Tuesday, November 26, 2019

PRC Social Security Scheme essays

PRC Social Security Scheme essays Major Characteristic of PRC Social Security Scheme - Only applicable to Chinese local employees - Local requirements may vary from locality to locality. Structure of Social Security Scheme Decisions of the State Council Concerning the Establishment of a Unified System of Basic Old-age Insurance for Staff and Workers of Enterprises(July 16, 1997) Structure of the Basic Pension Scheme - Requires mandatory participation by enterprises and employees; - Maximum contribution of 20% of the total wages of the enterprises in general unless approved by Labour Bureau and Ministry of Finance. - For a foreign investment enterprise, the total wages only cover Chinese local employees wages. a. start at 7% of employee salary in 1997, to be gradually reduced to 3%, for contribution into the Basic Pension Individual Account b. 13% to 17% goes to Basic Pension Pooling Account - Start at 4% of employee salary in 1997, to be gradually increased to 8% - Contribution goes to Basic Pension Individual Account National Requirement Unemployment Insurance Unemployment Insurance Regulation issued by State Council on January 22, 1999. - Requires mandatory participation by enterprises and employees; - Enterprise refers to Urban enterprises and institutions, including: ...

Saturday, November 23, 2019

About the Geodesic Dome in Architecture

About the Geodesic Dome in Architecture A geodesic dome is a spherical space-frame structure composed of a complex network of triangles. The linked triangles create a self-bracing framework that is structurally strong yet elegantly delicate. The geodesic dome could be called the manifestation of the phrase less is more, as a minimum of building materials geometrically arranged ensures a design both strong and lightweight- especially when the framework is covered with modern siding materials like ETFE. The design allows massive interior space, free from columns or other supports. A space-frame is the three-dimensional (3D) structural framework that enables a geodesic dome to exist, as opposed to a typical buildings two-dimensional (2D) frame of length and width. The space in this sense is not outer space, although the resultant structures sometimes look like they come from the Age of Space Exploration. The term geodesic is from Latin, meaning earth dividing. A geodesic line is the shortest distance between any two points on a sphere. Inventors of the Geodesic Dome: Domes are a relatively recent invention in architecture.  Ã‚  Romes Pantheon, rebuilt around 125 AD, is one of the oldest large domes. In order to support the weight of the heavy building materials in early domes, the walls beneath were made very thick and the top of the dome became thinner. In the case of the Pantheon in Rome, an open hole or oculus is at the domes apex. The the idea of combining triangles with the architectural arch was pioneered in 1919 by German engineer Dr. Walther Bauersfeld. By 1923, Bauersfeld had designed the worlds first projection planetarium for the Zeiss Company in Jena, Germany. However, it was R. Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) who conceived and popularized the concept of geodesic domes being used as homes. Fullers first patent for a geodesic dome was issued in 1954. In 1967 his design was shown to the world with Biosphere constructed for Expo 67 in Montreal, Canada. Fuller claimed that it would be possible to enclose mid-town Manhattan in New York City with a two-mile wide temperature-controlled dome like the one presented at the Montreal exposition. The dome, he said, would pay for itself within ten years...just from the savings of snow-removal costs. On the 50th anniversary of receiving a patent for the geodesic dome, R. Buckminster Fuller was commemorated on a US postage stamp in 2004. An index of his patents can be found at the Buckminster Fuller Institute. The triangle continues to be used as a means to strengthen architectural height, as evidenced in many skyscrapers, including One World Trade Center in New York City. Note the massive, elongated triangular sides on this and other tall buildings. About Space-Frame Structures: Dr. Mario Salvadori reminds us that rectangles are not inherently stiff. So, none other than Alexander Graham Bell came up with the idea of triangulating large roof frames to cover large, barrier-free interior spaces. Thus, write Salvadori, the modern space frame sprang from the mind of an electrical engineer and gave rise to a whole family of roofs having the enormous advantage of modular construction, easy assemblage, economy, and visual impact. In 1960, The Harvard Crimson described the geodesic dome as a structure composed of a large number of five-sided figures. If you build your own geodesic dome model, youll get an idea of how triangles are put together to form hexagons and pentagons. The geometry can be assembled to form all kinds of interior spaces, like architect I.M. Peis Pyramid at The Louvre and the gridshell forms used for the tensile architecture of Frei Otto and Shigeru Ban. Additional Definitions: Geodesic Dome: A structure consisting of a multiplicity of similar, light, straight-line elements (usually in tension) which form a grid in the shape of a dome.- Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, Cyril M. Harris, ed., McGraw- Hill, 1975, p. 227 Space-Frame: A three-dimensional framework for enclosing spaces, in which all members are interconnected and act as a single entity, resisting loads applied in any direction.- Dictionary of Architecture, 3rd ed. Penguin, 1980, p. 304 Examples of Geodesic Domes: Geodesic domes are efficient, inexpensive, and durable. Corrugated metal dome homes have been assembled in undeveloped parts of the world for only hundreds of dollars. Plastic and fiberglass domes are used for sensitive radar equipment in Arctic regions and for weather stations around the world. Geodesic domes are also used for emergency shelter and mobile military housing. The best-known structure built in the manner of a geodesic dome may be Spaceship Earth, the ATT Pavilion at EPCOT in Disney World, Florida. The EPCOT icon is an adaptation of Buckminster Fullers geodesic dome. Other structures using this type of architecture include the Tacoma Dome in Washington State, Milwaukees Mitchell Park Conservatory in Wisconsin, the St. Louis Climatron, the Biosphere desert project in Arizona, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Conservatory in Iowa, and many projects created with ETFE including the Eden Project in Britain. Sources: Why Buildings Stand Up by Mario Salvadori, Norton 1980, McGraw-Hill 1982, p. 162;   Fuller, Nervi Candela to Deliver 1961-62 Norton Lecture Series, The Harvard Crimson, November 15, 1960 [accessed May 28, 2016]; History of Carl Zeiss Planetariums, Zeiss [accessed April 28, 2017]

