that these people over there were not like us and didnt appreciate our values the very core of Orientalism there would have been no war (xv). In this quote it is evident that the Oriental stereotype is still very much present in todays society and is affecting events in the world; Said even argues that the war in Afghanistan and Iraq would not be a fact if it was not for this stereotype. Although the role of the suppressed was given to the East, it was still, and is still, surrounded by mystery and exoticism because it was/is something so different from the West. Its exoticism made it hard to grasp and understand for Western society (Barry 186). It could be suggest that the contrasting images of the exotic Orient and the dangerous Orient are both images that exist in an attempt to make the ungraspable graspable. Even if these images are different they are sticking around because they provide an explanation. Said also points out that Orientalism is a three-way force that affects both the Orient, the Orientalists and the Western consumer of Orientalism (Said 67). Since the ideas of the Orient within Orientalism affect all three stages it makes it almost impossible to erase the stereotype that has been erected. The only way would be to embrace hybridity, which means accepting each others differences and looking beyond the man-made distinction between East and West (Said 5). After the 9/11 attacks it became even more evident that the stereotype evoked in Orientalism was not about to disappear, despite the new global society. Said gives an example of how an Arab is typically portrayed as a bloodthirsty, deceiving slave trader, who is a sadist and so on, in movies and on television (287). This image was not far away when the media, and politicians for that matter, started portraying all Easterners as bloodthirsty terrorists driven by non-rational thoughts (Scanlan 274). The fear of the unknown, of the suppressed rising and gaining power, of the Other speaking up, is as scary today as it was hundreds of years ago. These images of the East are what The Reluctant Fundamentalist explores, showing how deeply rooted they are in society and how they blossomed after 9/11. The novel tries to make the reader reflect upon this stereotype, how it might be wrong and why it exists.

Risks of Engineered Nanoparticles for the Environment

Risks of Engineered Nanoparticles for the Environment Abstract: The objectives of this article are to: (1) investigate the current state of knowledge of the risks of engineered nanoparticles for the environment and human health, (2) estimate whether this knowledge is sufficient to facilitate their comprehensive and effective risk assessment and (3) provide recommendations on future research in the field of risk assessment of nanomaterials. In order to meet the objectives, the relevance of each of the four steps of the risk assessment methodology (i.e., hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure assessment and risk characterization) was evaluated in the context of the current state of knowledge of the risks of nanomaterials, limitations were identified and recommendations were given on how to overcome them. Keywords: engineered nanoparticles; risk assessment; hazard identification; dose-response assessment; exposure assessment; risk characterization; environmental sustainability; human health Introduction Background In contrast to the small size of the nanoparticles, the scale of their application is tremendous. Nanotechnology influences virtually all industrial and public sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, transport, energy, materials, information and communication technologies. Both the potential benefits and the risks, associated with the application of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) have been largely debated in recent years. In contrast to the dominating optimistic projections that nanotechnology will bring significant technological development and well-being to society, it is considered that exposure to certain ENPs may cause environmental problems and/or do harm to human health. Since the early discussions about the risks of ENPs, the chemical risk assessment (CRA) has been put forward as the most relevant approach to understand, evaluate and quantify these risks. Currently, a variety of methodologies are being internationally discussed and evaluated with great vengeance with the idea that, in the near future, it will be possible to perform complete and scientifically sound risk assessment of ENPs. Objectives The objectives of this article are to: Investigate the current state of knowledge of the risks of ENPs for the environment and human health Estimate whether this knowledge is sufficient to facilitate comprehensive and effective risk assessment of ENPs Provide recommendations on future research in the field of risk assessment of ENPs Methodology This article is