Political polling essays

Political polling essays The web site I chose to critique explains political polling and the statistical process behind the polling numbers. This was of particular interest to me, because I like many other Americans have never been asked nor know of anyone that has been asked a political question used in political polling. In short, the site explains what the numbers actually mean. The site uses a fictional mayoral election to explain the numbers. Also, it discusses margin of error and how it affects the polls. Next, the site goes on to clarify confidence. Finally, elucidation on what can go wrong in the polling process is discussed. In the fictional case Republican Stephanie Higgins was running against two-term incumbent, Democrat Webster Fletcher. Once Higgins formally announced she was running for mayor, the polls showed that Fletcher would win with 56% of the vote. However, six months before the election the mayoral race was tightening up. The polls showed that Fletcher continued to have a slight lead of 3%, with a margin of error of +/- 5%. The site raised the question of whether or not Fletcher actually had a lead if the margin of error is +/- 5%. Three months before the election Higgins took a 15% lead in the polls with same margin of error. Oddly enough, the day before the election some polls showed Higgins winning by a landslide. As expected it was a close election. The lead changed hands several times. However, Higgins pulled ahead and won the election in its last moments. To begin the site discusses the importance of the random sampling used in political polling. In class we defined a random sample as, everything in the sample stands the same chance of being selected at any point and any time. A great example was given on the site. If a doctor wants to figure out a patients white blood cell count, the doctor doesnt drain out all the patients blood and count the white blood cells. The doctor randomly samples the patients blo...

The Very First Mickey Mouse Cartoons

The Very First Mickey Mouse Cartoons In April 1928, cartoonist/animator Walt Disney had just had his heart broken when his distributor stole his popular character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, from him. On the long, depressing train ride home from getting this news, Disney drew a new character- a mouse with round ears and a big smile. A few months later, the new, talking Mickey Mouse was first shown to the world in the cartoon Steamboat Willie. Since that first appearance, Mickey Mouse has become the most recognizable cartoon character in the world. It All Started With an Unlucky Rabbit During the silent film era of the 1920s, Charles Mintz, Walt Disney’s cartoon distributor, asked Disney to come up with a cartoon that would rival the popular Felix the Cat cartoon series that played before silent motion pictures in movie theaters. Mintz came up with the name â€Å"Oswald the Lucky Rabbit† and Disney created the mischievous black and white character with straight, long ears. Disney and his artist employee Ubbe Iwerks made 26 Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons in 1927. With the series now a hit, costs rose increasingly higher as Disney wanted to make the cartoons better. Disney and his wife, Lillian, took a train trip to New York in 1928 to renegotiate a higher budget from Mintz. Mintz, however, informed Disney that he owned the character and that he had lured most of Disney’s animators to come draw for him. Learning a depressing lesson, Disney boarded the train back to California. On the long trip home, Disney sketched a black and white mouse character with big round ears and a long skinny tail and named him Mortimer Mouse. Lillian suggested the livelier name of Mickey Mouse. As soon as he reached Los Angeles, Disney immediately copyrighted Mickey Mouse (as he would all the characters he would later create). Disney and his loyal artist employee, Ubbe Iwerks, created new cartoons with Mickey Mouse as the adventurous star, including Plane Crazy (1928) and The Gallopin’ Gaucho (1928). But Disney had trouble finding a distributor. First Sound Cartoon When sound became the latest in film technology in 1928, Walt Disney researched several New York film companies in the hopes of recording his cartoons with sound to make them stand out. He struck a deal with Pat Powers of Powers Cinephone System, a company that offered the novelty of sound with film. While Powers added sound effects and music to the cartoon, Walt Disney was the voice of Mickey Mouse. Pat Powers became Disney’s distributor and on November 18, 1928, Steamboat Willie (the world’s first sound cartoon) opened at the Colony Theater in New York. Disney himself did all the character voices in the seven-minute-long film. Receiving rave reviews, audiences everywhere adored Mickey Mouse along with his girlfriend Minnie Mouse, who also made her first appearance in Steamboat Willie. (By the way, November 18, 1928 is considered the official birthday of Mickey Mouse.) The first two cartoons, Plane Crazy (1928) and The Gallopin’Gaucho (1928), were then released with sound, with more cartoons on the way with additional characters, including Donald Duck, Pluto, and Goofy. On January 13, 1930, the first Mickey Mouse comic strip appeared in newspapers around the country. Mickey Mouse Legacy While Mickey Mouse gained the popularity of fan clubs, toys, and worldwide fame, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit faded into obscurity after 1943. As the Walt Disney Company grew over the decades into a mega-entertainment empire, including feature-length motion pictures, television stations, resorts and theme parks, Mickey Mouse remains the icon of the company as well as the most recognizable trademark in the world. In 2006, the Walt Disney Company acquired the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Advanced Corporate Finance - 'Company Valuation is an art not a Essay

Advanced Corporate Finance - 'Company Valuation is an art not a Science.' - Essay Example Valuation of a company is very difficult and it takes a lot of efforts for the company to access the right price of the company. There is however never a right or wrong price for a company and the price of companies depends a lot on a number of different factors. The main aim of this essay is to understand and highlight the various aspects for valuing of a company. Also aims to evaluate and argue about the various aspects of the company. It is essential to note that any business person entering into a business should have a valid exit plan. An exit plan from the market is very essential for any business. This is mainly a consideration when a business requires leaving the markets either due to a loss or even when a business plans to dissolve. As a part of the exit plan, the most essential point to be noted that while entering into a business the business person should also consider one aspect i.e. what the business is worth. Business valuation is an industry by itself (Feechan, 2006). The valuation of business can be done by the company itself or even by professional companies that mainly deal with business valuations. The valuation of companies can be based on a number of different aspects, like the net assets, discounted cash flows, etc. These valuations however do not give the full view and story of the company (Bytestart, 2008). There are a number of different modes for companies to be valued. The correct use of the various available valuation formulae will give a better view of the company and will help also provide for the amounts that a buyer might be interested in paying for the company, however this is not necessarily the selling price as the company can only be sold at a price that the buyers will be willing to pay. It is in the case of both the parties, the sellers want to gain as much as possible and the buyers want to pay as little as possible. This however cannot be argued as both the parties are always justifiable in both the cases