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Examples of e-Procurement applications and tools Case Study

Examples of e-Procurement applications and tools - Case Study Example E-business refers to the application of technologies, especially Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), to undertake or sustain business activities and processes, inclusive of research and development, procurement, design and development, manufacturing, operation, logistics, finance, value chain integration, HRM, design and development (Boone and Kurtz 2011, p.4). Procurement refers to the process by which companies purchase goods and services from a diverse range of suppliers. E-procurement infers the business to business (B2B) or business-to-consumer, business-to-government purchasing of work, goods or services via the internet, besides other information-based and networking applications such as Enterprise Resource Planning and Electronic Data Interchange (Turban, David, Lee, Liang, and Turban 2011, p.5). Procurement can be a critical part of a company’s overall strategy for cutting down costs. E-procurement methods incorporate methods such as electronic data interchange (EDI), online marketplaces/ e-marketplaces, and a combination of the two. E-procurement can be facilitated through the application of either a manual process or employing of automated software such as Enterprise Resource Planning Tools (ERP tools). E-procurement value chain comprises of aspects such as Contract Management, Vendor Management, e-Auctioning, Indent Management, e-Tendering, and Catalogue Management (Harrison and Hoek 2008, p.12). E-procurement ICT incorporate components such as e-procurement software, B2B auctions, B2B market exchanges and purchasing consortia that are directed at automating workflows, consolidating and leveraging organizational spending power and citing fresh sourcing opportunities online. The most cited procurement use of the Internet revolves around consummating the transaction and attainment of technical advice. Top performing organizations mainly conduct more than 20% of their e-procurement transactions online,  besides utilizing the internet for e-procurement applications such as communicating with vendors, verifying vendor price quotes, as well as purchasing from the vendor’s catalogues (Boone and Kurtz 2011, p.212). Technological advancement has led to the onset of commercial trans actions such as Electronic Funds Transfer, supply chain management, internet marketing, Electronic Data Interchange, online transaction processing, and inventory management systems (Neef 2001, p.36). Types of e-procurement There are several examples of e-procurement tools, each of which avails benefits to manufacturing enterprises in ensuring that raw materials and other essential manufacturing components are delivered  on time to meet production schedules in the most effective manner to maximize profit margins. Web-based ERP Web-based ERP is engaged in creating and endorsing purchasing requests, placing procured orders and receiving goods and services via application of a software system based on internet technology. ERP software packages from vendors such as Oracle, SAP AG, and the SAGE Group are designed to maximize the resource planning of an enterprise. In the manufacturing industry, web-based ERP is designed to generate purchasing schedules so as to achieve a perfect just-in -time (JIT) assembly cycle (Li 2007, p.300). One of the outstanding characteristics of ERP software is its capability to generate purchase orders via and production application of the bill of materials for the finished products as a basis. ERP systems also issue reschedule notices to suppliers (Neef 2001, p.38). Other types of e-procurement software include Vendor Management Systems, e-MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), SAAS transformation, e-Tendering, e-marketsites, e-Sourcing, and

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

From the book 'TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - tHE SCOURGE OF RACISM Essay

From the book 'TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD - tHE SCOURGE OF RACISM - Essay Example â€Å"Killing a Mocking Bird† set his background in the Alabama state during the depression and sort to find out the hardships that the black and other minority groups faced at the helm of this depression era. The relationship between the races at this era is depicted as being very wanting given the fact that the novel portrays the way the black race was victimized by the whites. The Tom Robinson trial just portrays the nature of prejudice that took place given the fact that when Atticus protected Tom, he was accused of being a nigger lover. The white jury refuses to accept the fact that Tom is innocent just because his testimony was pitted against that of a white person. This shows the amount of injustice offered to minority groups and then there’s the fact that the blatant testimony given against the evidence of Tom is taken as the judging clause to sentence him to death (Bloom, p.143). Atticus wants to reveal the truth to his fellow race, expose their discriminative racial comments, and encourage them to imagine the possibility of racial equality and an integration of the two races. The very moment that a person is just sentenced to death just because his case is against a perso n of a different race that sits at the jury, shows how discriminative the white people were in terms of justice offered to other races. What Atticus portrayed was a will to fight even when you new that you could not win. The whites describe the black community as trash. This is evident when Mr. Ewell threatens to kill Atticus just because he was on a black man’s side. He tries to kill Jem and Scout one night to get his revenge but the tables turn around and he ends up dead. For the first time, the sheriff declares a black person innocent. According to the author, in the court room there was a balcony for the black population which implies that the two races were not to stay together. As Atticus puts it in the book during his closing remarks in the Tom Robinson case, he acknowledged

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Role of ATP in Supporting Energy to the Body Essay Example for Free