based on an extensive review of literature published in the period: January 1992- September 2009. The selected literature consisted mainly of scientific publications, but also books, information from conferences and patent data were used. Nanotechnology and Its Applications Nanotechnology and Nanoparticles Nanotechnology is a field of applied science and technology, dealing with the organization and control of matter on the nano-scale (i.e., between 1 and 100 nm) and the manufacturing of products and devices with dimensions, lying within this size range. A nanometer (nm), from the Greek nanos for dwarf, equals one billionth of a meter. Nanomaterials are all materials with sizes on the nano-scale in at least one of their dimensions [1], while nanoparticles are materials, nano-sized in at least two dimensions [2]. The nomenclature nanoparticles encompasses particles as well as fibrous materials and tubes, but it excludes materials, such as coatings, films and multilayers. Two types of nanoparticles (NPs) can be distinguished: (1) naturally occurring NPs (e.g., produced naturally in volcanoes, forest fires or as combustion by-products) and (2) engineered nanoparticles (ENPs), deliberately developed to be used in application (e.g., carbon black, fumed silica, titanium dioxide (TiO2), iron oxide (FOx), quantum dots (QDs), fullerenes, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), dendrimers). Naturally occurring NPs do NOT fall in the scope of this article. The paper encompasses only ENPs. The main reasons why materials, built of ENPs, have different optical, electrical, magnetic, chemical and mechanical properties from their bulk counterparts are that in this size-range quantum effects start to predominate and the surface-area-to-volume ratio (sa/vol) becomes very large [1]. The sa/vol of most materials increases gradually as their particles become smaller, which results in increased adsorption of the surrounding atoms and changes their properties and behavior. Once particles become small enough, they start to obey the quantum mechanical laws. Materials reduced to the nano-scale can suddenly show very different properties, compared to what they exhibit on the macro-scale, which enables unique applications. For example, opaque substances become transparent (copper); stable materials become combustible (aluminum); inert materials become catalysts (platinum); insulators become conductors (silicon); solids turn into liquids at room temperature (gold) [3]. Areas of Application Today, nanotechnology is available on the market for great variety of applications. Some examples are: cosmetics and sunscreens, water filtrations, glare filters, ink, stain-resistant clothing, more durable tennis balls, more lightweight tennis rackets, dressings for burns or injuries. [4]. Defining Hazard and Risk The term hazard has many definitions. This paper uses the definition of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which defines hazard as the inherent toxicity of a compound [5]. According to this definition, if a chemical substance has the property of being toxic, it is therefore hazardous. Any exposure to a hazardous substance may lead to adverse health effects in individuals or even death. EPA defines risk with respect to the above definition of hazard as a measure of the probability that damage to life, health, property, and/or the environment will occur as a result of a given hazard [5]. According to this definition, if the probability of an exposure to a hazardous material is high and the consequences for the health or environment are significant, then the risk is considered to be high. It is important to consider both the frequency of the event and the degree of the hazard to estimate risk [2]. Usually two categories of risk are distinguished in literature: known risks and potential risks. When the relation between a cause and an effect is established, we talk of known risks. The responsibility for such risks can generally be attributed. When the causal relationship is established, prevention is possible. When the relationship between a cause and damage is not well known, we talk of potential risks. In case of potential risks, it is unclear whether there is a danger, how significant the damage can be or what is the probability of its occurrence [2, after 6]. This situation is characterized by a state of suspicion (not awareness) and it is generally admitted that a precautionary approach can be applied in order to prevent potential damage [2, after 6]. The risks of ENPs for the environment and human health fail in the second category: potential risks. It is very important to assess the risks of hazardous agents. The likelihood that a hazardous substance will cause harm (the risk) is the determinant of how cautious one should be and what preventative or precautionary measures should be taken. Risk Assessment of ENPs Since the early debates about