Discuss Oedipus' tragic flaw and its ramifications Research Paper

Discuss Oedipus' tragic flaw and its ramifications - Research Paper Example To escape such a tragedy, he tied the infant’s ankles and commanded a shepherd to leave it to die at Mount Cithaeron. Taking pity on the innocent soul, the shepherd instead brought him to Polybus, king of Corinth and wife Merope. They raised the child as their own and called him Oedipus. Intrigued by questions about his true identity, and with his adopted parents standing firm on the deception that he is their own, Oedipus consulted the oracle of Apollo at Delphi. Oedipus was told that he is fated to take the life of his father and make a wife of his own mother. Horrified of what awaits him in what he thought was his birth land, Oedipus left Corinth, determined never to return. On his journey to Thebes, he came upon Laius and had him killed when a squabble over pride sets in, inadvertently fulfilling part of the prophecy. At the time, Thebes was in state of trepidation on account of a man-eating Sphinx, thus unable to pay enough attention to the death of its king. Oedipus, how ever, brought the Sphinx’s reign of terror to an end by answering its riddle about the phases of human life. Consequently, Oedipus was granted the right to the throne and the hand of Jacosta, widow to Laius and mother to Oedipus, in marriage. They had four children: two sons, Eteocles and Polynices, and two daughters, Antigone and Ismene. The attempt by Oedipus to break away from the fated catastrophe proved meaningless. As a consequence of the serious mischief he inflicted upon his parents, Oedipus was held responsible for a series of unfortunate events that tormented Oedipus himself, his family, and the whole of Thebes. It was such an irreparable damage that can be put right by neither repentance nor punishment. The Plague in Thebes The magnificent reign of Oedipus in the city of Thebes was brought to a standstill when once again a pestilence that spared not a single being came about. The soil from which the people cultivated their live stocks turned barren, and the robust greenery that supplied their daily bread stopped bearing fruits. Worst of all, the women complained of infertility—unable to bequeath their husbands successors to their homes and duties. This was conveyed to Oedipus in appalling agony by a priest of Zeus. â€Å"Meanwhile, the common folk, with wreathed boughs, a blight is in our harvest in the ear, a blight upon the grazing flocks and herds, a blight on wives in travail; and withal armed with his blazing torch the God of Plague hath swooped upon our city emptying the house of Cadmus, and the murky realm of Pluto is full fed with groans and tears† (Sophocles 3). It was revealed by the blind prophet Teiresias that the plague shall not be banished from Thebes until the death of king Lauis is given justice, and the perpetrator was thrown to perish into the fortress of Hades. Oblivious to the fact, Oedipus vowed to his subjects that he would stop at nothing to take vengeance on the man responsible. Typical for a man in his position, Oedipus demonstrated resoluteness to keep his word despite pleas by his wife to do otherwise. This, unfortunately, resulted in another tribulation that broke his heart and tore his soul into pieces. When her brother Creon came back from an inquest to give light to the tragedy that befell the late king, Jocasta had her suspicions

Slavery and Civil War Essay Example for Free

Slavery and Civil War Essay For a long time a controversy has existed amongst historians regarding slavery as a cause for the civil war. A large number of Northern writers agreed with President Said James Ford Rhodes that slavery was the singular cause of civil war and but for slavery there would have been no civil war at all. The annexation of new territories of Texas, Oregon and Mexico were the source of all trouble because whenever the question of entry of any state to the Union came up before the Congress, both Northern and Southern states tried their level best to ensure its entry as a free or slave state respectively. Wilmot Proviso might have exploded the situation but was again saved by the compromise of 1850. As someone rightly pointed, ‘the compromise of 1850 was merely a lull which foreshadowed the coming of a storm’. This situation was further provoked by the Kansas-Nebraska bill. It re-opened the question of slavery. One of the immediate of the passage of the bill was that a struggle started between the free and slave states over the control of Kansas. The Lecompton Constitution 1857, the Dred Scott decision 1857 were the later incidents that involved the slavery question and led to civil war. Right from the start of Civil War pressure had been exerted on Lincoln to declare the war as a crusade for the abolition of slavery. To win the support of the liberal opinion in Europe, Lincoln issued his Proclamation of Emancipation on September 22, 1862, in his capacity as Commander-in Chief of the Army. It was declared that ‘on the first day of January A. D 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a state the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free. ’ No doubt, the abolitionists were insulted, attacked and persecuted, but they carried on their activities. All these actions and reactions did arouse the conscience of the people and in the north they stood up to defend them. The Abolitionists followed different methods, which resulted in split of the organization. The extremist group known as Garr achieved their objective. The other group known as liberty Party Men; was composed of moderates and believed in constitutional methods. They wanted to get into the Congress, control the presidency and bring about the desired reforms. They put up candidate in the4 presidential election of 1840; though they could not get him elected. 13th Amendment also paved the way for civil war. It was not the same 13th Amendment that we have today but this amendment preceded the Civil War, was adopted in February 1861. This version was adopted for an utterly dissimilar purposeto guarantee the validity and perpetuity to the institution of slavery in the Southern slave states, rather than to abolish it. This amendment was aimed at to guarantee to preclude Civil War. But the opposite happened. Another factor that contributed toward the intensification of civil was black soldiers. In 1862, President Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation enabled for African Americans to recruit in the Union Army. There was an earlier desire on the part of the African-American to join the war, but were negated to enlist in the army due to the secession fear of the bordering states. However after the Proclamation hundred thousands of black soldiers joined the army and their number mounted to approximately 180,000. From the above discussion, we can conclude that it would be fully an erroneous view to hold that slavery was the sole cause of the civil war but it is right to conclude that for slavery there would have been no civil war.