Role of ATP in Supporting Energy to the Body Essay When food is ingested, it is broken down into components and utilized in a specific manner in three major cellular pathways to provide energy for the cells and the body.   Ultimately, these pathways involve the breakdown and utilization of food, the utilization of O2 and the production of CO2, the generation and regeneration of ATP and the production of water.   Therefore, these processes involve respiration as well as the breakdown and utilization of food and oxygen. Three major pathways are involved:   glycolysis which takes place in the cellular cytoplasm and breaks down glycogen and glucose from food, the Krebs Cycle which occurs in the mitochondrion and oxidative phosphorylation which occurs in the mitochondrion.   Ã‚  Ã‚   These three pathways occur in two cellular locations.   Glycolysis takes place in the cytoplasm and The Krebs Cycle and oxidative phosphorylation take place in the mitochondria.   During these three pathways, there is a utilization and production of ATP that biochemists follow closely.   It results in the net production of 36 molecules of ATP.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To understand the entire process that illustrates how food is broken down and utilized in the body, it is instructive to follow a bolus, that is, food consumed, chewed and swallowed.   Each step involves some aspect of digestion that breaks down complex sugar and protein molecules into smaller units.   Proteins are broken down into peptides and amino acids while starches and other complex sugars are broken down into glucose. The glucose undergoes glycolysis in the cellular cytoplasm beginning with the enzyme hexokinase, and the entire process of glycolysis is controlled by the rate limiting enzyme phosphofructokinase (PFK).   Kinase enzymes (enzymes that break down ATP) are common all along the three pathways involved, glycolysis, the Krebs Cycle (also called the Citric Acid Cycle and the Tricaroxylic Acid Cycle) and phosphorylative oxidation.   Kinases are enzymes that break down or utilized ATP, ADP and AMP as their substrate or one of their substrates.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Fiske and Subbarow discovered and characterized ATP in 1929.   At that time, the work of some demonstrated that the breakdown of ATP provided energy for muscle contraction, but other studies demonstrated that there was ATP synthesis during glycolysis and during electron transport.   Although ATP is made throughout the cell, the cellular location of ATP synthesis varies with the biochemical pathways associated with ATP synthesis.    Although one common pathway of ATP synthesis and breakdown is associated with the adenylate kinase reaction that forms two ADP molecules from ATP and AMP, studies in the late 1920s and beyond demonstrated that ATP synthesis was also associated with glycolysis and during electron transport.   In 1949, Kennedy and Lehninger demonstrated that ATP synthesis and the citric acid cycle occur in the mitochondria.   We now recognize that ATP synthesis and breakdown can be associated with specific biochemical pathways in the cell cytoplasm and in the mitochondria.    Some enzymes are sensitive to the ratio of ATP to AMP and to the presence of ADP.   This realization led to the concept of the energy charge, the relative concentration of ATP to ADP to AMP in the cell.   An energy charge of 1.0 represents all ATP, and energy charge of 0 represents all AMP and an energy charge of 0.5 represents all ADP or equal amounts of ATP and AMP or some combination of the two.   These ratios, and thus the energy charge are important to the cell because many cellular enzymes such as PFK are sensitive to and regulated by the relative amounts of the adenine nucleotides, ATP, ADP and AMP. Glycolysis   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Glycolysis, also referred to as the Embden-Meryhof-Parnas pathway (figure 1), is essentially the breakdown of glucose in the cytoplasm of the cell.   The glycolytic process can begin with glucose or glycogen.   During the process, glycolysis generates the high energy compounds ATP and NADH that serve as the energy sources in the cell.   Among the many cellular roles for glycolysis, it serves three central cellular functions.   First, it generates high energy molecules such as ATP and NADH. It also produces pyruvate for the Krebs cycle and a variety of three and six carbon compounds involved in the intermediary metabolism of the cell.   The rate limiting enzyme for glycolysis, that is, the key enzyme that controls the glycolytic pathway, is phosphofructokinase (PFK).   PFK is feedback inhibited by high levels of ATP which acts by lowering the affinity of the substrate F6P for PFK.   AMP can reverse the inhibitory effect of ATP rendering PFK, and thus the control of glycolysis very sensitive to the ratio of ATP/AMP in the cytoplasm.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The final product arising from glycolysis depends on the cellular conditions.   Whereas glycolysis begins with glucose or glycogen, it ends with the production two molecules of the three carbon compound pyruvate.   Under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is reduced to form lactic acid or ethanol and under aerobic conditions pyruvate loses CO2 and forms the product acetyl-coenzyme A as a result of oxidation of pyruvate to carbon dioxide and water in the citric acid cycle within the mitochrondia.   Glycolysis occurs in the cellular cytoplasm and the Krebs Cycle and oxidative phosphorylation occur in the mitochondria.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Glycolysis results in the formation of fructose from glucose and the formation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, 3-phosphoglycerate and compounds along the pathway on the way to splitting the resulting 6-carbon compound into two three carbon units of pyruvate.   In the process, NAD+ serves as a hydrogen carrier and is reduced to NADH, the oxidized form of NAD+. In the cell, the oxidation of aldehyde to carboxylic acid is very complex and strongly exergonic and is generally coupled to ATP synthesis.   Glucose goes to Glu-6-P to Fructose with the breakdown of two ATP molecules.   Fructose gives rise to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate which is ultimately splite in a complex reaction chain to phosphoglycerate, phosphoenolpyruvate which is finally split into two molecules of pyruvate by pyruvate and the regeneration of the two ATP molecules previously utilized. Glycolysis Figure 1. Embden-Meryhof-Parnas pathway, also known as glycolysis.   Reproduced from Michael W. King, Wednesday, 22-Mar-2006. The Citric Acid Cycle   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Citric Acid Cycle (Figure 2) is the most complex of the three components associated with carbohydrate metabolism and the consumption of food.   It involves the following eight enzymes and the components they use as substrate:   Citrate Synthase, Aconitase, Isocitrate Dehydrogense, alpha-ketoglutarate Dehydrogenase, Succinyl-CoA Synthetase, Succinate Dehydrogenase, Fumarase, Malate Dehydrogenase.   The generation of acetyl-CoA from carbohydrates is a major control point of the Krebs cycle.   Therefore, glycolysis and the rate limiting enzyme of glycolysis, PFK, play a role in the control of the Krebs cycle.   The oxidation of an acetyl group is a difficult chemical process and may be the reason that nature developed the Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (TCAC), also known as the Citric Acid Cycle and the Krebs Cycle. The Krebs cycle begins when the products of glycolysis leave the cytoplasm (cytosol) and enter the mitochondria.   Once glycogen or glucose have been broken down into two three carbon units of pyruvate, the pyruvate can be further broken down into a high energy compound called acetyl-CoA resulting in the production of CO2 and water.   Acetyl-CoA combines with oxaloacetate (also spelled oxalacetate) to form the 6 carbon compound citrate.   From this condensation reaction, a complex array of biochemical reactions take place that involve various molecular transformations such as isomerizations and molecular rearrangements. These various steps result in transformations from the 6-carbon condensation that gave rise to citrate and subsequent 6-carbon units of cis-aconitate, isocitrate to a five carbon unit of alpha-ketoglutarate to the four carbon units of succinate, fumarate, malate and oxaloacetate which, once regenerated is available to combine with another high energy acetyl-CoA and form another unit of citrate under the influence of the enzyme citrate synthetase.   After citrate is formed, two carbon atoms are removed as CO2 as the various TCAC intermediates are formed leading to the regeneration of the 4-carbon oxaloacetate. There are several oxidation steps on the way to the reformation of oxaloacetate.   Each step feeds reducing agents, either NADH or FADH, into the cycle on the way to regenerating oxaloacetate from citrate.   The reducing agents (or reducing equivalents) remove hydrogen from the enzyme substrates.   So, the reducing agents serve as a pool of hydrogen carriers and allow for the further synthesis of ATP during electron transport.   The TCAC results in the production of 2 ATP molecules, 10 carrier molecules and CO2 from each molecule of glucose. Glycolysis and the Krebs Cycle Figure 2. Glycolysis and the Krebs Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle (TCAC).   Reproduced  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   from David R. Caprette, 2005. Electron Transport   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The complex molecules that were reduced during the Krebs Cycle are re-oxidized by means of the electron transport system. (Figure 3)   Although TCAC results in the production of 2 ATP molecules from each molecule of glucose, electron transport gives rise to 34 ATP molecules and water from the carrier molecules.   Therefore, the majority of the ATP in the cell must be produced in the mitochondria.   The re-oxidation of reduced NADH and FADH2 by O2 involves a sequence of electron carriers in what has become known as the electron transport chain.   It ultimately results in the generation of three molecules of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate for every oxygen molecule involved. This process is called oxidative phosphorylation and is the principal source of usable energy (in the form of ATP) in the cell.   It is provided by the breakdown of both carbohydrates and fats.   In the process, reduced NADH transfers a hydrogen atom plus two electrons (a hydride ion and H-).   Two complex molecules, NAD+ and FAD+, serve as the pool of hydrogen carriers and thus act reducing agents in the mitochondria; NAD+ is reduced to NADH and FAD is reduced to FADH2.   These compounds serve as electron carriers because their oxidation or reduction, the transfer of H+ (a proton), is accompanied by one or two of the electrons. The electrons donated from NADH or FADH2, upon entering this complex, travel from one carrier to the next, with each carrier being a somewhat more powerful oxidant than the previous one.   The hydrogen donated by the reducing agents combines with O2 such that with each molecule of O2 combines with 4 H+ to form water.   Therefore, two molecules of NADH must pass four electrons down the electron transport chain for each reduced oxygen molecule (O2). The chemical structures of the components of the electron transport chain fall into several distinct classes.   Most are proteins that contain special coenzymes called prosthetic groups.   Although they differ in chemical structure, a major difference between NADH and FADH2 is that NADH difuses freely between the dehydrogenases transfer hydrogen to it whereas FAD+ and FADH2 do not.   Another class of electron carriers in the mitochondrial membranes is iron-sulfur [Fe-S] clusters that are bound to proteins and release Fe3+ or Fe2+ plus H2S when acidified.   All of the carriers only appear to carry one electron at a time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Ubiquinone or Coenzyme Q is a third hydrogen carrier localized in the mitochondrial membranes.   It is a common electron carrier that collects electrons from three or more points of input along the electron transport chain and passes them to molecular oxygen.   Unlike the other mitochondrial electron carriers, ubiquinone is not uniquely associated with proteins.   The cytochromes are a final class of electron carrier localized in the mitochondrial membrane.   Cytochromes are small, chemically distinct proteins that contain heme.   Like the other electron transport agents, the cytochromes only carry a single electron.   Cytochromes pass electrons from cyt bcyt ccyt acyt a3O2 Electron Transport/Oxidative Phosphorylation Figure 3.   Electron Transport during Oxidative Phosphorylation.   Reproduced from M. W. King, 2001. Summary   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The pathways discussed here involve food consumption and energy utilization arising from food consumption.   Once food is taken in and reaches the stomach, it enters the body and the cells of the body.   Before digestion, food consists of complex, long chain molecules that must be broken during digestion beginning in the mouth and continuing in the stomach.   Once digested food reaches the cells, long chain molecules such as starch and other complex carbohydrates are further broken down into glucose.   Glucose, a six carbon compound, undergoes the process of glycolysis in the cellular cytoplasm to become two three carbon units of pyruvate. Under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate goes to lactic acid or ethanol, but in the presence of oxygen, pyruvate breaks down into a two-carbon compound, Acetyl-CoA and enters the Krebs Cycle.   There, food can be used to form energy for the cell in the form of ATP.   In the mitochondria, 36 molecules of ATP are formed for each molecule of O2.   Two ATP molecules arise from the Krebs cycle and 34 molecules arise from electron transport for each molecule of oxygen.   Thus, food consumed and oxygen taken in combine to replenish the energy supplies in the body in the form of ATP. References Caprette, David R.   Substrate Oxidation:   Krebs Reactions.   Experimental Biosciences 31 May, 2005.   The Krebs Cycle:   http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/studies/mitochondria/mitokrebs.html, Thursday, 7 June 2007. King, Michael W. Digestion of Dietary Carbohydrates.   Wednesday, 22-Mar-2006 Glycolysis: http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/glycolysis.html, Thursday, 7 June 2007 King, Michael W. Principals of Reduction/Oxidation (Redox) Reactions. Friday, 30 Mar-2007.   Oxidative Phosphorylation:   http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/oxidative-phosphorylation.html, Thursday, 7 June 2007.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Buddhist and Hindu Temples Essay -- Religion, Cultures, Art