the potential hazards of ENPs, the risk assessment of chemicals (CRA) has been put forward as the most relevant approach to understand and quantify the related risks [7]. CRA is a process, in which scientific and regulatory principles are applied in a systematic fashion in order to describe the hazard, associated with the environmental and/or human exposure to chemical substances. It is defined as a process, intended to calculate or estimate the risk to a given target organism, system or (sub)population, including the identification of attendant uncertainties, following exposure to a particular agent, taking into account the inherent characteristics of the agent of concern, as well as the characteristics of the specific target system [8]. The CRA is a four-step process, consisting of: (1) hazard identification, (2) dose- response assessment, (3) exposure assessment and (4) risk characterization. Its main outcome is a statement of the probability that whe n humans or other environmental receptors (e.g., plants, animals) are exposed to a chemical agent, they will be harmed and to what degree. The CRA methodology is internationally recognized and employed by major actors, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as by several European and U.S. agencies [9]. It is considered a valuable tool, very important for the regulation of chemicals. CRA is also a fundamental ingredient of the new European Union (EU) chemical regulation policy, known as Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals (REACH). In order to achieve the objectives of this study, the current state of knowledge of the risks of ENPs for the environment and human health were summarized and evaluated in relation to each of the four elements of the CRA framework, as more important scientific findings were highlighted and limitations were identified and discussed. Hazard Identification Hazard identification (HI) is defined as the identification of the adverse effects, which a substance has an inherent capacity to cause [10, after 11]. Until recently, much of the discussion about the environmental and health risks of ENPs was considered to be rather speculative than realistic. In the last few years, however, a number of experimental studies found that exposure to certain ENPs can lead to adverse health effects in living organisms. In 2007, Hansen et al. identified 428 studies reporting on toxicity of ENPs [12]. In these studies, adverse health effects of 965 tested ENPs of various chemical compositions were observed [12]. Current State of Knowledge The following sections shortly describe some of the most important scientific findings, relevant for HI of ENPs. Their purpose is to summarize the current state of knowledge of the hazards of ENPs, based on experimental studies. For simplification, the studies are divided into two categories in vivo and in vitro studies. In Vivo Studies Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) A study, performed by Lam et al. [13], demonstrated that single- walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are able to cause dose-dependent effects of interstitial inflammation and lesions in mice and rats (0- 0.5 mg kg-1 for 7 to 90 days). Warheit et al. [14] observed pulmonary grandulomas in rats after exposure to SWCNT soot (1 and 5 mg kg-1 for 24 hours to 3 months). In contrast to Lam et al. [13], however, the effects, observed by Warheit et al. [14] were not dependent on dose. Smith et al. [15] tested the ecotoxicity of SWCNTs, dissolved in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and sonication on juvenile rainbow trout (0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg l-1 for 24 hours to 10 days) and they observed a dose-dependent rise in ventilation rate, gill pathologies (oedema, altered mucocytes, hyperplasia), and mucus secretion with SWCNT precipitation on the gill mucus. They also observed a significant dose- dependent decrease in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), especially in the gill, brain and liver , which is an indication of oxidative stress. Multi- walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were shown by Carrero-Sanchez et al. [16], to exhibit acute toxicity in rats with LD90 of 5 mg kg-1. Long MWCNTs were shown by Poland et al. [17] to cause significant inflammation and tissue damage in mice, while shorter MWCNTs caused less inflammation, which suggests that CNT toxicity is influenced by the particle morphology. In addition, they concluded that water-soluble components of MWCNT do not produce strong inflammatory effects in mice. C60 Fullerenes Most studies on the toxicological effects of C60 fullerenes suggest that these materials tend to induce oxidative stress in living organisms [18-21]. Lai et al. [18] observed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LP) products (a sign of oxidative stress) after intravenous administration of 1 mg