Gilead: A Credible Society Essay -- Essays Papers

Gilead: A Credible Society In Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, a society whose purposes are functional and practical roles is depicted. In Atwood's eyes, a society like Gilead's was perfectly credible, and in many ways I agree with her. The purpose of writing about such a radical society is not for one to panic into thinking that this could happen any time, nor is it for one to completely discard the idea. Instead, it's purpose is solely to warn us of the dangers already present in our own society, such as the uncontrollable violence that is going on, apparent on crimes, wars, racism, etc. Offred, the narrator, tells us about a society which came into existence in the early 80's as a direct consequence of overlooking the many problems in its previous society. Before the first steps were being taken to actually destroy the society that few knew was already on the edge of becoming anarchical, there was foreshadowing of what would happen right beneath the eyes of everyone. Riots were going on all the time, people were vanishing, and later women lost their jobs and their money. All these things happened without people's objections, because they were simply ignoring it, possibly hoping that it could not get worst. As Offred later describes how they faced up to those problems, "We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it" (74). This quote described what people did when they were fearsome of something, which they had already permitted to become the usual, bothered them. Ignoring what one fears makes that thing seem nor mal, and usually one becomes less afraid of things as they become normal. However, if things are ignored to an extreme and one does not care to draw the line, things can get out of hand when it is already too late. Offred regrets having been like the rest of the society that was banished, because looking back, what was happening then was in fact foreshadowing the future, Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you'd be boiled to death before you knew it. There were stories in the newspapers, of course, corpses in ditches or the woods, bludgeoned to death or mutilated, . . . The newspaper stories were like dreams to us, bad dreams dreamt by others . . . they were awful without being believable. . . . they had a dimension that was no... ...illions of Americans crying out. Nor would it be possible that someone kill the president by simply entering his house. The problem is that these differences mean little when there are also many similarities. The purpose Atwood saw in her book is to warn us of our own dangers, not to compare them to a fictitious story and keep ignoring things. As I said before, I do not think we will ever have such an awful transformation in our lives, but I do not think something similar is impossible to occur. Because we are all being blind, like the other society was blind, and we ignore things like violence, we are building ourselves a path with no solid foundations. If we continue doing so, the tendency is for this path to fall apart. Even if this actually happened, it does not necessarily mean that we would have to give in to losing what is ours by all rights. Nevertheless, if we fall in a trend where everything is so casual that we ignore what is going on, something else could hap pen where we could forget to draw the limit and make it stop, as the society preceding Gilead did. WORKS CITED Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. 28th ed. New York: Ballantine Books, 1991. Gilead: A Credible Society Essay -- Essays Papers Gilead: A Credible Society In Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale, a society whose purposes are functional and practical roles is depicted. In Atwood's eyes, a society like Gilead's was perfectly credible, and in many ways I agree with her. The purpose of writing about such a radical society is not for one to panic into thinking that this could happen any time, nor is it for one to completely discard the idea. Instead, it's purpose is solely to warn us of the dangers already present in our own society, such as the uncontrollable violence that is going on, apparent on crimes, wars, racism, etc. Offred, the narrator, tells us about a society which came into existence in the early 80's as a direct consequence of overlooking the many problems in its previous society. Before the first steps were being taken to actually destroy the society that few knew was already on the edge of becoming anarchical, there was foreshadowing of what would happen right beneath the eyes of everyone. Riots were going on all the time, people were vanishing, and later women lost their jobs and their money. All these things happened without people's objections, because they were simply ignoring it, possibly hoping that it could not get worst. As Offred later describes how they faced up to those problems, "We lived, as usual, by ignoring. Ignoring isn't the same as ignorance, you have to work at it" (74). This quote described what people did when they were fearsome of something, which they had already permitted to become the usual, bothered them. Ignoring what one fears makes that thing seem nor mal, and usually one becomes less afraid of things as they become normal. However, if things are ignored to an extreme and one does not care to draw the line, things can get out of hand when it is already too late. Offred regrets having been like the rest of the society that was banished, because looking back, what was happening then was in fact foreshadowing the future, Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you'd be boiled to death before you knew it. There were stories in the newspapers, of course, corpses in ditches or the woods, bludgeoned to death or mutilated, . . . The newspaper stories were like dreams to us, bad dreams dreamt by others . . . they were awful without being believable. . . . they had a dimension that was no... ...illions of Americans crying out. Nor would it be possible that someone kill the president by simply entering his house. The problem is that these differences mean little when there are also many similarities. The purpose Atwood saw in her book is to warn us of our own dangers, not to compare them to a fictitious story and keep ignoring things. As I said before, I do not think we will ever have such an awful transformation in our lives, but I do not think something similar is impossible to occur. Because we are all being blind, like the other society was blind, and we ignore things like violence, we are building ourselves a path with no solid foundations. If we continue doing so, the tendency is for this path to fall apart. Even if this actually happened, it does not necessarily mean that we would have to give in to losing what is ours by all rights. Nevertheless, if we fall in a trend where everything is so casual that we ignore what is going on, something else could hap pen where we could forget to draw the limit and make it stop, as the society preceding Gilead did. WORKS CITED Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid's Tale. 28th ed. New York: Ballantine Books, 1991.