Hindu and Buddhist cultures are both rich in religion and expressing their faith through art. The Buddhist culture was formed by Buddha who went out to discover the causes of pain and suffering. Once Buddha realized what the cause was, he provided a set of four guiding principles know as the â€Å"Four Noble Truths† that are exercised in Buddhism (Kleiner, p. 13). The Four Noble truths are â€Å"Life is suffering, the cause of suffering is desire, one can overcome and extinguish desire, the way to conquer desire and end suffering is to follow Buddha’s Eightfold Path†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p. 13). These truths are expressed in the following of Buddhism and commonly carried out through art. Buddhism is practiced throughout Southeast Asia and southern India where there is a strong presence of Buddhist artwork. This includes art in the form of statues, temples, paintings, and architecture. The two dominant forms or art are the stupas and the chaitya halls that often house t he stupas. The Stupa is a round burial mound that is essential to the Buddhist religion. The stupa itself is not a tomb for the dead, but a housing of Buddha. These means of burial came into existence when Buddha died and was cremated. His remains were then dispusred throughout the burial housing that solid and round. These stupas could not be entered. Stupas can come in many different sizes. There are handheld stupas, and there are giant structure stupas that represent a map of the universe. The most famous of the giant stupas is the Great Stupa of Sanchi. There are different parts of the structural stupas that represent different points in Buddhism. The main parts of the stopas are: the domes shape itself, toranas, the harmika, the yasti, the three chatras, and a stone fenc... ...o Vishvanatha because as you progress towards the main tower, there are a series of towers that ascend in size. With Vishnu being the â€Å"Preserver of the Universe,† the five main towers at Angor Wat represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, which is the mountain at the center of the universe. When Suryavarman II died it is believed the temple absorbed him so he is worshiped as a god. Images and sculptures of Suryavarman II and Vishnu are represented throughout the galleries of the tall towers of Angor Wat. Temples and structures represent religious ideals through the elaborate architecture. Hinduism and Buddhism share similarities because of the depiction of gods in art forms. The buildings of temples are important elements in expressing faiths in the deities because of the preservation and worshipping that takes place in them.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Gems, Jewelry and Diamonds