kg-1 C60 (OH)18 in male mongrel dogs. Oberdà ¶rster [19, 20] studied the effects of C60 fullerenes in the brain of juvenile largemouth bass and observed high LP levels (0.5 and 1 ppm for 48 h). Elevated LP was also observed by Zhu et al. [21] in the brain and gills of daphnia magna after exposure to hydroxylated C60 fullerenes (C60 (OH)24) and tetrahydrofuran (THF)- dissolved C60, as it was shown that THF did not contribute to the effect. Sayes et al. [22] detected an increase in the numbers of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)-recovered neutrophils (i.e., white blood cells) after intratracheal instillation of C60 and C60 (OH)24 in rats, 1 day after the exposure. They also observed a signi ficant increase in LP values 1 week after the exposure. Accute effects of functionalized C60 were also reported . Zhu et al. [21] estimated LC100 in fathead minnow after exposure to 0.5 ppm of THF-dissolved C60 for 6-18 hours. Chen et al. [23] observed a LD50 of 600 mg kg-1 polyalkylsulfonated C60 in female rats after intraperitoneal administration (0- 2500 mg kg-1 for up to 2 weeks). Oberdà ¶rster [24] tested uncoated, water soluble, colloidal C60 fullerenes and estimated a Daphnid 48-hour LC50 of 800 ppb. Metal and Metal Oxide ENPs Li et al. [25] found that metal ENPs induce more severe lung toxicity in mice than bulk particles from the same materials. Gordon et al. [26] tested the effects on humans of exposure to zinc (Zn) ENPs. After 2 hours of exposure to 5 mg m-3 of Zn ENPs, the exposed individuals started feeling sore throat, chest tightness, headache, fever and chills. Beckett et al. [27] repeated that test in three trials, 2 hours each, but at lower concentration (i.e., 500 ?g m-3), and found no indication of adverse effects. The latter two studies suggest that Zn ENPs toxicity is concentration- dependent and the most probable uptake path is through the respiratory system. A study of Sayes et al. [22] concluded that environmental exposure to Zn ENPs causes pulmonary (lung) inflammatory response in mice. Wang et al. [28] found that Zn ENPs can cause severe symptoms of lethargy, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of body weight and even death in mice when gastrointestinally administered, whereas they obser ved limited effect for micro- scale Zn at equal concentrations. Yang and Watts [29] tested the effect of Aluminium (Al) ENPs on the relative root growth (RRG) in Zea mays (corn), Glycine max (soybean), Brassica oleracea (cabbage), and Daucus carota (carrot). The study found that the ENPs significantly inhibited the growth of the plants after administration of 2 mg ml-1 for 24 h. Oberdà ¶rster [30] and Oberdà ¶rster et al. [31] observed that smaller TiO2 ENPs tend to cause more severe pulmonary damage in mice than larger particles. In addition, Warheit et al., [32] found that smaller silicon dioxide (SiO2) particles cause stronger lung inflammation in rats than larger ones. Wang et al., [33] noticed that the smaller the TiO2 particle size is, the greater the concentration in the liver of mice is. Bourrinet et al. [34] reported hypoactivity, ataxia, emesis, exophthalmos, salivation, lacrimation, discolored and mucoid feces, injected sclera, and yellow eyes in dogs after single-dose intravenous bolus administration of 20 and 200 mg kg-1 FeO ENPs and a significant increase in fetal skeletal malformations in rats and rabbits. In Vitro Studies Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) A number of cytotoxicity studies with SWCNTs were reported in the literature. Shvedova et al. [35] observed oxidative stress and cellular toxicity in human epidermal keratinocytes, after 2 to 18 hours exposure to unrefined (iron containing) SWCNTs in concentrations, ranging from 0.6 to 0.24 mg ml-1. Cui et al. [36] observed dose- and time- dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and a decrease in cell adhesive ability in human embryo kidney cells after exposure to SWCNTs in concentrations between 0.8 and 200 ?g ml-1. Sayes et al. [37] found that the surface functionalization of SWCNTs plays an important role in their cytotoxicity towards human dermal fibroblasts. Bottini et al. [38] noticed that MWCNTs were more cytotoxic when oxized towards Jurkat T leukemia cells, whereas Monteriro-Riviere et al. [39] observed a decrease of the viability of human osteoblastic lines and human epidermal keratinocytes after exposures to 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg ml-1 of MWCNTs for 1 to 48 hours. Kang et al. [40] compared the cytotoxicity of commercially obtained MWCNTs in bacterial systems before and after physicochemical modification and they observed highest toxicity when the nanotubes were uncapped, debundled, short, and dispersed in solution. Kang et al. [40] concluded that there is need for careful documentation of the physical and chemical characteristics of CNTs, when reporting their toxicity. C60 