3pl Providers and Users

A STUDY OF THIRD PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDERS AND USERS Dr. S. Samar Ali, Associate Professor : Operations & Logistics Management * JK Business School, Damdama Lake Road,Bhondsi, Gurgaon 122102, India Telephone: +91-9971876017, Email address: [email  protected] com ABSTRACT Third party logistics (3PL) has been gaining importance in most places in the world. The implementation of 3PL practices is just beginning and emerging effectively. This paper examines the Indian 3 PL Supply Chain Management and practices with respect to the key success factors and growth strategies .After identifying the critical success factors SERVQUAL is applied to reveal the gap between their achievement and expectation. Respondents to the survey are categorized based on their rating of the key growth strategies on the basis of AHP. Key Words: 3PL; Third Party Logistics Providers; India; Factor Analysis; SERVQUAL; AHP 1. Introduction As conditions for doing business in a global setting have changed significant ly during the last two decades the importance of logistics and supply chain management (LSCM) has been recognized universally.As companies realized the need to adapt to the ever changing conditions in an environment of globalization, technological innovation, and more sophisticated consumer demand to survive and flourish they began to incorporate into their systems of operations and focus on a strong LSCM component (Rushton & Walker, 2007). Superior logistics and supply chain performance is now a well-recognized strategic dimension for companies to gain competitive advantage.The growth of logistics outsourcing in the USA is attributable to better transportation solutions; greater focus on core businesses; impact on cost reduction; improvements in services; development of necessary technological expertise; availability of computerized systems; and the need for more professional and better prepared logistics services (Sheffi, 1990). The growth of business dynamics has caused outsourci ng of the logistics activities to gain increasingly greater importance.Companies have been considering various options to manage their logistics activities including, creating in house dedicated logistics function, setting up logistics subsidiaries or acquiring a logistics firm. (Sahay & Mohan, 2006). A 3PL provider is a company which supplies and/or co-ordinates logistics functions across multiple links in the supply chain. The company acts as a 1 â€Å"third party† facilitator between seller/manufacturer (the â€Å"first party†) and buyer/user (the ‘second party’), Figure 1. Figure 1. Main components of 3PL.Source: Research on India – Third Party Logistics – India, November – 2009. www. researchonindia. com Various authors have provided their version of 3PL definition, which are listed in Table 1. Table 1 – Definitions of 3PL in the logistics literature. Authors Lieb (1992) Definition The use of external companies to perform l ogistics functions that have traditionally been performed within an organization. The function performed by the third party can encompass the entire logistics process or selected activities within that process. Andersson (1997) Murphy and Poist (1998)The procurement of an integrated set of logistics services in a longterm relationship between a shipper and a service provider. A relationship between a shipper and third party which, compared with basic services, has more customized offerings, encompasses a broader number of service functions and is characterized by a longer term, more mutually beneficial relationship. 2 Vab Laarhoven et al. (1999) Berglund (2000) Bask (2001) Activities carried out by a logistics service provider on behalf of a shipper and consisting of at least management and execution of transportation and warehousing.In addition, other activities can be included, for example inventory management, information related activities, such as tracking and tracing, value ad ded activities, such as secondary assembly and installation of products, or even supply chain management. Also, the contract is required to contain some management, analytical or design activities, and the length of the co-operation between shipper and provider to be at least one year, to distinguish 3PL form traditional â€Å"arm’s length† sourcing of transportation and/or warehousing.Organizations use of external providers, in intended continuous relationships bound by formal or informal agreements considered mutually beneficial, which render all or a considerable number of the activities required for the focal logistical need without taking title. Relationships between interfaces in the supply chains and third party logistics providers, where logistics services are offered, from basic to customized ones, in a shorter or longer-term relationship, with the aim of effectiveness and efficiency.Source: Marasco, A. , A Survey of Third Party Logistics Literature: Prelimina ry Findings. RIRL 2006 – Sixth International Congress of Logistics Research. Since the 1980s, along with the trend to outsource non-core activates (Sink and Langley, 1997), companies have increasingly turned to third-party logistics providers (3PL) both in the USA (Lieb and Randall, 1996; Rabinovich et al. , 1999; Knemayer and Murphy, 2004) and in Europe (Van Laarhoven et al. , 2000). PL services help to achieve the strategic objectives by concentrating more on core competency of the main business. The study by Sahay and Mohan, 2006, has cited substantial growth in various financial indicators using services of 3PL, for instance, various improvements in sales revenue by 13. 5%, working capital by 12. 3%, returns on assets by 10%, capital assets reduction by 10%, production cost reduction by 10. 5%, labor cost reduction by 10. 0%, and logistics cost reduction by 15%. PL users depend on 3PL service providers to secure capacity and gain agility (Hannon, 2005) who not only provid e core services like supplying right quality product, Figure 2. Outsourcing Development of Logistics Services and Network Source: Hapanen and Vepsalainen, 1999. 3 in the right amount, at the right price and place, and at the right time but also provide value added services such as tracking and tracing, sending information prior to the arrival of products, flexibility in delivery, which are valued by customers.The role 3PL service providers play in enhancing services and thereby satisfying customers has been universally recognized. The growth in 3PL service providers is seen across the world. As the logistics service demand increases, the challenges and opportunities will continue to increase. With the wide availability of modern decision making tools and information technology a paradigm shift in logistics is witnessed. Figure 2 depicts the evaluation and the state of the art witnessed in ogistics outsourcing. Companies across industries and around the world regard logistics and sup ply chain management as key components of their overall business success. Many users feel that their relationships with 3PLs have helped them achieve critical goals related to service, cost, and customer satisfaction. Third Party Logistics in India: Ever since the liberalization of its economy India has been on a path to become one of the top economic powers in the world.New avenues for progress and development have opened up; manufacturing and retail sectors gained popularity because of the changes in China’s export policy of not exporting manufactured items, from which Indian manufacturing firms have benefitted. Hence this sector will contribute to GDP significantly in the long run. The growth and competitiveness in these two sectors largely depend on the efficiency of the logistics operations that facilitate the companies’ ability to reach out to their customers quickly and at the desired location.Realizing this many manufacturers and retailers are now restructuring their supply chain processes in a manner to incorporate partnerships with expert supply chain service providers and outsourcing such activities as domestic transportation, international transportation, customs brokerage, warehousing, forwarding, cross-docking, product labeling, packing, assembly, kitting, reverse logistics, freight bill auditing and payment, IT services, fleet management, supply chain consultancy services provided by 3PLs, order entry, processing and fulfillment and limited liability partnership (LLP)/4PL Service.Currently 3PL services are in their nascent stage in India. Third party logistics will gain considerable share of the logistics sector because of the following compelling facts. †¢ 1 Globally, the logistics industry is valued at US$3. 5 trillion and the Indian logistics industry is currently estimated at US$90 billion (CII)1. Colliers International – Logic of Logistics – http://www. colliers. com/Content/Attachments/India/2009_Logic_Of_L ogistics. pdf 4 †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢The industry has generated employment for 45 million people in the country in comparison with the IT and ITES sector, which employs approximately 4. 3 million people1. As per the World Bank Survey, India ranks 39th in terms of the logistics performance index and indicators, with Singapore on top, the UK, USA and China in 9th, 14th and 30th positions, respectively. India spends US$1,148 in handling costs to import one cargo container and US$820 to export it. In comparison, Singapore spends US$367 per imported container and China US$390, according to a World Bank study1.India spends 13% of its GDP on logistics compared to an average of 10% in developed countries, while the U. S. spends just 8%. Better supply chain management has reduced logistics costs by nearly 1% in 10 years1. The Indian government plans to spend US$24 billion over the next eight years on supply chain infrastructure1. 3PL solutions are on course to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 16% from 2007-2010. Consequently, 3PL service providers are expected to corner an increased share of the Indian logistics pie, from 6% in FY2006 to 13% in FY2011, at a CAGR of 25% (CII)1.According to the ASSOCHAM2, outsourcing of 3PL businesses in India should reach the value range above US$ 90 million by 2012 as the concept first introduced in US and Europe is being adopted at a pace that will lead to increases in the efficiency of domestic operations through better managed logistics functions. Companies in textile, automotive, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, retail and FMCG sectors are increasingly opting to outsource their logistics requirements to specialized service providers. According to a recent survey of 3PL service providers engineering, automotive and retail sectors were top revenue earners. PL Market Structure in India The 3PL market in India is comprised of two segments: the first one is asset based in which assets like trucks, distribution centers and warehouses are utilized in supply chain management, and the second one is non-asset based. There is a significant difference between the nature of Indian 3PL and its counterpart elsewhere, especially in the U. S. , Table 2. Table 2: Comparative Analysis of 3PL in India and the U. S. Parameter Usage of 3PL Common activities outsourced 2 USA 71% Warehousing (73. 