The history says that India is known for the birthplace for the one of the strongest metals i.e.Diamonds. Initially diamonds were only mined in India and were exported around the globe and were used as a medium of exchange for the commodities until the people knew its actual worth and how much materialist things that they can buy from it. Currently, India produces 33000 carats of rough diamond and more than 800 million of rough and polished cut diamonds. Few of the Major hubs and producers of diamonds in India.Surat is known for largest market of manufacturing of diamonds in India.Mumbai is known for the wholesaler's market and where most of the trading takes place at BKC.Delhi is known for its silver jewelry and its manufacturing. There are many other states like Jaipur, Kolkata, Trichur where we can find the precious metals, synthetic diamond and light weighted jewelry respectively around the states in India. Indian Gems, Jewelry and Diamond IndustryOver the years India has been the greatest manufacturing of cut and polished diamond. The sector contributes to around 16% of the export of the country and 93% around the globe. To add more to it Gems and Jewelry has become the second largest industry in earning foreign currency and Gujarat is one of the largest manufacturers of diamonds around the globe. The Diamond Jewelry market has acquired the growth rate of 6% in India and the size of the industry is approximately Rs.6000 crore. Indian has been successful in achieving these goals in cutting and polishing business is all because of the competitive price and ready to work at a low margin. Moreover, India has developed a specialized skill in polishing large and magnificent stones with fancy cuts which again increase the chances of success. Not only this this but most of the small-scale business have introduced high end machinery from which now they can get the best product from a raw or a polish diamond. The Gold demand that the Indian market has rose from 9.13 % to 726.9 tones in 2017. As per the recent records it suggested that India has imported approximately $29 billion during the previous year. To Conclude, India has grown to become such a successful market that countries and companies are now insisting their diamonds to be manufactured in India.Industry Structure in IndiaGems ; JewelryDiamond Jewelry Precious StoneCut ; Polished Gold PearlRough Precious Metal Color Gem Stone Costume/ Fashion Synthetic Stone Market Segment The diamond market has three segments:1. Industrial Diamond: Under this there are all the natural and synthetic diamonds that are manufactured in the industry. It comprises of 25% of the total. Jewelry Diamond: All the assembled products such as the ready-made jewelry and gemstones are categorized under this section. It comprises of 15% of the total.3. Investment Diamond: it comprises of both the rough stones which are very expensive. It comprises of 60% of the total.Market OverviewEvery year 124 million carats of rough diamonds are being mined by Alrosa, BHP Billiton, De Beers, etc. The market value of these diamond is around $15 billion. Moreover, there has been a significant improvement in the growth by 31%.India has considered to be the largest exporter in gems and jewelry and to our knowledge the industry has played a very important role in Indian economy as it contributes a large part in the foreign reserves of the country. Other then, India, USA, Russia, China, Belgium, Hong Kong are few of the world's biggest dealers in the diamonds.Export of Gems and Jewelry IndustryIf we see analysis the data we can see that, the net export of the industries gems and jewelry has shown rise of 7.06 % in the annual growth rate. During the previous year the overall net exports were $35.51 billion and has reduced slightly in the current and will surely rise. Notes: * – Data from April-February 2018, CAGR – Compound Annual Growth Rate till FY 2017.Source: GJEPC, Media sources.Import of Gems and JewelryIndia is also of the largest importer of gems and jewelry as well. If we see in the figures the India's total rose from $11.63 billion to $42.72 billion from the years 2005 to 2012 respectively and since then it has shown a gradual set back during the next year. Again, the market has also gained strength after the fall from $42.72 million to $24 million and now covering back by $28.78 million during the previous years. Notes: * – Data from April-February 2018, CAGR – Compound Annual Growth Rate till FY 2017.  Source: GJEPC  Government Incentives and Strategies Developed by CompaniesThe Government has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras which will help create skill and provide labor. Moreover, it will provide vocational training to the engaged peoples who are getting training in it. The Make in India initiative will boost the exports and it will provide critical regulatory framework for the proposal Special Notified Zone(SNZs). However, it will also benefit the small-scale businesses (SMEs) that are involved with the industry. The government has proposed to cut down the tax to 25% for the micro and small-scale enterprises which was announced in the recent Union Budget. The government has permitted 100% FDI. After the booming of the ecommerce, many companies have started selling their jewelry online. Not only this but, many companies have tied up with the Amazon to sell their product online at discount. Companies also have provided buy-back option to the customer if they dislike the product but I think there are still terms and conditions to be stringent so that it will ease the procedure.Few of the Key Players in the Indian market are Tanishq, Malabar Gold ; Diamond, Gitanjali, Nirav Modi, PCJ, TBZ, Kalyan, Venus Jewels.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Analysis of Barclays Bank Essay