Fullerenes Adelman et al. [41] observed a reduction of the viability of bovine alveolar macrophages after exposure to sonicated C60 and increased levels of cytokine mediators of inflammation (i.e., IL-6, IL-8 and TNF), while Porter et al. [42] found that C60 and raw soot were not toxic towards bovine- and human alveolar macrophages. The reason behind the discrepancy between the results of Adelman et al. and Porter et al. can be attributed to the fact that they used very different methods. Porter et al. used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to image the distributions of the fullerenes within the macrophages, while Adelman et al. used a viability assay, based on metabolic activity as primary parameter. Studies on the effects of ENPs on alveolar macrophages are very important because the alveolar macrophages are the first line of cellular defense against respiratory pathogens [11, after 43]. Yamawaki Iwai [44] observed dose-dependent cytotoxicity of C60 (OH)24 (1- 100  µg ml-1 for 24 hours), resulting in decreased cell density and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in human umbilical vein endothelial cells cavity (a sign of increase in non-viable cell numbers). Rouse et al. [45] observed a dose-dependent decrease in the viability of human epidermeal keratinocytes after exposure to C60- phenylalanine, as no contribution to the effect was attributed to the phenylalanine groups. Quantum Dots (QDs) The toxicity of QDs was found to be influenced by several factors: (1) composition, (2) size, (3) surface charge and (4) coating of the QDs [7, 46- 48]. Jaiswal et al. [46] found that CdSe/ZnS QDs (i.e., CdSe QDs in a zinc sulfide (ZnS) matrix), coated with dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) had no effect on mammalian cells, while Hoshino et al. [47] reported adverse effects on mouse lymphocytes after exposure to CdSe/ZnS QDs, coated with albumin. In addition, Lovrà ­c et al. [48] observed that smaller (2.2  ± 0.1 nm), positively charged QDs exhibit stronger cytotoxicity than larger (5.2  ±0.1 nm), equally charged QDs under the same conditions. It was also found that the cytotoxicity of QDs is influenced by the exposure to light and by temperature [49, 50]. Green and Howman [49] observed 56% damaged DNA after exposure to CdSe/ZnS together with UV light versus only 29% after exposure to CdSe/Zn in the absence of UV light. Chang et al. [50] found that CdSe/CdS (i.e., CdSe QDs in a cadmium sulfide (CdS) matrix) were toxic to cancer cells at 37  ºC, but at 4  ºC they were not toxic at all. Metal and Metal Oxide ENPs Sayes et al. [51] found that anatase TiO2 ENPs are able to kill human dermal fibroblast (HDF) cells at LC50 of 3.6 ?g ml-1, while Wang et al. [52] observed decrease in the viability of human lymphoblastoid cells due to exposure to TiO2 ENPs (0-130 ?g ml-1 for 6-48 h). Chen Mikecz [53] found that SiO2 ENPs do significantly inhibit replication and transcription in human epithelial HEp-2 cells (25 ?g ml-1 for 24 h). Muller et al. [54] observed that Fe3O4 ENPs, coated with dextran, decrease the viability of human monocyte macrophages. Alt et al. [55] found that nano-particulate silver (Ag) is an effective bactericide against S. epidermidis, while Baker et al. [56] noticed that it effectively kills E. coli bacteria too. Sayes et al. [57] observed an increase in the production of LDH levels (an indicator of inflammation) in immortalized rat lung epithelial cells after 1 hour exposure to Zn ENPs at 520 ?g cm-2. Limitations to Hazard Identification of ENPs It is very important to note that the vast majority of the reviewed studies demonstrate some degree of hazardous effects on the tested organisms. Toxicity has been reported for many ENPs, as shown in the previous sections, but for most of them further investigation and confirmation are needed before hazard can be identified. A lot of studies, relevant for HI, have been carried out with different ENPs, but most of them were obviously not meant to facilitate risk assessment; they use non- standardized tests, differing greatly from each other in regard to endpoints, tested species, methods of administration, dose ranges and exposure periods [7]. The lack of standardized testing results in non-reproducible results and makes the univocal HI of ENPs impossible. Another significant drawback for the HI of ENPs is the serious lack of characterization data, which makes it difficult to identify which physical and/or chemical characteristics (or combinations of characteristics) determine the hazards, documented in the (eco)toxicological studies [12, 58, 59]. Dose-Response Assessment Dose- response assessment (DRA) is defined as an estimation of the relationship between dose, or level of exposure to a substance, and the incidence and severity of an effect [10, after 11]. It is the process of characterizing the relationship between the dose of an