7%) Outbound Transportation (68. 4%) India 55% Outbound Transportation (55%) Inbound Transportation (52%) http://www. ommodityonline. com/printnews. php? news_id=23489 5 Reasons for not outsourcing Necessity of ecommerce Collaborative relationship Gain sharing is important for relationship Freight bill payment (61. 4%) Inbound warehousing (56. 1%) Control would diminish (63%) Costs would not be reduced (63%) Service commitment would not be met (48%) Logistics is a core competency (44%) 72% Custom clearing and forwarding (51%) 82% 14% 80% 6. 6% Source: 3PL Practices in India, Sahay. B. S. , Poor infrastructure of provider (81%) Inability to respond to changing needs (81%) Unreliable promised from providers (80%) Concerns about capability of providers (77%) 7% www. cscmpindia. com/Events/20112003/3. PDF Considerable amount of research on the topic of the implementation of 3PL in different countries has been published in academic and trade journals. Viewpoints of both users and service providers have been considered to identify the major issues, industry dynamics, current status and future prospects of the 3PL industry. However most of the research is descriptive in nature and does not go into in-depth statistical analysis of survey data. In the present study Indian 3PL providers’ service dimensions are analyzed in terms of the key success factors and growth strategies using various tatistical tools. 2. Literature Review In this section a review of the literature is presented, which examines the perspectives of the 3PL users and service providers to under stand the variation in the services offered and services expected. Table 3 provides a list of recent contributions that address the reasons for outsourcing logistics activities. Table 3. Reasons for outsourcing logistics activities. Author, (Year) Objective Conclusion Sheffi, (1990) Understand the motives for the growth of logistics outsourcing in USA The main motives are to focus on †¢ Core businesses †¢ Better transportation solutions †¢ Cost savings and improved ervices †¢ Development of necessary technological expertise and computerized systems; and need for more professional and better- 6 Maltz, (1994) Establish relative impact of cost and services on the decision to outsource warehousing The study determined that organizations are reluctant to use third party warehousing due to customer service considerations. Author, (Year) Objective Conclusion Rao & Young, (1994) Identify the factors influencing outsourcing of logistics functions Daugherty et al. , (1996) Study the perception of the third party logistics service users van Damme et al. , (1996) Examine outsourcing ogistics management activities Sink & Langley, (1997) Develop a managerial framework for the acquisition of third party logistics services The study identified factors such as †¢ Centrality of the logistics function †¢ Risk and control †¢ Cost/service trade-offs †¢ Information technologies and relationships with logistics service providers †¢ Product-related (e. g. special handling needs), process-related (e. g. cycle times) and networkrelated (e. g. countries served) drivers are believed to have an indirect influence in the outsourcing decision The service users believe that they are getting benefits like reduction in nventory levels, order cycle times, lead times and improvement in customer service. The â€Å"do or buy† decision is also affected by evaluation of cost/service trade-offs. One important determinant of the decision is cost comp arison between alternative options. Costs associated with performing logistics activities inhouse and investment in capital assets are traded-off against service provider fees. The lowest cost solution should Concentration towards the core competencies was the most important factor for the acquisition of third party logistics services. Bhatnagar et al. , (1999) Find out factors for decision-making process or choosing contract logistics service providers. Ascertain benefits of alliance between manufacturing and global logistics service providers. Study benefits of outsourcing the logistics activities. The major reasons to outsourcing of logistics activities were cost saving (86. 8%), customer satisfaction (76. 3%) and flexibility (75%). Study growth strategies for logistics service providers Forming relationships with 3PL providers is an efficient and effective means of achieving the required services without investing heavily in assets and new capabilities. Bhatnagar and Viswanathan , (2000) Bask, (2001)Persson and Virum, (2001) The manufacturing firms got the advantage of reduction in inventory levels, order cycle times, lead times and improvement in customer service. The customer satisfaction increases significantly and provides access to international distribution networks. 7 Sohail & Sohal, (2003) Examine the reasons for outsourcing logistics activities in Malaysia The major reasons reported are †¢ Cost savings †¢ Improved services †¢ Better transportation solutions †¢ Better professionalism Author, (Year) Objective Conclusion Wilding & Juriado, (2004) Determine customer perceptions on logistics outsourcing in theEuropean consumer goods industry The main reasons for outsourcing the logistics activities are †¢ Competencies of 3PLs †¢ Operating flexibility †¢ Cost reduction †¢ Focus on core businesses Aktas & Ulengin, (2005) Review the reasons for outsourcing logistics activities in Turkey Turkish firms basically outsou rce the transportation activities to reduce the operating costs. Simchi-Levi et al. , (2008) Determine the effect of outsourcing of logistics on the management of the supply chain. The most important reason for outsourcing is that it allows a company to focus on its core competencies and hence on customer requirements.Studies based on user firms appear to indicate that outsourcing logistics activities is appropriate if it has an impact on one or more factors depicted in Table 4. Table 4. Impact of outsourcing logistics activities. Factor Impact on customer satisfaction Indentified by Gooley (1992); and Lieb et al. (1993) Impact on logistics system performance Lieb et al. (1993) and Dapiran et al. (1996) and Bhatnagar et al. (1999) Reduction in capital investment in facilities Reduction in capital investment in equipment Foster and Muller (1990) and Richardson (1992, 1995) Fantasia (1993), Foster and Muller (1990) and Richardson (1992)Reduction in investment in information technology Impact on employee morale Goldberg (1990), Sheffi (1990), Trunick (1990) and Fantasia (1993) Bowersox (1990) and Dapiran et al. (1996) Reduction in manpower cost Foster and Muller (1990) and Richardson (1992, 1995) Minaham (1997) and McMullan (1996) Improvement on specific logistics function parameters Improvement in inventory turnover rates Improvement in on-time delivery Increasing productivity Richardson (1990, 1995) Richardson (1995) Bradley (1995) 8 A list of references that address the issue of selection criteria for 3PL providers is given in Table 5. Table 5.Selection criteria for 3PL providers. Reference Objective Conclusion Bagchi and Virum, (1996) Develop a management model for selecting the logistic service provider Selection criteria typically include: †¢ Cost †¢ Service quality and reliability †¢ Flexibility †¢ Responsiveness to requests †¢ Financial stability Sink & Langley, (1997) Develop a managerial framework for the acquisition of 3PL serv ices Menon et al. , (1998) To study the selection criteria for 3PL providers. Meade and Sarkis, (2002) To develop conceptual model for selecting and evaluating third-party reverse logistics providers. Managers of a firm assign greater mportance to qualitative factors such as supplier reputation, references from clients, and response to information requests, which are used for the initial screening of candidate service The firm’s competitiveness strategy and its external environment affect the selection criteria. The important criteria for the selection of a 3PL provider are: †¢ On time shipment and deliveries †¢ Superior error rates †¢ Financial stability †¢ Creative management †¢ Ability to deliver as promised †¢ Availability of top management †¢ Responsiveness to unforeseen occurrences †¢ Meet performance and quality The most important factors for 3PL election are: †¢ Time †¢ Quality †¢ Cost †¢ Flexibility Aghazade h, (2003) To select the effective 3PL provider. The criteria for selecting 3PL provider are: †¢ Similar value †¢ Information technology systems †¢ Key management 9 Colson and Dorigo, (2004) H. S. Hwang et al. , (2005) Efendigil et al. , (2008) To develop public warehouse selection support system. The software tool select the public warehouse on the basis of factors like †¢ Storage surface and volume †¢ Dangerous items †¢ Geographical distance to highway connection †¢ Certification †¢ Assistance with customs †¢ Use of technology such as RFID/bar-coding, modemTo develop the supplier The major supplier selection selection and planning indicators are: model. †¢ Serviceability – Meet the lead time †¢ Inventory rotation rate †¢ Lead time †¢ Customer satisfaction †¢ Market share †¢ Production flexibility †¢ Multi-item production capability †¢ New item development/production capability †¢ Qualit y – Quality assurance Selection of a thirdThe third party reverse logistics party reverse logistics providers selection can be done by provider in the using performance indicators like: presence of vagueness. †¢ On time delivery ratio †¢ Confirmed fill rate †¢ Service quality level Unit operation cost †¢ Capacity usage ratio †¢ Total order cycle time †¢ System flexibility index †¢ Integration level index †¢ Increment in market share †¢ Research and development ratio †¢ Environmental expenditures †¢ Customer satisfaction index Table 6 gives Jharkharia and Shankar’s (2006) list of the selection criteria for 3PL providers as identified by some authors. Table 6. Selection criteria. N o Selection Criteria Relevance in 3PL Selection Reference 10 1 Compatibility with the Users The ability of the user, provider and their support systems to work together in co-ordination. Anderson and Norman 2002), Lynch (2000), Mohanty and Deshmukh (1993). 