Introduction The process of restructuring the telecommunication sector truly got under way in Cameroon in June 1995, when the authorities decided thoroughly to reform network industry sectors such as water, electricity and telecommunications with a view to creating a favourable environment in which to develop their infrastructure and services and thus to satisfy increasingly exigent demand. The process took the form of liberalization, State withdrawal from the sectors concerned and the establishment of a  market structure enabling Cameroon to remain in step with the especially rapid global developments in the telecommunication sector; indeed, in spite of the investments made, the coverage rate and quality of service offered had remained largely inadequate. The process was carried out not only by defining the conditions and mechanisms liable to guarantee the sector’s opening to private initiative, but also by enacting regulations and taking measures intended to enable the sector to play t he decisive role incumbent on it in Cameroon’s economic development. Telecommunication sector reform in Cameroon is not limited to the establishment of new regulations and legislation, to the revision of the institutional framework and the establishment of an interconnection regime or to the introduction of competition. It should also comprise bringing behaviour in line with the times. One of our chief concerns is therefore also effective application of the regulations with a view to fulfilling the universal service obligation, ensuring consumer protection and providing for effective and appropriate regulation of true competition. The acquisition of the required know-how is the biggest challenge we face. The institutional players on Cameroon’s telecommunications scene are, as in many other African countries, of the opinion that any society that delays in jumping on the NTIC train will remain mired in a state of underdevelopment. Observations Background Before 1990, as in most African countries, telecommunication services were managed by a national publicly-owned monopoly. The administration in charge of telecommunications set the rules, ensured they were applied and was itself an operator. The results did not always live up to expectations. In June 1990, the President of the Republic signed the order on the programme to privatize public and semi-public enterprises. The telecommunication sector was added to the programme in June 1995. In July 1998, law 98/014 governing telecommunications in Cameroon (the Telecommunications Act) was promulgated. It established the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency and attributed sector responsibilities to a variety of players: the operation of  telecommunication networks to operators, regulatory matters, i.e. application of the rules and supervision of operators, to a regulatory body, the definition of sector policy and the enactment of market regulations to the telecommunication administration. In September of the same year, two public enterprises, CAMTEL for the fixed telephone service and CAMTEL MOBILE for the mobile telephone service, were set up to take over the telecommunication activities of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and of the public enterprise INTELCAM, which was in charge of operating and developing international telecommunication installations. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency was set up at the  same time. Immediately after, the sale of a mobile telephone licence and the process of privatizing CAMTEL and CAMTEL MOBILE got under way. In June 1999, a mobile telephone licence was granted to a private enterprise. The privatization of CAMTEL MOBILE was completed in February 2000. The privatization of CAMTEL is not yet complete. A third mobile telephone licence is to be issued. In less than two years, the sector has undergone sweeping change. Suffice it to mention one indicator: in January 2000 there was one mobile telephone operator with about 5 000 subscribers; on 31 March 2001 there were two operators with over 140 000 subscribers. This rapid and in-depth transformation is taking place within a constantly improving legal framework. II A liberal legal framework The development of new technologies and liberalization have permitted access to new telecommunication services which, depending on their specific natures, require appropriate regulation. The Telecommunications Act sets forth a new regulatory framework, opening the telecommunication sector to competition. The framework, which distinguishes between public and private networks, provides for three legal arrangements: concessions, authorizations  and declarations. 1 Concessions The State can grant one or several public or private corporate bodies all or part of its rights to establish and/or operate telecommunication networks. The concession is subject to strict compliance with the requirements set forth in a list of terms and conditions. This arrangement allows the State not only to keep a watchful eye on the harmonious development of modern telecommunication infrastructure, but also and above all to heighten its control over the development and supply of the basic services and facilities us ually demanded by the majority of users. 2 Authorizations The arrangement of prior authorization applies to the establishment and/or operation of telecommunication networks by physical persons or corporate bodies with a view to providing the public with a basic telecommunication service, a value-added service, a bearer service or any other service by using one or several radio frequencies. A list of terms and conditions containing the requirements to be met is attached to the licence issued to the bearer of a prior authorization. The authorization is issued for a fixed period and can be withdrawn under certain circumstances. 3 Declarations Declarations apply to the establishment of private internal networks, low-range and low-capacity private independent networks (that are not radio networks), low-range and low-capacity radio installations (to be determined  by the Administration), and the provision to the public of telecommunication services other than those subject to the arrangements of concession and authorization. Telecommunication terminal equipment is either freely provided or subject to type-approval. Certain provisions of the Telecommunications Act are detailed in decrees and implementing legislation. We shall not examine all of them here; indeed, some of them are still being drafted. The reform in Cameroon established the separation between the regulatory and operating functions. It works in favour of operators being entities controlled by private capital. The general framework for competition is governed by legislation on competition. The legal framework is supplemented by institutions. III 1 A revised institutional framework The telecommunication administration Spectrum management and the legislation and regulations relating to telecommunications are the exclusive domain of the State. The telecommunication administration has been invested, on behalf of the government, with general jurisdiction over the sector. It sets the general regulatory framework. It therefore establishes and implements telecommunication sector policy, whose aim must be to safeguard the missions of public service, to promote harmonious network development throughout the national territory and effective private sector participation in the sector’s wealth and employment-generating activities, and to ensure compliance by all operators with the applicable treaties, laws and regulations. In addition, the administration supervises the telecommunication sector, oversees public telecommunication enterprises, represents the State at international telecommunication-related organizations and events, and manages the radio spectrum on behalf of the State. The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency, which technically answers to the telecommunication administration, is the specialized body in charge of  facilitating actual application of the regulations issued. 2 The Telecommunication Regulatory Agency The organization of the Telecommunication Regulatory Agency established by the Telecommunications Act is set forth in decree No. 98/197 of 8 September 1998. The Agency has three main duties: – to ensure the regulations are implemented; – to guarantee respect for the regulations and the exercise of competition; – to settle certain disputes between operators. The Agency’s regulatory authority is subject to performance of the following activities: – definition of the principles governing tariffs for services; – examination of requests for authorization and declaration and of type-approval files for terminal equipment to be connected to public networks; – establishment of principles for calculating interconnection costs; – establishment and management of numbering plans; – management of the frequencies attributed to telecommunications; – submission to the government of proposals aimed at developing and modernizing the sector; – opinions on draft legislative and regulatory texts concerning telecommunications; – control and penalties for infractions. The Agency is specifically competent to settle disputes concerning interconnection, access to a public network, numbering, cases of harmful interference, and sharing of infrastructure. The Telecommunications Act provides the Agency with a quasi-judicial body and an arbitration procedure can be set in motion should one or the other of the parties be opposed. The parties remain free to bring their case before the competent court. IV Human resources Human resources are the key to management and progress, for they have knowledge, that rarest of economic commodities in the 21st century. The current transition from a monopoly environment to that of controlled competition has given rise to new demands in terms of basic knowledge and know- how in telecommunication regulation. Telecommunication leaders and staff in Cameroon were still dealing with the transition from analogue to digital when circuit switching was suddenly replaced by packet switching. This recent change has reshaped the concept and definition of telecommunication networks and services. Everything must therefore be done to make sure the human resources acquire the skills they need for their own development and that of companies, which create wealth for the well-being of peoples. The Ecole Nationale Supà ©rieure des Postes et Tà ©là ©communications, an independent facility run by the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, provides basic instruction in telecommunications and ICT to technicians (technical and operating staff), supervising technicians (operating technicians and supervisors) and senior technical managers (works engineers and operating inspectors). It plans to organize standing professional certification for the staff of public and private enterprises and of the public administrations in charge of telecommunications and ICT. V International cooperation Cameroon has always been present and active in regional and international telecommunication organizations. It is a member of the Administrative Councils of both the African Telecommunication Union (ATU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It has had very few bilateral exchanges of experience and information with other African countries. The ineffectiveness of regional (ATU) and subregional organizations (CAPTAC) has precluded the launch at subregional level of cooperation activities aimed at developing telecommunications in Cameroon. At the international level, ITU  has not been closely involved in telecommunication sector reform. In the past eight years, it has provided some technical assistance but otherwise almost no support for telecommunication development projects in Cameroon, possibly because the Area Office in Yaoundà © is not functioning. The capacities of the Area Office in Yaoundà © should be reinforced. Its main duties should be: – To disseminate ITU documents and information in the area. For this, it should have the means required to provide the documentation centres of the main players in each of the area’s countries with the documents and books needed to acquire knowledge in telecommunications and ICT, for most of the sector’s African managers will have to teach themselves. In this respect, hard as opposed to electronic copies remain invaluable in Africa.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Social Structure and Lifestyles of the 1960’s Counterculture Essays