agent, administered to or received by an individual, and the consequent adverse health effects. The Concept of Dose In toxicological studies a dose is the quantity of anything that may be received by or administered to an organism. The dose is normally measured in mass units (i.e., ?g, mg, g), as higher doses of the same compounds are expected to cause more severe adverse effects. DRA studies with ENPs, however, suggest that the toxicity of some ENPs is not mass-dependent, but influenced by other physico-chemical characteristics (e.g., surface area, chemical composition, particle morphology) [7, after 60]. Oberdà ¶rster et al. [61] and Stoeger et al. [62, 63] found that the toxicity of low-soluble ENPs was better described by their surface area than by their total mass [7, after 61, 62, 63]. Wittmaack [64, 65] suggested the number of particles as the most appropriate dose metrics, while Warheit et al. [66, 67] found that toxicity of some ENPs was associated with the number of their surface functional groups. Despite these findings, however, it is still largely unknown which properties influence the toxicity of most ENPs and this gap in knowledge is partly attributable to the fact that the tested ENPs are seldom well characterized. Characterization of ENPs Developing understanding about the physical and chemical properties of substances and materials is fundamental for their risk assessment [59]. Studying the standard properties (e.g., composition, structure, molecular weight, melting point, boiling point, vapor pressure, octanol-water partitioning coefficient, water solubility, activity, stability) is sufficient for the characterization of most chemical compounds. For ENPs, however, more profound investigation is needed and other properties, such as particle size distribution, sa/vol ratio, shape, electronic properties, surface characteristics, state of dispersion/agglomeration and conductivity need to be studied [5]. The high complexity and great diversity of ENPs, however, make their characterization very difficult [59]. As it can be inferred from the table above, most of the current research on the properties of ENPs is focused on the identification of metrics and associated methods for the measurement of ENPs and their properties. This type of research is fundamental in the sense that without reliable measurement methodology it would be impossible to develop good understanding of the physical and chemical properties of the ENPs. Only few comprehensive studies on the development of standard, well-characterised reference nanomaterials were published so far. To facilitate the appropriate interpretation of testing results, it is essential to select representative sets of ENPs, characterize them and share them among laboratories worldwide. Exposure Assessment Exposure assessment (EA) is defined as an estimation of the concentrations/doses to which human populations (i.e., workers, consumers and man exposed indirectly via the environment) or environmental compartments (aquatic environment, terrestrial environment and air) are or may be exposed. [10, after 11]. EA is a very important element in risk assessment of ENPs, since if no exposure to ENPs occur, it would be impossible that they cause any harm and there would be no risk at all. EA can be divided into three sub-areas: (1) occupational exposure assessment (OEA), (2) environmental exposure assessment (EEA) (including indirect human exposure from the environment) and (3) consumer exposure assessment (CEA). Environmental Exposure Assessment The environment may be exposed to ENPs during all stages of their life-cycles: raw material production, transport and storage, industrial use (incl. processing and/or trade), consumer use, waste disposal (incl. waste treatment, landfill and recovery) [11] (Figure 2.). A very important element of the EEA of ENPs is the study of their environmental fate. The fate of ENPs, released in the environment is determined by their mobility in the different media (i.e., soil, water, air), as well as by their potential to biodegrade or undergo chemical transformation. Environmental Fate of ENPs In order to determine the extent of environmental exposure to ENPs, it is necessary to understand their behavior in the environment. Until now, only a limited number of environmental fate studies with ENPs have been reported and the fundamental mechanisms behind their distribution are still not clearly understood (table 3). Fate of ENPs in Air The fate of ENPs in the air is determined by three main factors: (1) the duration of time particles remain airborne, (2) their interaction with other particles or molecules in the atmosphere and (3) the distance they are able to travel in the air [68]. The processes important to understand the dynamics of ENPs in the atmosphere are diffusion, agglomeration, wet and dry deposition and gravitational settling [68]. These processes are relatively