2 Cost of Service Total cost of logistics outsourcing. Lynch (2000), Stock et al. (1998), Tam and Tummala (2001). 3 Quality of Service It includes many aspects like transportation time, on-time delivery, frequency and cost of damages etc. Razzaque and Sheng (1999), Thompson (1996), Langley et al. (2002). 4 Reputation of Vendor 5 Performance Measurement Opinion of concerned people about 3PL firm. Provision for periodic evaluation of the performance. Lynch (2000), Thompson (1996). Bhatanagar et al. (1999), Lynch (2000), Langely et al. (2002). 6 Willingness to UseLogistics Manpower Razzaque and Sheng (1998), Ackerman (1996). 7 Flexibility in Billing Willingness of 3PL provider to retain users’ logistics employee, who would otherwise become unemployed after outsourcing contract. Flexibility in billing and payment conditions which increases goodwill between user and supplier. 8 Long-Term Relationship Includes shared risk and rewards. Lynch (2000), Boyson et al. ( 1999). 9 Quality of Management Anderson and Norman (2002), Lynch (2000), Boyson et al. (1999). 10 Information Sharing and Mutual Trust Able management not only provides good services but also fosters a long-term elationship. For continuance of agreement and continuous improvement of services. 11 Operational Performance 12 Information Technology Capacity 13 Fixed Asset Langely et al. (2002), Tam and Tummala (2001). Anderson and Norman (2002), Lynch (2000), Langely et al. (2002), Babbar and Prasad (1998). Hum (2000), Boyson et al. (1999). 14 Experience in Similar Product 15 Delivery Performance Can be measured by delivery performance, performance monitoring capacity etc. The advanced IT capacity helps in reducing uncertainties and inventory level. Tracking of goods becomes an easy process. Size and Quality of fixed sset helps in good operational performance. Prior experience in product line of shipper is added advantage. Speed and reliability. Bradley (1994). Lynch (2000). Razzaque an d Sheng (1998), Ackerman (1996). Stock et al. (1998), Gattorna and Walters (1996). 11 16 Employee Satisfaction Level Improves operational performance. 17 Financial Performance Ensures continuity in services, regular updation of equipments. 18 Market Share It reflects its financial performance, customer satisfaction and reputation. Thompson (1996). 19 Geographical Spread and Range of Services Provided Flexibility in Operation and DeliveryCreate enhanced access to the user. Maltz(1995), Boyson et al. (1999), Bradlley (1994). Stank and Daugherty (1997). 20 It may enable the user to give customized service to the shipper, particularly in special or non-routine request. Lynch (2000), Boyson et al. (1999), Langely et al. (2002). Anderson and Norman (2002), Boyson et al. (1999). Table 7. Growth Strategies Reference Objective Conclusion Sum and Teo, (1999) To find out Strategic posture of logistics service providers in Singapore 3PL performance and profits can be improved by: †¢ Cost r eduction, †¢ Market segmentation †¢ Service differentiationEnvironmental changes and the introduction of new technologies have an impact on LSP strategic planning Both vertical (shipper-LSP) and horizontal (among LSPs) alliances are set up mainly with the aim of getting access to complementary resources and capabilities. In particular, horizontal alliances among LSPs are deemed necessary for the development of cross-border logistics solutions Hum, (2000) van Hoek, (2000) To find out the factors that affect the LSP strategic planning To find out the reasons for doing alliances. 12 Stone, (2001 & 2002) To find out the growth strategies used by UK’s 3PL providers.Carbone and Stone, (2005) To identify the growth strategies used by European logistics service provider and its out come C. John Langley, Jr. , Ph. D. , and Capgemini U. S. LLC. 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 To identify the growth strategies used by the logistics provider in the world. LSPs employ a variety of growth strategies. Important means of expansion include: †¢ Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) †¢ Joint ventures †¢ Strategic alliances †¢ Piggybacking (i. e. following the client's expansion and establishing new operations in foreign markets) †¢ Organic growth European logistics service providers use M for gaining dvantage in factors like: †¢ Economies of scope †¢ Expanded geographical coverage †¢ Acquisition of specialized capabilities †¢ Requirements for investment in IT and equipment Third party logistics providers use following strategies for growth of the company. †¢ M †¢ Service Portfolio †¢ 3PL User/Provider Relationships. †¢ RFID and IT †¢ Future Growth of the 4PL Provider Concept †¢ 3PL Creation of Supply Chain Value †¢ Integration & Collaboration †¢ Green Supply Chain 3. Research Methodology The research objectives of this paper are as threefold: 1. To identify the success factors of Indian 3PL firms and their relative importance. . To analyze the gap between achievement and expectation as defined by the success factors identified. 3. To prioritize the growth strategies and their relative importance. 13 3. 1 Type of Research Employed In this paper we used an exploratory research to help formulate relevant questions and hypotheses that can be the basis of subsequent inquiries into the issues faced by 3PL providers and users. This type of research is particularly useful when the researcher is uncertain of the theories that are relevant, and would like to seek insights and ask questions to assess the phenomena he has observed in a new light.The tools one may employ to conduct exploratory research include review of the literature, and surveys of the opinions of experts and focus groups. 3. 2 Sampling Procedure We employed a non-probability sampling technique, Quota Sampling. Quota sampling is used to ensure that a set of specific characteristics that are of interest to the investigator is present in the sample. 3. 3 Sample Size To collect data we sent out a structured questionnaire to 220 third party logistics providers’ employees. 124 of the replies could be used for the analysis. Industry Review factor analysis, the research . 5 Tools of Analysis Literature Review Research Issue In our study we used SERVQUAL and AHP. The stages of process are shown in Figure 3. Research Questions First Version Development of Questionnaire Final Version Revised Version Data Collection Data Analysis 14 Conclusion Figure 3 Research Process 5 . Data Analysis 5. 1 To identify the success factors of Indian 3PL firms and its relative importance. The data collected through questionnaire was analyzed through SPSS 15. 0 to find out the success factors and their relative importance. The KMO and Bartlett’s test results shown in Table. indicate the suitability of the data for factor analysis. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy is 0. 769 which is great er than 0. 5. This indicates that a factor analysis will be useful with the data. The value of significance level is 0. 000, which is less than 0. 05. So there is a significant relationship among the variables. The initial extraction shows that the communalities are very high, which indicate that the extracted components represent the variables well. Table 9. Table 8. KMO and Bartlett's Test Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy. 0. 769 Bartlett's Test ofSphericity 3167. 333 Approx. Chi-Square Df Sig. 325 .000 Table. 9 Communalities Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 Q6 Q7 Q8 Q9 Initial 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 Extraction .477 .611 .638 .667 .595 .670 .653 .536 .766 15 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 Q19 Q20 Q21 Q22 Q23 Q24 Q25 Q26 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 1. 000 .661 .588 .624 .604 .664 .753 .748 .774 .589 .690 .695 .734 .671 .653 .582 .607 .641 Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis. 16 Table 10. Total Variance ExplainedInitial Eigen values % of Cumulative Variance % 23. 065 23. 065 12. 909 35. 974 Extraction Sums of Squared Loadings % of Cumulative Total Variance % 5. 997 23. 065 23. 065 3. 356 12. 909 35. 974 Rotation Sums of Squared Loadings % of Total Cumulative % Variance 3. 064 11. 786 11. 786 2. 964 11. 398 23. 184 42. 224 1. 625 6. 250 42. 224 2. 602 10. 007 33. 191 47. 529 1. 379 5. 305 47. 529 2. 118 8. 147 41. 339 4. 802 52. 331 1. 249 4. 802 52. 331 1. 829 7. 034 48. 372 4. 467 56. 798 1. 161 4. 467 56. 798 1. 599 6. 151 54. 523 1. 098 4. 225 61. 023 1. 098 4. 225 61. 023 1. 434 5. 515 60. 038 1. 023 . 935 64. 958 1. 023 3. 935 64. 958 1. 279 4. 920 64. 958 Component Total 1 2 5. 997 3. 356 3 1. 625 6. 250 4 1. 379 5. 305 5 1. 249 6 1. 161 7 8 9 .936 3. 598 68. 557 10 .869 3. 344 71. 901 11 .788 3. 031 74. 931 12 .704 2. 707 77. 638 13 .671 2. 580 80. 218 14 .608 2. 338 82. 556 15 .594 2. 284 84. 839 16 .552 2. 123 86. 9 63 17 .542 2. 083 89. 046 18 .503 1. 933 90. 979 19 .389 1. 497 92. 476 20 .380 1. 462 93. 938 21 .343 1. 318 95. 256 22 .317 1. 220 96. 476 23 .297 1. 144 97. 620 24 .242 .931 98. 550 25 .196 .753 99. 304 26 .181 .696 100. 000 Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis. 7 Table 11. Rotated Component Matrix (a) Component 1 2 Q1 Q2 3 4 5 6 7 8 .504 .431 Q3 .760 Q4 .417 Q5 .639 Q6 .502 .488 Q7 -. 407 .646 Q8 .505 Q9 Q10 .813 .739 Q11 .555 Q12 .419 .699 Q13 .647 Q14 .639 Q15 .823 Q16 .815 Q17 .772 Q18 .457 Q19 .514 .491 Q20 .658 Q21 .731 Q22 .643 Q23 .742 Q24 .676 Q25 Q26 .688 .635 Extraction Method: Principal Component Analysis. Rotation Method: Varimax with Kaiser Normalization. a Rotation converged in 24 iterations. We note that about 65% (. 64958) of the total variation in the 26 variables is attributable to the first eight components, Table 10.We also observe that Component 1 explains a variance of 3. 064, which is 11. 786% of total variance of 26; Component 2 explains a vari ance of 2. 964, which is 11. 398% of total variance and so on. The rotated component matrix contains the same information as the component matrix, except that it is calculated after rotation, Table 11. From this table we construct the following factor matrix, Table 12, where the key elements of importance in relation to the eight factors are shown. 18 Table 12. Factor Matrix Eigen Value Factor No. Factor Name Total