Social Structure and Lifestyles of the 1960’s Counterculture Essays Social Structure and Lifestyles of the 1960’s Counterculture Essay Social Structure and Lifestyles of the 1960’s Counterculture Essay The Vietnam War was indeed one of the more relevant precursors to the counterculture that have happened in the 1960’s. As the government of the United States declared their continuing pursuit in fighting the war in Vietnam, thousands of Americans, specially the college students were outraged by this decision and began to start anti-war protests and rallies that have initiated the counterculture at that time. According to Sayre (2007), the rallies against the war that is happening begun gradually in 1965 in Berkley, California and then there were numerous anti-war protests, strikes and demonstrations in many colleges and universities.urthermore, Sayre (2007) has further detailed that the defining moment of the countercultures in the 60’s happened when four student protestors were murdered by the Ohio National Guardsmen. This has sparked the rage of many students across the country were the once peaceful rallies turned into violent uprisings. After the last of the America n troops had left Vietnam, the anti-war protests soon died out eventually.The anti-war sentiments had sparked an alternative lifestyle that had become a part of the counterculture of the 60’s. According to Sayre (2007), the popular cultures that had risen in these times are the hippies, yippees, infatuation for organic food, civil rights movement, drugs and rock and roll music to name a few.Cultural influences of the lifestyle of that period are still evident in today’s society. We can still see the resemblance of the today’s younger generation to the counterculture of the 60’s with regards to the physical attributes, wants, preferences. The youth are still idealistic, persistent and willing to fight for what they think is the right decision to make.