well understood from studying the air-suspended ultrafine particles and that knowledge can be applied to ENPs as well [69]. In some cases, however, there can be considerable differences in behavior between ENPs and ultrafine particles, especially when the latter cannot agglomerate because they are coated [5]. With respect to the duration of time ENPs stay in the air, it is considered that they may follow the laws of gaseous diffusion [70]. The rate of diffusion is inversely proportional to the particle diameter and the rate of gravitational settling is proportional to it [70]. It is generally considered that particles in the nanoscale (d> 100nm) have shorter residence time in the air, compared to medium-sized particles (100nm> d> 2000nm), because they rapidly agglomerate into much larger particles and settle on the ground [71]. Here again ENPs with anti-agglomerate coatings make an exception and their residence time cannot be predicted [71]. It is considered that deposited ENPs are usually not likely to be re-suspended or re-aerosolized in the atmosphere [72, 70]. Many nano- sized particles are photoactive [72], but it is still unknown whether they are susceptible to photodegradation in the atmosphere. ENPs also show high absorption coefficients [69], and many of them can act as catalysts. However, no information is currently available on the interactions between ENPs and the chemicals they absorb, and how this interaction might influence atmospheric chemistry. Fate of ENPs in Water The fate of ENPs in water is determined by several factors: (1) aqueous solubility, (2) reactivity of the ENPs with the chemical environment and (3) their interaction with certain biological processes [5]. Because of their lower mass, ENPs generally settle more slowly to the bottom than larger particles of the same material [5]. However, due to their high surface-area-to-mass ratios, ENPs readily sorb to soil and sediment particles and consequently are more liable to removal from the water column [73]. Some ENPs might be subject to biotic and abiotic degradation, which can remove them from the water column as well. Abiotic degradation processes that may occur include hydrolysis and photocatalysis [72]. Near to the surface ENPs are exposed to sunlight. It is likely that light-induced photoreactions can account for the removal of certain ENPs and for changing the chemical properties of others [72]. In contrast to the removal processes mentioned above, some insoluble ENPs can be stabilized in aquatic environments. Hoon et al. [74] investigated the aqueous stability of MWCNTs in the presence of natural organic matter (NOM). MWCNTs were readily dispersed as an aqueous suspension and remained stable for over 1 month. Hoon et al. [74] found that NOM is more effective in stabilizing the MWCNTs in water than a solution of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a commonly used surfactant to stabilize CNTs in the aqueous phase [74]. The C60 fullerenes were found to spontaneously form insoluble, dense aqueous colloids of nanocrystalline aggregates and remain in the aqueous phase for long periods [5]. Another known interaction, which can delay nanoparticle removal from the water column, is the absorption of humic acid. Sea surface microlayers, consisting of lipid-, carbohydrate- and protein-rich components along with naturally occurring colloids, made up of humic acid, may attach ENPs to their surfaces and transport them over long distances [75]. Fate of ENPs in Soil The behavior of ENPs in soil media can greatly vary, depending on the physical and chemical characteristics of the material. Some ENPs can strongly sorb to the soil particles and become completely inert and immobile [5]. On the other hand, if ENPs do not sorb to the soil matrix, they might show even greater mobility than larger particles, because their small size might allow them to travel easily through the pore spaces between the soil particles. The possibility to sorb to soil and the respective sorption strength of ENPs is influenced by their size, chemical composition and surface characteristics [5]. Studies by Zhang [76], Lecoanet and Wiesner [77] and Lecoanet at al. [78] showed considerable differences in mobility of some insoluble ENPs in porous media. The properties of the soil, such as porosity and grain size, further influence the mobility of the particles. Just like the mineral colloids, the mobility of ENPs, agglomerated in colloid-like structures might be strongly affected by electrical charge differences in soils and sediments [76]. Surface photoreactions might induce photochemical transformations on the soil surface [72]. Biodegradation and Chemical Transformation of ENPs In some cases, the biological processes in the environment can lead to the complete degradation of ENPs and sometimes they can only change their physical and/or chemical properties [5]. The mechanisms, which account for