Als: Doctor and Auntie Pele

Why chose AL S: Have you ever heard of a disease that can't be figure out? When the doctors don't know how people would get it? Do we really know how to cure it? So many questions we have about things, but we can't figure it out†¦ It was a sad day for my whole family last year and it's because someone REALLY REALLY important to our family has passed away. It all start about when my auntie Peel was 30 and she owned her own business in American Samoa, Then one day she felt a weird tingle feeling in her hands, so she went to the doctor to check it out†¦Later that day the doctor told her it was nothing. So the next day she was working like usual and she noticed that she couldn't move her right arm, so she Went to the doctor to check it Out, and like the doctor said before, â€Å"it was nothing' then told her not to worry about the whole thing. The following weeks, her arm didn't improve and she became more worried. She visited the hospital again, she told them her arm had not improved.They ran a bunch of test, through some blood, and even did a cat scan on her brain. They told her later that they still couldn't find anything wrong. So she BEGGED them to transfer her to a hospital in Hawaii that could help her, in a ewe months, she traveled to Kaiser Hospital in Hawaii. Where she underwent more test. It lasted a few weeks, and the news they gave her wasn't good at all. They told her that the test they ran found out that she had ALAS or Lou Geris disease and it's also known as.This name was given to the disease after a famous baseball player of the same name. They only gave her only 7 years to live. These doctors didn't know my Auntie Peel – she was strong willed, stubborn, and full of life. My auntie actually lived for 28 MORE YEARS, and for 10 years she was bed redden.