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

What Really Is The Best Headline Length

What Really Is The Best Headline Length How long should my headline be? Youve asked yourself this, and with good reason. In the content marketing world, a lot of  attention has been given to the headline of your blog post in recent years. Theres so much headline information out there, so many dos and donts, so many great tips that youre drowning in advice and you have no idea of what to actually do. You want a definitive answer in the form of a number or at least a firm set of guidelines. You dont want to hear  it depends. The truth is, it does depend. Sort of. It depends on what you want your headline to do. Do you know what you want from your headline? What Really Is The Best #Headline Length? #blogging via @JulieNeidlinger Write The Best  Headlines With A  Free Headline Analyzer The headline analyzer  will help you: Use headline types that get the most traction for social shares, traffic, and search engine ranking. Make sure you have the right word balance to write readable headlines that command attention. See the best  word and character length for search engines like Google and email subject lines, while also seeing  how your readers will scan your headlines. Try The Free Headline Analyzer Now How To Write The Best Headlines The Old School Way There are two schools of thought when it comes to headlines. Traditionally, headlines should be, according to Jakob Nielsen: Short, typically 5 words or less. People dont read very much online. Information-rich. The headline should summarize the article. Starts with keywords. People tend to scan, and read the first words most of all. Understandable, even out of context. Headlines often appear on their own, without articles. Especially in social media and search engine results. Predictable and match reader expectations. Dont frustrate your reader. They should get what they expect when they click. Nielsens shorter headlines arent the label variety. Label headlines are those which are short, but not terribly information rich. For example, a Nielsen headline might be Speeding Car Crashes Into Wall while an uninformative label-type headline might read Speeding Car. I Want My Headline To Perform Well On Social Media The second school of thought, however, is what we tend to see online now. And it seems to be  the exact opposite of what Nielsen says. A headline that performs well on social media is one that people share a lot, and click through a fair amount. But mostly share. The headline is often shared as much as the people sharing it will read. This is a unique situation in headline history. Instead of being helpful in the traditional sense (as described above), headlines are now meant to  invoke curiosity and capture clicks. Write #headlines to invoke curiosity and capture clicks. via @JulieNeidlingerThis is particularly important on social media, where news feeds are quickly cycling through, competition with other headlines is fierce, and you have to pull out all stops to get someone to notice. Long, rambling, and sometimes bordering on bizarre. Headlines now are often quite long and almost a story unto themselves. Though that is shifting somewhat from 2014 (the year of Upworthy-styled headlines), headlines still maintain a longer approach than Nielsen might recommend. Emotion-rich. What the article is about doesnt matter. Emotion does. Keywords are sparse. Few keywords, with more attention given to emotional subtexts. Not much context. Without the article, the headline is a worm on a hook and little more. Rely on shock/emotion/curiosity factor. Readers dont know what to expect, and thats why they click. How does that speeding car headline read for the social media age? How about 5 Reasons You Should Fear That Speeding Car. The social messages that accompany your blog posts wont necessarily be your headline. Youll probably customize them for repeated shares. But if you do rely on your blog post headline to be the body of the social message, then the ideal social message length will matter for your headlines. Buffers Kevan Lee has written a seriously comprehensive blog post about the ideal lengths of just about anything you could put online. Its packed with information on the length of just about everything, but check out what he discovered for the most popular social networks: Twitter: 71–100 characters Facebook: 40 characters Google+: 60 characters LinkedIn:  80–120 characters Depending upon which network you lean most heavily or get the most traction, you should consider making your headline fit the ideal length for that social  network. Within those character ranges, remember the importance of emotions in a headline that does well on social media. Emotional headlines, with specific trigger words, get shared more on social media. I Want My Headline To Do Well In Email Just like social media, you have the ability to customize your emails so that you rework how your headlines appear in the subject lines. But not everyone does. Sometimes the work you put into finding that perfect  headline can carry right on through to your email subject line. So how long should they be? MailChimp, the popular email provider, has stated that it doesnt really matter how long your subject lines are. Last year, we carried out our own tests on how our email subject lines fared. We found that an email subject line with around 50 characters fared the best. The conclusion? Find out what works for you by testing if you dont believe either MailChimp or our results. As you test your headlines in your email to determine what works, remember the difference between open rates and click-through rates. Open rates are not the same as click-through rates. An open rate is the percentage of total recipients that opened the email. In some email software, just by opening their inbox they open emails. The click-through rate is the percentage of those who opened and then clicked at least once. Aim for a high click-through rate as the basis of what a successful headline does, not just an open rate.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

SAM 482 UNIT 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

SAM 482 UNIT 5 - Essay Example The champion is likely to draw more sales for tickets. Unfortunately, the starling does not appear in the sporting season. This will trigger emotions of some fans who bought the tickets to watch Hussein Bolt. The fans may term this as a breach of contract and sue the business entity entitled to sale of tickets. Contract signing secures the business from future uncertainties. Fans may want to revoke the contract deal by anonymous reasons like loss of jobs or business failure. Since this is a business deal, the fans will have to abide y the contract or pay dearly for its breach. This is a sure security for the business. Fans who venture into the deal are sensitized on the contract so that both parties don’t fall prey on the causes of the law. Sporting teams rely on ticket sales when making financial plans. The purchase is an evaluation tool for the team in comparison to the fans. The anomalies that arise through sale of tickets can be resolved by cancelling the contract and reselling the ticket to loyal fans (Ammon, Southall, and Nagel