How western Imperilism affects china and japan

How western Imperilism affects china and japan CopyrightsI am handing over the copyrights to Jen Shriver upon doing so you accept this .Thank youMike SorrentinoOct. 23, 1996How Western Imperialism affects China and JapanChina and Japan had very different experiences with Western Imperialism . Their reactions to western interference would lay a foundation for their destiny in a world that was rapidly progressing forward , leaving the traditional world behind .China viewed themselves as totally self sufficient , superior , and the only truly civilized land in a barbarous world. They were inward looking and were encouraged by the conservative Confucianistic beliefs of their emperors to cling to the ancient and traditional ways of the past . They slid rapidly behind in industrial development , refusing to acknowledge the need for shipbuilding or naval development , and saw no importance in European trade .Then in the 1800's , Europe thrust its way into the heart of the Middle Kingdom, shattering and destroying its isolation forever.E nglish: Japan_China_Peace_Treaty_17_April_1895.China would then be involved in four wars during the nineteenth century ; Britain's opium war (1839-1842), a second war (1856-1860) fought by British and French , the Sino-Japanese war (1894-1895) , and a final western invasion involving British , French , German , Japanese and U.S troops (1899-1900). Chinese Emperors were compelled to sign unequal treaties and were forced to open a number of ports , as well as agree to other territorial concessions . China was also forced to open its seacoasts and its rivers to Western intruders . The Europeans also exploited China's land by securing rights to build railways and develop its natural resources .China had been unwilling to learn the ways of the West and so became the next victim to fall prey to Western Imperialism , Japan however,

Crows, Ravens and Jays - Corvidae - The Animal Encyclopedia

Crows, Ravens and Jays - Corvidae - The Animal Encyclopedia Crows, ravens and jays (Corvidae) are a group of perching birds that also includes jackdaws, rooks, magpies, nutcrackers, choughs and treepies. In total, there are more than 120 species that belong to the crow family. Crows, ravens and jays are medium to large birds. The group includes the largest members of the perching birds. Many crows, ravens and jays have large wingspans. They have a robust body, strong feet and sturdy bills. Their nares (nasal openings) are fringed by bristle-like feathers known as rictal bristles. In temperate areas, most members of the group are partly or entirely black, blue, iridescent blue or iridescent purple. Some species, such as the magpies and jays, are more varied in color. They might have plumage with a mixture of black, white, grey and blue markings. Members of this group of birds are thought to be highly intelligent, not just among birds but among all animals. Crows and rooks have demonstrated tool making abilities while European magpies have exhibited self-awareness in mirror tests. Many members of the crow family establish and protect territories either during the breeding season or throughout the year. When threatened, some corvids can defend their offspring or territories aggressively and are known to attack large animals such as other birds, dogs or cats. Many species of corvids form social groups and hierarchies for foraging and breeding. Many species of corvids have flourished in human environments. But while such species have enjoyed healthy populations, a few corvids have experienced declines. Examples of threatened members of the crow family include the Florida scrub jay, the Mariana crow and the New Zealand raven. Crows and their relatives form strong pair bonds and in some species this association is life-long. In most species, nests are constructed in trees or on rock ledges. Nests are built using twigs, grass and other plant materials. Females lay between 3 and 10 eggs and young fledge after about 10 days. The largest member of the crow family is the common raven which grows to more than 26 inches in length and weighs 3 pounds. The smallest member of the crow family is the dwarf jay which grows to about 8 inches and weighs little more than an ounce. Crows, ravens and jays have a nearly-worldwide distribution. They are absent from only the southern tip of South America and the polar regions. The group is most diverse in tropical regions of Central America, South America, Asia and Europe. Most members of the crow family do not migrate although when food shortages occur, populations do relocate. Classification Animals Chordates Birds Perching Birds Crows, Ravens and Jays The crows, ravens and jays are divided into about a dozen subgroups, some of which include New World jays, grey jays, azure-winged magpies, Holarctic magpies, Stresemanns bushcrow, piapiac, true crows, nutcrackers, Old World jays, Oriental magpies, treepies and choughs. The crow family is thought to have originated in Australia and spread throughout the world. The closest relatives of the crows, ravens and jays are thought to be the birds of paradise and shrikes. There remains considerable ambiguity regarding the exact lineages and their relationships within the crow family. The earliest members of the crow family date back about 17 million years ago to the middle Miocene. Known fossils include Miocorvus, Miocitta, Miopica and Henocitta. Crows, ravens and jays feed a variety of foods including small mammals, birds, invertebrates as well as fruits, seeds and berries. Some members of the crow family feed on insects such as grasshoppers while others feed on carrion.

Critically evaluate the effects of resistance training and Essay

Critically evaluate the effects of resistance training and cardiovascular training on osteoporosis - Essay Example Engelke, K., Kemmler, W., Lauber, D., Beeskow, C., Pintag, R., & Kalendar, W. A. (2006). Exercise maintains bone density at spine and hip EFOPS: a 3-year longitudinal study in early postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis international, 17 (1), 133-142. (Primary Source – From MedLine/MedScape Database) Iwamoto, J., Takeda, T., & Ichimura, S. (2001). Effect of exercise training and detraining on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Journal of orthopaedic science, 6 (2), 128-132. (Primary Source – From MedLine/MedScape Database) Layne, J. E., & Nelson, M. E. (1999). The effects of progressive resistance training on bone density: a review. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 31 (1), 25-30. (Secondary Source - From MedLine/MedScape Database). Lin, J. T., & Lane, J. M. (2008). Nonpharmacologic Management of Osteoporosis to Minimize Fracture Risk. Nature Clinical Practice Rheumatology, 4 (1), 20-25. (Secondary Source - From MedLine/MedScape Database). Notomi, T., Okazaki, Y., Okimoto, N., Saitoh, S., Nakamura, T., & Suzuki, M. (2000). A comparison of resistance and aerobic training for mass, strength and turnover of bone in growing rats. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 83 (6), 469-474. (Primary Source – From MedLine/MedScape Database) Ringe, J. (2000). Osteoporosis in Men. In David Hosking and Johann Ringe (Eds.), TREATMENT OF METABOLIC BONE DISEASE: MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND DRUG THERAPY (pp. 203-218). London: Martin Dunitz Ltd. (Secondary Source – From Local British Council Library) Ravn, P. (2000). Osteoporosis: Primary Prevention. In David Hosking and Johann Ringe (Eds.), TREATMENT OF METABOLIC BONE DISEASE: MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AND DRUG THERAPY (pp. 123-142). London: Martin Dunitz Ltd. (Secondary Source – From Local British Council Library) The search for suitable literature consisted of going through the journals available at the local British Council Library. None were found. The next was

Lessons 13-16 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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